DHAKA — Bangladesh’s measles outbreak continues to claim lives, with three more people dying after developing suspected measles symptoms, according to health authorities. The latest deaths bring the nationwide toll among people who have died with suspected measles symptoms to nearly 1,000, highlighting the continuing pressure on Bangladesh’s healthcare system.

During the latest 24-hour reporting period, 964 people sought hospital treatment for suspected measles symptoms, while 977 patients were admitted, according to figures reported by bdnews24.

Dhaka Division has recorded the highest number of deaths linked to suspected measles symptoms, with 401 deaths reported so far. The figures include both confirmed measles-related deaths and deaths among patients who exhibited symptoms associated with the disease. The continuing fatalities come despite nationwide efforts to expand measles vaccination and strengthen hospital capacity.

Health officials have been monitoring the outbreak since March, when the Directorate General of Health Services began regularly publishing data on patients with measles and measles-like symptoms. Earlier government figures showed that hundreds of people had died while tens of thousands required hospital treatment.

The outbreak has placed additional pressure on hospitals already dealing with a surge in dengue infections. Bangladesh has also reported a sharp increase in dengue hospitalisations in recent months, creating an increasingly difficult public-health environment.

Public-health specialists have previously raised concerns about vaccination coverage, gaps in disease surveillance and the capacity of hospitals to manage severe measles cases and complications.

Measles can be particularly dangerous for young children and can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and other infections, especially among patients who are malnourished or otherwise vulnerable.

The government has conducted emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas and later expanded vaccination efforts nationwide. Officials have said millions of children have received vaccines as part of the response.

However, the persistence of deaths and new hospital admissions suggests that the outbreak remains a serious public-health challenge. Health authorities are continuing to monitor suspected cases and hospital admissions as Bangladesh attempts to contain both measles and dengue outbreaks simultaneously.

KATHMANDU — The United Nations and humanitarian partners have launched a $49.6 million emergency appeal to provide life-saving assistance to more than 84,000 people affected by catastrophic flash floods and landslides in northern Nepal.

The disaster, which struck on August 26, devastated communities across the region, destroying homes, roads and other critical infrastructure and leaving thousands of people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The UN humanitarian community said the appeal is aimed at supporting those most severely affected by the disaster.

The emergency response is focused on providing essential supplies and services, including food, clean water, emergency shelter, healthcare and protection assistance for affected communities.

The scale of the disaster has also placed enormous pressure on Nepal’s search-and-rescue operations. According to Nepalese authorities cited by Reuters, more than 1,294 people have been killed, while thousands remain missing following the floods and landslides.

The disaster caused particularly severe damage along the Trishuli River, where floodwaters, rocks, mud and debris swept through communities and infrastructure. Hydropower facilities and access roads were also heavily damaged.

Rescue teams have continued searching for survivors in areas cut off by the disaster. In a dramatic development, two workers were rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel nine days after the disaster struck.

The humanitarian crisis is compounded by the destruction of homes and basic infrastructure. Nepalese officials have estimated that thousands of houses will need to be rebuilt, while overall property, housing and infrastructure losses have reached billions of dollars.

The UN and its humanitarian partners say the immediate priority is to reach people who have lost their homes and livelihoods and to prevent further suffering as recovery efforts begin.

The emergency appeal will support relief operations in the hardest-hit communities and help humanitarian agencies deliver assistance to people who urgently need it.

The disaster is among the most serious natural emergencies Nepal has faced in recent years, with the effects extending beyond immediate loss of life to homes, livelihoods, transportation networks and vital infrastructure.

As search-and-rescue operations continue, the United Nations is urging international support for the emergency response and emphasizing the urgent humanitarian needs of tens of thousands of survivors.

DHAKA – Bangladesh Bank (BB) today increased the annual foreign exchange entitlement for Bangladeshi citizens travelling abroad to $18,000 from $12,000, aiming to facilitate genuine travel-related foreign exchange requirements. The central bank announced the decision through FE/PD-1 Circular No. 33, issued today by its Foreign Exchange Policy Department-1.

According to the circular, authorised dealers (ADs) may now release foreign exchange to an adult Bangladeshi national residing in Bangladesh for overseas travel during a calendar year up to $18,000 or its equivalent.

“With a view to facilitating genuine travel-related foreign exchange requirements of Bangladeshi nationals and considering the evolving needs of international travel, Bangladesh Bank decided to enhance the annual travel entitlement,” the circular said.

However, the foreign exchange entitlement for minors below 12 years of age will remain at 50 percent of the amount admissible for adults. The central bank also clarified that the release of foreign exchange in the form of US dollar notes will remain capped at $5,000 per person within the applicable annual entitlement.

All other instructions relating to the release of foreign exchange for travel abroad will remain unchanged, it said. Bangladesh Bank asked all authorised dealers to bring the contents of the circular to the notice of relevant clients.

BEIRUT — Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed four people and wounded at least 20 others on Sunday, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, in the latest escalation between Israel and Hezbollah despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The Israeli military said the strikes were carried out in response to what it described as a Hezbollah drone attack targeting areas where Israeli troops are operating in southern Lebanon.

Two women were among those killed in a strike on the southern Lebanese village of Arab Salim, north of an area where Israeli forces have established a security zone, according to Lebanese authorities. Two men were also killed in strikes near the edge of the Israeli-occupied area.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the strikes also injured at least 20 people, including children. Another Israeli strike hit the area around Nabatiyeh, where fighting has intensified around the strategically important Ali Taher ridge.

The Israeli military has said it maintains the right to operate inside a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon to prevent attacks by Hezbollah. The group, however, has accused Israel of escalating the situation and seeking to pressure the Lebanese government during U.S.-facilitated negotiations.

The latest violence comes despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah that was brokered with U.S. involvement in June. While the truce significantly reduced the intensity of fighting, Israeli strikes and Hezbollah attacks have continued.

The strategic Ali Taher ridge, near Nabatiyeh, has become a particular flashpoint. Israel says it has established operational control of the area and recently reported clearing Hezbollah fighters from tunnels beneath the ridge. Hezbollah has disputed the significance of Israel’s control.

The renewed fighting adds to mounting casualties in Lebanon. Reuters reported that Israeli strikes on Friday killed four people and wounded 23 others, while Israel said those attacks targeted Hezbollah weapons-storage facilities.

The situation remains volatile, raising concerns that continued Israeli-Hezbollah clashes could further undermine the fragile ceasefire and widen the conflict across the region.

WASHINGTON DC — The United States and Iran exchanged attacks around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, sharply escalating tensions after the U.S. military struck three Iranian oil tankers following Iranian missile attacks on American Navy vessels.

The U.S. Central Command said American forces targeted three Iranian crude-oil carriers on Saturday after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy ships. No American personnel were reported injured in the attacks.

The strikes targeted vessels including a tanker near Iran’s Kharg Island, a major hub for the country’s oil exports. The escalation has raised fresh concerns about the security of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

Iran subsequently claimed that its forces struck an unmanned U.S. vessel attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz. The United States had not immediately confirmed the Iranian claim, according to The Associated Press.

Iranian authorities have also threatened further action against vessels they consider to be using unauthorized routes in the region. The exchange of attacks comes as military tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to intensify following the collapse of an earlier ceasefire.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy chokepoint, and disruption there could have consequences far beyond the Middle East. Shipping traffic through the waterway has already fallen significantly amid the conflict, while oil markets remain highly sensitive to developments in the region.

The latest confrontation also comes as OPEC+ prepares to meet Sunday. The group is expected to maintain its current oil-production policy amid continuing disruption to energy exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

The situation remains fluid, with both sides issuing competing claims about attacks on vessels. Independent confirmation of some Iranian military claims was not immediately available.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — An estimated 20 million children aged 12 to 17—nearly one in five internet-using children—experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a single year across 21 countries, according to a new report released by UNICEF.

The report, Through Children’s Eyes: How Digital Technologies Enable Child Sexual Abuse, highlights the growing risks children face through social media, online games, messaging services and other digital platforms.

UNICEF said more than 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content, while about 9 million were pressured to engage in sexual conversations or share sexual images against their will. Another 4 million had sexual images of themselves shared without their consent.

Social media accounts for most cases

Nearly 60 percent of reported experiences occurred on mainstream social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp, according to UNICEF. Another 14 percent of cases occurred through online games, with perpetrators exploiting platform features and children’s trust.

The findings also challenge the perception that online abuse is primarily committed by strangers. UNICEF said 57 percent of cases involved someone the child already knew, including peers, friends, romantic partners or family members. At the same time, 38 percent of children first encountered the perpetrator online, including through fake accounts and private messaging.

Severe impact on children’s well-being

The report found that children who experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse were four times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or behaviours and self-harm, while also reporting significantly higher levels of anxiety.

In Mexico and North Macedonia, the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviours was more than eight times higher among children who had experienced abuse. In Pakistan, the risk of self-harm was more than seven times higher.

Despite the scale of the problem, most cases remain hidden. More than 40 percent of children never told anyone about their experiences, while fewer than 1 percent of cases were reported to authorities, such as police, social workers or helplines. UNICEF said the most common reason children remained silent was that they did not know where to seek help or whom to tell.

21 countries covered by the research

The UNICEF research covered approximately 21,000 internet-using children aged 12 to 17, along with in-depth interviews with 100 young people who experienced abuse during childhood. The first round of research, conducted primarily in 2020–2021, covered Cambodia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, the Philippines, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda and Viet Nam.

The second round, conducted in 2024–2025, expanded the research to Armenia, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Pakistan and Serbia. UNICEF stressed that because the survey included internet-using children, the findings represent internet-using children rather than all children, particularly in countries where internet access remains limited.

UNICEF calls for stronger online protection

UNICEF is urging governments, technology companies and other stakeholders to strengthen protections for children online. The agency called for safer digital platforms, stronger privacy protections, restrictions on unsolicited contact from adults, improved systems for detecting and reporting abuse, and stronger laws and accountability measures.

It also urged governments and communities to provide trusted reporting and support services so children can seek help safely. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said governments and technology companies must do more to protect children in digital spaces.

The findings come as children increasingly use digital platforms for education, entertainment and social interaction, making online safety an increasingly urgent child-protection issue.

NEW YORK — As climate change brings hotter temperatures and more frequent extreme weather to New York City, Central Park is taking on an increasingly important role in helping the city adapt. The vast green space in the heart of Manhattan is more than a destination for recreation. Its trees, lawns, vegetation and water features help moderate temperatures and provide relief from the heat of the surrounding city.

The effects of a changing climate are becoming increasingly visible across New York, including higher temperatures and growing pressure on urban infrastructure. In this environment, parks such as Central Park are becoming an important part of the city’s climate-resilience efforts, according to the United Nations.

Urban green spaces can help reduce the “heat island” effect created when buildings, roads and other paved surfaces absorb and retain heat. Trees and vegetation provide shade while also releasing moisture into the atmosphere, helping cool the surrounding environment.

Central Park also offers other environmental benefits. Its natural landscape can help absorb rainfall, support biodiversity and provide residents with access to nature in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.

For New Yorkers, these benefits can become particularly important during periods of extreme heat. The park provides cooler spaces where people can escape some of the intense temperatures found in heavily built-up neighborhoods.

But adapting the park itself to a changing climate is also becoming necessary. Maintaining trees and vegetation, protecting natural areas and managing water resources are increasingly important as temperatures rise and weather patterns become less predictable.

Central Park therefore represents a broader lesson for cities around the world: protecting and expanding urban nature can be both a climate-adaptation strategy and an investment in public health and quality of life.

As New York continues to confront the effects of climate change, the park’s role is evolving. What was once primarily designed as a place for recreation and escape from the city is increasingly functioning as part of the city’s natural infrastructure — helping New York remain more livable as the climate changes.

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day halt in Russian strikes on Kyiv as U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys prepare to visit the Ukrainian capital, the Kremlin said Saturday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had ordered Russian forces not to strike Kyiv for three days beginning at midnight. The temporary pause is linked to the visit of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are seeking to revive diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

“The Russian president and commander in chief has given the order not to strike Kyiv for three days from midnight tonight,” Peskov said, according to Russian state media.

Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday and were scheduled to meet Putin before traveling to Kyiv on Sunday. Their visit is part of a renewed diplomatic effort by the Trump administration to push Russia and Ukraine toward an agreement to end the more than four-year war.

The announcement of the temporary halt comes after Russia carried out attacks across Ukraine, including strikes targeting areas around Kyiv. Ukrainian authorities have continued to report Russian missile and drone attacks as the conflict remains active.

The Kremlin’s decision to pause strikes on Kyiv appears intended to facilitate the U.S. delegation’s planned visit and meetings in the Ukrainian capital. The latest diplomatic push comes amid continued disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv over territory, security guarantees and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO.

Trump has repeatedly said he wants to bring the war to an end, while his administration has stepped up high-level contacts with both Russian and Ukrainian officials. The outcome of Witkoff and Kushner’s meetings in Moscow and Kyiv could determine whether the latest diplomatic initiative develops into broader peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

MOSCOW — U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday as part of a renewed diplomatic effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The two U.S. representatives met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin for talks focused on efforts to find a possible path toward ending the conflict. Putin described the situation in Ukraine as difficult and complex, while praising Trump’s efforts to seek a diplomatic solution to the war.

Trump has said his envoys are carrying a proposal aimed at bringing an end to the conflict. The latest diplomatic initiative comes as Washington continues to push Moscow and Kyiv toward negotiations despite major disagreements between the two sides. Witkoff and Kushner are also expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

As part of the diplomatic effort, Russia announced a temporary 72-hour pause in strikes on Kyiv during the visit, according to reports. Zelenskyy has also agreed to suspend Ukrainian strikes on Moscow during the talks.

However, fighting continues in other parts of Ukraine, and significant differences remain between Moscow and Kyiv over issues including territory, security guarantees and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO. The latest meetings represent one of the most significant diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to advance negotiations since returning to the White House. The outcome of the Moscow and Kyiv meetings could determine whether the latest peace initiative develops into broader negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

WASHINGTON — The United States military said Saturday that it struck three Iranian crude-oil tankers after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships operating in the region. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple Iranian attacks. No American personnel were injured, according to the command.

CENTCOM said U.S. forces permanently disabled the M/T Downy off the coast of Iran’s Kharg Island and the M/T Stark 1 near Jask. American forces also destroyed the unladen M/T Kylo, also known as the Noxen, in the Gulf of Oman after the crew was directed to abandon the vessel, according to CENTCOM. The U.S. military said the three tankers were part of what it described as a multibillion-dollar “shadow network” allegedly used to finance the IRGC and its regional proxies.

“Let the message to the IRGC be clear,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said. “If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost.” Cooper added that the United States would continue defending its forces and, if necessary, could target Iran’s oil fleet.

Iran condemns the strikes

Iran has condemned the U.S. attacks and warned that continued attacks on Iranian vessels could lead to further military retaliation. The strikes represent a significant escalation in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran, particularly because they directly target Iranian oil shipping. One of the attacks occurred near Kharg Island, Iran’s major oil-export hub.

The latest exchange of fire also raises concerns about the security of commercial shipping and energy supplies in and around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important oil-shipping routes.