PARIS: France on Wednesday announced its first confirmed case of Ebola identified on its territory, a doctor who had returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The health ministry &quot;confirms today the identification of a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory&quot;, it said. Contacted by AFP, the ministry specified that the case was identified in mainland France. This is a developing story, more updates to follow.

 A team of doctors wearing protective suits works in a red zone inside the morgue, close a body bag containing the remains of a man who died from Ebola virus disease on June 13, 2026. (AFP)

Europe

The country's health ministry confirmed the "identification of a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory."

France announces first Ebola case

PARIS: At least 94 million people in Europe are expected to experience temperatures over 35&deg;C on Wednesday, most of them in France and Spain, according to AFP calculations.&nbsp; And more than 350 million people across Europe (excluding Turkey) are expected to experience temperatures above 30&deg;C. That represents nearly two-thirds of the population, according to an analysis based on forecasts from the German weather service (DWD) and 2025 population projections from the Joint Research Centre. The figures broadly align with projections from the Austrian NGO Klimadashboard. They show that more than 90 million people are set to be affected by temperatures exceeding 35&deg;C in the European Union, including 50 million in France and 20 million in Spain. Almost all residents of mainland France and around 38 million people in Spain are expected to experience temperatures above 30&deg;C on Wednesday. Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and Hungary are also expected to be significantly affected. AFP used a method similar to the one used by Klimadashboard, cross-referencing the DWD weather forecast model (calculated at 0000 GMT) with population density. Residents are counted if the model predicts temperatures exceeding 30&deg;C or 35&deg;C at their location at any point during the day. As the model has a resolution of approximately 6.5 km, it cannot fully capture urban heat islands, David Jablonski of the NGO Klimadashboard told AFP. Consequently, &quot;we likely underestimate affected people in dense urban areas&quot;, the organisation noted on its &quot;European Heat Tracker&quot; website.

A woman shields herself from the sun during Pope Leo XIV's weekly general audience at St Peter's Square in the Vatican on June 24, 2026 (AFP)

Climate

More than 350 million people across Europe (excluding Turkey) are expected to experience temperatures above 30°C. That represents nearly two-thirds of the population, according to an analysis based on forecasts from the German weather service (DWD) and 2025 population projections from the Joint Research Centre.

Heat set to surpass 35°C for at least 94 mn in Europe: AFP analysis

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates acknowledged in testimony before the House Oversight Committee that he may have been in the presence of victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while maintaining that he never interacted with them directly or witnessed any sexual misconduct, House Oversight Committee reported.&nbsp; A transcript of Gates&rsquo; closed-door interview, released Tuesday by the committee, sheds new light on his relationship with Epstein, which Gates described as professional in nature and lasting roughly three years. During the voluntary interview on Capitol Hill earlier this month, Gates repeatedly denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein&rsquo;s criminal conduct. But when Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia noted that some of Epstein&rsquo;s employees were later identified as abuse victims, Gates acknowledged the possibility that he had been around them. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a very good point,&rdquo; Gates said, according to the transcript. He recalled seeing female employees at the conclusion of a meeting aboard one of Epstein&rsquo;s private planes and added, &ldquo;I may have been in the presence of victims.&rdquo; The committee sought Gates&rsquo; testimony as part of its ongoing investigation into Epstein&rsquo;s network and associates. Lawmakers renewed their interest following the Justice Department&rsquo;s release of additional Epstein-related files earlier this year. The committee also released testimony Tuesday from Epstein&rsquo;s longtime assistant, Lesley Groff, who described her former employer as a &ldquo;master manipulator&rdquo; and said she was unaware of his crimes during her years working for him. Groff testified that she connected Epstein and President Donald Trump by telephone on multiple occasions over a decade, though she said she did not know the substance of their conversations. Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has rejected allegations of sexual misconduct. In his testimony, Gates detailed what he characterized as Epstein&rsquo;s efforts to pressure him using personal information. Gates said Epstein was aware that he had been unfaithful in his marriage and attempted to leverage that knowledge after their relationship ended. Gates testified that after severing ties with Epstein in 2014, Epstein sent an email requesting &ldquo;reimbursement&rdquo; for expenses related to a woman with whom Gates had an affair. &ldquo;I communicated to my key person, top person at Gates Ventures, Larry Cohen, that we were never going to pay anything,&rdquo; Gates told investigators. Gates said he was introduced to Epstein in 2011 through Dr Boris Nikolic, a longtime adviser and former associate. He said he believes Nikolic informed Epstein about two extramarital affairs. Committee investigators also questioned Gates about whether he had other affairs that could have connected him to Epstein. Gates and his legal team argued there was no evidence of additional relationships and pointed to draft emails Epstein allegedly wrote to himself in 2013 containing various accusations against Gates. According to Gates, the draft messages included what he described as false and unverified claims. He argued that if Epstein possessed damaging information about additional affairs, he likely would have included it in those writings. &ldquo;I think that Epstein, when he was writing emails to himself, took every potential negative thing he knew, and some that are completely false, and he put those into draft emails to himself,&rdquo; Gates testified. The draft emails reportedly included allegations that Epstein facilitated sexual encounters for Gates and helped him obtain medication to conceal a sexually transmitted infection from his then-wife. Gates has denied those allegations and characterized them as false.

Americas

Bill Gates told House Committee he may have been in the presence of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims but denied ever interacting with them or witnessing any misconduct.

Bill Gates says he may have been in presence of Epstein victims

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan was elected vice-chair of the General Assembly of State Parties to&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/pakistani-folk-instrument-added-to-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-list" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">UNESCO</a>&#39;s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, according to a statement issued by the Pakistan Embassy in France. In a post on Facebook, the embassy said Pakistan pledged to collaborate with member nations on efforts to protect and transmit living cultural expressions to coming generations.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2069519229838299427&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b17aad47e43394809bb52d343896b4d1baa264c4&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2069519229838299427"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan has six UNESCO <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/haiti-fort-stampede-kills-at-least-30-authorities" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Heritage Sites</a>, according to the Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO.&nbsp; They include the Archaeological Ruins at Mohenjodaro, Taxila, the Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol, the Fort and&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/shalimar-gardens-where-water-marble-and-moonlight-tell-lahores-oldest-stories" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shalimar Gardens in Lahore</a>, the Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, and Rohtas Fort. The country also maintains 26 properties on UNESCO&#39;s Tentative List for future World Heritage consideration, according to the organization. Preservation of World Heritage Sites is overseen by provincial governments under Pakistan&#39;s post-18th Amendment framework, while the federal National Heritage and Culture Division remains responsible for coordination with UNESCO and the issuance of excavation permits, according to official government documents. Day-to-day conservation and site protection are carried out by provincial archaeology authorities under the Antiquities Act of 1975 and related provincial laws, which provide penalties for&nbsp;unauthorized construction, vandalism and encroachment around protected sites, according to the National Heritage and Culture Division and the Department of Archaeology and Museums. Conservation work is funded through federal and provincial development programs. According to government planning documents, Punjab authorities have allocated funding for preservation projects at Taxila and Rohtas Fort, while the Taxila 2055 Archaeological Master Plan was developed to support long-term conservation through tourism-related revenues. Pakistan has also expanded efforts to protect heritage sites from climate-related risks. According to UNESCO, restoration work was carried out at the Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta, and the Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro following monsoon damage, alongside measures aimed at reducing future flood-related threats. Government agencies have also introduced digital inventories (Directorate General of Archaeology and Museums), three-dimensional mapping (Directorate General of Antiquities and Archaeology) and training programs (jointly executed by Federal National Heritage Fund and the Provincial Heritage Departments) for site managers as part of broader efforts to preserve cultural assets and improve heritage management.

Culture

Pakistan currently holds six World Heritage Sites and maintains 26 properties on UNESCO's consideration list.

Pakistan secures UNESCO Heritage leadership role in Paris

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;India&#39;s&nbsp;&quot;Cockroach Party&quot; announced a &ldquo;diaper donation drive&rdquo; as part of its continuing campaign against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging supporters to bring diapers to protest sites, write messages calling for his resignation on them and take part in an event titled, &ldquo;Diaper A Day Keeps Leaks Away&quot;, according to Indian media.&nbsp; The party&#39;s founder, Abijeet Dipke, in his message on X wrote, &ldquo;Bring a diaper, write your demand for his resignation on it, and we&rsquo;ll make sure it reaches the education minister.&rdquo; The protest is aimed at highlighting the group&rsquo;s allegations that the government has failed to address concerns over the integrity of the NEET-UG exams.&nbsp; The examination, taken by millions of students seeking medical college admission, faced controversy after allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities emerged. The Education Ministry and authorities have denied wrongdoing and said investigations were conducted into reported irregularities.&nbsp; The government has said action would be taken against those found responsible.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2069280070678782021&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3657f152d93892f6c2f258995eb4d034c2c3ad4d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The CJP&rsquo;s latest campaign uses satire and public demonstrations to draw attention to its demand that Pradhan step down. The group said the donated diapers would be delivered as a symbolic message to the minister. Meanwhile, Dipke alleged that Delhi Police attempted to reduce the size of the protest site late on Monday night. &quot;Delhi Police tried to move barricades and squeeze the protest site into a smaller area,&quot; he claimed in a social media post. According to Hindustan Times, earlier, Dipke had also alleged that police were preventing students from joining the protest by asking for Aadhaar cards. Delhi Police denied the claim, calling it &quot;factually incorrect&quot; and stating that no Aadhaar checks were being conducted at the venue.

India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against alleged irregularities in country's major examinations at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on June 14, 2026. (Photo by Idrees MOHAMMED / AFP)

India

The Cockroach Janta Party launched a satirical 'diaper donation' campaign demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged NEET-UG exam leak irregularities and concerns about exam integrity.

India's 'Cockroach Party' launches 'Diaper Drive' seeking education minister’s resignation

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: When Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stepped off his aircraft in Islamabad on Tuesday, it was more than a routine state visit. His arrival marked his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.&nbsp;He was welcomed by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.&nbsp; The symbolism was difficult to miss. At a time when negotiations, ceasefire arrangements, and post-conflict diplomacy continue to shape the region&#39;s future, Pezeshkian chose Islamabad as his first foreign destination. The visit capped months of diplomatic activity that gradually transformed Pakistan&#39;s capital from a regional political center into one of the most consequential diplomatic venues associated with the US-Iran crisis. The turning point came on April 8, when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a brokered ceasefire between the US and Iran. The agreement halted weeks of direct military confrontation and created the first meaningful opening for diplomacy since the conflict began. Just days later, on April 11 and 12, senior American and Iranian officials arrived in Pakistan for what would become known as the Islamabad Talks. Among the participants were US Vice President JD Vance, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and a range of regional interlocutors operating through diplomatic backchannels. The 21-hour talks produced no final agreement but kept communication channels open and laid the groundwork for further negotiations at a time when direct engagement between the parties had become increasingly difficult.&nbsp; The Islamabad Memorandum of UnderstandingPakistan, alongside regional partners including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, continued its diplomatic engagement as negotiations progressed.&nbsp; The process later produced the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a framework that outlined the path for further negotiations and helped sustain momentum toward a broader settlement.&nbsp; As talks expanded, Switzerland hosted parallel discussions that contributed to the diplomatic process and helped maintain channels of communication between the parties.&nbsp; Those efforts culminated in a joint statement issued by Pakistan and Qatar on June 22, announcing that Iran and the United States had agreed on a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days and immediately begin further technical talks.&nbsp; Yet the significance of recent diplomacy extends beyond any single agreement.&nbsp; The traditional model of international mediation centered on a single neutral venue is increasingly giving way to a more distributed system in which multiple capitals perform different diplomatic functions.&nbsp; While Geneva continues to provide institutional infrastructure for diplomacy, Islamabad has increasingly emerged as a venue capable of bringing together actors from across geopolitical divides.&nbsp; Pakistan&#39;s growing diplomatic influenceUnlike traditional neutral mediators, Pakistan&#39;s role has been shaped less by formal neutrality and more by its relationships. Islamabad maintains longstanding ties with Tehran while also engaging closely with Washington, Beijing and key Gulf partners. The Iran negotiations demonstrated how those connections can be translated into diplomatic influence. Pakistan was able to engage stakeholders across the spectrum, helping create conditions for dialogue while other partners and venues sustained the broader process. This is why Pezeshkian&#39;s visit matters. His arrival is not simply another bilateral engagement between neighbouring countries. It reflects Pakistan&#39;s growing relevance within an evolving diplomatic landscape and highlights the role Islamabad has played in facilitating dialogue during one of the region&#39;s most consequential crises. The events of recent months suggest that international diplomacy is increasingly taking place across interconnected hubs rather than a single location. In that evolving system, Islamabad has emerged as a significant address for regional diplomacy.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and France’s President Emmanuel Macron visit the VivaTech technology startups and innovation fair at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, in Paris on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Emma Da Silva / POOL / AFP)

Foreign Affairs

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's first foreign visit since the US-Iran war highlights Pakistan's growing diplomatic role after Islamabad hosted ceasefire talks, facilitated negotiations and helped establish a roadmap for further US-Iran discussions.

From Geneva to Islamabad: How Pakistan became the new capital for diplomacy

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said that the recent visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and follow-up talks under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding had reinforced its belief that &ldquo;dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective means for peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts.&rdquo;&nbsp; &nbsp;At the weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the Iranian president visited Pakistan this week at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and held meetings with Pakistan&#39;s civilian and military leadership. &quot;The two sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explored avenues to further deepen cooperation across diverse sectors, including trade, energy, border security, people-to-people exchange, as well as regional connectivity,&quot; the spokesperson said.&nbsp;He said discussions also covered the ongoing peace process following the signing of the Islamabad MoU between the United States and Iran, announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on June 18. As part of follow-up efforts, Pakistan and Qatar hosted the first high-level committee meeting under the framework of the Islamabad MoU in B&uuml;rgenstock, Switzerland, on June 21. According to the spokesperson, the meeting helped the parties &quot;reach an understanding on various aspects of the implementation of the Islamabad MoU.&quot; He said the sides agreed to establish a high-level committee for political oversight, create working groups focused on sanctions, monitoring, and dispute resolution, and adopt &quot;a roadmap toward reaching a final deal in 60 days.&quot; Another key outcome was the establishment of communication channels to avoid incidents and miscalculations, including ensuring the &quot;safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz,&quot; he said. A technical committee meeting involving the parties was subsequently held on June 22, with Pakistan and Qatar continuing to engage with US and Iranian technical teams. &quot;The Islamabad MoU and the Lucerne Summit reinforce our faith in dialogue and diplomacy as the most effective means for peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts,&quot; he said. International recognition The spokesperson added that Pakistan welcomed a positive international recognition of its mediation efforts, saying such acknowledgment reflected &quot;the international community&#39;s trust in Pakistan&#39;s commitment to advancing dialogue, peace, security and stability.&quot; He praised the Pakistani media for maintaining confidentiality throughout the process. &quot;Pakistan&#39;s media demonstrated professionalism and maturity by respecting the strict requirements of confidentiality, discretion, and trust that are indispensable to any credible facilitator or mediation effort,&quot; he said. Diplomatic outreachAndrabi said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar participated in the fourth meeting of foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye, and Egypt in Cairo on June 21, where the participants reviewed progress on the Islamabad MoU and broader regional developments. The spokesperson also detailed Dar&#39;s diplomatic outreach over the past two weeks, including telephone conversations with counterparts from Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Italy, Canada, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Egypt, and T&uuml;rkiye, as well as senior European Union officials. &#39;Difficult issue&#39;On Pakistani sailors being held by Somali pirates in Somalia&#39;s Puntland region, the spokesperson said the government remained engaged in efforts to secure their release. &quot;The government&#39;s priority at this stage is diplomatic and humanitarian endeavors to secure the safe release,&quot; he said, adding that Pakistan was in contact with Somali authorities, international organizations, and friendly countries while maintaining engagement with the families of the hostages. He said the situation is a &quot;difficult issue&quot; and that an inter-ministerial mechanism had been established to coordinate the government&#39;s response. On Palestine, he said Pakistan joined eight Arab and Islamic countries in issuing a joint statement condemning escalating violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including attacks on religious sites near Ramallah. The spokesperson also said Pakistan facilitated the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals this week, including fishermen rescued by a British vessel and crew members from a ship intercepted by US authorities. Separately, the spokesperson welcomed the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2823, a Pakistan-led initiative aimed at strengthening accountability for attacks on UN peacekeepers. The resolution, co-sponsored by 153 UN member states, calls for credible investigations and prosecutions of perpetrators and mandates annual reporting on the issue. &quot;The resolution reflects Pakistan&#39;s leadership role in enhancing the safety and effectiveness of UN peacekeeping reforms as well as UN peacekeeping operations,&quot; he said.

FILE: Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tahir Andrabi speaks during a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, May 14, 2026. (X/@ForeignOfficePk)

Spokesperson says Pakistan welcomes positive international recognition of its mediation efforts, says such acknowledgment reflects 'the international community's trust in Pakistan's commitment to advancing dialogue, peace, security and stability.'

Dialogue the most effective means for peaceful settlement of disputes: Pakistan Foreign Office

ISLAMABAD: The Indian government has summoned Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke to appear before an inter-ministerial committee on Wednesday to hear his appeal against the blocking of the party&rsquo;s original account on X, according to Indian media.&nbsp; The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) directed Dipke to be physically present at Electronics Niketan, the ministry&rsquo;s headquarters in New Delhi, on Wednesday, for proceedings related to the account&rsquo;s suspension. The summons comes as Dipke continues a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.&nbsp; The demonstration, which began on June 20, has entered its fifth day, with Dipke refusing to leave the protest site despite increasing pressure from authorities. The CJP described the government&rsquo;s decision to require Dipke&rsquo;s physical attendance as a &ldquo;fresh escalation&rdquo; in tensions between the party and authorities.&nbsp; Dipke has alleged that protesters have faced repeated disruptions, including prolonged interruptions to food and water access.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2069146790121832877&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3657f152d93892f6c2f258995eb4d034c2c3ad4d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 650px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2069146790121832877"></iframe></div></div>He also claimed that running water to nearby public washrooms had been cut off intermittently during the protest. The government has not publicly commented on the allegations regarding conditions at the protest site. The hearing before the inter-ministerial committee is expected to focus on Dipke&rsquo;s appeal against the blocking of the CJP&rsquo;s original X account, a move the party says has limited its ability to communicate with supporters.

The Indian government summoned CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke to a hearing over the blocking of the party’s X account, amid his ongoing protest in New Delhi demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

Indian government summons 'Cockroach Party' leader for hearing on X account block

NEW DELHI: India has tightened rules for non-governmental organisations receiving foreign funds, requiring them to state how overseas money will be used, where they will operate, and comply with stricter reporting requirements. Since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s government has suspended or barred thousands of non-profit groups from receiving foreign funding, accusing some of using the funds for &quot;anti-national activities&quot;. The government issued amended rules to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) this week. Groups applying for FCRA registration must now specify their activities from an approved list. Those include education, health, culture, religion, economic development and social welfare, and declare where they will work. They will also need to provide more detailed disclosures on their websites and social media accounts. Annual filings must include expanded activity reports and project details of how foreign funds are spent, according to the new rules. An organisation that has foreign nationals as its key functionaries will generally not be eligible to receive foreign funds. The government has steadily tightened FCRA rules, including a major 2020 amendment that banned the transfer of foreign funds between NGOs, and cut administrative expense limits from 50 percent to 20 percent. In addition, a fresh bill has also been introduced in parliament, seeking to strengthen oversight and expanding disclosure requirements for foreign-funded organisations. Critics say the government has increasingly scrutinised foreign-funded organisations and tightened compliance norms, making it harder for them to operate.

India has tightened foreign funding rules for NGOs, requiring greater transparency, stricter reporting, and enhanced oversight, amid criticism that the measures make it harder for foreign-funded organisations to operate.

India tightens foreign funding rules for NGOs

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan and Denmark introduced a draft resolution to the&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-asks-unsc-to-act-against-indias-indus-waters-treaty-violations" target="_blank">UN Security Council</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, calling for stronger accountability for crimes against UN peacekeepers, as attacks on uniformed personnel continue to rise with little consequence. &quot;Attacks against United Nations peacekeepers have increased in number and sophistication,&quot; Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said while introducing the resolution, according to a statement from Pakistan&#39;s Permanent Mission to the UN. &quot;They are being targeted, often with little accountability.&quot; The Pakistani ambassador said that the country has contributed one of the largest and longest-serving troop contributors to <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-reaffirms-commitment-to-un-peacekeeping-on-international-day-of-peacekeepers" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">UN peacekeeping</a>. Pakistan has &ldquo;deployed more than 270,000 peacekeepers&rdquo; over the decades. &ldquo;Nearly 4,500 UN peacekeepers have been killed in the line of duty globally, including 183 <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/what-black-hawk-down-forgot-to-mention-about-pakistan" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistanis</a>,&rdquo; he stated. According to the statement, the resolution seeks to move the Security Council &quot;beyond statements condemning these attacks.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Council&#39;s pronouncements are important. Condolences are necessary. But they are not enough.&quot; The draft resolution requires the secretary-general to report annually on investigations and prosecutions for killings and violence against UN personnel in peacekeeping operations. It also requires the secretary-general to provide options within 120 days to strengthen the accountability framework. The resolution calls for the designation of a senior focal point in the UN Secretariat to improve coordination, follow-up, and engagement with host states and troop- and police-contributing countries, and to ensure effective use of existing mechanisms to enhance accountability. The measure builds on resolutions sponsored by China and India and continues Pakistan&#39;s leadership in peacekeeping policy, dating back to its 2013 resolution on multidimensional peacekeeping. Over 150 member states have co-sponsored the draft, &ldquo;a record number,&rdquo; Asim Iftikhar stated.

Pakistan's Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad addresses the UN Security Council on June 23, 2026, to introduce a draft resolution on accountability for attacks on UN peacekeepers. (Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN/X)

Pakistan introduces a draft resolution in the UN Security Council, calling for annual reports on attacks on peacekeepers, the designation of a senior focal point, and options within 120 days to strengthen accountability.

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