International News
President Zelenskyy Fires Air Force Chief In Wake of F-16 Crash
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President has relieved Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, of his post as the commander of Ukraine’s Air Force, following the recent crash of an F-16 warplane.
The crash, which occurred during a Russian bombardment, resulted in the death of the pilot.
The dismissal was officially announced on the presidential website.
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In his address shortly after the announcement, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of safeguarding military personnel and enhancing command structures within the Armed Forces.
Lt. Gen. Anatolii Kryvonozhko has been appointed as the acting air force commander.
The dismissal came on the heels of Oleshchuk’s public criticism of Mariana Bezuhla, a deputy head of Ukraine’s parliamentary defense committee.
Bezuhla had suggested, based on unnamed sources, that the F-16 might have been downed by a Patriot air-defense system, which Ukraine has received from the U.S.
Oleshchuk accused Bezuhla of defaming the Air Force and U.S. arms manufacturers and called for legal action against her. Bezuhla responded on social media, asserting that “the truth will win.”
The Ukrainian Air Force has yet to confirm whether the F-16 was indeed hit by a Patriot missile.
U.S. experts have joined the Ukrainian investigation into the recent F-16 crash, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
In a separate incident, a Russian attack on the northeastern city of Kharkiv using powerful plane-launched glide bombs resulted in the deaths of six people, including a 14-year-old girl on a playground, and injured 47 others, reported regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov.
The bombs hit five locations across the city, which had a pre-war population of 1.4 million.
One bomb struck a 12-story apartment building, causing a fire and trapping at least one person on an upper floor.
Emergency crews are working to rescue survivors amid concerns that the building might collapse.
In another development, Ukrainian rockets struck the Russian city of Belgorod and surrounding areas late Friday, killing five people and injuring 37, according to regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
Belgorod, which borders northern Ukraine, frequently experiences drone and artillery attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cited the recent strikes on Kharkiv as a reason for urging Western allies to lift restrictions on the targets Ukrainian forces can engage with donated weapons.
Zelenskyy argued that the attack could have been prevented if Ukrainian forces had the capability to strike Russian military bases. “We need decisive action from our partners to halt this terror,” Zelenskyy stated.
The F-16s, which could potentially be used to target Russian bases behind the front lines, are among the advanced weapons that could help address this issue.
Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, in a Telegram post shortly before his dismissal, stated that a thorough investigation into the F-16 crash was underway.
The crash, which occurred amid a significant Russian missile and drone assault on Ukraine, marked the first reported loss of an F-16 in the country.
Ukraine received the warplanes from European countries at the end of last month, with at least six believed to have been delivered.
Oleshchuk emphasized the need to fully understand the circumstances and responsibility behind the incident.
International News
JUST IN: 17 Feared Missing After Tourist Boat Sank In Egypt’s Red Sea
A diving excursion turned tragic on Monday when a tourist boat, Sea Story, sank in the Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt.
Officials confirmed that 17 people are still missing, while 28 others have been rescued.
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The boat was carrying 45 individuals, including 31 international tourists and 14 crew members, when it went down near the popular diving destination of Marsa Alam.
Rescue teams, including coast guard boats and helicopters, are continuing an intensive search for survivors.
Details shortly………….
International News
DHL Cargo Plane Crashes Near Vilnius Airport, Killing One Crew Member
A DHL cargo plane en route from Germany to Lithuania crashed early Monday near Vilnius Airport, leaving one crew member dead, according to local emergency services.
Renatas Pozela, head of the firefighting and emergency services unit, reported that the plane went down just a few kilometers from the airport.
“The plane was due to land at Vilnius Airport but tragically crashed. One person from the four-member crew has been confirmed dead,” Pozela said.
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The crash also caused a nearby house to catch fire under unclear circumstances.
Fortunately, all residents were safely evacuated, according to Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Centre.
Emergency teams promptly contained the fire, preventing further casualties.
DHL spokesperson Ausra Rutkauskien confirmed that the plane was part of the company’s fleet.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with aviation authorities and crisis management teams working to uncover what led to the accident.
More to follow………..
International News
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants For Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Others
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.
In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
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The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.
The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.