Which European countries have mandatory or voluntary military service

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Patrick Jacksonand Emma Brancatisano Reuters Recruits on live-fire exercises in Ahlen, Germany, last month 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 … Ler mais

Germany votes to bring back voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

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Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to introduce voluntary military service, in a move aimed at boosting national defences after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It marks a significant shift in Germany’s approach to its military and follows Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s push to create Europe’s strongest conventional army. The change means that all 18-year-olds in … Ler mais

Putin says Russia will take Donbas by force or Ukraine’s troops will withdraw

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President Vladimir Putin has warned again that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war in Ukraine. “Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories,” he told India Today. Moscow controls some 85% of … Ler mais

Somali-Americans respond to Trump’s ‘garbage’ remarks

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Aj Awer Aj Awer, of the Cedar-Riverside Community Council, says Trump’s comments were “dangerous” Somali-Americans in Minnesota have described their heightened fear after US President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of the community this week. Community leaders told the BBC the “apprehension is palpable” following Trump’s remarks, in which he said he did not want … Ler mais

Tanzanian activist blocked from Instagram after mobilising election protests

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Alfred Lasteck,BBC Africa, Dar es Salaamand Basillioh Rukanga Mange Kimambi/Instagram Prominent Tanzanian activist Mange Kimambi has accused the government of instigating the removal of her social media accounts that she has been using to mobilise Tanzanians against the government. The former fashion model-turned-activist, who is based in the US, is an outspoken critic of President … Ler mais

Why Putin and Modi are meeting in Delhi

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Steve Rosenberg,Russia editor, in Delhiand Vikas Pandey,India editor AFP via Getty Images Russia’s Vladimir Putin was embraced warmly on the runway by India’s Narendra Modi Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived for a two-day visit to India, where he was embraced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of an annual summit held by both countries. … Ler mais

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