Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Board of Directors has approved more than $8 billion in new investments aimed at expanding U.S. exports, strengthening critical infrastructure and energy security, and supporting American technology and businesses in international markets.

The DFC said the investments include projects in Ukraine, Jordan, Sub-Saharan Africa and emerging markets, with additional support for critical minerals in West Africa. The agency described the package as part of its effort to advance U.S. economic and national security interests.

One major component will support U.S. exports to emerging markets through a counter-guarantee for the International Finance Corporation’s Global Trade Finance Program. The arrangement is designed to help foreign banks expand trade-finance capacity and facilitate purchases of American goods.

In Ukraine, DFC will provide financing to Vodafone Ukraine to strengthen telecommunications infrastructure, including the development of secure and reliable 5G networks. The agency also approved financing for a 200-megawatt/400-megawatt-hour battery energy storage portfolio across six Ukrainian sites. The project, developed by DTEK with technology from U.S.-based Fluence, is designed to improve the stability and resilience of Ukraine’s electricity grid. DFC said the storage system could provide enough power for approximately 600,000 homes for two hours.

In Jordan, DFC approved a loan for the National Carrier Project Company to support construction, operation and maintenance of a seawater desalination plant and water-conveyance system. Political-risk insurance will also be provided for equity investors Meridiam and Suez.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, DFC will make an equity investment in WIOCC Group to expand digital infrastructure across the continent. WIOCC operates telecommunications, data-center and fiber-network infrastructure spanning 30 African countries, according to DFC.

DFC is also supporting a critical-minerals project in West Africa. The agency said some additional transactions remain confidential because of commercial sensitivities and may require further steps, including congressional notification, before they can be formally committed and closed.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC  — Artificial intelligence could give developing countries a rare opportunity to accelerate economic growth, improve public services and address long-standing development challenges, according to the World Bank’s World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence.

The report examines the potential impact of artificial intelligence on 5.6 billion people living in low- and middle-income countries and argues that developing economies do not need to build the world’s most advanced AI systems to benefit from the technology. Instead, the World Bank recommends that countries follow a three-part approach: adopt, adapt and advance.

The report says developing countries can begin by adopting existing AI tools in areas such as health care, agriculture, education and government services. They can then adapt those technologies to local languages, institutions, data and development needs.

AI-powered tools are already helping farmers improve weather-related decisions, supporting medical screening and assisting teachers in preparing educational materials, according to the World Bank.

The institution warns, however, that the benefits of AI will not be automatic. Reliable infrastructure, digital connectivity, education, skills, strong institutions and access to relevant data will be essential if developing economies are to translate AI adoption into higher productivity and broader prosperity.

The report also highlights the risk of a widening global AI divide. A small number of countries and companies currently dominate advanced AI models, semiconductor production and data-center infrastructure, potentially creating new forms of technological dependence.

For most developing economies, the World Bank says building frontier AI models from scratch is unlikely to be a realistic near-term strategy because of the enormous costs involved in computing infrastructure, data and specialized talent.

Instead, countries should focus on practical applications that expand access to expertise and improve productivity while building the infrastructure and skills needed for deeper participation in the AI economy.

The World Bank describes the rapid spread of AI as a historic opportunity for developing economies, noting that AI is spreading faster than earlier general-purpose technologies such as electricity and the internet.

The report argues that strategic adoption and adaptation could allow developing countries to capture significant economic and social gains without having to compete directly with the world’s largest technology companies in developing frontier AI systems.

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.

AUSTIN, Texas — Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to pay more than $1 billion to the state of Texas and implement new protections for children and teenagers on its platforms as part of a major settlement over online child safety.

The settlement was announced by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Aug. 26. Under the agreement, Meta will provide more than $1 billion to Texas, with the funds directed toward youth mental-health services, crisis resources, digital-literacy programs, after-school initiatives and grants for Texas schools.

The agreement also requires Meta to introduce a range of new safeguards for younger users on Facebook and Instagram.

Among the measures outlined by the Texas Attorney General’s Office are stricter age-assurance requirements, a default two-hour daily usage limit for teenagers, and notifications that will be disabled by default during school hours unless a parent changes the setting. Likes and reactions will also be hidden by default for younger users to reduce social comparison.

Meta will additionally introduce a nighttime access mode designed to restrict notifications and certain other features for children during specified nighttime hours. The company will continue measures aimed at limiting age-inappropriate content and supporting parental supervision.

Texas Calls Settlement a Major Win

Paxton described the agreement as a major step toward strengthening online protections for children. “This is a historic settlement and a major win for the safety of Texas children,” Paxton said in announcing the deal.

The Texas settlement follows allegations that Meta’s platforms failed to adequately protect children and teenagers online. The agreement resolves the state’s case against the company without requiring Meta to admit wrongdoing.

Separate From Multistate Meta Settlement

The Texas agreement should not be confused with a separate, much larger settlement Meta reached with dozens of other states over allegations involving Facebook and Instagram’s impact on young users.

That multistate agreement is worth up to roughly $17 billion and involves 29 states, according to Reuters. It includes measures such as limits on children’s daily usage, restrictions on nighttime access and additional safety protections. Meta has denied wrongdoing.

Texas was not part of that multistate case and negotiated its own agreement with Meta. The two settlements nevertheless represent a major escalation in efforts by U.S. states to hold social-media companies accountable for the safety and well-being of young users.

More Changes Ahead for Teen Social Media

The Texas agreement comes as lawmakers, state attorneys general and families across the United States continue to scrutinize the effects of social-media platforms on children. Meta’s new requirements in Texas are expected to affect how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram, including how much time they spend on the platforms and when they receive notifications.

Paxton’s office said the settlement is part of its broader effort to strengthen protections for children online. The Texas Attorney General is also scheduled to take TikTok to trial in the fall of 2026 in a separate case involving allegations related to child safety.

The agreements involving Meta could ultimately become an important test of how far state governments can go in requiring technology companies to change the design and operation of social-media platforms to protect minors.