Thursday, December 26, 2024

Trump picks ambassador to panama

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thursday, december 26, 2024 at 06:48:51 a.m. est

"Trump picks Panama ambassador" "plus, will wars in the middle east end in 2025?"

The Bulletin

December 26, 2024

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Here are today's top headlines:

On Christmas Day, President-elect Donald Trump took to Truth Social to criticize China's involvement in the Panama Canal, raising concerns over Beijing's influence on the critical waterway.

In legal news, Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump in South Florida, will not stand trial until September next year.

turning to international news, following the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight carrying 67 people from Baku to Grozny, near the Kazakh Caspian city of Aktau, which left 29 survivors, global attention has turned to passenger plane accidents worldwide this year.

In the Middle East, since Hamas' October 7 attack involving hostages, Israel has intensified conflicts with Iran and its proxies, aiming to neutralize threats and prevent recurrence.

Finally, in the U.S., rising home prices continue to squeeze first-time buyers as the country grapples with a supply shortage, with many homeowners holding off on selling in hopes of lower mortgage rates.

Sonal Nain is a Newsletter Producer at Newsweek. She is based in London, UK and writes the morning flagship newsletter, The Bulletin. Sonal joined Newsweek in February 2024. Prior to that, she worked as a reporter and sub-editor, with her work featured in The Times, Time Out, Eastlondonlines, and other international outlets. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London. You can reach Sonal at s.nain@newsweek.com or on Twitter @SonalNain4. Languages: English, Hindi

WORLD IN BRIEF

Trump announces Panama ambassador: Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a role that could become contentious amid recent tensions between the two countries. Learn more about his pick.

Trump touts ex-hockey star as Canada's new PM: President-elect Donald Trump has floated the idea of ice hockey pro Wayne Gretzky running to be the leader of Canada in the future. Find out more about his suggestion.

Journalists killed in Gaza: Five journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike overnight when their parked vehicle was blasted in front of a hospital in Gaza, their Palestinian news outlet said on social media. Read more about the tragic incident.

Social Security: As 2025 approaches, retirees and other Social Security recipients should be aware of several changes to benefits and services provided by the Social Security Administration. Here's what to expect.

In the ongoing war in Ukraine, Poland scrambled fighter jets early Christmas morning in response to Russian missile attacks targeting Ukraine, according to the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.

TODAY'S TOP FIVE

1. Fact Check: Does China Control the Panama Canal, as Trump Suggests?

The rundown: President-elect Donald Trump has sparked controversy by suggesting the United States should reclaim control of the Panama Canal, citing overcharges for its use and alleged Chinese influence over the waterway. Find out more about his claim.

Why it matters: On Christmas Day, Trump took to Truth Social to criticize China's involvement in the Panama Canal, raising concerns over Beijing's influence on the critical waterway. He went on to reference the canal's history, saying that "we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago," yet the United States continues to invest billions in repairs while having "absolutely no say" in its operation. After Trump posted the remarks, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino denied allegations of Chinese control over the canal. While Chinese companies manage two of the five ports near the Panama Canal and have invested in related infrastructure, these activities are distinct from the canal's governance and operations.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Organization Accused of Tax Evasion in Panama: What We Know

What happens next? Trump's remarks prompted a strong response from Mulino, who stated in a video on Sunday, "Every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will remain so."

2. Aileen Cannon Grants Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt a Trial Delay

The rundown: Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump in South Florida, will not be tried until September. More about the delay in the trial of Routh.

Why it matters: Routh was seen pointing a rifle through the fence of Trump's golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, and did not fire any shots before leaving the scene, police said. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon granted in an order obtained by Newsweek for Routh's trial to begin September 8 instead of the previously scheduled February 10. Routh has pleaded not guilty. Routh's attorneys had previously asked Cannon in court documents for the trial date to be "no earlier than December 2025," citing an "extraordinary volume of discovery" and "logistical difficulties" associated with Routh's confinement in the Federal Detention Center in Miami. The trial was initially set to begin November 18 of this year. It was continued for 90 days "due to the ongoing nature of the reactive investigation and the voluminous nature of discovery."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt Faces Charges for Crash

What happens next? With Cannon's new ruling, "any notice of an insanity defense" or evidence of Routh having a "mental condition" is due by February 3. If Routh's legal team requests a scene visit, it must occur before February 27. A status conference will be held at 11 a.m. March 7 in the Fort Pierce Division, and exhibit and witness lists are due by July 28. A pretrial conference is now set for 11 a.m. August 8, with the final pretrial conference scheduled for 11 a.m. September 2.

3. The Deadliest Plane Crashes of 2024: Brazil and Russia Top the List

The rundown: Following the Christmas Eve crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight carrying 67 people from Baku to Grozny, near the Kazakh Caspian city of Aktau, which left 25 survivors, global attention has turned to passenger plane accidents worldwide this year. Here are the deadliest plane crashes of this year.

Why it matters: The year 2024 witnessed several tragic aviation accidents worldwide, sparking renewed discussions on aviation safety and crisis management. Among the incidents, two stood out for their scale of devastation: the crash of a Russian military transport plane in January and a commercial flight tragedy in Brazil in August, which claimed 62 lives. The latest tragedy occurred yesterday, when an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 carrying 67 individuals from Baku to Grozny diverted its route due to adverse weather and attempted to land at Aktau airport in Kazakhstan. The plane crashed upon landing, killing 42 people and leaving 25 survivors.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Passenger Plane Crashes, Explodes En Route to Russia

What happens next? An investigation to determine the cause of the Flight J28243 crash is under way. Azerbaijan's state news agency, Azertac, said that an official delegation of Azerbaijan's emergency situations minister, the deputy general prosecutor and the vice president of Azerbaijan Airlines were sent to Aktau to conduct an "on-site investigation."

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4. Will Israel's Wars in the Middle East End in 2025?

The rundown: Since Hamas's October 7 attack involving hostages, Israel has intensified conflicts with Iran and its proxies, aiming to neutralize threats and prevent recurrence. Here's the latest expert insights on the ongoing conflicts.

Why it matters: Israel has sought to destroy Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and found itself in direct conflict with Iran—the chief funder of these militant Islamist groups—with the two exchanging missiles, though it has not so far broken out into a full war. Experts believe the current hostilities may subside in 2025, but lasting peace is unlikely without addressing deeper issues like occupation and self-determination for Palestinians. Political factors, including the return of Donald Trump, may influence outcomes, as his aversion to prolonged wars could pressure Israel toward ceasefires. However, continued military actions against Iran and its proxies, weakened resistance groups and unresolved territorial disputes suggest Israel's wars in the Middle East are far from over.

Read more in-depth coverage:
No Fix in Sight for Gaza 'Graveyard'

What happens next? Avi Shlaim, Emeritus Professor of International Relations, St Antony's College, University of Oxford, said that Israel's wars in the Middle East are unlikely to end in 2025 or for that matter any time in the foreseeable future. The immediate reason for that is that Benjamin Netanyahu needs to prolong the ghastly war in Gaza to avoid standing trial at home on corruption charges which carry a prison sentence.

Will House Prices Fall in 2025? Experts Give Their Predictions

The rundown: It's been another year of rising home prices in the U.S., as the country faces an ongoing supply shortage that has squeezed first-time homebuyers out of the market and homeowners to hold on to their properties as they wait for lower mortgage rates to sell. Here's what to expect in 2025.

Why it matters: As of November, the latest data available on Redfin, the median sale price of a home in the U.S. was $430,010, up 5.4 percent compared to a year earlier. According to zillow's data, the typical home value of a home in the nation was $357,469 in the same month, up 2.5 percent from November 2023. Prices, which surged during the pandemic, briefly dipped in 2022–2023 but have since rebounded. Rising rents may improve affordability for tenants as new rental units enter the market. However, what will happen next year has more to do with what's been put into motion in 2024 than whatever policy president elect Donald Trump might introduce after taking office in January.

Read more in-depth coverage:
US Housing Market is Mirroring 2008 Bubble—Real Estate Analyst

What happens next? Matthew Walsh, an economist at Moody's Analytics, told Newsweek that "for the year ahead, we expect continued slowing in house prices. To put some numbers to it, by the end of 2025, we expect somewhere between 1 to 1.5 percent-year over-year price appreciation."

ONE DEEPER READ:

America's Billionaires Had a Fantastic Year

What's New?

America's billionaires enjoyed a stellar 2024, their collective net worth soaring by hundreds of billions of dollars on the back of a sustained boom in the tech sector.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which ranks daily the world's wealthiest individuals, nine out of the 10 individuals who saw the largest growth in their net worth since January are U.S. citizens.

THE FULL STORY