In late December, Donald Trump suggested the United States should retake control of the Panama Canal in his second term. He claims Panama is imposing “ridiculous” fees on ships passing through this vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway that cuts through central Panama for 51 miles, using a system of locks and reservoirs to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This route saves ships from traveling an extra 7,000 miles around South America’s Cape Horn. “The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America’s Economy and National Security,” Trump said on Truth Social on Dec. 21. “The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S. This complete ‘rip-off’ of our Country will immediately stop,” he added. Trump repeated these claims during a speech at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Arizona on Dec. 22. “If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America in full quickly and without question,” he said. Following Trump’s comments, Google search data shows there’s been a spike in searches of people asking which country — the U.S. or Panama — has authority over the Panama Canal. THE QUESTION Does the U.S. have any authority over the Panama Canal? THE SOURCES Panama Canal Authority The Embassy of Panama U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Historian U.S. Census Bureau The Library of Congress Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino GovInfo , a service of the United States Government Publishing Office that provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the federal government Jorge Luis Quijano, the Panama Canal administrator from 2014 to 2019, Benjamin Gedan, Ph.D. , director of the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. THE ANSWER No, the U.S. does not have any authority over the Panama Canal, but it used to. Sign up for the VERIFY Fast Facts daily Newsletter! WHAT WE FOUND The U.S. does not have any authority over the Panama Canal. The waterway, which was built by the U.S. in the early 1900s, opened in 1914 and remained under U.S. government control until treaties signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter set terms for its eventual transfer to Panama. The two countries jointly operated the canal until December 1999, after which Panama assumed full control. On Dec. 22, in response to Trump’s comments, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino posted a video on X declaring that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong” to his country. Without mentioning Trump by name, Mulino addressed the president-elect’s complaints over rising fees for ships crossing the canal, saying they are set by experts who take into account operational costs, and supply and demand factors. “The tariffs are not set on a whim,” Mulino said. He noted that Panama has expanded the canal over the years to increase ship traffic “on its own initiative,” and added that shipping fee increases help pay for improvements. “Panamanians may have different views on many issues, but when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag,” Mulino said. A little over an hour later, Trump responded to Mulino’s remarks on Truth Social, saying: “We’ll see about that!” He also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase, “Welcome to the United States Canal!” The Panama Canal’s history An effort to establish a canal through Panama began with the French in 1880, but financial troubles made the initiative fail after nearly nine years of little progress, according to the Embassy of Panama in the United States . Malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases devastated a workforce that was already struggling with especially dangerous terrain and harsh working conditions in the jungle. These conditions eventually cost more than 20,000 lives by some estimates, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Historian says on its website . At this time, Panama was a province of Colombia, which refused to ratify a subsequent 1901 treaty licensing U.S. interests to build the Panama Canal. President Theodore Roosevelt responded to Colombia’s refusal by dispatching U.S. warships to Panama’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The U.S. also pre-wrote a constitution that would be ready after Panamanian independence, which gave American forces “the right to intervene in any part of Panama, to re-establish public peace and constitutional order.” In part because Colombian troops were unable to traverse harsh jungles, Panama declared an effectively bloodless independence within hours on Nov. 3, 1903. The newly-declared Republic of Panama soon signed the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 , which provided the U.S. with a 10-mile wide strip of land for the canal, a one-time $10 million payment to Panama, and an annual annuity of $250,000. The U.S. also agreed to guarantee the independence of Panama, according to the Office of the Historian. After more than a decade of construction, the U.S. finished building the canal on Aug. 15, 1914. Almost immediately, some Panamanians began questioning the validity of U.S. control of the canal, which led to what became known in the country as the “generational struggle” to take it over. The U.S. annulled its right to intervene in Panama in the 1930s. By the 1970s, with its administrative costs sharply increasing, the U.S. government spent years negotiating with Panama to cede control of the waterway. The Carter administration worked with the government of Omar Torrijos, and the two sides eventually decided that their best chance for ratification was to submit two treaties to the U.S. Senate , the “Permanent Neutrality Treaty” and the “Panama Canal Treaty.” The first, which continues in perpetuity, gives the U.S. the right to act to ensure the canal remains open and secure. The second stated that the U.S. would turn over the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999. Both were signed in 1977 and ratified the following year. “At noon on December 31, 1999, Panama took over full operation, administration and maintenance of the Canal, in compliance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties negotiated with the United States in 1977,” said the Embassy of Panama. “The waterway is now managed by the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous government entity.” Jorge Luis Quijano, who served as the Panama Canal’s administrator from 2014 to 2019, says the neutrality treaty does give the U.S. the right to act if the canal’s operation is threatened due to military conflict — but not to reassert control. “There’s no clause of any kind in the neutrality agreement that allows for the taking back of the canal,” Quijano told the Associated Press. “Legally, there’s no way, under normal circumstances, to recover territory that was used previously.” Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., agrees. “There’s very little wiggle room, absent a second U.S. invasion of Panama, to retake control of the Panama Canal in practical terms,” Gedan said. The Associated Press contributed to this report .New Delhi, December 24: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday issued a detailed clarification addressing concerns raised by Congress regarding voter turnout discrepancies and electoral roll irregularities in the Maharashtra Assembly Elections held on November 20, 2024. The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accuracy, and adherence to rules in the electoral process. Voter turnout clarification The ECI strongly refuted Congress’ claims about discrepancies in voter turnout. It explained that comparing turnout data at 5 p.m. with the final tally at 11:45 p.m. is misleading, as voter turnout naturally increases during the data aggregation process. The final turnout figures are compiled from Form 17C, an official record of votes cast at each polling station. This form, made available to authorised agents of candidates at the close of polls, ensures that the data is both accurate and transparent. ‘No Arbitrary Addition, Deletion in Voters List in Maharashtra’: ECI Clears Misconceptions on Assembly Poll Voter Turnout Amidst Congress’ Concerns . The Commission assured that the data cannot be manipulated after the polling booths close, as Form 17C serves as an immutable source of information. On allegations of electoral roll “irregularities” The Congress party had raised concerns about the addition of 50,000 electors across 50 constituencies between July and November 2024, with claims that 47 of these constituencies were won by the Mahayuti alliance. The ECI dismissed these allegations as misleading, clarifying that only six constituencies saw an increase of more than 50,000 electors during this period. The Commission pointed out that these figures did not substantiate the Congress’ claim that the results in 47 constituencies were influenced by these additions. The ECI also provided a detailed explanation of the process behind electoral roll preparation. It emphasised that any changes, including additions or deletions, are carried out strictly in accordance with the rules, with full involvement of political parties. Deletions are made based on valid reasons such as deaths, relocations, or duplicate entries, and Congress was involved in the electoral roll updation process. ECI Clears Misconceptions on M'rasthra Assembly Poll Voter Turnout Amidst Congress' Concerns . The ECI reiterated its commitment to a transparent and participatory electoral process. It highlighted the active involvement of political parties, candidates, and the public in the preparation and finalisation of the electoral rolls. The Commission also pointed out that detailed electoral data, including Form 20, is publicly available on the Chief Electoral Officer's website, accessible to all stakeholders. No irregularities in deletions Addressing concerns about bulk deletions, the ECI clarified that there were no irregularities. The average number of deletions per constituency was 2,779 electors, with legitimate reasons such as deaths, relocations, and duplicate entries. The deletions process followed the established procedures, with Congress representatives participating to ensure fairness. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 24, 2024 11:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).

In late December, Donald Trump suggested the United States should retake control of the Panama Canal in his second term. He claims Panama is imposing “ridiculous” fees on ships passing through this vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway that cuts through central Panama for 51 miles, using a system of locks and reservoirs to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This route saves ships from traveling an extra 7,000 miles around South America’s Cape Horn. “The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America’s Economy and National Security,” Trump said on Truth Social on Dec. 21. “The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S. This complete ‘rip-off’ of our Country will immediately stop,” he added. Trump repeated these claims during a speech at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Arizona on Dec. 22. “If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America in full quickly and without question,” he said. Following Trump’s comments, Google search data shows there’s been a spike in searches of people asking which country — the U.S. or Panama — has authority over the Panama Canal. THE QUESTION Does the U.S. have any authority over the Panama Canal? THE SOURCES THE ANSWER No, the U.S. does not have any authority over the Panama Canal, but it used to. Sign up for the VERIFY Fast Facts daily Newsletter! WHAT WE FOUND The U.S. does not have any authority over the Panama Canal. The waterway, which was built by the U.S. in the early 1900s, opened in 1914 and remained under U.S. government control until treaties signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter set terms for its eventual transfer to Panama. The two countries jointly operated the canal until December 1999, after which Panama assumed full control. On Dec. 22, in response to Trump’s comments, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino posted a video on X declaring that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong” to his country. Without mentioning Trump by name, Mulino addressed the president-elect’s complaints over rising fees for ships crossing the canal, saying they are set by experts who take into account operational costs, and supply and demand factors. “The tariffs are not set on a whim,” Mulino said. He noted that Panama has expanded the canal over the years to increase ship traffic “on its own initiative,” and added that shipping fee increases help pay for improvements. “Panamanians may have different views on many issues, but when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag,” Mulino said. A little over an hour later, Trump responded to Mulino’s remarks on Truth Social, saying: “We’ll see about that!” He also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase, “Welcome to the United States Canal!” The Panama Canal’s history An effort to establish a canal through Panama began with the French in 1880, but financial troubles made the initiative fail after nearly nine years of little progress, according to the Embassy of Panama in the United States . Malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases devastated a workforce that was already struggling with especially dangerous terrain and harsh working conditions in the jungle. These conditions eventually cost more than 20,000 lives by some estimates, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Historian says on its website . At this time, Panama was a province of Colombia, which refused to ratify a subsequent 1901 treaty licensing U.S. interests to build the Panama Canal. President Theodore Roosevelt responded to Colombia’s refusal by dispatching U.S. warships to Panama’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The U.S. also pre-wrote a constitution that would be ready after Panamanian independence, which gave American forces “the right to intervene in any part of Panama, to re-establish public peace and constitutional order.” In part because Colombian troops were unable to traverse harsh jungles, Panama declared an effectively bloodless independence within hours on Nov. 3, 1903. The newly-declared Republic of Panama soon signed the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 , which provided the U.S. with a 10-mile wide strip of land for the canal, a one-time $10 million payment to Panama, and an annual annuity of $250,000. The U.S. also agreed to guarantee the independence of Panama, according to the Office of the Historian. After more than a decade of construction, the U.S. finished building the canal on Aug. 15, 1914. Almost immediately, some Panamanians began questioning the validity of U.S. control of the canal, which led to what became known in the country as the “generational struggle” to take it over. The U.S. annulled its right to intervene in Panama in the 1930s. By the 1970s, with its administrative costs sharply increasing, the U.S. government spent years negotiating with Panama to cede control of the waterway. The Carter administration worked with the government of Omar Torrijos, and the two sides eventually decided that their best chance for ratification was to submit two treaties to the U.S. Senate , the “Permanent Neutrality Treaty” and the “Panama Canal Treaty.” The first, which continues in perpetuity, gives the U.S. the right to act to ensure the canal remains open and secure. The second stated that the U.S. would turn over the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999. Both were signed in 1977 and ratified the following year. “At noon on December 31, 1999, Panama took over full operation, administration and maintenance of the Canal, in compliance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties negotiated with the United States in 1977,” said the Embassy of Panama. “The waterway is now managed by the Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous government entity.” Jorge Luis Quijano, who served as the Panama Canal’s administrator from 2014 to 2019, says the neutrality treaty does give the U.S. the right to act if the canal’s operation is threatened due to military conflict — but not to reassert control. “There’s no clause of any kind in the neutrality agreement that allows for the taking back of the canal,” Quijano told the Associated Press. “Legally, there’s no way, under normal circumstances, to recover territory that was used previously.” Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., agrees. “There’s very little wiggle room, absent a second U.S. invasion of Panama, to retake control of the Panama Canal in practical terms,” Gedan said. The Associated Press contributed to this report . The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . Learn More » Follow Us Want something VERIFIED? Text: 202-410-8808

The China Fund, Inc. Announces Date of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

ENPH Investors Have Opportunity to Lead Enphase Energy, Inc. Securities Fraud LawsuitCheryl Hines posts cringe video promoting MAHA brand as her husband RFK Jr. takes a shower

BOSTON , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors (the "Board") of The China Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") has declared a distribution in the amount of $0.1497 per share. The distribution is comprised entirely of ordinary income. The dividend will be payable on January 10, 2025 , to stockholders of record on December 30, 2024 , with an ex-dividend date of December 30, 2024 . The Fund has a Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the "Plan") in which each stockholder automatically participates, unless the stockholder instructs Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the "Plan Agent"), in writing, to have all distributions, net of any applicable U.S. withholding tax, paid in cash. If the Fund's shares are trading at a premium to the net asset value ("NAV") per share of the Fund on the distribution payment date, the Plan provides that stockholders will be issued Fund shares valued at NAV. If the Fund's shares are trading at a discount to the NAV per share, stockholders will be issued shares of the Fund valued at market price. Stockholders will not be charged a fee in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. A stockholder may terminate his or her participation in the Plan by notifying the Plan Agent in writing at the address below. Stockholders who have questions regarding the distribution may contact EQ Fund Solutions, LLC at 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255). The Fund is a closed-end management investment company with the objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities (i) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is in the People's Republic of China (" China "), or (ii) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is outside of China , or constituting direct equity investments in companies organized outside of China , that in both cases derive at least 50% of their revenues from goods and services sold or produced, or have at least 50% of their assets, in China . While the Fund is permitted to invest in direct equity investments of companies organized in China , it presently holds no such investments. The Fund's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CHN." The Fund's investment manager is Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. For more information regarding the Fund and the Fund's holdings, please call 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255) or visit the Fund's website at www.chinafundinc.com . For more information about the Plan or to terminate your participation in the Plan, please contact Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at c/o The China Fund, Inc. at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078, by telephone at 1-800-426-5523 or via the Internet at www.computershare.com/investor . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-china-fund-inc-declares-distributions-302331625.html SOURCE The China Fund, Inc.