Changes for the Panama Canal would be proposed by Trump

The U.S.-China relationship between the Panama Canal and the Mexican Embassy: a United States-Mexico reappearance

After his election, Trump began discussing the possibility of retaking the Panama Canal. Panama has controlled the U.S.-built canal for decades. President Ral Mulino says the action is not up for discussion. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent yesterday discussing it during a visit to the region.

It is unclear what kinds of consequences Panama may face if it does not follow suit. Leland Lazarus, who studies China’s role in Latin America at Florida International University, told NPR that China is a major trading partner across Latin America.

The US and Panama had an uneasy relationship between 1903 and 1977 when the U.S. controlled the canal. Full ownership was given to Panama in 1999.

The CFR said there is no evidence the Chinese government controls the canal, as a Hong Kong-based company has managed the ports since 1997. However, Chinese companies have been heavily involved in infrastructure projects around the canal in recent years, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Panama Canal is an important part of global trade. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the United States is the waterway’s biggest user, but other major users include Chile, China, Japan and South Korea.

The Musielak-Muhino treaty and the status quo: Where are we heading? Where do we stand, where are we, and what are we going?

Speaking to reporters, Mulino said that he did not think there was a real threat to the treaty and its validity, The Associated Press reported.

The status quo is unacceptable and necessary changes must be made if the United States are to protect its rights under the Treaty, said a State Department spokeswoman.

Last night’s Grammy Awards celebrated music’s biggest stars with a remarkable sweep of awards, some surprising losses and a message of unity. Musi Cares and the show worked to raise money to support wildlife relief efforts and music professionals affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. Before the show started, many artists walked the red carpet donned in some memorable looks. Check out photos of these looks.

Ela Minus, synthesizing music and NGOs, and the Trump administration shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development

Colombian musician Ela Minus is trying to bring a more human touch to the largely electronic music scene, which can often be created without instruments. Minus tells Morning Edition she was very used to the sound of laptops and wanted to switch it up, so she found hardware synthesizers. A synthesizer has piano keys and is an instrument. The inspiration for the music on her latest album was derived from dance clubs. Listen to snippets of her album and learn why she chose to go this direction with her sound.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington, D.C. He was invited to speak with Trump about negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, which is currently holding in its third week. This will be Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader in his second term in office.

The Trump administration has halted all programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds aid projects worldwide. USAID’s website went down sometime after 3 a.m. on Saturday. Within the past week, hundreds of employees and contractors have been laid off amid reports that President Trump is considering folding the agency into the State Department.

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