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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." 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.'" 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
Maupay also had a dig at Everton when he departed on loan to Marseille in the summer and his latest taunt has further angered the Premier League club’s supporters. The 28-year-old said on X after Sean Dyche’s side had lost 2-0 to Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park on Sunday: “Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile.” Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile 🙂 — Neal Maupay (@nealmaupay_) December 29, 2024 Former boxer Tony Bellew was among the Toffees’ supporters who responded to Maupay, with the ex-world cruiserweight champion replying on X with: “P****!” Maupay endured a miserable spell at Everton, scoring just one league goal in 29 appearances after being signed by the Merseysiders for an undisclosed fee in 2022. He departed on a season-long loan to his former club Brentford for the 2023-24 season and left Goodison for a second time in August when Marseille signed him on loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent. After leaving Everton in the summer, Maupay outraged their fans by posting on social media a scene from the film Shawshank Redemption, famous for depicting the main character’s long fight for freedom.Shares of Essex Property Trust Inc. .css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(54,119,168,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link svg{fill:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(47,112,157,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(47,112,157,1);}.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link:hover.css-321ztr-OverridedLink.css-321ztr-OverridedLink:any-link:hover svg{fill:rgba(47,112,157,1);} .css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink{display:inline;color:var(--color-interactiveLink010);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}@media screen and (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference){.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink{transition-property:color,fill;transition-duration:200ms,200ms;transition-timing-function:cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1),cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1);}}@media screen and (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce){.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink{transition-property:color,fill;transition-duration:0ms;transition-timing-function:cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1),cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1);}}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveLink010);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:hover:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveLink020);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:hover:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveLink020);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:active:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveLink030);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:active:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveLink030);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:hover:not(:disabled){color:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:visited:hover:not(:disabled) svg{fill:var(--color-interactiveVisited010);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:focus-visible:not(:disabled){outline-color:var(--outlineColorDefault);outline-style:var(--outlineStyleDefault);outline-width:var(--outlineWidthDefault);outline-offset:var(--outlineOffsetDefault);}@media not all and (min-resolution: 0.001dpcm){@supports (-webkit-appearance: none) and (stroke-color: transparent){.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:focus-visible:not(:disabled){outline-style:var(--safariOutlineStyleDefault);}}}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(54,119,168,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link svg{fill:rgba(54,119,168,1);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:rgba(47,112,157,1);border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:rgba(47,112,157,1);}.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link:hover.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink.css-1vykwuz-OverridedLink:any-link:hover svg{fill:rgba(47,112,157,1);} ESS inched 0.39% higher to $305.53 Friday, on what proved to be an all-around great trading session for the stock market, with the S&P 500 Index SPX rising 0.35% to 5,969.34 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA rising 0.97% to 44,296.51. This was the stock's second consecutive day of gains.
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson's massive contract to create salary-cap space and give them future flexibility, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Friday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson's massive contract to create salary-cap space and give them future flexibility, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Friday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson’s massive contract to create salary-cap space and give them future flexibility, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Friday. Watson has been limited to just 19 games in three seasons because of an NFL suspension and injuries with the Browns, who signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022. The restructuring allows the team to spread out the salary-cap hit after the 2026 season, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team does not disclose contract specifics. The 29-year-old Watson has two years remaining on his contract with an average of $46 million a year. The move to restructure his deal will not preclude the Browns from adding talent at the quarterback position in 2025, the person said. Watson played in only seven games this season before suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon. He’s 9-10 as a starter with Cleveland. The Browns (3-12) have been a major disappointment this season after making it to the playoffs a year ago behind Joe Flacco, who was signed as a free agent after Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Watson had surgery in October and is expected to make a full recovery. While the team hasn’t disclosed its plans at quarterback, it’s assumed Watson will be in the mix to be the starter next season. It’s also possible the Browns will draft a quarterback in the first round. The team hasn’t had a first-round pick the past three years after trading three to the Houston Texans to acquire Watson, who was once considered one of the league’s elite QBs. Watson’s disappointing tenure has been a sore spot with Cleveland fans, who had hoped the team had finally resolved its interminable QB issues when they signed the three-time Pro Bowler three years ago. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. But it hasn’t worked out, and the major investment in Watson and the salary-cap ramifications of his contract — the largest fully guaranteed deal in league history — have made it difficult for the Browns to upgrade their roster. Watson has shown flashes of being a competent starting quarterback, but there have been just as many moments in which he’s looked hesitant in the pocket or unable to connect with receivers down field. Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of his first season in Cleveland after an independent arbiter ruled he violated the conduct policy after he was accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Advertisement AdvertisementShares of Pony AI Inc. surged more than 5% on Monday afternoon, reaching nearly two-week highs, following two bullish analyst calls from Wall Street. The autonomous-driving company, which specializes in robotaxi and robotruck services, has seen its retail sentiment on Stocktwits turn ‘extremely bullish.’ BofA Securities analyst Ming Hsun Lee initiated coverage on Pony AI with a ‘Buy’ rating and a price target of $18, implying an upside of approximately 30% from current levels. Lee highlighted Pony’s leadership in large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility, supported by its proprietary Virtual Driver technology that combines in-house software, hardware, and services. This, the analyst said, positions the company for reliable and cost-effective autonomous solutions in diverse conditions. Lee also cited continued favorable Chinese government policies supporting robotaxi and robotruck services as a key growth driver. On Sunday, Goldman Sachs analyst Allen Chang also initiated coverage, giving Pony AI a ‘Buy’ rating and a price target of $19.60. Chang emphasized the company’s leadership in Level 4 autonomous mobility, particularly in China, where it operates a fleet of robotaxis and robotrucks. Pony is one of the first companies to operate fully driverless robotaxis in four tier-1 Chinese cities, with the necessary regulatory permits in place, according to Chang. Goldman Sachs expects strong growth in the coming years, forecasting a 27% revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2024-2027 and a 158% CAGR from 2027-2030, with accelerated fleet expansion. The firm projects positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and net income by 2030. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment surged to 'extremely bullish' levels, with one user highlighting the stock’s attractiveness compared to established rivals like Tesla, particularly given its lower price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. Since its Nasdaq debut in late November, Pony AI has garnered substantial retail attention, with its following on Stocktwits increasing by over 900%. Despite recent gains, Pony AI’s stock remains down 7.8% from its debut, but the company’s partnerships with Toyota and GMTC, along with its fleet of 250 robotaxis and 190 robotrucks, are seen as pivotal in its path to leadership in autonomous driving in China. For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.<
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The nation mourns as former president Jimmy Carter was a remarkable 100-years-old when he passed away in hospice care at his home in Georgia . The beloved 39th president, revered for being the oldest living former commander-in-chief , spent his final days in hospice care in his home state of Georgia, where he had been under care since February 2023 following some health setbacks. A proud Georgian and the only president hailing from the Peach State, Carter held office from 1977 to 1981. His son, Chip Carter, confirmed that his father died peacefully at their family home in Plains around 3:45 p.m. Jimmy Carter's tragic 10-word dying wish as he faces death's door in hospice in Plains, Georgia Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter celebrates her 96th birthday with Jimmy and ice cream Despite a presidency marred by challenges such as the Iran hostage crisis, Carter's diplomatic triumphs included brokering peace between Israel and Egypt. His post-presidential years have been defined by compassionate outreach, through his work at the Carter Center and with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, alongside his wife Rosalynn Carter underscoring his enduring legacy. Reflecting on who Jimmy Carter was, we remember him as born into a humble farming family on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, as James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr. From watching his father succeed in business to absorbing the humanitarian values of his mother, a nurse known for her pioneering public health efforts, Carter's early life set the stage for his later political ascent and influential career, reports the Irish Star . Carter, a 1946 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, embarked on a naval career that included service in the submarine sector and contributions to the development of nuclear submarines. After his father's death in 1953, he returned to Plains to manage the family peanut farm, modernizing and expanding it while becoming more involved in community affairs. His political journey began in the Georgia State Senate in 1963, where he prioritized education, healthcare, and civil rights. In 1970, he was elected as Georgia's governor, campaigning on racial equality and government reform. His governorship saw significant progress in desegregation and environmental protection. Carter's outsider image and reputation for honesty and humility helped him secure the presidency in 1976 during a period of widespread disillusionment following the Watergate scandal. His presidency focused on human rights, energy independence, and environmental conservation. However, challenges such as high inflation, the energy crisis, and the Iran hostage crisis overshadowed his achievements, leading to his defeat in the 1980 election by Ronald Reagan.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — John Buggs III's 15 points helped East Tennessee State defeat Austin Peay 79-57 on Saturday night. Buggs shot 4 for 7 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Buccaneers (6-2). Jaden Seymour scored 13 points and added 11 rebounds. Quimari Peterson had 13 points and went 6 of 11 from the field. The Governors (4-4) were led in scoring by LJ Thomas, who finished with 15 points. Austin Peay also got 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals from Tate McCubbin. Tekao Carpenter also had eight points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Oklahoma State's 3-point accuracy sends Miami to defeat
Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada’s new border plan with Donald Trump’s transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Both Trudeau and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who Trudeau has been courting to become Canada’s next finance minister, shared posts on X Thursday, a day after Trump’s latest jab at Canada in his Christmas Day message. It isn’t clear if Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has repeatedly insisted Trump’s 51st state references are a joke, will raise the issue with Trump’s team when he and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly meet with them in Palm Beach. The two are there to discuss Canada’s new $1.3 billion border plan with just under four weeks left before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada’s plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada LeBlanc’s spokesman, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, said the ministers will also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump’s threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers will build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau “governor” instead of prime minister. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw “explains Canada to Americans.” The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. “In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada,” Brokaw says in the video. Trudeau did not expand about why he posted a link to the video, posting it only with the words “some information about Canada for Americans.” Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau’s recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump’s antics on X Thursday, calling it “casual disrespect” and “carrying the ‘joke’ too far.” “Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership,” said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland’s sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau’s leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia.
The 250 delegates at the recent Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ) 44th annual leadership conference agreed that members had a significant role to play in Jamaica realising its goals under Vision 2030. This included developing a thriving work place, so as to achieve each employee’s fullest potential and a secure, just and cohesive society, in order for the Jamaican economy to be prosperous. The conference, held on November 14 and 15 at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston, focused on helping leaders and human resource management practitioners to better understand that their contribution is critical to organisational and national development. The two-day conference was under the theme “HR Revolution: Navigating The Future...2030 and Beyond.” Among the key topics covered were the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI); diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); work-life integration; work place flexibility, as well human-centric and adaptive leadership in navigating current and future complexities of a rapidly evolving work force. Attendees benefitted from future-focused discussions on emerging human resource trends and practices; expected challenges; strategies and opportunities to review real-world examples and success stories from local and international organisations. “HRMAJ is committed to elevating the ‘people profession’, which has expanded beyond what we typically once knew as the HR functions,” said HRMAJ President Dr Cassida Jones Johnson, Independent Executive Consultant with over 20 years’ experience in strategic human resource, talent management, people engagement and executive coaching. “With other roles emerging in preparation for the future workplace, which has been changing in definition, the significance of upskilling and reskilling in the field in preparation for the role and impact of AI provide opportunities to transition administrative functions and areas such as culture, engagement and human-centric leadership at the forefront of all organisations,” she continued. “In fact, our 44th conference has raised the anchor for navigating the seas ahead, with opportunities to collaborate with other associations across the region and in developed countries.” Conference Chair Dr Lois Parkes, Leadership Development Institutional Specialist for the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration, noted: “Conference 44 was a huge success, as it created the platform for deep discussions on critical human resource and leadership policy challenges affecting both the private and public sectors. Going forward, HRMAJ will continue to provide an avenue for further dialogue, policy guidance and capacity building to empower work organisations to address these challenges head on.” To encourage work-life balance, the delegates were treated to representations of Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage of film and comedy through the showing of the six winning films of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Short Film Competition 2024, the Laugh Lab and open mic with comedians Elias Fennell and Christopher ‘Johnny’ Daley. There was also a wellness component by fitness advocate Shani McGraham-Shirley, who conducted exercise sessions. The conference was supported by such sponsors as Caribbeanjobs.com; Securys (Jamaica) Limited; HEART/NSTA Trust; Management Institute for National Development (MIND); National Housing Trust (NHT) and John Galt Insurance Brokers Limited. Exhibitors included: Dale Carnegie Training; Jamaica Stock Exchange e-Campus; Bioregeneration Integrated Medical Centre; Allied Insurance Brokers & GK Mutual Funds; Mona School of Business; Gift Tech Limited; University of Technology Jamaica (UTECH), Return on Investment Consulting (ROIC) Limited; Orbit360 & Roar Unleashed and Caribbean HR Solutions. Through advocacy, policy guidance and world-class training in many areas of human resource and leadership to build capacity, competencies and credibility for people professionals and emerging leaders, HRMAJ remains committed to promoting organisational growth, enhancing human capital development and increasing workforce productivity. The association may be reached through website www.hrmaj.org.Maupay also had a dig at Everton when he departed on loan to Marseille in the summer and his latest taunt has further angered the Premier League club’s supporters. The 28-year-old said on X after Sean Dyche’s side had lost 2-0 to Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park on Sunday: “Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile.” Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile 🙂 — Neal Maupay (@nealmaupay_) December 29, 2024 Former boxer Tony Bellew was among the Toffees’ supporters who responded to Maupay, with the ex-world cruiserweight champion replying on X with: “P****!” Maupay endured a miserable spell at Everton, scoring just one league goal in 29 appearances after being signed by the Merseysiders for an undisclosed fee in 2022. He departed on a season-long loan to his former club Brentford for the 2023-24 season and left Goodison for a second time in August when Marseille signed him on loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent. After leaving Everton in the summer, Maupay outraged their fans by posting on social media a scene from the film Shawshank Redemption, famous for depicting the main character’s long fight for freedom.
New pro-European coalition approved in Romania amid period of political turmoil
Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including Galaxy S25 Special Edition details, the lost future of foldables, the Dimensity 8400 specs, 2024’s top mobile games, and looking forward into 2025. Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Android over the Christmas week. You can also read my weekly digest of Apple news here on Forbes . Galaxy S25 Special Edition Leaks Samsung is widely expected to host another Galaxy Unpacked event in mid- to late-January 2025 to launch the Galaxy S25 family of handsets alongside the next generation of Galaxy AI. A fourth handset may appear, but not until later in the year; this would be the thin form-factor of the Special Edition. Similar to the thin special edition of the Galaxy ZFold 6, it should be a highly prized handset thanks to a proposed limited production run: "New details on Samsung’s plans for the Galaxy S25 Special Edition production run were reported this weekend by the team at ETNews. While the run of three million units will be seven times larger than the 400,000 units of the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, it is barely ten percent of the Galaxy S25 family’s expected sales of 35 million." ( Forbes ). Foldables Imperfect Future Speaking of the Galaxy Z Fold6, Samsung was bullish on the adoption rates of foldables when it launched its foldables range in 2020, announcing that 50% of its flagship devices would be foldables by 2025. That number is still out of reach for Samsung and the industry as a whole. The flagship product split is heavily in favor of candybar phones: "While overall shipments are expected to hit nearly 18 million units in 2024, these phones still account for less than 2% of the total smartphone market. There's evidently been no rush from customers to switch over." ( Sammobile ). Dimensity’s Regular Core Moment There’s some new competition in town, at least in the market. Mediatek is launching the Dimensity 8400 processor, offering a challenge to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipsets. Notably, Mediatek have stepped away from efficiency cores, instead relying on 8 regular cores: "[MediaTek’s results] claim a 41% boost to multi-core performance over the Dimensity 8300. The company also says peak power use has been reduced by as much as 44%. We’re keen to see what this means for everyday power consumption, though." ( Android Authority ). What To Play? As the end of the calendar year approaches, the top lists and retrospectives are flowing freely. With one more holiday weekend approaching, Minireview’s list of the top mobile games in the year should help you pass the time! "On MiniReview, we've reviewed more than 350 games this year. And today, it's time to rank the top 68 most interesting Android and iOS games of 2024. From Balatro to Hades Mobile, Zenless Zone Zero, Slice & Dice, and Halls of Torment, this 2024 mobile games tier list includes something for everyone - regardless of taste and genre preferences." ( Minireview ). And Finally... Looking ahead to 2025, what smartphone trends are going to emerge and which are going to be widely adopted? Hadlee Simons looks into their crystal ball, with battery life one of the big winners" "Perhaps the biggest reason is the wider adoption of silicon batteries, offering more capacity for the same physical size than lithium batteries. Everyone from HONOR and Xiaomi to OPPO and OnePlus are stepping up in this regard. In fact, the vivo X200 Pro Mini has a more compact 6.39-inch screen paired with a large 5,700mAh battery." ( Android Authority ). Android Circuit rounds up the news from the Android world every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future, and of course, read the sister column in Apple Loop! Last week’s Android Circuit can be found here , and if you have any news and links you’d like to see featured in Android Circuit, get in touch!