NATO chief set to meet top security officials in Washington
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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Germany plans compulsory military screening for young men
Find out what's new on ST website and app. BERLIN - Germany plans to reintroduce compulsory screening for military service for 18-year-old men as part of plans to ramp up defence capabilities, a defence ministry source said on July 24. Conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made boosting Germany's threadbare military a key priority given the threat from Russia and US President Donald Trump's questioning of the traditional American security umbrella for Europe. The drive for now aims to attract volunteers to the armed forces, but includes provisions for compulsory service in case numbers fall short. As part of planned legislation due to be presented to cabinet next month, all young German men would have to fill out a questionnaire about their readiness and willingness to serve in the military. The questionnaire would be voluntary for young women. From 2028, all 18-year-old men would be required to undergo screening to determine their fitness for military service, whether they have shown an interest in joining the armed forces or not. The planned law would also provide for compulsory military service to be reintroduced if deemed necessary because of the security situation, and provided parliament gives its explicit approval. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business GIC posts 3.8% annualised return over 20 years despite economic uncertainties Business GIC's focus on long-term value aims to avoid permanent loss amid intensifying economic changes Opinion No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Singapore Singapore urges all parties in Thailand-Cambodia border dispute to exercise restraint World Trump, Fed chief Powell bicker during tense central bank visit Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Life Hulk Hogan, who helped turn pro wrestling into a billion-dollar spectacle, dies at 71 Conscription was officially suspended in Germany in 2011 under then chancellor Angela Merkel. Mr Merz has introduced sweeping plans to largely exempt defence spending from Germany's strict debt rules in a drive to build up 'the strongest conventional army in Europe'. But the Bundeswehr, currently 180,000-strong plus 49,000 reservists, has been struggling to recruit . This year the defence ministry expects 15,000 new recruits for military service, 5,000 more than last year. The eventual aim is to have a total military strength of 460,000 – made up of 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists. For the moment the government says it plans to rely on volunteers to build up the ranks, and hopes for 40,000 new recruits per year by 2031. It also wants to make military service more attractive, for example by offering training in new technologies and language courses. Germany's northern neighbour Sweden reintroduced a limited form of conscription in 2017, seven years after abandoning it. AFP
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
US lawmakers want probe of Palestinian American killed by Israeli settlers
The U.S. Capitol building is pictured at sunset on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo WASHINGTON - More than half of the Democrats in the U.S. Senate called on President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday to conduct an independent investigation into the death of Saif Musallet, an American citizen beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland led 28 other Democrats in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi seeking an investigation, adding to pressure from Washington for accountability in Musallet's death. The senators also noted what they called the repeated lack of accountability in the deaths of other Americans killed in the West Bank since January 2022, and asked for updates on the status of investigations into those killings. Musallet, 20, whose full first name is Sayafollah, was severely beaten this month when he was visiting family in Sinjil. His family, who are from Florida, said medics failed to reach him for hours and he died before reaching the hospital. Settler attacks on Palestinians and Palestinian attacks on Israelis in the West Bank have risen since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023, though violence has long simmered in the territory. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on July 15 he had asked Israel to "aggressively investigate" Musallet's death, describing it as a "criminal and terrorist act." The comments by Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Israeli settlement construction, marked a rare and pointed public intervention by the U.S. following the death of a Palestinian American in the Israeli-occupied territory. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Asia Singapore urges all parties in Thailand-Cambodia border dispute to exercise restraint Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Life Hulk Hogan, who helped turn pro wrestling into a billion-dollar spectacle, dies at 71 Singapore Avoid water activities around Tuas Second Link, Raffles Marina after chemical tank accident: NEA Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Singapore Mindef to set up new volunteer management unit to grow volunteer pool Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B
CNA
6 hours ago
- CNA
TikTok will go dark in US without Chinese approval of sale deal, US commerce secretary says
WASHINGTON: TikTok will have to cease operations in the United States if China does not approve a deal for the sale of the popular short video app, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Thursday (Jul 24). Speaking on CNBC, Lutnick said the US must control the algorithm that powers the platform, which is used by an estimated 170 million Americans. Last month, President Donald Trump extended the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok's China-based parent company, to divest the app's US assets by 90 days to September 17. The extension came despite a 2024 law requiring a sale or shutdown by January 19 this year unless significant progress was made. 'China can have a little piece or ByteDance, the current owner, can keep a little piece. But basically, Americans will have control. Americans will own the technology, and Americans will control the algorithm,' Lutnick said. 'TIKTOK WILL GO DARK' IF NO DEAL 'If that deal gets approved, by the Chinese, then that deal will happen,' Lutnick added. 'If they don't approve it, then TikTok is going to go dark, and those decisions are coming very soon.' TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A deal had been under discussion earlier this year to spin off TikTok's US operations into a new American-based company, majority-owned and operated by US investors. That effort stalled after Beijing signalled it would not approve the transaction, following Trump's imposition of new tariffs on Chinese goods. LEGAL UNCERTAINTY PERSISTS Although a law mandating TikTok's sale or shutdown technically went into effect in January, Trump has since issued three enforcement delays. Attorney General Pam Bondi recently sent letters to Apple, Google and other firms hosting or servicing TikTok, stating that the Justice Department would not pursue legal claims against them for any violations, citing Trump's authority over national security and foreign policy.
