Central America

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino stated that his country has a 'positive relationship' with China despite the fact that it is caught in a dispute between China and the U.S. He also defended Panama's 'takeover' of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison's port contracts. He spoke at a regular news conference after receiving a message he described as "high level" from the Chinese government, which acknowledged that the dispute over port contracts would be heard by an international arbitration court and was not a matter between the Panamanian or Chinese governments. The message received by China's ambassador to Panama marked a "friendlier...

In the Maya jungle of Mexico, a series of brilliant white lights are blazing in the darkness. It is a depot for a multi-billion dollar train line. Just beyond the perimeter fence, a village off-grid is in complete darkness. Mexico's Mayan train, a rail project of approximately 1,500 km (1,000 miles) in length, was designed to improve infrastructure and increase tourism to the impoverished southern part of the country. Two years after its launch, the project is still struggling. Tickets sales only cover a small fraction of the operating costs, and most hotels along the route are empty. Local communities...

Russian drones attacked Ukraine’s Izmail port in southern Odesa overnight, damaging a civilian Panama flagged?vessel. Ukrainian?officials? said? on Tuesday. Oleksiy Kulba, Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister, said that several strikes had been recorded in the port area. He added that different infrastructure elements and equipment have also been damaged. Kuleba, a Telegram user, said that the enemy was "once again" deliberately targeting critical infrastructure and logistical facilities in the Odesa region. He said that one of the strikes caused a fire which was quickly put out. Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority stated that the port continues to operate. Oleh 'Kiper, Regional Governor...

On Thursday, Panamanian President Jose 'Raul Mulino sought to?calm tensions with China. He struck a?conciliatory note a day after he had called on the Asian superpower to increase inspections of Panama flagged vessels in a titt-for-tat reaction to China losing its concessions at Panamanian ports. Mulino, on a recent visit to the Balboa Port?on Pacific side of Panama Canal said: "We don't want a dispute with China." "I hope that the situation will de-escalate... that we can return to normality, both in our political relationship as well as in our understanding that the problem is one that will be solved."...

Panama's top diplomatic official said on Wednesday that a.rise in inspections and.detentions of Panama flagged vessels in China was.caused by a Panama court decision.against Hong Kong based CK.Hutchison.and urged China to respect Panama's sovereign affairs. Panama's Supreme Court invalidated in January the legal framework that supported conglomerate CK Hutchison’s right to operate two key terminals close to the Panama Canal via its Panama unit, leading the Panama government cancel the cancellation of concessions. At a?conference in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, Panamanian foreign minister Javier Martinez-Acha expressed his hope that the increase in ship detentions seen in March will return...

Local newspaper La Prensa on Tuesday reported that the Chinese shipping and logistics conglomerate COSCO Shipping has halted operations at the Balboa Port at the entrance of the Panama Canal. Could not immediately confirm the report. COSCO published a notice to clients, which was published by La Prensa. The company stated that empty containers should be returned to the Colon Container Terminal or the Manzanillo International Terminal in Colon Province. The newspaper reported that COSCO had not specified the reason for its suspension, or whether it was temporary or permanent. This move comes after a ruling by the Supreme Court...

The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reported late Wednesday that a Russian drone had damaged a civilian Panama-flagged ship transporting 'corn near the Ukrainian port of 'Chornomorsk' in the Black Sea Odesa area. The ports authority announced on Telegram that the vessel was struck while it was en route to leave the port, but did not specify the extent of damage. The Ukrainian Navy said that one crew member was injured?in an attack on the "BULL", which had left the port and was headed towards the Bosphorus Strait. A statement posted on social media stated that the captain refused to assist...

The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reported late Wednesday that a Russian drone had damaged a civilian Panama flagged vessel transporting corn in the Black Sea Odesa area near the Ukrainian port of Cronomorsk. The port authority said that the vessel was struck while it was en route out of the harbor and that some crew members were injured. They did not specify the extent of damage or how many crewmembers had been injured. Odesa is the hub port for 90% of Ukraine's exports. In recent months, Russia has attacked Ukraine's ports and maritime export routes, which are vital for its...

Senators have been informed that U.S. officials are to give a classified briefing to key senators on Wednesday, following two incidents in Texas with 'government drones' which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to close 'airspace? for airplanes. The U.S. Military shot down an unintentional government drone on February 25, using a laser-based system to combat drones. This prompted the FAA, who oversees flight restrictions around Fort Hancock in Texas, to extend this area. The FAA announced on February 18 that it would halt all flights at El Paso Airport, Texas for 10 days. However, the FAA reversed course after...

Financial Times reported that a consortium backed by BlackRock is pushing for the completion of its 'acquisition' of CK - Hutchison’s global ports business? without two terminals located in Panama after the authorities seized these assets. The report cited people who were familiar with the negotiations as saying that the Swiss-Italian Mediterranean Shipping Company and the U.S. listed asset manager are'said to be in discussions with CK Hutchison about?buying 41 ports throughout Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Could not immediately verify the report. BlackRock, MSC - and CK Hutchison - did not respond to a request for comment....

Local media reported that Panamanian officials searched offices connected to the Panama Ports Company (the local 'unit of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison), on Thursday. CK Hutchison did not respond immediately to a comment request. Neither did the Panamanian authorities. Local TVN showed pictures of about a dozen individuals, some of whom were wearing vests with the initials DIJ of Panama's Investigative Police, located in an underground parking garage in Albrook, a high-end area of Panama City. Images showed people loading cardboard boxes into a police truck. The images did not show the name of the location, so it was...

Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison announced on Tuesday that Panama authorities had threatened to prosecute its employees if they 'defied orders' to leave two strategically important canal ports in the midst of a legal dispute which has involved Beijing and Washington. CK?Hutchison? said that Panama's decision of cancelling key port contracts and granting temporary licences to Maersk & the Mediterranean Shipping (MSC), was 'illegal', and it is considering national and international legal actions against the country. Panama published Monday in its official gazette a Supreme Court decision cancelling key port contracts by a subsidiary known as Panama Ports Company, a...

According to four sources with knowledge of the situation, the future of Pemex CEO Victor Rodriguez is becoming increasingly uncertain. The longtime ally to President Claudia Sheinbaum is struggling to turn around Mexico’s troubled state oil company. The first 18-months of Victor Rodriguez's tenure at Pemex were marked by worsening divisions within the company, a major oil spill and a fatal refinery accident. The company's production is only 1.6 million barrels per day, short of its 1.8 million barrels per day?target. Sheinbaum has meanwhile pushed Rodriguez to the sidelines, and has become increasingly involved in the operations that are aimed...

The Labor Day holiday weekend in Mexico turned tragic on Friday when at least 11 people were killed and 31 injured after a 'tourist bus'?crashed? in the western state of Nayarit. The Nayarit government said that the bus was traveling from Jalisco and veered off of the highway near Amatlan de Canas. Officials said that the passengers were on their?way to a recreation center in Nayarit. Nayarit,?Jalisco and other emergency crews responded to the call. They closed the road and conducted rescue operations as well as investigated the cause of the accident. The Nayarit government shared photos of the bus...

Two U.S. officials and a Mexican official said that U.S. authorities raided Ikon Midstream's offices in Houston, Texas, to investigate fuel smuggling. Two U.S.-based sources confirmed that the operation?in which law enforcers executed a federal warrant? took place this week at?Ikon Midstream’s Houston headquarters. One source said that the operation targeted documents and computers. The exact reason or materials seized could not be confirmed. The raid was not previously reported. Joseph Slovacek confirmed to the company that "U.S. Customs and Border Protection executed a search warrant at Ikon. He stated that law enforcement cited previous reports about Ikon as the...

Rafael Pirro said that the 'Panama Canal Authority' expects to award contracts by June 2027 for two new gas pipelines and ports. The two port terminals - one in the Atlantic and the other in the Pacific - are expected to be operational around 2030. They represent an investment of $2.6 billion. Gas pipeline with an investment between $4 and $8 billion is expected to be in operation around 2031. It will have a capacity to transfer up to 397,500 cubic metres of gas per day. Pirro stated that the Canal Authority intends to start a 'dialogue with interested party?...

According to a report by the Panama Canal Authority, which was seen on Friday, there has been a 2.8% rise in vessel 'transits' in the first four months of the fiscal year. According to the report, most of the traffic increase was registered by tankers transporting energy products such as liquefied gas (LNG), dry bulk carriers and car carriers. This growth represents?114 more transits than the same period a previous year, to?a maximum of 4,156 vessels during the four-month span. The report states that the demand remained?solid?despite increased global trade volatility and new tariffs. The report said that "Tanker (transits),"...

Residents of Veracruz, a Mexican state, are concerned by the recent appearances of oil on local beaches. This has disrupted the livelihoods of the residents, who fear that it could contaminate the lagoon?where the communities raise fish and shrimp. Residents of Jicacal on the Gulf of Mexico have organized to remove as much of this hardened tar from the beaches as possible, as the viscous spill moves along the coast. Authorities have not revealed what caused the spill. Veracruz has a high oil activity in Mexico. This is true on both land and sea. The state oil company Pemex has...

Mexico has expanded its investigation into fuel smuggling in seaports, which was highlighted?in an investigation 2025 into cartel-linked crimes. According to the February document, the anti-corruption minister is in charge of internal investigations at the ports of Guaymas and Tampico as well as Ensenada. It also oversees the Navy and Customs Agency. The government had previously acknowledged investigations into suspected fuel smuggling in the Port of Tampico, and 14 people were arrested last year for allegedly being involved. These included customs agents and Navy officers. The government's comments on fuel smuggling were in response to questions posed by the National...

Mexican authorities raided this week a tunnel that was used to steal fuel from a state-owned pipe, giving a rare glimpse into the long-running fight against a black market trade often dominated?by organized crime. The 22-meter (72-foot) long tunnel was discovered outside a house in rural Hidalgo state near the town of Tepetitlan. In a Tuesday statement, the Hidalgo State Attorney said that it led to two taps of an underground pipeline. Security forces also confiscated drugs at this location. The Hidalgo State attorney declined to provide any further details on the announcement. Unidentified person who was familiar with the...

By Adriana Barrera MEXICO CITY. Dec 2. Esentia's CEO announced on Tuesday that the company plans to increase its natural gas transportation capacity by 50% in the third phase of a five-year expansion program, betting on a growing demand. In late November, the company raised $457m in its initial public offering to finance expansion and reduce debt. Daniel Bustos, Esentia's CEO, said that the company will expand its interconnected system to 660 million cubic feet. * Esentia has more than 2,000 km (1,243 mi) of pipelines known as the Waha System or Wahalajara, that transport low-cost gas from Waha in...

LSEG data, as well as regulatory filings, show that the U.S. liquefied gas company Freeport LNG was on schedule to receive more natural gas in Texas on Friday. This is a sign of one of three liquefaction train's return to service following its Thursday shutdown. Freeport has been one of the most closely monitored U.S. LNG plants in the world because its changes in operations have caused price fluctuations in global gas markets. Gas prices in the U.S. typically fall when flows to Freeport decrease due to a reduced demand for fuels from the export facility. Prices in Europe usually...

Esentia announced on Thursday that it had priced its shares at 45 pesos (2.45 USD) for the initial public offering. This was below the previously indicated range of between $2.70 and $3.90. Esentia announced that the offering consisted of 224 million shares. Of these, 72.25 millions were offered on the Mexican domestic market, and 151.75 in an international offer. Esentia, a company that focuses on transporting and commercializing natural gas, said the funds raised would be used to fund its expansion plans as well as partially repay some of its debt. The company sold 186,000,000 new shares via the primary...

Mexico's Esentia said it aims to raise 610 million dollars through an initial public offer. Esentia Energy Development is a company dedicated to transporting and selling natural gas. It plans to sell 224,000,000 common shares in this operation. The company stated that it would sell its shares between $2.70 to $3.90. Esentia has not provided any details about the dates of the transactions. Esentia stated in an investor presentation that the funds raised will be used for financing expansion plans of the company and partially paying off some debts. The Waha System (also known as Wahalajara) is its main asset....