Kindergartens see more Hispanic, Asian students

The kindergarten class of 2010-11 is less white, less black, more Asian and much more Hispanic than in 2000, reflecting the nation's rapid racial and ethnic transformation.

The profile of the 4 million children starting kindergarten reveals the startling changes the USA has undergone the past decade and offers a glimpse of its future. In this year's class, for example, about one out of four 5-year-olds will be Hispanic. Most of today's kindergartners will graduate from high school in 2024.

More Hispanic children are likely in the next generation because the number of Hispanic girls entering childbearing years is up more than 30% this decade, says Kenneth Johnson, demographer at the University of New Hampshire's Carsey Institute. "It's only the beginning.

A USA TODAY analysis of the most recent government surveys shows:

• About 25% of 5-year-olds are Hispanic, a big jump from 19% in 2000. Hispanics of that age outnumber blacks almost 2 to 1.

• The percentage of white 5-year-olds fell from 59% in 2000 to about 53% today and the share of blacks from 15% to 13%.

"This is not just a big-city phenomenon," Johnson says. "The percentage of minority children is growing faster in the suburbs and in rural areas."

In Lake County, Ind., a Chicago suburb, the under-20 population went from 51.8% white in 2000 to 47.1% in 2008, Johnson's research shows. In rural Nebraska's Colfax and Dakota counties, the share of Hispanic youths is rising while young whites are down from 60% to about 45% in the same period.

• Schools face linguistic challenges. The share of 5-year-olds who speak English at home slipped from 81% in 2000 to about 78%. The share of Spanish speakers grew from 14% to 16%.

"That makes issues of language development and how to teach them even more important than 10 years ago," says W. Steven Barnett, co-director of the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University. "In some districts, 40% of their kids are Latino, and 4% of their teachers are. It's a huge gap."

Educators are grappling with the challenge, and "we really have a long way to go before we understand what the best methods are," says Lisa Guernsey, director of the Early Education Initiative at the non-profit New America Foundation. Today's kindergartners are tomorrow's high schoolers, and "we need to know what their needs are."

• Kindergarten enrollment is up, from 3.8 million in 2000 to about 4 million. source : USA Today

South Africa strike risks babies' lives

Thomas Lehloholo was driving around Johannesburg desperately looking for a doctor to deliver his premature son when he got the call telling him it was too late. He had become a father.

"I could hear the baby screaming in the background I said you cannot be having a baby. She said we just had it. Wow," Lehloholo told CNN.

His girlfriend had given birth at home, aided by her grandmother, after rushing to a public hospital and finding the doors closed and workers absent.

Nurses and hospital staff are among thousands of public sector workers striking over pay in South Africa.

Workers have called for wage rises of more than eight percent -- well above inflation -- and enhanced housing allowances as part of their demands.

The government says with a million jobs lost from the economy in the past year, it cannot afford to raise employee wageseo: Pregnant woman turned away from hospital

"We can't be seen to be saying 'put more into salaries' because that means we then won't be able to tend to the needs of the millions who are unemployed and the poor," government spokesman, Themba Maseko told CNN.

The government has deployed military and the police to hospitals and clinics to ensure those most in need receive medical attention.

Still, premature babies were left untended in empty neonatal wards.

So concerned was Thomas Lehloholo about the lack of professional medical care for his newborn son that he phoned a talk radio station to plead for help.

A pediatrician heard his call and offered to bring his girlfriend Nokulthula Mahlangu and new baby to a private hospital where the child is being treated in the intensive care unit.

Baby Lehlohol is one of around 90 babies rescued from public hospitals in Johannesburg in the past week by Netcare, the country's biggest private healthcare provider.

The group's director, Dr. Richard Friedland says two-thirds of the babies rescued were just weeks old, some weighed as little as 900 grams -- or just under two pounds -- and many were close to death.

At one hospital, he said dozens of babies had been left to fend for themselves.

"When we went into that ward it only had two security guards and we found 24 crying babies. For all of us who are pretty hardened in terms of trauma and doctors this was the most emotional moment of our lives. Many of us started crying," he said.

"These are babies that had only been fed at nine in the morning. It was now 12 at night, they had soiled nappies, were cold and needed to be resuscitated."

Netcare has cared for more than 400 people who have been affected by the strikes, including patients suffering gunshot wounds who had been turned away from unstaffed public hospitals.

The government still hopes to negotiate an agreement that is acceptable to unions.

"We believe that (we will) be able to sit and explain the economic challenges that we're facing as a nation, and that the unions will understand that yes, improving the salaries of employees is important, but equally building schools, making sure there is safety and security, providing water, electricity, building houses for our citizens is equally important," Maseko said.

On Friday, another powerful union in South Africa threatened to wade into the dispute if the government failed to meet the workers' demands.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said its members would walk off the job next week if the government does not meet strikers' wage demands.

"We are angry that whilst those who are privileged have children go to school overseas; our children have turned into street kids," the union said in a statement.

"The NUM fully supports the public sector strike and would next week Thursday ensure that every mining operation, every construction site and every energy worker joins the public sector strike in different forms."

The mineworkers union is the largest union in the Congress of South African Trade Unions, the group said. source : Cnn.com

खोलाले बगाउँदा बालिकासहित दुई बेपत्ता

छाम , भाद्र १० - खोलाले बगाउँदा एक बालिकासहित दुई बेपत्ता भएका छन् ।

एक सातासम्मको अविरल वर्षापछि कुइका खोलामा आएको बाढीले बगाउँदा जिल्लाको कुइका गाविस २ की १२ वर्षिया बिनिता उपाध्याय बेपत्ता भएकी हुन् । छिमेकी विनायक गाविसको मष्टामाणु र बाल्देमाणु जात्रा हेरेर घर फर्कने क्रममा खोलाले बगाएको जिल्ला प्रहरी कार्यालय अछामका प्रहरी सहायक निरीक्षक कलम शाहीले जानकारी दिएका छन् । बेपत्ता उपाध्यायको स्थानिय बासिन्दा र प्रहरीले खोजी जारी राखेका छन ।

यसैगरी शेरा गाविस २ का झपटसिंह भण्डारी पनि चाइरा खोलाले बगाउँदा बेपत्ता भएका छन् । अरुलाई खोला तराइरहेका भण्डारीलाई खोलाले बगाएको हो । बेपत्ता भण्डारीको उनका आफन्तहरुले खोजी गरिरहेको अछाम प्रहरीले जनाएको छ । source : ekanipur.com

खोलाले बगाउँदा बालिकासहित दुई बेपत्ता

छाम , भाद्र १० - खोलाले बगाउँदा एक बालिकासहित दुई बेपत्ता भएका छन् ।

एक सातासम्मको अविरल वर्षापछि कुइका खोलामा आएको बाढीले बगाउँदा जिल्लाको कुइका गाविस २ की १२ वर्षिया बिनिता उपाध्याय बेपत्ता भएकी हुन् । छिमेकी विनायक गाविसको मष्टामाणु र बाल्देमाणु जात्रा हेरेर घर फर्कने क्रममा खोलाले बगाएको जिल्ला प्रहरी कार्यालय अछामका प्रहरी सहायक निरीक्षक कलम शाहीले जानकारी दिएका छन् । बेपत्ता उपाध्यायको स्थानिय बासिन्दा र प्रहरीले खोजी जारी राखेका छन ।

यसैगरी शेरा गाविस २ का झपटसिंह भण्डारी पनि चाइरा खोलाले बगाउँदा बेपत्ता भएका छन् । अरुलाई खोला तराइरहेका भण्डारीलाई खोलाले बगाएको हो । बेपत्ता भण्डारीको उनका आफन्तहरुले खोजी गरिरहेको अछाम प्रहरीले जनाएको छ ।

शनिश्चरे शिविरकी शरणार्थी वालिका वलत्कृत

शनिश्चरे गाविस-१ स्थित भुटानी शरणार्थी शिविरकी १५ वर्षीया बालिकालाई सोही गाविसका छ जना युवाहरूले ०६७ साउन २६ गते सामूहिक बलात्कार गरेका छन् ।
बलात्कार गरेको आरोपमा प्रहरीले सोही गाविसका १८ वर्षीय सुमन राई र १९ वर्षीय नागेश्वर चौधरीलाई ०६७ साउन २६ गते गिरफ्तार गरेको छ ।इलाका प्रहरी कार्यालय उर्लाबारीका सई गौरव सुब्बाका अनुसार, पीडित सोही गाविस-१ स्थित जंगलमा गएको अवस्थामा छ जना युवाहरूले सामूहिक बलात्कार गरेका थिए । पीडितको विराटनगरस्थित कोसी अञ्चल अस्पतालमा साउन २६ गते नै स्वास्थ्य परीक्षण र उपचार गरिएको छ ।
घटनाका दोषी चार जनाको खोजी भइरहेको छ । source : tito mitho piro

Obama 'not commenting on wisdom' of controversial Islamic center

Panama City, Florida (CNN) -- President Barack Obama told CNN Saturday that in defending the right of Muslims to build a community center and mosque near ground zero in a speech Friday night, he was "not commenting on the wisdom" of the project but trying to uphold the broader principle that the government should treat "everyone equal, regardless" of religion.

"In this country, we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion," Obama said after giving a speech on the Gulf Coast oil disaster in Panama City, Florida.

While speaking at a White House dinner celebrating the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Obama threw his support behind a controversial proposal to build an Islamic center and mosque near New York's ground zero, saying Friday that "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country."

The president's remarks drew praise from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who announced his support for the Islamic center last week. Bloomberg compared Obama's speech to a letter former President George Washington wrote in support of a Jewish congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. Still, critics of the proposed Islamic center -- including Rep. Peter King (R-New York) -- quickly denounced Obama's remarks.

"President Obama is wrong," King said in a statement. "It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of Ground Zero. Unfortunately, the President caved into political correctness."

On Saturday, Obama said he "was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there."

"I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding," the president added. "That's what our country is about."

Obama, who on Friday said he was speaking both as a citizen and as president, invoked the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which critics of the Islamic center cite as the main reason for blocking its construction.

"We must all recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of lower Manhattan," Obama said. "The 9/11 attacks were a deeply traumatic event for our country."

"The pain and suffering experienced by those who lost loved ones is unimaginable," he continued. "So I understand the emotions that this issue engenders. Ground zero is, indeed, hallowed ground."

The proposed Islamic center has provoked vocal opposition from some families of 9/11 victims and other groups. Nearly 70 percent of Americans oppose the plan, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll released Wednesday.

"In a breathtakingly inappropriate setting, the president has chosen to declare our memories of 9/11 obsolete and the sanctity of Ground Zero finished," Debra Burlingame, co-founder of 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America, said in a statement Saturday.

"This controversy is not about religious freedom. 9/11 was more than a 'deeply traumatic event,' it was an act of war ... Those who continue to target and kill American civilians and U.S. troops will see it as a symbol of their historic progress at the site of their most bloody victory," she added.

The Islamic center's leaders say they plan to build the $100 million, 13-story facility called Cordoba House three blocks from the site of the 9/11 attacks. The developer, Sharif El-Gamal, describes the project as an "Islamic community center" that would include a 500-seat performing arts center, a lecture hall, a swimming pool, a gym, a culinary school, a restaurant and a prayer space for Muslims.

Other families of 9/11 victims said they support the proposed Islamic center, and the president's position.

"America, the concept and the people and the land thrive when we chose to trust in our principles rather than cave to our basest fears," Donna Marsh O'Connor, spokeswoman for September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, said in a statement.

"What better place for healing, reconciliation and understanding than Ground Zero?" she added.

On Wednesday, the project's developers declined an offer by New York Gov. David Paterson to relocate the project to a state-owned site.

Earlier this month, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission unanimously denied landmark status for the building where the proposed Islamic center would stand, allowing the project to move forward. source : CNN

झारफुकको पछि लाग्दा एकै घरका तीन बालबालिकाको मृत्यु

पालगन्ज- , श्रावण २५ - तीन किलोमिटर नजिकको अस्पताल नल्याई झारफुकको पछि लाग्दा मंगलवार एकै घरका तीन बालबालिकाको मृत्यू भएको छ । बिषालु सर्पले डसेका उनीहरुलाई गाउँकै धामीझाक्रीकहाँ लगिएको थियो ।

नगरसंग जोडिएको इन्द्रपुर-६ स्थित बन्जारेगाउँका दुखिराम खटिकका १२ बषर्ीय छोरा राकेश, नौ बषर्ीया उमा र ७ बषर्ीया छोरी मनिषाको मृत्यू भएको हो । राकेशलाई बिहान ३ बजे सर्पले दाया खुट्टाको बुढी अाैलामा डसेको थियो । छोरालाई झाक्रीकहाँ लैजाँदा घरमै सुतिरहेका दुई छोरीलाई पनि सर्पले डसेको दुखीरामले बताए ।

'छोरालाई झारफुक गराउन गएको छोरीहरुलाई पनि टोकेछ'-उनले भने । दुखीरामका परिवारका पाँचै जना भूईमा ओछ्यान लगाएर लस्करै सुतेका थिए । सर्पले डसेको साढे दुई घण्टापछि बेहोस अवस्थामा उनीहरुलाई अस्पताल पुर्‍याइएको थियो । आधा बाटोसम्म हिडेरै आएका छोराछोरी अस्पताल पुग्दा बेहोस भएको खटिकले बताए । खटिक उपचारमा संलग्न स्वास्थ्यकर्मी होमनाथ सुबेदीले भने,- 'केही छिटो ल्याउन सकेको भए बचाउन सकिन्थ्यो ।' घाइतेको बिहान पौने ७ बजे मृत्यू भएको अस्पतालले जनाएको छ । विपन्न खटिक परिवार शोकमा डुबेको छ ।

सर्पले सडेका अधिकांश घाइतेको अस्पताल ढिलो आउनाले मृत्यू हुने गरेको स्वास्थ्यकर्मी सुबेदीले बताए । झारफुकमा अल्भिmदा बन्जारे गाउँ दुई बालबालिकाको साउन ६ गते ज्यान गएको थियो । एकै परिवारका ५ बषर्ीया सुशीला बर्मा र सेढ बर्षका करन बर्मालाई सर्पले डसेपछि ढिलो अस्पताल लैजाँदा मृत्यू भएको हो । उनीहरुका हजुरबुवा पुजारी बर्माले भने,-'गर्मीले भूईमा सुत्दा सर्पले टोक्छ ।' गाउँमा अधिकांश विपन्न समुदायको बसोबास छ । घरले छाएका झुपडीभित्र सर्प छिरेर दुःख दिने गरेको बर्माले बताए ।

बाँकेमा सर्पको डसाईबाट पछिल्लो ३ महिनामा ८ बालबालिकासहित ११ जनाको मृत्यू भएको छ । सर्पले डसेर भेरी अन्चल अस्पतालमा मात्र ५३ जना बिरामी आएको स्वास्थ्यकर्मी सुबेदीले बताए । 'सर्पले डसेका बिरामीलाई जतिसक्दो चाँडो अस्पताल ल्याउनुपर्नेमा गाउँघरमा धामीझाक्रीको पछि लाग्दा धेरैको ज्यान जाने गरेको छ'-उनले भने । असारमा सबैभन्दा बढी ३३ जनालाई सर्पले डसेको थियो ।

Washington (CNN) -- With child sex crimes in the United States sharply increasing, federal officials Monday issued a "national strategy" to combat child exploitation in homes, on streets and over the internet.

Top federal law enforcement officials led by Attorney General Eric Holder vowed to take new steps to stem rampant child pornography, online enticements, child prostitution and child sex tourism.

In a detailed report submitted to Congress on Monday, the Justice Department says that since 2006, when the government launched Project Safe Childhood, federal prosecutions have increased by 40 percent, and more than 8,600 defendants have been indicted. More than 2,400 alleged sex offenders were indicted in 2009 alone.

"Tragically, the only place we've seen a decrease is in the age of the victims," Holder said.

Officials said the average age of girls targeted for child pornography is 12 to 14, while the average age of boys targeted is 11 to 13.

The attorney general spoke to a crowd gathered at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Alexandria, Virginia. He was joined by officials from the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Postal Inspection Service.

Authorities say the national strategy will create a national database to allow agencies to better coordinate their cases, engage in undercover operations, share intelligence and conduct analysis on dangerous offenders and future threats.

A teenage girl identified only as "Melissa" then spoke of her years as a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of her father, from her pre-school days through her elementary school years. Her father has since been imprisoned.

She talked of her suicidal thoughts and self-blame, but said she has been able to overcome much of the trauma. She was praised and applauded by the gathered government officials for her willingness to speak out to help highlight the great personal costs and psychological problems encountered by victims of child abuse

Today i would like to share a one valuable thing with all the well wisher,our volunteer,and member of this group,please keep in mind that this is the social org. which aim is to help those who are in need as well to promote the children right through this world. we are spreading our voice through different social network so please please please don't think that our post are for comment only But also to give you all some knowledge about children star group and its Aim so common let's raise the voice of poor and those who are in needs.

After finishing social awareness and social activity, children star group have take the survey to all children star group friends. The survey was for 30 day long and the people who have visited the blog have given their vote. This was the first time children star group have take the survey regarding the blog and social activity. The result was as follow
*Children star group have finished three 3 yrs of its establishment day what you all hope on further day from children star group?
1) News and latest video 69 % (23 total votes)
2) More video and comedy 36 %( 15 total votes)
3) More news related web page 30 %( 10 total votes)
4) None of the above 15% (3 total votes)

I would like to thanks all the visitor of their wonder full suggestion, which help us to improve our blog on further day.