Australia Accuses PLA Jet of Unsafe Actions Over South China Sea
(Bloomberg) -- Australia has accused the Chinese air force of an 'unsafe and unprofessional interaction' with one of Canberra's military aircraft over the South China Sea during a routine maritime surveillance operation.
Why American Mobility Ground to a Halt
Saudi Arabia's Neom Signs $5 Billion Deal for AI Data Center
SpaceX Bid to Turn Texas Starbase Into City Is Set for Vote in May
Cutting Arena Subsidies Can Help Cover Tax Cuts, Think Tank Says
An air force patrol plane had been flying across the body of water on Feb. 11 when a People's Liberation Army fighter jet released flares in close proximity to the Australian aircraft, the defense department in Canberra said Thursday.
'This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel,' the department said in a statement. It added that no injuries were sustained by Australian military personnel and the aircraft was left undamaged.
Chinese officials were not immediately available for comment.
Relations between Australia and China have rapidly improved over the past three years since the election of the center-left Labor government. Yet at the same time, military incidents between the two nations have threatened to hurt ties.
In May last year, both countries blamed each other for a potentially dangerous interaction over the Yellow Sea, where Australia accused a Chinese aircraft of 'releasing flares along the flight path' of one of its helicopters. Beijing denied the accusations.
Six months earlier, two Australian navy divers were injured by sonar pulses after a standoff with a Chinese naval vessel.
The Game Changer: How Ely Callaway Remade Golf
Elon Musk's DOGE Is a Force Americans Can't Afford to Ignore
How Oura's Smart Ring Bridged the Gap From Tech Bros to Normies
Why Fast Food Could Be MAHA's Next Target
Trump's Tariffs Make Currency Trading Cool Again After Years of Decline
©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
18 minutes ago
- Axios
Inside Trump's backtrack on immigration
For months, Trump administration officials have been adamant about targeting all the millions of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, regardless of their work or taxpaying status. But now Trump is making a huge exception: those working at hotels, farms, meatpacking plants and restaurants. Why it matters: He's bowing to pressure from businesses that have been warning of economic devastation — and is opening the door for potentially millions of workers who are here illegally to stay after all. Zoom in: The pressure — particularly from the agriculture and hospitality industries — had been building for months. But it ramped up in recent weeks, after top Trump aide Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem met with top ICE officials in late May and demanded that immigration agents dramatically boost their arrest goal to 3,000 people a day. That mandate helped drive many of the increasingly aggressive raids by masked, heavily armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents across the nation. It also helped inspire protests about ICE's tactics — most notably in Los Angeles, where Trump called in the National Guard and Marines over the objection of state and local officials. How it happened: Trump's pivot appears to have emerged Wednesday, sources with knowledge of the situation tell Axios. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins called Trump to say farm groups were increasingly concerned that the stepped-up immigration raids would lead many reliable workers to be arrested — or stop showing up for work, out of fear. Their conversation, the sources said, led Trump to post a message on Truth Social Thursday saying that immigrants in the agriculture and hospitality industries are "very good, long time workers." He hinted at exceptions for such workers who are here illegally, saying: "Changes are coming." Later Thursday, Tatum King, a senior ICE official, sent an email to agency officials nationwide, telling them to "please hold on all worksite enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meatpacking plants), restaurants, and operating hotels." The email added that "other case types/investigations such as human trafficking, money laundering, drug smuggling into these industries are ok, however we are not pursuing non-criminal collaterals." The intrigue: White House insiders insist this isn't a case of Trump flip-flopping — and that he still supports the hard line on immigration enforcement that Miller and Noem have pushed. But it's clear that the economic calamity that could result from mass deportations of unauthorized workers who do labor-intensive jobs most Americans won't, will lead to some changes in Trump's immigration plan. Undocumented workers and those with expired work visas can be difficult to track across sectors of the economy But some studies have given a glimpse of their presence: The American Immigration Council estimates that unauthorized immigrants make up about 4.6% of the nation's employed labor force — that would amount to more than 7 million people. A recent Department of Agriculture study estimated that about 42% of America's farmworkers were undocumented from 2020 to 2022. Trump previously floated the idea of creating exceptions for workers in crucial industries. In mid-April, he suggested a pathway to citizenship for "great" unauthorized immigrants who play key roles in the economy — a way to live in the U.S. legally if they'd self-deport and have an employer support their return.
USA Today
33 minutes ago
- USA Today
Lower Hudson Valley protests: 'If we aren't the melting pot, anymore... what are we?'
Lower Hudson Valley protests: 'If we aren't the melting pot, anymore... what are we?' Show Caption Hide Caption Watch thousands of pro-immigration New Yorkers protest in Manhattan. Thousands of New Yorkers protested against ICE policies during a rally and march in Manhattan June 10, 2025. The Lower Hudson Valley was the site of multiple protests Saturday, June 14, part of a reported 2,000 such demonstrations nationwide, following days of protest in Los Angeles and New York City. A national coalition of progressive organizations called for the protests on June 14, which coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday and his unusual military parade in D.C. on the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary. The protests were held in response to the military spectacle in D.C. But the shorthand title for the protests, "No Kings," carries a further condemnation of Trump administration actions. Some include the use of National Guard and military troops to quell protests in Los Angeles over immigration sweeps; the executive branch's failure to comply with federal court rulings; and Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" that critics say favors wealthy Americans and adds to the federal deficit. ≽ See a schedule and map of protests in Westchester and Rockland counties here. Watch live: See video of June 14 No Kings protests from across the United States In Nanuet, people lined all the sidewalks along the intersection of Route 59 and Middletown Road known as the "Four Corners." It's been the sight of various demonstrations going back at least 50 years. In recent months, demonstrators rally most Saturdays between noon and 2 p.m. carrying signs blasting Trump, erstwhile DOGE engineer Elon Musk and the region's congressman, U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican whose 17th District includes all of Rockland and Putnam counties, and parts of Westchester and Dutchess. Lynn O'Brien of Suffern, 86, had protested at the Four Corners in 2003 as the Iraq War brewed. She'd marched in Baltimore during the late 1960s for civil rights and against the Vietnam War. She said she was there again Saturday, June 14, because "we're in danger in this country." "People don't know what to do," O'Brien said. By 11:30 a.m., more than 100 protesters had gathered on the southwest corner at the intersection of Route 59 and Middletown Road, and a dozen more across the street for the protest that started at noon. Clarkstown police and protest organizers were having a calm and detailed discussion about perimeters. Vehicles honked frequently in the heavily-traveled corridor, earning appreciative cheers from the crowd. With well over 1,000 protesters present by noon, Clarkstown police could be seen putting up more orange barriers as a buffer between the roadway and sidewalk on Route 58. Ciara Sweeney, of Pearl River, made hand-painted posters with a caricature of president Trump behind bars and the words "IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT CRIMINALS BUT THE PRESIDENT IS." She and her mother turned out for the day's demonstration to counter the military parade in D.C. "just to show there are protests everywhere. People think people have given up," Sweeney explained. "That's not true." Sweeney said it was important to show up in the suburbs, too. "Don't count out Rockland County," the 20-year-old said. Penelope Tseteskos, 21, came out because she wants "all civil rights for everyone, that's what America's made of." The Pearl River resident carried one of Sweeney's painted signs. Xavier Malta of Spring Valley is a military veteran from the Cold War era. He served in Southeast Asia from 1975-79. "This is not what I served for," he said. "I believe in Democracy, I believe in our country ad our flag and I'm a patriot, but this is not a Democracy where we're going." Ayden Knapp, 19, of Park Ridge, New Jersey was concerned about the kind of immigration crackdowns seen in Los Angeles. Immigration was part of American tradition and culture, he said, "If we aren't the melting pot anymore, then what are we?" About half of the day's 1,000 expected protesters had arrived just before 11 a.m. at the Mount Kisco station protest spot, many dressed in clown or king costumes. The sounds of Aretha Franklin's "Respect" could be heard filtering through a nearby sound system's speakers. Chants of "No kings! No clowns! Don't be fascist! Let's run the fascists out of our town!" echoed among the crowd. Organizers could be seen in yellow vests directing demonstrators to appropriate places to stand, as crowds engaged with each other in the lively, almost festive atmosphere. Despite overcast skies, and rain in the forecast, the weather seemed to be holding out. A nun, Sister Rosemarie Milazzo, of the Maryknoll Sisters in Ossining, 93, was spotted carrying a sign that says "Let Freedom Ring, Not A King." "It's simple, I don't want a king running my country," she told reporters. "And I want to be a little more hospitable to refugees and immigrants, I'm a daughter of an immigrant." A Peekskill couple were among the younger demonstrators in the crowd, most of whom were over the age of 60, and overwhelmingly white. Thirty-five-year-old tech worker Michael Trapani, carrying a full sized American Flag on a pole over his shoulder, said he and his wife Stephanie, 38, were at the Mount Kisco protest because "we're moving towards authoritarianism, and we're trying to prevent that from happening." Stephanie, a nurse, remarked that the government was "single-handedly dismantling our health care system." "This is America. We were founded by overthrowing tyranny," Michael said. "Being here is the most American thing we could possibly do." Betty Marotta, 75, a retired RN from Holmes in Dutchess donned a jester's costume for the occasion. "Trump's a clown. He's just a clown," she said. "He thinks he is king and doesn't follow the rule of law." At 12:36 p.m., protest organizers in Mount Kisco announced the Minnesota shootings of two Democratic lawmakers and their spouses to loud gasps and cries of 'fascists!' A moment of silence came after, followed by a chorus of protesters singing Bob Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind." Many people were in tears. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed, and State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot and wounded in 'targeted shootings' in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, two neighboring suburban cities 10 to 20 miles outside Minneapolis. Police were searching for at least one suspect alleged to have impersonated a law enforcement officer while carrying out the attack. Alan Levy of Peekskill, one of the event organizers, choked up addressing the crowd, only getting out '…May their memories be a blessing. "This is the next step we're all worried about. That people will take the words of this administration and use them as a cudgel to kill, murder, maim," Levy said. "It's what no one here wants to see." The day after protesting escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, New Yorkers once again hit the streets for another day of demonstration. Mayor Eric Adams said in a post to the social media platform X that the city's 34,000-plus members of the New York City Police Department would be present Saturday to "protect everyone involved — whether peacefully protesting or going about your day." "To those who seek to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights tomorrow, we are ready to help you do that," New York City Police Department commissioner Jessica Tisch posted to social media Friday. "To those who intend to commit crimes, incite violence, or attack our cops, you will be met with the full strength of the greatest police department in the world." Celebrities like Susan Sarandon and Mark Ruffalo joined protesters in the street, as thousands made their way from Bryant Park down 5th Avenue. The demonstration was slated to end at 4 p.m. The day of protest coincided with day one of early voting in the Big Apple's much-anticipated mayoral primary. Front and center is the contest on the Democratic ballot, which pits 11 candidates against each other— including frontrunners former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, city comptroller Brad Lander and others. Contributing: lohud's Alexandra Rivera and Ashley Catherine Fontones; USA TODAY. (This story was updated with new information.)
USA Today
33 minutes ago
- USA Today
Happy birthday: Trump's parade sparks pushback and peril
Happy birthday: Trump's parade sparks pushback and peril Show Caption Hide Caption Army 250th anniversary parade marches on despite weather worries President Donald Trump's controversial military parade kicked off 30 minutes early to avoid inclement weather. President Donald Trump's military parade was just eight blocks long. And heard round the world. That's true even though the June 14 parade itself turned out to be a damp and relatively low-key affair. Thousands of spectators lined a stretch of Constitution Avenue in an off-and-on drizzle to applaud a slow-moving procession of troops, tanks, drones, a robot dog and a real dog marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. At the end, they joined in a rendition of "Happy Birthday" for the president, who happened to be turning 79 years old. "Every other country celebrates their victories," Trump said at the start of his brief speech, defending his controversial decision to stage the parade. "It's about time America did, too." But the parade may prove to be less consequential than the "No Kings" marches it sparked. In the biggest and broadest protests of his second term, millions of Americans in about 2,000 communities gathered to object to his assertion of unprecedented presidential powers, which critics say violate the Constitution. Photographs of protesters across the country filling plazas and marching across bridges were reminiscent of scenes from historic debates over the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War and more. After an aggressive start by the 47th president that has shaken up the federal government and the nation's global alliances, Saturday may have signaled the start of a new chapter of his tenure. That is, a new chapter of pushback amid a sense of growing peril. Flummoxed in Congress, organizing back home The pushback to Trump has been slow in starting as congressional Democrats, outnumbered in both chambers, continue to struggle to devise the strongest message and most effective tactics to use against the Republican president. There was no repeat of the immediate and massive demonstrations in Washington that marked his first inauguration, in 2017. In contrast, the "No Kings" rallies were deliberately local and light on policy prescriptions beyond support for democracy's guardrails and opposition to Trump's hardline approach to deporting immigrants in the country illegally. The sense of peril was underscored by a flood of violent and alarming news through the day. A manhunt was underway in Minnesota for the suspect in the assassination of a state legislative leader and her husband. Another state legislator and his wife were wounded in a separate attack. A hitlist of Democratic officials and abortion-rights advocates and a sheaf of papers labeled "No Kings" was found in the back seat of the suspected gunman's car. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democrats' 2024 vice-presidential nominee, called the persistence of political violence a "precipice moment" for the nation. Meanwhile, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel, and Israel responded with a new wave of attacks on Iran in a spiraling conflict that would risk drawing the United States into a regional war. So much was happening, and so fast, that Saturday's news overshadowed Thursday's political conflagration, when federal law-enforcement agents forced California Sen. Alex Padilla to the ground and handcuffed him after he tried to interrupt a press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The bristle of force, in DC and LA The day seemed to bristle with the display of force and the threat of its use. In Washington, dozens of 70-ton Abrams tanks rolled down the tree-lined avenue while 50 military helicopters flew overhead, the biggest public display of U.S. military hardware outside of war in memory. The official route was bookended by the capital's revered sights, beginning at the Lincoln Memorial and ending just past the White House, with the Capitol visible ahead. 'Time and again, America's enemies have learned that you threaten the American people, soldiers are coming for you," Trump said in an eight-minute speech delivered in the twilight between the parade and the fireworks. "Your defeat will be certain, your demise will be final, and your downfall will be total and complete.' The reaction by critics of the parade − mostly on grounds that it seemed more suitable for a dictatorship than a democracy − had been sharpened in recent days by the president's deployment of U.S. Marines as well as Army National Guard troops to Los Angeles in the wake of immigration protests. He acted over the objections of the city's mayor and the state's governor. The protest in Philadelphia was estimated by police at nearly 100,000. In Chicago, protesters marched past Trump Tower. In Atlanta, one sign showed the Statue of Liberty weeping and another displayed a demand familiar from Trump campaign rallies: "Lock Him Up!" In Los Angeles, some marchers carried an oversized Constitution, and others inflated a 20-foot balloon that depicted Trump as a baby in a diaper. In Nanuet, New York, a hamlet in the Lower Hudson Valley, more than 1,000 protesters lined a central intersection known as the "Four Corners." "People think people have given up," said Ciara Sweeney of nearby Pearl River, holding a hand-painted sign showing Trump behind bars. "That's not true." The protests were mostly peaceful, and many had a celebratory air. However, police in Los Angeles and in Atlanta dispersed chemical irritants to control the crowds. In Culpepper, Virginia, police arrested a man who they said accelerated an SUV into a crowd of protesters, hitting at least one person. 'Trump saves America' There was a festive vibe on the National Mall before and during the parade, too. But the mood of the mostly pro-Trump crowd wasn't as energized as the capital's last military parade, in 1991, after the triumphant end of the first Gulf War. When Trump spoke, many in the crowd rallied, but some already left through the security fences and barriers that surrounded the area. The president spoke for eight minutes, less than usual, and he stuck to a script praising the Army's history. Unlike his appearance at Fort Bragg a few days earlier, when he had ridiculed former President Joe Biden by name, Trump didn't veer into his favored political tropes. Some of the president's supporters found it an apt coincidence that Trump's birthday fell on the date of the Army's founding in 1775, as the Revolutionary War was beginning. They cited his support for a muscular military. At the protests, too, there were reminders of the revolution, where the "No Kings" slogan has its roots. In Philadelphia, a protester in colonial dress carried a sign quoting John Adams: "Liberty Once Lost Is Lost Forever." It was in Philadelphia that the Continental Congress voted to create an Army after battles against the British crown in Lexington and Concord. As Ralph Waldo Emerson famously wrote in a poem memorializing those opening conflicts, "Here once the embattled farmers stood / And fired the shot heard round the world." Contributing: Gary Stern, Nancy Cutler
