International reporting on events and trends that influence Panama and the region. Stories include geopolitics, diplomacy, and global developments.
U.S. farmers are bracing for potential disruptions to fertilizer prices and availability as the war involving Iran raises concerns ahead of the spring planting season.
Al Jazeera reports oil prices rose after an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gasfield, raising fears that sustained higher energy costs could spur global inflation affecting Latin America.
U.S. stocks fell Wednesday after a report said inflation was set to worsen even before oil prices surged on the war with Iran; gold slipped below $5,000 per ounce.
A senior U.S. intelligence official faces accusations of altering testimony and omitting Iran-related intelligence that allegedly contradicts former President Trump’s threat claims, raising questions about oversight and credibility.
Israel intensified strikes against Iranian leadership, killing Iran’s intelligence minister, while an offshore Iranian gas field was hit — pushing oil prices higher and straining energy markets.
Jet fuel prices and airfares are rising while U.S. airlines report steady bookings. Analysts warn higher fares are likely — the question is when, for how long and by how much.
US DNI Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee that Iran’s regime appears “intact but largely degraded” by Operation Epic Fury, yet Tehran and its proxies remain capable of striking US and allied interests in the Middle East.
The U.S. will require bonds up to $15,000 from visa applicants in 12 more countries, expanding the policy to 50 nations after April 2, part of efforts to cut overstays.
U.S. intelligence chief Gabbard testified that Iran was not rebuilding enrichment prior to the war, a statement that contradicts one of former President Trump’s justifications for launching the conflict.
The Trump administration will require visa applicants from 12 additional countries to post bonds of up to $15,000, part of measures aimed at restricting legal and illegal immigration to the US.
Qatar says an attack it attributed to Iran caused significant damage at the Ras Laffan gas facility and has declared Iranian military and security attaches persona non grata.
The Federal Reserve voted 11-1 to hold rates at 3.50–3.75%, citing stubborn inflation, weak labour demand and uncertainty from the Iran war, and signalled one likely cut by year-end.
Energy prices are climbing as the Iran war disrupts supply, raising recession risks for the US, China and Europe and potentially impacting Panama through higher fuel and shipping costs.
A U.S. threat assessment says Beijing is unlikely to attack Taiwan in 2027, citing the high military risk and steep technological, supply-chain and investor costs of such an operation.
President Trump temporarily waived the century-old Jones Act on March 18, 2026, allowing foreign ships to transport cargo between US ports amid rising fuel costs, though critics doubt its effectiveness.
An Al Jazeera investigation says the Minab school strike that killed Iranian children may have been deliberate, raising urgent questions about US accountability and international avenues for redress.
Al Jazeera reports the Iranian national women’s football team has returned to Iran, with several players withdrawing previously filed asylum requests. Details on numbers and reasons remain limited.
Liverpool overturned a 1-0 first-leg defeat with a 4-0 win at Anfield to progress 4-1 on aggregate over Galatasaray in the Champions League.
Gunshots rang out during Chaharshanbe Suri celebrations in Tehran, forcing attendees to flee. Initial reports did not give details on injuries or official response.
Iran attacked Gulf energy sites after the Pars gas field was hit, striking Qatar’s Ras Laffan and prompting missile interceptions in Saudi Arabia, pushing oil prices higher.