Latest news with #militaryleadership
The Sun
15 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
High-flying husband and wife are BOTH in race to be the next chief of the Royal Air Force
A HIGH-FLYING husband and wife are in the race to be the next chief of the Royal Air Force, 'we can reveal. Air Marshal Al Marshall and Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall are the most senior serving couple in UK Armed Forces ' history. 2 Both are tipped as potential successors to Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, who has been promoted to Chief of Defence Staff to lead all three Armed Forces this autumn. Al, who joined up in 1991, is Air and Space Commander responsible for all air operations in the UK and overseas. He flew Harrier jump jets in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia. Former Tornado navigator Suraya, who joined up in 1993, is Assistant Chief of the Air Staff. She was the first female weapons instructor and first woman to command one of the RAF's two operational groups. She led No 2 Group, which included all RAF cargo squadrons, in 2021 — the same time Al led No 1 Group, with all the combat aircraft. A source said: 'Talk about a power couple. 'Between them they've commanded every plane in the Air Force. 'Al is one rank senior so it would be more of a jump for Suraya but the leap's been made before.' RAF insiders said the couple, who have two children, are up against Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff Air Marshal Harv Smyth, who is favourite to replace Sir Rich.
Russia Today
18-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Russia publishes memoirs by Indonesian president
The memoirs of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have been published for the first time in Russian translation in advance of his visit to St. Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The book's release has been timed to coincide with the Russia-Indonesia summit this week during which a declaration on strategic partnership and several bilateral agreements are expected to be signed. The two-volume book, titled 'On the Art of Military Leadership', was written during Prabowo's tenure as Indonesia's defense minister. The work combines personal reflections on military life, leadership, and national identity. According to the Russian editors, the book offers readers insight into the mindset of a key figure from 'the world's largest Muslim-majority nation,' and illustrates Indonesia's growing global role. In the first volume, Prabowo recounts his encounters with various military figures throughout his career, emphasizing traits he considers essential for leadership. The second volume explores the character and values of notable leaders across history. Throughout the memoirs, Prabowo repeatedly refers to Indonesia's struggle for independence and his own family's role in it. The Russian publishers expressed hope that the memoirs will be of interest not only to scholars of Southeast Asia, but to a broader readership interested in historical leadership and Indonesian society. The publication has also been framed as a gesture of cultural diplomacy to support the summit, which marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between Russia and Indonesia. The summit, which is organized by Roscongress, will take place on Thursday and Friday within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which officially kicked off on Wednesday. It will focus on strengthening political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties between the two countries. According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, the upcoming meeting between Putin and Prabowo is expected to conclude with a short signing ceremony and a joint statement to the media. A declaration on strategic partnership is also planned, along with at least four agreements covering shipbuilding, transportation, science and education, ICT, and media cooperation.
Fox News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Top advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader killed in Israeli strikes, state media says
Ali Shamkhani, Iran's former Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday, according to Iranian state media reports. Shamkhani was one of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's top senior advisors and was reportedly taken out in his home in Tehran by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike. The death of Shamkhani marks another significant blow by the Israelis in dismantling Tehran's military leadership. Shamkhani served as one of Iran's top military officials for decades, beginning as the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Ground Forces. The IRGC is one of the country's most powerful centers. It was created after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and has evolved from a paramilitary, domestic security force into a transnational force that has come to the aid of Tehran's allies in the Middle East, from Syria and Lebanon to Iraq, per the Times of Israel. Lisa Daftari, Iran expert and Foreign Desk Editor-in-Chief, told Fox News Digital the elimination of Shamkhani "signifies a strategic escalation aimed at destabilizing Iran's regime at its core." "This precise strike highlights a dual objective—not only targeting its nuclear ambitions but signaling an unequivocal threat to the power structure itself. Shamkhani's close ties to Khamenei amplify the gravity of the message, casting uncertainty and fear among the political elite," said Daftari. She added, "The calculated nature of this move underscores an effort to fracture the regime from within, leaving no figure immune from vulnerability. This marks a chilling precedent for Iran's leadership." Supreme Leader Khamenei entrusted Shamkhani and appointed him as commander of the Artesh Navy in 1989, where he helped rebuild Iran's naval capabilities post-Iran-Iraq War, according to the group United Against Nuclear Iran. The Artesh Navy was left disorganized and with minimal levels of equipment following the war. Most notably, the U.S. Navy made a large mark, taking out nearly half of Iran's Navy during Operation Praying Mantis in 1988, according to the Strauss Center. Iran focused on naval procurement, building up its force with patrol boats, anti-ship missiles, and fast attack craft warships. Shamkhani sought out self-sufficiency in Iran's military. Shamkhani's rhetoric at the time echoed the Islamic Republic's traditional messaging over the Persian Gulf, rejecting the presence of foreign warships and declaring "the capability to install missile sites" from the north to the south of the Gulf, according to a United Against Nuclear Iran profile of him. He held the post of minister of defense from August 1997 until August 2005 and led Iran's Supreme National Security Council from 2013 to 2023. In a rare interview, Shamkhani commented on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) following the Trump administration's withdrawal. When asked if he was one of the people in Iran who felt that signing the pact was a mistake, Shamkhani said, "Yes. … I'm just following the viewpoints of my nation, the people of Iran." Shamkhani's influence reportedly increased following the death of Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Following Iran's retaliation for Soleimani's death, the U.S. sanctioned Shamkhani. "The United States is targeting senior Iranian officials for their involvement and complicity in [the] ballistic missile strikes," said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin at the time.
Washington Post
05-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Trump taps senior Air Force commander for European Command
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is tapping an Air Force fighter pilot with extensive experience as a senior commander in the Middle East to be the next head of U.S. European Command. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, currently the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would also take over as the supreme allied commander, Europe, if his nomination is confirmed by the Senate. NATO's North Atlantic Council in a statement Thursday said it approved Grynkewich's nomination as SACEUR.
Emirates 24/7
29-05-2025
- General
- Emirates 24/7
Hamdan bin Mohammed attends graduation ceremony of 34th Joint Command and Staff Course
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, today attended the graduation ceremony of the 34th Joint Command and Staff Course, held under his patronage at the Joint Command and Staff College in Abu Dhabi. The graduation ceremony was also attended by Staff Lieutenant General Issa bin Ablan Saif Al Mazrouei, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces; Lieutenant General Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Defence; along with senior officials of the Armed Forces and and military attachés from participating countries. Staff Brigadier General Saeed Salmeen Al Alawi, Commandant of the Joint Command and Staff College, welcomed attendees and congratulated the graduates, highlighting their readiness for future leadership roles. He also emphasised the College's vital role in developing military leaders equipped to navigate evolving regional and global challenges. At the conclusion of the ceremony, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed honoured outstanding officers, wishing them success in their military careers. He also presented awards and certificates to the graduates, and group photos were taken with His Highness. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates and the honouring of top achievers. His Highness congratulated the top graduates and wished them continued success. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan also took commemorative photos with the graduates and college leadership, expressing his appreciation for the Joint Command and Staff College and pride in the achievements of the graduates. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
