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 WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military spent more than $6 billion over the past three years to recruit and retain service members, in what has been a growing campaign to counter enlistment shortfalls. The financial incentives to reenlist in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines increased dramatically from 2022 through last year, with the Navy vastly outspending the others, according to funding totals provided by the services. The overall amount of recruiting bonuses also rose steadily, fueled by significant jumps in spending by the Army and Marine Corps. The military services have routinely poured money into recruiting and retention bonuses over the years. But the totals spiked as Pentagon leaders tried to reverse falling enlistment numbers, particularly as COVID-19 restrictions locked down public events, fairs and school visits that recruiters relied on to meet with young people. Coupled with an array of new programs, an increased number of recruiters and adjustments to enlistment ...

 Johannesburg, South Africa – When the millionaire mining magnate-turned-president of South Africa landed in Washington to meet the billionaire real estate tycoon-turned-president of the United States, it was with a deal in mind. Tensions have been escalating between the US and its African trade ally since Donald Trump took office this year, cut off aid to South Africa, repeated false accusations that a “white genocide” is taking place there and began welcoming Afrikaners as refugees. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 Why is Donald Trump fixated on South Africa? list 2 of 3 What’s South Africa’s land law at the heart of the Trump-Ramaphosa spat? list 3 of 3 ‘They’ll be back’: White Afrikaners leave South Africa to be refugees in US end of list At the meeting between Trump and Cyril Ramaphosa in the White House on Wednesday, the South African president began by focusing heavily on trade and investments, highlighting the two countries’ years of cooperation, in keeping...

 cluded a fifth round of talks, as mediator Oman said there was some limited progress in negotiations aimed at resolving a decades-long dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme. “The fifth round of Iran-US talks have concluded today in Rome with some, but not conclusive, progress,” said Omani mediator Badr al-Busaidi after Friday’s meeting at the Omani embassy in Rome’s Camilluccia neighbourhood. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 Iran says will hold US responsible for any Israeli attack on nuclear sites list 2 of 3 Guess who India, Pakistan and Iran are all wooing? The Taliban list 3 of 3 Israeli speculation mounts over potential rift between Trump and Netanyahu end of list “We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days,” he said after the high-level talks, which were led by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Araghchi told Iranian state television that the talks had been “one of the mos...

 US President Donald Trump reignited trade tensions on Friday, threatening a 50% tariff on all goods sent to the United States from the European Union. He also warned Apple that he would impose a 25% import tax "at least" on iPhones not manufactured in America, later widening the threat to any smartphone. The warning against the EU came just hours before the two sides were set to have trade talks. Trump last month announced a 20% tariff on most EU goods, but had halved it to 10% until 8 July to allow time for negotiations. In a statement after the talks, the EU said it remained committed to securing a deal, while warning again that it was prepared to retaliate. EU-US trade is unmatched & must be guided by mutual respect, not threats," European Union Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič wrote on social media. "We stand ready to defend our interests." In remarks to reporters at the White House on Friday afternoon, Trump expressed impatience with the pace of ne...

 New Delhi: India is well-positioned to deal with the negative effects of US tariffs and global trade disruptions as domestic growth drivers and low dependence on exports anchor the economy, Moody's Ratings said on Wednesday. In a note on India, the agency said government initiatives to boost private consumption, expand manufacturing capacity and increase infrastructure spending will help offset the weakening outlook for global demand. Easing inflation offers the potential for interest rate cuts to further support the economy, even as the banking sector's liquidity facilitates lending. "India is better positioned than many other emerging markets to deal with US tariffs and global trade disruptions, helped by robust internal growth drivers, a sizable domestic economy and a low dependence on goods trade," Moody's said. Besides, the Pakistan-India tensions, including the flare-up earlier in May, would weigh on Pakistan's growth more than on India's. "In...

Mohammad Suman Wed May 21, 2025 12:00 AM Last update on: Wed May 21, 2025 09:17 AM 44 Shares facebook sharing buttontwitter sharing buttonwhatsapp sharing buttonemail sharing buttonsharethis sharing but To appease US, NBR to offer zero-duty for 100 more goods NBR zero duty proposal for US trade The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is set to propose zero import duties on an additional 100 goods in the upcoming national budget, aiming to boost bilateral trade with the United States and cushion higher tariffs on Bangladeshi products entering the American market.  The move received policy-level approval from Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a meeting with National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials on Monday, where Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed was also present. Google News LinkFor all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. According to NBR sources, while tariff exemptions cannot legally be granted based on the country of origin, the curated list that w...

US President Donald Trump’s comments on ethnically cleansing Palestinians from Gaza and forcing them into Egypt and Jordan could lead to a radical reshaping of regional alliances, analysts tell Al Jazeera. Trump repeated his intentions after meeting with King Abdullah II on Tuesday. He had previously indicated that he would use US aid to both countries as leverage to try to force them to go along with his idea. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 How Trump took an Israeli idea and presented it as his own list 2 of 3 Arab League chief warns of regional instability over Trump’s Gaza plan list 3 of 3 ‘Palestinians cannot be transferred’ from Gaza, Jordanian FM says end of list Jordan’s King Abdullah II seemed to attempt to placate Trump by flattering him and making a pledge to accept 2,000 sick children from Gaza into Jordan. “I finally see somebody that can take us across the finish line to bring stability, peace and prosperity to all of us in the region,” the Hashemite monar...

 NHL logo Playoffs News Video Navigation Menu News Home 4 Nations Face-Off Live Blog: United States vs. Canada Sights, sounds, highlights from Bell Centre in Montreal US CAN live blog Tkachuk Cirelli © Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images By NHL.com @NHLdotcom February 16, 2025 MONTREAL -- Welcome to the 4 Nations Face-Off. The United States defeats Canada 3-1 in the second half of the Saturday doubleheader at Bell Centre after Finland defeated Sweden 4-3 in overtime this afternoon. NHL.com Editor-in-Chief Bill Price was high atop the arena to provide all the sights, sounds and highlights from the game. 10:58 p.m. ET It's all over here. The U.S. wins and clinches a spot in the final in Boston on Thursday. They way I see it, if either Canada or Finland wins in regulation Monday against each other, they get back to the final game. Oh boy. Thanks for reading and see you all in Boston. 10:56 p.m. ET The U.S. takes a 3-1 lead on an empty-net goal from NHL.com blogger Jake Guentzel. That'...

  For the first time since 2018 , there will be a new gold medalist of the IIHF World Championships. Canada and Finland have won two each in the past five tournaments, and Czechia is the reigning champion. None of these three reached the 2025 semifinals. Sweden is the latest winner to be in the final four, having won back-to-back in 2017 and 2018. It's also the only final four country to win an IIHF championship since the United States did so in 1960. Regardless of victor, this year is a historic tournament. The United States and Sweden will face off in the first semifinal, while Denmark and Switzerland will play in the other. The latter two teams have never won a world championship. The United States entered the elimination round as the second best team in Group B. It had 17 points, the fourth best overall record following the group stage. Sweden was in third behind Canada and Switzerland. The winner of Sweden vs. the United States will face off against either Switzerland, th...

 May 25 (Reuters) - Shareeduh McGee is fighting to keep the memory of her cousin George Floyd alive. Millions took to streets across the world to protest the police killing of Floyd, a Black Minneapolis man who gasped "I can't breathe," shortly before dying after an officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes in May 2020

  US President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" tax bill has passed the House of Representatives with 215 votes to 214 and it now heads to the Senate for approval or changes. The bill looks to extend soon-to-expire tax cuts passed during Trump's first administration, and provides an influx of money for defence spending and to fund the president's mass deportations. Here's a recap of the latest developments: The US president hailed the development, saying "there is no time to waste" before the Senate gets to work on the bill Speaker Mike Johnson described the bill as a "generational, nation-shaping legislation" Democrats fiercely opposed the bill and warned the cuts could have dire consequences for millions of lower-income Americans "Hospitals will close, nursing homes will shut down and communities will suffer," the Democrats said in a joint statement following the bill's passing The legislation comes with a massive price tag...

 In his first military commencement address of his second term, President Donald Trump congratulated West Point cadets on their academic and physical accomplishments. "In a few moments, you'll become graduates of the most elite and storied military academy in human history," Trump said at the ceremony at Michie Stadium. "And you will become officers of the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known," Trump added, while falsely claiming that he "rebuilt the military." In February, Trump fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, in a major shakeup of military leadership. Five other admirals and generals were also pushed out. In reference to the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, Trump said that the job of the US Armed Forces "is not to host drag shows, to transform foreign cultures." "The military's job is to dominate any foe and annihilate any threat to Ameri...

  US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday issued new regulations under which journalists will be required to have official escorts if they wish to access much of the Pentagon building. Under the new rules, accredited reporters will not be allowed into most of the Department of Defense headquarters without official approval and a government escort. Members of the Pentagon press corps are also soon to be issued with new credentials that, according to the order, will identify them more prominently as press representatives. "While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department is equally obligated to protect CSNI (classified intelligence) and sensitive information — the unauthorized disclosure of which could put the lives of US Service members in danger," Hegseth said in a memorandum. The new restrictions follow several leaks from the Department of Defense that caused considerable embarrassment to the administration. Under previous US administrations, the pr...