I'm John Batchel with my colleague Evan Ellis, who is in Costa Rica, lucky fellow.

However, we're headed south to Panama.

Evan, I want to update the Panama story because things are hanging around and haven't been resolved.

First thing I learn is that the tension between Washington and Panama City over the Chinese influence of two port facilities, one on either side of the canal, has not been resolved.

That the private equity company, I believe was BlackRock, the bid for those ports around the world, including the two Panama ports at the other side of the

canal, is remaining unfinished because of interference, kibitzing, I don't know, they're polite

words and they're impolite words, by the Chinese Communist Party to hold up the sale,

though there was money on the table.

The second matter that has been resolved is the visits of Mr. Rubio right away, right after

his confirmation. And then I believe Mr. Hegeseth visited as well to speak with President

Molino about the Chinese interference or presence,

and also about the possibility of the U.S. basing jungle training school in Panama,

which would be a return of the U.S. security blanket in some fashion.

Either of those issues, have they been resolved,

either the jungle training school and the U.S. presence

reinvigorating the security of Panama

or the two ports out of Hong Kong.

Well, John, certainly all of these issues

and the associated maneuverings are in process.

With respect to BlackRock, to me, it's

an interesting show of the way that China continues to have the ability to exert leverage over

companies, even if companies are not traditional SOEs. And so in the case of Hutchison, which has

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