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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

Europe

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

Eritrea

Euroviews. Understanding why Eritreans flee to Europe ǀ View

Since 2003, the [Eritrea] government has forced final year secondary school students - boys and girls - into compulsory military training at the Sawa military camp. They are then channelled into indefinite national service, either in military or civilian roles.

09/08/2019

Germany

Germany debates the return of national service

Seven years after it was abolished, Germany is once again debating the topic of compulsory military service. The issue has been reignited by members of the conservative CDU Party ahead of October's election. They have suggested holding a referendum on the issue to see what voters think.

07/08/2018

France

On Macron's orders: France will bring back compulsory national service

The French government has introduced a plan to bring back national service for all 16-year-olds, nearly two decades after it was scrapped.

27/06/2018