Moderator_02
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OPINION: Twisted morals in Panama’s political swamp
If you want a bigger cookie jar, raise your hand.Post Views: 180YESTERDAY, the deputies of the National Assembly demonstrated their true colors and they revealed the swamp which Panamanian politics has become.Although it seems to express irreconcilable differences, that group is united in one close link: the use and abuse of public funds. In the heat of the debate in the plenary on Monday they confessed that the expenditure for personal circuit ventures of each deputy increased from $4,000 to $30,000 per month. That means that in 2015 they spent $3.4 million dollars and $14 million in 2016.
But not happy with that, a dark spreadsheet aimed at “investment” in the Assembly contains a line to make professional contracts. In 2014 that game allocated only $200,000 for these contracts, but in 2015 it went to $13 million and in 2016 to $57 million and continued to rise.
So we come to the sum of $135 million dollars spent on supposed professional services between 2014 and 2017.
The creative deputies have found the formula to keep collecting money, and now they flatly refuse to be accountable for these funds. With these twisted morals, they still dare to throw stones … hoyporhoy, La Prensa, Jan.31
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/opinion-twisted-morals-panamas-political-swamp
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WW II, bomb closes island to fishermen
Isla IguanaPost Views: 308FISHERMEN from the Pedasí district have been banned from sailing to Isla Iguana, after the discovery of an abandoned bomb left behind by the US Army during World War II.the area was cordoned off and remains under strict security measures.
The bomb was found on Monday, January 29 by a Ministry of the Environment park ranger of who works in the wildlife refuge reports La Prensa.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/ww-ii-bomb-closes-island-fishermen
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Varela Takes Heat As Assembly Rejects Judges
Post Views: 193THE REJECTION by the National Assembly of two Supreme Court nominees was because of the failure of the administration led by President Juan Carlos Varela to honor The State Pact for Justice, say critics.The pact was a commitment signed in 2005 by three organs the Ombudsman’s Office, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and organized civil society to reform the administration of justice.
After a fractious debate with a packed gallery contributing comments, catcalls and cheers, the Assembly rejected Varela’s picks Zuleyka Moore and Ana Lucrecia Tovar de Zarak
Civil society organizations were quick to pronounce that Varela has put the country in a “completely unnecessary” situation, by not appointing judges by consensus, as promised.
Olga De Obaldía, executive director of the Foundation for Citizen Liberty, the Panama chapter of Transparency International (TI), said that what happened in the Assembly “Is not a victory for anybody … all citizens have lost, Do not forget for a minute that this has been politicking and that nobody, neither the Executive nor the Legislature, is really thinking about the problem of justice” said the IT director.
She said that the Assembly cannot speak of justice when it does not abide by decisions such as that of the Court to provide information about donations and subsidies. “So, what justice do they speak of?”
On n the other hand, the Executive “has put the country in a completely unnecessary position, that would not have happened if it had honored the Pact as they promised in their campaign.
“We ask the Executive to comply with and honor the Pact before sending back two new appointments, “she said.
Juan Diego Vásquez, of the Youth Network for Transparency, said that the rejection of the nominees was a show debate that highlighted that the deputies are not thinking about the country, but politicking.
Governance problem
Former Comptroller Alvin Weeden warned that after the rejection “there is a governance problem in the country. If we continue with anarchy and political interest, we are going to make the country ungovernable, and we will not be far from what happened in Venezuela and other countries in Latin America, “he said. What happened in the Assembly was blackmail. “I am sure that if President Varela had negotiated a magistrate with the PRD or CD, none of this would have happened. That is irresponsible political management,”Varela said on Wednesday.Jan. 31 at a road opening ceremony that he will begin to interview new candidates for magistrates of But he will do it “calmly”, after Carnival.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/varela-takes-heat-assembly-rejects-judges
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Click here for Google Maps location data for the Chinese Steak House: https://goo.gl/maps/NKeBqz95mgt.
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Insurance: More Premiums, But More Losses
In 2017 in Panama, premiums totaled $1.471 billion, 5% more than in 2016, but the loss ratio in fires and floods increased almost four times.
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
According to a report by the Superintendency of Insurance and Reinsurance of Panama (SSRP), in 2017 market growth was accompanied by an increase in claims, as insurance companies paid out $119 million for the fire and flood coverage policies, a figure that exceeds the $26 million disbursed in 2016 by 365%.
Regarding the accident rate recorded in the last year, José Joaquín Riesen, superintendent of SSRP, explained to Prensa.com that " ... there are some warehouses that have adequate facilities, but many others do not have the necessary fire safety and prevention measures.'This affects us, because the Colon Free Zone is a storage hub. The impact goes beyond fire, it denotes lack of basic prevention '... ".
Prensa.com reports that "...The sector has grown steadily since 2012. However, the increase in the economy has been higher, which has meant a reduction in the participation of the insurance sector in the gross domestic product."https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Insurance_More_Premiums_But_More_Losses
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Panama: Car Sales Down 14%
At the end of November 2017 the downward trend continued, adding up to almost 53 thousand new vehicles registered since January, 14% less than in the same period in 2016.
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Figures from the Comptroller General of the Republic show that in November 2017 3,556 new vehicles were registered, almost 50% less than the 6,899 units registered in the same period in 2016.
See also: "Tire Imports from China Up 4%"
When looking at the figures accumulated in the first eleven months of the year, it can be seen that the reduction is almost 14% with respect to the same period in 2016, mainly explained by a 22% drop in the entry of new cars, and 24% in the inscription of panel vans. The number of pick up trucks registered also went down in the period in question, by almost 22%.
See statistics by the Controlaria (in Spanish).https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Panama_Car_Sales_Down_14
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$600 million Port Project Hindered by Environmental Issues
The Supreme Court of Justice in Panama has accepted the appeal for legal protection brought against the construction project of a multimodal port in Isla Margarita, province of Colon.
Monday, January 29, 2018
The Environmental Impact Study (EIA) that Panama Colón Container Port Inc. submitted at the end of 2016 to build a port terminal has been temporarily voided, while the Supreme Court of Justice analyzes the case before issuing a definitive ruling.
The petition for an injunction against the project was presented by the NGO Centro de Incidencia Ambiental de Panamá, which argues that the dredging works that will be carried out will negatively affect the coral reefs and mangroves in the area.
Prensa.com reports that "...For this port project, the Ministry of Environment approved a category II study in 2016, which established that the work would be done on 39 terrestrial hectares and 22 marine hectares. In addition, it specified that 356 thousand cubic meters of seabed would be extracted, in order to make a channel for approaching and berthing at the port with the appropriate conditions and characteristics to allow entry, maneuvering and berthing of superpanamax vessels."
Regarding the Supreme Court's decision to accept the appeal, representatives from Panama Colón Container Port Inc. commented that "... the port terminal is a project that is currently investing more than $1,100 million and whose developers chose Panama as the premiere country in Latin America in which to deploy its investment, given the conditions of legal security and the policies of logistic development that the country has."
See here details of the EIA for the construction of the port.
According to the EIA, these are some of the works included in the project:- Dredging of an estimated 365,600 m3 over an area of 22 ha. With the main objective being to deepen the entire area of operations for ships up to 16m below the low tide.
- Filling in of the sea bottom of the concession area with an amount of 480,000 cubic meters.
- Construction of a quay measuring 1,495 meters.
- Construction of an administrative area with a total area of 12,074.79 square meters.
- Construction of an operations and planning control area with a total area of 6878.54 m2, in this section a building will be erected a with an area of 1,008 m 2 on one level, with a height of 3.60 meters.
https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/600_million_Port_Project_Hindered
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Central America: Fuel Prices up to January 29
Price of gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $3.93, Nicaragua $3.74, Honduras $3.63, Guatemala $3.31, El Salvador $3.29 and Panama $2.99.
Monday, January 29, 2018
From a report by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The harsh winter that has hit the United States has caused an increase in the production of energy generated from petroleum derivatives, which is used for heating, as well as the general consumption of derivatives in the North American country, which has contributed to a decrease in reserves in the United States.
In this regard, the latest report provided by the Energy Information Administration (EIA by its initials in English) indicates that crude oil reserves fell 6.86 million barrels per week, according to a report given on January 17, and for the tenth time it fell again by 1.1 million barrels per week according to a report given on January 24, reaching its lowest level since February 2015.
Price in dollars Regular Special Diesel El Salvador 3.29 3.48 3.04 Guatemala 3.31 3.46 2.83 Honduras 3.63 3.94 3.33 Nicaragua 3.74 3.86 3.34 Costa Rica 3.93 4.00 3.40 Panama* 2.99 3.11 2.80
*Data taken from Acodeco.gob.pa
https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Central_America_Fuel_Prices_up_to_January_29
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OPINION: Cornerstone of corruption network
Post Views: 92THE CASE of Financial Pacific (FP) includes insider trading between the regulator and, speculation with the shares of the Minera Petaquilla, company and movements of funds in the cases of the loan of the Caja de Ahorros (Savings Bank) and “New Business”. Also, you have to remember the traces of blood and pain of the dozens of dead and wounded in Changuinola, Colón and San Felix.It is impossible to forget the mysterious destruction of the company’s computer files.This catalog of horrors paints Financial Pacific as one of the cornerstones of the corruption network of the government of Ricardo Martinelli.
Such a delicate case, which requires sophisticated investigations in several languages and in multiple countries, cannot be subject to the limitations of ordinary justice.
Judge Felipe Fuentes decided on January 25 to declare “complex” the investigation of the High Spirit case, the core of the FP plot, c but at the same time He noted that the deadline had expired last December. This macabre joke is submerged in a zone of darkness, impunity and shamelessness.
It is very evident that decisions of the Judicial Body increasingly move away from the concept we have of justice. The citizen repudiation of this decision must be forceful, because we have had enough of such impunity.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-cornerstone-corruption-network
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Martinelli asks fast bail resolution
Martinelli will get bail decision next weekPost Views: 167A PETITION to get an early resolution to a motion for bail for ex Panama president Ricardo Martinelli has been accepted by Judge Marcia Cooke, of the Southern District Court of Florida.He has been detained in a Miami detention center since June 12, awaiting extradition to Panama to face trial unauthorized interception of communications by the National Security Council during his government.
Delivery to Panama was certified on August 31, 2017, by Judge Edwin Torres and ratified on January 23 by Judge Cooke. That day, she rejected a writ of habeas corpus filed by Martinelli’s defense.
The Miami attorney’s office has already verbally informed Cooke that it opposes the defense request and recalled that Judge Torres ordered Martinelli to remain in federal custody until his extradition. At the time, Torres refused to release the former president, despite the fact that
Martinelli proposed a “package” that, among other things, included the payment of 10% of a $5 million bond and to deliver custody of his private plane, and remain under 24-hour surveillance 24 and wear an electronic bracelet.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/martinelli-asks-fast-bail-resolution
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Corrupt politicians fear honest prosecutor – Varela
Varela at police ceremonyPost Views: 152“A corrupt politician is afraid of an honest prosecutor, “ said President Juan Carlos Varela on Tuesday. January 30, as rival political factions, charged with ratifying the appointment of two new Supreme Court judges, wrangled over procedures in the National Assembly.Varela was defending the designation of the anti-corruption prosecutor Zuleyka Moore as magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ), during a graduation ceremony of 3,885 policemen.
“A criminal is afraid of an honest policeman …a corrupt politician is afraid of an honest prosecutor, “he said during his speech.
Varela, said stressed that the choices for the CSJ are “well justified” and were evaluated by a technical board, and “that’s why today I will make the effort to promote a prosecutor who has deserved it “However, it will be the Assembly, a” political entity “, that will make the final decision.
He said the prosecutor has fought against corruption and faced “economic powers and politicians “who had never before faced justice… she is a” brave person, honest and independent. ”
Asked if the ruling party has the votes in the National Assembly to ratify the appointees Ana Lucrecia Tovar de Zarak and Moore, as magistrates, Varela said: “let’s hope so,” reports La Prensa.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/corrupt-politicians-fear-honest-prosecutor-varela
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Judge who lost files throws new block on brokerage probe
Valdes and Clare, linked to MartinelliPost Views: 190FELIPE FUENTES, the 7th Criminal judge under investigation after seven files related to the defunct brokerage Financial Pacific (FP), were found on a highway put another block on the case believed to be in the center of Ricardo Martinelli era corruption.In a January 25 ruling, Fuentes declared the case complex and confirmed an earlier investigation extension, but warned that it expired on Dec.14 2017.
Fuentes said that on June 14, 2017, the deadline to investigate, was extended for six months. But he warned that “the prosecution interprets the declaration of complex case grants up to two years to continue investigating, which is incorrect (…) “.
The Seventh Anti-Corruption Prosecutor is investigating 14 people, including Ivan Clare and West Valdés, former directors of the defunct brokerage and those close to them, including Martinelli
. This came is after the Securities Superintendency asked for an investigation of the use of privileged information through FP (with the High Spirit account), in order to manipulate the stock market for the purchase and sale of shares of Minera Petaquilla.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office was Investigating possible irregularities through the companies High Spirit and Jal Offshore which had accounts in FP and received funds of unknown origin, and allegedly that same money was used to buy shares of Petaquilla Minerals.
The accounts, said the SMV, were linked with the ex-president his family and close friends.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/judge-lost-files-throws-new-block-brokerage-probe
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“Blue Apple” red alert suspect arrested
Post Views: 176With an Interpol red alert hanging over his head Jorge Churro Ruiz, Director of Contracts Administration at the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) during the administration of Federico José Suárez, was arrested on Tuesday, January 30, when he arrived in Panama by air.He was taken to the Seventh Anti-corruption, Prosecutor’s Office which is
which handling the Blue Apple case, over the alleged payment of bribes by State contractors between 2011 and 2012.
He joins three others linked to the investigation already in preventive detention: lawyer Federico Barrios and his wife Ana Mercedes Briones, and Joaquín Rodríguez Salcedo, Former Director of Factoring and Bonds of Global Bank.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/blue-apple-red-alert-suspect-arrested
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Bull attack sends Ex-Minister to hospital
Jorge ArrangoPost Views: 256THE FIRST Minister of Agricultural Development in the current administration Jorge Arango Arias was admitted to a private hospital in David after being rammed by a bull on his farm, in Volcán, Chiriqui,Arango’s, injuries included a fractured a rib reports La Prensa.
The dentist, 74, who taught several generations of dentists at the University of Panama is under medical observation at the Mae Lewis medical Center
He is the owner of the Compañía Agrícola Industrial, S.A. (Caisa), Panama’s largest pork producer, and the second largest in Central America, founder and shareholder of the Arango Orillac Dental Clinic.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/bull-attack-sends-ex-minister-hospital
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Packages to Panama WYD from $95-$230
Pope Francis at the last WYD in PolandPost Views: 297“Packages” for pilgrims to World Youth Day (WYD) to be held in Panama in January 2019 and attended by Pope Francis will range from $95 to $230 committee and will be sold online.The announcement came from the organizing committee at a Monday, Jan. 29 press conference.
Nine packages, for accommodation and food, include the “pilgrim kit”, transportation and medical insurance.
The price varies, depending on the number of tickets to the different events that will take place between Monday, Jan. 21 and Sunday, Jan. 27. the peak activity will be held on the last day with a vigil and a field Mass celebrated by Pope Francis.
The committee said that the registration period has not yet been opened.The closing of electronic registrations will be on January 17, 2019. “The formal beginning will be when the Holy Father registers as the first pilgrim to participate in the WYD, ” said Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa.
Eydín Solanilla, director of Registration and Reception of WYD 2019, said that payments can be by credit card or bank transfer, until November 30, 2018. Those who pay before July 31, will get a 10% discount.
Ulloa stated that a “solidarity fund” will be established, which will be fed by the pilgrims.
“When they sign up, they will contribute $12 more to allow other young people to have the same experience.”
Víctor Chang, executive secretary of the organizing committee, said that over 50,000 host families have already been registered, but the goal is 250,000. “What the pilgrims are looking for is a space to sleep, to take a shower and leave their backpacks”, Chang said.
“Experience shows that host families are not enough. You have to adapt spaces in gyms, camps, salons … with good baths or showers, “he added.
The city is anticipating an influx of 400,000 pilgrims. Metro Line 2 is expected to be open in November this year.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/packages-panama-wyd-95-230
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Loan scam hearing adjourned again
Riccardo Francolini, justice delayedPost Views: 108THE SEEMINGLY never-ending story of the attempt to bring the alleged perpetrators of a $30 million loan scam to justice will start a new chapter in June, or maybe sometime when.A preliminary hearing in the case known as Caja de Ahorros (CA) was suspended on Monday morning, January 29, because two of the accused have yet to be notified and they are “out of the country”
The anti-corruption prosecutor Adecio Mojica said that he does not know in which countries they are.
The new hearing for a string of 16 high profile accused, headed by the State bank’s former president Riccardo Francolini, is set for June 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, and as alternate dates July 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27.
The prosecutor refrained from revealing the names of those involved who are missing.
This investigation was opened following a loan that the CA granted to the HPC-Contratas-P & V Consortium, for the construction of the Amador Convention Center. that was never completed
In the investigation, the prosecutor showed it was possible to “demonstrate” the connection that arose from the transfers of the funds to a company, linked to one of the defendants, and that the transfer was in favor of the Promotora y Desarrollo Los Andes company, where Riccardo Francolini, was secretary.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/loan-scam-hearing-adjourned
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More cheap flights to Cartagena
Post Views: 256WINGO, Copa Airlines low-cost subsidiary has doubled the number of flights between Panama and Cartagena, a Unesco World Heritage site, going from two weekly flights to four that will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.With this increase in its operations, Wingo will now have 19 weekly frequencies between Panama and Colombia: flying from the Panamanian capital to the cities of Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Cartagena.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/travel/latin-america-caribbean/cheap-flights-cartagena
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Law reform could snag no-show criminal suspects
Ana Mathilde GpmezPost Views: 139A PROPOSAL to reform the criminal code so that suspects under investigation can be accused in absentia would close an escape route for the likes of ex-president Ricardo Martinelli and other high profile figures who have fled the country or fail to show up in court although represented by lawyers.The legislative proposal that would avoid the provisional dismissal of the case was submitted to the National Assembly by the independent deputy and former Attorney General, Ana Matilde Gómez.
She warned that, currently, the cases of people who could not be imputed by being out of the country could go unpunished.The preliminary bill seeks to eliminate the requirement that a person investigated must be present at the imputation hearing and intends, according to Gomez, to put an end to impunity.
According to the current rules, if the suspect, once cited legally, does not attend the hearing, the judge may decree the dismissal of the case until the person being investigated shows up thus promoting impunity, says Gómez.
The proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure eliminates the requirement that the subject under investigation must be present at the imputation.
The proposal could be applied in several cases that are stuck in the Supreme Court related to Martinelli, in the United States waiting to be extradited to Panama.
What is proposed was already applied under the inquisitive system. However, with the implementation of the accusatory system in 2016, it was eliminated.
The preliminary draft law raises as an alternative the expansion of the option to submit to the direct procedure, not only those accused with a penalty of up to four years but those with longer sentences.
Ex-Prosecutor Rogelio Cruz said there is no problem with the reforms proposed by Gómez and they should not face major obstacles for approval reports La Prensa.
Ex-Magistrate Edgardo Molina Mola said that the modifications are favorable, since they apply to cases like Martinelli’s.
“How is it possible that a man like him [Martinelli] is absent and cannot be judged and even more, when you have about 10 lawyers. It is totally absurd that he has to show up personally when the lawyer is the one who represents him,” he said.
The lawyer made the caveat that one must be cautious in applying this type of procedures as in dictatorial regimes they are used to commit “abuses and arbitrariness”.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/law-reform-snag-no-show-criminal-suspects
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OPINION: Impunity poisoning rule of law
Ricardo Martinelli fled to MiamiPost Views: 102IMPUNITY is one of the intoxicants that poisons the rule of law. One of the factors that most favor it is the existence of permissive legislation, that rewards those under investigation who escape from the country to expect that the turning of calendar leaves will aid their cause. The National Assembly National has in its hands the draft bill 155 amending the Criminal Procedure Code and that, among other things, would allow imputation in absentia those under investigation who have fled the arm of justice.This move – that to us may seem novel – is common in other countries and guarantees a balance between due process and the protection of the common good. The best action of Interpol or the processing of effective extradition processes will never replace a mechanism that prevents the unhealthy mockery that is made daily against Panamanian justice.
It is time to balance criminal proceedings and punish corruption … La Prensa. Jan. 28.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/opinion-impunity-poisoning-rule-law
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More Europeans visiting Panama
Post Views: 205INCREASED airline connectivity, international fairs and social media exposure have combined to boost European tourist visits to Panama in the last year, and with Air China set to start flying to Tocumen International in March, the Tourism Authority. (ATP) is looking for a similar fillip from Asia during 2018.Some 227,963 European travelers entered the country from January to December 2017 and visited, mainly, Bocas de Toro, Boquete, Tierras Altas, Boca Chica, Pedasí, Azuero region, the beaches of the Pacific and the Valley of Antón in Coclé.
According to figures from the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) , 17,070 more Europeans than the previous year arrived, an increase of 8.1%.
Direct flights to key destinations in Europe such as Spain, Germany, France, the Netherlands and charter flights from Poland continues to strengthen Panama as the Hub of the Americas.
The promotion of the country in international fairs, as well as the international promotion campaign in digital media, has been key to selling the attractions offered by Panama says the ATP.
The European airlines that increased passenger revenue in 2017 were: Iberia, with a total of 69,381 passengers, some 9,501 more than in 2016, ( a growth of 15.9%) and KLM, with a total of 55,519 passengers, 2,044 more than in 2016, (up 3.8%).
Air France follows with a total of 51,326 passengers, some 7,940 more than in 2016, an increase of 18.3%.
In the target markets, according to recent Google measurements, during 2017, Panama was one of the countries with the most views on YouTube and significantly increased searches related to trips to Panama.
Mentions of Panama increased by more than 66% in cities of the United States, Canada and Spain, between January and November of 2017. While the traffic on the page visitpanama.com was up more than 500% with 36 million views.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-4/europeans-visiting-panama
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5.8 earth tremor felt in Panama city
Post Views: 451An earth tremor measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale with an epicenter in the Pacific to the south of the province of Los Santos was reported at 4.45 pm on Saturday, January 27.It was felt in Panama City and Chitre and in other provinces reported the Institute of Geosciences of the University of Panama.
The director of the Civil Protection System (Sinaproc), José Donderis, said on his Twitter account that so far there was no recorded damage and he called on the population to remain calm.
The Emergency Operations Center of Sinaproc is monitoring different provinces to address any problems.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/5-8-earth-tremor-felt-panama-city
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Environmentalists gather 18 tons tourist trash
Clean-up volunteersPost Views: 225OVER 18 TONS of garbage, were collected from Monagre beach, a favorite tourist spot in Santa Ana de Los Santos on t Saturday, January 27.The clean up included large amounts of plastic containers left by visitors and was the initiative of the environmental group Mundo Verde (Green World) was supported by the mayor’s office and the Municipal Council of Los Santos.
Pablo Bermúdez, executive director of the nongovernmental organization said
“We collected glass, plastic bags, glasses and bottles, cans, among other types of garbage that the bathers leave when they visit this tourist spot, ”
Bermudez urged the mayor Santeño Maxiliano Amaya to impose more severe sanctions on those who care very little the coastal ecosystem.
In the coming weeks, Mundo Verde will bring in heavy equipment to move tree trunks scattered on the beach.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/environmentalists-gather-18-tons-tourist-trash
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Transparency agency and Las Tablas butt heads
Maytin and Herrera at loggerheadsPost Views: 119THE MAYOR of Las Tablas is not happy with his town’s ranking in a transparency evaluation issued by Panama’s Transparency and Access to Information Authority (Antai) and on Friday, Jan, 26 went to the institution’s office in the capital city to express his views.What followed has further widened the gap between the municipality and the agency’s director Angélica Maytín.
According to the Antai, Mayor Noé Iván Herrera, went to the offices with “aggressive behavior” and entered the upper office “without authorization, making claims in a disrespectful way, with defiant attitude and violating security “, while using “inappropriate” words referring to Maytín.
The visit was the result of Herrera’s disagreement with Antai’s transparency evaluation of the Las Tablas municipality.
As part of its functions, the Antai periodically makes a measurement of the transparency of the websites of various institutions, public companies and municipalities.
The most recent report on the municipalities put Las Tabl in the basement of the ranking with zero points, while Panama and La Chorrera took first place with 100 points.
“The staff in the upper office asked him to leave and he threatened go to the media, “said Antai, in a statement published Saturday, Jan 27.
“We regret this type of behavior of an official who represents the highest authority of the municipality of Las Tablas, ” the statement said, adding that they are willing to receive complaints and denunciations “within the framework of respect”.
The mayor responded that he is being politically persecuted”, reports La Prensa.
“Since the Antai began to list the transparency of municipalities, Las Tablas has come in on three occasions as the municipality least transparent,” said Herrera. He added that on the website of the municipality (lastablas.municipios.gob.pa) sits all the information of the spreadsheet and the projects that are carried out.
Herrera said that the official who attended him at the Antai office had a defiant attitude
defiant towards him, to which he did not respond because he is an authority.
He said that he will issue a statement on Monday to respond to Antai’s version of events.
http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/transparency-agency-las-tablas-butt-heads
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US judge backs extradition of ex-Panama president Martinelli
A Miami federal judge on Tuesday upheld the extradition request for former Panama president Ricardo Martinelli to face political espionage and embezzlement charges in his home country.
U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke ruled Tuesday at a hearing that a previous federal judge was correct that Panama's extradition request is valid. But Cooke also stayed her decision until Feb. 6 to give Martinelli's lawyers time to file notice of an appeal.
Martinelli, 65, was Panama's president from 2009-2014. He is accused of illegally monitoring phone calls and other communications of at least 150 people using an extensive surveillance system. Martinelli is also accused of embezzling $13 million in public funds linked to the system.
Martinelli has been jailed since his June 2017 arrest at his Miami-area home based on the Panama extradition warrant. He had been seeking asylum in the U.S., claiming the charges are politically motivated.
His attorneys argued Tuesday that Panama's extradition warrant was legally insufficient because it didn't specifically list the key charges for which he is being sought and because of a peculiar retroactivity clause in Panama's 113-year-old extradition treaty with the U.S.
One of Martinelli's lawyers, David Howard, contended that an appeals court ruling in a different case established that an extradition warrant must list at least one charge for which a person can be extradited. The Panama warrant only lists contempt of court because Martinelli did not show up at a hearing, which is not an extraditable offense under the treaty.
"There has to be reference to at least one charge. It refers to none. There is no other way around it," Howard told Cooke.
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Fels said the warrant lists the Panama case number that includes the surveillance and embezzlement charges and that the State Department has concluded the warrant passes legal muster.
"Panama would not agree to a treaty that would hamper their ability to extradite fugitives from the United States," Fels said.
Martinelli's attorneys also renewed their claims that the extradition request runs counter to terms of an updated treaty between the two countries involving cybercrimes that took effect in July 2014, after the alleged surveillance offenses were committed. They claim those crimes don't apply to Martinelli because Panama's original 1905 extradition treaty with the U.S. contains a clause saying it did not apply retroactively — and that it remains in effect today.
Fels, however, said that clause was meant only for crimes that were committed in Panama before the treaty took effect in 1905.
"This language basically doesn't have any application anymore," he said.
The next step for Martinelli's attorneys would be to appeal Cooke's ruling to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. There is no timetable for the appeals court to make a decision.
José Ayú Prado, the Globe-Trotting Supreme Court President, Under Investigation for Various Charges and Denounced For Incompetence as a Prosecutor
in Corruption, Fraud, and Scandals - Investigations / Prosecutions
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http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/supreme-court-president-steps