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☆ A winter weather pattern change is about to bring a wild swing in temperatures to the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean/USA Today Network Snow falls on parked cars in Concord, New Hampshire, on January 16. Monday's caucuses were the coldest ever , with high temperatures below zero across much of the state. Dan Powers/USA Today Network Firefighters rescue a man after his car was stuck in a flooded area in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 9. Gregg Pachkowski/USA Today Network Snow covers the trees around the Holy Hill Basilica and National Shrine of Mary in Hubertus, Wisconsin, on January 9. Tariq Zehawi/NorthJersey.com/USA Today Network Flooding is seen at an intersection in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on January 9.

Persons: Nature, Nikki Haley, Deb Cram, Andrew Kelly, Mark Zaleski, Snow, Will Lanzoni, Rogelio V . Solis, Amanda Andrade, Rhoades, Reuters Isaac Hammond, Geoff Stellfox, Brandon Bell, Christian Monterrosa, Daniel Cole, Dan Busey, Crews, RJ Sangosti, Jeffrey T, Barnes, Chip Somodevilla, Barbara J, Al Drago, Gary Hershorn, Brendan McDermid, Joseph Prezioso, Jim Vondruska, Andrew Harnik, Eric Seals, Rebecca Zimmerman, Antonio Perez, Zuma Snow, Erin Hooley, Drake, Sam Wolfe, Bryan Woolston, Kelly, Jo St, Aubin, Dan Powers, Peter Zay, Floyd Bennett Field, Spencer Platt, Scott Olson, County Sheriff Tommy Ford, Jaide Garcia, CNN Linda Cox, Gregg Pachkowski, of Mary, Mike De Sisti, Joe Raedle, Michael Gordon, Michael Gordon Workers Brian Henderson, Phil Murphy, Tariq Zehawi, Alex Hicks Jr Organizations: CNN, Omni Mount Washington, USA, Reuters, Mississippi State Capitol, Reuters Isaac Hammond braves, Austin, Bergstrom International Airport, Iowa State Capitol, Getty, Denver International Airport, MediaNews, Denver Post, NFL, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, AP, Columbus Dispatch, Bloomberg, Corbis, Reuters Storm, AP Vehicles, Chicago Tribune, TNS, Storm Bros, Network Firefighters, County Sheriff, National, of, Milwaukee Journal, People, Michael, Michael Gordon Workers, New, New Jersey Gov, Spartanburg Herald, Chicago, Minneapolis Locations: Bretton Woods , New Hampshire, New, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Nashville , Tennessee, Concord , New Hampshire, Jackson, Wheeling , Illinois, Washington ,, Malcolm , Iowa, Austin , Texas, Des Moines, AFP, Florence , Alabama, Orchard Park , New York, Williamsburg , Iowa, Worthington , Ohio, Atlantic , Iowa, Hudson, Jersey City , New Jersey, Winthrop , Massachusetts, Ankeny , Iowa, Iowa, Northwestern, Farmington Hills , Michigan, Oak Park , Illinois, Chicago, Bamberg , South Carolina, Annapolis , Maryland, Kaukauna , Wisconsin, Charlotte , North Carolina, Anadolu, Brooklyn , New York, Iowa City , Iowa, Panama City Beach , Florida, Florida's Bay County, County, Myrtle Grove , Florida, Hubertus , Wisconsin, Bay County , Florida, Florida , Alabama, Georgia, Totowa , New Jersey, New Jersey, Spartanburg , South Carolina, Canada, Midwest, Des Moines , Iowa, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Cleveland, New York City

PANAMA CITY (AP) — A severe drought that began last year has forced authorities to slash ship crossings by 36% in the Panama Canal, one of the world's most important trade routes. The new cuts announced Wednesday by authorities in Panama are set to deal an even greater economic blow than previously expected. On Wednesday, Panama Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez said they would cut daily ship crossings to 24, after already gradually slashing crossings last year from 38 a day in normal times. It was a “significant reduction” for the country, Vásquez said. “The water problem is a national problem, not just of the Canal,” Vásquez said.

Persons: Ricaurte Vásquez, Vásquez, ” Vásquez, “, ” Organizations: PANAMA CITY, Central American Locations: PANAMA, Panama

☆ Northwest faces freezing rain and heavy snow while Arctic blast loosens its grip on eastern US
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | Robert Shackelford | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean/USA Today Network Snow falls on parked cars in Concord, New Hampshire, on January 16. Gary Hershorn/Corbis News/Getty Images Snow and ice dust a worker who was removing snow from a sidewalk in Des Moines on January 13. Dan Powers/USA Today Network Firefighters rescue a man after his car was stuck in a flooded area in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 9. Gregg Pachkowski/USA Today Network Snow covers the trees around the Holy Hill Basilica and National Shrine of Mary in Hubertus, Wisconsin, on January 9. Tariq Zehawi/NorthJersey.com/USA Today Network Flooding is seen at an intersection in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on January 9.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Deb Cram, Andrew Kelly, Mark Zaleski, Snow, Will Lanzoni, Rogelio V . Solis, Amanda Andrade, Rhoades, Reuters Isaac Hammond, Geoff Stellfox, Brandon Bell, Christian Monterrosa, Daniel Cole, Dan Busey, Crews, RJ Sangosti, Jeffrey T, Barnes, Chip Somodevilla, Barbara J, Al Drago, Gary Hershorn, Brendan McDermid, Joseph Prezioso, Jim Vondruska, Andrew Harnik, Eric Seals, Rebecca Zimmerman, Antonio Perez, Zuma Snow, Erin Hooley, Drake, Sam Wolfe, Bryan Woolston, Kelly, Jo St, Aubin, Dan Powers, Peter Zay, Floyd Bennett Field, Spencer Platt, Scott Olson, County Sheriff Tommy Ford, Jaide Garcia, CNN Linda Cox, Gregg Pachkowski, of Mary, Mike De Sisti, Joe Raedle, Michael Gordon, Michael Gordon Workers Brian Henderson, Phil Murphy, Tariq Zehawi, Alex Hicks Jr, Nouran Salahieh, Joe Sutton, Sarah Dewberry, Raja Razek, Jennifer Henderson Organizations: CNN, National Weather Service, Oregon -, . Maine, Police, Rockies, South Washington Cascades, Omni Mount Washington, USA, Reuters, Mississippi State Capitol, Reuters Isaac Hammond braves, Austin, Bergstrom International Airport, Iowa State Capitol, Getty, Denver International Airport, MediaNews, Denver Post, NFL, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, AP, Columbus Dispatch, Bloomberg, Corbis, Reuters Storm, AP Vehicles, Chicago Tribune, TNS, Storm Bros, Network Firefighters, County Sheriff, National, of, Milwaukee Journal, People, Michael, Michael Gordon Workers, New, New Jersey Gov, Spartanburg Herald Locations: Pacific Northwest, Pacific, Oregon, Northwest, Portland , Oregon, Columbia, Oregon - Washington, Maine, • Buffalo , New York, Buffalo, Tennessee , Mississippi , Arkansas , Kansas, In Tennessee, Knoxville, Washington, Washington , Idaho, Montana, Portland, South, Bretton Woods , New Hampshire, New, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Nashville , Tennessee, Concord , New Hampshire, Jackson, Wheeling , Illinois, Washington ,, Malcolm , Iowa, Austin , Texas, Des Moines, AFP, Florence , Alabama, Orchard Park , New York, Williamsburg , Iowa, Worthington , Ohio, Atlantic , Iowa, Hudson, Jersey City , New Jersey, Winthrop , Massachusetts, Ankeny , Iowa, Iowa, Northwestern, Farmington Hills , Michigan, Oak Park , Illinois, Chicago, Bamberg , South Carolina, Annapolis , Maryland, Kaukauna , Wisconsin, Charlotte , North Carolina, Anadolu, Brooklyn , New York, Iowa City , Iowa, Panama City Beach , Florida, Florida's Bay County, County, Myrtle Grove , Florida, Hubertus , Wisconsin, Bay County , Florida, Florida , Alabama, Georgia, Totowa , New Jersey, New Jersey, Spartanburg , South Carolina, Cincinnati, Detroit, Texas, Gulf, Buffalo , New York, Watertown , Massachusetts, Midwest

☆ Considering a move abroad in 2024? These are the best countries for expats
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Blane Bachelor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +26 min

The survey, which has been running for a decade, reflects input from nearly 12,000 expats representing 177 nationalities in 181 countries or territories. John Coletti/The Image Bank Unreleased/Getty ImagesA longtime retirement destination for Americans, Mexico also has attracted more families and the digital nomad set over the past few years. Pros: Mexico ranked first in InterNations’ 2023 Expat Insider survey and has ranked among the top five countries since 2014. Cons: As is the case in Mexico and other countries with large expat communities, there’s growing backlash against the influx of foreigners, especially Americans, and especially in Lisbon. That popularity among auslanders has contributed to a housing pinch in major cities, especially Berlin, where finding accommodation is one of the most stressful aspects of a move.

Persons: It’s, Megan Frye, Frye, ”, “, We’ve, John Coletti, San Miguel de Allende, margarita, Sean Pavone, expats, Alex Ingrim, Chase, Ingrim, it’s, pollsters, they’re, it’s MVV, Arielle Tucker, that’s, auslanders, Andriy Kravchenko, “ Costa, ” David Lesperance, Costa Rica’s, “ Tico, Sebastien Lecocq, Lesperance, he’s, what’s, Emily, ” Tucker, Roth, Tucker, Carte Organizations: CNN, Invest Overseas, Braga, InterNations, Mexico, National Institute of Statistics, Human Rights Watch, Visa, USA, CNN Travel, ”, Spain, International, Travel Association, pollsters Gallup, Michelin, Changi, Cons, United, Costa Rica Costa, Central, Costa, Lesperance, Associates, Panama Panama, Miami of, Panama City, Panama Qualified Investment, Panama Golden Visa, France France Locations: Valencia, Spain, Portugal, Mazatlán, Mexico, United States, Mexico City, Michigan, Mexico Mexico, Plaza Carso, Polanco, North America, —, Oaxaca, San Miguel, Playa, Carmen, InterNations, Portugal Portugal, Porto, Douro, Europe, Lisbon, Western Europe, Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Catalonia, Catalan, Netherlands, Amsterdam, Statista, Haarlem, Delft, Leiden, Maastricht, Washington, Miami , New York, San Francisco, Germany Germany, Munich, Germany, Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Switzerland, Singapore Singapore, Singapore, Asia, Entre, Costa Rica, “, “ Costa Rica, Costa Rican, Panama City, Miami, Miami of Central America, Panama, North, South America, Italy, Venice, Italian, Paris, France, Lyon, Strasbourg

☆ Best travel destinations to visit in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-01 | by ( Cnn Travel Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +32 min

cdwheatley/iStockphoto/Getty Images Angola: Beyond the capital city of Luanda, pictured, Angola has some jaw-droppingly spectacular scenery and cultural treats. David ChiaFF/Alamy Stock Photo Mérida, Mexico: Yucatán state's capital city showcases a blend of Mayan and colonial heritage. Pavel Tochinsky/The Image Bank RF/Getty Images Morocco: This North African country is home to nine UNESCO sites, including the historic city of Meknes, pictured. Panama City is also the only world capital with a tropical rainforest within its city limits. And a historic city forever entwined with the famed Camino de Santiago.

Persons: you’d, Tengguo Wu, Gabriele Thielmann, Turkey's, Gary Ennis, Matevz, Bill Bachman, Christian Kober, Gonzalo Azumendi, David ChiaFF, Pavel Tochinsky, Terry Kelly, Raul Rodriguez, iStock, Anton Petrus, –, — Karla Cripps Turkey’s, — Barry Neild, Mana Kaasik, — Maureen O’Hare, — Maggie Hiufu Wong, Deb Snelson, Glen Arbor, Marnie Hunter, — Forrest Brown, — Forrest Brown Angola Cristo, Eric Lafforgue, it’s, King, Eric Carr, John’s, Saint John, New Brunswick —, —, Tuul, Bruno Morandi, — Julia Buckley, Groenewald, Alamy, — Lilit Marcus, Alexander the Great, Philip II of Macedon, — JB, Bogdan Lazar, — Tamara Hardingham, Gill, Hercules, Francesca, Lazarus, ”, David Casanova, Megan Sequeira Casanova, “, Kuka y Naranjo, medina, Gordon Sinclair, Yvette Cardozo, — FB, Pierce Ingram, Stefan Tomic, Fujairah, who’ve, Samarkand —, It’s Organizations: CNN, United, CNN Travel, Getty Images, Town, Getty, Northwest, Saint, New Brunswick Tourism, UNESCO, Heritage, Alamy, Parque Nacional Volcán Barú, Galicia, Tercera Orden, Parque, Bank, Wakulla Springs, Texas, United Arab Emirates, AP, Rock, of Culture, Estonian National Museum, — Maggie Hiufu Wong Northwest Michigan, Bear, Farm, Riders, Lubango, — BN Saint John, Canada Tourists, St, Saint John City Market, Historic, Saint John Arts Centre, Carnegie, Carnegie Library, — KC, Korea, Folk, Netflix, South Korea, Adriatic, Nacional Glaciares, Australian Sea Lions, Panama, Spain Santiago de, Spain Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Islas, Camino, Mexico People, YouTube, US State Department, Morocco, Regis Hotels, Resorts, — FB Texas, Travel Texas, Krause, Gruene, Fujairah, Icefjord, FS, Tuul, ” Locations: United States, Sumba, Indonesia Sumba, Indonesia, Bali, Getty Images Tartu, Estonia, Tartu —, European, Tainan, Taiwan, Northwest Michigan, Traverse City, Lake Michigan, iStockphoto, Western Balkans, Culebra , Puerto Rico, Flamenco, Culebra, cdwheatley, Angola, Luanda, , New Brunswick, Fundy, New Brunswick, New Brunswick Tourism South Korea, Korea Albania, Albania, Chile, mauritius, Western Australia, Greece, Macedonia, American, Panama, Spain, Camino, Santiago, St, John's, Mexico, Parque Hidalgo, Morocco, Meknes, Florida, Spicewood, Anton, Greenland, Denmark, AP Uzbekistan, Bukhara, Indonesian, Sumela, Turkey's, — Barry Neild Tartu, Estonia Tartu, of Culture Tartu, Tartu, “, Baltics, — Maureen O’Hare Tainan, Taiwan Tainan, Taipei, — Maggie Hiufu Wong Northwest, Lake, Traverse, Leland, Glen, perusing, Balkans, Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, transdinarica.com, —, Puerto Rico, It’s, — Forrest Brown Angola, Lubango, Barra, Cabo Ledo, — BN Saint John , New Brunswick, Canada, Hopewell, Newfoundland, Saint, Canada’s, Korea Andong, South Korea, Sanga, Korea, Seoul, Busan, Andong, Albania Albania, Berat, Montenegro, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, — Julia Buckley Chile, Atacama, Patagonia, Coral Coast, Geraldton, — Lilit Marcus Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece's, Hemis, Athens, Vergina, Veria, Naousa, Greece’s, Thrace, Philippi, Kavala, Panama . Panama City, Gill Galicia, Spain Santiago, Spain Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Galicia’s, Santiago de Compostela, Cabo, Fisterra, Galicia —, Singapore, John’s, Paseo, Montejo, Mérida, Yucatán, getaways, there’s, Marrakech, Rabat, Fes, Resorts Morocco, Wakulla, Ginnie, Fredericksburg, Texas, Marble Falls, Meanderers, New Braunfels, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Wadi, Nuuk, Ilulissat, West, FS Uzbekistan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, China, India, Khiva, Uzbek, Sentob, Tashkent

☆ 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

☆ 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

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

☆ 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

The 125-foot Christ the Redeemer was illuminated Thursday night with a towering message welcoming the singer to the country for the latest leg of her Eras Tour. The grand show of hospitality was thanks to a charitable act by her fans and orchestrated by the Christ the Redeemer Archdiocesan Sanctuary, which manages the iconic statue. “From today onwards, I ask all fan clubs to direct their requests about the Sanctuary of Christ the Redeemer to our beloved Archdiocese. Today, the Christ statue with its arms wide open welcomes millions of selfie-snapping tourists each year. Rio is far from the only place to give Swift a special welcome for her Eras Tour.

Persons: Taylor Swift, it’s, Swifties, Eduardo Paes, Paes, ”, he'd, Omar Raposo, Father Omar, “ Young, Raposo, Rio’s, Swift, Estádio Nilton Santos, she’ll, São Paulo, Hely Olivares, “, Taylor, __ Organizations: RIO DE, Redeemer Archdiocesan, Rio, Archdiocese, United, São, Allianz Parque, Redeemer, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, crowdfunding, Lagoa, “, United States, Argentina, Panama City, Rio, Princeton , New Jersey

☆ Waikiki hotel is ditching the Trump name
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —The number of Trump Hotels continues to dwindle, with the chain’s Hawaii resort the latest to ditch the tarnished name for a less politicized brand. The Trump International Hotel Waikiki is joining Hilton and will no longer have the former president’s name attached to it. In February 2024, the 38-floor hotel will be called the Wākea Waikiki Beach, as part of the Hilton LXR collection of high-end resorts. Trump troublesWith the departure of its Hawaiian hotel, the number of Trump Hotels and Resorts is down to just eight across the world. The Trump hotel in Las Vegas — a hotel condominium of which Trump owns half — had misleading financial statements between 2013 and 2021, the suit alleges, due to income projections based on the sale of residential units that assumed prices much higher than what units were selling for, among other reasons.

Persons: Hilton, “, ”, Jason Grosfeld, It’s, Letitia James, Trump, James, Ivanka Organizations: New, New York CNN, Trump Hotels, Trump International, Hilton, Trump Organization, Irongate, Trump, Resorts, New York Locations: New York, Hawaii, Beach, Hawaiian, TripAdvisor, SoHo, Toronto, Washington, Panama City, Panama, Vancouver, Vegas, Las Vegas

☆ Two demonstrators killed amid anti-mining protests in Panama
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Patrick Oppmann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Anti-mining protests that have roiled Panama for the last two weeks turned deadly on Tuesday when a man allegedly shot and killed two demonstrators, according to police. For weeks, tens of thousands of protestors have vented their fury at a controversial mining contract given to Minera Panama, the local subsidiary of a Canadian mining company, to extract copper, a key component in electric car batteries. Teachers march to protest the deaths of two people during a demonstration against the government's contract with Canadian mining company First Quantum and its subsidiary Minera Panama in Panama City on November 8, 2023. Roberto Cisneros/AFP/Getty ImagesA march against the government contract with Canadian mining company First Quantum and its subsidiary Minera Panama in Panama City on November 3, 2023. In 2017, Panama’s Supreme Court declared another contract to operate the copper mine as unconstitutional, forcing the mining company and government to renegotiate the deal.

Persons: Manuel Noriega, Roberto Cisneros, Panamanians, Martita Cornejo, Panama John Feeley, ”, Weeks, Laurentino Cortizo, “, ” Cortizo Organizations: CNN, Twitter, Pan, Panama’s National Police, Central, Minerals, Minera, AFP, Getty, ”, Panama’s Locations: Panama, Central American, Canadian, Minera Panama, Panama City, Panamanian, Colombia, Panamanian State

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama’s President, Laurentino Cortizo, signed into law an indefinite moratorium on new mining concessions Friday. An article was removed, however, that would have revoked a controversial mining contract that sparked nationwide protests over the past two weeks. Minera Panama is a local subsidiary of Canadian mining company First Quantum. Protests continued across the country Friday, drawing supporters from Indigenous groups and unions across the education, construction and medical sectors. In 2017, El Salvador’s congress passed a total ban on the mining of metals in the country, becoming one of the first countries to enact such a broad ban.

Persons: —, Laurentino Cortizo, Cortizo Organizations: PANAMA CITY, Panama’s Locations: PANAMA, Panama, Colon, El

☆ Panama Canal drought hits new crisis level with nearly half of vessel traffic targeted for cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA - SEPTEMBER 22: The container ship Maersk Bogor is guided by a tugboat as it prepares to enter the Miraflores locks while transiting the Panama Canal on September 22, 2023 in Panama City, Panama. The Panama Canal Authority is continuing to restrict the number of vessels that pass through the Panama Canal locks as drought has caused water levels at Gatun Lake to drop. Over one hundred ships are waiting to transit the canal and the backup could delay goods heading to the United States for the holiday season. The Panama Canal is popular for East Coast trade because it is faster than other options. Traveling through the Panama Canal takes only 35 days.

Persons: Justin Sullivan, Adil Ashiq, Alan Baer, Baer, Jon Davis, Davis, Ashiq, Paul Brashier Organizations: PANAMA CITY, The Panama Canal, Port, CNBC Supply Chain, Panama Canal Authority, East, Panama Canal, MarineTraffic, USA, CNBC, U.S, ITS Logistics Locations: PANAMA, Bogor, Miraflores, Panama, Panama City, The Panama, Colon, Caribbean, United States, Cape Horn, South America, East, Charleston, El Nino, East Coast, Shenzhen, China, Miami , Florida, Suez, North America, U.S, West Coast, Asia, Gulf

Panama's legislature first agreed a contract extension with Canadian mining company First Quantum and it's local subsidiary, Minera Panama, in March. Eight lawsuits were also filed with Panama's Supreme Court arguing it was unconstitutional. Critics warned using a new law to revoke the contract could leave the government liable to legal action from Minera Panama. Earlier in the day nurses marched to the Supreme Court building to demand judges prioritize the constitutionality lawsuits. The mine is “in the middle of a jungle,” according to Minera Panama’s own contractor, Jan De Nu Group.

Persons: —, Laurentino Cortizo, Cortizo, Minera, Jan De, El Organizations: PANAMA CITY, National Assembly, Minera, Mineral Resources, Panama's, Toronto Stock Exchange, Supreme Court, Jan De Nu, Global Forest Watch, El Nino Locations: PANAMA, Minera Panama, Colon, Panama

☆ Panama Canal to slash booking slots due to drought over coming months
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER bulk carrier transits the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Aris Martinez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPANAMA CITY, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The Panama Canal, one of the world's main maritime trade routes, will further reduce daily ship crossings in the coming months due to a severe drought, the authorities managing the canal said late on Monday, increasing shipping costs. Booking slots will be cut to 25 per day starting Nov. 3 from an already reduced 31 per day, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) said in a client advisory, and will be gradually reduced further over the next three months to 18 slots from Feb. 1. In recent months, the ACP has imposed various passage restrictions to conserve scarce water, including cutting vessel draft and daily passage authorizations. It also said delays for some gas transporters were at record highs in Panama, pushing up the cost of shipping liquefied gas from the U.S.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Eli Moreno, Brendan O'Boyle, Isabel Woodford, Josie Kao Organizations: Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Panama Canal Authority, U.S . Energy, Administration, Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City, PANAMA, Gatun Lake

Panama's President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 19, 2023. "I've respectfully listened to those who oppose the contract with Minera Panama," Cortizo said, using the name of First Quantum's local unit. Neither First Quantum nor Minera Panama immediately responded to requests for comment. On Saturday, Minera Panama voiced concern after protesters on boats approached the international Punta Rincon port where it operates. After Cortizo's announcement, Panama's main workers' union said its members will keep protesting in the streets until the contract is annulled.

Persons: Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, Eduardo Munoz, Laurentino Cortizo, Cortizo, I've, Minera, Valentine Hilaire, Elida Moreno, Daina Beth Solomon, Christian Schmollinger, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Sunday Panama, Minera, Central, Protesters, Critics, Punta Rincon, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, PANAMA, Panama, Central American, Minera Panama

TORONTO, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Shares in First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO) closed down 28% on Monday after Panama's government said it will hold a referendum on whether to scrap a mining contract awarded to the Canadian mining company on Oct. 20. Shares of First Quantum closed at C$20 after falling as much as 30% earlier in the trading session. President Laurentino Cortizo's decision to hold a binding referendum on Dec. 17 comes after 10 months of disputes regarding First Quantum's open pit mine at Cobre Panama. Thousands of people hit the streets over last weekend after the government approved the new contract with the company. Cobre Panama represents nearly 5% of Panama's gross domestic product and 1.5% of global copper production, according to RBC Capital Markets.

Persons: Panama's, Laurentino, Jefferies, Divya Rajagopal, Eli Moreno, Valentine Hilarie, Tomasz Janowski, Will Dunham, Jan Harvey Organizations: TORONTO, Quantum Minerals, Central American, Cobre, RBC Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: Toronto, Panama, Cobre Panama, Panama City

☆ Panama protesters detained in mine contract clashes, police injured
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | 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 RightsCompanies First Quantum Minerals Ltd FollowPANAMA CITY, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Police arrested nearly 50 protesters in Panama in confrontations over a new government-approved contract for a major copper mine, officials said on Tuesday, adding that five police officers were injured in the clashes. Last week, lawmakers gave final approval for the extended concession covering the Cobre Panama mine operated by Canada's First Quantum (FM.TO). Some locals and civic organizations have opposed the contract due largely to concerns about the mine's environmental impact. The police noted two officers were wounded by gunshots on Monday night in Panama City, while three others where beaten in a street blockade in Chiriqui.

Persons: Laurentino Cortizo, Elida Moreno, Sarah Morland, David Alire Garcia, Rod Nickel Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, Aris, Quantum Minerals, PANAMA CITY, Police, Pan, Thomson Locations: Panama, Donoso, Colon, Chiriqui, Central America, Panama City

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