Intech Investment Management LLC Makes New Investment in Nuvalent, Inc. (NASDAQ:NUVL)
NoneNone
JERUSALEM — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports, while the World Health Organization's director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, with a crew member injured. "The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media. He added that he and U.N. colleagues were safe. "We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave," he said, without mentioning the source of the bombardment. U.N. spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service. Israel's army later told The Associated Press it wasn't aware that the WHO chief or delegation were at the location in Yemen. Smoke rises Thursday from the area around the International Airport after an airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military said in a statement it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, claiming they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel's military added it had "capabilities to strike very far from Israel's territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively." The strikes, carried out more than 1,000 miles from Jerusalem, came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad's regime and others learned" as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths and showed broken windows, collapsed ceilings and a bloodstained floor and vehicle. Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The U.S. military also targeted the Houthis in recent days. The U.N. says the targeted ports are important entryways for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, while other missiles and drones were shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor, calling it solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The U.N. Security Council has an emergency meeting Monday in response to an Israeli request that it condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying them weapons. Relatives and friends mourn over the bodies of five Palestinian journalists Thursday who were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Meanwhile, an Israeli strike killed five Palestinian journalists outside a hospital in Gaza overnight, the territory's Health Ministry said. The strike hit a car outside Al-Awda Hospital in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The journalists worked for local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad is a smaller and more extreme ally of Hamas and took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. Israel's military identified four of the men as combat propagandists and said that intelligence, including a list of Islamic Jihad operatives found by soldiers in Gaza, confirmed that all five were affiliated with the group. Associated Press footage showed the incinerated shell of a van, with press markings visible on the back doors. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more than 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the start of the war. Israel hasn't allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza except on military embeds. Israel banned the pan-Arab Al Jazeera network and accuses six of its Gaza reporters of being militants. The Qatar-based broadcaster denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its war coverage, which has focused heavily on civilian casualties from Israeli military operations. Mourners cry Thursday while they take the last look at the body of a relative, one of eight Palestinians killed, during their funeral in the West Bank city of Tulkarem. Separately, Israel's military said a 35-year-old reserve soldier was killed during fighting in central Gaza. A total of 389 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ground operation. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed across the border, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250. About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel's air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities are women and children, but doesn't say how many of the dead were fighters. The offensive caused widespread destruction and hunger and drove around 90% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid camps along the coast, with little protection from the cold, wet winter. Also Thursday, people mourned eight Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations in and around Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s departure from royal duties in January 2020 marked a new chapter in their lives, leading them to settle in the United States. However, life in the US has not been without challenges for the couple, especially following the release of Prince Harry’s memoir *Spare*, which stirred controversy with personal confessions, including about his past drug use. Recent reports suggest that Meghan Markle might be contemplating leaving the US, following the election of Donald Trump. The former president’s victory in the November 5 election, where he triumphed over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, has reportedly upset Meghan. A royal expert claimed that Meghan’s close friend, TV host Ellen DeGeneres, is considering relocating to the Cotswolds, and it’s speculated that Meghan may follow suit, given her “strong dislike” of Trump. Meghan has publicly criticized Trump in the past, calling him a misogynist and expressing discontent over his treatment of the late Queen Elizabeth II. As a result, Meghan’s emotional response to Trump’s return to the White House may influence her decision to move, according to Charlotte Griffiths, Editor at Large for *Daily Mail*. Currently residing in California with their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have a close connection with Ellen. However, with the political climate in the US shifting, it remains to be seen whether Meghan will seriously consider leaving the country. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );The third time was not the charm for a billing pushed by both the New York State House and Senate to address the state’s 178-year-old wrongful death statute. New York is only on par with Alabama in terms of how the wrongful death statute is enacted, while 48 other states have taken to amending theirs. Attorney Terry Connors, who has seen more than his fair share of courtrooms, seeking compensation for everything leading up to and including wrongful death, says there's a clear frustration across communities about a third veto of the “Grieving Families Act” this past weekend. "This veto is as illogical as it is disappointing," said Connors. The state House and Senate have brought the bill before Gov. Kathy Hochul on three occasions now and was vetoed every time. It’s a rare case in American politics where caucuses sporting more than 200 elected officials agree. "How often do you experience a situation where a law enacted any state, take any state throughout the country, and it comes in unanimous from both sides of the Legislature? That's unheard of," said Connors. "We have a statute in place right now, 178 years old, discriminates against the poor, discriminates against the young [and] discriminates against the old. Why should we have a statute like that in place?” A memo from the governor with the latest veto cites substantial reshaping of the legal framework for wrongful death actions and a slew of expansions for classifications that would help those families seek compensation. Suggestions Hochul's office have made include capping some of those categories and exempting the health care industry — something Connors understands, but takes issue with. "The only question to ask when those types of rebuttals are put forward as to why this statute should not change, is that it might impact insurance premiums," he said. "How have the other 48 states been able to combat that? How have the other 48 states not had that experience? We have precedent here." The bigger axe Connors and others have to grind is an advocacy for families they're fighting for, like the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting victims of whom Connors represents a majority of the families. "They want this passed because it's the right thing to do,” said Connors. “They never talk about the monetary issues here. All they say is, ‘my mother, my grandmother, should not be devalued.’” So the bill will be sent up a likely fourth time with a potential two-thirds majority in each body to override a veto, not something that has been outwardly campaigned for just yet. "It's direct. It's real. It's right here in our community," said Connors. From the perspective of Connors and other lawyers, it certainly would help them go after any entities involved in wrongful death actions, but they will have to continue to have conversations with officials in the House and Senate to see if that bipartisan support can hit those super majorities. One of the bills sponsors, state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, told Spectrum News 1 he believes the governor and supporters are actually in agreement the statute does need attention, but how the negotiations or talks for addressing it down the line are remain to be determined.
The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday. Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pick WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members. It's a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members. They're a key part of the Democratic base but are gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his choice for treasury secretary. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. Trump chooses Bessent to be treasury secretary, Vought as budget chief, Chavez-DeRemer for Labor WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent, 62, is founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. He previously had worked on and off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. Trump also said he would nominate Russell Vought, 48, to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a position he held during Trump's first term. And Trump chose Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican, as his labor secretary, and Scott Turner, a former football player who worked in Trump’s first administration, as his housing secretary. Afraid of losing the US-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has been taking a bashing for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America. Officials here are terrified that a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Justin Trudeau could simply expel their country from the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Mexico's ruling Morena party is so afraid its has gone on a campaign to get companies to replace Chinese parts with locally made ones. And its legislators are consciously tweaking the wording of major laws to try to make them compatible with the trade pact's language. Mexico hopes the rules of the trade pact would prevent the U.S. or Canada from simply walking away. Australia withdraws a misinformation bill after critics compare it to censorship CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s government has withdrawn a bill that would give a media watchdog power to monitor digital platforms and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Sunday that the government was unable to drum up the support needed to pass the legislation. The opposition spokesman, David Coleman, said the bill “betrayed our democracy” and amounted to “censorship laws in Australia.” The bill would have granted the Australian Communications and Media Authority power over digital platforms by approving an enforceable code of conduct or standards for social media companies if self-regulation fell short. He'll be the last meatpacker in the Meatpacking District. Here's how NYC's gritty 'hood got chic NEW YORK (AP) — The last meatpackers in New York's Meatpacking District have agreed to end their leases early and make way for development on their city-owned lot. A third-generation meatpacker says he is ready to retire and he'll be proud to be there when the building closes. The closure date has not been set, but will mark the end of over a century of industrial life in the Meatpacking District. Starting in the 1970s, a new nightlife scene emerged as bars and nightclubs moved in. Today it's a hub for shopping, tourism, and recreation and only echoes of that grit remain. US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. What to know about Scott Bessent, Trump's pick for treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen money manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction and deregulation, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent is a past supporter of Democrats who has become an enthusiastic supporter of Trump. He’s an advocate of cutting spending while extending the tax cuts approved by Congress in Trump’s first term. He has said tariffs imposed during a second Trump administration would be directed primarily at China.
HAMILTON — After a scoreless opener Sunday in the Mercer County Soccer Hall of Fame/Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Senior Games at Al Cowell Field in Veterans Park, the boys wanted to show what they could do offensively. Despite having eight goalkeepers on its side, the White team built a two-goal lead at halftime, only to see the Red side come storming back in the second 40 minutes. It only took eight minutes for the Red team to tie the score, then 10 more before it officially took the lead (after having another goal waved off by an offside call). Before the Reds were finished, they flipped the game on its head to win, 5-2. “We got really motivated from the halftime speech we got from our coaches (namely Mercer County Soccer Hall of Fame president Harold “Bird” Fink),” West Windsor-Plainsboro High South’s Radesh Sankaran said. “We came out and played a lot better in the second half.” After Trenton’s Josh Hernandez had the go-ahead goal wiped out by a linesman’s flag with 30:45 to go, Sankaran came away with the game-winner as he cranked a left-footed shot into the near corner of the net off a pass from Hopewell Valley High’s Andrew Halko with 23:25 left in the second half. That goal put the Red team up, 3-2. Halko’s assist was his second of the half after setting up Princeton High’s Archie Smith 4:30 after intermission. Smith then came back to knot the score just over three minutes later when he bounced in a shot off a lead from the Lawrenceville School’s Brady Le. The turn of events spoiled an inspired first half by the White team in which two of their goalies, who were playing in the field, contributed to their offense. Despite being without its own inspirational Hall of Fame coach, Mickey Forker, who was dealing with a health issue and had to miss the event at the last minute, coach Tony Rosica’s White squad came out smoking. First, Princeton Day School’s ’keeper Oren Yakoby served a corner kick to Allentown’s Scott Jordan 27:30 into the game, and Jordan smoked a head ball past the Red side’s lone ’keeper Nicolas Holmelund from Princeton High. Ten minutes later, Robbinsville goalkeeper Brody Kaplan got into the scoring act when he kicked in a re-direction of a pass from Jordan to double the White side’s lead. “That was pretty fun,” said Kaplan, who, like all eight of the sectional champion Robbinsville and Princeton High boys playing in the game, would have rather been going for another state title at Franklin High Sunday. “Scotty sent a really nice ball to me and, from there, it was pretty easy (to score). In the second half, we were mostly just messing around and having fun.” There was the point of the day, so for both clubs, that was a success. Allentown High goalie J.P. Navroski held the opposition scoreless in the first half by making 10 saves. The second half was a different story after the White side made a change in net. The Red team did not care who was at the line. They were not done scoring. Eight minutes after Sankaran’s goal, his Pirate teammate Animesh Chauhan got into the act, sending a crossing shot past Ewing High goalie Elias Martinez for a 4-2 advantage. After Kaplan teamed with his Ravens teammate Ethan Pagani for a flying kick just over the crossbar, which would have tightened the score with 3:35 to play, the Hun School’s Diego Pena and Notre Dame High’s Luigi Barricelli teamed up to deny Princeton’s Azariah Breitman at the other end 20 seconds later. However, Breitman kept attacking until setting up the final tally with 1:30 left, dropping a slick pass to Lawrence High’s Platon Trofimchuk for the final dagger. White 2 0 — 2 Red 0 5 — 5 Goals: Jordan, Kaplan (W), ASmith 2, Sankaran, AChauhan, Trofimchuk (R); Assists: Yakoby, Jordan (W), Halko 2, Le, Trofimchuk, Breitman (R). Shots: 12 (W), 20 (R); Saves: Holmelund 9 (W), Navroski 10, EMartinez 3, Pena 2 (R).I'm A Celeb's Dean McCullough 'surprises' viewers in latest Bushtucker TrialNew Delhi, Dec 26 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the death of former PM Manmohan Singh, who passed away here in the AIIMS at the age of 92. Taking to X, PM Modi wrote: "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives." Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, renowned economist and architect of India’s economic reforms, passed away on Thursday at the age of 92. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here following a deterioration in his health. The news of Dr. Singh's death has been confirmed by the AIIMS in a statement that read: "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh aged 92. He was being treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on December 26. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 p.m." Dr. Singh had been admitted for treatment in the hospital on Thursday night after being critically ill. Dr. Singh, who served as the country’s Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, was known for his transformative role in steering India’s economy through a period of significant liberalisation. His tenure is often credited for initiating major economic reforms in 1991 when he was the finance minister, which helped modernise India's economy and integrate it into the global market. A man of humility and intellect, Dr. Singh was a respected figure both in India and globally. Under his leadership, India saw consistent economic growth, reducing poverty and strengthening the country’s position on the world stage. His government was also known for implementing crucial legislation in areas such as education, food security, and information. Dr. Singh’s death has left the nation in mourning, with leaders from all political parties and across the world paying tribute to his legacy. His contributions to the field of economics and public service will be remembered for generations. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, and their three daughters. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon, with the nation’s leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expected to participate in honouring his memory. Dr. Singh's death marks the end of an era in Indian politics. His leadership and legacy will continue to inspire future generations. In April this year, Manmohan Singh retired from Rajya Sabha, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge praising his long parliamentary career.
Jacek_Sopotnicki A few weeks back, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. ( NASDAQ: WBD ) announced a new corporate structure . The media company needs to resolve any corporate issues and siloing units doesn't solve those problems. My investment thesis is If you'd like to learn more about how to best position yourself in under valued stocks mispriced by the market to end December, consider joining Out Fox The Street . The service offers a model portfolio, daily updates, trade alerts and real-time chat. Sign up now for a risk-free 2-week trial to started finding the best stocks with potential to double and triple in the next few years. Stone Fox Capital (aka Mark Holder) is a CPA with degrees in Accounting and Finance. He is also Series 65 licensed and has 30 years of investing experience, including 10 years as a portfolio manager. Out Fox The Street Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this article should be taken as a solicitation to purchase or sell securities. Before buying or selling any stock, you should do your own research and reach your own conclusion or consult a financial advisor. Investing includes risks, including loss of principal. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Jimmy Carter Net Worth: How rich was the late US President?
Vancouver Canucks (12-7-3, in the Pacific Division) vs. Detroit Red Wings (10-11-2, in the Atlantic Division) Detroit; Sunday, 12:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Vancouver Canucks visit the Detroit Red Wings after the Canucks took down the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in overtime. Detroit has gone 5-6-1 at home and 10-11-2 overall. The Red Wings have gone 3-3-2 in games they serve more penalty minutes than their opponents. Vancouver has a 12-7-3 record overall and a 9-2-0 record on the road. The Canucks have a +two scoring differential, with 71 total goals scored and 69 given up. Sunday's game is the first time these teams square off this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Dylan Larkin has 12 goals and six assists for the Red Wings. Lucas Raymond has six goals and four assists over the past 10 games. Quinn Hughes has five goals and 20 assists for the Canucks. Elias Pettersson has scored five goals with eight assists over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Red Wings: 4-5-1, averaging 2.5 goals, 4.3 assists, 2.9 penalties and 6.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game. Canucks: 5-5-0, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.7 assists, 3.7 penalties and 9.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game. INJURIES: Red Wings: None listed. Canucks: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
With a focus on human rights, US policy toward Latin America under Jimmy Carter briefly tempered a long tradition of interventionism in a key sphere of American influence, analysts say. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, defied the furor of US conservatives to negotiate the handover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, suspended aid to multiple authoritarian governments in the region, and even attempted to normalize relations with Cuba. Carter's resolve to chart a course toward democracy and diplomacy, however, was severely tested in Central America and Cuba, where he was forced to balance his human rights priorities with pressure from adversaries to combat the spread of communism amid the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. "Latin America was fundamental and his global policy was oriented toward human rights, democratic values and multilateral cooperation," political analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, told AFP. During his 1977-1981 administration, which was sandwiched between the Republican presidencies of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat sought to take a step back from US alignment with right-wing dictatorships in Latin America. An important symbol of Carter's approach was the signing of two treaties in 1977 to officially turn over the Panama Canal in 1999. "Jimmy Carter understood that if he did not return the canal to Panama, the relationship between the United States and Panama could lead to a new crisis in a country where Washington could not afford the luxury of instability," said Luis Guillermo Solis, a political scientist and former president of Costa Rica. Carter called the decision, which was wildly unpopular back home, "the most difficult political challenge I ever had," as he accepted Panama's highest honor in 2016. He also hailed the move as "a notable achievement of moving toward democracy and freedom." On Sunday, Panamanian President Jose Mulino praised Carter for helping his country achieve "full sovereignty." During his term, Carter opted not to support Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, who was subsequently overthrown by the leftist Sandinista Front in 1979. But in El Salvador, the American president had to "make a very uncomfortable pact with the government," said Shifter. To prevent communists from taking power, Carter resumed US military assistance for a junta which then became more radical, engaging in civilian massacres and plunging El Salvador into a long civil war. Carter took a critical approach to South American dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, suspending arms deliveries and imposing sanctions in some cases. But his efforts "did not achieve any progress in terms of democratization," said Argentine political scientist Rosendo Fraga. The American president also tried to normalize relations with Cuba 15 years after the missile crisis. He relaxed sanctions that had been in force since 1962, supported secret talks and enabled limited diplomatic representation in both countries. "With him, for the first time, the possibility of dialogue rather than confrontation as a framework for political relations opened up," Jesus Arboleya, a former Cuban diplomat, told AFP. But in 1980, a mass exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States, with Fidel Castro's blessing, created an unexpected crisis. It "hurt Carter politically with the swarm of unexpected immigrants," said Jennifer McCoy, a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Castro continued to support Soviet-backed African governments and even deployed troops against Washington's wishes, finally putting an end to the normalization process. However, more than 20 years later, Carter made a historic visit to Havana as ex-president, at the time becoming the highest-profile American politician to set foot on Cuban soil since 1959. During the 2002 visit, "he made a bold call for the US to lift its embargo, but he also called on Castro to embrace democratic opening," said McCoy, who was part of the US delegation for the trip, during which Castro encouraged Carter to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cuban All-Star baseball game. "Castro was sitting in the front row and we were afraid he would rise to give a long rebuttal to Carter's speech. But he didn't. He just said, 'Let's go to the ball game.'" Cubans "will remember with gratitude his efforts to improve relations," the island's current leader Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Sunday. In the years following Carter's presidency, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) would go on to resume a full-frontal confrontation with Cuba. Decades later, Barack Obama (2009-2017) opened a new phase of measured normalization, which Donald Trump (2017-2021) brought to an end. US President Joe Biden promised to review US policy toward Cuba, but hardened his stance after Havana cracked down on anti-government protests in 2021. "Carter showed that engagement and diplomacy are more fruitful than isolation," McCoy said. bur-lp-rd-jb/lbc/mlr/bfm/sst/bbk/nro/acb
Wounded Bangladesh protesters receive robotic helping handIsrael strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while WHO chief says he was meters away
Chelsea’s surprise defeat by Fulham meant victory over the Foxes stretched their lead to seven points, with a match in hand, with the halfway point of the campaign fast approaching. But Slot is maintaining his level-headed approach despite the clamour growing around their chances of adding another title to the one won in 2020. “If you are in this game for a long time like the players and I am then 20 games before the end you don’t look at it as there are so many challenges ahead of you,” he said after Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah scored to turn around an early deficit following Jordan Ayew’s strike. “Injuries and and a bit of bad luck can happen to any team, it is far too early to be already celebrating – but it is nice for us to be where we are. “I don’t think there was any easy win for us in any of these games; it could have been an easy win against Tottenham but we conceded two and it was then 5-2 – that tells you how difficult it is to win even when you have all your players available. “That is why we have to take it one game at a time. The league table is something of course we are aware of but we always understand how many games there are to go.” Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy felt his side held their own until Salah scored in the 82nd minute. “I think we were in the contest for a result for a long time,” he said. “Three-one was the turning point in the sense the game was done there to get a result. “I think the 60th minute I remember a chanced for Daka to score the equaliser so we were in the game to get a surprising result. “We did well, we did what we could: a good start with the goal but if you speak of a turning point, 3-1 with Salah, the game was done.” Van Nistelrooy left goalkeeper Danny Ward out of the squad after he struggled in the defeat to Wolves and was jeered by his own fans. “The change in goal was one to make and the conversation with Wardy was impressive, the way he was thinking of the team and the club,” added the Dutchman. “I insisted on a conversation and of course it is a private conversation but what I want to share is the person and the professional he is. “I was impressed with that and his willingness for the team and the club to do well. “Really tough what happened for him. We are professionals but human beings as well, when frustration is being directed towards one person that is difficult.”