Panama's president rejects talks with Trump over canal ownership dispute

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has ruled out any negotiations with Donald Trump regarding the Panama Canal. This follows Trump's suggestion that the canal should be returned to the U.S. and his criticism of tolls for U.S. vessels. Mulino emphasized that the canal is owned by Panama and dismissed any claims of Chinese influence over it. He stated that tolls are set through a public process, not arbitrarily by officials. Protests occurred outside the U.S. embassy in Panama City, with demonstrators expressing opposition to Trump's comments. They chanted against him and burned his picture.