US on heightened state of alert over flying objects – and it hasn’t ruled out extra-terrestrials
In US political speak, they’re fond of the phrase “an abundance of caution”.
It translates into a week of US Top Guns taking to the skies and taking out airborne objects that, frankly, could be anything.
The US doesn’t know – but a week of national security whiplash has been triggered by what they say they do know, that object number one was a Chinese spy balloon.
Spy balloons and US tensions with China – join our live Q&A
In a Sunday night news briefing, the US Department of Defence (DoD) spoke of a heightened state of alert.
It says it has been more closely scrutinising US airspace and that radar filters have been tweaked to pick out smaller objects in the sky.
Read more:
US jet shoots down fourth flying object
US shoots down ‘Chinese spy balloon’
What are spy balloons?
We are told that recent objects posed no military threat and the DoD acknowledged that companies and organisations operate objects at altitude for research purposes.
So how much longer can this “shoot first” policy continue?
Clearly, it will depend on debris collection and analysis.
The first airborne object to be shot down was a suspected spy balloon (pictured) – but the following three have not yet been identified
There will come a point when the US knows what it’s dealing with and takes a considered view – in the meantime, it’s taking no chances.
Its president, certainly, isn’t entertaining risk – on the politics, at least.
The week started with Joe Biden criticised for a delay in ordering the shooting down of the Chinese spy balloon.
It ended with him taking to Twitter, talking tough on China – “we will act to protect our country” – as US forces scrambled to retrieve whatever they shot down over Lake Huron.
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
With an announcement on his presidential run expected soon, the “weak on China” charge isn’t one that he can let, well, fly.
In closing Sunday’s briefing, DoD top brass opened a door – to headline writers and the rest.
When asked during that briefing if the airborne objects could be extra-terrestrials, US Air Force General Glen VanHerck replied: “I haven’t ruled out anything.”
The truth is out there, even if it’s not here yet.
DHL Express is suspending some shipments to the US as Donald Trump’s new tariff regime takes effect.
From 21 April, shipments worth more than $800 (£603) to US consumers from “any origin” will be temporarily suspended.
New rules that came into effect at the start of April made such shipments subject to increased customs checks.
“This change has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock,” said the parcel delivery service.
Shipments going from business to business worth more than $800 aren’t affected by the suspension, but DHL warned they may also face delays.
Shipments under $800 to either businesses or consumers are not impacted, but one British cycle manufacturer suggested its US customers may need to split orders over $800 into “smaller shipments” to avoid the red tape.
Read more:
The art of doing a deal with Trump
Is there method to Trump’s madness?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Trump: Tariffs are making US ‘rich’
Trump targeting ‘deceptive’ practices
From May, shipments from China and Hong Kong that are worth less than $800 “will be subject to all applicable duties”, according to the White House.
“President Trump is targeting deceptive shipping practices by Chinese-based shippers, many of whom hide illicit substances, including synthetic opioids, in low-value packages,” it said in a statement.
Until now, deliveries worth less than $800 didn’t incur any duties, which allowed low-cost companies Chinese like Shein and Temu to make inroads in the US.
Both have warned their prices will now rise because of the rule changes, starting on 25 April.
Anti-Trump protests took place across America on Saturday, with demonstrators decrying the administration’s immigration crackdown and mass firings at government agencies.
Events ranged from small local marches to a rally in front of the White House and a demonstration at a Massachusetts commemoration of the start of the Revolutionary War 250 years ago.
Thomas Bassford, 80, was at the battle reenactment with his two grandsons, as well as his partner and daughter.
He said: “This is a very perilous time in America for liberty. I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom.”
At events across the country, people carried banners with slogans including “Trump fascist regime must go now!”, “No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state,” and “Fight fiercely, Harvard, fight,” referencing the university’s recent refusal to hand over much of its control to the government.
Some signs name-checked Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian citizen living in Maryland, who the Justice Department admits was mistakenly deported to his home country.
Read more: Donald Trump’s deportations explained
Pic: AP
People waved US flags, some of them held upside down to signal distress. In San Francisco, hundreds of people spelt out “Impeach & Remove” on a beach, also with an inverted US flag.
People walked through downtown Anchorage in Alaska with handmade signs listing reasons why they were demonstrating, including one that read: “No sign is BIG enough to list ALL of the reasons I’m here!”
Pic: AP
Protests also took place outside Tesla car dealerships against the role Elon Musk ahas played in downsizing the federal government as de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The protests come just two weeks after similar nationwide demonstrations.
👉 Follow Trump 100 on your podcast app 👈
Organisers are opposing what they call Mr Trump’s civil rights violations and constitutional violations, including efforts to deport scores of immigrants and to scale back the federal government by firing thousands of government workers and effectively shuttering entire agencies.
The Trump administration, among other things, has moved to shutter Social Security Administration field offices, cut funding for government health programs and scale back protections for transgender people.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway