Netherlands first to buy US arms for Ukraine under Nato scheme
The Dutch package includes US Patriot missile parts and other systems tailored to Ukraine's front-line requirements.
THE HAGUE – The Netherlands will buy €500 million (S$744 million) of US weapons for Ukraine, becoming the first Nato member to fund a full package under a new scheme to speed deliveries from American stockpiles, the Defence Ministry said.
The purchase will be under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (Purl) mechanism launched by US President Donald Trump and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte in July.
Under the scheme, countries pay Washington for defence systems and munitions in US warehouses that are then shipped to Ukraine, which has been battling a
Russian invasion since February 2022 .
'The Netherlands is now taking the lead in supplying military equipment from American stockpiles,' Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said on X.
'By supporting Ukraine with determination, we are increasing the pressure on Russia to negotiate.'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof in a call on the evening of Aug 4.
'These weapons are badly needed,' Mr Schoof posted on X, highlighting the near-daily drone and missile attacks by Russia.
The Dutch package includes US Patriot missile parts and other systems tailored to Ukraine's front-line requirements, according to the Defence Ministry.
Mr Brekelmans called the Russian air strikes 'pure terror' and warned that Moscow's advance into Ukrainian territory could pose a broader threat to Europe.
'The more Russia dominates Ukraine, the greater the danger to the Netherlands and our Nato allies,' he said.
Washington is releasing military support for Ukraine in US$500 million (S$645 million) tranches under the Purl mechanism.
While other allies have pledged to join the initiative, the Netherlands is the first to transfer funds.
It has already pledged tanks, drones, ammunition and support for F-16 training and delivery to Ukraine.
Mr Rutte welcomed the move, calling it a vital first step under the new framework.
'Great to see the Netherlands taking the lead and funding the first package of US military equipment for Ukraine,' he said on X.
'I thank allies for getting Ukraine the equipment it urgently needs to defend against Russian aggression.' AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
21 minutes ago
- Straits Times
‘Unhappy Meal': McDonald's Japan sorry for Pokemon debacle
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Social media was awash with complaints about long queues at McDonald's outlets, with unverified pictures of plastic bags full of uneaten burgers and fries. TOKYO – McDonald's Japan has apologised after a campaign giving away limited-edition Pokemon cards with Happy Meals triggered long queues and social media outrage about food waste. Cards with the 'little monsters' are extremely popular among children but also adult superfans and collectors, with billions printed and some selling for millions of dollars. There have even been cases of shops that sell the cards – which represent monsters and their attributes – being broken into and physical fights breaking out in low-crime Japan. Launched on Aug 8, the McDonald's stunt soon went awry with some people flocking to buy meals in bulk to resell the attached cards at a higher price on e-commerce sites. Social media was awash with complaints about long queues at McDonald's outlets, with unverified pictures of plastic bags full of uneaten burgers and fries. Some dubbed it the 'Unhappy Meals' campaign. 'I couldn't buy a Happy Meal for my daughter because of these people', one user posted on X. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia India, Singapore ministers discuss deeper tie-ups in digitalisation, skills, industrial parks Business More seniors remain employed after retirement and re-employment ages raised in 2022: MOM study Singapore To Vers or not to Vers: How will this scheme affect HDB prices? Asia Malaysia's ex-economy minister says his son was jabbed with syringe in planned attack Singapore askST: Will assets seized in $3b money laundering case be sold at public auctions? Singapore Woman, 68, charged over assaulting maid with scissors and nail clipper Business StarHub first-half profit falls 41.7% to $47.9m; telco eyes 'more aggressive stance' amid competition Business CapitaLand Investment first-half profit falls 13.3%, appoints new CEO of private funds 'I'm sure there are adult Pokemon fans who genuinely want the cards, but these resellers are truly embarrassing,' another wrote. 'They go to great lengths to collect them and then throw away food... for how much profit?' Similar problems have hit other McDonald's campaigns, including past collaborations with manga series such as Chiikawa. Announcing the latest campaign, McDonald's stressed that each person could buy a maximum of five meals. In a statement on Aug 11, it conceded there were some instances of 'resale-driven mass purchases by customers' that led to 'our food being thrown away or discarded'. It added that it was looking to 'introduce a stricter cap' on future Happy Meals purchases. 'Any attempts to buy more than permitted, repeatedly stand in the line, and behave intimidatingly toward our staff' will be met with a rejection, the firm said. The US fast food giant also vowed to ask e-commerce sites to take more effective measures against unscrupulous resale. AFP
Straits Times
21 minutes ago
- Straits Times
KPop Demon Hunters singer-songwriter Ejae on becoming Rumi, writing Golden and gunning for a Grammy
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Everyone has a dream. Some see it through. Others are forced to let go. For 33-year-old Korean-American singer-songwriter Ejae, born Kim Eun-jae, the dream was to debut as a K-pop idol after spending 10 years training at SM Entertainment. But the call never came. Neither in a group nor as a soloist did the South Korean powerhouse label see her fit to debut. Instead of turning her back on music, Ejae found another path – one that would lead her to co-write Golden, the soaring anthem from Netflix's megahit movie KPop Demon Hunters. The song has made history, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping both the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. US charts – a rare feat for a song from an animated film soundtrack. It also claimed No. 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart, becoming the first K-pop track to do so since South Korean singer Psy's Gangnam Style in 2012. Netflix has also reportedly submitted Golden for awards consideration. Ejae's next goal is no longer about becoming a famous singer. It is about winning a Grammy – an achievement she says would carry a meaning far beyond her own career. 'It wouldn't just be a personal milestone,' she said in an e-mail interview. 'It would be a message to every Asian-American girl who's ever felt impostor syndrome in this industry.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia India, Singapore ministers discuss deeper tie-ups in digitalisation, skills, industrial parks Business More seniors remain employed after retirement and re-employment ages raised in 2022: MOM study Singapore askST: Will assets seized in $3b money laundering case be sold at public auctions? Singapore To Vers or not to Vers: How will this scheme affect HDB prices? Asia Malaysia's ex-economy minister says his son was jabbed with syringe in planned attack Business StarHub first-half profit falls 41.7% to $47.9m; telco eyes 'more aggressive stance' amid competition Business CapitaLand Investment first-half profit falls 13.3%, appoints new CEO of private funds Life Taylor Swift's new album, The Life of a Showgirl, will release on Oct 3 From trainee to songwriter Ejae describes her years at SM Entertainment as 'incredible' and 'character-defining', instilling in her a work ethic and perseverance that would later sustain her. Learning dance and performance at such a high level also proved invaluable when she began writing for K-pop idols. 'As a trainee, I learnt to think about how a song might translate into choreography or a music video,' she said. 'That perspective has shaped my songwriting ever since.' In 2011, Ejae left SM Entertainment to study at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Around that time, she discovered the underground SoundCloud scene, drawing inspiration from artistes like Ta-ku, Sango and Shlohmo. Making beats became both a creative outlet and a way to cope with the depression that followed her trainee years. Her pivot to songwriting came unexpectedly. 'Some producers in Korea asked me to topline on tracks for fun,' she recalled, explaining how she started by contributing melodies. 'My first song ended up being picked up by a well-known artiste. That's when I realised writing wasn't just something I enjoyed – it was something I needed. It became my therapy.' Ejae's trainee period at SM Entertainment ended about two years after she graduated. Her passion crystallised in 2017 when she attended her first SM Entertainment songwriting camp. On the very first day, she penned what would become girl group Red Velvet's hit Psycho, a song born from an argument with her then long-distance fiance. Released in 2019, the track's success opened new doors and eventually led her to the opportunity that would change everything: KPop Demon Hunters. Becoming Rumi and finding Golden Korean-American singer-songwriter Ejae voices Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters. PHOTO: NETFLIX Ejae entered the project through composer Daniel Rojas, joining early in the creative process. Together, they wrote some of the first songs that set the tone for the soundtrack. Because she recorded most of the initial demos, the directors invited her to become the singing voice of the film's lead character Rumi. 'Having been part of the project from the start, I felt deeply connected to her,' she said. 'As a former K-pop trainee, I related to her perfectionism, her struggle to hide her flaws and her drive to chase her dream.' Golden, co-written with Mark Sonnenblick under the guidance of music director Ian Eisendrath, is a pivotal moment in the film. The song reflects each character's struggles, while carrying a message of perseverance. 'There's a bittersweet layer,' said Ejae. 'Rumi's lyrics reflect her desperation to fix her patterns. It's like her personal pep talk – telling herself not to give up and that she can reach her dreams.' In crafting the song, Ejae also had to meet a personal challenge: hitting Rumi's high notes to showcase her 'crazy vocal skills'. The result is both technically impressive and emotionally resonant, a combination that has resonated with audiences far beyond the film. Beyond Golden, Ejae is especially proud of Hunter's Mantra, the film's opening number that fuses traditional Korean genres like pansori and Arirang with modern pop sensibilities. Pansori is a traditional Korean musical storytelling performance that combines singing, narration and dramatic expression. 'I wanted to bring Korea's rich traditional sounds into the music with my own twist,' she said. 'It's part of who I am.' Chasing Grammy gold For Ejae, the Grammy dream is not just about recognition – it is about representation. 'As an Asian American, specifically a Korean-American woman, I don't really see enough people who look like me in the pop and K-pop industry,' she said. 'That's why winning an award for a song about hope and chasing your dreams would be incredibly serendipitous.' As someone who once doubted her skill and talent, fearing that she would be exposed as a fraud, Ejae has a message for others who find themselves feeling the same way. 'Your voice matters. Your stories are worth telling. Don't give up,' she said. 'If this song (Golden) can spark even a little hope in someone to keep going, then that, to me, is the greatest honour.' THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
21 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Food Picks: Bedok stall offers rojak, steamed muachee and handmade popiah
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox (Clockwise from left) Fruit Rojak with cuttlefish and century egg , popiah filling with plenty of vegetable and Muah Chee at Jessica Rojak in New Upper Changi Road. SINGAPORE – Rojak is the signature dish at Jessica Rojak, but stall owner Jessica Huynh, 36, also dishes out a variety of local snacks with a fresh, vegetable-forward touch. Opened in early 2020, the coffee-shop stall offers a fruit rojak, as well as black and white versions, which use shrimp paste and plum sauce respectively. The fruit rojak ($6, $7 or $8) is a crunchy riot of pineapple, bangkwang, green apple and cucumber, lifted with accents of lime and torch ginger flower. For a savoury depth, Ms Huynh uses a rojak sauce made with premium prawn paste and incorporates two types of chillies: a sambal chilli that is savoury and a fiery chilli padi paste made with potent Vietnamese chillies and garlic. Century egg ($1.50) and cuttlefish ($3 for one piece) are optional add-ons. Instead of assam water, which she says can make the mix watery, she uses plum sauce as the base for a stickier, more robust coating. My only gripe is that the fruit rojak would be more special with the addition of jambu (Java apple). White Rojak made with plum sauce at Jessica Rojak in New Upper Changi Road. ST PHOTO: HEDY KHOO That plum sauce shines in her White Rojak ($5, $6, $7 or $8), tossed with bangkwang, cucumber and tau pok. It is tangy with a gentle sweetness. Customers can request a vegetarian version, which omits sambal belacan. The pricing for Black Rojak is the same as that for White Rojak. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia India, Singapore ministers discuss deeper tie-ups in digitalisation, skills, industrial parks Business More seniors remain employed after retirement and re-employment ages raised in 2022: MOM study Singapore askST: Will assets seized in $3b money laundering case be sold at public auctions? Singapore To Vers or not to Vers: How will this scheme affect HDB prices? Asia Malaysia's ex-economy minister says his son was jabbed with syringe in planned attack Business StarHub first-half profit falls 41.7% to $47.9m; telco eyes 'more aggressive stance' amid competition Business CapitaLand Investment first-half profit falls 13.3%, appoints new CEO of private funds Life Taylor Swift's new album, The Life of a Showgirl, will release on Oct 3 The popiah is the real star at the stall. Unlike those that use factory-made f illing, Ms Huynh prepares hers from scratch, grating bangkwang by hand with an old-school wooden grater. She fries it with shallots for depth, seasoning simply with salt and sugar, and skipping the oyster sauce. The Popiah ($2.50 each) is fat and packed with lettuce, bangkwang stir-fried with carrot and a generous layer of chopped hard-boiled egg for fragrance. The flavour is light and fresh, with plenty of crunch, and is vegetarian-friendly with no dried prawn. Popiah and Kueh Pie Ti at Jessica Rojak in New Upper Changi Road. ST PHOTO: HEDY KHOO The same filling goes into Kueh Pie Ti ($4 for five), topped with cucumber strips and seasoned with salt, chilli padi and garlic. I would prefer a bolder flavour here. For something sweet, the Muah Chee ($3, $4, $5) is made fresh every morning from glutinous rice flour that is steamed rather than fried. Shallot oil is the secret to its tastiness. The snack stays soft and chewy for hours without hardening as it cools, making it suitable for takeaway orders. Muah Chee at Jessica Rojak in New Upper Changi Road. ST PHOTO: HEDY KHOO Where: 01-763, 211 Kopi, Block 211 New Upper Changi Road MRT: Bedok Open: 9.30am to 8pm daily Tel: 9698-2526
