Archive June 20, 2025

The UN reported on Thursday that violence against children in conflict zones reached “unprecedented levels,” with the Israeli army committing the most violations in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

According to the annual report on children in armed conflict, “a staggering” 25 percent increase in grave crimes against children under the age of 18 was reported in the world’s 2023 annual report. It claimed to have verified 41, 370 grave crimes against children, including those committed by children, including those committed in hospitals and schools, and those committed by children.

In Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, 8, 554 grave crimes were committed against 2, 959 children, including 2 944 Palestinians and 15 Israelis.

In Gaza, which has been repeatedly bombarded by Israeli forces as a result of an attack led by the Palestinian group Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, 1, 259 Palestinian children were killed and 941 were injured, according to the figures.

The UN said it is currently reviewing information on an additional 4, 470 children killed in the besieged territory in 2024, and the Gaza-based ministry of health has released much higher figures.

The UN confirmed the killing of 97 Palestinian children in occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, where 3, 688 violations were documented, in addition to the UN’s verification of that report.

Additionally, the report praised Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, where more than 500 children perished or were injured last year.

In response to the widespread use of explosive weapons in populated areas, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his concern over the “intensity of grave violations against children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.”

Guterres also reiterated his demands on Israel to abide by international law, which forbids special protections for children, protection for schools and hospitals, and compliance with the law that allows attacks to distinguish between fighters and civilians, and to prevent excessive harm to innocent people.

Israel’s UN mission made no immediate comment.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group’s armed wing, Hamas, Qassam Brigades, and al-Quds Brigades, were also listed on the blacklist a second time.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (more than 4, 000 grave violations), Somalia (more than 2, 500), Nigeria (nearly 2, 500), and Haiti (more than 2, 200) were the following nations, according to the UN, which had the highest rate of violence against children in 2024.

In a tense battle between the reigning champions of Europe and South America, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) lost to Brazilian side Botafogo 1-0.

Igor Jesus’ first-half goal on Thursday provided the catalyst for Botafogo’s victory in front of a 53, 699-person crowd at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in front of a 53, 699-person crowd.

After a fantastic season that ended with a stunning 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final last month, French champion PSG are widely regarded as one of the favorites for FIFA’s 32-team competition.

However, their hopes of capturing a victory, which would have allowed them to advance to the last 16, were thwarted by their Rio de Janeiro opponents’ unwavering efforts.

Goal scorer Jesus stated after the victory that “many people wondered, but we demonstrated how strong Botafogo is.” We did our job and scored a goal in a challenging game, and we did it well.

We’re extremely pleased because we already knew how crucial this game was. “added Jesus,” who had been closely linked with a move to English Premier League side Nottingham Forest earlier this year, before choosing to stay with the Brazilians to play in the Club World Cup, was champion of the Champions League and champion of South America.

Jesus remarked, “I think I made the right decision to stay in Botafogo.”

PSG’s setback

Luis Enrique, the coach of PSG, stated that his team had anticipated a difficult battle.

The Spaniard said, “We knew it would be a very difficult match; they defended very well.”

All the teams are extremely motivated, especially when playing against us, and this Club World Cup is very intense and challenging.

However, the PSG manager remained unwavering about the possibility of the European champions winning again.

He said, “Our team is the one who can turn things around,” and that’s what he meant. There are things we can do to improve upon this, but we have to analyze it. But I think it was a good performance.

In Sunday’s 4-0 Group B victory over Atletico Madrid, PSG continued their winning ways with a late curling effort from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia against Botafogo goalkeeper John.

In a scrappy first half, puncted by a number of niggling fouls, the European champions couldn’t settle into their passing game, but that early effort was as close as PSG could get.

Despite dominating possession, Botafogo’s midfield trio of Marlon Freitas, Gregore, and Allan worked tirelessly to stop Vitinha, denying the skilled PSG playmaker the opportunity to launch attacks.

Instead, Botafogo opened the scoring in the 36th minute, going over the break.

Jesus flew past PSG on goal with a perfectly weighted through ball from Jefferson Savarino.

The Botafogo striker misjudiciously headed past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before deflecting a fine ball past the covering Willian Pacho.

PSG spent a lot of time in the final third of the second half camped out, but they continued to dominate possession throughout the second half.

The Brazilians are now firmly in the last 16, with a final group game against Atletico Madrid scheduled for Monday in Pasadena, thanks to Botafogo’s defense remaining unwavering.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in a statement to the state news agency IRNA that “we will meet with the European delegation in Geneva on Friday.”

Jean-Noel Barrot, French Foreign Minister, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Johann Wadephul, German Foreign Minister, and Kaja Kallas, European Union foreign policy chief, are expected to speak at the scheduled meeting in Switzerland.

Early this week, Kallas and the E3 ministers spoke with Araghchi and talked about the need to bring the table back to terms with to prevent further escalation. The two sides agreed to meet face-to-face at Iran’s suggestion.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, claimed that Europe would consider agreeing to a negotiated resolution to the conflict. He requested on Wednesday that his foreign minister create a plan with “close partners” in this regard.

After discussing the crisis with Ayman Safadi, the Jordanian foreign minister, Barrot said on Thursday in Paris that the three countries “stand ready to bring our competence and experience on this matter.”

We are prepared to participate in discussions to get Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs permanently canceled, he continued.

Following his briefing in Washington, DC, where he met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Special Envoy to Middle East Steve Witkoff, Lammy made arrangements to travel to Switzerland.

We have a window of opportunity within the next two weeks to reach a diplomatic solution, Lammy said in a statement.

Kallas has argued that diplomacy is still the best course of action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons in collaboration with other European nations.

Israel has asserted on numerous occasions that its series of strikes are a preemptive strike against Iran.

Iran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful despite the fact that it does not manufacture nuclear weapons. No evidence was found to support Iran’s claim that it was creating these weapons, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Trump weighs his intervention.

Trump said he is considering military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, and diplomatic efforts are now escalating.

Given the “substantial chance” of renewed diplomatic negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program, Trump said on Thursday that he would decide within two weeks whether to engage militarily in the conflict.

All but the so-called “bunker-buster” bombs from Iran’s well-defended Fordow uranium enrichment facility, which is buried beneath a mountain, are thought to be out of reach.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, expressed his confidence in Trump’s ability to “do what’s best for America.” He told reporters in Beersheba, “I can tell you that they’re already helping a lot.”

A preliminary agreement between Iran and the world powers to curb its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions was reached in 2013, and a comprehensive agreement was reached in 2015, and the talks will take place in Geneva.

Trump defied his first-ever diplomatic efforts by his European allies to persuade him otherwise during his first year in office, breaking with the Iran nuclear deal.

When Israel launched Operation Rising Lion against Iran’s nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12, negotiations between Iran and the US had been ongoing.

A surprise wave of Israeli attacks targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites, killing senior generals and nuclear scientists, exacerbated the conflict.

Since Israel launched a surprise wave of airstrikes against Iran a week ago, at least 639 people have been killed and more than 1,300 have been injured in Iran, according to the US-based rights organization Human Rights Activists.