children

Bangladesh has begun a nationwide measles vaccination campaign as the country confronts a deadly outbreak of the disease. Health authorities are racing to immunize children and contain the spread, and international outlets including Reuters and Arab News are covering the drive. The outbreak has raised concern about gaps in routine childhood immunization coverage.

France's pharmacists' union is warning about an early spike in Covid cases and is calling on the government to move forward the vaccination campaign scheduled for mid-October. Hospital data shows emergency room visits jumping 67% among adults and 16% among children, fuelling concerns that the autumn wave has arrived sooner than expected and that current planning leaves people exposed in the meantime.

The Israeli military has published footage it says shows a Palestinian child transporting weapons in the central Gaza Strip. According to the IDF, an operative used the child as a human shield to move the weapons through the area. The claim is drawing attention amid the ongoing conflict and continuing debate over the conduct of armed groups and the risks faced by children in Gaza.

Four tonnes of food were delivered by drones to residents of Oleshky, a Ukrainian city in Kherson region occupied by Russian forces. Kherson regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said Russia has blocked roughly 2,000 people, including 50 children, in the city without electricity, food or water, and that Ukrainian forces have been supplying provisions since March.

The trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three young children in 2023, is renewing public attention on maternal mental health. Coverage and commentary are focusing on postpartum mental illness, the pressures facing new mothers, and how the justice and healthcare systems respond to similar cases.

Donald Trump said 'too bad' after the Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship, and is now pushing for legislation to end the practice. The former president has long sought to eliminate automatic citizenship for children born in the US to non-citizens, and is calling on lawmakers to act where the courts would not.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg and the group Aurora have filed a new lawsuit against Sweden, arguing the state has failed to protect children from the consequences of climate change. The legal action follows earlier attempts to hold the Swedish government accountable through the courts, and renews pressure on policymakers over the country's climate commitments.

India has proposed banning junk food sales in school canteens and within 50 meters of schools, a move aimed at curbing rising obesity and diabetes rates among children. The proposal, reported by Reuters, marks a tightening of rules around food sold in and around educational institutions, and is drawing attention to concerns over children's health and diet.

A Norwegian ScienceTech News report cites a study finding that children and teenagers aged 9 to 18 are moving away from Google search and turning to AI chatbots for information instead. Researchers reportedly say the consequences of this shift are not yet known, raising questions about how young people evaluate answers from generative AI compared with traditional search results.

Israeli historian Ilan Pappé has published an analysis arguing that the October 2023 Al-Aqsa Flood attack was, in his words, "a breakout from the ghetto" by Palestinians who had endured thousands of deaths, tens of thousands of injuries among women and children, and mass home losses, particularly since the 2014 Gaza war. The piece is being widely shared as debate continues over the attack's roots and Israel's response.

The Education Above All Foundation is using the UN General Assembly's 81st session to press for stronger protection of education in crisis zones and to promote innovative financing for schooling in emergencies. The Qatar-based foundation is presenting its work on safeguarding children's access to learning during conflict and displacement, while urging governments and donors to back new funding mechanisms for education in emergencies.

A Utah jury has found Kouri Richins guilty of fatally poisoning her husband with fentanyl. The case drew wide attention because Richins, a mother of three, had written a children's book about grief after her husband's 2022 death before being charged with his murder. The verdict closes a high-profile trial that has been followed closely across the United States.

A side event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has drawn attention to the situation of Tibetan children, with speakers raising concerns about their rights and treatment. The session highlighted issues affecting Tibetan minors, and coverage of the event is being picked up by international news outlets, keeping Tibet's human rights situation on the diplomatic agenda.

The European Union is moving to restrict social media use for children under 15. The proposal would set a bloc-wide minimum age for platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, part of growing EU efforts to protect minors online. Officials argue age limits are needed to address risks to children's mental health and safety, though enforcement and the response of major platforms remain key questions.

A new report highlights how India's surrogacy ban is leaving single fathers and same-sex couples with no legal route to parenthood at home, pushing many to travel overseas for surrogacy arrangements. The ban restricts the practice to heterosexual married Indian couples, cutting off groups who previously relied on surrogacy clinics in cities like Mumbai. Families describe costly and complex journeys abroad as their only option to have children.

Professors say the race among parents to give their children an edge in school and life has intensified to a degree they have not seen before. The observation points to rising pressure around admissions, enrichment activities and achievement, with academics warning that intense competition may take a toll on both children and families.

Ukraine has imposed sanctions on 'Masha and the Bear', the popular Russian animated children's series, according to DW. The cartoon, one of Russia's most successful cultural exports, is targeted as part of Kyiv's broader restrictions on Russian media and cultural products since the full-scale invasion. The move means distribution and broadcasting of the show will be curtailed in Ukraine.

TikTok has agreed to pay Alabama $100 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company designed its platform to be addictive, particularly for young users. The settlement marks another legal setback for the social media company as US states continue pressing tech firms over the mental health effects of their products on children and teenagers.