Wednesday, 11 June 2025

US inflation rose to 2.4% in May, up from 2.3% in April, as Trump's tariff policies continue to put upward pressure on prices. The increase comes as the administration pushes ahead with controversial trade measures.

Trump announced that China will face 55% tariffs under a new trade deal framework struck in London focused on increasing supply of rare earth minerals and magnets for the US car and defense industries. A US-China framework agreement was reached to extend the trade war truce.

Los Angeles authorities established an 8pm-6am curfew in downtown LA as protests against ICE immigration raids intensified. Police announced mass arrests as demonstrators defied the overnight curfew, while Governor Newsom issued a blistering attack on Trump's deployment of National Guard troops.

ICE raids in Los Angeles accelerated as families arrested reported being detained in basements with little food or water, according to lawyers representing the detainees. Agents confiscated belongings and rapidly transported deportees to California's high desert or Texas facilities.

Trump administration announced plans to cut all USAID overseas roles in a dramatic restructuring, with the State Department set to take over US foreign assistance programs. Staffers have warned the move will have a devastating impact on development initiatives.

Trump's EPA announced major rollbacks to power plant pollution limits, with more than 200 health experts warning the regulatory proposals will lead to the biggest increase in pollution in decades. Additionally, Climate.gov, a major US climate website supporting public education on climate science, is set to be shut down after nearly all staff were fired.

A federal appeals court is set to hear arguments in Trump's bid to erase his hush money conviction in New York. Trump's lawyers argued that a recent Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity justifies moving the appeal to federal court.

The Pentagon launched a review of the US-UK-Australia AUKUS defense alliance to assess whether the $240 billion security pact aligns with the Trump administration's 'America first' agenda. The future of the alliance is now in doubt.

The US State Department ordered non-essential embassy staff to leave Iraq amid growing Middle East tensions and concerns about stalled nuclear talks between the US and Iran.

According to survey data, views of the United States have declined sharply in many allied countries, with just 34% of people expressing confidence in Trump. Large declines in favorability were recorded in Mexico, Poland, and Canada, with majorities of Canadians now viewing the US unfavorably amid trade policy and sovereignty concerns.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, publicly broke with Trump over the pardon of former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins, calling it misguided. "Given what I know, I would not have pardoned him," Miyares told the Virginia Mercury, noting he had been aware of the facts having authorized the state investigation into Jenkins. Trump had portrayed Jenkins as a victim of political persecution by "an overzealous Biden Department of Justice," writing on Truth Social that Jenkins had been "dragged through HELL" and "left for dead" by "Radical Left monsters."