International
Xi congratulates Trump and calls for a “stable, healthy and sustainable” relationship between China and the United States
The President of China, Xi Jinping, called the winner of the elections in the United States, former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump, to congratulate him and ask him that the relationship between the two powers be “stable, healthy and sustainable.”
“Xi Jinping pointed out that history teaches us that China and the US. The US will benefit from cooperation and suffer from confrontation. A stable, healthy and sustainable relationship (…) meets the mutual interests of both countries and the expectations of the international community,” says a brief dispatch from the official Xinhua news agency.
Xi: The US and China must “strengthen dialogue”
In the call, Xi asked that both parties “reinforce dialogue and communication” and that “manage their differences appropriately.”
“We hope that both parties defend the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation,” said the Chinese president, who called for “finding the right way for China and the United States to get along in this new era.”
A good relationship between Beijing and Washington, Xi stressed, “will benefit both countries and the world.”
In the same information, Xinhua also points out that Chinese Vice President Han Zheng also called the elected Vice President of the United States, J.D. Vance, although he does not offer details about the conversation between the two.
This morning, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued a brief statement that read: “We respect the decision of the American people and congratulate Mr. Trump on his election as president of the United States.”
On Wednesday, before the Republican candidate’s victory over Democrat Kamala Harris was certain, Beijing had reaffirmed its position of respect for the US electoral process. USA, which he described as an “internal matter” of the North American country.
China’s policy towards the US is “consistent”
“Our policy towards the United States is consistent. We advocate managing our relationship according to our common interests and cooperation that benefits both parties,” stressed Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, who added that China would act “accordingly” once the results were known.
China and the USA. The US, as the main economies of the world, maintain broad commercial and diplomatic ties, and Beijing has pointed out on several occasions the importance of a constructive dialogue and of avoiding confrontations that affect its citizens, although the tensions between the two powers have been constant for years.
Even so, Chinese analysts believe that the bilateral relationship, regardless of whether Trump or Harris won, would continue to be marked by protectionist tensions and tariff measures.
Relations between the two countries deteriorated drastically during Trump’s first presidency (2017-2021) with collisions in plans such as commercial, diplomatic or technological and, already with Joe Biden in the White House, the tension was rekindled with rifirrafes on behalf of Taiwan or by restrictions on exports to China of semiconductors and other key technology.
In 2018, after coming to power for the first time, Trump imposed several batches of tariffs on Chinese products worth about 370 billion dollars a year, about three quarters of the Asian giant’s exports, to which Beijing responded with reprisals against US exports.
During this campaign, the Republican said he will apply rates of up to 60% to Chinese goods, which augurs more trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
International
Spanish Government Targets ‘Big Tech Impunity’ in AI Image Scandal
The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, announced Tuesday that his government will ask prosecutors to investigate X, Meta and TikTok over the alleged creation and distribution of sexually explicit images involving minors generated through artificial intelligence.
In a post on X, Sánchez said the government would formally request that the Public Prosecutor’s Office examine potential crimes that these platforms may have committed by allowing or facilitating the use of AI tools to generate such content.
“These platforms are harming the mental health, dignity and rights of our children,” Sánchez wrote, adding that “the impunity of the giants must end.”
In recent weeks, the Spanish leader has publicly clashed with tech figures such as Elon Musk and Pavel Durov after announcing on February 3 his intention to ban social media access for minors under the age of 16.
Sánchez also signaled plans to amend legislation so that platform executives could be held legally responsible for certain violations committed on their websites.
According to figures released Tuesday by the government, one in five young people in Spain — particularly girls and teenage minors — say they have experienced the circulation of AI-generated fake nude images of themselves while underage.
International
Father Faces Murder Charges in Georgia School Shooting Case
Colin Gray, 55, appeared in court Monday facing charges of murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the September 4, 2024, shooting at Apalachee High School, carried out by his son, Colt.
Two 14-year-old students and two teachers were killed, and nine others were injured in the shooting in Winder, Georgia. Colt Gray, who was 14 at the time and is now 16, has been charged as an adult and is awaiting a trial date.
During opening statements, prosecutors alleged that Gray gave his son the AR-15-style rifle used in the attack as a Christmas gift in 2023, despite prior warnings that the teenager had threatened to carry out a school shooting.
According to the FBI, local authorities interviewed Colt and his father in May 2023 after receiving anonymous reports about online threats made by the teen.
“This case is about this defendant and his actions—allowing a minor in his custody to have access to a firearm and ammunition after being warned that the minor intended to harm others,” said Brad Smith, the Barrow County prosecutor.
Defense attorney Brian Hobbs told jurors that Colin Gray was unaware of his son’s intentions and had sought help for the teenager’s declining mental health.
School shootings remain a recurring issue in the United States, where firearms outnumber people and regulations governing the purchase of even high-powered, military-style rifles are relatively permissive.
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.
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Guatemala’s Attorney General Consuelo Porras Loses Bid for Constitutional Court Seat
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