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Singaporeans living in Los Angeles take extra precautions amid immigration protests

Singaporeans living in Los Angeles take extra precautions amid immigration protests

CNA5 hours ago

Some Singaporeans living in Los Angeles say they are taking extra precautions, like avoiding downtown LA, as US immigration protests enter the fourth day. They tell CNA that the Singapore embassy has also not issued any warnings or advisory notes, as the bulk of the Singaporean community who are still there feel relatively safe.

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Los Angeles police order immigration protesters in downtown to go home
Los Angeles police order immigration protesters in downtown to go home

CNA

time3 hours ago

  • CNA

Los Angeles police order immigration protesters in downtown to go home

LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles braced for another day of unrest on Monday (Jun 9) over President Donald Trump's immigration policies, after police declared the city's downtown an unlawful assembly area and ordered protesters to go home. California officials pushed back against the White House's deployment of National Guard troops, saying they were unnecessary and had only exacerbated the situation. Governor Gavin Newsom vowed to sue the federal government. "This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted. He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard," Newsom posted on X on Monday. "We're suing him." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass blamed the Trump administration for inciting tension by sending in the Guard. She also condemned protesters after some burned cars and hurled bottles at police. "I don't want people to fall into the chaos that I believe is being created by the administration completely unnecessarily," Bass told a press conference on Sunday. The unrest in Los Angeles has become a flashpoint in Trump's signature effort to clamp down on illegal immigration. The Republican president has pledged to deport record numbers of people who are in the country illegally and to lock down the US-Mexico border, setting the ICE border enforcement agency a daily goal of arresting at least 3,000 migrants. Los Angeles police said some protesters had thrown concrete projectiles, bottles and other items at police. Police declared several rallies to be unlawful assemblies and later extended that to include the whole downtown area. Several self-driving cars from Alphabet's Waymo were set ablaze on a downtown street on Sunday evening. Police on horseback tried to control the crowds. Some officers used flash-bang grenades and tear gas, CNN reported. Demonstrators shouted "Shame on you!" at police and some appeared to throw objects, video images showed. One group blocked the 101 Freeway, a downtown thoroughfare. City Police Chief Jim McDonnell told a media briefing on Sunday evening that people had a right to protest peacefully but the violence he had seen by some was "disgusting" and the protests were getting out of control. Police said they had arrested 10 people on Sunday and 29 the previous night, adding arrests were continuing. Vanessa Cardenas, head of the immigration advocacy group America's Voice, accused the Trump administration of "trumping up an excuse to abuse power, and deliberately stoke and force confrontations around immigration." WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS In response to California's threat to sue the government, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that "Newsom did nothing as violent riots erupted in Los Angeles for days." Asked if the National Guard was needed, Police Chief McDonnell said police would not "go to that right away," but added, "Looking at the violence tonight, I think we've got to make a reassessment." In a social media post, Trump called on McDonnell to do so. "He should, right now!!!" Trump added. "Don't let these thugs get away with this. Make America great again!!!" The White House disputed Newsom's characterisation of Trump inflaming the situation, saying in a statement, "Everyone saw the chaos, violence and lawlessness." Earlier on Sunday, about a dozen National Guard members, along with Department of Homeland Security personnel, pushed back a group of demonstrators outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, video showed. The US Northern Command said 300 members of the California National Guard had been deployed to three spots in the Los Angeles area. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told CBS program "Face the Nation" that the National Guard would provide safety around buildings to people engaged in peaceful protest and to law enforcement. "ALL ACTION NECESSARY" The Trump administration's immigration enforcement measures have also included residents who are in the country legally, some with permanent residence, spurring legal challenges. In a social media post on Sunday, Trump called the demonstrators "violent, insurrectionist mobs" and said he was directing his cabinet officers "to take all such action necessary" to stop what he called riots. Despite Trump's language, he has not invoked the Insurrection Act, an 1807 law that empowers a president to deploy the US military to suppress events such as civil disorder. Asked on Sunday whether he was considering doing so, he said, "It depends on whether or not there's an insurrection." Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Saturday the Pentagon is prepared to mobilise active-duty troops "if violence continues" in Los Angeles, saying Marines at nearby Camp Pendleton were on high alert.

Sparks fly in Shanghai as U.S. and China clash over trade tensions
Sparks fly in Shanghai as U.S. and China clash over trade tensions

Independent Singapore

time5 hours ago

  • Independent Singapore

Sparks fly in Shanghai as U.S. and China clash over trade tensions

SHANGHAI: At a prestigious event commemorating the 110th anniversary of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Shanghai on Friday, U.S. and Chinese representatives openly disagreed over the state of economic relations between the world's two largest economies. Sharp exchanges highlight strained relations According to the latest Reuters report, Scott Walker, Consul General of the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, denounced China for maintaining an 'unbalanced and non-reciprocal' relationship that has unfairly disadvantaged American industries operating on Chinese soil. 'We want an end to discriminatory actions and retaliation against U.S. companies in China,' Walker stated, setting the tenor for an edgy negotiation. With an instantaneous reaction, Chen Jing, a senior Shanghai Communist Party bureaucrat and president of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, dismissed Walker's comments as 'prejudiced' and 'ungrounded,' stressing that they were not consistent during the latest phone call between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping. This verbal sparring highlighted the continuing friction amid a delicate economic collaboration. Trade war pressures and diplomatic overtures The fiery discussion comes on the heels of a highly anticipated phone call between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, intended to resolve weeks of escalating trade tensions. The leaders purportedly decided to continue the negotiations following disagreements over essential 'rare earth' minerals—vital elements in contemporary technology—that threaten to disrupt a tentative ceasefire. Notwithstanding a 90-day tariff rollback arrangement inked in May, larger problems remain unsettled. Washington blames Beijing for breaching the terms, while industries face an uncertain future amid the volatility of U.S.-China relations. The festering trade conflict continues to loom over both nations, with businesses caught in the line of fire. Businesses seek certainty amid uncertainty Talking to reporters during the event, Eric Zheng, President of AmCham Shanghai, articulated the disappointment and annoyance felt across the business community. With more than 1,000 member companies, AmCham embodies a substantial percentage of American commercial interests in China. Zheng disclosed that numerous corporations have investments and operational decisions pending, expecting stronger signals from both governments. See also Poll: Trump's approval rating at all-time high 'Our number one ask from the two governments is to give us some certainty so that we can plan accordingly,' Zheng said. 'People are looking for some more definitive, durable statements on both sides that enable businesses to feel more secure.' As U.S.-China economic ties remain edgy, American establishments in China are hoping for stability to protect their future growth, and for the pomposity to simmer down in favor of productive collaboration.

Trump-Musk rift deepens, former allies now public foes
Trump-Musk rift deepens, former allies now public foes

Independent Singapore

time5 hours ago

  • Independent Singapore

Trump-Musk rift deepens, former allies now public foes

WASHINGTON, U.S.A.: Once a visible coalition, the bond between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has taken a jarring meltdown, with pressures, allegations, and political risks piling up on both sides. From allies to adversaries According to the latest Axios report, President Donald Trump made it clear in a Saturday talk that his connection and dealings with Elon Musk are over, and he is no longer interested in fixing or patching it up. 'I would assume so,' Trump stated when questioned if the relationship had been terminated. 'I think it's a shame that he's so depressed and so heartbroken,' he further said in a scathing comment about the tech magnate. Formerly known as an ally of the Trump administration and a supporter of the president's undertakings, Musk has changed course recently, vigorously lobbying against Trump's vital statutory initiatives—a comprehensive tax-and-spend proposal Musk has dubbed a 'disgusting abomination.' The Tesla and SpaceX CEO's headline-making disapproval of the bill impelled Trump to tag him as 'disrespectful to the office of the President.' See also The world's eyes are on Singapore's COVID endgame A warning over political funding In an aggravation that could have bigger and wider-ranging political costs, Trump delivered an indirect threat—Musk would be grappling with unlimited 'serious consequences' if he were to finance Democratic contenders fighting Republicans who back up Trump's purported 'big, beautiful bill.' The statement comes amid escalating pressures over Musk's unfolding political clout and its impact. While he contributed more than US$290 million to Republicans in the 2024 election cycle, Musk has just announced a withdrawal from political spending. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) interjected during ABC's This Week , warning that it would be a 'big mistake' for Musk to hit back against Republicans supporting Trump's regulation. Personal jabs and policy threats As the fight continues to unravel publicly, both men have taken personal jabs at each other. In a recent Oval Office attendance with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said he was 'very disappointed' in Musk, asserting that the tycoon had exhaustive information and familiarity with the bill he now disapproves. In response, Musk live-posted refutations on X, even going so far as to infer that Trump was mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein documents—a post that has since been removed. Trump canned the accusation, labelling it 'old news.' See also Reform Party chief accuses WP of conspiring with PAP The grudge has also morphed into policy ultimatums. Trump dispatched on Truth Social that the 'easiest way' to expurgate federal expenditure would be to abolish government agreements and appropriations tied to Musk's businesses. Asked by NBC if he was sincere, Trump stated he could do it but had not 'given it any thought.' For the time being, what started as a political difference has escalated into an absolute power struggle between two of the most dominant figures in conservative circles—one that could shape and define the narrative heading into November.

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