https://xcancel.com/DropSiteNews/status/1915826567017631942

This analysis from Ryan Grim is pretty funny.

https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xw/fyrbt/lxjzh/202504/t20250425_11604503.html

Global Times: It’s reported that talks continue between the U.S. and China on tackling the fentanyl issue, but the Chinese are failing to negotiate in good faith. The U.S. might consider additional punitive measures to compel China to take meaningful action. This is according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter. What’s your comment?

Guo Jiakun: Fentanyl is the U.S.’s problem, not China’s. The U.S. and the U.S. alone has the responsibility to solve it. Despite the goodwill China has shown, the U.S. slapped tariffs on Chinese imports and blames it on fentanyl. This is bullying through and through, and highly damaging to dialogue and cooperation on counternarcotics. The U.S. should know that vilifying others will not hide its failed responsibility, to punish those who try to help will not solve any problem, and intimidation or threats are certainly not the right way to engage with China.

Reuters: I have two questions. The U.S. side said that trade talks between the U.S. and China are ongoing and a White House official said lower-level in-person talks as well as a phone call between U.S. and Chinese staff have taken place this week. Has the U.S. tried to reach out to the Chinese side? If so, is China willing to engage in trade talks? Second question, China is considering exempting some U.S. imports from its 125 percent tariffs and is asking businesses to identify goods that could be eligible. Can China confirm this?

Guo Jiakun: On your first question, yesterday, both my colleague at the Ministry of Commerce and I gave a clear answer to this question. China and the U.S. are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs. The U.S. should stop creating confusion.

On your second question, I am not aware of the specifics. I’d refer you to competent authorities.

CCTV: Recently the Permanent Mission of China to the UN held an Arria-formula meeting at the UN Security Council on “the Impact of Unilateralism and Bullying Practices on International Relations” in New York. Can you share more information about that?

Guo Jiakun: On April 23, Ambassador Fu Cong of the Permanent Mission of China to the UN chaired the UN Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on “the Impact of Unilateralism and Bullying Practices on International Relations.” Representatives from over 80 countries, including UNSC members, attended the meeting. China stressed at the meeting that the U.S.’s tariff levies severely infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, severely violate the WTO rules, and severely disrupt the global economic order. It is essentially about subverting the existing international economic and trade order by means of tariffs, putting the U.S. interests above the common good of the international community, and serving US hegemony at the cost of other countries’ legitimate interests. The world needs openness and inclusiveness, not closure and isolation, sovereign equality, not the strong bullying the weak, fairness and justice, not putting one’s own country first, and solidarity and cooperation, not division and confrontation. The international community must make the right choice, make its unified voice heard, and take joint actions.

Many countries at the meeting called for upholding multilateralism, strengthening dialogue and cooperation, safeguarding the WTO-centered multilateral trade regime, abiding by the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and promoting the stability and development of all countries.

We hope the U.S. will face up to the widespread concerns and strong call from the international community at the meeting, stop unilateral measures and bullying practices targeting other countries, and stop serving its own hegemony at the cost of other countries’ legitimate interests. The world should not return to the law of the jungle where the strong bully the weak. The U.S. should not go further down the wrong path.

“They had a meeting this morning,” Trump told reporters, declining to say to whom he was referring. “It doesn’t matter who ‘they’ is. We may reveal it later, but they had meetings this morning, and we’ve been meeting with China.”

China on Thursday said it had not held trade talks with Washington despite repeated comments from the US government suggesting there had been engagement.

“China and the United States have not conducted consultations or negotiations on tariffs, let alone reached an agreement,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters at a news briefing, calling reports of such information “fake news”.

https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/xw/fyrbt/lxjzh/202504/t20250424_11603586.html

Phoenix TV: We’ve been hearing the U.S. say that China and the U.S. are having talks and even about to reach a deal. Can you confirm whether the two sides are in talks?

Guo Jiakun: None of that is true. For all I know, China and the U.S. are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal.

This tariff war is launched by the U.S. China’s position is consistent and clear: We will fight, if fight we must. Our doors are open, if the U.S. wants to talk. Dialogue and negotiation must be based on equality, respect and mutual benefit.

NHK: I also have a question about tariffs. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration may reduce tariffs on Chinese imports in some cases by more than half. Additionally, President Trump said it depends on China how soon the tariffs can come down. What is your reaction to this news and statement?

Guo Jiakun: I just made clear China’s position. Let me stress again that this tariff war is launched by the U.S., and China’s attitude is consistent and clear. If a negotiated solution is truly what the U.S. wants, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing China, and seek dialogue based on equality, respect and mutual benefit.

AFP: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that Beijing’s export reliant economic model is unsustainable and harms both China and the rest of the world. What is the Foreign Ministry’s comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: The truth, which is clear to all, is that the U.S. tariffs are seriously undermining the WTO rules and harming the common interests of all countries.

https://xcancel.com/ChineseEmbinUS/status/1915078037512622448

Immigrant advocates and lawyers say an increasing number of migrant children are making immigration court appearances without the assistance of attorneys, which they say will lead to more children getting deported.

The Trump administration on March 21 terminated part of a $200 million contract that funds attorneys and other legal services for unaccompanied children, who arrived in the United States without parents or legal guardians.

The now-terminated contract paid for attorneys to represent 26,000 children across the country and “friend of the court” programs for children, which provide attorneys in court to help pro se respondents navigate the court process.

Kraft said that before the contract was terminated, she saw 30% to 40% of children in a given docket without lawyers. Now, she said, the number has increased to 50% to 60%.

Last fiscal year, 98,356 unaccompanied children entered the country

He adjusted his language to be kid-friendly, explaining in detail what a “right” is and what “asylum” is, with a gentle lilt. Immigration judges are required to take extra time to explain the proceedings in a "child-friendly" way, per Department of Justice directives.

Ul-Haq asked each of the older children if they wanted more time to find attorneys. They all responded yes. For the younger children, ul-Haq automatically gave them extra time.

“You and your sister were very good girls today,” he told the 8-year-old girl and her 4-year-old sister in the tie-dye shirt.

He asked the 7-year-old boy who had been spinning a windmill, “What’s that on your shirt?” A pizza, the boy said.

Then, ul-Haq asked if any of the children had a first language other than Spanish.

The 4-year-old girl in the tie-dye shirt raised her hand, dangling her pink plushy above her head. It wasn’t clear – was she responding to the question, or just playing with her toy?

A woman off-screen said, “I’m her case manager,” referring to herself as a social worker in charge of the child. “She speaks Spanish.”

ADL considers slogans like "Death to Israel" or "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" to be antisemitic.

ADL considers the sentence "We don't want no Zionists here." to be antisemitic.

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/22/adl-survey-antisemitc-incidents-record-level-2024

https://archive.is/2WQxU << ADL report