UAE joins global efforts to promote safer web use

The UAE Ministry of Interior, represented by the Higher Committee for Child Protection, today partnered with the ICDL GCC Foundation to support 2014 Safer Internet Day, an annual global campaign promoting the responsible use of digital technology.

Ahead of the event, Rania Al Qaisi, regional manager of business affairs at ICDL GCC Foundation, which is part of a global computer literacy initiative, said:“We will be distributing tens of thousands of copies of guides to school students that provide 101 tips for using the internet safely.”According to her, the guidebooks provide information on using social media and other smart technology for the students themselves, but they alsotarget the parents.

In 2013, the foundation published results from a study that revealed that 95 per cent of school students (between the ages of 14 and 18) are active on social media, and one in two respondents had faced some form of online threat from cyber bullying and identity theft to harassment.

In an interview with Kippreport, Al Qaisi says, “We know the most popular platforms are Twitter and Facebook, as well as [channels for] chatting and gaming. Abuse can get to kids through any of these platforms, even games where people pretend to be another player and help them to get to a higher level.” Communication with educational authorities reveal that children are also receiving obscene material on their smartphones, she adds.

The foundation also has a pilot project in place in partnership with the Dubai Educational Zone to train teachers and principals of public schools over the upcoming spring break. “Our objective is to make schools aware of their role [in tackling this issue],” says Al Qaisi, addingthat implementing such programmes will give teachers the knowledge and skills they need to take action if they come across such issues.

In a statement, major-general Nasser Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, secretary general of the office of His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan,Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, says: “We all need to develop and practise safe, legal and ethical behaviours in this age of digital technologies. We also need to spread awareness to be able to effectively address privacy protection issues.”

Safer Internet Day, which is organised by Insafe – a network of ‘European Safer Internet Centres’ – is celebrated in more than 100 countries under the theme ‘let’s create a better internet together’.

UN humanitarian chief Amos disappointed after Homs attack

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, Valerie Amos, vowed in a statement released Saturday night in the US to keep pushing to deliver humanitarian assistance to those caught up in Syria’s civil war.

Sunday was scheduled to be the third and final day of a temporary ceasefire in Homs, enabled to allow the evacuation of non-combatants and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Although Saturday's attacks put the deliveries in doubt, Amos said the UN would continue its work.

'I am deeply disappointed that the three-day humanitarian pause agreed between the parties to the conflict was broken [on Saturday] and aid workers deliberately targeted,' Amos said, adding that the events 'serve as a stark reminder of the dangers that civilians and aid workers face every day across Syria.'

'I continue to call on those engaged in this brutal conflict to respect the humanitarian pause, ensure the protection of civilians and facilitate the safe delivery of aid,' Amos appealed.

Truce violation

Following Saturday’s attack, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) said via its Twitter account that mortar fire landed near its convoy, with shots fired at its trucks. The tweets said one truck driver had suffered a minor injury, while two trucks were damaged and abandoned.

Rebels, who hold the historic Old City in central Homs, and Syrian government officials blamed each other for the attack.

'The United Nations and our humanitarian partners will not be deterred from doing the best we can to bring aid to those needing our help,' Amos said.

Geneva II peace talks set to resume

The deal struck to provide Homs with humanitarian aid was the first concrete target set at the 'Geneva II' peace talks which began two weeks ago. Although an agreement was not reached during the negotiations in Switzerland, a ceasefire deal was brokered in the aftermath.

The 'Geneva II' talks will resume on Monday, with the UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, again leading the negotiations.

More than 136,000 people are thought to have been killed since fighting began almost three years ago in Syria.

US military developing ‘iron man’ armour

The technology may include a powered exoskeleton, advanced full-body armour and situational-awareness displays

---

Reuters

Washington: The US military is developing an 'Iron Man' armour that may allow the wearer to walk through a stream of bullets - and the first prototypes will be ready for testing by June.

Three unpowered prototypes of the so-called Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) and dubbed the 'Iron Man' suit are being assembled and expected to be delivered in June, the head of US Special Operations Command said.

Navy Admiral William McRaven said the plan is to evaluate the technology with the goal of fielding a system by August 2018, 'Defence Tech' reported.

"That suit, if done correctly, will yield a revolutionary improvement in survivability and capability for special operators," McRaven said.

The technology may include a powered exoskeleton, advanced full-body armour and situational-awareness displays.

Around 56 corporations, 16 government agencies, 13 universities and 10 national laboratories are working on the programme, McRaven said.

The hope is to allow the wearer to walk through a stream of bullets.

"We are already seeing astounding results of this collaboration," he said.

Robben: Bayern will lose at some point

The Netherlands international feels it inevitable that the Bavarians will lose to a domestic rival before the conclusion of their 2013-14 campaign

Arjen Robben says that Bayern Munich are unlikely to hold on to their unbeaten record in the Bundesliga for the entire season.

The reigning German champions have so far won 18 out of 20 top-flight fixtures, drawing the remaining two, and Franck Ribery recently stated that the Bavarians aim to remain go the entire campaign without suffering a single defeat.

However, Robben thinks they might struggle to keep up their current form right until the end of the 2013-14 season.

"We’ll suffer defeat again at some point. With every passing victory, the risk of losing increases. It won’t be a huge travesty for us though and definitely won’t throw us off our stride," the Dutchman told the official Bundesliga website.

"Records are of no interest to us; all we want to do is win our matches. We don't think about how many games we’ve won in a row or how long it’s been since our last defeat. 

"Nothing is handed to us on a silver platter and it’s up to us to continue working hard for our success."

Bayern take on Hamburg in the DFB Pokal on Wednesday before resuming their Bundesliga campaign against Freiburg at the weekend.

Lahm warns Kroos: It doesn't get much better than Bayern

The Bavarians veteran utility man thinks that his team-mate would have to be bonkers to want to leave the Allianz Arena during their current wave of success

Philipp Lahm has warned team-mate Toni Kroos that he will not find a bigger or better club than Bayern Munich as the midfielder continues to stall on extending his contract.

The 24-year-old midfielder's current deal at the Allianz Arena expires in 2015 and faltering negotiations have subsequently seen the Germany international linked to a summer exit, with Manchester United being touted as a potential destination.

However, despite being unsurprised at the drawn-out nature of his contract talks, die Roten veteran Lahm believes it would be ludicrous to leave the European champions.

"It is normal that one explores their position and negotiate," he told Sport Bild regarding Kroos. "If you currently play for Bayern there are few alternatives, if any, though.

"It is, in my eyes, an absolute privilege to play here because the team simply has the mentality to win. Many players want to come to Bavaria.

"So you have to think carefully about whether you leave a club like this at the moment."

Lahm also took time to question Uefa president Michel Platini's proposal for a salary cap, insisting that being paid handsomely is simply a recognition of success.

"I am opposed to restricting individual players' wages," he added. "The salary is always an appreciation and a reflection of a player's performance.

Schalke cannot stop Draxler from leaving, says Keller

The Gelsenkirchen side have acknowledged that the attacking international could be on the move at the end of the season

Jens Keller has admitted that Schalke have no way to stop Julian Draxler leaving if an interested club matches the Germany international's €45.5 million buy-out clause.

The attacking midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal during the January transfer window but the proposed move did not materialise.

However, Keller has conceded that Draxler could easily depart Gelsenkirchen in the summer.

"I am very happy that Julian is still at Schalke for the second half of the season. [But] we cannot stop him from leaving when a club meets his buy-out clause," Keller told Sport Bild.

"That makes it's hard for me to plan with him, because his future is not in Schalke's hands.

"The Draxler situation in January was unnerving. It's ridiculous when you don't know as a coach whether such an important player will leave or stay. 

"The unrest didn't really affect the team, though, as he was injured at the time."

The 20-year-old, who has a contract with Schalke until June 2018, has netted five goals in 24 appearances in all competitions for his club this season

Manchester United target Cavani

The Premier League champions have expressed their interest in signing the striker, who joined the French side from Napoli for a reported €64 million last summer

By Wayne Veysey

Manchester United have registered their interest in Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani.

The Premier League champions are preparing a concerted summer move for the prolific forward, one of a number of high profile targets for boss David Moyes, who will have a transfer kitty of more than €120 million with which to refurbish his squad in the next window.

THE VIEW FROM FRANCE

Johann Crochet | Goal France Paris Saint-Germain, clearly, do not need the money from any transfer and Cavani only moved to the Parc des Princes last summer, after a lot of negotiating with Napoli, for €64m. Of course, Cavani has a big contract - rumoured to be between €8-10m per year after tax, plus bonuses - and it runs until 2018. Coach Laurent Blanc has put his faith in the striker and he is popular with the club's owners and supporters.

The Scot is keen to strengthen United’s forward line, as well as the team's problem positions of centre-back, central midfield and left-back.

With doubts surrounding the United futures of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez, Moyes and his staff have begun identifying top quality strikers who could be available in the summer.

Cavani has formed a potent partnership with Zlatan Ibrahimovic at PSG since his €64 million move from Napoli last summer, scoring 20 goals in 25 matches in all competitions for the French league leaders.

However, the Uruguay international, 26, who admitted to being unsettled in France earlier this season, has authorised his representatives to explore the possibility of a move.

Sources in France suggest the striker is happier than earlier this term having now settled in Paris, but United are determined to pursue a move for him.  

Old Trafford intermediaries have already made contact with the Cavani camp as they lay the groundwork for what is expected to be the biggest transfer splurge in the club’s history this year.

Moyes signed Juan Mata for €45 million from Chelsea last month and is also now preparing for the possibility of life after star strikers Rooney and Van Persie.

Rooney has reportedly opened talks on a contract extension but is yet to commit to the Premier League champions beyond June 2014 and has been the subject of strong interest from Chelsea, who had an approach for the striker rejected in January.

Van Persie has had a mixed second season at Old Trafford following his outstanding debut campaign. He is understood to have clashed with Moyes this term over the new manager’s tactics and training methods, and controversially elected to recover from a thigh injury at the turn of the year in his native Holland rather than at United’s Carrington training base.

Hernandez has failed to nail down a regular starting place at United under Moyes despite the various injury-related absences of Rooney and Van Persie. Now in his fourth season at Old Trafford, the Mexican, 25, might consider that his peak years are better spent at a team where he gets more playing time.