Canadians say selecting the best fighter jet for the job matters more than jobs: Nanos

As the Canadian government reviews its commitment to purchase American-made Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, a new poll shows what Canadians think should be prioritized in procuring replacements to the aging CF-18s.

The CTV News and Nanos Research survey gauged Canadian’s views on what matters the most to them in terms of defence cooperation, in light of ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. and a pitch from Swedish manufacturer of the Gripen fighter jet, SAAB, to bring up to 10,000 manufacturing and research jobs to Canada if Ottawa adds the aircraft to its military fleet.

Share
by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"CAF - Canadian Armed Forces", "RCAF", Canada, Sweden, USA

Denmark posts its last letters as hallowed national mail ends

Four centuries ago, King Christian IV of Denmark issued a decree establishing one of Europe’s first modern postal services, following the examples of Poland and Portugal.

The routes, run by the guilds and the mayor of Copenhagen, stretched from Hamburg to Norway and were plied by the Amazon delivery drivers of their day, riders who were allowed a maximum of 45 minutes to cover each 10km stretch of the journey.

Share
by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, Denmark

Canada removes Syria from list of terror-sponsoring states … OK send the refugees home

The federal government has removed Syria from its list of states that sponsor terrorism, almost a year after the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Syria had been put on the list in 2012 while Assad was still in power. The country was in the midst of a conflict that began in March 2011, killing nearly half a million people and displacing half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million.

Syria’s new government — headed by former Islamist insurgent leader and now interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa — has been putting effort into reintegrating the country into the international fold.

They’re all terrorists.

Share
by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"Islamophobia", Canada, Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government, Syria

Trump administration will expand travel ban to more than 30 countries, Noem says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration will be expanding its ban on travel for citizens of certain countries to more than 30, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, in the latest restriction to come since a man from Afghanistan was accused of shooting two National Guard members.

The expansion would build on a travel ban already announced in June by the Republican administration, which barred travel to the U.S. for citizens from 12 countries and restricted access to the U.S. for people from seven others. In a social media post earlier this week, Noem had suggested more countries would be included.

Share
by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCamp Of The Saints, USA

Which European countries have mandatory or voluntary military service

Some of Europe’s biggest Nato members are moving to strengthen their professional armies through voluntary national service schemes.

Large conscripted armies were a feature of Nato states during the Cold War but they dwindled in size after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

However, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the ongoing war there have kindled fears of a possible future Russian attack on Nato.

Share
by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inEurope, Russia

Mayors urge Ontario to declare state of emergency to address homelessness, addiction

TORONTO – The mayors of Ontario’s 29 largest cities are calling on the province to declare a state of emergency as municipalities deal with what they call a “community safety and humanitarian crisis” created by homelessness, mental health and addiction.

Ontario Big City Mayors urged the province to provide more funding and engage more actively with cities and other stakeholders in a motion passed unanimously on Friday.

The mayors caucus says municipalities covered more than 50 per cent of the $4.1 billion spent on homelessness and housing programs in 2024.

Share
by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"Homelessness & Affordability Crisis"

Honor killing in US: Afghan man kills wife in Washington state femicide

An Afghan national has been charged with the first-degree murder of his wife after he allegedly committed an honor killing in Washington state over the belief she was having an affair, local media reported, citing the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Sayed Sadat, 37, of Auburn, called police to his home on the morning of November 23, where he was said to have confessed to killing 43-year-old Geety Sadat.

Share
by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"Islamophobia", Afghanistan, Honor Killings, Honor Violence, Islam, Islam and violence, USA

Liberals should get real with Canadians: Pharmacare, for now, is dead

Can you mourn something that never existed? Like the idea of a happy marriage when you knew all along you settled for the first person who accepted your advances? Or the daydream of a life of luxury and indulgence, which feels possible while you’re holding a lottery ticket, but vanishes as soon as the numbers are called? What about the notion of universal drug coverage for all Canadians, which has been under consideration for decades – an official recommendation as far back as the first report from the Royal Commission on Health Services, published in 1964 – and appeared, at least to some, as though it might become a reality under the Justin Trudeau administration?

Prime Minister Mark Carney hasn’t called time of death for pharmacare yet. But everyone can see it’s only being kept alive by machines, still referred to in the present tense because anything else would be too painful.

Share
by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada's Corrupt Liberal Government

US tells Europe it must take over ‘the majority’ of NATO’s defence capabilities by 2027 as Trump shifts American military focus

The United States wants Europe to take over the majority of NATO’s defense capabilities by 2027, Pentagon officials told diplomats in Washington this week.

The message, recounted by five sources familiar with the discussion, including a US official, was conveyed at a meeting in Washington this week of Pentagon staff overseeing NATO policy and several European delegations.

The shifting of this burden from the US to European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation would dramatically change how the United States, a founding member of the post-war alliance, works with its most important military partners.

Share
by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inNATO, USA