John Downing: We need to learn from neutral Austria on defence boost
New foreign minister has thrown her support behind EU efforts to spend more on security
Today at 21:30
Neutrality will not stop Austria joining EU efforts to seriously develop stronger defence capabilities in a much-changed world dominated by Vladimir Putin's aggression and Donald Trump's capriciousness.
That message from Vienna this week came on the same day that Germany sent tanks to Lithuania, eight decades after the horrors of World War II. German chancellor Friedrich Merz was in Vilnius along with his defence minister Boris Pistorius as Panzer Brigade 45 became the first such German presence on foreign soil since 1945.
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Irish Examiner
43 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Pentagon deploys 700 US marines to Los Angeles amid immigration protests
Hundreds of active-duty US marines are to be deployed in Los Angeles, the US military confirmed on Monday, making good on Donald Trump's threat to send more troops to the city to quash protests against government immigration raids and deportations. In a statement, the US Northern Command announced that a battalion of 700 marines had been activated to work with the roughly 2,100 national guard troops mobilized by the Trump administration to Los Angeles, to help protect federal property and personnel, including federal immigration agents. The marines are moving from their base at Twentynine Palms in southern California to the Los Angeles area. The move risked dramatically escalating tensions in a city on edge after four days of protests against the administration's immigration crackdown. As of Monday afternoon, the day's demonstrations had remained largely peaceful. A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told news agency Reuters, said there was no expectation that Trump was, for now at least, about to invoke the Insurrection Act, as some critics had suggested. But the person added that the situation was 'fluid' and might change. Supporters gather as Civil rights legend Dolores Huerta, 95, speaks in Los Angeles, Monday, June 9, 2025, calling for the release of labor union leader David Huerta, who was arrested during a protest on June 6. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Governor Gavin Newsom's press office called the mobilization of marines 'completely unwarranted, uncalled for, and unprecedented'. 'Trump is escalating this situation even further – deploying active duty Marines, the 'best of the best,' against their own countrymen in an American city,' the office wrote in a follow-up post. 'Completely unnecessary and only inflames the situation more.' In a statement, LAPD chief Jim McDonnell said the department had not received 'any formal notification' of the marines' activation and said the 'arrival of federal military forces in Los Angeles – absent clear coordination – presents a significant logistical and operational challenge for those of us charged with safeguarding this city'. Senior ABC News senior national policy reporter Anne Flaherty wrote on X that the troops would be 'tasked with a support role, helping law enforcement only', while Reuters quoted the official as saying they would be 'protecting federal property and facilities'. Police stand guard near the metropolitan detention center Monday, June 9, 2025, in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Twentynine Palms is home to US Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. Two defense department officials confirmed the number of 700 to NBC News. On Saturday, Trump ordered 2,000 national guard troops to Los Angeles, which has seen three days of protests over raids by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agency. Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, stated later the same day in a social media post that marines from Camp Pendleton, about 100 miles south of Los Angeles, were on 'high alert' and were ready to be mobilized. On Monday, amid a feud with Newsom over the legality of such a move, Trump said he would not hesitate to send more troops. 'If I didn't get involved, if we didn't bring the guard in – and we would bring more in if we needed it, because we have to make sure there's going to be law and order – you had a disaster happening … they were overwhelmed, you saw what was happening,' the president said at a White House roundtable focused on business investment. 'It's lucky for the people in Los Angeles and in California that we did what we did. We got in just in time. It's still simmering a little bit, but not very much.' Newsom, meanwhile, called Trump's deployment of national guard troops in response to the largely peaceful protests an 'unmistakable step toward authoritarianism', as well as being 'illegal and immoral'. A burned out car sits destroyed after a night of protests in downtown Los Angeles, Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) 'Every governor, red or blue, should reject this outrageous overreach,' he said in a statement. 'This is beyond incompetence. This is him intentionally causing chaos, terrorizing communities, and endangering the principles of our great democracy.' Rob Bonta, the California attorney general, announced on Monday the state would file a lawsuit against the Trump administration for 'unlawfully' federalizing the state's national guard and deploying its troops to quell the protests. Later in Monday's White House meeting, Trump insisted he had not yet made up his mind about sending marines. 'We'll see what happens,' he said when asked directly if he would do so. Supporters gather as Civil Rights legend Dolores Huerta, 95, speaks in favor of labor union David Huerta speaks at a protest, Monday, June 9, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo Damian Dovarganes) 'I think we have it very well under control. I think it would've been a very bad situation, it was heading in the wrong direction – it's now heading in the right direction.' Some veterans have criticized Trump's decision to deploy national guard troops, warning he risked turning the traditionally neutral US military into a partisan political force. 'This is the politicization of the armed forces,' Maj Gen Paul Eaton told the Guardian. 'It casts the military in a terrible light – it's that man on horseback, who really doesn't want to be there, out in front of American citizens.' NBC News said Monday that about 300 national guard troops were already in Los Angeles, with the remainder set to arrive by Wednesday. US military personnel are prohibited from performing law-enforcement activities inside the country unless the president has invoked the Insurrection Act, an 1807 act of Congress that permits the federalization of national guard troops and deployment of standing units of the armed forces. Former US president George HW Bush most recently invoked it in May 1992 to suppress riots following the acquittal of Los Angeles police officers for beating the Black motorist Rodney King. - The Guardian Read More Los Angeles police order immigration protesters downtown to go home
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Ireland seeking that EU avoid implementing counter tariffs on the US, cabinet to hear
The potential US response to the EU's tariffs poses a great risk to lucrative Irish businesses. Alamy Alamy POTENTIAL EUROPEAN TARIFFS on American-made goods and the possible impact they could have on the Irish economy are a cause of concern for the government, the cabinet will hear today. European countermeasures, announced last month , seek to place tariffs on goods such as US-made aeroplanes, alcohol, pharmaceutical products and items in the agri-food sector. Should a trade deal not be reached next month, the EU will implement the measures, the European Commission, the institution responsible for trade between member states and other countries, has said. There are serious concerns that the US's response to the EU's countermeasures could impact Ireland's lucrative aviation, pharma, drinks and agri-food industries. Tánaiste and trade minister Simon Harris will update cabinet on Ireland's position today. In a letter to European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, Harris will outline the position of the Irish government. He will say that any EU countermeasures against the US should not harm European businesses. Advertisement The Fine Gael leader will also tell the Slovak politician that Ireland is seeking that the Commission avoid escalating economic tensions between the EU and US, at all costs, and avoid imposing the tariffs at all. Counter tariffs should also not have a 'disproportionate' impact on one country, Harris will also say. Trade negotiations between the two blocs are 'advancing', cabinet will hear this morning, as the July deadline approaches. Should a mutual agreement not be reached, the EU has said it will impose its countermeasures on the US on 14 July. Similarly, American President Donald Trump has said he would implement 50% on European member states if there is no deal . Updates on special schools Also before cabinet today, education minister Helen McEntee will tell her colleagues that 399 special classes have been sanctioned for the upcoming school year. Admissions commenced for spaces in April. McEntee will tell cabinet that her department and the National Council of Special Education have been directed to ensure that children are accepted into new classes much earlier for the 2026/27 school year. Junior minister for special education Michael Moynihan has given assurances that special school spaces will be made available to all students in need . Hundreds of children with additional needs in recent years have been left without a school place or certainty of enrolment due to a shortage in the necessary spaces in the Irish education system. Parents will be invited to notify the National Council of Special Education in October if their children will be in need of a special school place in September 2026. Places for those students will be allocated by the end of the year. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on Ireland's budget policy: betting on a tax boom
The latest report from the Irish Fiscal Advisory council (Ifac) neatly sums up the difficulty of forecasting what happens next in the Irish economy. Facing significant uncertainties, most notably from the policies of US president Donald Trump, the economy could take a hit, or could hold on to most of the gains of recent years. One thing is for sure, however. Ireland is relying ever more heavily on corporation tax. And the report from the budget watchdog suggests how the Government should respond. These recommendations are, by now, familiar, but that does not mean they should be dismissed. The Government has, wisely, started to put cash aside in case of a downturn. And this should certainly help if any reversal was temporary. However, Ifac points to structural issues too – longer-term trends which need to be addressed. One, a common theme of these reports, is Ireland's reliance on just a few major US companies for a significant amount of corporate tax revenue. When the part of corporate tax revenues relating to tax planning is factored out, Ifac estimates that the underlying budget position is in deficit. There are also problems on the spending side of the budget, which have received little attention to date. Ifac criticises the Government for its budgeting for this year, saying that it failed to take into account overruns for 2024 which had increased the spending base. As a result, spending for this year could be €3 billion above budget, it estimates. READ MORE Significant overruns have become common, but have been offset by tax also coming in ahead of target. Relying on this continuing is unwise. To combat this, Ifac calls for better spending control and a clear target – or anchor – for the level of spending increases which is then adhered to. As the report points out, corporation tax could grow further, helping to underpin the public finances. But the risks, too, are obvious. Either way, the lack of control on day-to-day public spending is notable and does not suggest proper management, or a focus on value for money.
