The Standard: Is formal learning taking over children’s lives?

--"Formal learning, it seems, has taken over most children’s lives. The question whether formal learning is the only way to meaningfully occupy the young ones, now begs for answers."

International Herald Tribune:
Turkey inaugurates headquarters for Islamic Conference's youth forum

--"The object of the Youth Forum is to develop dialogue between civilizations," [Turkish Parliament Speaker] Arinc said earlier. "It is to bring about a world of peace and calm to a clashing world."

BBC News: Problem children target defended

--The minister in charge of a plan to identify potential troublemakers even before birth has defended the move, saying state intervention "can work".

INQ7.net: ILO cites RP efforts in curbing child labor

--"The International Labor Organization has cited the Philippines for making progress in combating child labor, during the recently concluded summit of Asian labor and employment ministers in Busan, South Korea."

NDTV.com: Ministry seeks clarity on definition of a child

--"Going by the UN Convention on Child Rights categorising individuals below 18 years as children, 42 per cent of India's population is made up of children. But 14 years after India adopted the UN convention, confusion prevails over the legal definition of a child."

Daily Mail:
This Government index will put every child in Britain at risk (unless their parents are celebrities or politicians)

--"A Labour initiative with profoundly sinister implications for British children and parents has been set up so quietly that, until last week when independent-minded Government consultants spoke out, few even knew about the totalitarian surveillance planned for them."

Times of India: SUNDAY DEBATE: Should couples be fined for a third child? No

allAfrica.com: Africa: A red card to check out child labour

--"Getting children off hard labour has been a major focus of the International Labour Organisation under Mr. Juan Somavia's leadership. In Africa, the issue of child labour has been closely linked with poverty. Though people remain poor in many African countries, efforts are still being made to put an end to child labour. June 12 is marked as Child Labour Day by the ILO annually. This edition presents a report on child labour and efforts being made to wipe it out."

Sun-Star Dumaguete: Dumaguete, C. Visayas' most child-friendly city

--"Dumaguete City has again won the search for the Most Child-Friendly City in Central Visayas, its fourth win since 2002"

Napa Valley Register: Schools face No Child sanctions

--"The performance of four Napa schools...has placed the entire district under sanctions of the No Child Left Behind law."

Scotsman.com:
Child maintenance loophole 'must be closed'

--"An Edinburgh MP has called on the Government to close a loophole that he claims is allowing self-employed absent fathers to avoid paying maintenance."

Philadelphia Inquirer:
Child-support deadbeats will have to pay interest

--"Being a deadbeat parent is getting more expensive in New Jersey. Parents who owe child support can now expect to pay interest on outstanding balances under an appeals court ruling that was upheld last week."

This is Wiltshire: Child firebugs

--"Child arsonists and vandals could be sued for the damage they cause in a new bid to get tough on anti-social behaviour."

Guardian Unlimited: Fantasy or fact - Japan's children play safe

--Anxious parents flock to a risk-free indoor playground amid fears of rising crime

MSNBC: PCBs may keep kids' vaccines from ‘taking’

--Some kids developed fewer antibodies after shots, study found

Telegraph: It was Blair who made children dysfunctional
CBC News: Alcohol ads blitz American youth: study

--"About half of the alcohol advertising on U.S. radio is aired during youth-oriented programs, according to a new study that suggests beer and liquor companies are not abiding by a self-imposed ban on advertising to teens."

Monsters and Critics.com: Ped Med: Depressed youth shortchanged

--"The young and depressed often don`t get the talk therapy they deserve and may be getting medication they don`t need for a range of reasons, specialists say."

Adelaide Now: Weighing costs of child obesity

-- The Medical Journal of Australia rates obesity as the most prevalent preventable child health issue in Australia ahead of dental disease, emotional and behavioural problems, bullying and learning delays.

Boston Herald: Romney applauds student measurement in No Child Left Behind

Chicago Tribune: UN: Asia still has too many child workers

--"Despite a drop of about 5 million since 2000, working children number an estimated 122 million in Asia, or 64 percent of the worldwide total, according to the International Labor Organization."

BBC News: Children's views sought on courts

--Youngsters are being asked to give their views online about proposals to make family courts more child friendly.

Globe and Mail: Blair wants state to prevent growth of problem children

--"British Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday the state should intervene early -- possibly even before birth -- to stop the children of problem families growing up into troublemakers."

SFGate.com:
State schools improve in math, English But No Child Left Behind tests find many still below grade level

Daily Mail: Keep the state out of our children's lives

--"In yet another outrageous affront to our civil liberties, the Government intends setting up a database to store the details of every child in England and Wales. The information will be accessible by hundreds of thousands of officials across a wide range of public agencies."

allAfrica.com: Swaziland: Turning the corner on AIDS by using the youth

--"An approach linking peer educators has now been formulated in partnership with the Swaziland Youth Congress. "The grassroots approach is the best. The peer educators know their communities better than administrators in [the capital], Mbabane. What will now be provided to them are resources," Mavuso told IRIN."

Baltimore Business Journal: Educate sheds No Child Left Behind business in $18M deal

Washington Post: Tweaking of 'No Child' Seen

--Education Chief Urges Bigger Role for States in Initiative

allAfrica.com: Uganda: Child-headed homes aided

--"SACU information officer Rachael Nandelega said over 300 families headed by children were represented."

allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Local youth NGO wins int'l award

--"A Nigerian youth Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Youth Empowerment and Child Labour Elimination Project (YCEP), based in Anantigha community, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria was among the finalists communities and organisations recognised with the Red Ribbon Awards at the recent XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada."

Irish Health.com: Most children driven to school

--"Less than 1% of Irish children currently cycle to school, a new survey has shown. In fact, according to the results, 70% of children are driven to school even though they live less than a mile away."