Latest news with #RoyalCanadianAirForce
Korea Herald
an hour ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
S. Korea pitches submarines, howitzers, trainer jets at Canadian defense exhibition
A senior arms agency official visited a Canadian defense exhibition last week for talks on possible exports of South Korean submarines, trainer jets and self-propelled howitzers, the state arms procurement agency said Monday. During his three-day visit to Ottawa from Tuesday, Kang Hwan-seug, vice minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, met Judith Bennett, Canada's associate assistant deputy defense minister of materiel, on the sidelines of the CANSEC defense exhibition to brief her on the advantages of South Korea's submarines. Canada is seeking to acquire new conventionally powered submarines to replace its aging vessels, with South Korean shipbuilders competing for the project reportedly worth around $20 billion. Kang also met other officials at the event and pitched the K-9 self-propelled howitzer for the Canadian Army's modernization plan and the T-50 trainer jet for the Royal Canadian Air Force's pilot training program, according to DAPA. (Yonhap)
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I tried little-known workout loved by King Charles - it's perfect'
Does King Charles and Helen Mirren's favourite exercise plan still stand the test of time 64 years after it was invented? We put it to the test - with surprising results Dame Helen Mirren has been urging older adults not to fear ageing and to make 'little changes now to help them in later life', and if anyone can inspire people of all ages to get moving it's the actress, who turns 80 in July. Dame Helen - who was famously snapped in a red bikini at the age of 63, looking far younger than her six decades - is personally a 'big believer' in the Royal Canadian Air Force's XBX plan which she's followed 'off and on' for most of her life and takes just 12 minutes a day to do. The actress, who turns 80 in July, told Vogue, 'It is an exercise regime that starts from very low and easy, then if you follow it through, it can become quite difficult. I've never gotten past the second level, but it's a nice little exercise programme. Nothing extreme, but you need to do it every day.' She's in good company as the King, too, has confessed to following a similar workout - though he favours the '5BX' version for men, also from the Royal Canadian Air Force, which consists of five basic exercises 'to develop and hold a high level of physical fitness'. They were both developed in the 1950s and published in 1961. At 45, I'm not yet in Mirren's age bracket, but I am at the age when exercise, in particular strength training, becomes essential to build and maintain muscle tone. I avoid anything too energetic, preferring to do yoga, walk the dog and go for the odd swim and game of tennis. By comparison, XBX looks easy, but if Dame Helen is anything to go by, it gets results. And while the pamphlet is old fashioned to say the least, it is also reassuring and unthreatening. I've had enough of online fitness gurus who want me to design my whole life around their approach to exercise. If this is good enough for an ageless beauty like Dame Helen and a famously hard-working and energetic monarch, then it's good enough for me. How to do the exercises The instruction booklet gives strict instructions on which one of four exercise charts to follow depending on your age (they get progressively harder as you climb up the levels) along with how many repetitions to aim for. You stick at each stage for a number of days, so it would take several months to get to the end. I decide to start at level five - a few rungs up from the suggested level one - reasoning with myself that I am not coming at it from a standing start. It's strange to have a paper chart to refer to and fill in when so much is done online, but it's also comforting to have a hard copy of my efforts from day to day. Once you have worked out the basics, it's easy to use. However it does feel dated in terms of what people over the age of 40 might aim for. At 79, Helen Mirren is officially too old for the XBX plan's age range, as it suggests those aged 50-55 could reach level 11, but should not go higher. To my delight, day one begins with 30 seconds each of four warm-up exercises: touching my toes then reaching my arms above my head; raising my knees one by one and clasping each shin to pull the knee into my body; side stretches; and circling my arms in each direction. Each time you move up a level, you complete more repetitions within the time. I jump ahead on my first attempt and do more than the plan prescribes, bounding through the exercises. These are: half sit-ups, chest and leg raising, side leg lifts, push ups, and leg lifts, finished off by a bout of running and hopping on the spot. This brings the added benefit of waking up the rest of the house. Though the exercises themselves are simple, you do need to keep referring to the chart to check the numbers, but a bit of a mental workout is no bad thing. Why it works? Why is XBX so popular? Rachael Rachael Sacerdoti, a fitness trainer and founder of the It's So Simple program (@itssosimple_rs) who transformed her own physique after having children, explains: 'While it may not be as widely known as modern fitness programmes, it has quietly endured as a practical approach to daily movement thanks to its simple yet effective series of exercises that do not need equipment.' This hits the nail on the head. Many of us need to make cutbacks - but cutting back on physical exercise is surely a poor investment in the long term. One of the key reasons to exercise is to stay strong and flexible until we reach Helen Mirren and our 76-year-old monarch's age, and beyond. Last year, experts praised King Charles 's simple exercise regime as a suitable approach during and after cancer treatment, though individuals should ask their own doctors for advice. Rachael says that the plan's progressive nature means people can advance at their own pace. However, she points out, it aims for regularity over racing ahead. 'What makes it particularly appealing for someone in Dame Helen's age bracket is that it prioritises consistency and gentle progression over intensity, which is exactly the approach that supports longevity in fitness. The emphasis on posture and core stability in many of the exercises is especially beneficial as we age.' What are the downsides? 'It lacks significant strength training components, as it focuses on mobility and basic conditioning rather than building muscle or high-intensity training,' warns Rachael. 'The exercises are also quite repetitive, which may become monotonous for some people who enjoy variety in their workouts.' I quite enjoy the repetition. However, is doing XBX every day enough? 'It's a brilliant starting point for someone just beginning their fitness journey or returning after a long break, as it creates a sustainable daily habit of movement, which is often the biggest hurdle,' Rachael explains. 'However, for maximum health benefits, I would recommend gradually supplementing it with some dedicated strength work and perhaps some cardio training that will elevate the heart rate more significantly. The body thrives on variety and progressive challenges.' Rachael recommends mixing up XBX with resistance or strength work and some cardio alongside flexibility work such as yoga or stretching. My verdict Will I carry on? After two weeks, I miss my yoga mornings and decide to mix it up with these, but I've found that XBX is perfect for the mornings when I feel too time-pressed to even do a short yoga video. I have been singing its praises to anyone who uses my usual excuse of being too busy to exercise, and if you experience any muscle stiffness or general aches and pains, this is an easy way to ease yourself back into physical activity. That said, I can't promise you'll achieve quite the same results as Helen Mirren.
Global News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Global News
Pair of Lethbridge Collegiate Institute grads discover unique connection from Second World War
What began as a fun graduation night between two close friends at the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute has grown into a story with unexpected historical depth. The students, both in their final year in 2025, chose to attend prom together to mark the end of high school — never imagining their families had crossed paths long before they were born. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In the days following the event, their families discovered a striking coincidence. A newspaper clipping from the Second World War revealed that both of their great-grandfathers had flown together aboard the same aircraft during active service. The men, Mel Sherwood (Drew Sherwood's great uncle) and Grant Spackman (Anna Johnson's great grandfather), were crewmates in the Royal Canadian Air Force and recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded by King George VI. Though the students had no idea about their shared lineage, the revelation created a moment of reflection across both families. A wartime bond had quietly resurfaced in the form of a modern-day friendship, bridging generations in an unexpected and meaningful way. Story continues below advertisement Learn more about the story by watching the video at the top of this article.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Family visit to WW2 crash site 'overwhelming'
A woman has described visiting the site where her uncle died in a plane crash during World War Two as "overwhelming". Carolyn Runstedler, 80, travelled more than 3,000 miles (4,828 km) from North Bay, Ontario, Canada, to attend a memorial service at South Kyme in Lincolnshire. Her uncle, Flying Officer Lyle Whitham, from North Bay, was one of eight crew members who perished when Halifax bomber LK954 NA/E crashed on what is now a golf course on 3 November 1943, as a result of enemy action. Ms Runstedler said the visit had been very emotional. The aircraft had been returning to RAF Middleton St George, in County Durham, following a bombing raid over Germany when it came down. Ms Runstedler said: "It makes it real – you can see where it happened. "It makes you feel more connected." Ms Runstedler said her uncle grew up in North Bay, was one of six children and was the first in the family to enlist. He was just 23 when he died and is buried in Cambridge. She said seeing personnel from the RAF, Canadian Airforce and Canadian Navy at the memorial service reminded her of how young her uncle was when he joined up. "As soon as I saw those young men in their uniforms that made me tear up right away," she added. Talking about the importance of remembering those who died, Ms Runstedler said: "A lot of young people gave their lives in that war, and a lot of people at home waited for telegrams, or news of their relatives. "It impacted millions of people." The memorial also bears the names of the other crew members: Flying Officer Robert George Eaton, Flying Officer Allen Keith Hodgkinson, Flying Officer Bruce Alan Elmore, Sgt Allan Desmond Weigh, Sgt Albert Edward Moss, Pilot Officer Alan Edward MacKenzie and Sgt Harry Bernard Shimwell. It also features the sonnet High Flight, by Royal Canadian Air Force pilot John Gillespie Magee Jr. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Family's journey to honour WW2 airman at crash site Plaque for Spitfire crash pilot unveiled Halifax bomber memorial would mark fatal crash Nine killed in WW2 bomber crash remembered Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Family visit to WW2 crash site 'overwhelming'
A woman has described visiting the site where her uncle died in a plane crash during World War Two as "overwhelming". Carolyn Runstedler, 80, travelled more than 3,000 miles (4,828 km) from North Bay, Ontario, Canada, to attend a memorial service at South Kyme in Lincolnshire. Her uncle, Flying Officer Lyle Whitham, from North Bay, was one of eight crew members who perished when Halifax bomber LK954 NA/E crashed on what is now a golf course on 3 November 1943, as a result of enemy action. Ms Runstedler said the visit had been very emotional. The aircraft had been returning to RAF Middleton St George, in County Durham, following a bombing raid over Germany when it came down. Ms Runstedler said: "It makes it real – you can see where it happened. "It makes you feel more connected." Ms Runstedler said her uncle grew up in North Bay, was one of six children and was the first in the family to enlist. He was just 23 when he died and is buried in Cambridge. She said seeing personnel from the RAF, Canadian Airforce and Canadian Navy at the memorial service reminded her of how young her uncle was when he joined up. "As soon as I saw those young men in their uniforms that made me tear up right away," she added. Talking about the importance of remembering those who died, Ms Runstedler said: "A lot of young people gave their lives in that war, and a lot of people at home waited for telegrams, or news of their relatives. "It impacted millions of people." The memorial also bears the names of the other crew members: Flying Officer Robert George Eaton, Flying Officer Allen Keith Hodgkinson, Flying Officer Bruce Alan Elmore, Sgt Allan Desmond Weigh, Sgt Albert Edward Moss, Pilot Officer Alan Edward MacKenzie and Sgt Harry Bernard Shimwell. It also features the sonnet High Flight, by Royal Canadian Air Force pilot John Gillespie Magee Jr. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Family's journey to honour WW2 airman at crash site Plaque for Spitfire crash pilot unveiled Halifax bomber memorial would mark fatal crash Nine killed in WW2 bomber crash remembered Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force
