During the wait for improved online safety laws, tens of thousands of grooming crimes have been recorded. The Online Safety Bill, which is meant to become law this autumn, has encountered numerous delays and changes since it become a proposed legislation. As a result, the children’s charity NSPCC has called on MPs and tech giants to support the Bill, especially since 34,000 online grooming crimes had been recorded by UK police forces over the last six years, since first calling for more robust safety regulations in 2017. Based on data from 42 UK police forces, the NSPCC said that last year, 6,350 offences related to the sexual communication with a child were recorded. Some 5,500 took place against primary school-aged children, and 73% of the crimes were related to Meta-linked platforms or Snapchat. NSPCC chief executive Sir Peter Wanless said: “The number of offences must serve as a reminder of why the Online Safety Bill is so important and why the ground-breaking protections it will give children are desperately needed. “We’re pleased the government has listened and strengthened the legislation so companies must tackle how their sites contribute to child sexual abuse in a tough but proportionate way, including in private messaging.” Here are some of the red flags parents should be on the look out for. Being secretive about how they are spending their time On their website, Childline define grooming as someone building a child’s trust to make a connection in order to do something sexual or illegal. “Studies show parental supervision typically declines as children get older, however online abuse does not,” said Mark Bentley, safeguarding and cyber security lead at charity The National Grid for Learning (LGfL). From being secretive to omitting relevant information, changes in behaviour can vary from child to child. But it’s something for all parents to be mindful of when their child starts using social media more. “Unfortunately, as in many areas of child protection, indicators of abuse can often mirror natural markers of growing up,” said Bentley. “As children and adolescents develop, they seek independence from parents, engage in risk taking and have changes in mood and friendship group. “Nonetheless, these markers remain vital to watch out for, even if it is just to support your growing child. Those who are being groomed online are much more likely to be defensive and secretive about phone usage and loathed to be separated from their device.” Having unexplained gifts, big or small Buying gifts for children, whether big or small, can be another grooming technique used to flatter children and their families. “Some groomers have been known to provide alternative phones just to contact them, and this is always a red flag if you suspect your child may have a secondary device,” said Bentley. They are spending too much time onlineSocial media may promote negative experiences if no boundaries have been established.“Of course, some of these [red] flags can also be a sign of the child going through adolescence but it’s important to discuss any unusual behaviour with them as soon as possible,” said Simon Newman, member of International Cyber Expo’s advisory council and of the Cyber Resilience Centre for London.“The way groomers target children varies, but is often done through social media sites, text messages and apps, emails or online forums – particularly gaming sites.”They develop friendships with a much older person Children and young people can be groomed by a stranger or by someone they know – such as a family member, friend or professional, according to NSPCC. But the age gap between a child and their groomer can also be relatively small. The groomer may also work towards building a relationship with the family to gain trust, so they can be left alone with the child. “There are various models of the stages of grooming, but at heart it revolves around building up trust and making a child feel understood and listened to in a way they do not feel elsewhere, and then breaking down the links of trust to family, school, friends and other adults,” said Bentley. “Any parent thinking that this might be happening should definitely reach out for help.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Rumer Willis says she is ‘grateful’ to her body following birth of daughter Sugary cereals and yoghurts must remove child-friendly packaging – health group Clever kitchen storage solutions to clear the clutter

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Blancpain X Swatch: could this be the “innovative” collaboration they say it is? The Swatch collaborations are back after a viral launch of the Omega MoonSwatch back in March last year. Marking the 70th anniversary of the “Fifty Fathoms” collection, luxury watchmaker Blancpain says collaborating with Swatch will create a “playful” and “unexpected” version of its so-called “iconic” scuba diving watch. The watch was built for French combat divers who required reliable watches that function underwater. Now, the two well-known watch brands are teaming up for a “non-limited collection” which will feature five models full of “joie de vivre,” – which loosely translates to “enjoyment of life”. A press release by Blancpain noted the brands are “diving into the five oceans of the blue planet, combining the best of both brands with innovative, bioceramic, water-resistant timepieces and a mechanical movement with a 90-hour power reserve”. But does this collaboration really meet the hype? With the brands finely crafted advertisements in newspapers across the United States, including the New York Times, Washington Post, and LA Times – teasing consumers for what is to come, could this be what watch lovers hoped for? Here is everything you need to know about the Blancpain X Swatch collection collaboration When will the Blancpain X Swatch collection launch? Watch lovers, have no fear as the Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms drops worldwide on 9 September, according to an Instagram post by Swatch on 4 September. Since its announcement, Swatch and Blancpain have released several teasers – getting fans excited for what is yet to come. “The collection faithfully reproduces all the Fifty Fathoms hallmarks, such as superior water resistance, outstanding legibility, mechanical movement secured rotating bezel, and anti-magnetic protection,” Swatch said in one of its Instagram posts and people loved it. One user commented under the post “Shut up and take my money,” while another said: “Much better than Swatch-Omega collab!!!”. What will the collection look like? Blancpain X Swatch will be launching five models with a “unique and patented blend of two-thirds ceramic and one-third biomaterials derived from castor oil.” Each model is named after the world’s five oceans while featuring different bright colours with the words “Blancpain Fifty Fathoms X Swatch inscribed inside.” The colours are the Atlantic Ocean in blue, the Arctic Ocean in red, the Pacific Ocean in yellow, the Indian Ocean in green, and the Antarctic Ocean in white. For Blancpain President and CEO Marc A. Hayek, this collaboration is highly symbolic: "Without Swatch, the Swiss watch industry would simply not have survived and enjoyed such a wonderful destiny. “This collection is a source of pride for me. We owed it to ourselves to work with this brand that is as much a pioneer as we are – a reality vividly proven with this collection. Swatch has brilliantly reinterpreted our iconic model, in its own way, with its own vision,” Hayek adds. “As a keen diver myself, I really appreciate the attention to detail in this collection and the many references to the Fifty Fathoms. The fact that it is water-resistant to a depth of 91 metres – corresponding to exactly 50 fathoms, a nautical unit of depth – is a fantastic nod." I want to know more about the models and price points Watch fanatics, we’ve got you covered with all you need to know about each model, style and price point, according to the Swatch website. First up we have the Arctic Ocean: Price: £340 Case Material: Beige Bioceramic case including crown Case diameter: 42.4mm Case thickness: 14.4m Lug to lug distance: 48.0 mm Movement: SISTEM51 mechanical movement Water resistance: 50 fathoms (91/300ft/9 bar) Glass: Biosourced material with anti-scratch coating Hand, hour markers, 60 minutes diving scale: Grade A Super-LumiNova Bezel: One-direction rotating bezel in beige Bioceramic material with anti-scratch coating insert in orange Strap: NATO strap made from recycled fishing nets removed from the sea Pacific Ocean Price: £340 Case Material: Yellow-orange Bioceramic case including crown Case diameter: 42.3 mm Case thickness: 14.4 mm Lug-to-lug distance: 48.0 mm Movement: SISTEM51 mechanical movement Water resistance: 50 fathoms (91 m / 300 ft / 9 bar) Glass: Biosourced material treated with an anti-scratch coating Hands, hour markers, 60 minutes diving scale: Grade A Super-LumiNova Bezel: one-direction rotating bezel in warm yellow Bioceramic material with anti-scratch coating insert in black Strap: NATO strap made from recycled fishing nets removed from the sea Atlantic Ocean Price: £340 Case Material: blue Bioceramic case including crown Case diameter: 42.3 mm Case thickness: 14.4 mm Lug-to-lug distance: 48.0 mm Movement: SISTEM51 mechanical movement Water resistance: 50 fathoms (91 m / 300 ft / 9 bar) Glass: Biosourced material treated with an anti-scratch coating Hands, hour markers, 60 minutes diving scale: Grade A Super-LumiNova Bezel: one-direction rotating bezel in ocean blue Bioceramic material with anti-scratch coating insert in black Strap: NATO strap made from recycled fishing nets removed from the sea Indian Ocean Price: £340 Case Material: green Bioceramic case including crown Case diameter: 42.3 mm Case thickness: 14.4 mm Lug-to-lug distance: 48.0 mm Movement: SISTEM51 mechanical movement Water resistance: 50 fathoms (91 m / 300 ft / 9 bar) Glass: Biosourced material treated with an anti-scratch coating Hands, hour markers, 60 minutes diving scale: Grade A Super-LumiNova Bezel: one-direction rotating bezel in green Bioceramic material with anti-scratch coating insert in black Strap: NATO strap made from recycled fishing nets removed from the sea Antarctic Ocean Price: £340 Case Material: ice white Bioceramic case including crown Case diameter: 42.3 mm Case thickness: 14.4 mm Lug-to-lug distance: 48.0 mm Movement: SISTEM51 mechanical movement Water resistance: 50 fathoms (91 m / 300 ft /9 bar) Glass: Biosourced material treated with an anti-scratch coating Hands, hour markers, 60 minutes diving scale: Grade A Super-LumiNova Bezel: one-direction rotating bezel in ice-white Bioceramic material with anti-scratch coating insert in dark grey Strap: NATO strap made from recycled fishing nets removed from the sea Where can I buy the Blancpain X Swatch collection? The non-limited collections mean the collaboration is set for continuous rollout, so the good news is – you won’t have to rush to the nearest Swatch store to grab yours as soon as possible. With the worldwide launch taking off on 9 September, you can purchase your selected watch in the nearest Swatch store. What is bioceramic made of? Swatch first began converting its collections to use a new bio-sourced plastic derived from castor oil in 2020. This new plastic is also combined with ceramic to create “bioceramic”. Noted by Swatch as a “recipe for innovation,” now, similar to the MoonSwatch, this year’s collab is housed in Swatch’s hybrid plastic-ceramic material. But what makes this watch slightly more pricy is the inside, built-in with an automatic movement in place of quartz. Despite the fancy upgrade, the Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms gives buyers the chance to wear the branded name on their wrists for hundreds of pounds. Read More Period and fertility tracking apps scrutinised over data security concerns World’s largest wind turbine breaks record for power generated in a single day AI can help generate synthetic viruses and spark pandemics, warns ex-Google executive Inside the world of luxury watch robberies as owners warned ‘Rolex Rippers’ could be watching them Best smartwatches for kids 2023 – GPS, cameras, games and more

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It might sound more like the kind of idle daydream billionaires like Elon Musk would have, but could flooding the Sahara actually be the best way of tackling climate change in the future? The idea of creating a new “sea” in Africa is being discussed, and it’s not the first time that the notion of a great oasis in the Sahara has been discussed among the scientific community. As the ongoing climate crisis continues to worsen, the notion of flooding vast areas of the desert is being returned to once again [via IFL Science]. A new “sea” was first proposed following the study of the Messinian salinity crisis – which saw a dried-out area of the Mediterranean rejuvenated by the Zanclean flood, reconnecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean around 5.33 million years ago. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Given how the Mediterranean was transformed by the flood, the idea of flooding the Sahara to achieve similar results has been thrown around in the scientific community as far back as 1877, the Scottish engineer Donald McKenzie suggested flooding the El Djouf basin in Western Africa. The idea is now returning to popularity as the world looks for solutions to the climate crisis. One proposal centres on the Middle East’s Dead Sea and flooding the area using water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea Depression. A vast sea in Africa could represent a hugely innovative step towards tackling climate change and fostering a new hub of life – but even the people suggesting work such a project acknowledge just how expensive and dangerous it is. Even Y Combinator is a US startup accelerator who has described “desert flooding” as “risky, unproven, even unlikely to work”. Only time will tell whether the notion of a new sea in the Sahara coud ever work, or whether it’ll remain the stuff of dreams. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.