Moderator_02
-
Posts
11,529 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by Moderator_02
-
-
Quote
Martinelli one of the first to use Pegasus spyware
Human Rights Comminsoner Michelle Bachalet
Posted 20/07/2021
Since Pegasus made its debut in 2016, as one of the most “timely” tools for governments to spy, it has been used countless times to track the phones of citizens around the world. Recently The Washington Post published that Mexico, Morocco, and other countries spied on some 50,000 journalists and activists with the spyware.
In Panama, the program that former President Ricardo Martinelli used was Pegasus, which allegedly infiltrated cell phones through links to malware in text messages to monitor every detail... Some 150 people between 2012 and 2014 were allegedly spied on by the former president.
On Monday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, referred to the new reports of the use of Pegasus as "extremely alarming."
She said , that media reports on this malware seem to confirm "some of the worst fears" about the misuse and illegal use of surveillance technology to undermine human rights of people. .“These reports confirm the urgent need to better regulate the sale, transfer, and use of surveillance technology, and to ensure strict supervision and authorization. Without regulatory frameworks that comply with human rights, there are too many risks that these tools will be abused to intimidate critics and silence dissent, ”she argued.
Bachelet reminded States that surveillance measures "are only justified in rigorously defined circumstances and with a legitimate objective that makes them necessary."
“Various parts of the UN human rights system, including my own office, have repeatedly expressed serious concerns about the dangers of authorities using surveillance tools from a variety of sources allegedly promoting public safety (... ) ”, she added. The former Chilean president also asked governments to “immediately stop using surveillance technologies in ways that violate human rights and must take concrete actions to protect themselves against such invasions of privacy by regulating the distribution, use, and export of surveillance technology. created by others.”
Shielded in the argument of the fight against terrorism, countries such as Mexico, Morocco, Qatar, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain use the software to spy on their citizens. These governments are the protagonists of the latest investigation carried out by Amnesty International and the French non-profit organization Forbidden Stories, together with various media outlets.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-one-of-the-first-to-use-pegasus-spyware
-
Quote
Two plaintiffs withdraw from Martinelli trial
Posted 19/07/2021
Two of the six plaintiffs in the illegal wiretapping case against former president Ricardo Martinelli, have reached an out-of-court settlement with the defense.
They are Juan Carlos Navarro, former mayor of Panama, and Mauro Zúñiga, former leader of the doctors' union. Sources from the Judicial Branch confirmed that Navarro submitted a letter to the Judicial Office to inform them that he is withdrawing the accusation and states that he has no intention of continuing with the process.
Meanwhile, Zúñiga presents a notarized document, through the lawyer Carlos Ameglio Moncada, in which he indicates that, in effect, he desists from the "claim in the process."
Rosendo Rivera, one of the plaintiffs, confirmed that some of the victims reached agreements with Martinelli's lawyers. At first, he said they were Navarro, Zúñiga, and a "third party", without mentioning the names Rivera said on Telemetro.
David Cuevas, Rivera's lawyer, said that he met three times with Martinelli's lawyers “but his proposal does not satisfy the victim. So if they do not improve their offer and meet the aspirations of my client, we remain in the case ”.
He indicated that "the defense strategy is to try to reach agreements with all the plaintiffs."
Balbina Herrera, Mitchell Doens, and journalist Rubén Polanco reported that they remain in the process.
“I am not going to sit with Mr. Martinelli. I am not interested in his money. I want him to come out saying: I made the mistake, I recorded, it's true and I want to apologize to the Panamanian people, "said Balbina Herrera.
Last week, the Oral Trial Court rejected, as "inadmissible", a series of petitions from the former president's defense, including a hearing to present a third medical incapacity to suspend the trial scheduled for Wednesday, July 21.
In his Twitter account, Martinelli reported that he will be present at the trial. "I'm not hiding, I will show my face," he said.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/two-plaintiffs-withdraw-from-martinelli-trial
-
Quote
Optimism at Tocumen as passenger movement up 25%
Posted 19/07/2021
Passenger movement at the Tocumen International Airport increased about 25% in June compared to May, Tocumen SA reported on Monday, July 19.
According to the airport administration, the figures "show a sustained recovery of operations and passenger traffic for four consecutive months," as vaccination against Covid-19 progresses in the main destinations in North and South America that connect in Panama.
The figures reveal that during the month of June there was a movement of 751,219 passengers, 149,941 more travelers compared to May. From January to June there was a total movement of 3,099,683 passengers.
"The reactivation of airlines, the increase in weekly frequencies and destinations in recent weeks are injecting optimism throughout the industry, however, we must remain focused on a systematic and balanced recovery from an operational and financial point of view," said Raffoul Arab, general manager of the Tocumen airport.
Recently, the Turkish Airlines airline increased the weekly frequencies between Panama and Istanbul to five starting from July 12, while Air Europa will restart its operations with two weekly flights from July 20. Meanwhile, Copa Airlines reactivated connections to 58 destinations.
Tocumen SA detailed that among the regions that registered the greatest movement of passengers through the Tocumen airport, during June, it was North America: it represented 40.98%. It was a similar figure to South America, with 40.41%; Central America 8.9%; the Caribbean region 6.7% and Europe 3.04%.
Regarding the movement of cargo, Tocumen registered between January and June of this year, a total of 89,402 metric tons of merchandise, which represents an increase of 33.6% over the same period of 2020.
Currently, the international airport provides a direct connection to 65 cities in 31 countries in America and Europe, through 19 airlines.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/travel/optimism-at-tocumen-as-passenger-movement-up-25
-
Quote
OPINION: An Explosion Waiting to Happen
Posted 19/07/2021
The recent statement from the Chamber of Commerce describes in a few words a reality that has the country prostrate due to growing unemployment, increased citizen insecurity, and a non-existent economic reactivation plan, to which are added the restrictions ordered by the Ministry of Health in terms of mobility, which includes travelers who enter the country, with mandatory quarantines, in open violation of their rights, despite the fact that circumstances have changed for the better with the vaccination campaign. Meanwhile, the Government lives in a bubble in which no one contains spending; in which there is no unemployment or restrictions on working hours; Nobody looks around the rest of the country and they put us in debt as if our economy spilled money from so much it produces. What a great burden it is to carry inept officials on our shoulders, who use power to continue tearing the country apart if in doing so they maintain their status quo, their pockets full and their followers happy. Due to your blindness, we remind you that if there is no social explosion now, it does not mean that citizen anger is not accumulating. And when it explodes, and you want to know who the culprit is, look in the mirror. There they will finish their inquiries. - LA PRENSA. Jul. 19.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-an-explosion-waiting-to-happen-4
-
Quote
ENVIRONMENT: Amazon Rainforest Becoming CO2 Emitter
Posted 18/07/2021
Much of the Amazon rainforest has become a CO2 emitter primarily due to forest clearing through burning, rather than its traditional role as a carbon dioxide scavenger, exacerbating climate change.
Based on hundreds of air samples collected at different heights over the past decade, a study published by the journal Nature this week claims that the southeastern part of the Amazon has gone from being a capture 'well' to a source of CO2 emission, one of the main responsible for global warming. During the last half-century, plants and soils have absorbed more than 25% of CO2 emissions, while these emissions have increased by up to 50%.
The Amazon - which is home to half of the tropical forests and stores 450 billion tons of CO2 in its trees and soils - has become a source of emissions.
"Both deforestation and forest degradation reduce the Amazon's ability to act as a carbon sequestration well," the authors noted.
Since 1970, the region's tropical forests have been reduced by 17%, mainly to support pasture for cattle ranching.
Forests are generally cut down with fire, which releases large amounts of CO2 and reduces the number of trees available to absorb it.
Climate change itself is also a key factor. Dry season temperatures have risen by nearly three degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, triple the global average throughout the year.
The combination of all of them "calls into question the ability of tropical forests to absorb large volumes of CO2," says Scott Denning , from the University of Colorado (USA), in an article also published by Nature.
To study this problem, the Brazilian research team collected 600 samples of CO2 and carbon monoxide, between 2010 and 2018, at altitudes of up to 4.5 km. According to their findings, the northwestern part of the Amazon is in equilibrium, and the east, especially in the dry season, becomes an emitting source.
Another recent study, using another methodology, concluded that the Amazon emitted between 2010 and 2019 almost 20% more CO2.
With the melting of the polar ice caps, the melting of the permafrost (permanently frozen soil layer) and the deterioration of the Amazon rainforest is one of the key “tipping points” that could lead to irreparable change in the climate system.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/environment/environment-amazon-rainforest-becoming-co2-emitter
-
Quote
Investigation of copper mine environmental incident
Posted 18/07/2021
An investigation is underway into an environmental incident in Donosco, in Colón, which dyed the waters of the Chicheme stream and the Pifá river gray; near the area where Minera Panamá extracts copper from a 13,000-hectare concession.
Initially, the Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) reported that it was probably "damage to the pipeline that carries the material extracted and processed close to the communities of Chicheme and El Sinaí.
The pipe exits the process plant to the tailings tank and contains chemically sterilized rock.
The rupture was registered on July 14 and the images were widely disseminated on social networks, questioning the environmental impact on the ecological connection zone from Panama to Mexico, known as the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, originally "the panther walk."
The contamination of the Pifá River was denounced on social networks by residents of the communities close to the tributary
Minera Panama reported that the spill is waste rock and water. "The situation was controlled in approximately 12 minutes by the rapid response team, which activated the Contingency and Emergency Response protocol," said a company statement on Saturday afternoon.
According to the Canadian subsidiary First Quantum Minerals LTD, the pumps and flow in the pipeline were stopped; The gates were closed and barriers with geomembrane were installed and the material was subsequently cleaned to minimize the effects. The turbidity in the Chicheme stream was high, Minera confirmed, but that in two hours, the tributary returned to its normal parameters and the death of species was ruled out.
The mayor of the district of Omar Torrijos, Eulalio Yanguez, said, “although it is said, on the part of the mining company, that it has already been controlled, I would like to hear from the Ministry of Health and MiAmbiente what secondary damages we can have with these accidents that can continue due to the magnitude of the project ”.
Reports from MiAmbiente's environmental monitoring and inspections from construction to October 2019 detailed on multiple occasions that “polluting wastes and hydrocarbons” were dragged into the Sinaí stream “without prior treatment and that the Chicheme stream was altered, whitish, with intolerable smell ”.
Mi Ambiente accounted for 209 environmental breaches of Minera Panamá between 2012 and October 2019- that have affected the soil and water, detail more than ten official reports, many of which, according to Minera Panamá, have been corrected.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/environment/investigation-of-copper-mine-environmental-incident
-
Quote
19-member team to negotiate new Minera contract
Posted 18/07/2021
Five days after naming Panama's 19-member negotiating team to define the new contract with Minera Panama a start date has not been announced.
The team includes ministers, former diplomats, professors, geologists, legal advisers, technicians, and economists.
The negotiations follow a Supreme Court ruling reiterating that the existing contract with the mining company is unconstitutional
Ramón Martínez Minister of Commerce and Industries (MICI) has not indicated how long the talks will last, a point that will be defined when the negotiators meet each other. But it will not be a quick process. Minera Panamá, a subsidiary of Canada's First Quantum, has indicated that it is open to the process, which it hopes will be carried out respecting legal certainty.
The Cobre Panama project represents an investment of $6.7 billion, and of all the projects that the Canadian company maintains worldwide, this is the most lucrative. says La Prensa.- Despite the pandemic, last year the Donoso mine, in Colón, generated sales of $1.455 billion, after processing 205,548 tons of copper. If it maintains the pace of work in the first quarter of 2021, it could close the year with more than 300,000 tons of copper, without counting the gold and silver that is extracted from the ground stone.
While the company defends its investment and the 39,000 jobs that the operation generates, Minister Martínez affirms that the objective is to obtain better benefits for the country. At the table, there will be an increase in the royalties received by the State, which are only 2%, the fee paid by the company for land use and the increase in the performance bond, among others.
Since dispatching the first vessel with the copper concentrate, the mine has generated sales of $2.235 billion. Of this total, the State has received $35 million, while the company pays $38,868 per year for superficial royalties.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/19-member-team-to-negotiate-new-minera-contract
-
Quote
PANAMA’S FAILING NEGOTIATORS
Posted 16/07/2021
The Laurentino Cortizo government must have the worst negotiators in history. The details to renew the contract with Panama Ports Company (PPC) are still unknown, although we already know that they are worse than the original contract. To top it all, one of the government negotiators was, at the same time, part of the PPC board of directors. On whose side were his loyalties? Two neurons are enough to deduce it, after the shameful result they presented us. Now, the Government announces that it is preparing to do the same, but with Minera Panama, with the difference that they no longer have a current contract, since the one in force was annulled by a Supreme Court ruling. Preparation should begin with a reform of the Mining Code, which currently establishes miseries in royalties for the State. After these reforms, the mining concession should be governed by said code and abandon the contract-law formula. We hope that the new negotiators on the part of the Executive - some of the old guard of the PRD and without the best credentials to assume this task - are not like those who acted in the PPC: delivered, and raided by rascals. – LA PRENSA, Jul. 16.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panamas-failing-negotiators
-
Quote
Martinelli lawyers’ strategy backfires
"Incapacitaded" Martinelli celebrates with allies
Posted 16/07/2021
Former magistrate Harry Díaz, who served as the prosecutor in the illegal-wiretapping trial of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli when it fell within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, reacted to Martinelli's attempt to suspend his trial with a third disability.
“It is evident that Martinelli is making fun of the administration of justice in the country. However, we must remember that it is the duty of the oral trial judges to correct all kinds of irregularities within the process, precisely to avoid delays, as is contemplated in article 63 of the Criminal Procedure Code, "said the former judge.
“Unfortunately, despite the fact that the prosecution and the plaintiffs requested that the defendant be declared in absentia, —with an elective operation that was deliberately carried out two days before the date of the trial—, the judges did not declare him in absentia. It is well known that the defendant does not want to appear at trial not because he cannot, but because it is not convenient for him to fail on the merits in such a forceful case, such as wiretapping, "added Díaz who as the prosecutor had called for a 20 year sentence for Martinelli.
According to the judges, the request was presented on July 12, just a few days after the former president met with a group of deputies from Cambio Democrático, his old party, at the Martinelli family clubhouse in Altos del Golf. Martinelli arrived at the meeting in a Lexus van, from which he greeted and smiled at the journalists who covered the activity. A journalist asked him if he would attend the trial on July 21, and he replied that it depended on the "strategy" of his lawyers.
The courts reaction to the strategy was to declare it “inadmissible.”
The document, dated July 15, bears the signature of judges Iveth Francois Vega (president), Jennifer Saavedra Naranjo, and Marisol Osorio Leyton .
The three judges cited article 18 of the Criminal Procedure Code , which says: "those who intervene in the proceedings must do so with loyalty and good faith, without recklessness in the exercise of procedural rights and duties." This provision also warns that the judge will use his powers to reject any request or act that involves "a manifest delay of the parties."
They also mentioned article 15 of the same code, which states: “everyone has the right to a final judicial decision issued in a reasonable time. All actions must be provided without unjustified denunciations ”.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/martinelli-lawyers-strategy-backfires
-
Quote
The $30,000 trophy of “Dr Merengue”
Posted 17/07/2021
The photo of the inert body of a leopard, just hunted with a rifle equipped with a telescopic sight, next to which former president Ernesto Pérez Balladares poses, has caused an angry response from those who have commented on the post, according to the former president, who uploaded the photograph showing the macabre spectacle.
Pérez Balladares answered the matter with arguments - as idiotic as the size of his ego - that have been easily destroyed by netizens, who have not spared the offenses against the author of the no less offensive death of the feline.
“To those who have expressed so much hatred: I hope they do not accept fishing or eat animal products. Eat hatred, envy and resentment, "says his tweet, by way of explanation, which said," I do not owe anyone, "although, anyway, he gave it. Perhaps the envy thing is because killing a leopard costs between $ 15,000 and $ 30,000; and if the hunt included an elephant, it would be necessary to add between $ 23,000 and $ 60,000. I suppose that so much money destined to kill animals, whose population is decimated because of legal and illegal hunting, is for him a cause for envy.
In the comments that I have read in response to the explanation that, according to this man, he does not owe anyone, it must be said that there was resentment and even hatred, but not for his reasons. It was not because he has the money to pay for these eccentricities, but because of the fact of having killed the leopard, which, surely, will have undergone a taxidermy process that will allow him to show his head as a trophy in his hunting room, where there are several other heads of wild animals, killed in their periodic "hunts."
In April 2010, relatives of the former president said that he had paid $ 45,000 to participate in something that hunters call a "big five " in Africa, which is nothing more than hunting a lion, a leopard, a rhinoceros, an elephant and a buffalo. He probably did not participate in the safari for legal reasons, but we see that he has returned to being the riflescope hunter that he likes to be.
And before you tell me that I am writing this because I am also envious of you, I will go ahead by answering you that, like many of those who answered you, such a statement —if you do so— is not true. I have nothing to envy him, because nothing he has or is provokes me. I have no love for someone else's money; I don't like narcissism or arrogance either. If, in addition to this, I had something else to offer as a human being, perhaps I would be envious of the good.
On the other hand, I believe that the envy is part of his being. I have a sister with several master's degrees and I have never heard her claim the title of doctor. And I agree with one of the people who responded to him in networks, that surely, due to the fact that he would no longer run for public office, he is now showing us his other side —and true—, in which case, yes The title of doctor comes in handy, that of Doctor Merengue.- Rolando Rodríguez B. Spicy Saturday.LA PRENSA
https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/the-30000-trophy-of-dr-merengue
-
Quote
6.4 magnitude quake shakes several provinces
Posted 17/07/2021
A 6.4 magnitude earthquake was felt throughout the province of Chiriquí, at 3.56 pm on Saturday.
While in social networks, residents of Bocas del Toro, Coclé, Colón, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, Panama Oeste and Veraguas said they had felt the tremor.
Monitoring of the entire area is carried out to determine any type of affectation. The National Air Naval Service also watches over the Chirican coasts.
"We ask the population to remain calm, and if another aftershock occurs, after it happens, a safe place must be found," Sinaproc said.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/64-magnitude-quake-shakes-several-provinces
-
-
Quote
July 17 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck south of Panama on Saturday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.
The quake was at a depth of 10 kms, according to EMSC.
Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluruhttps://www.reuters.com/world/americas/earthquake-magnitude-62-strikes-south-panama-emsc-2021-07-17/
-
-
-
Quote
Supreme Court rejects Minera appeals
Posted 16/07/2021
Panama’s Supreme Court (CSJ) has rejected, as inadmissible, a series of appeals presented by Minera Panamá and the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, (Mici)in relation to the ruling that declared Law 9 of 1997 unconstitutional, which approved the mining concession contract. in the mountains of Donoso, province of Colón.
An edict posted on Thursday by the CSJ reported that on June 28, 2021, the plenary decided to reject outright five appeals presented by Minera Panama, through its lawyers, Morgan and Morgan. This is an incident of nullity of all the proceedings, a warning of unconstitutionality and three requests: for the ex officio revocation; of clarification and sentence of omitted points, and of reconsideration.
Likewise, it reported that the request for clarification of the sentence filed by Ana María Cáceres de Delgado, legal representative of the Mici, is also rejected outright.
Although it was barely released a day ago, the Presidency of the Republic announced that it would negotiate with Minera Panama the legal aspects of the concession and, for this purpose, appointed a negotiating team, which included four ministers : Ramón Martínez, from Mici; Héctor Alexander, from Economy and Finance; Milciades Concepción, from Environment, and Doris Zapata, from Work.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/supreme-court-rejects-minera-appeals-1
-
Quote
Court rejects Martinelli’s latest sick ploy – trial will be July 21
Posted 15/07/2021
The Trial Court of the First Judicial Circuit of Panama has rejected as "inadmissible" the new incapacity presented by the defense of former President Ricardo Martinelli on July 12.
The three judges who make up the court also warned that the trial will take place on July 21, at 9:00 am "The Court will take all legal provisions so that this decision becomes effective that day."
The court is made up of judges Iveth Vega, Jennifer Saavedra, and Marysol Osorio.
The judges in their ruling recalled that at the June 30 hearing, after listening to all the parties and specifying, in detail, the reasons that prevented the trial from starting for the scheduled (June 22 and subsequently July 5) ”, the Court acceded to the requests of Martinelli's defense to set the date after the conclusion of the second incapacity presented, that is, after July 20.
Earlier it was reported that the defense of the former president, who must face a trial for alleged political espionage, presented before the judges of the Oral Trial Court a new certificate of medical incapacity, granted by neurosurgeon Waltter Kravcio. The new medical disability runs from July 21 to August 20, 2021.
According to the former president's spokesman, Luis Eduardo Camacho, the disability is dated July 9. That is, two days after the meeting that the former president held with deputies from his old party, Cambio Democrático, at the Martinelli family clubhouse in Altos del Golf. That day, Martinelli arrived in a Lexus van, from which he greeted and smiled at the journalists who covered the activity reports La Prensa.
The Trial Court of the First Judicial Circuit of Panama rejected as "inadmissible" the new incapacity presented by the defense of former President Ricardo Martinelli on July 12.
The three judges who make up the court also warned that the trial will take place on July 21, at 9:00 am "The Court will take all legal provisions so that this decision becomes effective that day."
The court is made up of judges Iveth Vega, Jennifer Saavedra, and Marysol Osorio.
The judges in their ruling recalled that at the June 30 hearing, after listening to all the parties and specifying, in detail, the reasons that prevented the trial from starting for the scheduled date 6 months in advance (June 22 and subsequently July 5) ”, the Court acceded to the requests of Martinelli's defense to set the date after the conclusion of the second incapacity presented, that is, after July 20.
Earlier it was reported that the defense of the former president, who must face a trial for alleged political espionage, presented before the judges of the Oral Trial Court a new certificate of medical incapacity, granted by neurosurgeon Waltter Kravcio . This new medical disability runs from July 21 to August 20, 2021.
According to the former president's spokesman, Luis Eduardo Camacho, the disability is dated July 9. That is, two days after the meeting that the former president held with deputies from his old party, Cambio Democratico, at the Martinelli family clubhouse in Altos del Golf. That day, Martinelli arrived in a Lexus van, from which he greeted and smiled at the journalists who covered the activity.
The new medical certificate was presented by attorney Jessica Canto, on behalf of Martinelli, on July 12, the former president's spokesman reported.
Camacho also reported that attorney Canto requested that a communication hearing be convened on this matter. To do this, he asks that Dr. Kravcio be summoned to provide explanations about Martinelli's health condition and the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences for an evaluation. The Trial Court in charge of the process that is being followed by former President Martinelli for alleged political espionage has already set three dates of hearings in this process: June 22, July 5, and July 21.
This, due to the certificates of medical incapacity that Martinelli's defense has presented, due to the fact that he underwent surgery on the spine. Official doctors determined that this surgery was elective. All documents are signed by neurosurgeon Kravcio.For the trial in the case of political espionage on July 21, the former president has public defenders assigned.
“The authorities have to assume their role. We can't take it anymore, "he's making fun of us," said Balbina Herrera, one of the plaintiffs in this case, when she learned about the new disability certificate presented by Martinelli.
After having political meetings, Martinelli "makes a mockery of the entire administration of justice," lamented Herrera.
Medical disabilities have not been the only tools Martinelli has brought up to get out of the process.
On several occasions, the former president has tried to suspend the trial, claiming that the case is prescribed or that the charges were never formally imputed. These arguments have been consistently rejected by the judges and magistrates. The last time occurred on June 28, when the Superior Court of Appeals once again rejected an appeal based on the alleged lack of imputation of the former president.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/court-rejects-martinellis-latest-sick-ploy-trial-will-be-july-21
-
Quote
Former president Martinelli replays the health card
Posted 15/07/2021
As widely anticipated the defense of former President Ricardo Martinelli presented before the judges of the Oral Trial Court a new certificate of medical incapacity, given by the neurosurgeon Waltter Kravcio.
The new medical disability runs from July 21 the day he is scheduled to face trial for illegal wiretapping and runs to August 20, 202
The information was released on Twitter by Luis Ernesto Camacho, spokesman for the former president.
It comes just days after Martinelli hosted a gathering of his supporters at his family clubhouse and set in motion plans to unite his new party (RM) and moves to get his sons detained in Guatemela for over a year returned to Panama to face “justice.” Currently, they are awaiting extradition to the United States on money laundering charges and in Panama for multiple alleged crimes.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/former-president-martinelli-replays-the-health-card
-
Quote
Cortizo asked to veto bill banning electronic cigarettes
Posted 14/07/2021
The Association for the Reduction of Harm by Smoking of Panama and the Association of Smokers and Family Members for a Panama Free of Smoke asked the president, Laurentino Cortizo, to veto as unenforceable Bill 178, which prohibits the use and commercialization of electronic administration systems of nicotine, electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, tobacco heaters and the like, with or without nicotine.
The project was approved on July 8, in a third debate, by the plenary session of the National Assembly.
According to the two associations, the Assembly "insists" on forcing more than 240,000 smokers to consume traditional or combustion cigarettes, with all the implications that this can generate for the health of the person and their families.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/health/cortizo-asked-to-veto-bill-banning-electronic-cigarettes
-
Quote
Panama ties Qatar 3-3 in Gold Cup debut
Posted 14/07/2021
Panama came from behind three times to draw 3-3 against Qatar on Tuesday in the Soccer Gold Cup played in the United States.
Bad weather caused the game to start two hours late at 8:00 pm at the BBVA Stadium in Houstons Texas.
Akram Afif put the Qatari team ahead in the 48th minute but Panama's response came three minutes later when Rolando Blackburn headed the ball into the net for a 1-1 draw.
At 53 minutes, Ali Almoez again gave Qatar the lead, but Blackburn leveled the score after two minutes.
Qatar again went up at minute 63 with a goal from Al Haydos with a penalty shot and finally at 79 Eric Davis scored the equalizer from the penalty spot.
After the game, Danish coach Thomas Christiansen said that the feelings were good because of the way the game was played and in the conditions that it was played due to the delay as it was difficult to get focused
"Above all to go down three times on the scoreboard and come back, that shows the strength that this team has, they never give up and the truth is that I am very happy," said the coach.
Blackburn, who returned to the national team after two years, was very excited about the double achieved, noting that the team never folded their arms and that they had the opportunity to win the game.
Panama's next game, in group D of the Gold Cup, will be on Saturday, July 17 against Honduras starting at 8:00 pm on the same field in Houston.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/entertainment/panama-ties-qatar-3-3-in-gold-cup-debut
-
Quote
40 samples of Panama’s best coffee head to world judges
Posted 13/07/2021
After a week of tasting by 17 Panamanian judges 40 samples of the best coffee in Panama, will be sent to international judges for evaluation in the next round of “The Best of Panama”, which will be held in August.
The Panamanian grain will be judged by a panel of 19 international judges, who will be in South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, United States States, Bulgaria and Australia.
Among those classified, there are 10 batches of washed geisha coffee, 10 batches of natural and processed geisha, 10 batches of washed varietal coffee and 10 batches of natural and processed varietals, which will be subjected to the strictest evaluation.
"In this classification, the Panamanian judges found very interesting combinations of flavors and fragrances, they discovered a classic geisha coffee with jasmine and floral scent, with a lemongrass flavor and others with very interesting processes in the case of natural geisha flavors. In others, there was a mixture of cinnamon, a touch of lemon and cloves, but in a very pleasant way” said a Best of Panama spokesman.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/40-samples-of-panamas-best-coffee-head-to-world-judges
-
Quote
Covid and crime surge earn Panama travel warnings
Posted 13/07/2021
The United States Department of State maintains its warning to US citizens to avoid travel to Panama, due to the cases of Covid-19 and the increase in crime.
The website of the US entity emphasized in its warnings that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) issued a travel health advisory - level 4 - for Panama, in the event of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Panamanian health authorities revealed that the country is experiencing a third wave of the new coronavirus, which has left 6,646 deaths to date while there are 728 hospitalized patients, with 619 in a ward and 109 in intensive care units.
The US State Department reminded its citizens to review the CDC's recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers before taking any trip.
In addition, it asks them to visit the website of the United States Embassy in Panama to obtain more information on the cases of Covid-19 in Panamanian territory.
The alert for the cases of Covid-19 in Panama was updated on July 2.
On cases related to crime on the State Department website, travelers are advised to be more cautious. They emphasized that some areas are riskier than others.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/travel/covid-and-crime-surge-earn-panama-travel-warnings
-
Quote
Four officials facing trial in food bags scandal
Posted 13/07/2021
the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) and one from the Presidency of will appear in court on Wednesday, July 21, for their alleged involvement in the illegal trafficking of 509 bags of food from the Panama Solidario program, created to provide assistance in the midst of the pandemic crisi
The bags were found at the residence of Julio Caballero, a former MOP official, during a search on June 12.
The process originated from a public complaint from the digital medium Foco Panamá.
The prosecution has carried out ocular inspection procedures at the Ministry of the Presidency, as well as at the Atlapa convention center, where the Panama Solidario bags are assembled.
In parallel with the investigation being carried out by the Public Ministry, the Electoral General Prosecutor's Office also opened an investigation related to the anomalies in the handling of food bags.
https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/four-officials-facing-trial-in-food-bags-scandal
-
Quote
Residential construction and repairs boosts construction sector
Posted 12/07/2021
Construction and repairs in the residential segment raised the construction sector during the first five months of 2021.
The Comptroller General reported that, between January and May, investments in construction and repairs in the residential segment increased 47.7%, to close at $239.4 million.
Including the commercial or non-residential sector, investments in new construction and repairs totaled $296.8 million through May, an upturn or recovery of just 2.6%.
The Comptroller also reports that investments in non-residential projects decreased 55.1% in the first five months of the year, to $57 million.
Despite the 2.6% rebound in construction in the first five months of the year, the industry is still 26% below the numbers that this sector of the economy had during that same period in 2019.
In his speech before the National Assembly, on July 1 President, Laurentino Cortizo said that in the coming months more than 214 projects will be promoted that represent an investment of more than $1.824 billion, which will generate about 4,000 jobs in different parts of the country.
The continuing story of Ricardo Martinelli, his family and trials
in Corruption, Fraud, and Scandals - Investigations / Prosecutions
Posted
https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/organized-crime-prosecutor-will-continue-with-wiretap-trial