On Safer Internet Day — February 6 — Google announced the launch of an online safety course in Arabic (g.co/DigitalCitizenshipCourseAR). The course is designed to help teachers and parents learn how to create a safe and positive experience online for students. By taking the course, teachers will learn how to integrate online safety learning and activities into their classroom curriculum. Google also published localized video tutorials on YouTube that will offer children online safety tips like how to protect their devices, how to strengthen their sign-ins and how to avoid scams.
The digital citizenship course, which is found on the Google for Education website, focuses on four areas:
l Safety on the go — importance of strong passwords, how locking the mobile device helps protect personal information, how to avoid potentially harmful downloads, understanding the difference between private and public WiFi networks, and how to use the latter safely.
l Safe browsing — how to distinguish between legitimate and dubious sources of information and how to incorporate best practices to critically evaluate online sources of information.
l Safety from phishing and scams — how to recognize potential scams that happen on the web and through email, learning how to avoid them, understanding what encryption is, and how to check if a web page is encrypted.
l Online reputation management — understanding why privacy matters, how to help students identify and report inappropriate behavior, and help them think about how to conduct themselves online, even in the face of difficult situations.
Joyce Baz, head of communications at Google in MENA, said: “As people do more online everyday, they need to be able to connect and explore the web with confidence and trust to get the most out of it. We want to build a safer web for everyone so that it remains a positive, safe place that inspires everyone to do and discover more. We take online safety and the safety of the Internet seriously with our products, tools, shared resources, as well as industry partnerships.”
According to a 2017 YouGov poll that surveyed 1000 millennials (ages 18-30) in the UAE, 56 percent of respondents said their parents or school teachers never spoke to them about the importance of strong passwords and online safety (54 percent in Saudi Arabia, 60 percent in Egypt).
Google launches Arabic online safety course for teachers
Google launches Arabic online safety course for teachers
Australian minister Don Farrell launches LuLu festival
Regional retail chain Lulu Hypermarket officially launched the Australian Fest on Wednesday at its Diplomatic Quarter branch in Riyadh. The grand inauguration was led by Senator Don Farrell, minister for trade and tourism and special minister of state for Australia, as the chief guest. The event, which celebrated the rich culinary heritage and premium produce of Australia, was attended by a high-level delegation from the Australian government, alongside Mohammed Haris, director of LuLu Hypermarket Saudi Arabia, and senior LuLu officials.
The festivities commenced at the supermarket entrance, where Farrell performed the official ribbon-cutting ceremony under a beautifully designed, Australian-themed ceremonial gate. This marked the formal opening of a week-long celebration dedicated to bringing the best of Australian flavors to the Saudi capital. Following the inauguration, the minister led a guided store walk-through, exploring premium product showcases and vibrant displays in the Meat Area. A dedicated thematic showcase of fresh fruits and vegetables from Australia was also highlighted, emphasizing the authenticity and freshness that the country’s agriculture is known for globally.
The tour reached a celebratory peak at the bakery section, where the chief guest was invited for a commemorative cake-cutting ceremony to mark the launch of the festival. During his official address, Farrell shared his insights on the significance of the event, stating that it is a pleasure to witness the Australian Fest in Riyadh. He said that the event is more than just a showcase of Australian products, but rather a testament to the growing partnership between Australia and Saudi Arabia, making these high-quality products easily accessible to shoppers in the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Haris expressed his gratitude for the visit, noting that the team is deeply honored to welcome Farrell and the Australian government delegates. He said that the Australian Fest is a cornerstone of LuLu’s commitment to offering customers global diversity and the highest quality products. He further added that LuLu is proud to serve as the bridge connecting Saudi shoppers with the authentic excellence of Australian agriculture.
The Australian Fest is offering residents an exclusive opportunity to explore and purchase a wide variety of Australian-made products at special promotional prices.
