Latest news with #Trauma
Arab News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Children of war: The lost generation in Palestine
For decades, the world has watched the Palestinian-Israeli conflict unfold via headlines, footage and diplomatic statements. But beneath the geopolitics and shifting battle lines lies a quieter, more devastating tragedy: a generation of Palestinian children growing up amid violence, trauma and deprivation. These are the children of war — a lost generation whose education, mental health and dreams for the future are being systematically shattered. In Gaza, where Israeli military operations have left entire neighborhoods in ruins, children have been disproportionately affected. According to UNICEF and Save the Children, more than half of Gaza's population is under the age of 18. That means every airstrike, every siege and every blockade hits them the hardest — physically, emotionally and mentally. Thousands of children have been killed, maimed or left orphaned by Israeli operations since Oct. 7, 2023. Many more have witnessed the death of siblings, parents or friends. These are not just statistics — they are young lives permanently scarred. Education, one of the most fundamental rights of every child, is among the first casualties in such a conflict. Schools in Gaza and the West Bank are often closed for long stretches due to bombardment or military operations. Some are turned into shelters. Others are directly targeted. Since October 2023, hundreds of schools have been damaged or destroyed, and thousands of children have been deprived of safe and consistent access to education. The result is a generation that is increasingly falling behind — not for lack of intelligence or will, but because their environment denies them the tools they need to grow. Even when the fighting stops — temporarily — the trauma continues. Mental health professionals working in Palestine report staggering levels of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and night terrors among children. These are not isolated cases. They are symptoms of a deeply broken context, where childhood has been replaced by fear and resilience is forced, not nurtured. Children draw pictures of tanks and funerals. They play games that mimic escape from drone attacks. Their worldview is shaped by checkpoints, rubble and the haunting sound of air raids. There are staggering levels of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and night terrors among children Hani Hazaimeh The long-term consequences of such sustained trauma are difficult to fully comprehend, but early signs are already emerging. Studies have shown that war-affected children are more likely to suffer from behavioral and developmental issues, poor academic performance and emotional withdrawal. The trauma does not just vanish when the guns fall silent — it lingers, passed on silently from one generation to the next. Yet perhaps the most damning aspect of this tragedy is how invisible these children have become to the international community. The war in Gaza and the broader Palestinian territories is often discussed in terms of ceasefires, security and statehood — rarely in terms of its human toll, particularly on the young. The language of diplomacy too often sanitizes the brutal reality on the ground. In global forums, the deaths of children are described as 'collateral damage,' and the destruction of schools is brushed aside as 'unfortunate consequences.' But behind these euphemisms are real human stories — of 10-year-olds who no longer speak, of toddlers who flinch at the sound of thunder, of teenagers who have never known a single day without the threat of war. Perhaps the most damning aspect is how invisible these children have become to the international community Hani Hazaimeh There is, of course, no simple solution to the broader conflict. But there is a moral imperative — urgent and universal — to protect children. That means demanding accountability for attacks on schools and civilian infrastructure. It means providing funding for trauma counseling and mental health services in war zones. It means supporting organizations that rebuild classrooms, train teachers and offer safe spaces for learning. It means treating the right to a childhood not as a luxury, but as a cornerstone of any sustainable peace. We must stop thinking of Palestinian children merely as victims of a political conflict. They are not footnotes to be skimmed over. They are the heart of the story — and if we allow their suffering to continue, we are complicit in the creation of a generation that has known only violence and despair. In every war, there are casualties we can count and others we cannot. The lost innocence of children falls in the latter. Let us not wait for another headline, another outrage, another round of violence. The children of Palestine need more than sympathy. They need solidarity. They need protection. And, above all, they need hope — something far too many of them have been forced to live without.
The Star
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Iconic 1990s girl group Elite to reunite in special concert
Elite was once dubbed Malaysia's Spice Girls. Photo: Handout After nearly three decades away from large-scale performances, the popular all-female group of the 1990s, Elite, is set to make a comeback through a special concert Elite'25 on Sept 20. Organised by Icon Entertainment, the show will take place at the Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). All five original members - Linda Rafar, Sasha Saidin, Watie Sadali, Abby Abad and Azza - are set to reunite in a nostalgic performance marking the 30th anniversary of the group's formation. Icon Entertainment founder Iman Tang said the concert is being organised in response to overwhelming demand from fans who want Elite to return after its brief appearance at the GenKRU concert. "After the GenKRU concert, we received many requests to see Elite perform live again because many fans felt its appearance was too short. After discussions, we decided to make it happen and believe this concert will rekindle fond memories among the fans,' he said at a recent press conference. He added the concert is not only to celebrate three decades of Elite in the local music scene but also aims to revive the atmosphere of 1990s music with a modern and professional approach. The upcoming concert will see fans getting the chance to experience live performances of Elite's popular hits such as Trauma, Tamparan Wanita , Manisnya Senyumanmu, Sesuatu Di Dalam Dirimu and G.I.G by the original members of the group, once dubbed Malaysia's Spice Girls. Elite member Abby admitted she initially felt nervous about returning to the stage after being inactive for so long. "To be honest, we were worried about many things because, as everyone knows, Elite has not been active for a long time, let alone performing on stage. "However, after reviewing the plans presented by Iman and seeing the continued strong support from fans, Elite finally agreed to go ahead with the concert,' she said. For Linda, the chance to perform again on a grand stage was incredibly exciting after such a long time apart as a group. "What we miss most is being on stage and entertaining our fans with our own songs. This is a big responsibility and we will try our best to give it our all,' she said. Fans can purchase tickets starting June 26 at with prices ranging from RM268 to RM1,088. – Bernama
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elite opens official Instagram account amid rise in popularity
19 Jun - After receiving much love from fans following their reunion at KRU's GenKRU concert, '90's female pop group Elite recently announced that they have officially opened a new Instagram account. Member Linda Rafar, who shared the good news, said that the account @eliteofficialmy is open so that they can share their activities with the fans, especially since they have received lots of invitations following their performance at the concert. "We used to have an Instagram account in the past. But since then, everybody became busy with their own careers that the account became no longer active," she said. "But after we got involved in the GenKRU concert, suddenly we received a lot of attention. We didn't expect so many people want to know about Elite's activities." When asked if this means that Elite will one day hold their own concert, the singer stated that they will take whatever opportunity that comes their way. "We do receive lots of offers to hold a concert. But even before accepting them, we have to do a lot of preparations and not just in terms of singing. We are all in our 40s now. We have to start exercising and taking vocal lessons. Even KRU started doing fitness six months prior to their concert," she said. It was back in May that Linda was reunited with the rest of the Elite members; Abby Abadi, Sasha Saidin, Watie Sadali, and Azza Zawari to perform the song, "Di Pintu Syurga" with KRU. The group made their debut in 1995 and is known for hits like "Tamparan Wanita", "Manisnya Senyumanmu" and "Trauma". (Photo Source: Elite IG, Sasha Saidin IG)
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kate Beckinsale Praises Pets for ‘Holding Us by a Thread' After ‘Canary Black' Lawsuit Goes Public
Kate Beckinsale is seemingly finding solace in her beloved animals after amending a lawsuit she filed against the company and producers behind her 2024 action film Canary Black. On June 11, the actress, 51, shared a video of herself wearing a white dress, an oversized black bow and black boots while holding her dog. 'Shoutout to the furry ones holding us by a thread,' Beckinsale wrote alongside the video, which was accompanied by Randy Newman's 'You've Got a Friend in Me.' She followed up the post with photos of Kate Truitt's Keep Breathing: A Psychologist's Intimate Journey Through Loss, Trauma, and Rediscovering Life and underlined pages from the book. The posts come on the heels of a lawsuit the Underworld alum filed against Anton Entertainment Media Services, Inc; Canary Black, LTD; producer John Zois; and more — who she worked with on the thriller — being made public. In December 2024, Beckinsale sued the parties for negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and battery under the name Jane Doe — however on May 21, Beckinsale amended the lawsuit to include her name. In the newly amended filing, obtained by Star, the actress alleges she was 'repeatedly exposed to unsafe and dangerous conditions' on set of Canary Black, which resulted in Beckinsale 'suffering severe and debilitating injuries.' According to the documents, Beckinsale and her team brought up their concerns regarding 'long, dangerous set days, often lasting fifteen hours, inadequate equipment and medical personnel to help manage the high physical workload and recover from the exertion off set.' It also claims Beckinsale was not adequately informed about challenging stunts ahead of time. In 2022, Beckinsale emailed Zois and expressed her concerns about being unprepared and undertrained when it involved stunts, including one involving hanging from a wire. 'SpEaking [sic] last night to a few actors and actresses I know in my position, no one has ever been told something was green screen and found out day of a portion of it was practical,' Beckinsale told the producer, per the documents. 'What I am suggesting is merely what has been absolutely standard on every movie I have appeared in before.' The documents also claim that Beckinsale was not given appropriate padding for a scene in which an actor threw her against a wall, resulting in 'significant injuries, including a complex meniscus tear in her left knee.' Two months before Beckinsale filed the initial lawsuit under the name 'Jane Doe', she took to Instagram to dispel a review by The Guardian that theorized that she didn't do her own stunts. 'Kicking impeccably chic ass 🩷and a couple of close ups doesn't half hurt lol,' she captioned a post that featured clips of herself in action and photos of various injuries she seemingly sustained on set.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Drive on CPR, first-aid training today: Govt
The state government will organise a special campaign on Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first-aid training on World Emergency Medicine Day on Tuesday. The session would be organised at a private hospital in Lucknow, with doctors and experts from 16 states participating, officials said on Monday. A major highlight of the campaign would be the training of over 1,200 Rapido Captains (a rider or driver on Rapido, a bike taxi app), preparing them to act as first responders in emergencies, they said. CPR is a critical technique used when a person's heartbeat or breathing stops. It helps maintain the flow of oxygen to the brain. If performed within three to five minutes, CPR can significantly increase the chances of saving the victim's life. With this training, Rapido Captains will act as mobile security units, ready to save lives on the roads, officials said. The training will include the method of giving CPR, bleeding control (stopping bleeding), use of basic first aid kit, understanding emergency numbers and process and traffic safety measures. Dr Lokendra Gupta, Director, Emergency Medicine & Trauma Care at Medanta, Lucknow, said the initiative is aimed at reducing fatalities in road accidents across the state and country. The Society of Acute Care, Trauma, and Emergency Medicine (SACTEM), in collaboration with the mobility service provider Rapido, will organise the nationwide campaign. Dr Gupta added, 'More than 1,200 Rapido bike taxi captains will be trained in CPR and first-aid in a single day. These captains interact with thousands of passengers daily and now they will be equipped with the skills to save lives in critical situations.' These captains, often the first responders at the scene of emergencies such as road accidents, will be able to save lives if given timely training in CPR and first-aid, a statement said. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, over 1.5 lakh people lose their lives annually in road accidents in India, with many fatalities occurring due to the lack of immediate first aid. This initiative is being organised under the banner of 'One Mission, One Day, One Nation.'
