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.

DHAKA – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will advance Bangladesh’s national interests, economic potential and development opportunities globally under the government’s “Bangladesh First” foreign policy during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said today.

“This year’s session is an extremely important one for Bangladesh. It marks a new journey, a new possibility and a new aspiration,” she said. She was addressing a discussion titled “Upcoming UNGA and Branding of Bangladesh” as the chief guest at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.

The Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshi (Centre for NRB), a non-profit research organisation for expatriate Bangladeshis, organised the event. Shama said the prime minister would attend the UNGA for the first time since the establishment of the new democratic government.

Guided by the government’s “Bangladesh First” foreign policy, Tarique Rahman would present Bangladesh to the international community as a democratic, confident, responsible and promising nation, she added.

The high-level segment of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to begin in New York on September 21. It will address poverty eradication, climate change, pandemic prevention, nuclear disarmament and the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, among other pressing global issues. Shama said the session carries added significance as Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman will preside over the General Assembly.

Terming his election a matter of national pride, she said Bangladesh secured the presidency despite Cyprus having campaigned for the position for nearly a decade.
She credited the diplomatic success to the coordinated efforts of the Foreign Ministry and Bangladesh’s 83 missions abroad, alongside the country’s return to democratic governance and stability.

The state minister said Bangladesh already enjoys considerable respect at the United Nations because of the courage, resilience and sacrifices of its peacekeepers, including women serving in some of the world’s most dangerous missions.

Turning to economic diplomacy, Shama said the government was working to restore transparency and accountability in the banking sector and create an investment-friendly environment for foreign investors and non-resident Bangladeshis.

She said the government had introduced the “Bangladesh Invest” framework to offer investors one-stop services and was expanding digital facilities for company registration and other investment-related procedures. Work is also underway on the “One Citizen, One Card” initiative to consolidate citizens’ information in a single database, she added.

Shama said the government plans to issue 200,000 “Probashi Cards” by 2027 under an initiative of the prime minister to facilitate services for expatriate Bangladeshis. She called upon non-resident Bangladeshis to use their networks to promote the country’s investment opportunities, heritage, tourism, creative industries and exportable products internationally. The state minister said irregular migration and the activities of human trafficking syndicates were damaging Bangladesh’s image abroad.

“For the first time in the history of the Foreign Ministry, we have opened a separate Migration Wing,” she said, adding that it would address irregular migration, expatriates’ difficulties and other migration-related challenges.

She said the foreign and expatriates’ welfare ministries were working jointly with the International Organization for Migration to curb irregular migration and encourage the overseas employment of skilled workers through legal channels. The government has identified districts with higher levels of attempted irregular migration and begun awareness activities at the village, union, upazila and district levels, she said. Shama said the Cabinet had recently approved changes to Bangladesh’s visa policy to simplify business, tourism, work and visa-on-arrival procedures.

“The objective is to make Bangladesh more welcoming and investment-friendly,” she said, adding that reforms were also underway in airport services and tourism.

She stressed the need to diversify Bangladesh’s energy sources and reduce dependence on any single market, saying the government was exploring energy cooperation with African countries alongside additional sources of liquefied natural gas. The government is also promoting solar power, waste-to-energy projects and blue-economy opportunities, she added.

Shama said the Prime Minister’s Office had already been brought under 100-percent solar power, while efforts were underway to expand renewable energy use across government establishments.

Highlighting export diversification, she said the government had placed special emphasis on the creative economy, particularly women-led enterprises, traditional arts, muslin, cottage industries and cultural heritage.

She described jute as an ideal biodegradable alternative to plastic and said Bangladesh would seek to promote jute and jute products during the UN General Assembly. A stall is also planned at the upcoming climate conference in Trkiye to showcase jute as a sustainable natural fibre, she added. On the Rohingya crisis, Shama said a dedicated session would be held during the UN General Assembly with the participation of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. She said the crisis had become increasingly complex because of the involvement of the Myanmar authorities, the Arakan Army, regional actors and competing international interests.

“Without international pressure, resolving this problem will become very difficult,” she said, urging Bangladeshis abroad and civil-society representatives to help mobilise international support for a sustainable solution. The state minister said Bangladesh should no longer be portrayed internationally merely through floods, disasters or the repatriation of undocumented migrants.

“Bangladesh has opportunities in tourism, business and investment, and it has the potential to be presented properly on the world map,” she said.

Shama said the government was committed to genuine reforms but cautioned that meaningful change would take time and require cooperation from citizens, businesses, civil society and Bangladeshis living overseas.

“We are trying to brand Bangladesh in the right way. The government alone cannot do everything; all of us must work together,” she said.

Centre for NRB Chairperson M S Shekil Chowdhury said the organisation arranged the programme as part of its annual World Conference Series to showcase Bangladesh’s positive developments to the international community. He said the series also seeks to deepen Bangladesh’s global engagement and encourage expatriate Bangladeshis to invest in the country and remit their earnings through legal channels.

WASHINGTON DC— A federal judge has tightened restrictions on the Trump administration’s plans to build a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, ordering the administration to provide at least 48 hours’ notice before carrying out activity at the proposed site.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued the order Friday as a legal battle continues over the proposed monument, which the administration plans to build near Washington’s Memorial Circle on Columbia Island, close to Arlington National Cemetery.

The order allows an exception for work specifically intended to identify underground archaeological or cultural resources, as required under federal historic-preservation law. The ruling came a day after the Interior Department announced plans to move forward with excavation work at the site despite ongoing legal challenges and the lack of final approval from a federal planning authority.

Administration plans excavation

The Interior Department has said the initial work is intended to assess what may be beneath the site rather than begin construction of the arch. According to court filings, the government plans to dig four test pits beginning on or after September 21 to determine whether archaeological or cultural materials are present. The government says the site would be restored by October 31.

Judge Chutkan’s latest order requires the administration to notify the court at least 48 hours before engaging in activity at the location, except for efforts specifically related to archaeological assessment.

The judge had previously questioned the administration’s authority to build the monument. Under an earlier consent order, the government also agreed to provide 14 days’ notice before beginning actual construction.

Veterans and historian challenge project

The proposed arch has become the center of a legal dispute involving three military veterans and an architectural historian. The plaintiffs argue that the administration does not have sufficient legal authority to build the structure and that congressional approval is required.

The Trump administration has argued that a 1925 law authorizing a now-defunct commission to construct Arlington Memorial Bridge also provides congressional authorization for the arch. Opponents dispute that interpretation.

Proposed monument would reshape Washington skyline

The proposed structure, known as the Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck, would stand about 250 feet, or 76 meters, tall. The administration has presented the project as a monument honoring American veterans. Critics, however, say the structure could disrupt historic views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House and would alter the character of Washington’s monumental landscape.

The project has received some preliminary approvals but still faces questions over final authorization. The National Capital Planning Commission has not granted final approval, according to reporting on the legal dispute.

The court battle is part of a broader controversy surrounding President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape Washington’s architectural landscape, including major changes at the White House and other prominent sites. For now, the judge’s order puts another legal hurdle in the path of the proposed arch and requires the administration to notify the court before moving forward with most activity at the site.

Shibbir AHmed, WASHINGTON DC — President Donald Trump has described the ongoing U.S. military conflict with Iran as “small potatoes,” downplaying the scale of a confrontation that has continued for months and resulted in the deaths of 18 U.S. service members.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said he preferred to describe the situation as a “military conflict” rather than a war, echoing Vice President JD Vance’s argument that the fighting does not meet the definition of a conventional war.

Trump said U.S. military operations have largely involved intermittent airstrikes and emphasized that American ground troops have not been engaged in sustained combat. He compared the current casualties with those suffered in previous major U.S. wars. The president’s comments came as tensions with Tehran remain high and the United States continues military operations against Iranian targets.

Trump threatens further strike

Trump also warned that the United States could strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried nuclear facility, if Washington determines that Iran is moving equipment or taking other action at the site. The president said the United States could act against the facility “quite soon,” adding another potential escalation point in the conflict.

The conflict began on February 28 and has involved repeated U.S. military strikes against Iranian targets, while Iran has retaliated with attacks against U.S. and allied positions in the region. According to reporting cited by AP, the conflict has killed 18 U.S. service members and cost the United States more than $37.5 billion.

Trump says Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons

Trump reiterated that Iran will not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons under his administration. The comments come amid continuing concerns over Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and the possibility that further U.S. strikes could broaden the conflict.

Trump has repeatedly sought to portray the U.S. military campaign as limited, while the continuing casualties, financial costs and regional consequences have kept the conflict at the center of U.S. foreign-policy and domestic political debate.

Vice President Vance has also defended the administration’s decision not to characterize the confrontation as a traditional war, pointing to the nature of the military operations and the absence of sustained U.S. ground combat.

Trump’s remarks are likely to intensify debate over the administration’s Iran strategy as the conflict continues and the United States approaches the 2026 midterm elections.