Communities of the Panamanian province of Darién, on the Colombian border, benefited from a development assistance campaign January 25-27, 2018. The Panamanian National Border Service (SENAFRONT, in Spanish) held the humanitarian aid operation, Operation Falcon (Operación Halcón), in coordination with the U.S. Embassy and Panamanian healthcare entities. More than 450 people from the indigenous communities […]
A Miami federal judge agreed to release former Panama president Ricardo Martinelli on $1 million bail as he fights extradition to his home country, but immediately put a hold on her decision. U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke on Wednesday granted a request by the Justice Department to stay her ruling granting bail while prosecutors appeal. […]
The Panama Canal’s new enlarged locks handled 60 LNG carrier transits in the last quarter of 2017, a 40% jump on the same period a year earlier. The climb in traffic levels aligns with the build-up in exports from the Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana, currently the LNG sector’s only user of the Canal for […]
Digicel has won a block of 700MHz spectrum in Panama after approval from the National Public Services Authority. The operator is due to pay $22.5 million for 2×10MHz blocks of 700MHz spectrum in the 738MHz-748MHz/793MHz-803MHz bands, and the frequencies must be put in use within the next 12 months. The decision was approved by Cabinet […]
In Costa Rica, a decree is being prepared to eliminate the ban that has been in effect since 1988 and to re-authorize planting of the robusta variety in some areas of the country. The results obtained in tests carried out in 2016 and the conclusion that there is no longer a real technical justification for […]
Of the 2 million hectares of land estimated to be available for agricultural crops, only 40,000 are dedicated to fruit production. Because of its climate and quality of soil, Panama has great potential for growing tropical fruits, such as mango, papaya, pineapple, avocado, coconut and citrus. However, the country’s agricultural capacity is not being fully exploited. A […]
The ecological catamaran Race for Water traveled the Panama Canal, after touring 8,757 miles powered by solar energy, hydrogen and sailing. As part of the Odyssey 2017-2021 expedition, the ship will make its fifth scale in this capital since it left the French port of Lorient, on April 9, 2017, and visit the Caribbean island […]
Fitch Ratings has affirmed Panama’s sovereign ratings as follows: –Long-term Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BBB’, Outlook Stable; –Senior unsecured Foreign- and Local-Currency bonds at ‘BBB’; –Country Ceiling at ‘A’; –Short-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency IDR at ‘F2’. KEY RATING DRIVERS Panama’s ratings are supported by continued strong and stable macroeconomic performance, which […]
A judge on the Panama Supreme Court who drafted a ruling against marriage rights for same-sex couples has withdrawn it. Justice Luis Ramón Fábrega last October in his draft ruling wrote the provisions of Panama’s family code that prevent gays and lesbians from marrying in the country are not unconstitutional. Fábrega also suggested members of […]
Panama-based Copa Airlines and Lufthansa Group have agreed to expand the scope of their existing codeshare to allow Copa to commercialize and market the Panama-Frankfurt-Panama route, which is operated by Lufthansa. Copa will now be able to codeshare the route with a Copa Airlines flight number. “With this alliance … passengers will have better options […]