Mogadishu (TIP): An Islamist suicide bombing outside a school in Somalia’s capital killed eight persons and wounded 17, including 13 children, the latest in a string of deadly blasts this year in a country beset by political turmoil and drought. The bombing at around 7.30 am was claimed by al Shabaab militants, who said they were targeting a United Nations security convoy passing near the school.

A UN spokesperson in Mogadishu declined to comment. A staff member speaking on condition of anonymity said no international personnel from the UN were hurt but they had no information on whether Somali employees were hurt. — Reuters

UK MP told not to bring her 3-month-old baby to parliament chambers; shares email

Londn (TIP): British MP Stella Creasy has called for reforms to the parliament’s rule book after receiving an official email banning her three-month-old baby in the chambers.

Creasy shared the email she received. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said a baby in the chambers “certainly wouldn’t distract me or get in the way of me doing my job”.

The Speaker of the House of Commons on Wednesday announced a review of the rules around babies being allowed into the Parliament chamber after she complained she was banned from carrying her three-month-old into the House.

Opposition Labour Party’s Stella Creasy was informed it was against the rules to bring a child to a debate at Westminster Hall within the Parliament complex after doing so on November 23.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle asked the Commons Procedure Committee to look into the matter as he noted that it was “extremely important” for parents to be able to participate fully in the work of Parliament, which also has a nursery on the premises. Creasy, who took to Twitter after receiving an email informing her about the rule, has received the backing of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the matter.

“We completely understand the difficulties faced by MPs who are new mothers, new fathers or adopted parents and parliament has made some positive changes to becoming more family friendly in recent years, including on proxy voting,” a Downing Street spokesperson for Johnson said. “We want to make sure that all work places are modern, flexible and fit for parents. This is obviously a matter for the House.  (TNS)