United Nations, June 16: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) convened its fifth interactive dialogue with a candidate for the position of next UN secretary-general.

During the dialogue on Monday, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former UNGA president and former foreign minister and defence minister of Ecuador, nominated by Antigua and Barbuda in May, presented her vision statement and answered questions from UN member states and civil society representatives regarding her leadership abilities, experience and skills, UN reform, and the three pillars of the United Nations — peace and security, human rights, and development, Xinhua news agency reported.

In her vision statement, Espinosa said she seeks the office of UN chief at a moment when the world does not need another restatement of multilateral ideals but needs results: a United Nations that prevents crisis earlier, responds more coherently, delivers more effectively, and restores confidence in the value of collective action.

She said her vision is organised around five interconnected pillars of transformation — peace and security, development, digital and energy transformation, closing the delivery gap, and rebuilding credibility.

“This is not an extensive comprehensive action plan, because comprehensive political and financial leadership must come from the Member States. Rather, it highlights areas where the Secretary-General can act most effectively within her remit to restore UN credibility and confidence by delivering results,” Espinosa said.

In late April, the UNGA conducted a two-day interactive dialogue with four candidates for the next UN chief: Michelle Bachelet, former Chilean president and former UN high commissioner for human rights, nominated by Brazil and Mexico; Rafael Grossi, current director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, nominated by Argentina; Macky Sall, former president of Senegal, nominated by Burundi; and Rebeca Grynspan, economist and former vice president of Costa Rica, nominated by Costa Rica.

The term of Antonio Guterres, the current and ninth secretary-general of the United Nations, will expire at the end of this year. The next UN secretary-general will take over the role on January 1, 2027.

Los Angeles, June 16: A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Mojave Desert, the base said.

The crash occurred on Monday at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time, the base wrote on X.

Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, and response operations remain ongoing.

In a separate post on X, the military base announced that the airfield was closed and all inbound aircraft were being diverted, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Today, Edwards Air Force Base experienced a terrible tragedy, and we lost eight great Americans,” Col James Hayes told reporters, describing them as a “mixed crew of military, government civilians and government contractors”.

All non-commercial visitor passes were suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations, the base said.

B-52 Stratofortress was carrying eight people and crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base, with no survivors reported, the base said.

The aircraft was on a routine test mission, the base said on X. The crash sent a huge plume of black smoke into the air that could be seen for miles.

“Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable,” the base said.

Officials are working to account for all personnel involved. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The B-52 is a long-range strategic bomber that has been participating in bombing raids on Iran during the latest US-Israeli war on the country.

Capable of flying at up to 50,000 feet (commercial airliners fly around 35,000 feet) the colossal bomber’s 70,000lb payload can include hundreds of conventional bombs and 32 nuclear cruise missiles.

Islamabad, June 15: Two police personnel killed and six others injured after a suicide attack targeted a police check post in the Wahwa area near the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border in Pakistan, local media reported on Monday.

The police check post also suffered extensive damage due to the suicide attack. An explosion took place on Sunday after unidentified assailants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the main gate of the checkpost, according to officials, Pakistan’s daily The Express Tribune reported.

District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Sadiq Baloch stated that two police personnel succumbed to their injuries while six other police personnel were seriously injured in the attack. All the injured personnel were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Officials said the check post structure was completely destroyed in the blast. After the attack, heavy contingents of police and security forces rushed to the site of the incident. The area was cordoned off and a search operation was launched to gather evidence from the spot. The blast also led to the collapse of roofs and walls of several houses in the nearby area. Furthermore, more than a dozen local residents were injured in the attack.

Speaking to reporters, Sadiq Baloch said that the suicide bomber was also killed in the blast and further investigations have been launched into the attack, The Express Tribune reported.

Earlier, two police personnel killed after armed assailants opened fire on them in separate incidents in Bannu district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province last week, local media reported quoting officials’ statement.

On June 12, a police constable was returning home after attending a gathering when he was attacked on Bannu-Miranshah Road. As per initial reports, unidentified armed assailants opened fire on him when he was returning home. He suffered critical injuries and died on the spot, Pakistan’s daily Dawn reported.

In a separate incident, police constable was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside his house. He was seriously injured and taken to a hospital, however, he succumbed to his injuries.

Earlier this month, the monthly security assessment released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) revealed that the security situation in Pakistan deteriorated in May, particularly due to an increase in militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The latest findings by PICSS showed an increase in militant attacks during May after a brief period of relative decline, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Dawn reported. The sharp rise in attacks, casualties, suicide bombings and kidnappings suggests that security challenges remain severe.

As many as 128 militant attacks occurred in May in comparison to 101 in April, showcasing a 27 per cent rise. As many as 71 people, 68 security personnel and six members of peace committees were killed, while 147 people, 35 security personnel and three peace committee members were injured in the violence in May.

Compared to April, civilian casualties rose from 37 to 71, showcasing a 92 per cent increase, while security personnel fatalities rose from 28 to 68, showcasing a 143 per cent increase. Pakistan witnessed six suicide attacks in May, causing the deaths of 34 security personnel and nine civilians, Dawn reported.

Balochistan was the most affected province of Pakistan in May as it recorded 71 militant attacks, in comparison to 34 in April, showcasing a 109 per cent rise. As many as 54 kidnappings occurred in Pakistan in May. Of them, 52 kidnappings took place in Balochistan alone.