Central America
Protesting indigenous people achieve investment in their comarca in Panama
August 9|
Indigenous groups unblocked early Tuesday morning points of the Inter-American highway in Panama, after negotiations with a high-level government commission, which agreed to an investment of up to $ 150 million in infrastructure projects in their territories.
The Minister of Public Works, Rafael Sabonge, confirmed that “after 15 hours of conversations with the pro-road groups (…) we have managed to reach an agreement to significantly improve the quality of the roads in the Ngäbe Buglé region and, likewise, improve the quality of life of the residents (…) and as a consequence of this, lift the closure of the road”.
In the agreement it was established to improve the quality of the road network of the region and that the first meeting to follow up on these agreements was to be held this Tuesday.
“We hope that this commitment for the construction of infrastructure in the “most remote areas” of the country will be fulfilled to the letter”, “we trust in God, more than anything else, and again we put our faith in the Government to keep its word in these terms of time”, declared the spokesman of the protesters, Joel Franceschi.
The Panamanian authorities “have been signing agreements for a long time and they have not complied with them and the population has had to resort to this pressure measure so that the Government pays attention”, declared on Monday another spokesman of the demonstrators in San Juan Oriente, Aquilino Montezuma.
Press media reported that on Tuesday morning there were no longer blockades in one of the protest points set up by the indigenous groups, San Juan Oriente, belonging to the western province of Chiriqui, bordering Costa Rica.
The blockades began at noon on Monday and generated long lines of vehicles on the Interamerican highway, which crosses all of Panama and connects the country with Central America; it is considered a neuralgic route for the transportation of people and merchandise arriving through the Panama Canal and the national ports system.
The demonstration raised fears of food shortages in the Central American country, as occurred a little more than a year ago due to indigenous blockades in the same area of Chiriqui, demanding the high cost of living.
Central America
Panama’s President Mulino: “We are regaining international trust” to exit tax haven lists
Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino stated on Tuesday that the Central American country is “regaining international trust” regarding lists that label it as a tax haven, and that it hopes to be removed from these lists in the near future.
“At the international level, we are regaining confidence. Panama is taking firm steps to get off the European Union’s list, thanks to the coordinated work of various institutions,” Mulino said during his first-year report speech before the deputies.
The Panamanian president emphasized that he has “increased” his “engagement” with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) “not only with the aim of leaving these lists but also to begin our path toward joining that important group of democratic states and prosperous economies.”
Since taking office on July 1, 2024, Mulino has stressed that he will work to have Panama removed from what he calls “discriminatory” lists that consider it a tax haven. He has even focused part of his official conversations during trips to Europe on this issue.
Currently, Panama has strengthened banking regulations following the 2016 Panama Papers scandal. However, it remains on some lists, such as that of the Netherlands, while it has been removed from others, including the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list in 2023.
Additionally, the European Commission recommended in June that Panama be removed from its list of jurisdictions with a high risk of money laundering and terrorist financing. The European Parliament and member states still have a month (extendable to two) to review the proposal, and unless opposed, it will take effect after that period.
Central America
Castro to address FfD4 in Spain as Global Financial Reform takes center stage
Honduran President Xiomara Castro will participate in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), to be held in Seville, Spain, from June 30 to July 3, Honduran Ambassador to Spain Marlon Brevé announced on Saturday.
The president is expected to arrive in Seville on Sunday and deliver her address on Monday, according to the diplomat.
Castro will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Javier Bu, her private secretary and son Héctor Zelaya, and Finance Minister Christian Duarte.
Spain is hosting the FfD4 conference at a critical time, as global development cooperation budgets face constraints while humanitarian needs continue to grow due to conflicts, political instability, and the climate crisis.
The conference will bring together world leaders, international organizations, private sector representatives, and civil society, aiming to review and reorient global development financing strategies.
Organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) through its Office for Financing for Sustainable Development, this high-level forum has been held since 2002 to promote structural financial reforms.
Key goals of the FfD4 include mobilizing greater volumes of capital at lower costs and reforming the international financial architecture to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and meet the urgent needs of developing nations.
Central America
Migrants stranded in Panama amid US Policy crackdown and Darién gap barriers
Migrants who once dreamed of reaching the United States are now forced to head back south after the arrival of President Donald Trump and stricter immigration policies. Many are stranded in Panama, caught between the Darién jungle barrier and the high costs of crossing the Caribbean Sea.
In Miramar, a small coastal town in Panama, dozens of migrants—mostly Venezuelans—wait for a chance to continue their journey to Colombia. Private boat rides to the border are out of reach for many, with fares reaching up to $260 per person.
“Here we’re stopped by the sea and the money. If it were a road, we’d already be in Colombia. But paying for three tickets for me and my children is impossible,” lamented Marielbis Eloina Campos, a 33-year-old Venezuelan traveling alone with her four young children after waiting a week in Miramar.
Campos left Brazil in 2023 and crossed the dangerous Darién jungle alone with her children, one carried on her back. The journey took six days, and she recalls one child nearly drowning while crossing a river. Despite the risks, she reached Mexico City, where she stayed over a year waiting for an asylum appointment via the CBP-One app. However, its cancellation under the Trump administration forced her to give up and return to Brazil.
“Mexico is torture for us migrants. I feared my children would be kidnapped,” said Campos, who pleaded for help to continue without being chased as if immigration authorities were “a mafia.”
Due to the high cost of private transport, Panama organized a humanitarian trip that transported 109 migrants from nine nationalities from Colón to the Colombian border aboard an official boat of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan). Another similar operation is expected soon.
Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, expressed concern about this reverse migration flow:
“I am worried that the number of people moving from north to south is increasing,” he said this month.
Tehran airports resume operations as Iran lifts airspace closure
Man attacks passengers with axe on german ICE Train
Trump to decide soon on deportation exemptions for construction and farm workers
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
Central America2 days agoPanama’s President Mulino: “We are regaining international trust” to exit tax haven lists
-
Central America5 days agoCastro to address FfD4 in Spain as Global Financial Reform takes center stage
-
International5 days agoTikTok sale advances as Trump reveals deal is in place
-
International4 days agoSpain hits record 46°C in June amid scorching heatwave
-
International4 days ago7 in 10 mexicans born poor stay poor, new report finds
-
International4 days agoTrump administration sues Los Angeles over sanctuary city policies
-
International4 days agoEcuador’s former VP Jorge Glas sentenced to 13 more years for corruption
-
International3 days agoThe White House insists that the United States remains in contact with Iran
-
International2 days agoTrump to decide soon on deportation exemptions for construction and farm workers
-
International3 days agoThe Argentine justice declares Milei’s measure that limited the right to strike unconstitutional
-
International3 days agoThe US climate agency will lose access to key data for hurricane forecasting in July
-
International2 days agoIDB plans $11 billion in sustainable financing to support countries facing currency risks
-
International3 days agoTrump sues Los Angeles for immigrant “sarture city” policies
-
International2 days agoMaduro’s government appeals to Vatican for help rescuing migrant children
-
International3 days agoTrump will receive Netanyahu at the White House next week
-
International9 hours agoTehran airports resume operations as Iran lifts airspace closure
-
International3 days agoFormer Correísta vice president Jorge Glas, sentenced to 13 years in prison for embezzlement in Ecuador
-
International2 days agoFormer argentine president seeks brazilian leader’s visit amid house arrest
-
International9 hours agoMan attacks passengers with axe on german ICE Train
-
International3 days agoThe US Supreme Court will address the reduction of spending limits of parties in campaigns
-
International3 days agoAn investigation by the Trump Administration concludes that Harvard violated the rights of Jewish students