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Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump could withdraw troops from Europe. His army has other ideas
6am please Vid link here: As a handful of Fox Battery US Marines fired up their Himars alongside Royal Horse Artillery Gunners loading up their MLRS, they knew they were about to make defence history. For the first time, British and American troops were to use their signature multiple rocket launch systems simultaneously. It would also be the first time either would be fired on the strategic Swedish island of Gotland, less than 200 miles from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad and its Baltic fleet. Five loud thuds boomed across the firing range as the dummy rockets streaked through the early morning sky before disappearing from sight somewhere in the Baltic Sea: a successful launch. These joint US-European military exercises are being held against the backdrop of a souring in relationships between the US and its Nato allies since Donald Trump became president again in January. But when asked what he thinks of his commander-in-chief this week having a two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin, the leader of the country that is the unspoken enemy at the heart of all of these military exercises, American Capt Justin Miller shrugs. 'Regardless of what's going on, we're out here, we're training with Nato,' he says. 'We're in Sweden at the moment, Norway yesterday and we're gonna go to Finland in a few days. And we're gonna continue to do so until told otherwise.' '[The Nato alliance] still feels strong to me.' Mr Trump has repeatedly accused Europe of riding on the US's coattails in terms of defence spending and has praised Russian leader Putin rather than punishing him for invading Ukraine. At the Munich Security Conference in February, JD Vance, the US vice-president, made headlines by saying the greatest threat facing the continent was not from Russia but 'from within', adding that Europe needed to 'step up' and provide for its own defence. Shortly afterwards, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, was revealed to have described Europe as 'pathetic' freeloaders in a leaked Signal chat. He has also warned American military presence in Europe is not 'forever.' The slew of unprecedented criticism has led to speculation that Europe can no longer rely on the US to protect it from Russia and that the Nato alliance is on its last legs. But the political schisms do not appear to have filtered through to the US military, which has 84,000 service members posted in more than 40 bases across the Continent. 'The political leaders are gonna do their thing, I will say that from what I've seen, we haven't changed at all,' explains Lt Col Zach Leuthardt, a public affairs officer for the US Marines in Europe and Africa. 'It's hard to tell at our level that the things that are going on at the political level are happening. It doesn't affect us. We are committed to the alliance.' The drills on Gotland are part of the Swift Response phase of the US's annual Defender series - officially known as the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for Nato Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness exercise. Over the next six weeks, some 12,000 US troops – including 5,000 flying over from the States – will buddy up with 13,000 European and Nato ally soldiers to practise everything from live firing and river crossings to resupplying a field hospital with blood via drones. It's a huge undertaking that is designed to showcase US-European cohesion and interoperability – defence ministry jargon for how well different countries' armies can work together. Lt Col Leuthardt has been based in the US European Command's headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, since last July. He said the election of Mr Trump last November hasn't affected anything in his work. 'Nothing on our schedule from the time I've got here has changed. We haven't scaled it down. Nobody's gone home. 'We've got a fresh batch of new people coming in this summer to take on those roles and continue the planning. So from my operational and tactical level, nothing's really changed for us.' The fact that live fire drills are being held on Sweden's Gotland island for the first time is telling given its strategic importance in protecting the Baltics from Moscow. 'It's a very good sign from the US defence forces that they want to do this security signal together with us towards the Russians,' said Peter Hulqvist, Sweden's former defence minister from 2014-22 and now chair of the Defence Committee. 'It continues the cooperation that we built up with the United States some years before.' The drill also involved British 16th Air Assault Brigade soldiers parachuted in and fought off the 'enemy' (local Swedish troops) to secure a tactical landing zone for the Himars and MLRS. Watching the UK's elite paras jump out of an A400 plane and float gently down to the green field below, Lt Col Leuthardt had glowing words of praise for the US's European partners – especially the British. 'It's like working with other Americans,' he says. 'It's super simple and they're super-professional and we've had a blast. My eyes are open to how well this alliance works together. 'We have the same values: democracy and defence of our nations. It's like hanging out with cousins.' Back at the Tofta firing range, after the historic joint missile launch, US Marines Staff Sgt Caleb Thayer smiles proudly at its success. ' A little bit of shock and awe,' he says. 'We just got off the bird [plane] probably 45 minutes ago. So we were just shooting from the hip and it all went to plan. And that's all we can ask for: good co-operation and communication and everybody gets along, I guess. We're super happy to be here.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Trump could withdraw troops from Europe. His army has other ideas
As a handful of Fox Battery US Marines fired up their Himars alongside Royal Horse Artillery Gunners loading up their MLRS, they knew they were about to make defence history. For the first time, British and American troops were to use their signature multiple launch rocket systems simultaneously. It would also be the first time either would be fired on the strategic Swedish island of Gotland, less than 200 miles from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad and its Baltic fleet. Five loud thuds boomed across the firing range as the dummy rockets streaked through the early morning sky before disappearing from sight somewhere in the Baltic Sea: a successful launch. These joint US-European military exercises are being held against the backdrop of a souring in relationships between the US and its Nato allies since Donald Trump became president again in January. But when asked what he thinks of his commander-in-chief this week having a two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin, the leader of the country that is the unspoken enemy at the heart of all of these military exercises, American Capt Justin Miller shrugs. 'We're training with Nato' 'Regardless of what's going on, we're out here, we're training with Nato,' he says. 'We're in Sweden at the moment, Norway yesterday and we're gonna go to Finland in a few days. And we're gonna continue to do so until told otherwise.' '[The Nato alliance] still feels strong to me.' Mr Trump has repeatedly accused Europe of riding on the US's coat tails in terms of defence spending and has praised Russian leader Putin rather than punishing him for invading Ukraine. At the Munich Security Conference in February, JD Vance, the US vice-president, made headlines by saying the greatest threat facing the continent was not from Russia but 'from within', adding that Europe needed to 'step up' and provide for its own defence. Shortly afterwards, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, was revealed to have described Europe as 'pathetic' freeloaders in a leaked chat on the messaging service Signal. He has also warned American military presence in Europe is not 'forever.' The slew of unprecedented criticism has led to speculation that Europe can no longer rely on the US to protect it from Russia and that the Nato alliance is on its last legs. But the political schisms do not appear to have filtered through to the US military, which has 84,000 service members posted in more than 40 bases across the Continent. 'The political leaders are gonna do their thing, I will say that from what I've seen, we haven't changed at all,' explains Lt Col Zach Leuthardt, a public affairs officer for the US Marines in Europe and Africa. 'It's hard to tell at our level that the things that are going on at the political level are happening. It doesn't affect us. We are committed to the alliance.' The drills on Gotland are part of the Swift Response phase of the US's annual Defender series – officially known as the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for Nato Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness exercise. Over the next six weeks, some 12,000 US troops – including 5,000 arriving from the States – will buddy up with 13,000 European and Nato ally soldiers to practise everything from live firing and river crossings to using drones to resupply a field hospital with blood. It's a huge undertaking that is designed to showcase US-European cohesion and interoperability – defence ministry jargon for how well different countries' armies can work together. 'We haven't scaled it down' Lt Col Leuthardt has been based in the US European Command's headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, since last July. He said the election of Mr Trump last November hasn't affected anything in his work. 'Nothing on our schedule from the time I've got here has changed. We haven't scaled it down. Nobody's gone home. 'We've got a fresh batch of new people coming in this summer to take on those roles and continue the planning. So from my operational and tactical level, nothing's really changed for us.' The fact that live fire drills are being held on Gotland for the first time is telling given its strategic importance in protecting the Baltics from Moscow. 'It's a very good sign from the US defence forces that they want to do this security signal together with us towards the Russians,' said Peter Hulqvist, Sweden's former defence minister from 2014-22 and now chair of the defence committee. 'It continues the co-operation that we built up with the United States some years before.' The drill also involved British 16th Air Assault Brigade soldiers parachuting in and fighting off the 'enemy' (local Swedish troops) to secure a tactical landing zone for the Himars and MLRS. Watching the UK's elite paras jump out of an A400 plane and float gently down to the green field below, Lt Col Leuthardt had glowing words of praise for the US's European partners – especially the British. 'We have the same values' 'It's like working with other Americans,' he says. 'It's super-simple and they're super-professional and we've had a blast. My eyes are open to how well this alliance works together. 'We have the same values: democracy and defence of our nations. It's like hanging out with cousins.' Back at the Tofta firing range, after the historic joint missile launch, US Marines Staff Sgt Caleb Thayer smiles proudly at its success. ' A little bit of shock and awe,' he says. 'We just got off the bird [plane] probably 45 minutes ago. So we were just shooting from the hip and it all went to plan. And that's all we can ask for: good co-operation and communication and everybody gets along, I guess. We're super-happy to be here.'
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Telegraph
Army gunner ‘invented sex tape' to refute claim he was bad in bed
An Army gunner said he made up the existence of a sex tape to refute claims he was bad in bed. Josh Handley, a 17-year-old trainee at the time, allegedly made a recording of himself and a woman during a one-night stand. He showed friends the tape in order to dispel rumours, allegedly spread by the woman, that he had a small penis. Gnr Handley is now on trial at Bulford Military Court, in Salisbury, Wilts, charged with three counts of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind, all of which he denies. The video was allegedly recorded on a mobile phone when the pair were on a night out together with a large group of friends. The woman did not know their consensual encounter was being filmed, the court heard. The soldier, who is now in his 20s and a member of the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, showed it to a 'couple of lads' several months after the encounter. The woman, who is a recruit, confronted Gnr Handley about the footage on Snapchat two years later after a girlfriend of one of the male soldiers told her she had seen the tape. Gnr Handley confirmed he did film them but no longer had access to the footage. Graham Coombes, for the prosecution, said: 'She had consensual intercourse, what she did not know was this was being recorded on the accused's phone. 'She took this up with the accused via Snapchat, the conversation confirmed that a video had been recorded by him and had been shown to others. 'He apologised for his actions and said he did not know why he had shown it to a couple of lads.' Mr Coombes said: 'He was interviewed [by police], he denied the existence of the video, claiming he made up a rumour about it after the complainant spread rumours about him having a small penis and being bad at sex. 'He was trying to cause distress to the complainant with these rumours.' The alleged victim told the court she was very unhappy when she was told about the video, as sex was a 'private thing'. She denied spreading rumours about Gnr Handley's size or performance in bed.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
British Army para secretly filmed himself losing his virginity with female recruit and showed it to his 'lad' friends, court martial hears
A British Army paratrooper secretly filmed himself losing his virginity to a female recruit before sharing the sex tape with his 'lad' mates, a court martial heard. Gunner Josh Handley allegedly filmed himself having the one night stand with the 17-yeart-old trainee during a boozy night out. However, after allegedly showing friends a tape of the encounter, the female soldier then confronted Gnr Handley - now a member of the airborne regiment's acclaimed artillery unit. Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire heard the male accused claimed he had made up the existence of the video to get back at his alleged victim for spreading rumours about him having a small penis. The court heard a mobile phone video was taken when the pair were on a night out together with a large group of friends. The woman had no idea Gnr Handley - now in his early twenties and in the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery - had filmed their consensual encounter, the court heard. But several months later the soldier - who appeared in court sporting the famous fighting force's distinctive maroon beret - showed it to a 'couple of lads' It was then over a year before he showed anyone the tape again, when he bumped into a friend of the victim in Magaluf and showed her the clip which she told him 'wasn't funny'. The alleged victim found out about the video nearly two years after the incident when the girlfriend of one of the male soldiers who had been shown the clip told her. After finding out about the sex tape, the recruit confronted Gnr Handley on Snapchat, asking him if he had a video of them 'sh***ing' and he told her did but no longer had access to it. Prosecuting, Graham Coombes described the incidents when the alleged video was shared with some 'lads' and then with a friend of the victim's. He said: 'She had consensual intercourse, what she did not know was this was being recorded on the accused's phone. 'She took this up with the accused via Snapchat, the conversation confirmed that a video had been recorded by him and had been shown to others. 'He apologised for his actions and said he did not know why he had shown it to a couple of lads.' 'The accused on summer holiday showed [the complainant's friend] a video on his mobile phone. She told him it was not funny and told him to put his phone away.' Mr Coombes said: 'He was interviewed {by police}, he denied the existence of the video claiming he made up a rumour about it after the complainant spread rumours about him having a small penis and being bad at sex. 'He was trying to cause distress to the complainant with these rumours.' The alleged victim told the court she was very unhappy when she was told about the videos as sex is a 'private thing'. 'I was not happy at all,' she said. 'I have always been in relationships, sex is a very private thing.' She denied spreading any rumours about Gnr Handley's size or performance in bed. Gnr Handley denies three counts of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind, claiming he did not take a video but merely spread rumours of one to 'cause distress' to the recruit who had supposedly spread rumours about him. The trial continues.
Metro
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
What VE Day 2025 celebrations are happening across the UK this week?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video After thousands flocked to Buckingham Palace to watch the red arrows flyover, Brits can look forward to more celebrations this week to marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. Events are set to take place all next week to celebrate the end of World War II in Europe. A military procession took place from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace yesterday on Bank Holiday Monday, with the Royal Family taking to the balcony. It featured a display of pageantry by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, showcasing ceremonial traditions of the British Armed Forces. Winston Churchill's famous Victory Day speech was also recited as Big Ben struck noon. The celebrations are honouring the moment Allied forces accepted Germany's surrender on May 8, 1945. Military procession in central London A troop march will be held on May 5 from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, via the Mall, ending with a red arrows fly past. Poppy display at the Tower of London 30,000 ceramic poppies will be installed at the Tower of London, with the Queen opening the display on May 6. Victory in Europe Day Anniversary Concert The Parliamentary Choir will hold a celebratory concert in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament on May 7, marking the moment the nation was first informed of Victory in Europe. Beacons lit across the UK 2,500 beacons will be set alight at key locations across the country, from Tower Bridge in London to Bridport in Dorset and beyond. VE Day celebrations began in Parliament Square, where Harry Potter icon Timothy Spall read out words from Winston Churchill's famous victory speech. The 68-year-old actor, whose roles include Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Chicken Run, read extracts from the speech in which Churchill told Britons 'This is not victory of a party or of any class. It's a victory of the great British nation as a whole.' A poignant moment followed, when the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace will be passed from a young person to a 100-year-old Second World War veteran. The event culminated in the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows roaring overhead, leaving behind them red, white, and blue smoke. The King and Queen welcomed and members of the wartime generation at Buckingham Palace for a tea party. There will also be an afternoon street party and an evening do at HMS Belfast, the most significant surviving Second World War warship. Winston Churchill's family home, Chartwell in Kent is planning lots of fun activities and music to celebrate his role in the momentous day. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The moving display of 30,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London, first installed to mark the centenary of the First World War in 2014, will return to the historic fortress. The Queen will view the poppies when they go on display, with a small part of the installation visible for free to the public. Historic landmarks across the country will also be lit up on the Tuesday evening. A Victory in Europe Day Anniversary Concert will be held in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament, hosted by the Parliament Choir. The performance will mark 80 years since a newsflash informed the nation that the next day would be VE Day. This is the actual VE Day. A service will take place at Westminster Abbey, which will serve as both 'an act of shared remembrance and a celebration of the end of the war'. A two minutes silence will be held across the country, led by UK government buildings and departments. A private tea party will also be held for Second World War veterans and their families by the British Legion. There's a good chance a street party will be taking place near you. Those with country parks, gardens, community halls and quiet roads are asked to unfold the chairs and tables and host a party. And expect a lot of bell ringing, too. Cathedrals have been asked to ring their bells at 6.30pm in a united call to 'work for peace', explained Revd Jo Kelly-Moore, chair of the Association of English Cathedrals. A concert will also take place at Horseguards Parade from 8pm to mark the end of commemorations. More than 12,500 people will attend the event, including the King and Queen. Pubs will also be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours, allowing revellers to celebrate the end of celebrations at 1am on the Friday morning. Capping off May 8, 2,500 beacons will be set alight across the UK. The fires will be lit around 9pm at focal points at various points in the country, including at London's Tower Bridge. While there are no more official events being organised by the government, many local and community events are still scheduled for Friday and the weekend after VE Day. A 1940s style dance will be roaring away in Wouldham, Rochester, while The Royal Irish Regiment will be holding a lively concert in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland on 10 May. On the same day, the Veterans Memorial Garden in Glasgow wifollowed by a veterans parade. This will finish at the Lincoln Inn where there will be a buffet, music and raffle. More Trending In the Yorkshire village of Catton, there will be a vintage-themed day featuring Second World War memorabilia and vehicles. A similar event is also set to take place in Keelby village hall, in Lincolnshire. There is a handy website available to find all the closest VE Day events near to you. The government has put together this web page to list 780 activities happening throughout the week of festivities. There is even space to add your own event and get help on how to bring people together to celebrate. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: How did World War II end – and why do Europe and the US recognise different dates? MORE: Queen tells veteran how her 'lucky' dad survived being shot in face during war MORE: 'Real gentleman' dies in house fire after 'hero' neighbour tried to pull him from flames
