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Saturday, May 2, 2026

Trump says U.S. may cut the number of American troops in Germany

May 02, 2026
Trump says U.S. may cut the number of American troops in Germany

President Trumpsaid Wednesdayhe is considering reducing the number of U.S. forces in Germany, amid a spat with Germany's chancellor and the NATO alliance over Iran.

CBS News

"The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time," he wrote on Truth Social.

The U.S. military has a massive presence in Germany that dates back to the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War. More than 36,000 active duty troops were assigned to bases throughout Germany as of last December, along with nearly 1,500 reservists and 11,500 civilians, according to Defense Department figures. Japan is the only foreign country with a larger presence of U.S. troops.

Germany is also home to the headquarters of U.S. European Command and Africa Command, and its Ramstein Air Base is a key hub for U.S. operations.

The president has grown increasingly frustrated with the U.S.'s allies in Europe, which have sought to keep their distance from the U.S.-Iran war. He has threatened to leave NATO, calling the alliance a "paper tiger" for notentering the war. A 2023 lawprevents the presidentfrom withdrawing the U.S. from NATO without approval from Congress.

Meanwhile, Europe isgrappling with higher energy pricesas the Iran conflict severely constrains oil exports from the Middle East.

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz appeared to draw Mr. Trump's ire after hecriticized the U.S.'s handling of the warearlier this week, saying "the Americans clearly have no strategy" on Iran and suggesting the U.S. is being "humiliated" by Iranian negotiators.

On Tuesday, Mr. Trumpwrote on social mediathat Merz "thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon" and "doesn't know what he's talking about."

"No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!" the president said.

Hours before Mr. Trump floated troop reductions, Merztold reportershe still is on good terms with the U.S. president, despite their well-publicized disagreements over Iran strategy.

Mr. Trump's skepticism of NATO predates the Iran war. He has long accused member states of not spending enough on defense and of being too reliant on the U.S. for security.

In 2020, the final year of his first term, Mr. Trump announced plans to pullaround 12,000U.S. forces from Germany, after accusing the European country of being "delinquent" in military spending. The plan drew bipartisan pushback and wasreversedby former President Joe Biden.

In a smaller move last fall, U.S. officialstold CBS Newsthat around 700 troops who were deployed in Germany, Romania and Poland would return home. U.S. Army Europe and Africa said it was part of a "deliberate process to ensure a balanced U.S. military force posture," and was "not an American withdrawal from Europe or a signal of lessened commitment to NATO."

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Friday, May 1, 2026

World War II bomb uncovered at Plymouth building site to be detonated after mass evacuation

May 01, 2026
World War II bomb uncovered at Plymouth building site to be detonated after mass evacuation

More than 1,000 homes inPlymouthhave been evacuated after anunexploded Second World War bomb was discovered at a building site.

The Independent US

Officials have confirmed the device, identified as a 250kg German SC250, will be detonated in situ.

The discovery in Flamborough Road, Southway, led to a 400-metre cordon, with military experts concluding the device cannot be safely moved.

“Royal Navy and Army unexploded ordnance specialists have now completed a rigorous and detailed assessment of the device,” a council spokesman said.

“They have advised that it is not possible to safely remove it.

“The only safe option is to make the device safe in situ, which will involve a controlled detonation.

“This is planned to take place on Friday, once all safety measures are fully in place.”

The council said specialists were building a “sand mitigation structure” to reduce the impact of the blast.

“You will not be able to see the detonation and people are asked to stay well away from the area,” the spokesman said.

“A no-fly zone is also in place – drones are not permitted.”

Royal Navy UXO experts said the WWII device is a historic German SC250 - a 250kg air-dropped weapon (Plymouth City Council)

The 400-metre cordon remains in place and residents will not be able to return home until the device has been made safe.

Southway Youth and Community Centre has been opened for use by evacuated residents.

Since it opened more than 50 residents have been helped and 25 households placed in temporary accommodation.

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Oakwood Primary School, Little Acorns Pre-School and Beechwood Primary School will remain closed on Friday.

Colonel Nick Handy, from 8 Engineer Brigade, said the condition of the fuses in thebombmade it impossible to move it safely.

“Unfortunately we cannot get a definitive X-ray of the second fuse and therefore it is not safe to move that item,” Col Handy said.

“We are going to blow it in situ.

“When I say blow it in situ, we are going to try our hardest to deflagrate that item and burn it inside of a structure which will limit the damage to the local surroundings.

“I am pretty confident that the mitigation that we put up will limit most of the damage, but we will look to do that at some point on Friday.”

Map of the 400m cordon in Plymouth as bomb disposal team works on the site (Plymouth City Council)

Col Handy said the device contained 130kg of explosives “that is 80 years old and it’s dangerous”.

“When that thing goes bang for want of a better expression, there will be damage,” he said.

“We will limit that as much as possible to ensure that nobody suffers.

“The mitigation that we put in place should affect only small amounts of damage on the outer extremities of the area.”

There were more than 50 Luftwaffe air raids on Plymouth between 1941 and 1944, killing 1,174 civilians in the city.

The first bombs fell on the city on July 6 1940, with the heaviest period of bombing occurring in March and April 1941.

Two years ago a 500kg German Second World War bomb was found in a garden in the Keyham area of Plymouth.

It forced theevacuationof thousands of people and was detonated at se

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Taylor Swift’s $565 Gwyn Plunging Lace Cami Top Hangs by Just 2 Strings

May 01, 2026
Taylor Swift's $565 Gwyn Plunging Lace Cami Top Hangs by Just 2 Strings

Taylor Swifthas always had a way of making even the simplest silhouettes feel intentional, and her latest appearance for NYT Magazine is no exception. Without leaning into anything overly dramatic, the look captures a sense of quiet confidence — one that feels effortless but is still planned. It is the kind of styling that doesn’t try too hard, yet it manages to leave a lasting impression.

Taylor Swift’s plunging lace cami top from Gwyn is held up by just 2 strings for NYT Magazine

At the center ofTaylor Swift‘s look was a delicate black lace cami top from Gwyn, priced at $565. The piece stood out for its barely-there construction, held up by just two thin straps that framed the shoulders with subtle precision. The soft lace detailing around the borders added texture without overwhelming the outfit, allowing it to remain light and understated. There was a certain balance here. The top felt minimal, yet it carried enough detail to stand out.

Swift paired the cami with a fluid, Alyse asymmetrical skirt from Kallmeyer New York. Priced at $895, the skirt moved with ease, creating a natural flow through the silhouette. The contrast between the structured delicacy of the top and the relaxed drape of the skirt worked seamlessly. It’s not about sharp tailoring or bold statements. Instead, the look leaned into softness and movement.

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Accessories remained minimal but effective. A stack of delicate gold pendants added just the right amount of shine. Swift was also seen wearing gold bracelets and rings that tied everything together. She opted for the Row’s black strappy heels that kept the overall aesthetic clean and refined. Her hair, swept to one side, further enhanced the straight line of the outfit.

What made this outfit stand out was its restraint. In a space where fashion often pushes for louder statements, Swift’s choice felt grounded and intentional. It is a reminder that sometimes, simplicity, when done right, can be the most impactful statement of all.

Originally reported by Viha Shah ontheFashionSpot.

The postTaylor Swift’s $565 Gwyn Plunging Lace Cami Top Hangs by Just 2 Stringsappeared first onReality Tea.

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