
UN convoy on way to delivering food into Sudan's al-Fashir attacked
A UN convoy delivering food into Sudan's al-Fashir in North Darfur came under attack overnight, a spokesperson for the UN children's agency told Reuters on Tuesday, adding that initial reports indicated "multiple casualties"."We have received information about a convoy with WFP and UNICEF trucks being attacked last night while positioned in Al Koma, North Darfur, waiting for approval to proceed to al-Fashir," UNICEF spokesperson Eva Hinds said in response to questions.advertisementShe did not say who was responsible or elaborate on the reported casualties.
Aid has frequently come under the crossfire in the two-year-old war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has left more than half the population facing crisis levels of hunger.In a statement, the RSF's aid commission blamed an airstrike by the army, as did local activists. The army did not respond to a request for comment.Al Koma is controlled by the RSF, and earlier this week saw a drone strike that claimed several civilian lives, according to local activists.Famine conditions have previously been reported in al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur. The fighting and barriers to the delivery of aid put in place by both sides have cut off supplies.The attack is the latest of several assaults on aid in recent days. It follows the repeated shelling of UN World Food Programme premises in al-Fashir by the RSF and an attack on El Obeid hospital in North Kordofan that killed several medics late last month.Must Watch

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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Bilawal Bhutto gets an earful from US lawmaker, asked to eliminate Jaish-e-Mohammed
A senior US lawmaker told a visiting Pakistani delegation, led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to take strong action against the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed and to ensure the safety of religious minorities in the country. This comes as Congressman Brad Sherman met with the Pakistani delegation in Washington on Thursday. Their visit coincided with that of an Indian multi-party parliamentary team led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is in the US to brief American officials about Operation Sindoor and India's response to terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack. After meeting Bilawal Bhutto, Sherman took to social media platform 'X' and said, 'I emphasised to the Pakistani delegation the importance of combatting terrorism, and in particular, the group Jaish-e-Mohammed, who murdered my constituent Daniel Pearl in 2002.' He was referring to a Wall Street Journal journalist, Pearl, who was kidnapped and killed by terrorists in Pakistan. Omar Saeed Sheikh was convicted for planning the crime. Sherman added that Pearl's family still lives in his district and stressed, 'Pakistan should do all it can to eliminate this vile group and combat terrorism in the region.' The US lawmaker also pressed the Pakistani side to push for the release of Dr Shakil Afridi, the physician who helped US intelligence locate Osama bin Laden. 'Freeing Dr Afridi represents an important step in bringing closure for victims of 9/11,' Sherman said. Afridi was arrested in 2011 after the bin Laden raid and was later sentenced to 33 years in prison by a Pakistani court. The US lawmaker further raised concerns about religious freedom in Pakistan, saying, 'Christians, Hindus and Ahmadiyya Muslims living in Pakistan must be allowed to practice their faith and participate in the democratic system without fear of violence, persecution, discrimination, or an unequal justice system.' Bhutto Zardari's visit, which included meetings with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and UN security council ambassadors in New York, appears to be part of Pakistan's effort to raise the Kashmir issue internationally. However, US lawmakers instead urged the delegation to address terrorism based in Pakistan.


Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
India-Central Asian Foreign Ministers speak in one voice against cross-border terror & terror proxies
Productive discussions on connectivity, security, terrorism: Jaishankar at India-Central Asia Dialogue Synopsis At the fourth India-Central Asia dialogue, ministers condemned the Pahalgham terrorist attack and pledged to combat terrorism, emphasizing accountability for perpetrators and the need for UN cooperation. They expressed interest in joint rare earth exploration, supported India's UN Security Council membership, and advocated for a stable, terror-free Afghanistan. The Indian and the Central Asian Foreign Ministers on Friday unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgham and reaffirmed their firm commitment to fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. ADVERTISEMENT At the fourth India-Central Asia dialogue the Ministers also reiterated that providing safe haven, using terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism, terror financing, arms and drugs trafficking, dissemination of a radical ideology and abuse of cyber space to spread disinformation and incite violence, goes against the basic principles of humanity and international relations. The Ministers without naming Pakistan and other terror infrastructure stressed that perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts must be held accountable and brought to justice. In this context, they called for early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. They stressed the need to strengthen UN-led global counter-terrorism cooperation and fully implement the relevant UNSC resolutions, Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and FATF Ministers expressed interest in joint exploration of rare earth and critical minerals. Appreciating the outcomes of the first India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum held in September 2024 in New Delhi, they called upon the relevant authorities to hold the second India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum meeting at the earliest convenience. The Ministers also encouraged exchange of delegations to explore new areas of cooperation in critical minerals. ADVERTISEMENT It may be pointed out that China is making big inroads into Central Asia's rare earth sector. The Ministers noted the importance of holding regular consultations among the National Security Councils of India and the Central Asian countries to strengthen efforts to counter terrorism and other emerging challenges in the region. They looked forward to the third edition of the Consultations to be held in the Kyrgyz Republic. ADVERTISEMENT The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Central Asian countries reiterated support of their countries for permanent membership of India in an expanded and reformed UN Security Ministers reiterated their strong support for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan which is free from terrorism, war and drugs. They stressed the need to stand by the people of Afghanistan. The Ministers agreed to continue close coordination and consultations on matters related to Afghanistan, according to the joint statement. ADVERTISEMENT The Ministers emphasized optimum usage of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to enhance connectivity between India and the Central Asian countries. They stressed that connectivity initiatives should be based on the principles of transparency, broad participation, local priorities, financial sustainability, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in an indirect reference to BRI that passes through PoK. India reiterated its support for the membership of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in INSTC. In this context, Ministers appreciated the initiative taken by Kazakhstan to develop the eastern branch of INSTC. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online. NEXT STORY


News18
an hour ago
- News18
As Bangladesh Army Chief, BNP Resist 'Rohingya Corridor', Yunus Silent But Flags Fund Cuts
Last Updated: Sources in Bangladesh suggest the Rakhine Corridor idea has not been completely abandoned, and discussions concerning the Rohingya crisis continue Amid strong opposition from political parties, including the BNP, and the military top brass, Bangladesh's interim government, led by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, has fallen silent on the proposed Rakhine Corridor talks. However, sources in Bangladesh suggest the idea has not been completely abandoned, and discussions concerning the Rohingya crisis continue. The army chief, during a private meeting with senior commanders, reportedly expressed serious reservations about the project's strategic and security implications. Political parties, including senior figures of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, also rejected the idea, citing national security concerns. 'Silent treatment'? However, the Yunus administration appears to be quietly pursuing the plan, seeking international support through global platforms, emphasising humanitarian grounds. A source familiar with the developments stated that a humanitarian passage, not a corridor, is now the subject of consensus among multiple stakeholders, including Myanmar, Bangladesh, and other involved parties. The proposed passage, intended to facilitate aid delivery between Rohingya settlements and camps in Cox's Bazar and designated zones along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, has faced sharp domestic criticism. Security analysts and several political parties, including senior BNP leaders, have warned that such a passage could create a semi-autonomous zone and further destabilise the region. A senior BNP leader, speaking to News18 from Dhaka, said, 'We cannot allow the Rakhine Corridor cutting across Bangladesh. We want a stable and peaceful country. We have presented our views to the interim government in this regard, and we will oppose any such decision that may put Bangladesh's security and stability at stake." Addressing the media in Dhaka last week, national security adviser Khalilur Rahman said, 'The UN only asked if Bangladesh could assist in sending humanitarian aid near the border, to be delivered to the Rakhine state by UN partners. We said we can consider," as reported by The Daily Star, a widely circulated Bangladeshi newspaper. A meeting between chief adviser Yunus and UN resident coordinator Gwyn Lewis this week has fuelled further speculation. According to an official statement from the Bangladesh government, the discussion focused significantly on the Rohingya crisis and future cooperation frameworks, with Yunus appealing for international cooperation and funds. 'In their meeting, the resident coordinator and the chief adviser addressed the pressing issues surrounding the Rohingya crisis and the ongoing financing challenges," the statement said. They expressed serious concern about significant funding reductions, which are severely impacting essential programmes within the camps. Yunus stated the 'urgent need for sustained solidarity and increased support from the international community to mitigate the funding cuts and reinforce Bangladesh's efforts to aid the vulnerable Rohingya population". While the Yunus administration has avoided public discussion of the proposed corridor following strong opposition, diplomatic sources suggest the concept of a passage has not been dismissed. For now, the Rakhine corridor remains an undeclared and inactive element of Bangladesh's evolving foreign and domestic policy. First Published: June 07, 2025, 07:30 IST