Politics & Stuff

[Fernando 6,509]

BlackRock strikes $23 billion deal to place Panama Canal ports under American control

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blackrock-panama-canal-deal-ck-hutchison-trump/

 

Very smart from Trump in pushing out the Chinese from Panama. 

[Fulham Broadway 17,031]

Tesla charging stations have been set on fire in the US state of Massachusetts as a backlash against Elon Musk grows.

People have been protesting against his close ties to Donald Trump and embrace of far-right politicians around the world.

Officers and firefighters rushed to The Point Shopping Center near Boston and found the charging stations "engulfed in flames and heavy, dark smoke".

Police said seven charging stations were damaged and the "fire appears to have been intentionally set", but no injuries were reported.

Musk, the billionaire chief executive of Tesla, now heads up the president's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Mr Musk has overseen the firing of thousands of government employees in recent weeks.

The world's richest man and his companies have been targeted since he made what looked like a Nazi salute at Mr Trump's inauguration, with analysts saying Tesla's car sales have fallen.

Reuters

[Fernando 6,509]

47 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Tesla charging stations have been set on fire in the US state of Massachusetts as a backlash against Elon Musk grows.

People have been protesting against his close ties to Donald Trump and embrace of far-right politicians around the world.

Officers and firefighters rushed to The Point Shopping Center near Boston and found the charging stations "engulfed in flames and heavy, dark smoke".

Police said seven charging stations were damaged and the "fire appears to have been intentionally set", but no injuries were reported.

Musk, the billionaire chief executive of Tesla, now heads up the president's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Mr Musk has overseen the firing of thousands of government employees in recent weeks.

The world's richest man and his companies have been targeted since he made what looked like a Nazi salute at Mr Trump's inauguration, with analysts saying Tesla's car sales have fallen.

Reuters

Haters gonna hate. 

Meanwhile I bought some TSLA shares here. Good spot to buy some, as well the regular folk on the streets are a contrary indicator. When they start talking like that more frequently the bottom is close. 

If you can buy some for you here because when the Ukraine war finish this should get a nice move higher. 

[Fulham Broadway 17,031]

1 minute ago, Fernando said:

Haters gonna hate. 

Meanwhile I bought some TSLA shares here. Good spot to buy some, as well the regular folk on the streets are a contrary indicator. When they start talking like that more frequently the bottom is close. 

If you can buy some for you here because when the Ukraine war finish this should get a nice move higher. 

Pleased if you make money.

The bigger picture is Trump will not make US 'great again'.  The in fighting, factionalism, both in geo politics and within domestic US politics is straight out of the KGB playbook. From election interference to sabotaging critical infrastructure, Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy is increasingly sowing chaos.  Kremlin has 'kompromat' on Trump, and he is dancing to their tune. 

 

[Fernando 6,509]

12 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Pleased if you make money.

The bigger picture is Trump will not make US 'great again'.  The in fighting, factionalism, both in geo politics and within domestic US politics is straight out of the KGB playbook. From election interference to sabotaging critical infrastructure, Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy is increasingly sowing chaos.  Kremlin has 'kompromat' on Trump, and he is dancing to their tune. 

 

Well they got some control of Panama so that is good. 

[Fulham Broadway 17,031]

5 minutes ago, Fernando said:

Well they got some control of Panama so that is good. 

 Blackrock and other investors bought out CK Hutchinsons two ports, meanwhile Canada have cancelled Starlink...

[Fulham Broadway 17,031]

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino has accused his American counterpart, Donald Trump, of lying when he told members of Congress that the United States is “reclaiming” the Panama Canal.

In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, Mulino said the man-made waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans “is not in the process of recovery” by Trump and the US government.

“Once again, President Trump is lying,” Mulino wrote on X.

“I reject, on behalf of Panama and all Panamanians, this new affront to the truth and to our dignity as a nation,” Mulino added.

PA

[Vesper 29,301]

Sign in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

[Vesper 29,301]

23 hours ago, Fernando said:

Well they got some control of Panama so that is good. 

The Panama Canal and the Torrijos-Carter Treaties

One of President Jimmy Carter’s greatest accomplishments was negotiating the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which were ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1978. These treaties gave the nation of Panama eventual control of the Panama Canal.

https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/panama-canal

snip

The Carter administration formulated a strategy to conclude debate over the Canal and to gain Senate ratification. Carter officials worked on selling the treaty to the public, holding hundreds of forums where policymakers explained the administration’s rationale for completing a treaty. Torrijos hosted U.S. Senators in Panama, where he stressed that he was neither an enemy of the United States nor a communist. Actor John Wayne, both a conservative and a friend of Torrijos, also endorsed the negotiations. The negotiators decided that their best chance for ratification was to submit two treaties to the U.S. Senate. The first, called The Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, or the Neutrality Treaty, stated that the United States could use its military to defend the Panama Canal against any threat to its neutrality, thus allowing perpetual U.S. usage of the Canal. The second, called The Panama Canal Treaty, stated that the Panama Canal Zone would cease to exist on October 1, 1979, and the Canal itself would be turned over to the Panamanians on December 31, 1999. These two treaties were signed on September 7, 1977.

It took more than six months before the Senate voted. Many Senators who opposed the treaties tried to add amendments that would make it harder for other Senators to vote in favor of them. In the end, the Carter administration succeeded—but just barely. The Senate ratified the Neutrality Treaty on March 16, 1978 by a vote of 68 to 32. On April 18, they ratified The Panama Canal Treaty by an identical margin. The Carter administration revisited many of these issues with Congress when it negotiated the implementation legislation for the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Carter signed the implementation legislation into law on September 27, 1979.

The Torrijos-Carter Treaties allowed the United States to defend itself from charges of imperialism made by Soviet-aligned states. While the treaties represented a great moment of cooperation between the United States and Panama, relations between the two countries grew contentious after the death of Torrijos in 1981. In December of 1989, President George H.W. Bush ordered an invasion of Panama to remove Panamanian leader Manuel Noreiga from power. By 1999, however, relations had grown more peaceful and the Canal was turned over to the Panamanians who have administered it ever since.

[Vesper 29,301]

taking back the Panama Canal via military force would be an Act of War against a sovereign nation by the US

[Fernando 6,509]

22 minutes ago, Vesper said:

taking back the Panama Canal via military force would be an Act of War against a sovereign nation by the US

They already took it back via money. 

Since in Panama it's a land where bribery is big, they sold themselves to Chinese's and now to the USA back. 

[Vesper 29,301]

4 minutes ago, Fernando said:

They already took it back via money. 

Since in Panama it's a land where bribery is big, they sold themselves to Chinese's and now to the USA back. 

no, the Canal itself was not sold

2 ports were sold to a group led by BlackRock, but also including non US firms

It is a private firm selling to other private firms

Hong Kong billionaire to sell Panama Canal ports to US firm

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 the US should take control of the major shipping route.

Through a subsidiary, CK Hutchison Holding operates ports at the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean entrances to the canal.

It said Tuesday that it would sell its interests as part of a deal worth $22.8bn (£17.8bn).

CK Hutchison, founded by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, is not owned by the Chinese government. But its base in Hong Kong means it operates under Chinese financial laws. It has operated the ports since 1997.

The deal includes a total of 43 ports in 23 countries around the world, including the two canal terminals. It will require approval by the Panamanian government.

The 51-mile (82km) Panama Canal cuts across the central American nation and is the main link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Up to 14,000 ships travel through it each year, including container ships carrying cars, natural gas and other goods, and military vessels.

It was built in the early 1900s. The US maintained control over the canal zone until 1977, when treaties gradually ceded the land back to Panama.

After a period of joint control, Panama took sole control in 1999.

Trump has made several arguments for retaking control of the canal and the surrounding area. He argued that Chinese influence is a national security threat, that the US investment in the initial building of the canal justifies taking back control, and that US ships are charged too much for using the waterway.

In a visit to Panama in February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanded that the country make "immediate changes" to what he calls the "influence and control" of China over the canal.

Panama rejected the US government claims and President Jose Raul Mulino has said the canal "is and will remain" in the central American country's hands.

In a statement announcing the business deal, Frank Sixt, co-managing director of CK Hutchison, said: "I would like to stress that the transaction is purely commercial in nature and wholly unrelated to recent political news reports concerning the Panama Ports."

BlackRock is one of the world's largest asset management companies. The group buying the ports also includes Terminal Investment Limited, a Swiss company.

[Fernando 6,509]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

no, the Canal itself was not sold

2 ports were sold to a group led by BlackRock, but also including non US firms

It is a private firm selling to other private firms

Hong Kong billionaire to sell Panama Canal ports to US firm

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 the US should take control of the major shipping route.

Through a subsidiary, CK Hutchison Holding operates ports at the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean entrances to the canal.

It said Tuesday that it would sell its interests as part of a deal worth $22.8bn (£17.8bn).

CK Hutchison, founded by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, is not owned by the Chinese government. But its base in Hong Kong means it operates under Chinese financial laws. It has operated the ports since 1997.

The deal includes a total of 43 ports in 23 countries around the world, including the two canal terminals. It will require approval by the Panamanian government.

The 51-mile (82km) Panama Canal cuts across the central American nation and is the main link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Up to 14,000 ships travel through it each year, including container ships carrying cars, natural gas and other goods, and military vessels.

It was built in the early 1900s. The US maintained control over the canal zone until 1977, when treaties gradually ceded the land back to Panama.

After a period of joint control, Panama took sole control in 1999.

Trump has made several arguments for retaking control of the canal and the surrounding area. He argued that Chinese influence is a national security threat, that the US investment in the initial building of the canal justifies taking back control, and that US ships are charged too much for using the waterway.

In a visit to Panama in February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanded that the country make "immediate changes" to what he calls the "influence and control" of China over the canal.

Panama rejected the US government claims and President Jose Raul Mulino has said the canal "is and will remain" in the central American country's hands.

In a statement announcing the business deal, Frank Sixt, co-managing director of CK Hutchison, said: "I would like to stress that the transaction is purely commercial in nature and wholly unrelated to recent political news reports concerning the Panama Ports."

BlackRock is one of the world's largest asset management companies. The group buying the ports also includes Terminal Investment Limited, a Swiss company.

But that is all because of Trump pressure. 

This is what he wanted. This would benefit American company. 

[Vesper 29,301]

42 minutes ago, Fernando said:

But that is all because of Trump pressure. 

This is what he wanted. This would benefit American company. 

that is not what you claimed

nice goal-post moving

and if you think BlackRock (the world's largest asset manager and one of the kingpins of predatory hyper-predatory capitalism, deregulation, and privitisation) gives a toss about what is 'good' for the US (or the world), I have a bridge to sell you

BlackRock's assets hit record $11.5 trillion amid private market push

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/blackrock-hits-record-high-115-trillion-assets-market-rally-etf-boost-2024-10-11/ (and this is from around half a year ago)