Connect with us

International News

President Zelenskyy Fires Air Force Chief In Wake of F-16 Crash

Published

on

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.

Read Also: GTI Assures On NPFL’s Live Coverage

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.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

International News

‘Only Two Genders’ – Trump Vows To Tackle Transgender Lunacy

Published

on

President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to take sweeping actions against what he described as “transgender lunacy,” signaling a push to reverse policies protecting transgender individuals in schools, sports, and the military.

Speaking at the AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Trump outlined his administration’s priorities, stating, “I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military, and out of our elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.”

READ MORE: Ex-IMF Chief, Rodrigo Rato Jailed For Money Laundering, Fraud

He also vowed to “keep men out of women’s sports” and asserted, “It will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”

The president-elect’s remarks come amid growing national debate over transgender rights, with states divided over issues such as gender-affirming medical care and the inclusion of books addressing transgender topics in schools.

The controversy escalated last week when Congress passed a defense budget provision blocking funding for certain gender-affirming care for the children of service members.

Trump’s speech drew strong reactions, with critics warning that his policies could strip essential protections from transgender individuals.

Civil rights advocates have raised concerns about the implications of these proposals on marginalized communities.

In addition to his focus on cultural issues, Trump used the event to outline his vision for the nation under his leadership.

He described his presidency as a turning point, promising to address international conflicts and restore American dominance.

“On January 20, the United States will turn the page forever on four long, horrible years of failure, incompetence, national decline, and we will inaugurate a new era of peace, prosperity, and national greatness,” Trump declared, referring to his upcoming swearing-in.

He pledged to end the war in Ukraine, stabilize the Middle East, and avert global conflict. “I will stop the chaos in the Middle East, and I will prevent, I promise, World War III,” he said.

The president-elect also reiterated his commitment to reclaiming control of the Panama Canal and combating crime linked to illegal immigration.

“I can proudly proclaim that the golden age of America is upon us,” Trump concluded.

 

 

Continue Reading

International News

Ex-IMF Chief, Rodrigo Rato Jailed For Money Laundering, Fraud

Published

on

A Madrid court on Friday handed down a sentence of more than four years in prison to Rodrigo Rato, the former chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Spain’s ex-economy minister.

Rato was convicted of multiple charges, including tax crimes, money laundering, and corruption.

READ MORE: NCDMB Rewards Winners Of 2024 Edition National Undergraduate Essay Competition

The court found Rato guilty of “three offences against the treasury, one offence of money laundering, and one offence of corruption between individuals,” according to an official statement.

Details shortly………..

Continue Reading

International News

South Korean President Banned From Travel Amid Martial Law Backlash

Published

on

South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol has been banned from leaving the country, the Justice Ministry confirmed Monday, following a week of political chaos triggered by his brief declaration of martial law.

The ban marks the first time a sitting president has faced such a restriction in the nation’s history.

Recall that on December 3, Yoon ordered special forces and helicopters to the National Assembly in an attempt to impose martial law.

RELATED NEWS: Martial Law: South Korea Opposition Files Impeachment Motion Against President Yoon

Lawmakers swiftly overturned the decree, forcing Yoon to rescind the order. Although he survived an impeachment motion on Saturday, public anger has continued to mount, with large protests demanding his resignation.

Authorities are now investigating Yoon and his close allies for their roles in last week’s events, including allegations of insurrection.

Among those facing travel bans are former Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun, who is in custody, and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min.

General Park An-su, who led the martial law operation, and Defence Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung have also been barred from leaving the country.

General Park was questioned by investigators on Monday as the probe intensified.

Yoon’s impeachment failed after members of his ruling People Power Party (PPP) walked out of the National Assembly, denying the opposition the required two-thirds majority.

In exchange for their support, Yoon reportedly agreed to delegate his powers to the prime minister and the PPP chairman.

“This is an unlawful, unconstitutional act of a second insurrection and a second coup,” said Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the opposition Democratic Party.

Critics argue that Yoon’s decision to hand power to unelected officials violates the constitution.

“It seems to resemble an unconstitutional soft coup,” said Kim Hae-won, a constitutional law professor at Pusan National University.

“Their attitude of placing themselves above the constitution mirrors that of insurrectionist Yoon Suk Yeol,” added Park Chan-dae.

Despite Yoon’s apology for the “anxiety and inconvenience” caused by his martial law order, his approval rating has plummeted to 11%, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Opposition leaders have announced plans for a second impeachment vote on Saturday, with massive protests expected outside the National Assembly.

The PPP’s claim that Yoon can remain in office while delegating his powers to party officials has also been widely criticized.

“If there are issues with the president, the constitution lays out clear procedures, such as suspension or impeachment,” said Professor Kim Hae-won.

The ongoing crisis has raised concerns about South Korea’s leadership amid tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea.

The Defense Ministry confirmed Monday that Yoon remains the official commander in chief, despite questions about his authority.

“Legally, (control of military forces) currently lies with the commander in chief,” said Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-Kyou.

 

 

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.