Web Desk

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.<hr>Catch up: Yesterday&rsquo;s top developments<ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li id="isPasted">Trump praises Pakistan leadership</li><li>UK foreign secretary terms Israeli minister&#39;s Lebanon remarks &#39;horrendous&#39;</li><li>Islamabad, Tehran discuss ties, regional developments</li><li>Pakistan leaders join next negotiation phase</li><li>US VP Vance departs Washington for Iran talks in Switzerland</li></ul><hr> Pakistan leaders join next negotiation phasePublished: June 20, 2026 | 19:45 GMT | by Web Desk&nbsp;Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir departed Islamabad on Saturday for Switzerland to participate in technical-level talks under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office.&nbsp;The discussions are scheduled to take place in B&uuml;rgenstock on June 21 and form part of the next phase of engagement following the signing of the Islamabad MoU between the United States and Iran earlier this week.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the statement, PM Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir will participate in the talks alongside a high-level Pakistani delegation. Representatives of the United States and Iran, as well as mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, are expected to take part in the discussions.&nbsp;&nbsp;The talks are aimed at advancing understandings reached under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and moving forward on issues covered under the agreement&#39;s implementation framework, according to Pakistani officials. <hr> &nbsp;For earlier developments, read our June 20 live blog <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/middle-east-live-june-20" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>

Middle East

Technical discussions are set to focus on implementing commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as mediators seek to advance the 60-day implementation framework.

DELETE:

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.<hr>Catch up: Yesterday&rsquo;s top developments<ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li>Trump praises Pakistan leadership</li><li>UK foreign secretary terms Israeli minister&#39;s Lebanon remarks &#39;horrendous&#39;</li><li>Islamabad, Tehran discuss ties, regional developments</li><li>Pakistan leaders join next negotiation phase</li><li>US VP Vance departs Washington for Iran talks in Switzerland</li></ul><hr> Pakistan leaders join next negotiation phasePublished: June 20, 2026 | 19:45 GMT | by Web Desk&nbsp;Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir departed Islamabad on Saturday for Switzerland to participate in technical-level talks under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office.&nbsp;The discussions are scheduled to take place in B&uuml;rgenstock on June 21 and form part of the next phase of engagement following the signing of the Islamabad MoU between the United States and Iran earlier this week.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the statement, PM Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir will participate in the talks alongside a high-level Pakistani delegation. Representatives of the United States and Iran, as well as mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, are expected to take part in the discussions.&nbsp;&nbsp;The talks are aimed at advancing understandings reached under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and moving forward on issues covered under the agreement&#39;s implementation framework, according to Pakistani officials. <hr> For earlier developments, read our June 20 live blog here

Technical discussions are set to focus on implementing commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as mediators seek to advance the 60-day implementation framework.


PM Sharif, CDF Munir depart for Switzerland ahead of Iran-US talks

Muhammad Imad Abbas

PESHAWAR: Pakistan&#39;s vast mineral reserves are drawing growing international attention, with recent diplomatic engagements and investment agreements highlighting the country&#39;s emergence as a promising destination for critical minerals development and resource-based investment.&nbsp;As Islamabad seeks to diversify its economy beyond traditional sectors, the government has increasingly positioned mining and minerals as a key pillar of future economic growth.&nbsp;Rich deposits of copper, gold, rare earth elements, chromite, coal and other strategic minerals have attracted interest from international investors, particularly as global demand for critical minerals continues to rise amid the energy transition and technological advancement.&nbsp;The growing focus on the sector has also coincided with a broader upswing in Pakistan-US relations, where economic cooperation and investment have increasingly taken center stage.&nbsp;Pakistani officials have repeatedly encouraged American companies to explore opportunities in the country&#39;s untapped mineral sector, viewing resource development as an avenue for strengthening bilateral economic ties while creating jobs, attracting foreign direct investment and boosting exports.&nbsp;According to the US Embassy in Islamabad, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Zach Harkenrider accompanied a delegation from US Strategic Metals (USSM) to the Prime Minister&#39;s House in September last year for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between USSM and Pakistan&#39;s Frontier Works Organization (FWO).&nbsp;The embassy said Charg&eacute; d&#39;Affaires Natalie Baker described the agreement as a reflection of the strength of the Pakistan-US relationship and its potential benefits for both countries.&nbsp;&quot;The Trump administration has made the forging of such deals a key priority given the importance of critical mineral resources to American security and prosperity,&quot; Baker said at the signing ceremony, according to the US Embassy.&nbsp;She added that Washington looked forward to further agreements between American companies and their Pakistani counterparts in the critical minerals and mining sector.&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s mineral endowment has increasingly positioned the country as an emerging hub for resource investment.&nbsp;According to a report by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Pakistan possesses an estimated $6 trillion worth of mineral deposits, including copper, gold, coal, chromite, antimony and rare earth elements.&nbsp;Among the country&#39;s most resource-rich regions is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where significant deposits remain largely untapped.&nbsp;Zohaib Afridi, a geologist with more than a decade of experience in the mines and minerals sector and a native of the former tribal districts, told Pakistan TV Digital that Khyber district alone holds substantial mineral potential.&nbsp;&quot;Khyber district contains significant untapped deposits of fluorite, barite, laterite, coal, lead, zinc, industrial minerals, marble and limestone,&quot; Afridi said.&nbsp;He noted that many of these resources are widely used in construction and industrial applications and could contribute significantly to economic development if explored on a larger scale.&nbsp;Afridi said extraction activities in the region currently rely largely on traditional methods.&nbsp;&quot;With gradual government facilitation, these practices can become institutionalized, allowing operations to scale up and creating greater opportunities for foreign direct investment in the sector,&quot; he said.&nbsp;Efforts to attract such investment have also featured prominently in high-level diplomacy between Islamabad and Washington.&nbsp;According to a statement posted by the Government of Pakistan on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation during talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House in September 2025.&nbsp;The government statement said the prime minister invited US investment in Pakistan&#39;s key economic sectors and emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation.&nbsp;The growing international focus on Pakistan&#39;s economic potential has also come as the country seeks to play a more active role in regional and global diplomacy.&nbsp;Analysts say Pakistan&#39;s recent diplomatic engagements have helped project an image of stability and economic opportunity, creating favorable conditions for international investors evaluating long-term projects in the country.

Climate & Environment

Pakistan is increasingly positioning its vast mineral reserves as a driver of economic diversification, with growing US interest and government-backed initiatives aimed at attracting foreign investment, expanding resource development, and unlocking long-term growth opportunities.



Pakistan's $6 trillion mineral wealth attracts global investment interest

ISLAMABAD: Five men were injured in a series of suspected anti-Muslim attacks across the Scottish capital on Friday night, prompting a counter-terrorism investigation and condemnation from Britain&#39;s political leaders.&nbsp;Police Scotland said a 36-year-old white Scottish man was arrested after a &quot;fast-moving sequence of events&quot; involving threats, assault, robbery and vandalism at multiple locations across Edinburgh.&nbsp;The attacks reportedly began near a mosque in the Broomhouse area of western Edinburgh, where two men were injured. Three other men were later attacked in separate incidents on Telford Road and Leith Walk.&nbsp;Police said none of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening, although three victims required hospital treatment.&nbsp;Counter-terrorism officers have joined local detectives in the investigation as authorities work to establish the motive and circumstances surrounding the attacks.&nbsp;Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton described the incidents as a &quot;shocking attack&quot; and sought to reassure affected communities.&nbsp;&quot;I want to send a clear message of support to all our communities that there is no place for racism or faith-based hate in a Scotland which is at its best when we stand together,&quot; Paton said in a statement.&nbsp;&quot;Extensive work is ongoing to establish all the circumstances. I want to thank our officers who responded with bravery and professionalism, and with a focus on protecting the public.&quot;&nbsp;Muslim engagement group MEND Scotland said several of the victims were from the Muslim community, raising concerns that the attacks may have been motivated by anti-Muslim hatred.&nbsp;Video footage shared on social media appeared to show a bare-chested man carrying a large weapon at several locations across the city. One video showed damage to a taxi at a petrol station on Telford Road, while others appeared to show a man vandalising a fuel station, striking the doors of a pizzeria on Leith Walk and confronting members of the public.&nbsp;Additional footage circulated online showed armed police officers detaining a topless man on the ground. Witness videos appeared to capture the suspect shouting that he was &quot;protecting the country&quot; as officers restrained him.&nbsp;British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence, saying the suspect appeared to have been motivated by &quot;anti-Muslim hatred.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;My thoughts are with those who are injured and I thank the police and the emergency services for their response,&quot; Starmer wrote on X. <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" 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=2068420853042217360&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e7fa88e1ab234bf3f9a46d9e3cf863c33bd99fb8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 785px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Scotland&#39;s First Minister John Swinney said he was &quot;deeply concerned&quot; by the incidents.&nbsp;&quot;There is no place for violence, racism or intolerance in our country,&quot; Swinney said in a statement.&nbsp;Police said the suspect remains in custody while enquiries continue. Authorities have urged anyone with information, footage or witness accounts related to the incidents to contact investigators.

United Kingdom

Five men were injured in a series of suspected anti-Muslim attacks across Edinburgh, prompting a counter-terrorism investigation. Police arrested a 36-year-old suspect as British leaders and Muslim groups condemned the violence and called for unity.

Five injured in suspected anti-Muslim attacks across Edinburgh streets

TORONTO: Germany reached the World Cup knockout phase for the first time since 2014 with a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast on Saturday.&nbsp;Substitute Deniz Undav scored twice, including the crucial goal four minutes into injury time, triggering a massive roar from the overwhelmingly pro-German crowd of 43,000 in Toronto.&nbsp;Germany had not advanced from the group stage since winning the 2014 tournament in Brazil, and coach Julian Nagelsmann had been under huge pressure to make that breakthrough.&nbsp;A first-half goal by Franck Kessie gave the Ivorians a 30th-minute lead.&nbsp;Kessie turned in from close range following strong work by teenage Ivorian phenomenon Yan Diomande, who is in the sights of some of Europe&#39;s top clubs, including Liverpool.&nbsp;The Germans thought they had found the net twice in the first half.&nbsp;Nathaniel Brown&#39;s corner in the 21st minute was knocked into the goal by Aleksandar Pavlovic, but Paraguayan referee Juan Gabriel Benitez immediately called it back -- charging Pavlovic with fouling Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.&nbsp;Then, in the 38th minute, German forward and Arsenal star Kai Havertz had the ball in the net, but it was disallowed because of a foul by Bayern Munich&#39;s Jamal Musiala.&nbsp;When the second half began, the Germans applied relentless pressure.&nbsp;The vaunted Ivorian defence held firm till the 68th minute, but ultimately the Germans broke through.&nbsp;Undav, of VfB Stuttgart, volleyed in a cross by Nadiem Amiri in the 63rd minute.&nbsp;His second sent Nagelsmann and the German crowd into a frenzy as the Germans snapped a string of disappointments at the last two World Cups.&nbsp;&quot;Winning mentality, team spirit -- we had exactly what you need to be successful in a tournament,&quot; Germany defender Jonathan Tah told MagentaTV.&nbsp;&quot;We never gave up, we kept going no matter what. The guys coming off the bench brought energy. Deniz deserves a special mention, outstanding!&quot;&nbsp;The Ivorians have never advanced at a World Cup, but may still move on with a win over debutants Curacao in their final group stage match.

Football

Germany secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Ivory Coast in Toronto, reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 2014. Substitute Deniz Undav scored twice, including a stoppage-time winner, after Franck Kessie’s opener.

Germany come from behind to beat Ivory Coast and reach World Cup last 32

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council said Saturday it is concerned over the &quot;imminent risk of mass atrocities&quot; in Sudan as it called on paramilitary forces encircling El-Obeid to back down.&nbsp;The majority-Muslim southern city, in the Kordofan region, has been under siege for several months by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been at war with the regular army since April 2023.&nbsp;&quot;The members of the Security Council expressed concern at the imminent risk of mass atrocities and demanded the RSF immediately halt its assault on El-Obeid,&quot; the Security Council said in a statement.&nbsp;&quot;Council members called on the parties to the conflict to immediately halt the fighting.&quot;&nbsp;The UN has voiced fears that there could be a repeat of the atrocities committed during the October 2025 assault on the city of El-Fasher, which it said bore &quot;hallmarks of genocide.&quot;&nbsp;The UN said Friday that Pekka Haavisto, the secretary-general&#39;s special envoy for Sudan, had called rebel paramilitary forces chief Mohamed Hamdan Daglo to urge him not to attack El-Obeid.&nbsp;Haavisto &quot;underscored the need to urgently de-escalate the situation in El-Obeid and avoid any actions that may further worsen the already dire humanitarian situation and put civilian lives further at risk,&quot; said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.&nbsp;The official said aid workers were &quot;preparing for the potential movements of large numbers of people&quot; fleeing the city, and that &quot;our humanitarian colleagues are doing the responsible thing, which is getting ready for the worst while hoping for the best.&quot;&nbsp;Dujarric said Haavisto was also talking to countries with influence over the warring parties to encourage dialogue and prevent the assault.&nbsp;The conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and forced more than 11 million from their homes, creating what the UN describes as the world&#39;s largest displacement and hunger crises.

Africa

The UN Security Council warned of an imminent risk of mass atrocities in Sudan and urged the RSF to halt its assault on El-Obeid. The conflict has displaced over 11 million people, worsening the world's largest humanitarian and hunger crisis.

UN Security Council warns of 'imminent risk of mass atrocities' in Sudan

PARIS: France issued a red alert for the heatwave across more than a third of the country for Sunday, also banning the consumption of alcohol during the annual Fete de la Musique festivities that day.&nbsp;The ferocious heatwave, which began earlier this week, has disrupted the country, forcing the cancellation of dozens of trains and the suspension of classes.&nbsp;Authorities are concerned about how the annual Fete de la Musique celebrations will unfold across the country Sunday, when musicians take over the streets with free performances and revellers party into the night.&nbsp;&quot;Very high temperatures are settling in for the long term across the country,&quot; Meteo-France said as it announced the highest heatwave warning for 35 of France&#39;s departments, or administrative regions, for Sunday -- the most ever.&nbsp;And Meteo-France is predicting that starting Monday temperatures could reach 41C (106F) in some places, and that the average reading across the whole country could reach its highest ever. It also said the duration of the heatwave was &quot;uncertain&quot;.&nbsp;Paris is one of the regions on the red-alert list, which covers a wide area running south-west from the capital.&nbsp;According to AFP&#39;s calculations, more than three-quarters of the mainland&#39;s population will suffer from the heat Sunday, with another 45 departments under orange alert.&nbsp;On Saturday, the government said that alcohol consumption during the annual street festivals would be banned in departments under the heatwave red alert.&nbsp;&quot;Prefects will issue decrees banning alcohol consumption in public spaces in the departments under red alert,&quot; the government said in a statement following a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.&nbsp;&quot;For all events organised by the state and its agencies, instructions have been given not to offer alcohol,&quot; said his office.&nbsp;The government has called for limits on alcohol consumption &quot;to preserve emergency and healthcare services and allow medical staff to focus on caring for the most vulnerable&quot;.&nbsp;To help Parisians and tourists cope with the heat, authorities are keeping parks and gardens in the French capital open through the night.

Europe

France placed 35 departments, including Paris, under red heatwave alerts as temperatures soar. Authorities banned public alcohol consumption during Fete de la Musique celebrations to reduce health risks and ease pressure on emergency and healthcare services.

Red heat alert issued for third of France, alcohol banned at music festival

Aleena Zara Malik

The internet has a lot to say about Pakistan, and a surprising amount of it skips the same fact. From the country labelled an &quot;epicentre of terror&quot; by international media to the same country that has been the longest and largest contributor of UN peacekeepers. This episode of Debunkistan puts the West&#39;s favourite framing on trial, with satire, sarcasm, and a little reality check.

Debunkistan

Pakistan has served in 48 UN peacekeeping missions since 1960, deploying thousands of troops and women peacekeepers across global conflict zones while sacrificing 181 personnel, underscoring its longstanding role in supporting international peace and security.

What Black Hawk Down forgot to mention about Pakistan

REYKJAVIK, Iceland: One of Iceland&#39;s two remaining whaling ships set out this week to hunt the giant mammals after a two-year hiatus, local media and campaigners reported on Saturday. Iceland is one of only three countries that still openly permit whaling, alongside Norway and Japan -- despite international opprobrium from the public and animal welfare organisations. A protester chained himself to the mast of the vessel before it left the port of Reykjavik on Friday. He climbing down in the evening and was escorted away by police, RUV media said. &quot;It is so disheartening to see Iceland&#39;s whaling boat leave port to begin another season of whale slaughter despite overwhelming evidence that there is no humane way to kill a whale,&quot; Joanna Swabe of the Humane World for Animals NGO said after the second vessel headed out to sea. &quot;These ocean giants will very likely endure an agonising death for meat that virtually no one in Iceland wants to eat,&quot; she told AFP. Iceland cancelled its whale hunt in 2024 and 2025, partly because economic woes had cut demand and the industry was not deemed sufficiently profitable. The International Whaling Commission banned the commercial killing of whales in 1986 amid alarm at the declining stock of the marine mammals. Iceland and Norway are the only two countries still openly practising commercial whaling in defiance of the moratorium. Japan hunts the ocean giants for what it claims is &quot;scientific&quot; purposes, even if most of the meat ends up on the market for consumption. Iceland&#39;s Marine and Freshwater Research Institute has recommended a reduction in the number of whales harpooned this season, which runs from mid-June to mid-September. The 2026 annual number of fin whales killed should not exceed 150 animals, a 28-percent drop on the recommended annual catch for the period 2018&ndash;2025, it said. The fin whale is the second largest animal on Earth after the blue whale. The Institute set an annual quota of 168 animals for the minke whale hunt this year, a 23-percent drop. The government is due this autumn to table a bill on banning whaling altogether.

Wildlife

Iceland resumes commercial whaling after a two-year pause as one of its remaining whaling ships departs despite protests, reduced catch quotas, and plans for the government to consider banning the practice later this year.

Iceland resumes whale hunt amid protest

LOS ANGELES: High-scoring Germany face a powerful Ivory Coast side at the World Cup on Saturday with the winner guaranteed a place in the last 32, while Sweden can also book their ticket. Those three nations can join co-hosts the United States and Mexico who are already through. Germany thrashed debutants Curacao 7-1 in their opener and would be confirmed as Group E winners if they defeat Ivory Coast in Toronto and Ecuador fail to beat Curacao in Kansas City. Progressing to the knockout round would be a relief for the Germans who astonishingly have failed to reach that stage since they won their fourth World Cup in Brazil in 2014. So tight are the margins that Ivory Coast could lock up their place in the next round too, if they beat the Germans. Julian Nagelsmann said his team had to be prepared for Ivory Coast&#39;s athleticism. &quot;Their speed is one of their biggest strengths and that&#39;s what I think they do best,&quot; he told reporters, highlighting the French-born Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe. &quot;During the last game, he was everywhere,&quot; Nagelsmann said of Pepe. Ivory Coast could also count on forward Elye Wahi who has been authorized to enter Canada after initially being denied a visa over reported spot-fixing allegations in France. Sweden face the Netherlands in Houston knowing that a win will secure a place in the knockout round &ndash; an extraordinary turnaround for the Scandinavians who only qualified for the World Cup through the Nations League, essentially the back door. Coach Graham Potter warned that Sweden striker Alexander Isak will get &quot;stronger and stronger&quot; as the tournament goes on. Isak had a poor season by his standards, interrupted by frequent injuries, after Liverpool paid Newcastle United a British record &pound;125 million ($165 million) for him. He made a strong start to the World Cup, though, as the 26-year-old scored one goal and set up two in the 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia. &quot;Alex has had a season that has been interrupted,&quot; Potter said. &quot;Most football players would say they need a certain amount of time and games to get up to top, top level, so we&#39;ve had to try to build Alex up. I think there&#39;s more to come from him.&quot; 1,000th game History will be made in another of Saturday&#39;s games as Japan face Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico for the 1,000th game at a World Cup. Hajime Moriyasu warned his Japan side they will need to match the intensity of a Tunisia team fired up by the introduction of coach Herve Renard after Sabri Lamouchi became the first coach in World Cup history to be sacked after one game. On Friday, the United States marched into the knockout round with a 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle. A day of raucous celebrations for the co-hosts got even better when Paraguay&#39;s 1-0 win against Turkey confirmed that the US would clinch top spot in Group D, ensuring a theoretically easier draw in the last 32. A Cameron Burgess own goal in the 11th minute and a headed effort from Alex Freeman two minutes before half-time sealed a comfortable three points for Mauricio Pochettino&#39;s USA side, who have won the group with a game to spare. After an unconvincing build-up to the World Cup, the Americans have made a dream start to the tournament with Friday&#39;s victory following a stylish 4-1 demolition of Paraguay in their opener. &quot;It was a fantastic game again, very good first half,&quot; Pochettino said. &quot;I think we dominated the game against a very tough team. &quot;When the draw happened in December I thought it was going to be a really difficult, a really tough game.&quot; In other games on Friday, Brazil took control of their destiny in Group C with a 3-0 victory over Haiti that ended the Caribbean nation&#39;s chances of progressing. Haiti join Turkey in exiting the tournament. Two goals from Matheus Cunha and a Vinicius Junior strike sealed an easy win for the Brazilians in Philadelphia. Brazil are now level on four points with Morocco, but lead the North Africans on goal difference. Morocco secured their first win of the tournament on Friday with a 1-0 defeat of Scotland at Foxborough. Morocco face Haiti in their final Group C game on June 24, while Brazil take on the Scots in Miami.

German National Team Coach Julian Nagelsmann (left) and Jonathan Tah attend the final press conference ahead of the second World Cup group stage match against Ivory Coast. (AFP)

Several teams edge toward knockout qualification as group standings tighten, with co-host success, key player performances, coaching adjustments, and important upcoming matches shaping progression across multiple groups in tournament play.

Germany meet Ivory Coast in high-stakes World Cup clash, Sweden face Dutch

GENEVA: The UN rights chief said on Saturday he deeply regretted the European Union&#39;s new migration rules, which allow much broader detention powers and the creation of deportation centres outside the bloc. The rules, approved on Wednesday, enable the 27 EU nations to open &quot;return hubs&quot; outside the bloc&#39;s borders, where they can send asylum seekers and migrants to whom they do not grant the right to remain. Volker Turk, the United Nations&#39; High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the EU and its member states must ensure the rules fully comply with international human rights and refugee law. &quot;EU states cannot simply outsource their human rights obligations to third states in this context,&quot; he said in a statement. &quot;Detention and return of vulnerable people, including children, to other countries is a particularly sensitive exercise of the state&#39;s power and carries a high risk of human rights violations. &quot;There must be front-and-centre emphasis on human rights protection and dignity throughout -- in fact and in law,&quot; Turk insisted. European governments have sought a tougher stance on immigration, which has become a hot political topic used by far-right parties to make electoral gains across the continent. With asylum seeker arrivals down in 2025, the focus in Brussels has turned to tightening up the repatriation system. &#39;Serious human rights violations&#39;Currently, fewer than 30 percent of people who are ordered to leave are returned to their country of origin. &quot;International human rights law and refugee law are very clear -- no-one should be returned to a place where they would be at risk of serious human rights violations or other irreparable harm,&quot; said Turk. &quot;This is the fundamental principle of non-refoulement. It must be fully respected by all countries and all territories under all circumstances.&quot; He also called for robust monitoring and accountability to ensure full respect for human rights in return procedures, including people&#39;s right to private and family life, to family unity, as well as to protect the best interests of children. &quot;Deportation decisions must always be based on individualised assessments and should not be carried out prior to conclusion of appeal processes,&quot; Turk insisted. Besides return hubs, the new measures establish a strict obligation for migrants subject to expulsion to leave and cooperate with authorities to that end. They say that those who do not, who pose a security risk or are thought to be at risk of absconding, can be detained for up to two years. Turk urged countries to ensure that public discourse on migration &quot;remains grounded in fact&quot; and &quot;avoids conflating migration with security concerns&quot;. Turk called for a balanced approach to migration anchored in human rights, that recognised &quot;the contributions of migrants to European societies and economies&quot;.

UN rights chief Volker Turk criticizes the European Union’s new migration rules, warning expanded detention powers and offshore deportation centres risk violating international human rights and refugee law while urging protections for vulnerable migrants.