Urgent Call to Protect Vulnerable Shark and Ray Populations

Nicholas Prosper, a 19-year-old from Newton, England, has been sentenced to 49 years in prison after murdering his family on September 13, 2024. The victims included his mother, Julia Falcon, 48, and siblings Kyle, 16, and Giselle, 13. According to British security agencies, Prosper read a book titled "How to Kill Your Family" prior to the killings. Prosper initially intended to commit the murders while his family slept; however, his mother confronted him, resulting in her being shot in the head. He subsequently killed his sister and fatally attacked his brother with a gun and knife. Following the murders, he attempted to enter a local school, reportedly planning to kill more people, including teachers. During his interrogation, Prosper disclosed that he had been planning the killings since failing a university admission exam for students aged 16 to 18. He expressed a desire to become notorious as a school shooter. Judge's remarks during sentencing emphasized the gruesome nature of his actions and the loss of innocent lives. London police used social media to commemorate the victims following the sentencing.

Joseph Awuah-Darko, a 28-year-old British-Ghanaian artist, has opted for euthanasia in the Netherlands due to ongoing struggles with bipolar disorder. After years of battling severe mood fluctuations and debilitating pain, Awuah-Darko announced his decision publicly, intensifying the dialogue surrounding mental health and assisted dying. He is currently awaiting approval for euthanasia, which could take up to four years, while documenting his journey through “The Last Supper Project.” This initiative invites strangers to share dinner and discuss his experiences with mental health, aiming to raise awareness around the issues faced by individuals living with similar conditions. In an emotional Instagram video, Awuah-Darko remarked, “I am not saying that life isn’t worth living... the mental weight of mine has become entirely unbearable.” He announced that his book, "Dear Artists," will be published this spring, with all royalties directed to a mental health charity. His poignant choice has sparked mixed reactions online, with some supporting his decision and others encouraging him to reconsider.

Recent anonymous testimonies reveal disturbing incidents of sexual abuse and harassment reported at 1,664 primary schools across the UK, sparking urgent calls for age-appropriate sex education for children under nine. The website Everyone’s Invited, hosting these accounts, details experiences of harassment ranging from groping to rape, with one chilling report involving a victim as young as five. A 12-year-old survivor described being abducted and assaulted at the age of 10 while walking to school, highlighting the severe impact of such trauma on young children. Sophie Lennox, a spokesperson for Everyone’s Invited, emphasized the need to educate children earlier, stating that the current age of nine is too late for introducing crucial topics on relationships and consent. Education leaders, like Daniel Kebede from the National Education Union, agree, noting that inappropriate behaviors have pervaded school environments, often learned from older siblings and social media. The government responded by acknowledging the need for comprehensive relationship and health education, reinforcing that all students must feel safe in schools.