Sudan’s New PM to Visit Juba

FILE PHOTO: Sudan's new Prime Minister in the transitional government Abdalla Hamdok, speaks during a Reuters interview in Khartoum, Sudan August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Sudan's new Prime Minister in the transitional government Abdalla Hamdok, speaks during a Reuters interview in Khartoum, Sudan August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/File Photo
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Sudan’s New PM to Visit Juba

FILE PHOTO: Sudan's new Prime Minister in the transitional government Abdalla Hamdok, speaks during a Reuters interview in Khartoum, Sudan August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Sudan's new Prime Minister in the transitional government Abdalla Hamdok, speaks during a Reuters interview in Khartoum, Sudan August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/File Photo

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok chaired on Tuesday the first cabinet session since coming into office last month, listing ten priorities in the 200 days of the transition into civilian rule.

Information Minister Faisal Mohamed Saleh confirmed that the priorities included stopping war and building a just and comprehensive peace, tackling the economic crisis, repealing laws restricting freedoms, ensuring the independence of the judiciary, achieving transitional justice, forming an independent commission to investigate crimes, combating corruption, strengthening the role of women and youth, restructuring the state, and building balanced foreign relations.

“It was agreed to establish a balanced foreign policy based on the independence of Sudan and taking into account the common interests,” Saleh told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

“There was also serious discussion on the issue of ensuring the promotion of women's rights, taking measures to ensure their effective participation, and reforming of state apparatuses,” he added.

As for the African state’s centralization, Saleh said that ties between regional authorities and the central administration will also be revised alongside other proposed governance structures.

Saleh revealed that Hamdok will travel to Juba, South Sudan’s capital, this week, his first official overseas trip since becoming premier after the ouster of president Omar al-Bashir.

South Sudan had split from the north in 2011. The two countries have yet to resolve some pending border disputes and trade concerns after the bulk of oil earnings of erstwhile Sudan went to South Sudan following the split.

“He (Hamdok) will be accompanied by a delegation including the ministers of interior, foreign affairs, energy and mining, and commerce and industry,” Saleh told reporters, adding that the two-day visit is to emphasize the close relations between Sudan and South Sudan.

Sudan's transitional government has made peacemaking with rebels in Juba and elsewhere one of its main priorities as it is a key condition for the country's removal from the US sponsors of terrorism list.



Israel Carries Out Intense Airstrikes in Southern Lebanon, 1 Dead

Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon on June 27, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon on June 27, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
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Israel Carries Out Intense Airstrikes in Southern Lebanon, 1 Dead

Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon on June 27, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon on June 27, 2025. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP)

Israel’s air force carried out intense airstrikes on mountains overlooking a southern Lebanon city on Friday in an attack that the Israeli military said targeted Hezbollah underground assets.

The airstrikes came in two waves on the mountains overlooking Nabatiyeh and bunker buster bombs were used, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported. There was no immediate information about casualties.

Since the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war ended with a US-brokered ceasefire in November, Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes on southern Lebanon. Friday’s strikes were more intense than usual.

The Israeli military said in a statement that its fighter jets struck a site used by Hezbollah to manage its fire and defense array in the area and is part of a significant underground project that was completely taken out of use.

The Israeli army said it identified rehabilitation attempts by Hezbollah beforehand and struck infrastructure sites in the area.

There was no comment from Hezbollah.

An Israeli drone also targeted on Friday an apartment in a two-story building in Nabatiyeh.

Lebanon's health ministry said a woman was killed and 11 other people were wounded in the strike.

"The Israeli enemy strike on an apartment in Nabatiyeh led to a preliminary toll of one woman killed and 11 people wounded," the ministry said in a statement carried by the official National News Agency.