military service

World News

Germany close to reaching agreement on new military service law

In ten years, Germany wants to increase the number of service members in the Bundeswehr; the question of how to do this is another, with the SPD and CDU/CSU divided about the details.

12/11/2025

No Comment

Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox protest Israel’s military draft plans in Jerusalem

Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox men filled central Jerusalem on Thursday to protest government plans to draft them into the military.

30/10/2025

Croatia

Croatia reintroduces military service as tensions in Europe rise

Croatia's Defence Ministry said the aim is to teach young people basic skills and knowledge that are "needed in crisis situations, so they would contribute to national security."

24/10/2025

Europe News

Belgium to follow Dutch voluntary military service initiative

To increase reservists, 18-year-olds in Belgium will soon receive letters informing them about voluntary military service, following a recently announced initiative in the Netherlands.

08/04/2025

Europe News

Vladimir Putin calls up 160,000 Russians for military service

The decree says conscription applies to all citizens aged between 18 and 30 and covers the period from April to July.

31/03/2025

France

Macron calls for young volunteers to 'reinforce' French army

The French president said that while he does not want to reinstate mandatory military service, he wants to see more young people volunteering.

22/01/2025

Health news

1 in 10 of UK's Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering with PTSD

A new study sheds light on the wars' mental health consequences for UK military personnel as cases of PTSD, depression, and more rise.

09/09/2024

No Comment

WATCH: Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men block highway in Israel

Dozens of people blocked a main highway in central Israel after the Israeli military said Tuesday it will begin sending draft notices to Jewish ultra-Orthodox men.

17/07/2024

Europe News

Could Europe soon see the return of military conscription?

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine has forced a reassessment of the calculus that saw shrank Europe's militaries after the Cold War.

16/07/2024

No Comment

Young Ukrainians train for war in after-school club

This after-school club in Shepetivka, Western Ukraine, meets thrice weekly to prepare kids for life in a war-torn country.

20/06/2024

Niger

Macron: France will end military presence in Niger

Tensions between France and Niger, a former French colony, have mounted in recent weeks, with French diplomats surviving on military rations as they are holed up in the embassy.

24/09/2023

Russia

'I share your pain,' Putin tells mothers of fallen Russian soldiers

Critics say Putin should have met with "real mothers" of soldiers deployed in Ukraine, not women who were "hand picked" by the Kremlin for the event.

25/11/2022

Culture news

BTS members to serve in military and plan to regroup in 2025

BTS will enlist in the South Korean military for national service, according to their agency, putting an end to a years-long debate on whether the K-pop stars deserved exemptions from mandatory service.

18/10/2022

Culture news

Military leader wants K-pop band BTS to do military service

The group went on hiatus in June, prompting speculation South Korea's policy of compulsory military service was to blame.

10/10/2022

My Europe Series

European countries rethink military service amid Ukraine war

Britain had done away with military service in 1963; Belgium did so in 1992. But between 2004 and 2011, a vast swathe of Europe did away with national service. Only Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Cyprus, Greece, Austria and Switzerland have never abandoned conscription.

26/07/2022

Latvia

Latvia to reintroduce compulsory military service amid Ukraine war

"We have no reason to believe that Russia will change its behaviour," said Defence Minister Artis Pabriks.

06/07/2022