Republic of Panama – Virgin Islands Free Press

US and Panama propose new force of 5,550 in Haiti with the power to detain gang suspects

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Panama are urging the U.N. Security Council to authorize a 5,550-member force with the power to detain gang members in Haiti to help stop…

John McCarthy September 4, 2025

Breaking News Caribbean News International News

BlackRock to buy Panama Canal ports after pressure from Trump

PANAMA CITY — BlackRock has agreed to buy two major ports on the Panama Canal from their Hong Kong-based owner as part of a $22.8 billion deal, following pressure from…

John McCarthy March 4, 2025

Breaking News Crime News International News

Nearly 300 deportees from US held in Panama hotel as officials try to return them to their countries

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama is detaining in a hotel nearly 300 people from various countries deported under U.S. President Donald Trump, not allowing them to leave while waiting for international…

John McCarthy February 19, 2025

Breaking News Caribbean News Crime News

U.S. deporting African and Asian migrants to Panama in diplomatic breakthrough

WASHINGTON — The U.S. is deporting unauthorized migrants from nations in Africa and Asia to Panama, a major diplomatic breakthrough for the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts, internal federal documents obtained…

John McCarthy February 13, 2025

Breaking News Business News Caribbean News

Trump names envoy to Panama after urging US reassert control over canal

PANAMA CITY — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has picked Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera to serve as ambassador to Panama after having threatened for the U.S. to reassert control…

John McCarthy December 27, 2024

Breaking News Caribbean News Environmental News

Rising seas force Panama Indigenous families to leave island homes

PANAMA CITY — Rising sea levels due to climate change have forced an Indigenous Guna community to leave their homes on an island off Panama's coast that is fast disappearing.…

John McCarthy June 5, 2024

At VIFreep Breaking News Caribbean News

Central America’s Biggest Mine Could Close Over Tax Spat

PANAMA CITY (AFP) — Rising up through the lush vegetation of Panama's Caribbean coast, a 410-foot chimney serves as a beacon for helicopters approaching the largest mine in Central America, which…

John McCarthy December 10, 2022

At VIFreep Breaking News Caribbean News

Rising Caribbean Sea Pushes Indigenous Group Off Island: Wall Street Journal

GARDI SUGDUB, Panama—From this tiny, hot and overcrowded island, some 1,200 indigenous Guna people will soon embark on a short but historic exodus. Next year, most inhabitants of Gardi Sugdub—the…

John McCarthy November 14, 2022

At VIFreep Breaking News Business News

Panama Teachers End Long Strike That Set Off Wider Protests

PANAMA CITY — Panama’s teachers will return to the classroom today after a month-long strike supported by a number of other sectors that blocked commerce and snarled the capital with…

John McCarthy August 2, 2022

At VIFreep Breaking News Caribbean News

2 Americans Missing After Plane Splashes Down Off Panama

PANAMA CITY — Authorities in Panama searched Tuesday for two Americans who went missing when the small plane they were traveling in splashed into the Pacific ocean and quickly sank.…

Bro Bot January 5, 2022