Eight killed in explosion at Alawite Mosque in Syria’s Homs
Damascus: SANA—the Syrian state new agency reported that eight people were killed in the blast at the mosque in Syrian city of Homs. The explosion in Imam Ali bin Abi Talib mosque of the Alawite minority sect, also injured more than eighteen worshippers, Health Ministry official Najib al-Naasan said.
It is reported that an explosive device had detonated inside the mosque and that security forces had cordoned off the area. The blast rocked the mosque during Friday noon prayers, a local official said to Reuters.
A militant group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, claimed the responsibility for the explosion. Its fighters had detonated a number of explosives in the mosque, the group said on Telegram.
Meanwhile, Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the blast, citing it as a terrorist crime. Countries including Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Qatar have strongly condemned the attack.
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Three teenage pregnancies reported in Karnataka within six months
Bengaluru: Karnataka has reported three cases of teenage pregnancies within the past six months, with the latest incident coming to light at a private school in Channarayapatna town of Hassan district, reported by The New Indian Express on Saturday.
Experts and child rights officials have expressed serious concern over the recurring cases, pointing to gaps in child protection mechanisms within educational institutions. They have cited the absence of child protection committees in schools, lack of awareness about the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, inadequate sex education, and parental ignorance as key factors contributing to such incidents.
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The commission’s chairman, Shashidhar Kosambe reportedly said, the main reason is not implementing the Karnataka State Child Protection Policy, 2016, in schools, especially at residential schools like those in Yadgir and Koppal where such incidents have taken place.
According to the policy, the commission must have two teachers or school officials and two outsiders who work in the interest of child rights, so that there is no prejudice whenever complaints are filed.
“It is the responsibility of the commission to monitor children and school staff. Awareness programmes on child protection policies, the POCSO Act, and sexual abuse must be conducted regularly for students and staff. Police must be informed immediately when a violation is detected. The policy and the commission must become part of the ecosystem and shouldn’t be treated as extra work,” TNIE quoted Kosambe as saying.
Psychiatry professor at ESI hospital, Rajajinagar, Dr Chandrashekar said, many adolescent girls become pregnant when they are sexually abused by their male friends. The victims undergo a lot of physical changes and mental trauma because of the way others respond. Therefore, whenever we come across a pregnant teenager, especially the victims of sexual abuse, we provide counselling to the victim as her family members.
