International
Harris surpasses Trump in Latin voting intention, but the Democratic advantage is reduced
Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris surpasses her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, in Latin voting intention, but has the slightest advantage of a Democratic candidate in the last four elections in the United States, according to a poll by Telemundo, NBC News and CNBC published this Sunday.
Harris achieved 54% of the voting intention compared to 40% of Trump in a poll with 1,000 Latino voters registered in the US, conducted in English and Spanish between September 15 and 23 and with a margin of error of more or less 3.1 percentage points.
Harris’ 14 percentage point advantage over Trump improves the one that President Joe Biden had before withdrawing his candidacy for re-election last July, but the figure represents the narrowest margin for a Democratic candidate since 2012, says CNBC.
What do Latinos think of Harris and Trump?
54% of respondents also indicated that they prefer Congress to be controlled by the Democrats, compared to 42% who prefer the Republicans, which also represents the most reduced Democratic advantage since 2012.
The survey shows that the cost of living and inflation, as well as jobs and the economy, are the issues of greatest concern for Latinos, in line with the general trend in the United States, and those are the issues in which Trump has the best score.
46% of respondents said they preferred Trump over 37% to Harris when it comes to tackling inflation, and in economic matters in general Trump also prevails (45% versus 41%).
Migration and borders
Regarding other issues, Harris surpasses Trump with the greatest advantage (39 percentage points) in human treatment and protection of immigrants’ rights, followed by the issue of abortion (32 points).
However, the survey reflects the diversity of the Latino community in the US and its division in immigration issues: for example, 62% said that immigration helps more than it harms and 35% the opposite, the latter percentage being the highest among Latinos in two decades, according to Telemundo.
Apart from that, 52% considered it more important to give immigrants a way for citizenship and avoid their discrimination, compared to 47% who advocated making the border safer and stopping the illegal crossing of immigrants.
Central America
Guatemala’s Attorney General Consuelo Porras Loses Bid for Constitutional Court Seat
Guatemala’s attorney general, Consuelo Porras, who has been sanctioned by the United States over corruption allegations, lost a key vote on Monday in which a public university selected two of the 10 magistrates for the country’s highest constitutional court. However, she could still seek a seat through another nominating body.
The election of five full magistrates and five alternates to the Corte de Constitucionalidad (CC) is taking place gradually over more than two months and is considered crucial in the ongoing struggle for control of Guatemala’s judiciary, which critics say has long been influenced by a political and economic elite accused of corruption.
According to results announced at a press conference, the governing council of the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) rejected Porras, who had applied as either a full or alternate magistrate, and instead chose two candidates aligned with the university rector. The vote was held at a hotel in Antigua, about 35 kilometers from the capital.
Despite the setback, Porras — whose term as attorney general ends on May 16 — could still be nominated to the Constitutional Court by the Corte Suprema de Justicia, which appoints two magistrates. The remaining six are selected by the president, the bar association and Congress.
“It’s always a possibility,” the 72-year-old lawyer said days earlier when asked by reporters whether she would seek nomination through another institution if she lost the USAC vote.
Porras has been sanctioned by Washington and the European Union for allegedly attempting two years ago to block the inauguration of President Bernardo Arévalo and for pursuing legal actions against anti-corruption prosecutors, judges, journalists and social leaders since taking office in 2018.
The USAC vote was controversial because most members of the university’s governing council are serving beyond the expiration of their terms. Students, academics and social activists staged protests against Porras’ candidacy.
International
Florida judge sets 2027 trial in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against BBC
A federal judge in Florida has scheduled February 2027 for the trial in the lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump against the BBC, in which he is seeking $10 billion in damages for defamation.
Trump accuses the British broadcaster of airing a misleading edit of a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021, which, he says, made it appear that he explicitly urged his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
The president filed the suit in December in federal court in Florida, alleging defamation and violations of a law governing business practices when the program was broadcast ahead of the 2024 election.
Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for each of the two claims.
Lawyers for the BBC unsuccessfully asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Trump had not suffered a “legally recognizable harm,” since the investigative program Panorama, which included the edited footage, aired outside the United States.
International
Head-of-state diplomacy key to guiding China–U.S. ties, Beijing says
Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–United States relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday during a regular press briefing, when asked about high-level exchanges between the two sides.
Lin added that in a recent phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed his intention to visit China in April, while Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his invitation.
Both sides remain in communication regarding the matter, the spokesperson said.
Lin noted that the essence of China–U.S. economic and trade ties lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
“Both parties should work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, injecting greater certainty and stability into China–U.S. economic and trade cooperation, as well as into the global economy,” he said.
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