Best of Web...Kids watch too much adult stuff

Kids exposed to too much adult stuff on TV

Picturre used for illustrative purpose only. (AGENCIES)

Watching explicit ad campaigns and raunchy television shows, children are under pressure to act older, say most parents who took part in a poll.

A study for the Department for Education found almost half the parents who were covered in the survey believe the 9pm watershed – in place to protect youngsters – no longer has any force, reports 'Mail Online'.

41 per cent of parents agreed they had seen TV shows or advertisements before the watershed that they considered wrong for their children to view. And 40 per cent said they had seen window displays or advertising boards that children should not be exposed to.

Reg Bailey, who is leading an independent review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood, said: "Parents are struggling against the slow creep of an increasingly commercial and sexualised culture and behaviour, which they say prevents them from parenting the way they want."

The research comes a week after British fashion brand Jack Wills was accused of pushing the boundaries of decency too far.

The latest catalogue by the popular brand was banned from being distributed due to explicit images.

In September, more than 3,000 people complained that dance moves in the X Factor final by pop stars Christina Aguilera and Rihanna were too explicit. 

KKR fans seek divine help 

Indian Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan (L), co-owner of Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team 'Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) and vice president for Nokia in India D. Shivakumar (R) give a press conference announcing the renewal of the association with Nokia and a new consumer campaign for cricket fans across the country, in Mumbai. (AFP)

Fans of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are seeking divine intervention to change the IPL fortunes of the team.

SRK Fans' Club organised a 'Mata ki jagran' at Rajarhat on Saturday to seek blessings of the Goddess, reports 'MidDay'.

KKR, owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, is the only team that has not reached the semi-finals in the previous three editions.

It lost the opening match to Chennai Super Kings on Friday.

"A team of 10 bhajan singers and around 2,000 fans will be prticipated with special bhajans scripted with the names of the players and the team owner," club secretary Arnab Roy was quoted as saying.

300,000 bachelors have no brides

A general view of Indian state of Harayana. (AGENCIES)

There are less than 149,600 girls for over 180,200 lakh boys in in the age group of 0-6 in the Indian state of Harayana, according to Census 2011 figures. This means the growing army of bachelors in the state is bound to increase further - over 300,000 lakh boys in the age group will have no brides.

This suggests tough days ahead for men considering most uneducated, unemployed men are rejected by girls, reports 'Times of Inida'. The increasing trend also shows men without assets are not accepted.

Shyam Sunder, Secretary, Bhiwani Red Cross Society, said: "Men are increasingly going for girls outside the state. However, the gang of 'loot-and-scoot brides' has made them really anxious as in some cases, they have reportedly lost their 'wives' despite paying huge money."

Meanwhile, social activists say men without jobs are bound to create problems in society and even break the sanctity of relationships.

"We recently identified 2,000 bachelors in Bhiwani district and trained them to become plumbers and electricians," said Sunder.

A Khap leader 'Dada' Baljit Singh Malik said many parents avoid having more children if they have a boy. But if they have a girl in the family, then the couple opts for sex determination. 

Freeman gets life term for killing 4-yr-old daughter

(AGENCIES)

Arthur Freeman has been sentenced to life imprisonment for throwing his four-year-old daughter off a bridge, reports 'News.com.au'.
 
Justice Paul Coghlan who sentenced Freeman to life with a non-parole period of 32 years, said he had not shown remorse or even begun to understand the enormity of his brutal crime.

“Your attitude to these matters remain self-centred. I regard your prospects of rehabilitation as bleak,” he added.

Darcey Freeman died after being thrown 58m to her death off West Gate Bridge in Melbourne on January 29, 2009.

MEANWHILE, Freeman's lawyer HAD argued that his client was 'mad' not 'bad'.

In handing down the life sentence, the judge said he understood the argument that he should be “locked away for ever”, but he was obliged to consider other factors.

“Whatever happens, you will spend what many consider will be the best years of your life in prison.

The judge said while there was little evidence that Freeman was suffering from mental illness, he did accept that the murder was not premeditated. “We do not know what Mr Freeman was thinking.”

Prosecutors argued during the trial that Freeman killed Darcey in a "fit of anger" at his wife. Minutes before the murder Freeman telephoned Ms Barnes and told her to "say goodbye to your children" and "you will never see your children again".

Freeman will be eligible for release on the 29th January 2041. He will be 67 then.

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