The Latest Breaking News from Panama

Pentagon Chief In Panama Vows To Counter China 'Threat'

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday during a visit to Panama that the United States does not seek war with China, but will counter what he called the threats it poses in the Americas.

International Business Times · Apr 9, 2025

Hong Kong company denies that it failed to pay Panama under a contract to operate its canal ports

A subsidiary of a Hong Kong conglomerate, which is embroiled in U.S.-China tensions over its Panama Canal port assets has denied allegations that it had failed to pay about $1.2 billion to the Central American country

The Independent UK · Apr 9, 2025

Hegseth says China's military presence in western hemisphere is 'too large'

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has again put China at the center of U.S. priorities in the western hemisphere, one day after calling the world power a threat to the Panama Canal

The Independent UK · Apr 9, 2025

Audit finds Hong Kong company breached Panama Canal ports contract

Report comes as US uses claims of Chinese meddling to push for control over strategic waterway.

Al Jazeera · Apr 8, 2025

Contract for Hong Kong company to operate Panama Canal ports had irregularities, audit finds

Panama’s comptroller authority says an audit found irregularities in the renewal of a 25-year port concession in the interoceanic canal and it would request an investigation into the authorization of the contract to a Hong Kong company

The Independent UK · Apr 8, 2025

Hong Kong Firm Did Not Uphold Panama Canal Ports Contract: Panama Audit

The Hong Kong firm in charge of two ports at either end of the Panama Canal -- which sparked US President Donald Trump's threats to seize the waterway -- has flouted the terms of its contract, according to Panamanian audit results released Monday.

International Business Times · Apr 8, 2025

Tropical tree in Panama has evolved to kill its 'enemies' with lightning

Tonka bean trees survive lightning strikes — and use the powerful electric shocks to kill their competitors.

LiveScience · Apr 7, 2025

Hegseth is to travel to Panama for meetings following Trump's demands for the canal

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Panama next week to meet its leaders following recent U.S. allegations of Chinese interference in the operations of the critical Panama Canal shipping lane

The Independent UK · Apr 4, 2025

Panamanian ex-leader Martinelli remains in the Nicaraguan Embassy after window to leave expired

Panama’s ex-President Ricardo Martinelli remains inside the Nicaraguan Embassy more than a year after he first entered and a week after Panama said it would allow him to leave

The Independent UK · Apr 4, 2025

How dreamy ‘cloud forests’ make this central American country an ideal alternative to Costa Rica

For a captivating adventure brimming with biodiversity, misty cloud forests and indigenous personality, Steph Dyson recommends looking beyond the familiar to uncover some lesser-visited treasures.

The Independent UK · Apr 4, 2025