April 2022 – Page 15 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Online Safety Bill: second reading at Westminter this week

TOUGH new internet laws to protect young people, uphold free speech and make sure there are no safe spaces for criminals online return to Parliament for their second reading this week.

Online safety legislation protecting children will be debated in the Commons
Comes as new plans to support vulnerable people and fight falsities online are launched
Funding boost will help people’s critical thinking online through a new expert Media Literacy Taskforce alongside proposals to pay for training for teachers and library workers

MPs will debate the government’s groundbreaking Online Safety Bill which requires social media platforms, search engines and other apps and websites allowing people to post content to improve the way they protect their users.

Ofcom, the regulator, will have the power to fine companies failing to comply with the laws up to ten per cent of their annual global turnover, force them to improve their practices and block non-compliant sites. Crucially, the laws have strong measures to safeguard children from harmful content such as pornography and child sexual abuse.

Ahead of Tuesday’s debate, the government is launching the next phase of its Online Media Literacy Strategy. It aims to help vulnerable and ‘hard-to-reach’ people, such as those who are digitally excluded or from lower socio-economic backgrounds, navigate the internet safely and teach them to spot falsities online.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will spend £2.5 million to advance the plan through the next year including on training, research and providing expert advice.

This includes a new Media Literacy Taskforce featuring experts from a range of disciplines and a boost to the Media Literacy Fund, which gives teachers and local service providers the skills they need to teach people to improve their critical thinking of what they see online.

Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “The time has come to properly protect people online and this week MPs will debate the most important legislation in the internet age.

“Our groundbreaking Online Safety Bill will make the UK the safest place to surf the web. It has been significantly strengthened following a lengthy period of engagement with people in politics, wider society and industry.

“We want to arm everyone with the skills to navigate the internet safely, so today we’re also announcing a funding boost and plans for experts to join forces with the government to help people spot dodgy information online.

Thinking critically online has never been more important. There was a rise in misinformation and disinformation on social media and other online platforms during the global pandemic and the Kremlin continues to use disinformation to target UK and international audiences to justify its actions in Ukraine.

Ofcom research shows adults are often overconfident in their ability to detect disinformation and only 32 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 know how to use online flagging or reporting functions.

Forty per cent of adult internet users do not have the skills to assess online content critically and children up to the age of 15 are particularly vulnerable.

A new Media Literacy Taskforce with 18 experts from a range of relevant organisations, including Meta, TikTok, Google, Twitter, Ofcom and the Telegraph as well as universities and charities, will work with the government as part of its strategy to tackle disinformation and help hard-to-reach and vulnerable groups in society think about what they see on the web, including improving their ability to protect their data and privacy.

The taskforce will look at new ways to identify and reach people most in need of education. This could include working through local authorities or coordinating support offered by local services to roll out training.

The Media Literacy Fund will expand a pilot ‘Train the Trainer’ programme which ran last year to give teachers, library workers and youth workers more skills to help boost people’s critical thinking skills.

New research will be commissioned to understand the root causes of poor media literacy and on the effectiveness of different methods which aim to build people’s resilience to misinformation and disinformation.

The fund will have a broader scope including a focus on improving media literacy provision for people who are particularly vulnerable online – such as children or people suffering with mental health issues.

Since it launched in July 2021, the Online Media Literacy Strategy has provided £256,000 in grant funding to five organisations to adapt media literacy resources for teachers working with disabled children, run a successful awareness campaign to promote Safer Internet Day and empower LGBTQ+ young people with tools to deal with online abuse.

Nick Poole, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) said: “Media literacy is the key to helping people lead healthier, happier and safer lives online, particularly the most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach in our society.

“As a member of the DCMS Media Literacy Taskforce, I welcome the breadth and ambition of this new Action Plan, which demonstrates the government’s commitment to this important agenda. As librarians and information professionals, we look forward to playing our part in bringing it to fruition.”

Will Gardner OBE, CEO of Childnet International and a Director of the UK Safer Internet Centre said: “Media literacy is a core part of Childnet’s work with children, young people, parents and carers, and we fully support the Media Literacy focus and work of the DCMS. This work has never been as important as it is now.

“There is a great deal of work being done in this space in the UK. The government is playing an important role in helping to identify where there are gaps and where focus or learning is needed, and then supporting responses to that.

“As part of the UK Safer Internet Centre, in February 2022 we worked closely with the DCMS in helping to promote the Safer Internet Day campaign to LGBTQ+ young people. We fully support the continued focus of the Action Plan, including ensuring that ‘hard-to-reach’ groups are supported as well as those who are particularly vulnerable online.”

Attempted murder in Westside Plaza: Two men arrested

Two men have been arrested following an attempted murder in Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes.

A 45-year-old man was hit by a car in Westside Plaza last Thursday (14 April).

Two men, both aged 28, have been arrested and charged in connection with this incident and they are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow (Tuesday 19 April).

A report will be forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal.

Red flags to look out for when buying second-hand

We all love a good bargain, and often these can be found through second-hand items and purchased both online and in-person. While these items are often fine, some may face problems when buying them, particularly if they are purchased online.

Selling experts from second-hand retailer for-sale.co.uk have revealed six red flags you should look out for when buying used items to avoid disappointment, or worse fraud:

The seller asks for payment outside of the app or website:

Many resale sites and apps have security measures for making payments such as the option of a refund if an item doesn’t arrive, however these usually only work through the site itself.

If a seller is pressuring you to make the payment outside of the app, there is a chance that the person is scamming you, and you should avoid them.

The seller is selling a lot at once:

If there’s an item you’re interested in and the seller is also selling a lot of other items at the same time, this may be a red flag.

You should especially watch out for this if all the items they are selling are high value – few people are selling a laptop, a games console, a designer bag, and a phone all at the same time.

If an account on a selling site seems suspicious, avoid it.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is:

If the item you are interested in is in high demand, consistently sold-out on online retailers, or is priced far below the market price, it is likely a scam.

Follow your gut: if something about the purchase doesn’t feel right, don’t go through with it.

The listing isn’t on a trusted website:

Many reputable selling sites will have in place measures to help protect buyers against scams.

Sites such as Depop and Poshmark authenticate designer items to avoid scams, and some encourage in-person sales to prevent people from selling items which don’t exist.

If you find an item for sale on a site that you don’t recognise or that doesn’t have a lot of positive reviews, it may be best avoiding it.

The seller is asking for money before giving you the item:

Although unavoidable in some cases, such as purchases made over Depop and eBay, if you are purchasing an item from a local seller, you shouldn’t pay until the item is yours.

If you’re collecting an item you’ve purchased online, don’t pay the seller until the item is in your hands and you can be sure it’s not a scam.

Selling items which don’t exist online is a common way for scammers to take your money, and there often isn’t a way of confirming the seller’s identity, meaning that you likely won’t get the money back. To avoid this, pay the seller after you receive the item, wherever this may be possible.

When buying electronic devices, ensure they work:

If an item you’re buying needs to be plugged in, don’t buy it until you’ve tried it. Again, this may be difficult in situations where the item is being sold online, but if the purchase is being made face-to-face, check that it works before buying. If you don’t, you risk being stuck with a broken item that the seller likely won’t accept a refund on.

Cycling and mobiles don’t mix: Peer calls for law change

Mobile use while cycling should be banned, says peer

A new call from Baroness McIntosh of Pickering has highlighted a loophole where cyclists can still legally use mobiles while in the saddle – even though motorists cannot.

The former MP wants a law change so cyclists are prosecuted for the offence of using a phone – the same as car drivers. Presently there is no specific offence for a cyclist using a phone, but a minister pointed out cyclists can be prosecuted for careless or dangerous cycling with fines of up to £2,500.

The peer says she has recent personal experience of being in danger from a cyclist using a mobile. She claims a cyclist was on the wrong side of the road using their mobile phone with one hand, while she was attempting to cross over to the Houses of Parliament.

The Baroness’ plea follows Highway Code changes in January that introduced a ‘hierarchy of road users’ ranking the most vulnerable to harm, such as cyclists and pedestrians, and placing the greatest responsibility on car drivers for the safety of other road users – giving cyclists greater priority over vehicles at zebra crossings and junctions.

Lady McIntosh also asks why the code’s Rule 149 to ‘exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times’ bans mobile phone use yet does not apply to cyclists and e-scooter users. A further law banning handheld mobile use for car drivers came into effect on 25 March.

A leading cycling and motoring insurance comparison website, Quotezone.co.uk, hopes the new law on using mobile phones will come into effect equally across all road users.

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk comments: “It makes sense to review mobile phone use for all road users given the zero tolerance approach to motorists brought into effect at the end of March. We should embrace any and all efforts to make our roads safer and using a phone while cycling can be particularly dangerous.

“If the phone is there to act as a bike computer it should be attached safely with a hands-free product such as a quad lock or bike-specific phone case but even then, with the rise in the volume of potholes over the course of the pandemic, cyclists need their full attention to cope with the unexpected

“Cyclist and bicycle insurance can help protect the bike riders and other road users by safeguarding their finances from claims, covering medical expenses, personal liability, theft and damage to property but it can’t keep people out of harm’s way. We need to respect the new changes to the highway code and look out for more vulnerable road users, this new law should help take that further.

“Bicycle insurance isn’t a legal requirement at present like car insurance is, but it should be something every cyclist has before hitting the saddle and it isn’t expensive, especially when using a comparison site to compare providers. For those with a bicycle under £1,000 it can even be added to their home insurance as a specified item.”

Quotezone.co.uk launched the UK’s first bicycle insurance comparison website with bespoke bicycle and cyclist insurance providers covering a wide range of products such as road bike insurance, electric bike insurance and courier bike insurance.

Earth in Common: Re’Bel-Tane event

Are you ready for our next big event? We certainly are!

Celebrate RE’BEL-TANE with us on April 30th! We have a number of exciting family friendly activities lined up for you, head to our website (link in bio) to take a closer look at what you can expect.

We are also super excited to have our beloved Hingabootery Café back open and running again which means we will be able to cater to all your coffee, tea and ice cream needs

Competition launched to find the UK’s messiest student accommodation!

Are these the filthiest students in the country?

Competition launched to find the messiest student accommodation in the UK

Students across the UK have been sharing amusing pictures of the mess and destruction they have created in their student flats, with the images showing chaotic bedrooms, broken furniture and kitchen nightmares.

It’s part of a competition launched to find the UK’s messiest student accommodation by home and contents insurance provider, SO-SURE, with the winning students receiving a £200 voucher to spend on Just Eat, so they can celebrate over a takeaway guaranteed to cure any hangover.

The competition ends on Monday 25^th April at 12pm (UK time) and people can enter here.

We all know students have a reputation for prioritising a night out over a tidy flat, so it maybe isn’t a surprise we already have some pretty shocking frontrunners.

1. Sarah, Brighton University

Sarah shared this photo of a kitchen after what looks like a fairly messy night out. We are not sure who landed washing up duties, but it can’t have been much fun on a hangover!

2. Josh, Cardiff University

Josh says this is a photo of his mates’ room in their student flat. This has to be one of the messiest bedrooms we have ever seen, maybe it’s time to invest in a bin? It’s not much, but it’s a start.

3. Cassie, Bournemouth University

You almost have to admire the chaos here, it’s like a work of art. Cassie shared this photo from her student accommodation in Bournemouth, we don’t know who the room belongs to, only that they are the ‘messiest gal’.

To find out more about SO-SURE, please visit: https://wearesosure.com/.

If you have a messy flat and want to take home the £200 Just Eat voucher, share your photo with us here: https://wearesosure.com/blog/win-200-just-eat-vouchers-by-submitting-a-photo-of-your-messy-student-accommodation/   

Largest study for men with breast cancer launched

A new international consortium to uncover genes that lead to breast cancer in men has been launched at Queen’s University Belfast.

The consortium, known as MERGE, will discover and characterise new genetic risk factors for male breast cancer by analysing DNA from 5,000 men. The DNA will be compared to that of 10,000 men without breast cancer, making it the largest study of its kind worldwide.

By building a large international research resource for male breast cancer genetics, the MERGE team will develop a better understanding of the causes of breast cancer in men that may lead to new treatments for the disease.

Lead researcher, Dr Nick Orr from the Patrick G Johnson Centre for Cancer Research, said: “We need to develop a better understanding of breast cancer in men in order to improve prevention, early detection and treatment.

“Having access to the large resource provided by the MERGE consortium will enable us to develop a deeper insight into the genetics and pathology of this rare disease.”

Male breast cancer is a relatively rare disease that accounts for less than 1% of breast cancers diagnosed every year in the UK, equating to 400 new cases annually.

The initiative is led by Queen’s and Sapienza University of Rome and supported by the US National Cancer Institute.

Dr Kyle Thompson, from Queen’s who is also working on the project, added: “Over the three year project, we aim to fully analyse DNA from 5000 men with breast cancer.

“By comparing the genomes of men with breast cancer to those of healthy men, we hope to identify new genetic variants that cause the disease. This knowledge could help to identify men at risk of developing breast cancer.”

Dr Orr added: “It is only through international collaborations such as ours that we will be better equipped to treat this rare type of cancer. We will share the data gathered with our research groups, working together to make real progress in this area.

“We also hope that this work will increase the visibility of male breast cancer and educate men about the risks, encouraging them to see their doctor if they have concerns about their health.”

Professor Laura Ottini, from Sapienza University of Rome and co-lead researcher, said: “From our experience in male breast cancer research, we know how collaborative multidisciplinary efforts lead to increased understanding in the medical and scientific communities as well as the dissemination of information and awareness to the public.

“In this context, MERGE will provide a great opportunity for filling the knowledge gap concerning male breast cancer genetics and address unmet clinical need toward gender-specific risk prediction assessment.”

Young disabled artist futureproofs freedom with ‘confidence boosting’ mobility scooter

As a talented artist and musician, Ailsa Hay, 29 from East Lothian, has discovered mobility scooters ‘can be cool for younger users’ with ownership of a new Zest Plus from TGA.

Ailsa graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Photography and Filmmaking and is now a freelance illustrator, graphic designer and fine artist. Alongside her passion for drawing and design, she composes music and plays instruments including the guitar and ukulele.

Despite living with arthritis since the age of three, Ailsa has not let her mobility difficulties get in the way of artistic expression, however today walking is a real challenge. Living on the scenic coast of east Scotland she was desperate to get out on her own for pleasure and inspiration.

Two manual wheelchairs had kept Ailsa mobile over the years but with arthritis now affecting Ailsa’s ability to self-propel, she really needed a powered product to keep independent. With a recent house move to an adapted bungalow, Ailsa felt it was time to start looking for a scooter however worried they would be old fashioned: “I didn’t want to be driving something that looked like I’d pinched it from an older person!” says Ailsa.

Being familiar with the TGA brand, she decided to contact them for advice – assessor Harry came to see her with the modern answer Ailsa was looking for, a Zest Plus.

As Ailsa can’t drive a car, she needed to find an alternative to get round on her own. Ailsa and her mum (and primary carer), looked at all sorts of vehicles including golf buggies, but they were too big and very expensive.

A scooter seemed the best option however she needed something that would go off-road as well as on the pavement. TGA arranged a home assessment as Ailsa explains: “Harry from TGA came out to see me. He was a lovely guy, actually one of the neighbours recognised him as they have a TGA scooter too.

“There was no selling, Harry just wanted to suggest the best fitting scooter for me. I really needed something tailored to where I wanted to go locally. I wanted to visit the coast, drive off-road by the many golf courses near me but still be comfort on pavements. We both decided the Zest Plus with its larger wheels and suspension would be perfect.”

Ailsa can now go out and return home pain free as she continues: “Previously I could only manage a hundred metres and then had to sit down, I was always shattered when I got back home.

Now I drive my Zest and it’s amazing, I get in and have no discomfort. It’s easy to drive and doesn’t put too much strain on my wrists when cornering. I can steer with one hand and swap hands if I’m having a bad day with either of my wrists. It feels awesome to be independent.

My scooter packs into the back of my mum’s car in five bits for day trips. I haven’t had it long so have only been local so far but will be going further as the days warm up and hope to take it on holiday soon.”

A key difference between Ailsa’s Zest Plus and her previous mobility products is that it is ‘futureproofed’. This means it will suit her needs in the future even if they change. As the tiller and seat can be adjusted Ailsa will stay comfortable and supported, something that is now not possible in her wheelchairs.

Harry stressed the importance of this when they met: “If only the wheelchair salespeople had done the same,” comments Ailsa.

Right from the start Ailsa was very impressed with the testimonials she read from young people with TGA scooters. The thought of driving an old-fashioned scooter had put her off for some time but seeing the experiences of other people in their twenties changed her mind.

“I can see any stigmatisation has gone. Scooters are suitable for people of all ages; this gives me confidence and makes me feel good when I’m out”, Ailsa said: “My Zest is attractive and shows off my personality.”

Ailsa displays her artwork at: https://www.artbyailsa.com/

PM Johnson barred from Russia

UNLUCKY FOR SOME: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also one of thirteen ‘not getting in’

The Prime Minister spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday afternoon. He paid tribute to the bravery of Ukrainian forces who continue to valiantly defend their country’s freedom.

President Zelenskyy updated the Prime Minister on the situation in Mariupol, and the Prime Minister said he saluted Ukrainian resistance in the city.

The pair discussed the need for a long-term security solution for Ukraine, and the Prime Minister said he would continue to work closely with allies and partners to ensure Ukraine could defend its sovereignty in the weeks and months to come.

The Prime Minister also updated President Zelenskyy on new sanctions from the UK that came into force last week, and said the UK would continue to provide the means for Ukraine to defend itself, including armoured vehicles in the coming days.

The Prime Minister said international support for Ukraine only grew stronger and that he remained convinced Ukraine would succeed and Putin would fail.

Russia has banned Prime Minister Boris Johnson and some other senior cabinet ministers from entering Russia, citing the UK’s ‘hostile’ stance on the war in Ukraine.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former Prime Minister Theresa May have also been barred.

The statement, issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry yesterday, reads:

‘In connection with the unprecedented hostile actions of the British government, expressed, in particular, in the imposition of sanctions against top officials of the Russian Federation, a decision was made to include key members of the British government and a number of political figures in the Russian “stop list”.

‘This step was taken as a response to London’s unbridled information and political campaign aimed at isolating Russia internationally, creating conditions for containing our country and strangling the domestic economy.

‘In essence, the British leadership is deliberately aggravating the situation around Ukraine, pumping the Kyiv regime with lethal weapons and coordinating similar efforts on the part of NATO.

‘The instigation of London is also unacceptable, which is strongly pushing not only its Western allies, but also other countries to introduce large-scale anti-Russian sanctions, which, however, are senseless and counterproductive.

‘The Russophobic course of the British authorities, whose main task is to incite a negative attitude towards our country, curtail bilateral ties in almost all areas, is detrimental to the well-being and interests of the inhabitants of Britain itself. Any sanctions attacks will inevitably hit their initiators and receive a decisive rebuff.

‘The following is a list of British subjects who are no longer allowed to enter the Russian Federation:

Boris JOHNSON (Alexander Boris de Pfeffel JOHNSON) – Prime Minister;
Dominic Rennie RAAB – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice;
Elizabeth TRASS (Elizabeth Mary TRUSS) – Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Ben WALLACE – Secretary of Defense;
Grant SHAPPS – Minister of Transport;
Priti PATEL – Minister of the Interior;
Rishi SUNAK – Minister of Finance;
Kwasi KWARTENG – Minister of Entrepreneurship, Energy and Industrial Strategy;
Nadine Vanessa DORRIES – Minister of Digitalization, Culture, Media and Sports;
James HEAPPEY – Deputy Secretary of Defense;
Nicola Ferguson STURGEON – First Minister of Scotland;
Suella BRAVERMAN – Attorney General for England and Wales;
Theresa MAY is a Conservative MP and former British Prime Minister.

‘In the near future, this list will be expanded to include British politicians and parliamentarians who contribute to whipping up anti-Russian hysteria, pushing the “collective West” to use the language of threats in dialogue with Moscow, and shamelessly inciting the Kiev neo-Nazi regime.’

Reacting to the ban, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described President Putin as ‘a war criminal’ and said she would not ‘shy away from condemning him and his regime’.