America in Brief

US blocks California’s emission standards, US finalizes trade deal, and a court rules that Trump can deploy National Guard during LA protests.

A Los Angeles freeway during the evening rush hour in Alhambra, Calif., on April 12, 2023. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

US Blocks California’s Emission Standards

The U.S. government has blocked a series of California vehicle emissions regulations, including a plan to ban new petrol-only vehicles by 2035.

President Donald Trump signed three bills on June 12, rejecting three California regulations, which would have made all new cars electric by 2035, pushed for all big trucks to go electric, and reduced vehicle emissions.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a lobbying group that represents most major car and truck companies in the United States, praised the move, describing the California mandates as ”never achievable and wildly unrealistic.”

In response, California is leading an 11-state coalition to sue the federal government.

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) is removed from the room after interrupting a news conference with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Democratic Senator Booted From Press Conference

A Democratic senator was forcibly removed from a Homeland Security press conference in Los Angeles on June 12 before being forced to the ground and handcuffed.

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) interrupted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was addressing the media, by trying to ask a question, when he was escorted out of the room.

Homeland Security released a post on X confirming that the two met 15 minutes after the incident.

“Sen. Padilla chose disrespectful political theater and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself,” the agency wrote.

California National Guard members stand outside the federal building in Los Angeles on June 10, 2025, as people protest federal immigration operations. Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images

Court Rules National Guard Can Stay in LA Amid Protests

A judge has ruled that President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles can temporarily remain, as protests over immigration authorities’ arrests of illegal immigrants head into their second week.

The appeals court judge temporarily paused a lower court ruling that had blocked the mobilization of National Guard troops in California and ordered them to be returned to state control.

Riots over arrests of illegal immigrants have erupted across Los Angeles County and have spread to other U.S. cities.

President Trump had taken control of 400 of California’s National Guard troops and deployed them into the city to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and federal buildings.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass alleged that the deployment caused chaos in the city.

Shipping containers are stacked at the Yantian International Container Terminal in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. on April 12, 2025. Cheng Xin/Getty Images

US Finalizes Trade Deal With China

The United States finalized its trade agreement with China this week in London.

China is giving the United States access to its full magnet and rare earth supplies in exchange for providing Chinese students access to U.S. colleges and universities.

The two countries reached an agreement on a 90-day pause on tariffs in Geneva on May 12, followed by a reduction in the tariffs on Chinese goods from 145 percent to 30 percent.

The new deal gives the United States a 55 percent tariff on all goods from China.

Trump also said on June 11 that he was open to extending a July 8 deadline on trade talks with other countries, with 15 of them, including Japan and Korea, currently in negotiations.