Two parents were arrested by the police in Pennsylvania, United States&nbsp;after the authorities discovered seven children living in what they termed as “unsanitary” and “unsafe living conditions”, which included faeces on the floor of the home and caged rats.

The police reached the house after someone reported on April 23 about three children who were seen entering an abandoned trailer in West Rockhill Township, located 40 miles north of Philadelphia, as per a police affidavit filed on May 19. 
 
When the children were found by the police, they spoke to their parents and sent them back to their home which was next to the abandoned trailer. 
 
In the house, the police officers observed “deplorable living conditions” and found a refrigerator which was secured using a padlock. 
 
The mother, identified as Crystal Robertson, said to police that the refrigerator was locked because the children were “'stealing’ everything and referred to the children as ‘garbage disposals with legs',” as per the police affidavit. The police stated that the parents are facing felony charges.

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-murder-suspect-gives-the-slip-to-security-officials-escapes-us-courtroom-571091">&nbsp;Watch: Murder suspect gives the slip to security officials, escapes US courtroom</a>

Later, when the police officers returned to the home for a report with Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency, they found four more children inside the house. 
 
In one of the rooms, they discovered approximately two dozen rats in cages, as per the affidavit. They also found faeces on the floor in another area of the house.

 
“There was also a bad odour… and several bugs,” read the affidavit. They also found “two dogs, two turtles, two rabbits, snakes, toads, and a four-foot reptile”, read the affidavit.

<h2>Children exhibited social anxiety: police</h2>

The police took the children into protective custody and sent them to a hospital for receiving medical treatment. 
 
Later, an investigation revealed none of the seven children had gone to school and were lacking basic knowledge, as per the police authorities. The children also exhibited social anxiety, stated the police.

WATCH |&nbsp;Serbia: 8 dead, 13 injured in second mass shooting in two days | World News | WION

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The government authorities stated that through medical evaluations it was concluded that the children were “clinically underweight and malnourished.” 
 
“Personal hygiene of the children was also found to be concerning, resulting in two of the children having to shave their hair due to severe matting,” as per a news release from the Pennridge Regional Police Department. 
 
“The father, Shane William Robertson, and the mother were charged with seven felony counts each of endangering the welfare of children,” as per the press release issued by the police. “Both posted the requisite 10 per cent of the $10,000 bail amount,” stated police.

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Two parents were arrested by the police in Pennsylvania, United States after the authorities discovered seven children living in what they termed as “unsanitary” and “unsafe living conditions”, which included faeces on the floor of the home and caged rats.

Two parents were arrested by the police in Pennsylvania, United States after the authorities discovered seven children living in what they termed as “unsanitary” and “unsafe living conditions”, which included faeces on the floor of the home and caged rats. The police reached the house after someone reported on April 23 about three children who were seen entering an abandoned trailer in West Rockhill Township, located 40 miles north of Philadelphia, as per a police affidavit filed on May 19. When the children were found by the police, they spoke to their parents and sent them back to their home which was next to the abandoned trailer. In the house, the police officers observed “deplorable living conditions” and found a refrigerator which was secured using a padlock. The mother, identified as Crystal Robertson, said to police that the refrigerator was locked because the children were “'stealing’ everything and referred to the children as ‘garbage disposals with legs',” as per the police affidavit. The police stated that the parents are facing felony charges. ALSO READ | Watch: Murder suspect gives the slip to security officials, escapes US courtroom Later, when the police officers returned to the home for a report with Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency, they found four more children inside the house. In one of the rooms, they discovered approximately two dozen rats in cages, as per the affidavit. They also found faeces on the floor in another area of the house. “There was also a bad odour… and several bugs,” read the affidavit. They also found “two dogs, two turtles, two rabbits, snakes, toads, and a four-foot reptile”, read the affidavit. Children exhibited social anxiety: police The police took the children into protective custody and sent them to a hospital for receiving medical treatment. Later, an investigation revealed none of the seven children had gone to school and were lacking basic knowledge, as per the police authorities. The children also exhibited social anxiety, stated the police. WATCH | Serbia: 8 dead, 13 injured in second mass shooting in two days | World News | WION The government authorities stated that through medical evaluations it was concluded that the children were “clinically underweight and malnourished.” “Personal hygiene of the children was also found to be concerning, resulting in two of the children having to shave their hair due to severe matting,” as per a news release from the Pennridge Regional Police Department. “The father, Shane William Robertson, and the mother were charged with seven felony counts each of endangering the welfare of children,” as per the press release issued by the police. “Both posted the requisite 10 per cent of the $10,000 bail amount,” stated police. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Police arrest parents after 7 kids found living with caged rats, faeces

A significant winter storm that hit several cities in the western U.S. over the weekend is now expected to move throughout the country. Watch this video to know more.

WION Climate Tracker: Nationwide snow storm expected to hit parts of U.S.

The hashtag 'Santa isn't real' has been trending with millions of views on TikTok. Many parents suggest that they don't want their kids to believe a lie. Some believe that the magic of Christmas shouldn’t be built up on Santa.

WION Fineprint: Gen Z parents try to cancel Santa

Parents in Bangladesh get increasingly fearful for the future of their kids as the world population crosses the 8 billion threshold. Topping their worries is whether there will be enough resources available for their children as they grow up. Mariam Wardak gets you a report on this week's South Asia Diary.

South Asia Diary | Parents worry for their kids as population booms

Parents are adopting a new style of parenting called free-range parenting. The idea behind this is to let the children learn things themselves and trust them to make their own decisions.

WION Fineprint | All about free-range parenting

Research by the top US investigation agency, the FBI, revealed that cybercriminals into sextortion are not even sparing the parents of dead teenagers who became their&nbsp;victims and took their lives. Innocent teenagers who get swayed and often end up being targeted by sextortion scammers. Many teenagers have taken their lives after sending their nude images to these cybercriminals.

Federal Investigation Bureau gave out a warning pointing that these cybercriminal gangs are now demanding money from parents and siblings of the dead children who became their sextortion victims. These gangs have been found giving out threats to the parents that if they refuse to pay, the nude pictures of their children will be publicly released.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/science/study-shows-practising-mindfulness-worked-as-well-as-medication-prescribed-for-anxiety-532735">Study shows practicing mindfulness worked as well as medication prescribed for anxiety</a>

Veteran Homeland Security Investigations supervisory special agent Jim Cole told Forbes, “There is no empathy or compassion." The FBI findings also reveal that sextortion cases have skyrocketed over the last 18 months. It also noted that the number of cases where the victims end up taking their lives is also on the rise.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/netflix-sets-first-live-streamed-event-with-chris-rock-special-533106">Netflix sets first live-streamed event with Chris Rock special</a>

FBI in a search warrant detailing an investigation into a sextortion campaign being organised via Facebook messages said that they witnessed “a high rate of suicide in minor male victims of financially motivated sextortion schemes." It also highlighted that the victims “committed suicide within a relatively short time period, sometimes within hours, of the sextortion occurring.”

“Youth are a particularly vulnerable community, yet still have some financial access that's making it lucrative for these bad actors to be able to take advantage of,” said Lauren Coffren, an executive director at the National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children (NCMEC).

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-cop27-climate-summit-co2-emissions-to-hit-all-time-high-says-study-533120">UN COP27 Climate Summit: CO2 emissions to hit an all-time high, says study</a>

Sextortion has not remained limited to demanding money from the victim and threatening them. It has truly transformed into a much more violent criminal ecosystem, the FBI investigation showed.&nbsp;

Cops while investigating a case claimed that a suspect once wrote, “I’m not afraid of killing someone . . . I'm afraid of getting caught.”

&nbsp;

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Research by the top US investigation agency, the FBI, revealed that cybercriminals into sextortion are not even sparing the parents of dead teenagers who became their victims and took their lives.

Research by the top US investigation agency, the FBI, revealed that cybercriminals into sextortion are not even sparing the parents of dead teenagers who became their victims and took their lives. Innocent teenagers who get swayed and often end up being targeted by sextortion scammers. Many teenagers have taken their lives after sending their nude images to these cybercriminals. Federal Investigation Bureau gave out a warning pointing that these cybercriminal gangs are now demanding money from parents and siblings of the dead children who became their sextortion victims. These gangs have been found giving out threats to the parents that if they refuse to pay, the nude pictures of their children will be publicly released. ALSO READ | Study shows practicing mindfulness worked as well as medication prescribed for anxiety Veteran Homeland Security Investigations supervisory special agent Jim Cole told Forbes, “There is no empathy or compassion." The FBI findings also reveal that sextortion cases have skyrocketed over the last 18 months. It also noted that the number of cases where the victims end up taking their lives is also on the rise. ALSO READ | Netflix sets first live-streamed event with Chris Rock special FBI in a search warrant detailing an investigation into a sextortion campaign being organised via Facebook messages said that they witnessed “a high rate of suicide in minor male victims of financially motivated sextortion schemes." It also highlighted that the victims “committed suicide within a relatively short time period, sometimes within hours, of the sextortion occurring.” “Youth are a particularly vulnerable community, yet still have some financial access that's making it lucrative for these bad actors to be able to take advantage of,” said Lauren Coffren, an executive director at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). WATCH | UN COP27 Climate Summit: CO2 emissions to hit an all-time high, says study Sextortion has not remained limited to demanding money from the victim and threatening them. It has truly transformed into a much more violent criminal ecosystem, the FBI investigation showed. Cops while investigating a case claimed that a suspect once wrote, “I’m not afraid of killing someone . . . I'm afraid of getting caught.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sextortion gets darker: Parents receive threats of their dead children's nudes being made public

Parents of young children in London are being urged to make sure their children are vaccinated against Polio. Youngsters aged between one and nine years old being offered a second booster dose.

London: Parents urged to get their children vaccinated against polio

During a July 4th parade in Highland Park on Monday, a mass shooting claimed the lives of two parents of a 2-year-old child.Among the seven victims killed in the shooting spree were Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35. During the commotion, their youngster, Aiden, was split up from his parents.

The toddler was escorted to safety by some parade participants after becoming separated from his parents during the commotion. According to officials, the cops then turned him over to his grandparents.

Before being reunited with his family, the child's picture of him strolling around the gunshot scene became viral and was shared on social media.

According to reports, the young child told his grandparents that "mommy and daddy are arriving soon" and seemed shocked.

Watch | July 4 Parade Shooting: Suspect charged with 7 counts of first-degree murder

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According to his grandfather, the 2-year-old kid lived because his father covered him with his body.

Community people have started a fundraiser to raise money for the child.

More than $1 million raised

More than $1 million has been raised so far for the&nbsp;2-year-old toddler. Already, more than 19,000 people have contributed to the cause.The family friend-founded fundraiser aims to raise money for the son of Irina and Kevin McCarthy.

Aiming to "assist him and the caregivers who will be tasked with raising, caring for, and supporting Aiden as he and his support system embark on this unexpected path," the online campaign stated that it is intended to help.

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During a July 4th parade in Highland Park on Monday, a mass shooting claimed the lives of two parents of a 2-year-old child.Among the seven victims killed in the shooting spree were Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35.

During a July 4th parade in Highland Park on Monday, a mass shooting claimed the lives of two parents of a 2-year-old child.Among the seven victims killed in the shooting spree were Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35. During the commotion, their youngster, Aiden, was split up from his parents. The toddler was escorted to safety by some parade participants after becoming separated from his parents during the commotion. According to officials, the cops then turned him over to his grandparents. Before being reunited with his family, the child's picture of him strolling around the gunshot scene became viral and was shared on social media. According to reports, the young child told his grandparents that "mommy and daddy are arriving soon" and seemed shocked. Watch | July 4 Parade Shooting: Suspect charged with 7 counts of first-degree murder According to his grandfather, the 2-year-old kid lived because his father covered him with his body. Community people have started a fundraiser to raise money for the child. More than $1 million raised More than $1 million has been raised so far for the 2-year-old toddler. Already, more than 19,000 people have contributed to the cause.The family friend-founded fundraiser aims to raise money for the son of Irina and Kevin McCarthy. Aiming to "assist him and the caregivers who will be tasked with raising, caring for, and supporting Aiden as he and his support system embark on this unexpected path," the online campaign stated that it is intended to help. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

2-year-old boy left orphaned after parents killed in US mass shooting

Italy’s constitutional court has ruled that the practice of children taking only the father’s surname is ‘discriminatory and harmful to their identity’ and it further instructed that Italian children will be given the surname of both parents with the decision to change it lying with the family in the future.

In a statement released by the court, it said that the goal of this ruling is to provide both parents with equal power in the decision and this will be the norm unless there is a prior request.

The ruling will still have to be approved by the Italian government but family minister, Elena Bonetti, has said that the government will be supporting the parliament in implementing this change.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-votes-overwhelmingly-in-favour-of-supplying-heavy-weapons-to-ukraine-amid-ongoing-conflict-474643">Germany votes overwhelmingly in favour of supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine</a>

“We need to give substance [to the decision] ... and it is a high priority and urgent task of politics to do so,” Bonetti wrote in a post on Facebook. She added that the decision is a welcome one and insisted that both mother and father should share the responsibilities when it comes to their child.

There was also a lot of support from other members of the Italian parliament as president of the South Tyrolean People’s Party (SVP) Renate Gebhard said that is time for the matter to be accepted in the parliament.

"This issue has been dragging on from one parliamentary term to the next, it is time to decide," he said according to a Reuters report.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-21st-century-war-is-an-absurdity-un-chief-antonio-guterres-visits-destroyed-ukrainian-towns-474656" hreflang="en">In 21st century, war is an absurdity: UN chief visits destroyed Ukraine towns</a>

The report further said that Laura Boldrini, an MP for the Democratic party, also welcomed the ruling and said - "It is now up to Parliament to make this leap forward in terms of civilisation. Parents have equal responsibility and equal rights, no more discrimination that penalises mothers and children."

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(With inputs from agencies)

Italy’s constitutional court has ruled that the practice of children taking only the father’s surname is ‘discriminatory and harmful to their identity’ and it further instructed that Italian children will be given the surname of both parents with the decision to change it lying with the family in the future.

Italy’s constitutional court has ruled that the practice of children taking only the father’s surname is ‘discriminatory and harmful to their identity’ and it further instructed that Italian children will be given the surname of both parents with the decision to change it lying with the family in the future. In a statement released by the court, it said that the goal of this ruling is to provide both parents with equal power in the decision and this will be the norm unless there is a prior request. The ruling will still have to be approved by the Italian government but family minister, Elena Bonetti, has said that the government will be supporting the parliament in implementing this change. Also read | Germany votes overwhelmingly in favour of supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine “We need to give substance [to the decision] ... and it is a high priority and urgent task of politics to do so,” Bonetti wrote in a post on Facebook. She added that the decision is a welcome one and insisted that both mother and father should share the responsibilities when it comes to their child. There was also a lot of support from other members of the Italian parliament as president of the South Tyrolean People’s Party (SVP) Renate Gebhard said that is time for the matter to be accepted in the parliament. "This issue has been dragging on from one parliamentary term to the next, it is time to decide," he said according to a Reuters report. Also read | In 21st century, war is an absurdity: UN chief visits destroyed Ukraine towns The report further said that Laura Boldrini, an MP for the Democratic party, also welcomed the ruling and said - "It is now up to Parliament to make this leap forward in terms of civilisation. Parents have equal responsibility and equal rights, no more discrimination that penalises mothers and children." WATCH WION LIVE HERE (With inputs from agencies)

Italian children should be given surnames of both mother and father, constitutional court rules

A&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;judge on Friday blocked investigations into the parents of transgender minors, halting for the time being a controversial directive by the southern US state's governor.&nbsp;

"Victory," the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;said on Twitter.&nbsp;

"A judge has blocked Gov. Greg Abbott and TexasDFPS's unlawful actions targeting essential medical care for transgender youth," it added, referring to the state's Department of Family and Protective Services.

Judge Amy Clark ruled Abbott's directive was unconstitutional, saying transgender minors and their parents would suffer "imminent and irreparable injury" if the directive was not halted, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vice-president-kamala-harris-faces-flak-for-laughing-on-question-over-ukrainian-refugees-fate-461512">&nbsp;US Vice-President Kamala Harris faces flak for laughing on question over Ukrainian refugees’ fate</a>

Abbott issued the directive late last month to the DFPS to investigate instances of minors receiving gender-affirming medication and "sex change procedures," which he argued "constitute child abuse under existing&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;law."

Texas&nbsp;Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said he would appeal the ruling on Friday.&nbsp;

"Democrat judge tries to halt legal and necessary investigations into those trying to abuse our kids through 'trans' surgeries and prescription drugs," he wrote on Twitter.

"I'm appealing. I'll win this fight to protect our&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;children."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-spy-agency-probes-sabotage-of-satellite-internet-during-russian-invasion-sources-461510">US spy agency probes sabotage of satellite internet during Russian invasion: Sources</a>

The ACLU and Lambda Legal, an LGBTQ rights organization, had already managed to suspend a probe into the parents of a 16-year-old transgender girl in early March, filing a lawsuit on behalf of the mother.&nbsp;

Shortly after Abbott's directive, the mother had been suspended by her employer, the DFPS, and visited by a state investigator who sought to learn whether her child was "currently transitioning from male to female,"&nbsp;court&nbsp;documents said.

US President Joe Biden has condemned Abbott for what he called a "cynical and dangerous campaign targeting transgender children and their parents."

Watch |&nbsp;UNSC Meet: Russia accuses US of backing bioweapons program

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Gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, much like participation by transgender athletes in sports competitions or the use of toilets according to their gender identity, is the subject of extensive debate in the United States, where many conservative states have moved to adopt restrictive regulations.

A Texas judge on Friday blocked investigations into the parents of transgender minors, halting for the time being a controversial directive by the southern US state's governor.

A Texas judge on Friday blocked investigations into the parents of transgender minors, halting for the time being a controversial directive by the southern US state's governor. "Victory," the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Texas said on Twitter. "A judge has blocked Gov. Greg Abbott and TexasDFPS's unlawful actions targeting essential medical care for transgender youth," it added, referring to the state's Department of Family and Protective Services. Judge Amy Clark ruled Abbott's directive was unconstitutional, saying transgender minors and their parents would suffer "imminent and irreparable injury" if the directive was not halted, the Houston Chronicle reported. Also read | US Vice-President Kamala Harris faces flak for laughing on question over Ukrainian refugees’ fate Abbott issued the directive late last month to the DFPS to investigate instances of minors receiving gender-affirming medication and "sex change procedures," which he argued "constitute child abuse under existing Texas law." Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said he would appeal the ruling on Friday. "Democrat judge tries to halt legal and necessary investigations into those trying to abuse our kids through 'trans' surgeries and prescription drugs," he wrote on Twitter. "I'm appealing. I'll win this fight to protect our Texas children." Also read | US spy agency probes sabotage of satellite internet during Russian invasion: Sources The ACLU and Lambda Legal, an LGBTQ rights organization, had already managed to suspend a probe into the parents of a 16-year-old transgender girl in early March, filing a lawsuit on behalf of the mother. Shortly after Abbott's directive, the mother had been suspended by her employer, the DFPS, and visited by a state investigator who sought to learn whether her child was "currently transitioning from male to female," court documents said. US President Joe Biden has condemned Abbott for what he called a "cynical and dangerous campaign targeting transgender children and their parents." Watch | UNSC Meet: Russia accuses US of backing bioweapons program Gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, much like participation by transgender athletes in sports competitions or the use of toilets according to their gender identity, is the subject of extensive debate in the United States, where many conservative states have moved to adopt restrictive regulations.

Texas court suspends investigations of parents of transgender minors

A civil lawsuit has been filed by the family of Gabby Petito against Christopher and Roberta Laundrie. In it, the complainants have alleged that they knew their son, Brian Laundrie, murdered Gabby Petito and were trying to help him flee the country. &nbsp;

Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt have also alleged Brian Laundrie told his parents about killing Gabby Petito around August 28. &nbsp;

"While Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt were desperately searching for information concerning their daughter, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie were keeping the whereabouts of Brian Laundrie secret, and it is believed were making arrangements for him to leave the country," the suit alleged. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-conflict-russia-violates-nuclear-safety-principles-in-ukraine-says-us-461477">In conflict, Russia violates nuclear safety principles in Ukraine, says US</a>

Although a coroner earlier said Gabby Petito's cause of death was manual strangulation, the lawsuit listed&nbsp;blunt force injuries to her head and neck along with manual strangulation as the cause of her death. &nbsp;

On August 27, Schmidt's had last communication with her daughter, the suit said. As per it, on August 30, Brian, who was pretending to be Gabby, sent a text message to Schmidt that there was no service in Yosemite Park. The family thinks this was done to make them believe Gabby Petito was still alive. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie knew of the mental suffering and anguish of Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, and knew that they could alleviate, at least in part, such mental suffering and anguish by disclosing what they knew about the well-being and the location of the remains of Gabrielle Petito, yet they repeatedly refused to do so," the suit said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-worlds-longest-car-the-american-dream-gets-restored-in-us-whats-so-special-461569" hreflang="en">Watch: World's longest car "The American Dream" gets restored in US. What’s so special?</a>

"In doing so, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie acted with malice or great indifference to the rights of Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt," it continued. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Gabby Petito's parents are asking for a judge to compensate them for "pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, and the loss of the capacity for enjoyment of life experienced in the past and in the future." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A civil lawsuit has been filed by the family of Gabby Petito against Christopher and Roberta Laundrie. In it, the complainants have alleged that they knew their son, Brian Laundrie, murdered Gabby Petito and were trying to help him flee the country.

A civil lawsuit has been filed by the family of Gabby Petito against Christopher and Roberta Laundrie. In it, the complainants have alleged that they knew their son, Brian Laundrie, murdered Gabby Petito and were trying to help him flee the country. Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt have also alleged Brian Laundrie told his parents about killing Gabby Petito around August 28. "While Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt were desperately searching for information concerning their daughter, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie were keeping the whereabouts of Brian Laundrie secret, and it is believed were making arrangements for him to leave the country," the suit alleged. Also Read: In conflict, Russia violates nuclear safety principles in Ukraine, says US Although a coroner earlier said Gabby Petito's cause of death was manual strangulation, the lawsuit listed blunt force injuries to her head and neck along with manual strangulation as the cause of her death. On August 27, Schmidt's had last communication with her daughter, the suit said. As per it, on August 30, Brian, who was pretending to be Gabby, sent a text message to Schmidt that there was no service in Yosemite Park. The family thinks this was done to make them believe Gabby Petito was still alive. "Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie knew of the mental suffering and anguish of Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, and knew that they could alleviate, at least in part, such mental suffering and anguish by disclosing what they knew about the well-being and the location of the remains of Gabrielle Petito, yet they repeatedly refused to do so," the suit said. Also Read: Watch: World's longest car "The American Dream" gets restored in US. What’s so special? "In doing so, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie acted with malice or great indifference to the rights of Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt," it continued. Gabby Petito's parents are asking for a judge to compensate them for "pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, and the loss of the capacity for enjoyment of life experienced in the past and in the future." (With inputs from agencies)

Gabby Petito’ family files civil lawsuit against Brian Laundrie's parents, claims they knew of her killing

A school&nbsp;in the US&nbsp;seems to have told its teachers to not inform the parents of children, who come out as transgender and non-binary, about it, said a report.&nbsp;

Walsh Middle School, which is a part of Round Rock Independent School District, gave an instruction to its teachers about how to deal with such students. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/time-for-security-fedex-looks-to-get-missile-defence-system-for-cargo-planes-in-us-444886">Time for security? FedEx looks to get missile-defence system for cargo planes</a>

The school, which is located in a suburb of Austin, in the state of Texas, told them not to "contact their parents and out them to their families." &nbsp;

The school district has said that this training material for the teachers of this institution was not approved by it and cannot be used in the area, reported The Daily Caller. &nbsp;

The district was also "reviewing this incident and ensuring protocols are in place that such presentations are reviewed and approved in advance." &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/robert-f-kennedy-assassin-sirhan-sirhan-denied-parole-by-california-governor-444876" hreflang="en">Robert F Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan denied parole by California governor</a>

In the material, the teachers have also been guided on how to interact with transgender and non-binary students. It also included about how to correct oneself after misgendering someone. &nbsp;

Not just this, it also told them to correct students, who misgendered a transgender or non-binary individual. They were also asked to avoid using gendered language in general. &nbsp;

After learning about the incident, several parents have sued school officials. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A school in the US seems to have told its teachers to not inform the parents of children, who come out as transgender and non-binary, about it, said a report. Walsh Middle School, which is a part of Round Rock Independent School District, gave an instruction to its teachers about how to deal with such students.

A school in the US seems to have told its teachers to not inform the parents of children, who come out as transgender and non-binary, about it, said a report. Walsh Middle School, which is a part of Round Rock Independent School District, gave an instruction to its teachers about how to deal with such students. Also Read: Time for security? FedEx looks to get missile-defence system for cargo planes The school, which is located in a suburb of Austin, in the state of Texas, told them not to "contact their parents and out them to their families." The school district has said that this training material for the teachers of this institution was not approved by it and cannot be used in the area, reported The Daily Caller. The district was also "reviewing this incident and ensuring protocols are in place that such presentations are reviewed and approved in advance." Also Read: Robert F Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan denied parole by California governor In the material, the teachers have also been guided on how to interact with transgender and non-binary students. It also included about how to correct oneself after misgendering someone. Not just this, it also told them to correct students, who misgendered a transgender or non-binary individual. They were also asked to avoid using gendered language in general. After learning about the incident, several parents have sued school officials. (With inputs from agencies)

US school tells teachers to hide student's transgender or non-binary identity from parents, says report   

In order to raise concern over reintroduction of two books containing depictions of sexual activity, parents protested outside Luther Jackson Middle School, where board meeting of Fairfax County Public Schools was being held on Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

"They’ve doubled down on porn in the schools. They’ve all got to go. Who’s in favour of porn in the schools?," Stacy Langton, a mother in Fairfax County, who confronted the school board over the books in September, told Fox News.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-vaccination-ad-mysteriously-appears-at-nyc-bus-stop-433778" hreflang="en">Anti-vaccination ad mysteriously appears at NYC bus stop</a>

In the protest, several parents could be seen wearing T-shirts, which read, "Mama Grizzly" and "Papa Grizzly" and holding signs like, "No porn in our schools", "Resign FairfaXXX" and others. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"We're here because we don’t want any porn in the schools," Angela Boyer, a woman whose daughter graduated from a Fairfax public school, told Fox News. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaffe-prone-us-president-joe-biden-now-confuses-six-day-war-with-yom-kippur-battle-433691" hreflang="en">Gaffe-prone US President Joe Biden now confuses Six-Day War with Yom Kippur battle</a>

It was the first meeting of the school board since the reintroduction of the controversial books. The books are Jonathan Evison’s "Lawn Boy" and Maia Kobabe’s "Gender Queer: A Memoir". &nbsp;

The Fairfax County Public Schools had restored the books after two committees, which consisted of administrators, librarians, parents and students, reviewed them. The panels had claimed the books were not obscene and do not contain pedophilia. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In order to raise concern over reintroduction of two books containing depictions of sexual activity, parents protested outside Luther Jackson Middle School, where board meeting of Fairfax County Public Schools was being held on Thursday.

In order to raise concern over reintroduction of two books containing depictions of sexual activity, parents protested outside Luther Jackson Middle School, where board meeting of Fairfax County Public Schools was being held on Thursday. "They’ve doubled down on porn in the schools. They’ve all got to go. Who’s in favour of porn in the schools?," Stacy Langton, a mother in Fairfax County, who confronted the school board over the books in September, told Fox News. Also Read: Anti-vaccination ad mysteriously appears at NYC bus stop In the protest, several parents could be seen wearing T-shirts, which read, "Mama Grizzly" and "Papa Grizzly" and holding signs like, "No porn in our schools", "Resign FairfaXXX" and others. "We're here because we don’t want any porn in the schools," Angela Boyer, a woman whose daughter graduated from a Fairfax public school, told Fox News. Also Read: Gaffe-prone US President Joe Biden now confuses Six-Day War with Yom Kippur battle It was the first meeting of the school board since the reintroduction of the controversial books. The books are Jonathan Evison’s "Lawn Boy" and Maia Kobabe’s "Gender Queer: A Memoir". The Fairfax County Public Schools had restored the books after two committees, which consisted of administrators, librarians, parents and students, reviewed them. The panels had claimed the books were not obscene and do not contain pedophilia. (With inputs from agencies)

Parents protest introduction of 'porn in schools', seek board’s resignation in US county

In what can be termed as a one-of-its-kind incident, a 41-year-old man in the UK has lost the legal battle demanding “maintenance for life” from his wealthy parents.

Faiz Siddiqui had said in his plea that his human rights were being violated.&nbsp;

The Oxford graduate and out-of-work solicitor says he is completely dependent on his elderly mother and father.&nbsp;

For years, Siddiqui had been getting handouts and was living rent-free in a £1million flat that his parents owned near Hyde Park.

However, after a family falling-out, his 'long-suffering' parents, who live in Dubai, cut their support. This is when he decided to sue his parents.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/i-aint-paying-tom-hanks-turned-down-jeff-bezos-offer-to-take-blue-origin-space-flight-426654">Also read |&nbsp;'I ain't paying': Tom Hanks turned down Jeff Bezos' offer to take Blue Origin space flight</a>

The Court of Appeal has thrown out his claim, saying that married parents have 'no legal duty to support their adult children'.&nbsp;

Before the fallout, the parents had been giving Siddiqui £400 every week for his expenses and paying his bills and other expenses. The lawyers of his parents described Siddiqui as "difficult and demanding" and said that his parents were "long-suffering".&nbsp;

The man had earlier sued Oxford University for £1,000,000 in 2018 over his failure to get first-class honours. He had claimed that what he was taught was inadequate. However, he lost that case too.

Siddiqui, who also trained as a lawyer, has practised at top law firms and also worked at Ernst &amp; Young as a tax advisor. He is also a qualified solicitor. However, he has been jobless since 2011.

In what can be termed as a one-of-its-kind incident, a 41-year-old man in the UK has lost the legal battle demanding “maintenance for life” from his wealthy parents.

In what can be termed as a one-of-its-kind incident, a 41-year-old man in the UK has lost the legal battle demanding “maintenance for life” from his wealthy parents. Faiz Siddiqui had said in his plea that his human rights were being violated. The Oxford graduate and out-of-work solicitor says he is completely dependent on his elderly mother and father. For years, Siddiqui had been getting handouts and was living rent-free in a £1million flat that his parents owned near Hyde Park. However, after a family falling-out, his 'long-suffering' parents, who live in Dubai, cut their support. This is when he decided to sue his parents. Also read | 'I ain't paying': Tom Hanks turned down Jeff Bezos' offer to take Blue Origin space flight The Court of Appeal has thrown out his claim, saying that married parents have 'no legal duty to support their adult children'. Before the fallout, the parents had been giving Siddiqui £400 every week for his expenses and paying his bills and other expenses. The lawyers of his parents described Siddiqui as "difficult and demanding" and said that his parents were "long-suffering". The man had earlier sued Oxford University for £1,000,000 in 2018 over his failure to get first-class honours. He had claimed that what he was taught was inadequate. However, he lost that case too. Siddiqui, who also trained as a lawyer, has practised at top law firms and also worked at Ernst & Young as a tax advisor. He is also a qualified solicitor. However, he has been jobless since 2011.

'Maintenance for life': Jobless man sues parents; loses appeal

The Food and Drug Administration’s authorisation of a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 on Friday makes 28 million unvaccinated children in the United States suddenly eligible for the shot and offers the country an opportunity to make big inroads in its efforts to achieve broad immunity against the coronavirus.

But in a nation that has already struggled with COVID vaccine hesitancy, getting shots into those little arms may present health authorities with the toughest vaccination challenge yet.

Even many parents who are themselves vaccinated and approved the shot for their teenagers are churning over whether to give consent for their younger children, questioning if the risk of the unknowns of a new vaccine is worth it when most coronavirus cases in youngsters are mild.

In announcing its authorization of a lower-dose shot made by Pfizer and BioNTech for the age group, the FDA said clinical trial data showed the shot was safe and prompted strong immune responses in children. The most common side effects were fatigue, fever and headache.

Infectious disease experts say that with approaching holiday travel and family gatherings, widespread vaccination of younger children could help keep classes in person, reduce the likelihood of quarantines and lessen the risk of transmission to older, vulnerable adults, as well as protect the children from what has become the eighth-biggest killer in their age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To date, nearly 2 million children ages 5-11 have been infected with the virus, and 8,300 have been hospitalised. One-third of those hospitalised were admitted to intensive care units, and at least 170 have died.

But a report this month from researchers at Northeastern, Harvard, Rutgers and Northwestern universities found that parental concerns around the COVID vaccination had increased “significantly” from June through September. Chief among them, researchers said, were the newness of the vaccine, whether it has been sufficiently tested, efficacy, side effects and long-term health consequences.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/when-you-are-eligible-kamala-harris-gets-covid-19-booster-shot-urging-people-to-do-the-same-425404">Also read |&nbsp;'When you are eligible': Kamala Harris gets COVID-19 booster shot urging people to do the same</a>

According to a survey released Thursday by Kaiser Family Foundation, scarcely 1 in 3 parents will permit their children in this newly eligible age group to be vaccinated immediately. Two-thirds were either reluctant or adamantly opposed. An Axios-Ipsos poll found that 42% of parents of these children said they were unlikely to have their children vaccinated.

Erin Gauch, of Middletown, Rhode Island, got herself and her two older children, ages 14 and 12, vaccinated this summer. But she is worried about the potential side effects of the shots for her son. One of those side effects is myocarditis, a weakening of the heart muscle, that has been reported in a very small number of teenage boys and young men after getting a COVID shot.

“I’m looking at a 9-year-old, and if I make a bad decision and he ends up with some debilitating side effects or lifelong adverse reaction, I don’t think I could live with that,” she said.

This vaccine dilemma occurs at a turbulent cultural moment for parents of young children, who are often judged harshly on social media for their decisions. The choice can appear freighted with political affiliation. A decision can signify, intentionally or not, compassion or disregard for others and a willingness to follow or ignore advice from their pediatrician.

“If we ultimately decide not to get my youngest vaccinated right now, I guess I’ll be subjected to mommy shaming, but I’ll just have to deal with it,” Gauch said.

Many parents, like Gauch, are focusing on some research that suggests the rare possibility that young men and boys will develop pericarditis, a weakening of the lining around the heart, and myocarditis, but the clinical trial data the FDA reviewed showed no cases in the 5-11 age group. Many experts say that the conditions usually improve quickly and that COVID presents far greater risk of severe myocarditis.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-challenges-indigenous-children-compensation-in-favour-of-negotiating-425351">Also read |&nbsp;Canada challenges indigenous children compensation; in favour of negotiating</a>

The Biden administration recently announced that the shots would be given predominantly by pediatricians, community health centers and children’s hospitals, plus pharmacies and schools, which will carry the burden of persuading parents.

But a Kaiser policy brief noted that schools and pharmacists in regions where COVID vaccination rates are low may be reluctant to participate. Access in rural areas and for working parents will be considerable challenges, the authors said, and they noted that achieving equity will also be a concern; more than half of those newly eligible are children of color.

After what is expected to be an initial rush of eager parents (as happened with adults and teenagers), pediatricians say they are bracing for conversations they anticipate to be among the thorniest they have ever had.

“I know parents are probably bombarded with misinformation about vaccines, even within their social circles: ‘My friend said this. My mother-in-law said that,’” said Dr. Katherine Williamson, a pediatrician in Orange County, California. “I’m hoping I can make a difference.”

The decision is particularly hard for parents to make on behalf of their first child, said Emily Brunson, a medical anthropologist at Texas State University who researches parent vaccination choices. Because vaccine decision-making is so personal and complicated, she said, many parents are likely to put it off.

Vic Sandrin, who works for a bicycle company in Vancouver, Washington, supports vaccines but cautiously. He, his wife and their 18-year-old got the COVID vaccine grudgingly, to travel for work and family visits.

For his 11-year-old twins, however, he is content to wait.

“I’m willing to take a chance on myself, and that made sense; I’m an adult,” Sandrin said. “But for kids who already have strong immune systems, I don’t know if there’s a reason to get them vaccinated, or at least not just quite yet.”

At heart, the decision is about which unknown COVID or the vaccine&nbsp;parents fear more. They may stack factors such as social routines, older relatives, school protocols and the likelihood of severe illness to confirm their intuitive bias about whether to allow their child to get the shot.

Gauch, a mechanical engineer, calculated each family member’s risk individually. She has asthma, so for her, the vaccine was a no-brainer. Her 14-year-old daughter got her first job this summer; getting vaccinated meant she would not have to wear a face mask at work. And her 12-year-old daughter saw that getting vaccinated could open up possibilities of being maskless in public. Done and done.

But not only does Gauch worry about side effects in her 9-year-old son, she said that getting vaccinated will not release him from following other COVID rules because his school insists on masks and social distancing.

“He is much less likely to get COVID if they’re taking all these precautions,” she said. “So I just don’t see the risk payoff of the vaccine.”

Parents who were predisposed not to vaccinate their child tended to dismiss the threat of serious illness from COVID as minuscule, saying that children who became seriously ill most likely had underlying conditions.

The argument that vaccinating children contributes to the community’s overall health does not get much traction, either. Parents’ paramount focus is the well-being of their own child. Although health officials contend an important reason to vaccinate is to protect the child, some parents said they believed that their healthy children would be injected with a novel vaccine largely to safeguard older adults, who had already lived full lives.

In interviews, some parents said that if the vaccine gained full approval for children (as the adult dose has) and schools required it, they would consider withdrawing their students. Dr. Cynthia Bader, a pediatrician in the Seattle area with an 8-year-old son, said that if her school district issued a vaccine mandate, she would clap her hands with joy but “then cringe at the idea of all the parents who will be coming to me seeking counseling for vaccine exemption forms.”

Parents are siloing themselves with like-minded friends, which reinforces their thinking.

“It used to be that more people with different opinions would mesh, but now I don’t think that is the case,” said Abby Cooper of Bergen County, New Jersey, who is eager to get her five children vaccinated.

But she has friends who refuse.

“Their kids are going to school with my kids and putting them at risk for no reason. It’s very upsetting," Cooper said. "So, sadly, I’ve lost friends over this.”

Many parents worry that the tension will impact the children themselves. Some foresee having to set boundaries about unvaccinated playmates, especially if exposure to the virus could jeopardise someone else in the home.

Many parents will be difficult to persuade. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics have published talking points for pediatricians and other proponents of the COVID vaccine for children.

Consensus: First, address the parents’ questions. But if they do not want to hear The Talk, do not force it.

Consensus: Fear tactics&nbsp;generalised descriptions of children suffering in COVID wards do not work.

Consensus: Emphasise the benefits of the COVID vaccine to the child in terms of emotional and physical well-being, including some semblance of pre-COVID social life. Invoke quarantines, remote learning.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-summit-putin-fires-first-shots-calls-for-greater-recognition-to-sputnik-jab-425358">Also read |&nbsp;G20 Summit: Putin fires first shots, calls for greater recognition to Sputnik jab</a>

Kim Cobb hopes that her family’s COVID ordeals will show others the benefits of vaccinating all eligible family members. She, her husband and their two older daughters, 14 and 12, got vaccinated quickly. But in August, her unvaccinated 10-year-old twins came down with COVID. Soon after, Cobb, a climate scientist at Georgia Tech, and her husband tested positive for breakthrough infections. Their two vaccinated children remained healthy.

The parents became miserably ill but did not require hospitalisation, which they believe is because they were vaccinated.

All recovered, but Cobb and one twin have lingering respiratory distress.

“We’re in the third month post-infection, and we have to see pulmonologists, we have inhalers, we’re on medication, and we’re still having breathing difficulties,” Cobb said. “And this is not a kid who ever had respiratory symptoms.

“It was not foreseeable,” she continued. “If you could avoid it, you would.”

The Food and Drug Administration’s authorisation of a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 on Friday makes 28 million unvaccinated children in the United States suddenly eligible for the shot and offers the country an opportunity to make big inroads in its efforts to achieve broad immunity against the coronavirus.

The Food and Drug Administration’s authorisation of a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 on Friday makes 28 million unvaccinated children in the United States suddenly eligible for the shot and offers the country an opportunity to make big inroads in its efforts to achieve broad immunity against the coronavirus. But in a nation that has already struggled with COVID vaccine hesitancy, getting shots into those little arms may present health authorities with the toughest vaccination challenge yet. Even many parents who are themselves vaccinated and approved the shot for their teenagers are churning over whether to give consent for their younger children, questioning if the risk of the unknowns of a new vaccine is worth it when most coronavirus cases in youngsters are mild. In announcing its authorization of a lower-dose shot made by Pfizer and BioNTech for the age group, the FDA said clinical trial data showed the shot was safe and prompted strong immune responses in children. The most common side effects were fatigue, fever and headache. Infectious disease experts say that with approaching holiday travel and family gatherings, widespread vaccination of younger children could help keep classes in person, reduce the likelihood of quarantines and lessen the risk of transmission to older, vulnerable adults, as well as protect the children from what has become the eighth-biggest killer in their age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To date, nearly 2 million children ages 5-11 have been infected with the virus, and 8,300 have been hospitalised. One-third of those hospitalised were admitted to intensive care units, and at least 170 have died. But a report this month from researchers at Northeastern, Harvard, Rutgers and Northwestern universities found that parental concerns around the COVID vaccination had increased “significantly” from June through September. Chief among them, researchers said, were the newness of the vaccine, whether it has been sufficiently tested, efficacy, side effects and long-term health consequences. Also read | 'When you are eligible': Kamala Harris gets COVID-19 booster shot urging people to do the same According to a survey released Thursday by Kaiser Family Foundation, scarcely 1 in 3 parents will permit their children in this newly eligible age group to be vaccinated immediately. Two-thirds were either reluctant or adamantly opposed. An Axios-Ipsos poll found that 42% of parents of these children said they were unlikely to have their children vaccinated. Erin Gauch, of Middletown, Rhode Island, got herself and her two older children, ages 14 and 12, vaccinated this summer. But she is worried about the potential side effects of the shots for her son. One of those side effects is myocarditis, a weakening of the heart muscle, that has been reported in a very small number of teenage boys and young men after getting a COVID shot. “I’m looking at a 9-year-old, and if I make a bad decision and he ends up with some debilitating side effects or lifelong adverse reaction, I don’t think I could live with that,” she said. This vaccine dilemma occurs at a turbulent cultural moment for parents of young children, who are often judged harshly on social media for their decisions. The choice can appear freighted with political affiliation. A decision can signify, intentionally or not, compassion or disregard for others and a willingness to follow or ignore advice from their pediatrician. “If we ultimately decide not to get my youngest vaccinated right now, I guess I’ll be subjected to mommy shaming, but I’ll just have to deal with it,” Gauch said. Many parents, like Gauch, are focusing on some research that suggests the rare possibility that young men and boys will develop pericarditis, a weakening of the lining around the heart, and myocarditis, but the clinical trial data the FDA reviewed showed no cases in the 5-11 age group. Many experts say that the conditions usually improve quickly and that COVID presents far greater risk of severe myocarditis. Also read | Canada challenges indigenous children compensation; in favour of negotiating The Biden administration recently announced that the shots would be given predominantly by pediatricians, community health centers and children’s hospitals, plus pharmacies and schools, which will carry the burden of persuading parents. But a Kaiser policy brief noted that schools and pharmacists in regions where COVID vaccination rates are low may be reluctant to participate. Access in rural areas and for working parents will be considerable challenges, the authors said, and they noted that achieving equity will also be a concern; more than half of those newly eligible are children of color. After what is expected to be an initial rush of eager parents (as happened with adults and teenagers), pediatricians say they are bracing for conversations they anticipate to be among the thorniest they have ever had. “I know parents are probably bombarded with misinformation about vaccines, even within their social circles: ‘My friend said this. My mother-in-law said that,’” said Dr. Katherine Williamson, a pediatrician in Orange County, California. “I’m hoping I can make a difference.” The decision is particularly hard for parents to make on behalf of their first child, said Emily Brunson, a medical anthropologist at Texas State University who researches parent vaccination choices. Because vaccine decision-making is so personal and complicated, she said, many parents are likely to put it off. Vic Sandrin, who works for a bicycle company in Vancouver, Washington, supports vaccines but cautiously. He, his wife and their 18-year-old got the COVID vaccine grudgingly, to travel for work and family visits. For his 11-year-old twins, however, he is content to wait. “I’m willing to take a chance on myself, and that made sense; I’m an adult,” Sandrin said. “But for kids who already have strong immune systems, I don’t know if there’s a reason to get them vaccinated, or at least not just quite yet.” At heart, the decision is about which unknown COVID or the vaccine parents fear more. They may stack factors such as social routines, older relatives, school protocols and the likelihood of severe illness to confirm their intuitive bias about whether to allow their child to get the shot. Gauch, a mechanical engineer, calculated each family member’s risk individually. She has asthma, so for her, the vaccine was a no-brainer. Her 14-year-old daughter got her first job this summer; getting vaccinated meant she would not have to wear a face mask at work. And her 12-year-old daughter saw that getting vaccinated could open up possibilities of being maskless in public. Done and done. But not only does Gauch worry about side effects in her 9-year-old son, she said that getting vaccinated will not release him from following other COVID rules because his school insists on masks and social distancing. “He is much less likely to get COVID if they’re taking all these precautions,” she said. “So I just don’t see the risk payoff of the vaccine.” Parents who were predisposed not to vaccinate their child tended to dismiss the threat of serious illness from COVID as minuscule, saying that children who became seriously ill most likely had underlying conditions. The argument that vaccinating children contributes to the community’s overall health does not get much traction, either. Parents’ paramount focus is the well-being of their own child. Although health officials contend an important reason to vaccinate is to protect the child, some parents said they believed that their healthy children would be injected with a novel vaccine largely to safeguard older adults, who had already lived full lives. In interviews, some parents said that if the vaccine gained full approval for children (as the adult dose has) and schools required it, they would consider withdrawing their students. Dr. Cynthia Bader, a pediatrician in the Seattle area with an 8-year-old son, said that if her school district issued a vaccine mandate, she would clap her hands with joy but “then cringe at the idea of all the parents who will be coming to me seeking counseling for vaccine exemption forms.” Parents are siloing themselves with like-minded friends, which reinforces their thinking. “It used to be that more people with different opinions would mesh, but now I don’t think that is the case,” said Abby Cooper of Bergen County, New Jersey, who is eager to get her five children vaccinated. But she has friends who refuse. “Their kids are going to school with my kids and putting them at risk for no reason. It’s very upsetting," Cooper said. "So, sadly, I’ve lost friends over this.” Many parents worry that the tension will impact the children themselves. Some foresee having to set boundaries about unvaccinated playmates, especially if exposure to the virus could jeopardise someone else in the home. Many parents will be difficult to persuade. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics have published talking points for pediatricians and other proponents of the COVID vaccine for children. Consensus: First, address the parents’ questions. But if they do not want to hear The Talk, do not force it. Consensus: Fear tactics generalised descriptions of children suffering in COVID wards do not work. Consensus: Emphasise the benefits of the COVID vaccine to the child in terms of emotional and physical well-being, including some semblance of pre-COVID social life. Invoke quarantines, remote learning. Also read | G20 Summit: Putin fires first shots, calls for greater recognition to Sputnik jab Kim Cobb hopes that her family’s COVID ordeals will show others the benefits of vaccinating all eligible family members. She, her husband and their two older daughters, 14 and 12, got vaccinated quickly. But in August, her unvaccinated 10-year-old twins came down with COVID. Soon after, Cobb, a climate scientist at Georgia Tech, and her husband tested positive for breakthrough infections. Their two vaccinated children remained healthy. The parents became miserably ill but did not require hospitalisation, which they believe is because they were vaccinated. All recovered, but Cobb and one twin have lingering respiratory distress. “We’re in the third month post-infection, and we have to see pulmonologists, we have inhalers, we’re on medication, and we’re still having breathing difficulties,” Cobb said. “And this is not a kid who ever had respiratory symptoms. “It was not foreseeable,” she continued. “If you could avoid it, you would.”

Covid-19 shots are a go for children, but parents are reluctant to consent

In a rare development, parents of newborn babies in Japan are sending bags of rice that weigh the same as their newborn babies to relatives who are unable to visit them due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

The bags come in various designs. Some bags are shaped like a baby wrapped in a blanket so that relatives can feel as though they are hugging the new arrival while looking at a picture of their face, which has been attached in the front.

The amount of rice in the bag is matched to the newborn’s birth weight. Accordingly, the price increases in parallel with the size of the baby. Some firms charge one yen a gram, with a 3.5kg pack priced 3,500 yen.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/am-iii-now-chinese-scientists-develop-glass-as-hard-as-a-diamond-will-it-be-used-for-weapons-404138">Also read |&nbsp;AM-III: Now, Chinese scientists develop glass as hard as a diamond; will it be used for weapons?</a>

Naruo Ono, the owner of Kome no Zoto Yoshimiya rice shop, was quoted by The Guardian as saying, "I first had the idea about 14 years ago when my own son was born and I was thinking about what I could do for relatives who lived far away and couldn’t come and see him. So we decided to make bags of rice that were the same weight and shape as the baby, so relatives could hold them and feel the cuteness".

Ono further added, "In the case of the wedding celebration goods, the bride and groom give them to the respective parents with their pictures on them from when they were babies as a way of showing appreciation for giving birth to them".

In a rare development, parents of newborn babies in Japan are sending bags of rice that weigh the same as their newborn babies to relatives who are unable to visit them due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

In a rare development, parents of newborn babies in Japan are sending bags of rice that weigh the same as their newborn babies to relatives who are unable to visit them due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. The bags come in various designs. Some bags are shaped like a baby wrapped in a blanket so that relatives can feel as though they are hugging the new arrival while looking at a picture of their face, which has been attached in the front. The amount of rice in the bag is matched to the newborn’s birth weight. Accordingly, the price increases in parallel with the size of the baby. Some firms charge one yen a gram, with a 3.5kg pack priced 3,500 yen. Also read | AM-III: Now, Chinese scientists develop glass as hard as a diamond; will it be used for weapons? Naruo Ono, the owner of Kome no Zoto Yoshimiya rice shop, was quoted by The Guardian as saying, "I first had the idea about 14 years ago when my own son was born and I was thinking about what I could do for relatives who lived far away and couldn’t come and see him. So we decided to make bags of rice that were the same weight and shape as the baby, so relatives could hold them and feel the cuteness". Ono further added, "In the case of the wedding celebration goods, the bride and groom give them to the respective parents with their pictures on them from when they were babies as a way of showing appreciation for giving birth to them".

Japanese parents are sending relatives rice bags in place of newborn babies to hug and bless

The Supreme Court Monday asked CBSE and ICSE to respond by tomorrow to the concerns raised by some students and parents on the schemes of both the boards formulated to evaluate Class XII students, whose examination was cancelled due to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19 pandemic</a>.

A parents' association and students flagged several concerns with regard to the CBSE and ICSE schemes for evaluation for Class 12 results and said that many clauses are arbitrary and would be detrimental to future prospects of the students.

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A special bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari said that it will hear the response of counsels for CBSE and ICSE on Tuesday on the concerns raised by interveners.

The bench also directed the registry to list all pending petitions in the matter on Tuesday, June 22, in which they have challenged the decision of CBSE to cancel the class 12 examination and raised concerns on the evaluation schemes of both the boards.

At the outset, senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for intervener UP Parents Association, Lucknow, said that option to students for external examination as given in the CBSE's scheme will be "a premium" for those students who could not do well in internal assessment.

Singh said, "This option should be given at the very initial stage to both student and school to opt for either external examination or internal assessment. If any school or student does not want to opt for this internal assessment then a date may be fixed for external examination in mid of July or any date found conducive for holding of examination".

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The bench said that there should be some ray of hope for the students and there should not be any confusion. 
"The decision for cancellation of examination has been taken at highest level and we have in-principle accepted it,"&nbsp;the bench said.

Singh said there are several concerns with regard to the evaluation scheme of the students which are increasing uncertainty and no one knows what exactly would happen.

He said that it has been provided in the CBSE scheme that marks obtained by a student in any subject in internal assessment (based upon marks obtained in class X (30 per cent), class XI (30 per cent) and class XII pre-board examination (40 per cent)) shall not exceed the best marks obtained by ex-students in the said schools in the specific reference year (best year subject- wise amongst past three class 12 board exams) by more than 2 marks.

Singh said that there may be a case where due to past poor performance of students in a particular subject, the school hires a good teacher and the students performed well in their internal examination but they are likely to suffer due to poor performance by the ex-students.

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"The present batch of students (or for that reason any student) may suffer because the marks obtained by ex-students in the reference year is lower than what present batch of students have obtained in any subject,"&nbsp;he said, adding that maximum the student would be given is the grace of two marks.

Singh said, "Such irrational policy of linking the present batch of students with that of the past performance of ex-students cannot be legally sustained under any circumstances. The present batch of students cannot be penalised for the past performances of ex-students".

He said that there should be uniformity in the evaluation scheme as English has been made mandatory for calculating average marks in the CISCE scheme, while in CBSE there is no such requirement and the best of three marks are taken.

"The policy of internal assessment should be uniform for both central boards. There is practically no scheme of internal assessment envisaged by ICSE. There are only a few letters to that effect. There are various variables that are not defined namely weightage for board exams is not defined anywhere. There is no clarification and teachers are in utter confusion"&nbsp;he said.

The senior lawyer said that he had a discussion with a maths teacher about the evaluation formula suggested by the board to which he had said that it is very complicated.

The bench said that what kind of maths teacher he is if he doesn't understand the formula and added that the court is not going by the perception of individuals and looking at the institutional response.

Advocate Abhishek Choudhury, appearing for private students and those with a second compartment, said that CBSE has said that they will be facing difficulties in admission to higher institutes as CBSE class exam 12 will be held when the situation is conducive, maybe in July or August.

The bench said it might direct that admissions will be subject to the outcome of the board exam results but asked him to argue the points on Tuesday.

The bench listed the matter for further hearing on Tuesday at 2 PM.

On June 17, the top court had said that there is no question of reversing the earlier decision to cancel class 12 board exams and had approved the assessment schemes of the CISCE and the CBSE, which has adopted 30:30:40 formulas for evaluation of marks for students based on results of class 10, 11 and 12 respectively.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) said however that it would consider the performance of students for the last six years, unlike CBSE which is taking note of performance in class 10, 11 and 12 exams, in finalising the final board results.

Both the boards had said they would declare the class 12 results on or before July 31.

The Supreme Court Monday asked CBSE and ICSE to respond by tomorrow to the concerns raised by some students and parents on the schemes of both the boards formulated to evaluate Class XII students, whose examination was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Supreme Court Monday asked CBSE and ICSE to respond by tomorrow to the concerns raised by some students and parents on the schemes of both the boards formulated to evaluate Class XII students, whose examination was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A parents' association and students flagged several concerns with regard to the CBSE and ICSE schemes for evaluation for Class 12 results and said that many clauses are arbitrary and would be detrimental to future prospects of the students. A special bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari said that it will hear the response of counsels for CBSE and ICSE on Tuesday on the concerns raised by interveners. The bench also directed the registry to list all pending petitions in the matter on Tuesday, June 22, in which they have challenged the decision of CBSE to cancel the class 12 examination and raised concerns on the evaluation schemes of both the boards. At the outset, senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for intervener UP Parents Association, Lucknow, said that option to students for external examination as given in the CBSE's scheme will be "a premium" for those students who could not do well in internal assessment. Singh said, "This option should be given at the very initial stage to both student and school to opt for either external examination or internal assessment. If any school or student does not want to opt for this internal assessment then a date may be fixed for external examination in mid of July or any date found conducive for holding of examination". Also read | Brain drain: Indian talent moving to Canada due to outdated H1B visa policy, US lawmakers told The bench said that there should be some ray of hope for the students and there should not be any confusion. "The decision for cancellation of examination has been taken at highest level and we have in-principle accepted it," the bench said. Singh said there are several concerns with regard to the evaluation scheme of the students which are increasing uncertainty and no one knows what exactly would happen. He said that it has been provided in the CBSE scheme that marks obtained by a student in any subject in internal assessment (based upon marks obtained in class X (30 per cent), class XI (30 per cent) and class XII pre-board examination (40 per cent)) shall not exceed the best marks obtained by ex-students in the said schools in the specific reference year (best year subject- wise amongst past three class 12 board exams) by more than 2 marks. Singh said that there may be a case where due to past poor performance of students in a particular subject, the school hires a good teacher and the students performed well in their internal examination but they are likely to suffer due to poor performance by the ex-students. Also read | Trolled for her Hindu faith, NASA intern finds strong support online "The present batch of students (or for that reason any student) may suffer because the marks obtained by ex-students in the reference year is lower than what present batch of students have obtained in any subject," he said, adding that maximum the student would be given is the grace of two marks. Singh said, "Such irrational policy of linking the present batch of students with that of the past performance of ex-students cannot be legally sustained under any circumstances. The present batch of students cannot be penalised for the past performances of ex-students". He said that there should be uniformity in the evaluation scheme as English has been made mandatory for calculating average marks in the CISCE scheme, while in CBSE there is no such requirement and the best of three marks are taken. "The policy of internal assessment should be uniform for both central boards. There is practically no scheme of internal assessment envisaged by ICSE. There are only a few letters to that effect. There are various variables that are not defined namely weightage for board exams is not defined anywhere. There is no clarification and teachers are in utter confusion" he said. The senior lawyer said that he had a discussion with a maths teacher about the evaluation formula suggested by the board to which he had said that it is very complicated. The bench said that what kind of maths teacher he is if he doesn't understand the formula and added that the court is not going by the perception of individuals and looking at the institutional response. Advocate Abhishek Choudhury, appearing for private students and those with a second compartment, said that CBSE has said that they will be facing difficulties in admission to higher institutes as CBSE class exam 12 will be held when the situation is conducive, maybe in July or August. The bench said it might direct that admissions will be subject to the outcome of the board exam results but asked him to argue the points on Tuesday. The bench listed the matter for further hearing on Tuesday at 2 PM. On June 17, the top court had said that there is no question of reversing the earlier decision to cancel class 12 board exams and had approved the assessment schemes of the CISCE and the CBSE, which has adopted 30:30:40 formulas for evaluation of marks for students based on results of class 10, 11 and 12 respectively. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) said however that it would consider the performance of students for the last six years, unlike CBSE which is taking note of performance in class 10, 11 and 12 exams, in finalising the final board results. Both the boards had said they would declare the class 12 results on or before July 31.

CBSE, CISCE evaluation formulas for class 12: Concerns raised by students, parents

A Chinese man who had lost his son 24 years ago had a happy day after so long when he was finally reunited with his child.

Guo Xinzhen, son of Guo Gangtang, was abducted by human traffickers at the age of two in 1997 from their home in Shandong.

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Since then, Gangtang had been travelling the country on his motorbike carrying two posters that had pictures of his son.

After travelling 300,000 miles for 24 years, he was finally reunited with his son. The reunion happened a few years after a movie was made on their tale in 2015. Titled, ‘Lost and Love’ and starring Hong Kong celebrity Andy Lau, the movie showed the real-life tale and urged the locals to come ahead to help the family.

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Xinzhen was reportedly abducted from outside his home when he was outdoors playing alone. He was apparently abducted by a woman and her boyfriend who further sold the two-year-old to a family in Henan province.

He was now told by the local police that his father had been looking for him for the past 24 years. The 26-year-old teacher, then, travelled to meet his father.

“Now that my boy has been found, everything can only be happy from now on,” Gangtang told local media. He has vowed to regard the family that raised his son as “relatives”.

A Chinese man who had lost his son 24 years ago had a happy day after so long when he was finally reunited with his child. Guo Xinzhen, son of Guo Gangtang, was abducted by human traffickers at the age of two in 1997 from their home in Shandong.

A Chinese man who had lost his son 24 years ago had a happy day after so long when he was finally reunited with his child. Guo Xinzhen, son of Guo Gangtang, was abducted by human traffickers at the age of two in 1997 from their home in Shandong. Also read | 'We all quit': Burger King employees quit at same time by putting a public sign Since then, Gangtang had been travelling the country on his motorbike carrying two posters that had pictures of his son. After travelling 300,000 miles for 24 years, he was finally reunited with his son. The reunion happened a few years after a movie was made on their tale in 2015. Titled, ‘Lost and Love’ and starring Hong Kong celebrity Andy Lau, the movie showed the real-life tale and urged the locals to come ahead to help the family. Also read | WATCH | Passenger on airlines duct-taped to seat after she tried to open plane door and bit attendant Xinzhen was reportedly abducted from outside his home when he was outdoors playing alone. He was apparently abducted by a woman and her boyfriend who further sold the two-year-old to a family in Henan province. He was now told by the local police that his father had been looking for him for the past 24 years. The 26-year-old teacher, then, travelled to meet his father. “Now that my boy has been found, everything can only be happy from now on,” Gangtang told local media. He has vowed to regard the family that raised his son as “relatives”.

'Everything will be good now': Chinese man reunited with his son after 24 years

Thousands of Italian parents, children and teachers protested in squares up and down the country on Sunday against what they call the unnecessary closure of schools to try to curb Covid-19 infections.&nbsp;

The protests, the first of any significance against Mario Draghi's national unity government that took office last month, were held in more than 35 squares nationwide including Rome's Piazza del Popolo and Milan's central Piazza Duomo.&nbsp;

Demonstrators in Rome wore dunce's caps to indicate the impact of the closures on students' education, while in Milan pupils' messages and placards were propped against their school rucksacks placed on the ground.&nbsp;

Numbers at each venue were limited due to coronavirus restrictions on gatherings.&nbsp;

"Open schools, whatever it takes," read one placard held aloft by a child in Rome, in reference to Draghi's famous promise to save the euro when he was European Central Bank chief in 2012.&nbsp;

Most Italian schools for all ages have been closed since March 15, when Draghi ramped up efforts to control the virus, with students attending lessons online from home.&nbsp;

"We are asking for one thing: that our schools be given the status of essential public services and immediately reopened," the Rome arm of the 'Open Schools' national network that organised the demonstrations said in a statement.&nbsp;

Since Italy's outbreak began 13 months ago, schools have closed and re-opened at various times depending on age groups and local infection levels, but overall there has been less face-to-face schooling than in most other European countries.&nbsp;

The latest closures were the last straw for millions of parents forced to work from home or pay for child care.&nbsp;

The government says the closures are needed due to rising infection rates, and particularly, the increasing prevalence of the variant first discovered in the UK, in which contagion is high among younger age groups.&nbsp;

Draghi promised on Friday that schools would be the first thing to reopen when current Covid restrictions are eased.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Thousands of Italian parents, children and teachers protested in squares up and down the country on Sunday against what they call the unnecessary closure of schools to try to curb Covid-19 infections.

Thousands of Italian parents, children and teachers protested in squares up and down the country on Sunday against what they call the unnecessary closure of schools to try to curb Covid-19 infections. The protests, the first of any significance against Mario Draghi's national unity government that took office last month, were held in more than 35 squares nationwide including Rome's Piazza del Popolo and Milan's central Piazza Duomo. Demonstrators in Rome wore dunce's caps to indicate the impact of the closures on students' education, while in Milan pupils' messages and placards were propped against their school rucksacks placed on the ground. Numbers at each venue were limited due to coronavirus restrictions on gatherings. "Open schools, whatever it takes," read one placard held aloft by a child in Rome, in reference to Draghi's famous promise to save the euro when he was European Central Bank chief in 2012. Most Italian schools for all ages have been closed since March 15, when Draghi ramped up efforts to control the virus, with students attending lessons online from home. "We are asking for one thing: that our schools be given the status of essential public services and immediately reopened," the Rome arm of the 'Open Schools' national network that organised the demonstrations said in a statement. Since Italy's outbreak began 13 months ago, schools have closed and re-opened at various times depending on age groups and local infection levels, but overall there has been less face-to-face schooling than in most other European countries. The latest closures were the last straw for millions of parents forced to work from home or pay for child care. The government says the closures are needed due to rising infection rates, and particularly, the increasing prevalence of the variant first discovered in the UK, in which contagion is high among younger age groups. Draghi promised on Friday that schools would be the first thing to reopen when current Covid restrictions are eased. (With inputs from agencies)

Italian parents, children protest against Covid school closures 

As New York City prepares to open public schools on September 21st, some educators and parents are pushing for students to have more outdoor learning because they say outdoor learning is safer during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Some NYC parents/teachers pushing for outdoor school

Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and David Oyelowo are in negotiations to star in fantasy drama "Come Away".&nbsp;

The project will mark the live-action debut of Brenda Chapman, the Oscar-winning director and co-writer of the Pixar film "Brave."

Marissa Kate Goodhill is writing the script.

If things materialise, Jolie and Oyelowo will play the parents of the brother and sister who became the protagonists of "Alice in Wonderland" and "Peter Pan."

When their older brother dies in a tragic accident, they seek to save their parents from despairing over the losses? and are then forced to choose between home and imagination.

"Angelina and David are going to bring a beautiful chemistry and depth to this magical story, giving audiences a wonderful step outside the expected," Chapman said.

Oyelowo, Leesa Kahn, James Spring and Andrea Keir are producing and Michelle Manning will be executive producer.&nbsp;

Makers are planning to shoot initially in the UK, with Jolie joining the team in Los Angeles later.&nbsp;

Jolie and Oyelowo will play the parents of the brother and sister

Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and David Oyelowo are in negotiations to star in fantasy drama "Come Away". The project will mark the live-action debut of Brenda Chapman, the Oscar-winning director and co-writer of the Pixar film "Brave." Marissa Kate Goodhill is writing the script. If things materialise, Jolie and Oyelowo will play the parents of the brother and sister who became the protagonists of "Alice in Wonderland" and "Peter Pan." When their older brother dies in a tragic accident, they seek to save their parents from despairing over the losses? and are then forced to choose between home and imagination. "Angelina and David are going to bring a beautiful chemistry and depth to this magical story, giving audiences a wonderful step outside the expected," Chapman said. Oyelowo, Leesa Kahn, James Spring and Andrea Keir are producing and Michelle Manning will be executive producer. Makers are planning to shoot initially in the UK, with Jolie joining the team in Los Angeles later.

Angelina Jolie, David Oyelowo in talks to star in 'Come Away'

The assailant who killed a 29-year-old man in a central Paris knife attack on Saturday night was born in 1997 in the Chechnya region of Russia, a judicial source said on Sunday.

The assailant shouted "Allahu akbar (God is greatest)," as he killed the passer-by and wounded four other people before being shot dead by police.

The father and mother of the attacker are being held for questioning by police, the source said.

The source did not say what the attacker's nationality was. BFM TV said he was Russian.

Earlier, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told reporters the injured were out of danger.

"I have seen the person who was seriously injured and is now better," he said after visiting the victims in hospital.

France has been on high alert amid a series of attacks commissioned or inspired by the Islamic State militant group that have killed more than 240 people since 2015.

France "will not yield an inch to the enemies of freedom," President Emmanuel Macron said shortly after the attack, praising police officers for "neutralizing the terrorist".

Police union representative Rocco Contento told Reuters that the assailant, after attacking bystanders with a knife, rushed at police shouting "I will kill you, I will kill you!"

He was then shot by the officers.

The attack took place in the heart of the French capital, in a district popular with tourists for its many restaurants and cafes, landmark retail stores, and the Paris opera.

A picture seen by Reuters, which a source said showed the attacker, showed a bare-chested and bearded young man dressed in black trousers. A source told Reuters the attacker was not previously known to police.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq news agency, but provided no proof for its claim.

Authorities have not yet revealed the identity of the person killed in Saturday's attack, but the judicial source said he was a man aged 29.

The source did not say what the attacker's nationality was. A television news channel however said he was Russian

The assailant who killed a 29-year-old man in a central Paris knife attack on Saturday night was born in 1997 in the Chechnya region of Russia, a judicial source said on Sunday. The assailant shouted "Allahu akbar (God is greatest)," as he killed the passer-by and wounded four other people before being shot dead by police. The father and mother of the attacker are being held for questioning by police, the source said. The source did not say what the attacker's nationality was. BFM TV said he was Russian. Earlier, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told reporters the injured were out of danger. "I have seen the person who was seriously injured and is now better," he said after visiting the victims in hospital. France has been on high alert amid a series of attacks commissioned or inspired by the Islamic State militant group that have killed more than 240 people since 2015. France "will not yield an inch to the enemies of freedom," President Emmanuel Macron said shortly after the attack, praising police officers for "neutralizing the terrorist". Police union representative Rocco Contento told Reuters that the assailant, after attacking bystanders with a knife, rushed at police shouting "I will kill you, I will kill you!" He was then shot by the officers. The attack took place in the heart of the French capital, in a district popular with tourists for its many restaurants and cafes, landmark retail stores, and the Paris opera. A picture seen by Reuters, which a source said showed the attacker, showed a bare-chested and bearded young man dressed in black trousers. A source told Reuters the attacker was not previously known to police. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq news agency, but provided no proof for its claim. Authorities have not yet revealed the identity of the person killed in Saturday's attack, but the judicial source said he was a man aged 29.

Paris knife attacker was born in Chechnya, parents in custody: Source

Wading into the debate on violence against women and minor girls once again, Uttar Pradesh’s ruling BJP legislator Surendra Singh has said parents are responsible for the increasing incidents of rape and should not let their children roam around freely.&nbsp

The legislator from Bairia in Ballia district, who had earlier made news when he said no one can rape a mother of three children, also advised parents not to give their children mobile phones.&nbsp

“The parents of youths are responsible for growing incidents of rape as they do not take care of their wards,” local BJP MLA Surendra Singh told reporters in Balia on Monday night.

“Children up to 15 years of age should be kept under strict vigil. It is the duty of parents to take care of their wards. But they allow their wards to roam around freely. This is the main reason for the social evil,” he said. Children should not be given undue freedom, he said and asked parents not to give mobile phones to them.

The remarks come in the backdrop of outrage over the brutal gangrape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, and the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district, allegedly by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar.

Defending Sengar, Surendra Singh had said, “I am speaking from a psychological point of view no one can rape a mother of three children. It is not possible, this is a conspiracy against him (Sengar).” Known for making contentious comments, he had also recently called West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “Surpanakha”, the sister of demon king Ravana.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month directed his party’s lawmakers not to make “irresponsible” statements.”We commit mistakes and give masala to media. The moment we see a cameraperson, we jump to make a statement as if we are great social scientists or intellectuals. So this half-baked stuff is picked up. Then these ill-informed statements are used by media and the party’s image takes a beating,” the prime minister had said.

His admonishment came a day after Union minister Santosh Gangwar was reported as saying in Bareilly that a “brouhaha” should not be created over one or two rape cases in a big country like India.

"The parents of youths are responsible for growing incidents of rape as they do not take care of their wards," local BJP MLA Surendra Singh told reporters.

Wading into the debate on violence against women and minor girls once again, Uttar Pradesh’s ruling BJP legislator Surendra Singh has said parents are responsible for the increasing incidents of rape and should not let their children roam around freely. The legislator from Bairia in Ballia district, who had earlier made news when he said no one can rape a mother of three children, also advised parents not to give their children mobile phones. “The parents of youths are responsible for growing incidents of rape as they do not take care of their wards,” local BJP MLA Surendra Singh told reporters in Balia on Monday night. “Children up to 15 years of age should be kept under strict vigil. It is the duty of parents to take care of their wards. But they allow their wards to roam around freely. This is the main reason for the social evil,” he said. Children should not be given undue freedom, he said and asked parents not to give mobile phones to them. The remarks come in the backdrop of outrage over the brutal gangrape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, and the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district, allegedly by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. Defending Sengar, Surendra Singh had said, “I am speaking from a psychological point of view no one can rape a mother of three children. It is not possible, this is a conspiracy against him (Sengar).” Known for making contentious comments, he had also recently called West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “Surpanakha”, the sister of demon king Ravana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month directed his party’s lawmakers not to make “irresponsible” statements.”We commit mistakes and give masala to media. The moment we see a cameraperson, we jump to make a statement as if we are great social scientists or intellectuals. So this half-baked stuff is picked up. Then these ill-informed statements are used by media and the party’s image takes a beating,” the prime minister had said. His admonishment came a day after Union minister Santosh Gangwar was reported as saying in Bareilly that a “brouhaha” should not be created over one or two rape cases in a big country like India.

Parents responsible for incidents of rape, says UP BJP MLA

In a horrific incident, a 12-year-old mentally challenged girl was allegedly raped by her neighbor in Outer Delhi's Rohini area, reports said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

What is worse is that the accused men took a video of the incident and circulated it to the girls family through WhatsApp. The police have arrested all the three accused, including the neighbor who raped the girl and two others who shot the video.

The main accused is booked under rape and POSCO Act, while his accomplices are booked under relevant IPC sections and IT act.

As per reports, a young man, identified as Bunty, and two of his friends were arrested on Monday night from Mangolpur Kalan area in Delhi's Rohini suburb. Police said Bunty lured the girl to a community center in their neighborhood, took her to a secluded spot and raped her. The two friends who accompanied him took a video as he committed the horrific act.

While the girl kept quiet and did not tell anyone about the incident, but it was on Saturday evening after the victim's mother received a video on her WhatsApp that she saw her daughter. When she opened it, she saw the accused forcing himself on her daughter. The video was circulated to many others on the mobile application. Later, the mother of the girl informed the police.

Moreover, the victims family are now being threatened by the family of the accused to withdraw the case and to leave the locality as they have a powerful hold in the area, reports said.&nbsp;

This comes during a time when the nation is expressing angst over the Kathua and Unnao gangrape which has rocked the country, with people questioning law and order situation.

The main accused is booked under rape and POSCO Act, while his accomplices are booked under relevant IPC sections and IT act

In a horrific incident, a 12-year-old mentally challenged girl was allegedly raped by her neighbor in Outer Delhi's Rohini area, reports said on Wednesday. What is worse is that the accused men took a video of the incident and circulated it to the girls family through WhatsApp. The police have arrested all the three accused, including the neighbor who raped the girl and two others who shot the video. The main accused is booked under rape and POSCO Act, while his accomplices are booked under relevant IPC sections and IT act. As per reports, a young man, identified as Bunty, and two of his friends were arrested on Monday night from Mangolpur Kalan area in Delhi's Rohini suburb. Police said Bunty lured the girl to a community center in their neighborhood, took her to a secluded spot and raped her. The two friends who accompanied him took a video as he committed the horrific act. While the girl kept quiet and did not tell anyone about the incident, but it was on Saturday evening after the victim's mother received a video on her WhatsApp that she saw her daughter. When she opened it, she saw the accused forcing himself on her daughter. The video was circulated to many others on the mobile application. Later, the mother of the girl informed the police. Moreover, the victims family are now being threatened by the family of the accused to withdraw the case and to leave the locality as they have a powerful hold in the area, reports said. This comes during a time when the nation is expressing angst over the Kathua and Unnao gangrape which has rocked the country, with people questioning law and order situation.

Delhi: 12-year-old girl raped, video sent to parents

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