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☆ A boomer who moved to Panama after years as a bartender in the Hamptons and New Mexico outlines the pros and cons of living in Central America
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

George Stumpp, a retired bartender, lives comfortably in Panama after moving from New Mexico. He said Panama has robust infrastructure, a lower cost of living, and many of the same stores as the US. AdvertisementGeorge Stumpp, 65, worked as a bartender and bar supervisor in Long Island and New Mexico for decades. He's enjoying retirement in a country with a lower cost of living and high-quality healthcare, and he said he's enjoyed adapting to Panamanian culture. As his kids got older, he started to vacation in Central America, traveling to Costa Rica, Belize, and Panama.

Persons: George Stumpp, —, he's, we've, Stumpp, it's, Long, there's Organizations: Service, Panama City, Central, Business, Hamptons, Sante Locations: Panama, New Mexico, Long Island, Panamanian, Colombia, Thailand, St, Maarten, Long, Sante Fe, Santa Fe, Central America, Costa Rica, Belize, Ontario, Canada

☆ Crises in Ecuador, Haiti Could Fuel Migration in 2024, Report Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Kylie MadryMEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Thousands more people could be forced to leave Ecuador and Haiti in 2024 due to humanitarian crises such as intensifying violence, climate impacts and deepening poverty, the International Rescue Committee said in a report on Wednesday. "Multiple factors...will deteriorate living conditions for millions of people in Ecuador and Haiti, potentially forcing thousands to seek safety elsewhere," the IRC said. "The crises in Haiti and Ecuador are creating a ripple effect across the entire region," said IRC regional head Julio Rank Wright in a statement. "Without a functioning political system, the government will struggle to address violence and meet growing needs," the IRC said in the report. Food insecurity will likely also deepen in Haiti in 2024, the IRC said.

Persons: Kylie Madry, Julio Rank Wright, Jovenel Moise, Ariel Henry, Eli Moreno, Ros Russell Organizations: Kylie Madry MEXICO CITY, International, El, Global, Transnational, Global Initiative Locations: Kylie Madry MEXICO, Ecuador, Haiti, Colombia, Panama, Darien, Caribbean, Kenya, Mexico City, Panama City

☆ Panama's Top Court Rejects Ex-President Martinelli's Appeal to Annul Prison Sentence
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama's top court rejected former president and current presidential candidate Ricardo Martinelli's appeal to annul a 10-year prison sentence, a court official said on Friday, casting doubt on Martinelli's ability to run in the May election. Martinelli was sentenced to a 128-month prison term last year for money laundering for his role in a case known as "New Business," which alleges public funds were used to buy a media conglomerate and give him a majority stake. Authorities have not issued a statement on his candidacy, but Panama's constitution bars from the presidency anyone condemned to a prison sentence of five years or more. Martinelli, a multimillionaire supermarket magnate, held office from 2009 to 2014. (Reporting by Elida Moreno and Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Sarah Morland)

Persons: Ricardo Martinelli's, Martinelli, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Sarah Morland Organizations: PANAMA CITY, Authorities Locations: PANAMA

☆ Boeing's 737 Max 9 jet is flying again. Here's what experts say about its safety.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewOn January 5, an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 door plug broke off shortly after takeoff from Portland International Airport, leaving a gaping hole in the jet's fuselage. The Federal Aviation Administration quickly grounded 171 other Max 9 planes with the same door plug, mostly flown by United Airlines and Alaska. Four critical bolts used to secure the door plug were missing from the jet when it left Boeing's assembly line, The Wall Street Journal reported, representing a massive quality control lapse. Not all experts agree on the Max 9's safetyThe Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9. AdvertisementAccording to the Washington Post, the travel booking website Kayak said its filter for the 737 Max significantly increased in the days after the incident.

Persons: —, Max, Constance von Muehlen, Ingrid Barrentine, Mike Whitaker, Henry Harteveldt, Ed Pierson, I've, Joe Jacobsen, Harteveldt, Richard A, Brooks, Anthony Brickhouse, Brickhouse Organizations: Service, Alaska Airlines, Portland International Airport, Federal Aviation Administration, United Airlines, Street Journal, Business, CNN, FAA, Boeing, Spirit Airlines, Panama's Copa Airlines, Copa, Reuters, Atmosphere Research, Alaska Airlines Boeing, National Transportation, Alaska Max, Washington Post, LA Times, Southwest Airlines, Japan Airlines, Getty, Riddle Aeronautical University, Japan Airlines Airbus, NTSB Locations: Alaska, United , Alaska, United, AFP

☆ Fire in Panama's Largest Landfill Blows Toxic Smoke Over Capital
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - A large blaze at a garbage dump outside Panama City blew a toxic smoke in the country's capital on Friday, forcing evacuations as firefighters battled to put out the flames that authorities said were likely caused by arson the night before. "Everything points to the fire being started deliberately," firefighter chief Ernesto de Leon told a press conference. Health Minister Luis Francisco Sucre told reporters evacuations were being effected to protect residents from the flames and toxic gases. Videos on social media showed a helicopter flying above the thick gray smoke spraying down water as birds scatter overhead. Since 6 a.m. some 7,360 gallons (around 28,000 liters) of water have been sprayed over the area, authorities told reporters, saying some 60% of the blaze was controlled and this could reach 90% by Saturday.

Persons: Firefighers, Ernesto de Leon, Luis Francisco Sucre, Sucre, Angel Delgado, Laurentino Cortizo, Sarah Morland, Valentine Hilaire, Sandra Maler Organizations: Reuters, Panama City, Health, La Prensa, Saturday, La, Cerro Patacon Locations: Panama, Cerro

☆ The top 9 'must-have' travel experiences of 2024, according to luxury advisors
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Jonathan Delise | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

If that sounds like a tall order for a summer getaway, the luxury travel company Virtuoso asked 20,000 of its travel advisors to share their top experiences for 2024. Dark sky tourism focuses on rural locations without light pollution, such as Greece's Olympus Mountain National Park. Departing in August, Virtuoso recommends travelers first take in the Olympic Games before departing the city in style. Passion travelsHobbies may be associated with the home, but Virtuoso recommends taking your passions on the road. Virtuoso recommends exploring Peruvian cuisine at the Mistura Food Festival, or checking out the street food of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Persons: Nicolas Economou, Manoj Shah, Belles, Bhutan's, Young, Peter Adams, Chiang Mai, Koh, Wiphop, Sakura, James Cole, Hillary, Cousteau, Shackleton, pricey, Yasin Akgul, bookworms, Wolfgang Kaehler, Brian Curtice, Levente Bodo, ERNESTO BENAVIDES Organizations: Nurphoto, DarkSky, Stone, InterContinental, UNESCO, Istock, Expedition, Getty, CNBC Travel, Orient, Afp, Departing, Olympic Games, Chelsea Flower, Lightrocket, Festival Locations: stargazing, Norway, Iceland, Canada, Northern Mexico, Blanco , Texas, Albanya, Spain, Africa, Bhutan, Thailand, Pana, Yai, Bangkok, Japan Japan, United States, North America, Japan, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Fuji's, Antarctica, Paris, Istanbul, Turkey, Asia, Europe, Venice, Turkish, Strahov, Riau, Isla, Ljubljana, Slovenia

☆ What travelers need to know about the Boeing 737 Max 9 grounding
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ntsb | Via ReutersAirlines have canceled hundreds of flights since the Federal Aviation Administration ordered carriers to take Boeing 737 Max 9 planes out of service for urgent inspections. The FAA grounded more than 170 Boeing 737 Max 9 planes so they can be inspected after a door plug panel blew out on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Friday. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines are the biggest operators of the Boeing 737 Max 9, with 79 and 65 of the planes in their fleets, respectively. United canceled 229 mainline flights on Monday, representing about 8% of its schedule, according to FlightAware. The more common Boeing 737 Max 8 plane is not affected.

Persons: Aeromexico, it's, United Organizations: Alaska Airlines Flight, Boeing, National Transportation Safety, Ntsb, Via Reuters Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, Max, FAA, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, United, Copa Locations: Alaska, Portland , Oregon, Ontario , California

☆ Want to avoid crowds while traveling? Here's the 'not hot' list for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-28 | by ( Quek Jie Ann | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Adventure travel company Intrepid Travel's new "Not Hot" list is out — spotlighting overlooked travel spots around the world. The 2024 list calls attention to two destinations in Asia, two in Europe and one in Central America. Source: Intrepid TravelUnlike Italy's tourist-saturated Positano, travelers visiting Corsica can "enjoy a more authentic, tranquil, and immersive experience ... without the overwhelming crowds," according to a press release by Intrepid Travel. Intrepid Travel recommends Panama for those who wish to "immerse themselves in local traditions, folklore, and contemporary arts ... that differs from the more European-centric cultural landscape," the press release stated. Source: Intrepid Travel

Persons: Matt Berna, Nick Lim, Lim, Gonzalo Azumendi, Emberá, David C Tomlinson Organizations: Intrepid, Americas, Intrepid Travel, CNBC Travel, UNESCO, Heritage, Euromonitor International, Japan National Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Organization, The Travel Corporation, CNBC, Trip.com, La Amistad, Bank, Getty Locations: Asia, Europe, Central America, Corsica Corsica, France, Corsica, Seoul Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, Korea, Intrepid Travel Tokyo, Tokyo, Panama Panama, Central American, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, Panama Viejo, Casco, Darien, La, Guna, Corfu Greece, Santorini, Mykonos, Kefalonia, Corfu, Greece, Split, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Borneo Borneo, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Kalimantan, Indonesian, Sarawak, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysian, Indonesian's Kalimantan

☆ Costa Rica Arrests Ex-Panama Presidential Hopeful Tied to Money Laundering Case
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SAN JOSE/PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Costa Rican police on Tuesday arrested Panamanian businessman and former presidential hopeful David Ochy on charges of fraud and money laundering, judicial authorities said on Tuesday, following an Interpol request. Ochy was wanted by Interpol for being central to a case linked to former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, who was in July sentenced to over a decade in prison for money laundering. Ochy enrolled as a presidential pre-candidate for Martinelli's Realizing Goals party ahead of the 2024 vote, which protected him from facing trial in the Martinelli case last summer. Ochy faces criminal charges for money laundering and using a fraudulent Costa Rican identity card, Zuniga said. Carlo Diaz, who heads Costa Rica's state attorney's office, said he could be extradited to neighboring Panama though he must first face criminal proceedings in Costa Rica and could even serve a prison sentence there.

Persons: David Ochy, Ochy, Ricardo Martinelli, Martinelli, Randall Zuniga, Zuniga, Carlo Diaz, Javier Caraballo, Alvaro Murillo, Elida Moreno, Sarah Morland, Sandra Maler Organizations: JOSE, PANAMA CITY, Tuesday, Interpol, Central American Locations: PANAMA, Costa Rican, Panamanian, Costa Rica, Rican, Caribbean, Pococi, Costa Rica's, Panama, San Jose, Panama City

☆ Exclusive: Panama may slash GDP growth view due to suspension of First Quantum mine
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Elida Moreno | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. Some experts calculate Panama would have to pay at least $50 billion if it loses the case, equivalent to nearly 70% of GDP. Ahead of the supreme court ruling, S&P revised Panama's outlook to negative from stable on potential risks to investor confidence and economic growth if the contract was found invalid. For First Quantum, the developments in Panama could be a repeat of its experience in the Democratic Republic Of Congo. The miner exited the African nation in 2012 after its mining contract was cancelled.

Persons: Hernan Arboleda, Laurentino Cortizo, Panamanians, Arboleda, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Anthony Esposito, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris Mart, PANAMA CITY, Reuters, Gross, Panama, JPMorgan, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, PANAMA, Democratic Republic Of Congo

☆ Panama publishes ruling finding First Quantum contract unconstitutional
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] File photo: People react after Panama's top court ruled the mining contract with Canadian miner First Quantum to operate a copper mine in the country as unconstitutional following weeks of protests against the deal, in Panama City, Panama November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Aris Martinez/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 2 (Reuters) - Panama published a ruling finding Canadian miner First Quantum's (FM.TO) contract for an open-pit copper mine in the Central American country unconstitutional in the official gazette on Saturday. The contract had triggered caused widespread protests in Panama, and President Laurentino Cortizo said on Tuesday the mine would close as soon as the Supreme Court's ruling was formally published in the official gazette. Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Writing by Alexander Villegas; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Laurentino Cortizo, Valentine Hilaire, Alexander Villegas, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Central American, Thomson Locations: Panama City, Panama

☆ First Quantum CEO: long-term sustainability uncertain if Panama operations end
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. The company has notified buyers it will not be able to meet agreements due to force majeure, Pascall added. Panama's top court issued a ruling deeming First Quantum's contract with the government to operate a key copper mine unconstitutional. The Canadian miner said on Friday it has initiated arbitration against Panama, with Pascall noting the company still does not know the amount it will be asking from the country during the process. Reporting by Elida Moreno and Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Brendan O'BoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tristan Pascall, majeure, Pascall, Laurentino Cortizo, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Brendan O'Boyle Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Panamanian, La Prensa, Panama, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso

☆ First Quantum initiates international arbitration on Cobre Panama mine
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Aris Martínez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 1 (Reuters) - First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO) has suspended its current-year production outlook for the Cobre mine in Panama and has initiated international arbitration over a contested contract with the country's government, the miner said on Friday. The Canadian company said its local unit had started arbitration before the International Court of Arbitration to protect its rights under the 2023 concession. On Tuesday, President Laurentino Cortizo said the Cobre Panama mine would be shut down, hours after Panama's Supreme Court declared the contract unconstitutional. The miner exited the African nation in 2012 after filing an arbitration procedure for cancelling its mining contract.

Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Tristan Pascall, Tanay, Devika Syamnath Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, International Court, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Miami , Florida, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Bengaluru

☆ Panama trade minister resigns after mining contract backlash
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Elida Moreno | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PANAMA CITY, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Panama's Trade Minister Federico Alfaro announced his resignation on Thursday days after the country's top court ruled a contract between the government and Canadian miner First Quantum < FM.TO> was unconstitutional. The Central American country's trade ministry led negotiations on a contract between the government and First Quantum to operate a key copper mine, which opponents have deemed as too generous to the miner. In a resignation letter addressed to the president and shared on social media, Alfaro mentioned the contract, which generated months of protest throughout Panama, as well as the court ruling. Cortizo announced on Tuesday he will follow through with First Quantum's mine shutdown once the court's ruling is published in the country's official gazette, which has not yet happened. Incoming trade minister Rivera said in a separate public statement the ministry is evaluating actions to comply with the court's ruling and will start coordination talks with labor and environmental authorities.

Persons: Federico Alfaro, Alfaro, Laurentino Cortizo, Jorge Rivera, Cortizo, Rivera, Eli Moreno, Brendan O'Boyle, Isabel Woodford Organizations: PANAMA CITY, Panama's Trade, Central American, Thomson Locations: PANAMA, Panama, Lincoln

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. The comments are the first by the company on the future of the Cobre Panama mine's ownership since Tuesday's court ruling. Panama has seen unprecedented public protests after the government signed a new contract with First Quantum for its Cobre Panama mine. MacWilliam told the conference that given the events in Panama, it remains unclear when Cobre Panama will be able to resume operations. The mine closure also has consequences for the Central American nation, as Cobre Panama contributes about 5% to Panama's economy.

Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Ryan MacWilliam, MacWilliam, Divya Rajagopal, Elida Moreno, Denny Thomas, Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Rights TORONTO, Quantum, Scotiabank, Reuters, Jiangxi Copper Co, Central, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Canadian, Jiangxi, Central American, Lincoln

Cobre Panama has said it is committed to growing more new forest than is impacted by its mine. "We aren't going anywhere," Sabino Ayarza, a representative of the protesting fishermen, told Reuters on Tuesday from his boat. Their grassroots movement, nearly unheard of in business-friendly Panama, has wiped C$11 billion ($7.4 billion) off First Quantum's market value and raised global copper prices on supply worries. The protesters' victory in Panama is emblematic of the outsized and sometimes unexpected influence local communities are having on mining companies worldwide. Cobre Panama accounted for about 46% of First Quantum's overall revenue in the third quarter, according to company data.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Sabino Ayarza, Ayarza, Codelco, Valentine Hilaire, Divya Rajagopal, Fabian Cambero, Christian Plumb, Denny Thomas, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, Aris, PANAMA CITY, Minerals, Reuters, Panamanian, Tuesday, Scotiabank, Protesters, First, Thomson Locations: Panama City, Panama, PANAMA, TORONTO, Portugal, Peru, Chile, Macquarie, Mexico City, Toronto, Santiago

"We have decided to unanimously declare unconstitutional the entire law 406 of October 20, 2023," Supreme Court President Maria Eugenia Lopez said. First Quantum acknowledged the ruling and affirmed its "unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance in all aspects of our operations within the country." Panama President Laurentino Cortizo said the country will abide by the court ruling. For First Quantum, the Panama ruling would be a repeat of its decade-old experience in the Democratic Republic Of Congo. The company exited DRC in 2012 after it filed an arbitration procedure against the African country for cancelling its mining contract.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Maria Eugenia Lopez, Quantum, Laurentino Cortizo, Morgan, Ricardo Martinelli, Leonardo Di Caprio, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Natalia Siniawski, Denny Thomas, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Reuters, Panama, London Metal Exchange, Central, RBC, Democratic, Natural Resources Corporation PLC, Cobre, Thomson Locations: Panama's, Panama, Panama City, PANAMA, Central American, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Hollywood, Cobre Panama

☆ Top Panama court rules First Quantum mining contract unconstitutional
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Aris Martínez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPANAMA CITY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Canadian miner First Quantum's contract to operate a lucrative copper mine in Panama is unconstitutional, Panama's top court said in a ruling made public on Tuesday. Challenges against the company's new contract, which was approved in October, piled up in court following public protests against the deal. Reporting by Elida Moreno Additional reporting by Valentine Hilaire and Natalia SiniawskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Natalia Siniawski Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, PANAMA CITY, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, PANAMA

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama’s Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that a 20-year concession for a Canadian copper mine that has been the focus of widespread environmental protests was unconstitutional. In March, Panama’s legislature reached an agreement with First Quantum allowing Minera Panama to continue operating the huge copper mine for at least 20 more years. The dispute over the mine led to some of Panama's most widespread protests in recent years, including a blockade of the mine’s power plant. A court decision that declared the contract unconstitutional was the last opportunity for opponents to get it thrown out. The Canadian government said it respected Tuesday's ruling and was following the contract negotiation closely.

Persons: —, Raisa Banfield, “, ”, Jean, Pierre J, ” ___ Rob Gillies Organizations: PANAMA CITY, Minerals, Pan, Naval, Panamanians, National Assembly, government’s Global Affairs Department Locations: PANAMA, Panama, Panama’s, Costa Rica, Minera Panama, Colon province, Toronto, America, Caribbean

☆ First Quantum Says It Hopes to Avoid Panama Arbitration Over Mine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Canadian miner First Quantum hopes to avoid arbitration with Panama's government over a major copper mine by instead resolving disagreements during a 90-day period for talks between both sides, the company said in a statement late on Monday.

Organizations: PANAMA CITY Locations: PANAMA

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Aris Martínez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 26 (Reuters) - Eight Panama workers of Canadian miner First Quantum were injured when protesters hurled rocks at a bus transporting them, a union leader said on Sunday, as tensions flared at the company's lucrative mine in the Central American country. Workers were injured as protesters smashed the bus' glass windows when they were leaving the mine located in Panama's Cocle province, said union leader Michael Camacho. The company's local unit Minera Panama said in a statement that one worker and some contractors were attacked in a violent incident. "The affected worker is in stable condition and currently receiving medical attention and emotional support," the company statement said.

Persons: Michael Camacho, Valentine Hilaire, Elida Moreno, Josie Kao Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Central American, Workers, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Panama's Cocle, Panama's

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canada's First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Aris Martínez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 24 (Reuters) - Panama's top court started deliberations on Friday to rule on several constitutional challenges to First Quantum Minerals' (FM.TO) contract for the Cobre Panama mine, an outcome keenly watched by the global copper market and investors. Cobre Panama is one of the world's biggest and newest copper mines, producing about 1% of global copper supply. "Over the long-term we've invested more than $10 billion in turning the Cobre Panama into a world-class asset," Pascall was quoted as saying. However, Panama's top court in 2017 deemed unconstitutional the law under which First Quantum was operating the mine.

Persons: Tristan Pascall, Pascall, Greta Thunberg, Leonardo Di Caprio, Quantum, Valentine Hilaire, Divya Rajagopal, Denny Thomas, Sonali Paul Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Reuters, First, Central, LatAm, Co, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Central American, Jiangxi

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. Operations are set to resume once the port blockade is resolved, the spokesman added. Protests have escalated since the government and First Quantum signed a new contract on Oct. 20 for the Cobre Panama concession, which contributes 1% to global copper production and 5% to Panama's gross domestic product. "In terms of production we are talking about a temporary halt because of the illegal blockade. The company says an "illegal blockade" of small boats at the mine's Punta Rincon port has been disrupting the mine's activity.

Persons: Michael Camacho, Valentine Hilaire, Divya Rajagopal, Brendan O'Boyle, Sarah Morland Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Quantum Minerals, Reuters, First, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Rincon

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. This move would effectively suspend production at the Cobre Panama mine until coal supplies resume as the mine cannot operate without power, one of the sources said. Protests have escalated since the government and First Quantum signed a new contract on Oct. 20 for Cobre Panama, which contributes 1% to global copper production and 5% to Panama's gross domestic product. "The focus will be to maintain the tailings pond 24/7," one of the sources said about the maintenance. Panama's top court will hear the legality of the contract awarded to First Quantum from Nov, 24, the company said in the statement.

Persons: Divya Rajagopal, Julian Luk, Denny Thomas, Chizu, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Rights, Cobre, Reuters, First, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Rights TORONTO, LONDON, Cobre Panama, Toronto, London

☆ Panama port blockade keeps supplies from First Quantum mine, company says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Elida Moreno | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

View of the Cobre Panama mine, of Canadian First Quantum Minerals, in Donoso, Panama, December 6, 2022. Protests have in recent weeks escalated against the miner's contract for a major copper mine operated by the company's local unit, known as Minera Panama. "The illegal actions carried out by small vessels in the port of Punta Rincon have affected the delivery of supplies that are required by Minera Panama, including for energy generation," the company said. Earlier this week, First Quantum reported that the protests blocking the port had reduced ore processing at its Cobre Panama mine, the first sign that the mine's output was at risk. On Thursday, the union for Minera Panama said it reached agreements with the company to ensure worker pay as protests kept some workers from reaching their jobs.

Persons: Senan, Eli Moreno, Brendan O'Boyle, Kylie Madry Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, PANAMA CITY, Reuters, Minera, Aeronaval Service, CSL, Cobre, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, PANAMA, Punta Rincon, Minera Panama, Panamanian, Cobre Panama

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