Latest news with #NationalDefence
Canada Standard
10 hours ago
- Canada Standard
HMCS William Hall contributes to significant seizure of illegal narcotics on Operation CARIBBE
Canada News Centre 05 Jun 2025, 02:20 GMT+10 June 4, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces On May 29 and 31, while deployed in support of Operation CARIBBE, His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) William Hall and an embarked United States Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) successfully conducted seizures of more than 1300 kilograms of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea. During two separate maritime patrols, multi-role rescue boats were deployed from HMCS William Hall to intercept vessels of interest in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in the seizures. These successful interdictions underscore the enduring collaboration and interoperability between the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and USCG and support- international efforts to prevent the flow of illicit substances into Canada and North America. Canada's contribution to United States-led Enhanced Counternarcotics Operations under Joint Interagency Task Force South represents an important dimension of our relationship with our ally, the United States, and partners in the region. This collective effort enables us to achieve greater success in making the continent more secure from the threats posed by illicit trafficking and supports broader efforts to enhance regional and continental security.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
El Salvador convicts army officers for 1982 killing of 4 Dutch journalists
Three former officers in El Salvador's military have been convicted for the killings of four Dutch journalists during the Central American country's brutal civil war in 1982. Former Minister of National Defence Colonel Jose Guillermo Garcia, 91, former police Colonel Francisco Moran, 93, and ex-infantry brigade commander Colonel Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena, 85, were found guilty late on Tuesday by a jury in the northern city of Chalatenango, a lawyer said. The Diario El Salvador news outlet reported that the three former officers – none of whom was present in court – were sentenced to 15 years in prison each for the killings. The four Dutch journalists, Koos Koster, Jan Kuiper, Hans ter Laag and Joop Willemsen, were killed while filming a television documentary on El Salvador's civil war, which saw an estimated 75,000 civilians killed – mostly by United States-backed government security forces – between 1980 and 1992. The journalists had linked up with leftist rebels and planned to spend several days behind the front lines reporting on the war. But Salvadoran soldiers armed with assault rifles and machineguns ambushed them and the rebels. 'We have clearly shown the level of responsibility of the accused,' said Oscar Perez, a lawyer for the Foundation Comunicandonos, which represents the victims. 'The entire organised power structure that intervened in the political-military decisions that led to the murder of the journalists,' he said. A United Nations-sponsored Truth Commission in 1993 found that the journalists had walked into an ambush trap that was planned by Reyes, who still lives in the US, and with the knowledge of other officers. The Salvadoran Supreme Court approved an extradition request for Reyes in March, but there has been no progress in his return from the US so far. The ageing Garcia and Moran are under police surveillance in a private hospital in the capital, San Salvador. García was deported from the US in 2016, after a US judge declared him responsible for serious human rights violations during the early years of the war between the military and the leftist Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front fighters. The prosecution of the men was reopened in 2018 after the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a general amnesty passed following the end of the civil war. The case against the suspects moved slowly, but in March 2022, relatives of the victims and representatives of the Dutch government as well as the European Union demanded that those responsible for the journalists' killing face trial.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Huge £17.5MILLION boost for England's ‘saddest town' where high street is dubbed ‘death row'
ENGLAND'S "saddest town", where the high street has been dubbed 'death row', has been given a huge financial boost to improve it's town centre. Barrow-in-Furness was once a thriving port town, but fell into disrepair after jobs in the steel industry dried up, with most shops now boarded up. 5 5 5 The Office for National Statistics has classified it as one of England 's most deprived towns, and a YouTuber who explores the UK's roughest areas described it as " England 's saddest town." Police battle rampant drug gangs, and many buildings have been vandalised with graffiti and broken windows. Barrow resident James Riche previously told The Sun: 'Covid hit the town centre hard. "I call it death row because so many of the shops are shut and boarded up. We avoid it." However, the Cumbrian town's look is about to change. Barrow is home to the BAE Systems factory, which builds the UK's key military submarines - including the Trident nuclear programme. And because of its "importance to National Defence" has been granted a whopping £200 million from the government, which will be used to give the town a facelift over the next 10 years. This is on top of the £17.5 million of cash that was given to the town back in October 2021. The council said: 'Extra funding made available through Team Barrow means significantly more money is now available and this has the potential to deliver a more transformational regeneration of the town centre. 'The additional funding from Team Barrow would be on top of the money already committed by Government for the current town centre regeneration works. 'In recognition of the town's strategic importance to national defence and security, the Government has agreed to invest more than £200m in Barrow over the next 10 years. 'Team Barrow will use this money – and seek to secure additional private and public sector investment – to help transform the town, delivering improvements across health, education, transport, the economy and community.' Plans for the regeneration are currently being finalised, but could include a new and improved theatre and events space, better food and drink offerings and leisure and market facilities. Simon Case, chair of Team Barrow, said: 'We have bold and ambitious plans for Barrow and this includes transforming the town centre. 'While these are very early stages, with a significant amount of work now required to develop these plans, we are clear in our vision that this must deliver more than simply high street regeneration. 'The Government's investment in Barrow presents us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the challenges which face the town. "This means that in addition to delivering a town centre that has a strong retail, leisure and cultural offering, we will also prioritise improvements in housing, health and education.' Bae Systems is set to drastically expand its workforce, due to a surge in demand, meaning that the population in Barrow is set to swell from 60,000 to 90,000 over the next decade. Some of the newly employed workers and their families will be housed in a new 800 home waterfront development, called Marine Village. Case has likened the regeneration of Barrow to the town of Bourneville, which was built specifically to house Cadbury 's factory workers and their farmers. He said: "With the pressure that we've got on getting the Astute boats finished, then Dreadnought and then Aukus, we started to focus on this two years ago for almost Bournville-like reasons.' "The town is a strategic national asset, although it hasn't always been viewed that way. 'Pretty quickly, we realised we needed Team Barrow to create an environment that would deliver that happy, skilled workforce we need to support the defence nuclear enterprise. "Thanks to Mr Putin and Mr Xi, the business case makes itself!' 5 5
Canada Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Canada Standard
Statement from Minister McGuinty on Canadian Armed Forces Day
June 1, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, issued the following statement today in recognition of Canadian Armed Forces Day: "Today, we honour the brave members of the Canadian Armed Forces and thank them for their unwavering dedication to our country. Whether serving at home or abroad, they uphold peace, freedom, and democracy with professionalism, resilience, and a deep commitment to Canadian values. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces work tirelessly to protect Canada's sovereignty, support communities in times of crisis, and stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies to promote global peace and security. In a world of growing threats, we must secure Canadian sovereignty by strengthening our military. That's why we are making historic investments in our defence capabilities-modernizing equipment, embracing cutting-edge technology, and reinforcing security infrastructure in the North. These efforts ensure that our Forces are ready to meet today's challenges and those of tomorrow. Supporting our military means supporting its people. We are working to improve housing, childcare, health care, and career opportunities for CAF members and their families-because their well-being is a national priority. To all current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and to your families: thank you. Your service and sacrifices represent the very best of Canada. I am proud to stand with you and deeply grateful for all you do in service to our nation."
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
In the business of tanks but not trade? How Hegseth's message is landing in Asia Pacific
(From left) US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth with Australia's Deputy PM and Minister of Defence Richard Marles, Japan's Minister of Defence Gen Nakatani and Philippines' Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro Jr following their multilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 31. PHOTO: EPA-EFE SINGAPORE - It may have been the namesake of the fictional paradise in British author James Hilton's Lost Horizon, but the Shangri-La Dialogue was anything but. New Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth's debut address at the key annual security forum might have assured allies the Indo-Pacific remains its 'priority theatre,' pledging to prevent war and deter aggression so that 'shared interests align for peace and prosperity'. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
