Energy/Infrastructure

Almost entirety of IRAN is “getting no bars”, as INTERNET access has been taken out by ISRAEL.

Iran has been under a near-total internet blackout since Wednesday afternoon, despite Iranian authorities claiming to have repelled “extensive” Israeli cyberattacks on the country’s network. https://www.prensa.com/mundo/iran-permanece-aun-bajo-el-apagon-de-internet-tras-ciberataque-israeli/ Vladimir Putin calls for ways to achieve a cessation of hostilities between Iran and Israel.The UN calls for an immediate detente leading to a ceasefire between Israel …

Canal

Panama’s role in the “New” Cold War with US/CHINA.

The president questioned the US diplomat about a statement regarding antennas, along with the Ministry of Security, which places Panama in the dangerous conflict between Beijing and Washington. Less than two months have passed since the arrival of the United States ambassador to Panama, Kevin Marino Cabrera, and the first …

Canal

US-CHINA agreement gives BOOST to market- What does it mean to PANAMA?

  https://newsroompanama.com/2025/05/12/what-does-the-us-china-tariff-deal-mean-for-the-panama-canal/ The US and China have agreed a truce to lower import taxes on goods being traded between the two countries.  That means more ships traveling through the Panama Canal.  Good for Panama.  Good for the world. The agreement marks a major de-escalation of the trade war between the …

Canal
1

PANAMA-US-CHINA: The international “Menage a Trois” Continues. One Huge BS story.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyzlk259g2o A Hong Kong-based company has agreed to sell most of its stake in two key ports on the Panama Canal to a group led by US investment firm BlackRock. The sale comes after weeks of complaining by President Donald Trump that the canal is under Chinese control and that …

Canal

Lawsuit filed against MINISTER of the CANAL. How could this NOT HAPPEN???????? Duh.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/abogado-presenta-denuncia-contra-ministro-del-canal-por-traicion-FE12437543 Attorney Neftalí Jaén filed the complaint based on the joint statement signed by the Minister and the Secretary of Defense of the United States. On Monday, May 5, attorney Neftalí Jaén filed a criminal complaint against Canal Minister José Icaza Clement for possibly committing a crime against the international …

Canal

Holiday break is over, but Canal issue will not be ending anytime soon.

https://newsroompanama.com/2025/04/22/the-worlds-eyes-are-focused-on-the-panama-canal/ There is an adage “nothing happens in a vacuum” and that is particularly true of strategic waterways like the Panama Canal.  The Trump Administration’s pressuring of Panama to sell the two container terminals at each end of the Panama Canal owned by Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of the …

Canal

Mulino wants to have a Mega Port in light of US issues over foreign port influence.

“What we want is precisely to move towards a port facility, a mega port facility,” said the president. Mulino reaffirms Panamanian sovereignty over the Canal, 25 years after its restoration. https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/mulino-quiere-un-megapuerto-que-complemente-negocios-del-canal-de-panama-OE11266392#goog_rewarded Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said Thursday, March 20, that he wants to build a megaport on the Pacific to complement …

Canal

CLEAR BREAKDOWN of Canal questions: Editorial

https://newsroompanama.com/2025/03/11/orlando-perez-retaking-the-canal-is-not-feasible-and-even-trumps-advisors-know-it/   Trump won’t let go of the Canal. Orlando Pérez, a political scientist and expert on the Panama-United States relationship, tries to explain the complex situation.  Should Panama be worried about Trump and the Canal or is it just a show?  Trump has always seen the treaties as a …

"JB"
1

It’s Data and Articles like this that REINFORCE Trump “Canal” stance. Again “gulp”. Goes down like bleach.

World Bank: Panama faces challenges in human capital development and quality of employment     OP ED: “JB”   Hello friends, Ex-Pats, and my adopted Panamanian bretheren. I will openly admit that Donald Trump makes for a very EASY and VALID target for all the venom and vitriol he is …

Canal

Expected reaction to US pressure on China.

Two Panamanian lawyers have lodged a lawsuit with the country’s supreme court in an attempt to cancel a Hong Kong-based company’s concession to operate two ports at either end of the Panama canal. Their complaint – filed a day after the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, told Panama’s president, José Raúl …

"JB"

JB- FINAL WORD- tired of topic. Summarized beautifully.

OP ED: “JB”- If you have not read ALL of my recent posts on the US-Panama “CONFLICT”- for lack of a better term. Let me just simplify and summarize. EVERYONE KNOWS – PANAMA has competely RAPED-PILLAGED-and FUCKED the Canal Zone for 40 YEARS to benefit the wealthy and iconoclast elite …

Canal

As FULLY EXPECTED- Panama withdraws from “SILK ROAD” initiative. No surprise here.

China remains firmly opposed to the pressure and coercion exerted by the United States on Panama https://www.laestrella.com.pa/mundo/pekin-critica-la-presion-de-ee-uu-tras-la-salida-de-panama-de-la-nueva-ruta-de-la-seda-KM10584790 Chinese authorities have “deeply regretted” Panama’s withdrawal this week from its participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, popularly known as the New Silk Road, an international infrastructure project launched more than a …

Canal

Much ado about “Nonsense”. Panama victim of displaced Chinese anger.

You can share an article by clicking on the share icons at the top right of it. The total or partial reproduction of an article, without the prior written authorization of Le Monde, is strictly forbidden. For more information, see our Terms and Conditions. For all authorization requests, contact syndication@lemonde.fr. …

"JB"

Is this “REALLY” going to happen? It’s getting “Ri-goddamn-diculous”. READ this EX-PATS

Op ED: “JB” As I slowly settle back into my “Panama” mode after three months home for the holidays, I am a bit amazed that this “narrative” is still maintaining traction.  REALLY????  TRUMP IS GOING TO TAKE BACK THE CANAL!!!!      Again,………REALLY??? This is hyperbole and political bluster on …

Canal
2

DAY One of New TRUMP era, and PANAMA is on the agenda.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/17/politics/trump-panama-canal-threats-history-mulino/index.html Panama City, PanamaCNN —  The new Panamanian ambassador was given strict instructions as he prepared to meet then-President Donald Trump one day in 2019: Do not engage him in any substantive discussion of critical issues. This was meant to be a carefully choreographed photo op, nothing more but a brief …

Canal
2

Explaining Trump’s PANAMA view: w/ VIDEO link.

https://time.com/7204785/panama-canal-political-history/   For close to a month, President-elect Donald Trump has warned that the Panamanian government needs to reduce the shipping rates and fees placed on U.S.-based vessels going through the Panama Canal, unless it wants the U.S. to take back the canal. At a gathering for the conservative Turning Point USA …

Canal

PANAMA: steadfast over Trump canal hyperbole. Recalling the past.

Hundreds of people were killed during Operation Just Cause. Trump has stoked fears the US could invade again. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/12/panama-canal-trump For Isabel Corro, Donald Trump’s suggestions that the US could use military force to take control of the Panama Canal evokes painful memories. The 79-year-old vividly recalls rushing her children inside her apartment …

Canal

Sabre rattling has already begun even before Trump assumes office. Panama scoffs at threat.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79191d9xreo Panama has insisted that its sovereignty over the Panama Canal is “non-negotiable” after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out military force to seize it. Trump made the remark during a news conference on Tuesday at which he also falsely stated that the Panama Canal was being operated …

Canal

Starting with a BANG. TRUMP “implies” force to re-acquire Canal.

  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-suggests-use-military-force-acquire-panama-canal-greenland-econo-rcna186610 President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday suggested he would consider using military force to gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, and “economic force” to acquire Canada. During a free-wheeling news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump was asked by a reporter if he could assure the public that he …

Canal

Canal institutes measures to mandate decreased speed to reduce Whale collisions.

About goddamn time. In Florida they have to slow down for MANATEES. These container ships come in full throttle. The measure will be applied in the maritime traffic separation devices located in Cristóbal, in the Caribbean Sea and on the Pacific Ocean coast. https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/economia/canal-de-panama-reduce-la-velocidad-de-buques-para-evitar-choques-con-ballenas-AY8111121?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc To reduce the risk of collisions …

Canal

Commerce through Canal is LESS than projected for 2024.

https://www-laestrella-com-pa.translate.goog/economia/vasquez-los-ingresos-del-canal-para-el-2024-se-encuentran-por-debajo-de-lo-presupuestado-FK8048632?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Vásquez said that he will follow the schedule for increasing ship traffic established for this week of 34. Two months before the end of fiscal year 2024, Ricaurter Vásquez, administrator of the Panama Canal, announced on July 24 that income is below what was established in the budget, but …

Air Travel

CRWD/MSFT issue with AI platform causes a “shit storm” worldwide. Hope you weren’t travelling.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/business/microsoft-outage-cause-azure-crowdstrike.html Airlines grounded flights. Operators of 911 lines could not respond to emergencies. Hospitals canceled surgeries. Retailers closed for the day. And the actions all traced back to a batch of bad computer code. A flawed software update sent out by a little-known cybersecurity company caused chaos and disruption around …

Canal

Panama plans for further expansion of an additional “lock” within 6 years.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/panama-canal-expects-water-reservoir-232824557.html PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – The Panama Canal expects to complete a billion-dollar construction of a new water reservoir within six years that will help ensure the passage of 36 ships a day, the administrator of the global waterway said on Monday. The Indio River reservoir project would become part …

Canal

Historical Retrospective on the CANAL: As it defines the PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE of PANAMA.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/panama/publicando-historia/pasado-presente-y-futuro-poniendo-en-perspectiva-al-canal-de-panama-FE7547711 This engineering work has a great connection with the Panamanian idiosyncrasy as well as the history of the isthmus, in which it continues to be a relevant element. The return of the Panama Canal and the Canal Zone to the Panamanian administration is one of the most important events …

Energy/Infrastructure

Hold on,,,,,,,So ASEP does in fact have a “working office”???? Just not open to Ex-Pats I guess.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/contenido-patrocinado/eficiencia-energetica-para-la-industria-panamena-una-oportunidad-de-sostenibilidad-y-competitividad-con-erco-energia-XG7239275 Erco Energía presents itself as a strategic ally for companies in Panama that are looking for advice and solutions regarding energy efficiency for their production processes. Panama’s industrial sector has long been a key driver for the country’s economy and progress. However, the increase in energy and power rates, …

Canal

Singapore owned vessel from Baltimore bridge collapse calling on an 1851 Law to limit liability.

https://fortune.com/2024/04/01/baltimore-francis-scott-key-bridge-liability-cap-44-million-singapore/ The owner and manager of a cargo ship that rammed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge before the span collapsed last week filed a court petition Monday seeking to limit their legal liability for the deadly disaster. The companies’ “limitation of liability” petition is a routine but important procedure for cases litigated under …

Canal

Friend in tourism sent me this about extended PANAMA cruise offered now.

https://www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises/scenic-announces-new-scenic-eclipse-2023-2024-caribbean-collection-0 Scenic has unveiled the 2023-2024 Caribbean Collection for its Discovery Yacht Scenic Eclipse. The itineraries will allow guests to explore some of the more remote destinations, only accessible to smaller ships. Ports such as Darby Island, Egg Island and Long Island in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico’s Isla de Culebra, Grenadines’ Mayreau, and Isla de Providencia in Colombia, among others promise a more intimate experience. Booking early can …

Canal

Panama recognizes the role climate chnage is having on the Canal.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/230904/panamenos-reconocen-cambio-climatico-afecta The Panama Canal is facing a crisis due to water shortages. The Panamanian recognizes that affectation. The Gismo Services, SA survey, published monthly in La Estrella de Panamá, revealed that 81% of Panamanians agree that climate change is already affecting the operation of the Panama Canal. According to the survey, …

Politics

With elections looming, Facebook type fake accounts are being held accountable.

The Electoral Tribunal (TE) processes 747 files of violation of electoral propaganda on the internet and social networks.The files are generated by the Center for Studies and Digital Monitoring of the TE and presented to the Directorate of Electoral Organization for investigation.This week the regulatory body for electoral processes issued …

Economy

The one group of immigrants PANAMA “does” want to come over. Digital Nomads

The rise of remote or remote work, pushed by the covid-19 pandemic, opened the door to digital nomads. So much so that today it is one of the most frequently heard terms when talking about work trends and lifestyles in the world. A digital nomad is a person who uses the …