International reporting on events and trends that influence Panama and the region. Stories include geopolitics, diplomacy, and global developments.
Iran’s parliament speaker warned a regional neighbour against occupying an Iranian island, while the U.S. speaks of peace even as it commits more troops to the conflict.
Experts at the Boao Forum said China’s humanoid robots are still years from a “ChatGPT moment,” citing difficulties in task generalisation, training efficiency and unresolved hardware and software limits.
Singapore has postponed a planned sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) levy from next month to Oct. 1, saying higher fuel costs tied to the Iran war make the timing difficult for airlines and passengers.
Seven-year-old Shao Ziyan from Wenzhou has been certified as China’s youngest professional rally driver after being certified at age five; he began using a racing simulator at age one.
Donald Trump said Iran is negotiating with the US but is ‘afraid to say it,’ claiming Iranian leaders want a deal ‘so badly.’ The remark highlights ongoing ambiguity in US–Iran diplomacy and potential regional and economic implications.
Sarah Mullally was formally installed as the Church of England’s first female archbishop in a ceremony attended by around 2,000 guests, a milestone for the Anglican Communion.
CLP Power will raise its fuel cost adjustment from 39.2 to 39.8 HK cents per kWh from April 1, the first FCA increase in over a year, citing higher-than-forecast fuel costs.
Hong Kong health experts warned that damp conditions through the end of the week could promote mould growth, urging elderly residents and those with chronic illnesses to use dehumidifiers and remove mould to reduce respiratory risks.
Rene Redzepi’s sudden fall has not triggered a broad uprising against domineering kitchen bosses; entrenched celebrity, economics and luxury dining dynamics make rapid, industry-wide change unlikely.
Tractor FC will travel to Jeddah to face Dubai’s Shabab Al-Ahli in rescheduled Asian Champions League Elite western-zone play-offs on April 13-14, with the winner set to play Buriram United.
Deutsche Bank warns the month-long US-Israeli war in Iran could test the petrodollar system and encourage Gulf states to move toward China-backed petroyuan settlements, with possible global currency impacts.
Hong Kong artist Gamzar creates galvanised-iron and bamboo installations at a metal master’s workshop in To Kwa Wan, using traditional tools and a German folding machine; his work has been shown in Milan and London.
Rizzoli’s new monograph, Roger Vivier: Heritage and Imagination, profiles the late designer’s influential footwear, from the Belle Vivier pump to the comma-shaped Virgule heel, framed across five thematic salons.
Iran called a U.S. 15-point peace plan “maximalist” while state TV listed five conditions for peace, as Israeli strikes continue in Lebanon, raising risks of wider regional escalation.
Japan plans to place anti-ship missiles, radar and drones on Minamitorishima as early as June, a step Tokyo says strengthens its defence amid rising Chinese military activity in the region.
Migrants marched in southern Mexico to protest immigration restrictions as a U.S. court suggested there may be an undisclosed deportation agreement between the U.S. and Mexico, raising legal and regional concerns.
U.S. prosecutors charged Chinese nationals in two separate cases this week, alleging everything from conspiring to smuggle advanced AI chips to China to drug trafficking and money laundering, announced the same day new mid‑May summit dates between President Trump and Chinese leaders were set.
Egypt’s foreign minister said Cairo is ready to host talks on Iran to support de‑escalation, signaling Egypt’s willingness to play a diplomatic role in easing regional tensions.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was officially welcomed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang with a ceremony on Kim Il-sung Square, including a 21-gun salute; Lukashenko also visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.
Hong Kong secondary schools are actively recruiting students from Southeast Asia to support the city’s bid to become a global study and talent hub, leveraging its international outlook and East-meets-West identity.