More than 300 million children a year are victims of online sexual exploitation and abuse, according to the first global estimate of the scale of the problem published on Monday.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that one in eight of the world’s children have been victims of non-consensual taking, sharing and exposure to sexual images and video in the past 12 months.
That amounts to about 302 million young people, said the university’s Childlight Global Child Safety Institute, which carried out the study.
There have been a similar number of cases of solicitation, such as unwanted sexting and requests for sexual acts by adults and other youths, according to the report.
Offences range from so-called sextortion, where predators demand money from victims to keep images private, to the abuse of AI technology to create deepfake videos and pictures.
The problem is worldwide but the research suggests the United States is a particularly high-risk area, with one in nine men there admitting to online offending against children at some point.
“Child abuse material is so prevalent that files are on average reported to watchdog and policing organisations once every second,” said Childlight chief executive Paul Stanfield.
“This is a global health pandemic that has remained hidden for far too long. It occurs in every country, it’s growing exponentially, and it requires a global response,” he added.
The report comes after UK police warned last month about criminal gangs in West Africa and Southeast Asia targeting British teenagers in sextortion scams online.
Cases — particularly against teenage boys — are soaring worldwide, according to non-governmental organisations and police.
Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) issued an alert to hundreds of thousands of teachers telling them to be aware of the threat their pupils might face.
The scammers often pose as another young person, making contact on social media before moving to encrypted messaging apps and encouraging the victim to share intimate images.
They often make their blackmail demands within an hour of making contact and are motivated by extorting as much money as possible rather than sexual gratification, the NCA said.
West Indies veteran player Jason Holder has been ruled out of International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup 2024 due to injury.
According to ICC, the squad for the T20 World Cup has been announced by West Indies and left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy has been included in the squad in place of Jason Holder.
Holder suffered an injury during the County Championship 2024 and needs time to recover.
Obed McCoy was the highest wicket-taker during West Indies’s recent tour of Nepal, taking eight wickets in five matches.
In the final match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets in M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.
Sunrisers won the toss and decided to bat first against Knight Riders.
SRH inning:
Playing first Sunrisers scored 113 runs in 18.3 overs. From Sunrisers, captain Pat Cummins scored 24 runs, Adam Markram scored 20, Heinrich Klassen 16 and Nitish Kumar scored 13 runs.
From KKR, Andre Russel took three wickets, Mitchel Starc and Harshad Rana took two wickets each while Vaibhav Arora, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy took one wicket each.
KKR inning:
Knight Riders chase the target fo Sunrisers in 10.3 overs losing two wickets.
From KKR, Rahmanullah Gurbaz Scored 39 and Venkatesh Iyer scored 52 runs.
Pat Cummins and Shahbaz Ahmed took one wicket for Sunrisers.
Ebrahim Raisi is no more. Newspapers and various other outlets have published countless obituaries both coming from the tainted western lens and that of religiously coloured frame. I, on the other hand, want to present an account of listening to Raisi’s speech once and was inspired by the depth of his words and the resolution in his tone.
“If Israel violates the sovereignty of the Iranian state again, the reaction will be different and who knows the Zionist regime will not exist,” the one who said these words is now buried in a freshly dug grave in Mashhad but certainly not forgotten.
Ebrahim Raisi (1960-2024) said these words in front of the students and teachers at Government College University Lahore, my alma mater. It was surreal, to witness a head-of-state speak in the prestigious Bukhari Auditorium. While the security and arrangements made it all very unapproachable, when he arrived it was warm and almost palpable.
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LAHORE: April 23 – President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi shaking hand with students during his visit the Government College University (GC) Lahore. APP/MTF/MAF/TZD
April 23 was the day I went to the university after a long time, not just to attend an esteemed ceremony but also covering it for The Current. The day was bright and because it was a public holiday in the city, I reached GCU Lahore almost gliding through the air early in the day at 8:30 am.
A crowd of selected people, all ready to bear witness to history in the making could be seen under the gothic lady.
Although no gadget was allowed inside, I managed to grab a pen and paper and took notes of the speech which is a piece of literature in true sense of the word. References of Iqbal’s poetry with the messages of the reawakening of youth made it worth lending an ear to.
The Vice Chancellor started her address paying tribute to the resilient power and the great potential held by the land of Persians. In Allama Iqbal’s words. “Tehran ho gar Alam e Mahriq ka Geneva, Shayed Kurra-e-Arz ki Taqdeer badal jaye.” The verse implies that if Tehran becomes the Geneva of the East, the fate of the world will surely change.
It turned out that Iranian President Raisi was not just fully familiar with the work of our national poet but remembered him as Iqbal Lahori for his work in Persian. He was pleased to be present in the institution where Iqbal studied and taught; and to be in Lahore, the city from where the revolution against oppressive colonial rule started.
While he stressed about the hybridization of knowledge and faith as the key to success in life, he stressed on Iqbal being the best example as someone who combined both excellently. As he moved on, like an expert orator, he felt the pulse of the audience and drew a comparison between the East and West. We believe the people of the East are higher than that of the West because of how they understand the “creation of knowledge”, Raisi quoted the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He laid out his vision by saying, “The West is somehow trying to have a monopoly in the field of knowledge and Science, but we the people of East can change that.” He emphasised the role of universities in imparting a deeper understanding of the current situation and the pivotal role of faith along with seeking knowledge.
He substantiated his argument by pointing out how the West claims to have championed freedom of speech and human rights but the brutal ways with which University students setting up protests and encampments in Europe and America against Israeli occupation of Gaza are dealt with is a testimony to the innate contradiction between the claim and the practice.
“Today the liberation of Palestine is not just an issue of the Islamic world but of the world as well,” he said in a passionate tone and with this the audience was totally invested and they were applauding him even before the interpreter translated his words. Raisi predicted that hate is brewing in the hearts of people against United States and this Zionist regime in Palestinian territory and this will take revenge from them.
We are usually so used to of seeing leaders just chanting out popular things and hardly something literary Raisi gave the audience a minor jolt as he quoted 12th-century Muslim philosopher Ibn Arabi precisely from the text Fusus ul Hikam where he brought up the killing of children by Pharaoh only to prevent the birth of Prophet Moses. However, Allah was with Moses. Meanwhile, the nation of Moses was being created. He said that the same will be translated with Israel killing Palestinian children relentlessly.
He spoke like a warrior, someone who has stayed resilient in the worst of pressure. “If you stand against our nation, we will stand against yours”, Raisi said affirmatively. As he moved towards the end he put an emphasis on the support of Palestine as the common point of relation between Pakistan and Iran.
Coming full circle, Raisi left his mark with his final words which I quoted in the beginning. There are problems and issues of governance in every state of the world but what stands out is the resilience and the will to face opposition with head held high. With his words, Raisi inspired students to stand tall in the worst of situations and stand on the right side of history. The memory will forever be etched in my mind.
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, tech analyst Mark Gurman has revealed exciting details about the forthcoming iOS 18 update.
According to Gurman, Apple is set to revolutionise the iPhone user experience by introducing extensive customisation options for the home screen, a departure from the current fixed aligned grid system.
One of the key highlights of iOS 18 will be the newfound ability for users to freely arrange icons on their home screens, breaking away from the constraints of the existing rigid layout.
Additionally, Apple will be introducing native support for customising app icons, marking a significant departure from the previous reliance on third-party solutions.
Gurman’s insights suggest that iOS 18 will empower users to personalise their device like never before, with the ability to alter the color of app icons to suit their preferences.
For example, users could opt to unify all social networking apps under a distinctive blue hue, while assigning a different color scheme to finance-related applications.
Although rudimentary home screen customisation has been achievable through workarounds such as creating single-action shortcuts, these methods have often been cumbersome and time-consuming.
With the imminent release of iOS 18, Apple aims to streamline this experience by integrating robust customisation features directly into the operating system.
However, the extent of icon customisation remains somewhat ambiguous. While it’s clear that users will have the option to adjust colors, the specifics regarding the potential for entirely new icon designs or limited palette changes have yet to be clarified.
The eagerly anticipated iOS 18 is scheduled to be officially unveiled at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10.
Alongside this announcement, Apple is expected to showcase a range of innovative features, with a particular emphasis on advancements in artificial intelligence technology.
International Cricket Council (ICC) has made special arrangements for cricket fans to enjoy the match between Pakistan and India in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The match between Pakistan and India in the ICC T20 World Cup will be held in New York on June 9, but the fans in Rawalpindi, 11,000 kilometers away, will also enjoy this match in their city’s stadium.
According to the spokesperson of the International Cricket Council, on the occasion of the India-Pakistan match at the Nassau County Park in New York on June 9, fan parks will be built at several places including Pakistan and India.
This fan park in Pakistan will be established in the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. In the fan park established in the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, fans will not only enjoy the match on the big screen, but they will also be able to meet the ICC ambassadors on the ground, while other activities have also been arranged for the fans on this occasion.
According to ICC, there will be fan parks in New York, Birmingham, Johannesburg, Delhi and Texas on the occasion of India-Pakistan match and these fan parks will be opened for spectators 90 minutes before the match.
K-Electric has proposed a substantial increase in its basic power tariff, seeking to raise the rate by Rs10.69 per unit to reach Rs44.69 per unit.
This proposal has been made under the 7-year Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) framework.
Currently, K-Electric’s average basic tariff stands at Rs34 per unit. The utility company has detailed its request, including specific components for the proposed increase. The Energy Purchase Price (EPP) component is to be set at Rs18.88 per unit.
Additionally, transmission charges are projected to be Rs3.48 per unit, and distribution charges at Rs3.84 per unit. Operation and maintenance costs are requested to be Rs0.42 per unit, while the retail margin is sought to be Rs0.59 per unit.
Furthermore, K-Electric has asked for the recovery of lost allocation at Rs2.88 per unit and working capital at Rs2.07 per unit.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has invited stakeholders to submit their feedback on K-Electric’s request within the next seven days.
A decision on the proposal is anticipated soon. If approved, the new tariff will impact millions of electricity consumers in Karachi and its surrounding areas.
Last month, K-Electric submitted a request for a significant hike of Rs18.86 per unit in the power tariff. This adjustment was based on the Fuel Charge Adjustments (FCA) for seven months, submitted to NEPRA.
Concurrently, K-Electric also requested a reduction in the power tariff by Rs0.29 per unit for a two-month period.
In another development, the federal government has outlined a plan to privatise several profit-making power distribution companies (Discos). The companies slated for privatisation include Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO), and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO).
These developments come at a critical time for Pakistan’s power sector, where tariff adjustments and privatisation efforts are expected to have significant implications for both the economy and consumers.
In the second match of the series of 4 match T20 matches, England defeated Pakistan by 23 runs at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham,
Pakistan won the toss and decided to field first.
England inning:
Batting first, the host team set Pakistan a target of 184 runs to win. Batting first, England scored 183 runs for 7 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
English batsman Will Jack scored 37 runs, Jonny Bairstow scored 21 runs and Phil Salt scored 13 runs. Moeen Ali 4, Chris Jordan 3, Liam Livingston 2 and Harry Brook scored one run, Jofra Archer remained not out with 12 runs.
On behalf of Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed 3 players, Imad Wasim and Haris Rauf took 2 wickets each.
Pakistan inning:
Chasing a target of 184 runs, the Pakistani team bowled out for 160 runs in the last over.
Fakhr zaman scored 45 and Babar Azam scored 32 runs for Pakistan.
Apart from them, Iftikhar Ahmed 23, Imad Wasim 22 and Azam Khan scored 11 runs. Mohammad Amir scored 5, Shadab Khan 3 and Saeem Ayub scored 2 runs, Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed for zero.
The first match of the series between Pakistan and England was canceled due to rain.
An Israeli official said Saturday the government had an “intention” to renew “this week” talks aimed at reaching a hostage release deal in Gaza, after a meeting in Paris between US and Israeli officials.
“There is an intention to renew the talks this week and there is an agreement,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The Israeli official did not elaborate on the agreement, but Israeli media reported that Mossad chief David Barnea had agreed during meetings in Paris with mediators CIA Director Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on a new framework for the stalled negotiations.
Top US diplomat Antony Blinken also spoke with Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz about new efforts to achieve a ceasefire and reopen the Rafah border crossing, Washington said.
Talks aimed at reaching a hostage release and truce deal in the Gaza Strip ground to a halt this month after Israel launched a military operation in the territory’s far-southern city of Rafah.
The current war in Gaza has caused the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Meanwhile, Israel has carried out a massacre of 35,903 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to data from Gaza’s health ministry.
Indian musician AR Rahman has revealed that his mother sacrificed her jewelry to purchase his first musical instrument.In a recent interview with ‘Netflix India’ celebrating the success of their most recent project, Rahman revealed that he never attended college and felt like he was losing out on a lot at the time. He was speaking with the musical team of ‘Amar Singh Chamkila,’ which includes Imtiaz Ali, Mohit Chauhan, and Irshad Kamil.
AR Rahman said, “I got bored, so I started listening to different things to see what else was out there. I found that side amazing with so much to explore.” Recalling his early struggles he said, “When I first set up my studio, I couldn’t afford an amplifier or equalizer. It was just a bare space with an air conditioner, a shelf, and a carpet. I had no equipment, but I was determined to make it work.”
He also said “My first recorder came when my mom gave her jewels as a loan. That moment made me feel strong and changed my future.”
