A hotel filled with the work of British graffitist Banksy has been unveiled in Bethlehem.
The artist's nine-room guesthouse, called The Walled Off Hotel, will open on 11 March - with rooms available from just £25 per night.
Staffed by locals, the colonial-themed hotel also offers a presidential suite and a museum filled with Banksy's politically charged work.
Meanwhile, in room number three, called Banksy's Room, guests can sleep under a Banksy piece showing a Palestinian and an Israeli having a pillow fight.
The Guardian reports that the hotel, which boasts "the worst view in the world" according to its elusive creator, will host Palestinian exhibitions to encourage dialogue.
Israelis are restricted from visiting Bethlehem but the hotel is located in an area they can enter, overlooking the West Bank separation barrier built by Israel.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Lithuanians stock up for 'hybrid' war with Russia
As far as most Lithuanians are concerned the iron curtain is made from pine - their border with the Russian state of Kaliningrad is lined with pine and birch trees as well as a series of concrete posts marking out the frontier.
There are also watchtowers poking out of woods, but the whole area feels unexpectedly and curiously open.
A small band of Lithuanian border guards are deployed on this waterlogged and rather inhospitable patch.
"There are about 50 of us," said a young guard called Tadas Zalauskas, as he wrestled with the steering wheel of his 4x4 truck. "But we need more. Eighty or more - that would be good."
"Do you communicate with the Russians on the other side?" I asked.
"No, they are hiding," he said, gesturing towards the trees.
It was not that long ago that the two groups were citizens of the same country - comrades-in-arms in the Soviet Union.
But that period of time produced memories few Lithuanians cherish and their declaration of independence in 1990 helped ensure the Soviet Union's collapse. This small country of three million has now re-orientated itself westward.
It is a member of both the EU and NATO and as a sign of this commitment it will begin work on two-metre-high fence this summer to further delineate the border.
It's not just a fence, however - the guards told me they will be constructing a "security zone" with cameras and heat sensors designed to stop smugglers, traffickers and other types of unauthorised entry.
Tadas Gecas, a senior officer in the border guard service, said: "I think people will feel more secure now."
However, the country's frontier with Kaliningrad - and its border with Russian ally Belarus - are just too close for comfort for a lot of people here.
In fact, Lithuanians are so unnerved by the current political climate that many are currently mobilising for war - and it is not an exclusively government-directed, top-down affair.
Instead, people like Augustinas and Kristijonas Vizbaras have volunteered for a militia called the Riflemen's Union, which boasts some 10,000 men and women from across the country.
"We are highly skilled, highly motivated, we take this very seriously," said Kristijona Vizbaras.
"We are growing dramatically in numbers. Three years ago we had 50 people in Vilnius - now we have 3,000."
The two brothers, who have built a successful electronics manufacturing business in the suburbs of Lithuania's capital, took me up to the boardroom to show me their personal arsenal.
It consisted of Heckler and Koch machine guns, survival gear and a sharp shooter with a 600 metre range - all of which were purchased with their own money.
"We have been part of the EU for eight years and people enjoy their freedom," said Augustinas.
"The standard of living is growing - and these aren't just words to us. We see what is happening in Russia - it has become a psychotic regime, unpredictable, and yes, everyone is worried."
The Russians have characterised such comments as hysteria, but the brothers reject that notion.
"We are training to defend, so if they don't attack, they have nothing to worry about," said Kristijonas.
That comment could have come from a NATO general with the alliance now shoring up what is known as "Europe's eastern flank".
Some 4,000 troops are being shipped out to the region - with 1,000 German soldiers allocated to Lithuania.
It seems that hostilities may already have begun - although not in the conventional sense.
Sky News obtained an anonymous email sent to the speaker of the Lithuanian parliament and head of police, claiming that German soldiers had raped a 15-year-old orphan. Authorities say the email was a fake.
According to captain Aurimas Kleveckas, from the ministry of defence's strategic communications unit (STRATCOM), it is a perfect example of the threat they face - a "hybrid" attack designed to destabilise.
He said: "We believe that this is the first attempt to use German soldiers against the Lithuanian population. In the future they may use video to record a similar (fake) allegation."
Captain Kleveckas said there was a "high probability" Russians were responsible for the faked email, although Lithuanian police have not been able to locate who wrote it.
Nonetheless, it should serve as a warning to the British, with 800 troops due to deploy to Estonia as part of this NATO mission.
"Their mindset should change from Afghanistan and Iraq," captain Kleveckas said. "(It) should change to hybrid warfare because they are trapped in this right now."
The Lithuanians have already been offering some pointers to a new British army unit, 77th Brigade, on the information warfare they will likely face.
It is a threat this small Baltic nation takes very seriously indeed.
There are also watchtowers poking out of woods, but the whole area feels unexpectedly and curiously open.
A small band of Lithuanian border guards are deployed on this waterlogged and rather inhospitable patch.
"There are about 50 of us," said a young guard called Tadas Zalauskas, as he wrestled with the steering wheel of his 4x4 truck. "But we need more. Eighty or more - that would be good."
"Do you communicate with the Russians on the other side?" I asked.
"No, they are hiding," he said, gesturing towards the trees.
It was not that long ago that the two groups were citizens of the same country - comrades-in-arms in the Soviet Union.
But that period of time produced memories few Lithuanians cherish and their declaration of independence in 1990 helped ensure the Soviet Union's collapse. This small country of three million has now re-orientated itself westward.
It is a member of both the EU and NATO and as a sign of this commitment it will begin work on two-metre-high fence this summer to further delineate the border.
It's not just a fence, however - the guards told me they will be constructing a "security zone" with cameras and heat sensors designed to stop smugglers, traffickers and other types of unauthorised entry.
Tadas Gecas, a senior officer in the border guard service, said: "I think people will feel more secure now."
However, the country's frontier with Kaliningrad - and its border with Russian ally Belarus - are just too close for comfort for a lot of people here.
In fact, Lithuanians are so unnerved by the current political climate that many are currently mobilising for war - and it is not an exclusively government-directed, top-down affair.
Instead, people like Augustinas and Kristijonas Vizbaras have volunteered for a militia called the Riflemen's Union, which boasts some 10,000 men and women from across the country.
"We are highly skilled, highly motivated, we take this very seriously," said Kristijona Vizbaras.
"We are growing dramatically in numbers. Three years ago we had 50 people in Vilnius - now we have 3,000."
The two brothers, who have built a successful electronics manufacturing business in the suburbs of Lithuania's capital, took me up to the boardroom to show me their personal arsenal.
It consisted of Heckler and Koch machine guns, survival gear and a sharp shooter with a 600 metre range - all of which were purchased with their own money.
"We have been part of the EU for eight years and people enjoy their freedom," said Augustinas.
"The standard of living is growing - and these aren't just words to us. We see what is happening in Russia - it has become a psychotic regime, unpredictable, and yes, everyone is worried."
The Russians have characterised such comments as hysteria, but the brothers reject that notion.
"We are training to defend, so if they don't attack, they have nothing to worry about," said Kristijonas.
That comment could have come from a NATO general with the alliance now shoring up what is known as "Europe's eastern flank".
Some 4,000 troops are being shipped out to the region - with 1,000 German soldiers allocated to Lithuania.
It seems that hostilities may already have begun - although not in the conventional sense.
Sky News obtained an anonymous email sent to the speaker of the Lithuanian parliament and head of police, claiming that German soldiers had raped a 15-year-old orphan. Authorities say the email was a fake.
According to captain Aurimas Kleveckas, from the ministry of defence's strategic communications unit (STRATCOM), it is a perfect example of the threat they face - a "hybrid" attack designed to destabilise.
He said: "We believe that this is the first attempt to use German soldiers against the Lithuanian population. In the future they may use video to record a similar (fake) allegation."
Captain Kleveckas said there was a "high probability" Russians were responsible for the faked email, although Lithuanian police have not been able to locate who wrote it.
Nonetheless, it should serve as a warning to the British, with 800 troops due to deploy to Estonia as part of this NATO mission.
"Their mindset should change from Afghanistan and Iraq," captain Kleveckas said. "(It) should change to hybrid warfare because they are trapped in this right now."
The Lithuanians have already been offering some pointers to a new British army unit, 77th Brigade, on the information warfare they will likely face.
It is a threat this small Baltic nation takes very seriously indeed.
MI6 releases cinema adverts in attempt to recruit more diverse candidates
MI6 has distanced itself from the James Bond image in a new recruitment campaign aimed at attracting more diverse employees.
An advert, to run in cinemas from Monday, shows a mixed-race woman in her twenties going about everyday life - running, in a restaurant and working at a flower stall.
She displays skills required to work for MI6 - teamwork, dealing with delicate situations, and the ability to read emotions.
The ad concludes by saying that she could be an intelligence officer.
It is a deliberate strategy to move away from the stereotype of a white male who went to Oxbridge, jumps out of planes, shoots guns and is kitted up with fancy gadgets.
MI6 says it is focusing particularly on black and Asian recruits and doesn't want people to rule themselves out of a career with the agency because they don't fit the Bond image.
MI6, officially known as the Secret Intelligence Service, has also reintroduced the technique of "tapping up" potential intelligence officers, a tactic that characterised their early recruitment in Oxford and Cambridge colleges.
The "tap on the shoulder" will now be done in a range of organisations and settings, again to get away from the classic Oxbridge "type".
The agency is looking for intelligence officers to work on the front line of MI6 operations. That could include 'targeters' who identify people who might have access to secret information and could be willing to work as agents, 'case officers' who cultivate and build relationships with agents, and 'R officers' - analysts who liaise with other governments.
Although not specifically mentioned, it is no secret that MI6 is expanding its teams who specialise in Russia.
Recent adverts for the Secret Intelligence Service have been unbranded, tempting people to take online challenges and only then revealing the MI6 connection if successful.
This new advert, which is branded, is the first of its kind for MI6. It will run for one month in cinemas across London, the Midlands and the North West.
Specific films have been selected, across a wide range of genres.
Head of MI6, Alex Younger, said: "My message has always been simple: MI6's success is thanks to our people. I want everyone to know that, regardless of background, if you have the skills we need and share our values, there is a future for you in MI6.
"I want people to see our advert and know that there is a place for them in our team."
MI6 gets thousands of applications each year, and many applicants go on to have successful careers in the service.
Candidates must have a 2:2 degree or above and be over 21 years old.
The agency says it places particular emphasis on emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, a public service ethos, mental sharpness, an interest in foreign affairs and cultures, a desire to live and work overseas, sound judgement, integrity, team working and being technologically savvy.
An advert, to run in cinemas from Monday, shows a mixed-race woman in her twenties going about everyday life - running, in a restaurant and working at a flower stall.
She displays skills required to work for MI6 - teamwork, dealing with delicate situations, and the ability to read emotions.
The ad concludes by saying that she could be an intelligence officer.
It is a deliberate strategy to move away from the stereotype of a white male who went to Oxbridge, jumps out of planes, shoots guns and is kitted up with fancy gadgets.
MI6 says it is focusing particularly on black and Asian recruits and doesn't want people to rule themselves out of a career with the agency because they don't fit the Bond image.
MI6, officially known as the Secret Intelligence Service, has also reintroduced the technique of "tapping up" potential intelligence officers, a tactic that characterised their early recruitment in Oxford and Cambridge colleges.
The "tap on the shoulder" will now be done in a range of organisations and settings, again to get away from the classic Oxbridge "type".
The agency is looking for intelligence officers to work on the front line of MI6 operations. That could include 'targeters' who identify people who might have access to secret information and could be willing to work as agents, 'case officers' who cultivate and build relationships with agents, and 'R officers' - analysts who liaise with other governments.
Although not specifically mentioned, it is no secret that MI6 is expanding its teams who specialise in Russia.
Recent adverts for the Secret Intelligence Service have been unbranded, tempting people to take online challenges and only then revealing the MI6 connection if successful.
This new advert, which is branded, is the first of its kind for MI6. It will run for one month in cinemas across London, the Midlands and the North West.
Specific films have been selected, across a wide range of genres.
Head of MI6, Alex Younger, said: "My message has always been simple: MI6's success is thanks to our people. I want everyone to know that, regardless of background, if you have the skills we need and share our values, there is a future for you in MI6.
"I want people to see our advert and know that there is a place for them in our team."
MI6 gets thousands of applications each year, and many applicants go on to have successful careers in the service.
Candidates must have a 2:2 degree or above and be over 21 years old.
The agency says it places particular emphasis on emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, a public service ethos, mental sharpness, an interest in foreign affairs and cultures, a desire to live and work overseas, sound judgement, integrity, team working and being technologically savvy.
Uber loses court case over English tests for its London drivers
Taxi app Uber has lost a court battle to block rules that would force its drivers to prove their reading and writing skills to operate in London.
Transport for London (TfL) said they should have to prove their ability to communicate in English and take tests in basic writing and reading.
It argued the changes would ensure passenger safety and boost standards.
Uber said the standard was too high and would lead to "indirect racial discrimination" that could threaten the livelihoods of 30,000 drivers.
It launched a legal challenge alongside three of its drivers.
But Judge John Mitting decided TfL was "entitled to require private hire drivers to demonstrate English compliance".
A requirement for a call centre to be set up to deal with Uber complaints was rejected however.
Uber's lawyer and its drivers - Hungarian Sandor Balogh, Bulgarian Nikolay Dimitrov and Imran Khan from Pakistan - said the language requirement would contribute to 70,000 applicants failing to obtain a licence over three years.
They said the proposals would have a disproportionate impact on drivers from countries where English was not spoken and cause "indirect discrimination on grounds of race and nationality".
Uber also said the changes involving insurance and setting up call centres would also probably lead to extra costs for drivers.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "I'm delighted that the courts have today backed my plans to drive up standards and improve passenger safety in London.
"Drivers being able to speak English and understand information from passengers and licensing requirements is a vital part of ensuring passengers get the high standard of service they need and deserve.
"This could include discussing a better route, talking about a medical condition, or ensuring every driver is fully up to date with new regulations."
The judge said he was satisfied TfL had shown that the safety, welfare and convenience of passengers could not be protected by any less restrictive means.
Although Uber was refused permission to appeal, it can renew its application directly to the Court of Appeal.
Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber in London, said: "While we are glad the court agreed with us on the other measures TfL tried to impose, this is a deeply disappointing outcome for tens of thousands of drivers who will lose their livelihoods because they cannot pass an essay writing test.
"We've always supported spoken English skills, but writing an essay has nothing to do with communicating with passengers or getting them safely from A to B."
Transport for London (TfL) said they should have to prove their ability to communicate in English and take tests in basic writing and reading.
It argued the changes would ensure passenger safety and boost standards.
Uber said the standard was too high and would lead to "indirect racial discrimination" that could threaten the livelihoods of 30,000 drivers.
It launched a legal challenge alongside three of its drivers.
But Judge John Mitting decided TfL was "entitled to require private hire drivers to demonstrate English compliance".
A requirement for a call centre to be set up to deal with Uber complaints was rejected however.
Uber's lawyer and its drivers - Hungarian Sandor Balogh, Bulgarian Nikolay Dimitrov and Imran Khan from Pakistan - said the language requirement would contribute to 70,000 applicants failing to obtain a licence over three years.
They said the proposals would have a disproportionate impact on drivers from countries where English was not spoken and cause "indirect discrimination on grounds of race and nationality".
Uber also said the changes involving insurance and setting up call centres would also probably lead to extra costs for drivers.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "I'm delighted that the courts have today backed my plans to drive up standards and improve passenger safety in London.
"Drivers being able to speak English and understand information from passengers and licensing requirements is a vital part of ensuring passengers get the high standard of service they need and deserve.
"This could include discussing a better route, talking about a medical condition, or ensuring every driver is fully up to date with new regulations."
The judge said he was satisfied TfL had shown that the safety, welfare and convenience of passengers could not be protected by any less restrictive means.
Although Uber was refused permission to appeal, it can renew its application directly to the Court of Appeal.
Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber in London, said: "While we are glad the court agreed with us on the other measures TfL tried to impose, this is a deeply disappointing outcome for tens of thousands of drivers who will lose their livelihoods because they cannot pass an essay writing test.
"We've always supported spoken English skills, but writing an essay has nothing to do with communicating with passengers or getting them safely from A to B."
Trump swaps trademark red cap for 'great looking' navy hat
Donald Trump was known for wearing his distinctive red 'Make America Great Again' baseball cap at rallies during his presidential campaign.
But now he has briefly swapped it for a "great looking" navy blue cap with an image of a US aircraft carrier.
Mr Trump sported the new headwear during a "special day" as he spoke on board the $12.9bn (£10.5bn) warship USS Gerald R. Ford, in Newport News, Virginia.
He also wore an olive green military jacket with his name and the words 'commander-in-chief' sewn on one side, and a picture of the carrier on the other.
But now he has briefly swapped it for a "great looking" navy blue cap with an image of a US aircraft carrier.
Mr Trump sported the new headwear during a "special day" as he spoke on board the $12.9bn (£10.5bn) warship USS Gerald R. Ford, in Newport News, Virginia.
He also wore an olive green military jacket with his name and the words 'commander-in-chief' sewn on one side, and a picture of the carrier on the other.
PC quits over police staffing levels, saying job makes her ill
A police officer has quit her job, posting a letter on social media telling senior officers chronic under-staffing is making her ill.
Laura Beal, who joined the service at 19 and has appeared on posters for Devon and Cornwall Police, is quitting the force after 13 years.
She told Sky News: "The stress of it is too much, there's not enough of us out there to police the area that we're supposed to be policing and what they're asking us to do on a day-to-day basis is physically impossible.
"So many people are at breaking point but due to the fact that the police officers I've worked with are so professional, they keep it going, they keep the wheel on.
"We're human beings first and foremost, we're not numbers, and if you keep putting that pressure on, we're going to pop.
"It's all well and good doing wellness programmes, but when there's not enough of us, you're shutting the door once the horse has bolted. You need more people."
Ms Beal's resignation comes on the day the official police watchdog warned victims are being let down, criminal cases shelved and suspects left untracked due to a "national crisis" in policing, which it claimed was in a "potentially perilous" state.
Lamenting the large number of senior officers who have left the force, Ms Beal said: "You're looking at police officers with two or three years' service as being the most experienced in some sections."
:: How does the police force in your area rate?
Asked what she wanted her superiors to do to remedy the situation, Ms Beal suggested they start to "put people first" and get a proper grasp of the pressure officers face every day.
She urged senior officers to "pop in" rather than setting up organised visits.
"Pop in on a Saturday night when there's just two of us stood outside of a nightclub," she said. "Come and do a whole shift, a whole weekend, and see what it's really like."
Ms Beal posted her resignation letter, addressed to the force's chief constable Shaun Sawyer, on Facebook.
In it she wrote she had to quit before the job "kills me both physically and mentally".
In a statement, Devon commander Chief Superintendent Jim Colwell said he sympathised with Ms Beal's complaints and said the force is recruiting nearly 100 extra officers to help with under-staffing.
Laura Beal, who joined the service at 19 and has appeared on posters for Devon and Cornwall Police, is quitting the force after 13 years.
She told Sky News: "The stress of it is too much, there's not enough of us out there to police the area that we're supposed to be policing and what they're asking us to do on a day-to-day basis is physically impossible.
"So many people are at breaking point but due to the fact that the police officers I've worked with are so professional, they keep it going, they keep the wheel on.
"We're human beings first and foremost, we're not numbers, and if you keep putting that pressure on, we're going to pop.
"It's all well and good doing wellness programmes, but when there's not enough of us, you're shutting the door once the horse has bolted. You need more people."
Ms Beal's resignation comes on the day the official police watchdog warned victims are being let down, criminal cases shelved and suspects left untracked due to a "national crisis" in policing, which it claimed was in a "potentially perilous" state.
Lamenting the large number of senior officers who have left the force, Ms Beal said: "You're looking at police officers with two or three years' service as being the most experienced in some sections."
:: How does the police force in your area rate?
Asked what she wanted her superiors to do to remedy the situation, Ms Beal suggested they start to "put people first" and get a proper grasp of the pressure officers face every day.
She urged senior officers to "pop in" rather than setting up organised visits.
"Pop in on a Saturday night when there's just two of us stood outside of a nightclub," she said. "Come and do a whole shift, a whole weekend, and see what it's really like."
Ms Beal posted her resignation letter, addressed to the force's chief constable Shaun Sawyer, on Facebook.
In it she wrote she had to quit before the job "kills me both physically and mentally".
In a statement, Devon commander Chief Superintendent Jim Colwell said he sympathised with Ms Beal's complaints and said the force is recruiting nearly 100 extra officers to help with under-staffing.
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Sweden brings back conscription amid fears of Russian aggression
Sweden is reintroducing conscription next year to restore armed services numbers amid fears of Russian military build-up in the Baltic region.
Four thousand 18-year-old men and women will be called up for training each year in 2018 and 2019 as the country looks to fill gaps that have developed since compulsory military service was abolished in 2010.
About 20,000 people work for the Swedish armed forces, but a recent study found they are struggling to recruit the 4,000 new young people needed annually.
Currently they lack 1,000 active troops and 7,000 reservists, according to government statistics for 2016, despite running large recruitment drives in recent years.
Announcing the move, Sweden's defence minister Peter Hultqvist pointed to a "deteriorating security environment in Europe and around Sweden".
"We have a Russian annexation of Crimea, we have the aggression in Ukraine, we have more exercise activities in our neighbourhood. So we have decided to build a stronger national defence," Mr Hultqvist said.
Whilst the 2014 annexation of Crimea is the most obvious example of Moscow's expansionist plans, there have also been alleged attempts to influence neighbouring Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Reports of Russian spies operating in Sweden as well as airspace violations by Russia's military aircraft in the Baltics and a military buildup in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which sits across the Baltic Sea from Sweden, have heightened anxieties in Stockholm.
As a non-aligned country Sweden cannot count on the protection of NATO, but it has already tried to counter Russian aggression, stationing permanent troops on the Baltic Sea island of Gotland in September.
Since then, Donald Trump has become US President and his closeness to Russia's Vladimir Putin and "America First" anti-globalist stance has caused further uncertainty.
In 2013, Sweden was given a stark reminder of the threat and its own lack of readiness, when Russian warplanes caught its air defences on the hop by staging a mock bombing raid.
With its reintroduction of the draft, Sweden will join Norway to become only the second country in Europe where military service is compulsory for women as well as men.
Norway legally extended conscription to both sexes in 2015, and last year about a third of 10,000 new recruits were female.
Nevertheless, Mr Hultqvist said motivation would be an important factor when selecting recruits.
Teenager Sofia Hultgren, who turns 17 this year and could be drafted in the coming years, said of a prospective military career: "I think many see it as something lame, something your father did, when there are so much other fun things to do."
But she welcomed the premise of the plan, saying: "Conscription strengthens our defence when we see so much ugliness in the world."
Politics has also played a part in the plan, as 2018 is an election year in Sweden.
A recent poll found as many as 72% of Swedes back the return of conscription, while only 16% said they thought it was a bad idea.
Four thousand 18-year-old men and women will be called up for training each year in 2018 and 2019 as the country looks to fill gaps that have developed since compulsory military service was abolished in 2010.
About 20,000 people work for the Swedish armed forces, but a recent study found they are struggling to recruit the 4,000 new young people needed annually.
Currently they lack 1,000 active troops and 7,000 reservists, according to government statistics for 2016, despite running large recruitment drives in recent years.
Announcing the move, Sweden's defence minister Peter Hultqvist pointed to a "deteriorating security environment in Europe and around Sweden".
"We have a Russian annexation of Crimea, we have the aggression in Ukraine, we have more exercise activities in our neighbourhood. So we have decided to build a stronger national defence," Mr Hultqvist said.
Whilst the 2014 annexation of Crimea is the most obvious example of Moscow's expansionist plans, there have also been alleged attempts to influence neighbouring Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Reports of Russian spies operating in Sweden as well as airspace violations by Russia's military aircraft in the Baltics and a military buildup in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which sits across the Baltic Sea from Sweden, have heightened anxieties in Stockholm.
As a non-aligned country Sweden cannot count on the protection of NATO, but it has already tried to counter Russian aggression, stationing permanent troops on the Baltic Sea island of Gotland in September.
Since then, Donald Trump has become US President and his closeness to Russia's Vladimir Putin and "America First" anti-globalist stance has caused further uncertainty.
In 2013, Sweden was given a stark reminder of the threat and its own lack of readiness, when Russian warplanes caught its air defences on the hop by staging a mock bombing raid.
With its reintroduction of the draft, Sweden will join Norway to become only the second country in Europe where military service is compulsory for women as well as men.
Norway legally extended conscription to both sexes in 2015, and last year about a third of 10,000 new recruits were female.
Nevertheless, Mr Hultqvist said motivation would be an important factor when selecting recruits.
Teenager Sofia Hultgren, who turns 17 this year and could be drafted in the coming years, said of a prospective military career: "I think many see it as something lame, something your father did, when there are so much other fun things to do."
But she welcomed the premise of the plan, saying: "Conscription strengthens our defence when we see so much ugliness in the world."
Politics has also played a part in the plan, as 2018 is an election year in Sweden.
A recent poll found as many as 72% of Swedes back the return of conscription, while only 16% said they thought it was a bad idea.
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