ISLAMABAD  –  Nearly 20 million children aged 12 to 17 across 21 countries experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a single year, according to a new UNICEF report.

The report found that more than 15 million children were exposed to unwanted sexual content, while around nine million were pressured into sexual conversations or sharing sexual images.

Nearly four million children had sexual images shared without their consent, highlighting the growing risks posed by the misuse of digital platforms.

Social media accounted for nearly 60 per cent of reported cases, while 14 per cent occurred in online games, according to the report.

The findings also challenge the perception that online sexual abuse is primarily perpetrated by strangers. In 57 per cent of cases, the perpetrator was someone the child already knew.

A significant proportion of victims remained silent. More than 40 per cent of cases were never disclosed, while less than one per cent were reported to the authorities, underscoring the barriers children face in seeking help and protection. The report further 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. The risks were particularly high in some countries, including Pakistan.

UNICEF has called on governments and technology companies to make digital platforms safer, strengthen legislation and reporting mechanisms, improve child-protection services and ensure that children receive appropriate support when they report abuse.

The report warns that technology is increasingly being exploited to facilitate sexual abuse of children, while many victims continue to suffer in silence because they do not know where to seek help or fear the consequences of reporting.

It calls for stronger safeguards across digital platforms and more effective mechanisms to identify, report and respond to online sexual exploitation and abuse, while ensuring that children can use technology safely.

Peshawar  –  The Senate of the Agriculture University Dera Ismail Khan on Thursday approved a budget of Rs445.99 million for the financial year 2026-27 and called for greater focus on research addressing the needs of farmers in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The seventh Senate meeting, chaired by KP Agriculture Adviser and Pro-Chancellor Mian Muhammad Umar, reviewed the university’s financial, administrative, academic and research affairs and considered measures to improve its overall performance.

KP Secretary Agriculture Dr Bakhtiar, Vice Chancellor Agriculture University DI Khan Dr Latif Gondal and other Senate members attended the meeting.

The Senate reviewed expenditure incurred during 2025-26, the university’s income and expenditure position, available resources, utilisation of funds and financial discipline. Members stressed the need to use resources in line with the university’s academic, research and administrative priorities.

Mr Umar directed the university administration to orient its research towards local agricultural needs, changing climatic conditions and the problems faced by farmers in Dera Ismail Khan and other southern districts.

He said sustainable agricultural development required modern, practical and results-oriented research whose benefits could reach farmers directly. He called for research into increasing crop yields, efficient water use, modern irrigation techniques, agricultural technology and improved seed varieties.

The agriculture adviser said research should not remain confined to academic institutions but its findings should be translated into practical applications and made accessible to farmers.

He stressed the need for closer coordination between the university and the Agriculture Department to facilitate the implementation of research findings in the field.

Mr Umar also called for prudent and transparent use of university funds, saying priority should be given to improving academic and research standards, providing better facilities for students and upgrading institutional infrastructure.

He said universities had an important role in agricultural research, adoption of modern technology and human-resource development, adding that the Agriculture University DI Khan should further align its research programmes with the requirements of farmers and the region’s agricultural economy.

Senate members also presented suggestions on the university’s development, quality of education, expansion of research activities and financial management.

FIFA accused UEFA of waging a “smear campaign” against it and President Gianni Infantino, escalating a dispute over ‌the abandoned proposal to sell a stake in the world governing body’s commercial rights, according to a court filing seen by Reuters.

UEFA last week submitted an ex parte application in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York seeking permission to obtain testimony and documents from U.S.-based entities for use in potential criminal ​proceedings in Switzerland.

“While these applications are styled as legal pleadings with captions and docket numbers, they are little more than ​press releases in further support of UEFA’s smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership,” FIFA said in the ⁠filing.

Reuters has contacted FIFA and UEFA for comment.

UEFA said it was considering criminal proceedings against Infantino and other FIFA officials over FIFA Forward ​Enterprise (FFE), a proposed entity that would have held commercial rights linked to the men’s and women’s World Cups.

UEFA alleged the proposal was developed without ​adequate consultation with FIFA’s governing bodies and 211 member associations.

In a motion to intervene seen by Reuters filed on September 1 by FIFA (AMERICAS) Inc. and FWC2026 US, Inc., FIFA asked the court to defer ruling on UEFA’s application or allow it to oppose the request.

FIFA argued that UEFA was seeking discovery for “purportedly contemplated (but ​non-existent) Swiss criminal proceedings”. The world governing body also alleged UEFA had sought to derail the FFE proposal from the outset.

The proposal was ​withdrawn on July 31 after opposition from UEFA and other regional governing bodies.

“Rather than participate in that democratic process, UEFA issued a press release, the beginning ‌of a ⁠weeks-long smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership,” FIFA said in the filing.

FIFA further argued that UEFA’s opposition was motivated by a desire to preserve European football’s dominance.

MOUNTING PRESSURE ON INFANTINO

Infantino, up for re-election for a fourth term in March 2027, has been criticised since tabling the now-abandoned proposal, with several countries withdrawing their support for his candidacy.

The Swiss-Italian administrator is under pressure from three confederations to resign, including UEFA, the ​Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, which ​represents North and Central America ⁠and the Caribbean.

The regional governing bodies have discussed a potential vote of no confidence in Infantino.

Infantino, who retains support from the African and South American confederations, has sought to sideline the confederations and appeal directly ​to individual members.

UEFA SEEKS REFORMS

UEFA, in a statement last week, said that it would work with partner ​confederations to ensure ⁠member associations are offered a “credible alternative” committed to reform, if Infantino seeks another term.

UEFA also provisionally suspended plans to boycott FIFA competitions, paving the way for all qualified teams to participate in next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, the first major tournament that could have been affected ⁠by the ​standoff.

However, the body said its members had unanimously mandated the confederation to pursue “every available ​institutional, political and legal avenue” to secure reforms and restore limits on presidential authority.

The confederation also called for “a genuinely independent external review” of the failed FIFA proposal, saying: “FIFA cannot ​investigate itself and expect the football community simply to accept its conclusions.”

World Cup winner Marcos Llorente announced his retirement from international football on Thursday, ending ​a Spain career that yielded 27 ‌caps.

The Atletico Madrid defender, 31, made his senior team debut for Spain in 2020 and was part ​of the squad that beat Argentina 1-0 ​to win the World Cup in July, ⁠although he remained on the bench in ​the final.

“I know many of ​you won’t understand this, and I probably wouldn’t have ‌understood ⁠it either if I were looking at it from the outside. But it’s a personal decision—one I’ve thought through very carefully and, above ​all, one ​that comes ⁠from the heart.”

The former Real Madrid player thanked his teammates and ​reflected on Spain’s triumphant World Cup campaign.

“I’ll ​cherish ⁠everything I’ve experienced, but above all, these last 52 days,” Llorente said.

“With a wonderful group ⁠that ​fought until the very end ​to put Spain at the top. And that’s exactly what ​they did.”