Timothy Schofield, the paedophile brother of television presenter Phillip Schofield, has been jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of multiple child sex offences. Schofield was convicted of 11 offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child. The victim of the abuse said he felt “emotionally blackmailed” by Schofield and “forced” to participate in sexual activity. The judge said Schofield had exploited the victim’s innocence for his “own sexual gratification” and that what he did was “wrong on every level”.
Ontario Autism Coalition wants to find out how often students with special needs are sent home
CBC
23-05-19 10:00
The Ontario Autism Coalition is questioning parents of children with special needs about the number of times their child has struggled to remain at school. For children with special needs to be able to concentrate and grow in a safe environment, their needs must be met accordingly. Otherwise, the child may be sent home or fail to receive the care and attention they need to excel academically. Despite the Ontario Autism Coalition's request for data on school exclusions, the province has no information and is thus unprepared to address this matter. Once the survey of parents of children with special needs is completed, the Ontario Autism Coalition says it will share the findings with Ontario's legislature and media to increase awareness of the issue. Some parents have already taken issue with how cuts to specialized classrooms have affected their children's education, with both faculty and student struggling to adapt to policy changes.
England’s obesity crisis has entered a new phase of cost for the country’s overstretched public finances, with a new study revealing obese patients cost the NHS twice as much as those with healthy weight. The ten-year survey by Imperial College London (ICL) showed direct annual costs for an obese patient were around £1,375, compared to £638 for a patient of normal weight. Weight increase creates “obesity-related conditions over time,” such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, raising NHS spending per patient substantially, the survey reported. About two-thirds of the UK’s adult population is overweight or obese, with costs to the NHS estimated at almost £14bn. Long-term sickness costs further impact on the economy. Scientists who led the ICL research found that injecting children with drugs used for weight-loss helped to halve obesity rates within 16 months. The average weight reduction was 3st over the trial period, and health officials are now advising the NHS to offer the treatment widely to teenagers, along with ongoing lifestyle advice and support.
Newsrooms are often faced with unpredictable events that require them to scramble together to cover it in a coordinated manner. Such events have become more frequent with the advent of technology. The abililty to verify, produce and distribute stories to subscribers has aided new journalists in delivering breaking news within seconds. However, accuracy takes precedent over speed in such situations. The Age's broken news journalists work together as a team of first responders, with respective job titles.
As accuracy is championed, each “breaking desk” journalist needs to be polite and considerate when asking questions, particularly with sensitive news stories. Newsroom journalists are often superstitious, with the fear that even mentioning “slow news day” or “it’s really quiet” can result in the opposite. Each journalist also has their job to ensure headlines and images look pristine on the news outlet’s webpage. Breaking news stories aren’t the easiest stories to cover, so newsrooms should also be forgiving of mistakes that may ensue in the rush of the event.
Nevertheless, newsrooms have become a lot more organised and effective in reacting to stories than before. In the past, events had to be covered after the fact and it was more difficult to verify elements of the story. Breaking news journalists have become a vital link in the chain of news delivery and it’s just a sign of things to come in the future.
Concerns have arisen that more severe autism is being over-diagnosed within Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), as more than 8% of young school-aged children now participate. In recent years autism has become the most common disability for NDIS participants under 18, accounting for 54%. Some experts say that while diagnosis can be a means to inform and understand, the NDIS has created an unhelpful incentive for families to seek a diagnosis through clinical diagnosis becoming the goal, rather than a means. It is suggested that greater investment in Australia’s education and early childhood systems are required.
Carrie Johnson, wife of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has announced her pregnancy on Instagram, with the baby due in a few weeks. It will be the couple's third child together, with their first born in 2020 and second born in 2021. Boris Johnson has five other children from his previous marriage.
Texan parents are dividing opinion online after charging their teenage daughter $200-a-month to live in their home. “Two hundred bucks a month is plenty cheap to live like a grub in your parents' house,” said Cody Archie. Comments are split on whether charging high school graduates rent is good parenting practice, with some arguing the measure is tough but worthwhile because it teaches financial responsibility, while others argue it sets a bad precedent. A recent study by TopCashback found that 32% of parents don't yet charge their offspring for bed and lodging.
UN envoy reportedly meeting Russian official accused of war crimes for deporting Ukrainian children
The Toronto Star
23-05-19 19:29
The UN envoy on child protection is due to meet with Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, who stands accused of war crimes for deporting children from Ukraine. Human Rights Watch has criticised the proposed meeting, stating that Lvova-Belova is a suspected war criminal who should be behind bars. Last week, Gamba was in Ukraine, where she commended the government over measures it has taken to protect children during the conflict. Lvova-Belova has said that Russia had taken in over five million Ukrainians, including 700,000 children, all of whom had parents, relatives or legal guardians, except for 2,000 from orphanages in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas where fighting has been intense.
Young women are now the group of Australians with the fastest-growing rate of homelessness, according to the latest data from the 2021 census. While reports have suggested that women over the age of 55 are the fastest growing group, according to the latest data it’s actually women under 20. Overall, there has been a growing national crisis of child and youth homelessness for both sexes, with the biggest increases observed among girls and young women. For those under the age of 20, the causes of youth homelessness are different from adult homelessness, and the solutions need to be too, according to Cathy Callaghan, Senior Policy Officer at Shelter NSW. Callaghan points out that many young people won’t be on the social housing list because they are very disconnected from mainstream government processes, and with an “underfunded crisis accommodation system, supported accommodation is very difficult to access as units are largely filled with people with ongoing support needs.”
Trish Connolly, chief executive for Y FOUNDATIONS, says more policy focus on children and young people who are experiencing homelessness on their own, rather than with their families, is paramount. Homelessness NSW figures suggest 13,000 unaccompanied young people across the state presented to a homelessness service last year, the highest in Australia. There is a move towards transitional housing, primarily because many young people are not yet ready to manage unaided. The government plans to commit $91.7 million over the next three years for the Reconnect program that focuses on family reunification to help young people aged 12 to 18 to access counselling, group work, mediation and specialised mental health services “to improve relationships with their family, stay at school, and participate in their local community.” Connolly says Reconnect serves a purpose, but it is not suitable for everyone as 90% of young people seeking crisis accommodation are escaping family violence. Instead, specialist refuges for young people are needed because government reports, such as the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, don’t put enough focus on the experiences of young people on their own.
Colombia's President Petro tweeted that four children who had gone missing deep in the jungle following a plane crash had been found alive, describing the news as "a joy for the country." However, the statement was retracted the following day as the information could not be confirmed. The plane carrying the four siblings, who are 13, 9, 4 and 11 months old, was lost from radars on May 1. The bodies of their mother and two others who were travelling with them were later found by authorities at the crash site. The fate of the children remains unknown, but there has reportedly been contact by reliable sources.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson have announced that they are expecting their third child. The announcement was made in an Instagram post with a picture showing the couple's first two children holding hands with their mother. Boris and Carrie Johnson had their first son, Wilfred, in April 2020, with daughter Romy born in December the same year. It was while pregnant with Romy that Carrie Johnson revealed she had suffered a miscarriage. Boris Johnson has at least five other children from previous relationships.
Colombia on edge as search continues for four children who could have survived plane crash
The Globe and Mail
23-05-19 23:33
Four Indigenous children missing following a plane crash 19 days ago in the Colombian Amazon, where three adults died, have yet to be found. A frantic search is continuing after a small aircraft with seven passengers onboard declared an emergency due to engine failure and fell off radar in the early hours of 1 May. The Colombian troops found the wreckage on 18 May. Members of the Uitoto Indigenous community, the missing children include Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 13; Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 9; Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy, 4; and Cristin Neriman Ranoque Mucutuy, 11 months.
Colombian officials are continuing to search for four indigenous children who may have survived a plane crash in the Amazon jungle that killed three adults. The commercial aircraft and passengers declared an emergency due to engine failure, before disappearing from radar. Signed to a flight provided by Natutrips, the cause of the failure remains under investigation. Despite initial reports that the children have been found alive, frustrating operations have been hindered by miscommunication, misinformation and special interests.
Enuma Okoro writes in the Financial Times about the complicated and delicate relationship between parent and child, and how it changes over a lifetime. She reflects on several works of art that capture different aspects of parenting, from David Hockney’s 1977 double portrait “My Parents” to Shaina McCoy’s painting “Smile II”. Okoro notes how the relationships between parents and children change over time, as the perspective of the child shifts with life experiences. For Okoro, parenting is a process that doesn’t stop, as we continue to learn from the lessons our parents taught us.
Okoro uses painting to highlight the changing aspects of parenting and describes Michael Andrews’ 1978-79 painting “Melanie and Me Swimming” as a metaphor for how we make it through life. The child who may easily be able to stand in shallow water still looks to her father for guidance - a lesson in survival. Parenting can be thought of as an act of continual release, in which we must release our child into an unknown world where we do not have the means or control to protect them. This is true even for adult children who might still need active support or parenting.
Okoro suggests that we are all, in some way, children of someone. She concludes by inviting readers to reflect on the lessons they learnt from their parents and to recognise which of these may be keeping them from life-giving patterns and relationships.
Parents should avoid telling their children when they are on a diet in order to prevent "weight talk" that lead to poor wellbeing in their offspring, according to a guide by the British Dietetic Association and the University of Bath. The guide suggests avoiding the use of negative language and instead discussing “changes you make in terms of wanting to improve your health and energy” with emphasis on eating more healthily and being more physically active. The advice is backed by the British Government's Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. More than 20% of British children are overweight or obese at the beginning of primary school, according to the NHS.
The recent death of a five-year-old, after waiting in vain for more than a day to receive a hospital bed, has highlighted the inadequate state of South Korea’s stretched healthcare system. Korea is bracing itself for more strain, after President Yoon Suk-yeol vetoed legislation aimed at improving nursing conditions, whilst doctors argue that low pay and weak infrastructure in rural areas are the core issues. South Korea suffers from a lack of doctors, including critical specialities, and is set to face a deficit of 27,000 doctors by 2035. Healthcare workers themselves have suffered, with one nurse dying recently due to lack of a doctor being available to perform brain surgery.
Moose Toys' Magic Mixies toy has become a $100m product line, backed by a Netflix series, merchandise and awards from the toy industry. The toy involves young users adding water, powders and glitter to a cauldron until a furry creature – the Magic Mixie – appears. Moose hopes the toy line will be the successor to its previous wildly successful Shopkins range of tiny collectibles, which has racked up $4.3bn in sales since 2014. Analysts predict the integration of a TV series with the range will drive sales further and help licensing deals.
Francesca Martin, who is in the process of writing a book, is reflecting on the forthcoming changes in her life when her sons start their first jobs. In anticipation of her emptying nest, Martin is cataloging the things she might do for herself, including eating highly-prized meals alone and with friends, cooking small amounts of a dish rather than catering for large groups, and writing about her changing experience of the kitchen table.
A cost-effective solution to worm infestations seen in developing countries could have far-reaching global impacts. Shockingly, worms are estimated to populate 1.5 billion of the world’s people resulting in weakened body systems, energy loss and disfigurement. The cost of keeping one American dog dewormed could cover more than 100 foreign children being freed from unwanted worms. A yearly fee of $1 for two dewormings compared to $140 on pet medicine are saving countless children’s lives across the globe.
Social isolation can be addressed by rethinking the design of communities, according to a letter to The New York Times' editor by urban planner Carolyn Lusch. She suggests car-oriented neighbourhoods can create loneliness by restricting pedestrian interactions, while forcing people to spend long periods alone in vehicles. Lusch claims that until more walkable neighbourhoods are created and non-motorised transit is supported, the US will remain "isolated by design". Other letters to the newspaper, in response to a feature by Vivek H. Murthy, which posited loneliness was a serious health issue, suggested initiatives including “chat benches” and involvement with community groups could help.
