International reporting on events and trends that influence Panama and the region. Stories include geopolitics, diplomacy, and global developments.
A Japanese food company rebranded tofu with a deliberately ‘manly’ image to attract younger consumers, driving more than ¥6 billion (US$38 million) in annual sales. The move highlights how targeted branding can revive traditional foods.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned that grounding long-haul flights is a “distinct possibility” as jet fuel shortages tied to the war in Iran force airlines to carry extra fuel or face refuelling refusals abroad.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are disrupting shipments of oil, fertilisers and perishables, prompting warnings that the Global South may face worsening food scarcity, industry leaders say.
Tiger Woods used a competitive outing at TGL as a test run as he prepares for a hoped-for return to the Masters next month, assessing his form amid ongoing injury concerns.
The English Schools Foundation in Hong Kong has proposed tuition increases averaging 4.1% for primary and secondary students and 5.8% for kindergartens for the next academic year, pending approval.
An international study modeling climate change and battery degradation finds that recent and projected advances in EV battery technology should largely mitigate the effects of future warming on battery lifespan.
Hong Kong’s eMPF will cut administration fees for 378 funds by 21.6%, lowering rates from 0.37% to 0.29% from April 1, and is forecast to save HK$50 billion (US$6.4bn) in under 10 years.
Al Jazeera reports that Zinedine Zidane will replace Didier Deschamps as France head coach this summer, signaling a major change for the national team.
US and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader and other senior figures, yet Tehran’s layered theocratic system has sustained wartime operations, raising questions about command and continuity.
Outrage over viral dog killings, including the beating death of a golden retriever named Killua, has prompted Philippine animal welfare groups to back bills creating animal protection officers in every police station and a national oversight body.
Hong Kong will run advertisements and publish a district-by-district transport guide to help elderly residents adapt to a revised HK$2 (26 US cents) fare scheme, officials said.
The Trump administration has deployed ICE agents to airports across the United States, a move that could affect travelers and migrants transiting U.S. hubs, Al Jazeera reports.
At Hong Kong art week, indie collective N+ Museum’s exhibition “Hong Kong Nostalgia-Bait” examines how neon signs, trams and milk tea are turned into commodified souvenirs and what is lost in the process.
Alibaba Cloud and other Chinese cloud providers are combining infrastructure with AI to help firms expand overseas, offering new digital tools that could reshape global competition.
Malaysia will block a citizen’s identity card and the registered vehicle from its fuel subsidy scheme after a viral video showed a single 71‑litre RON95 petrol purchase, officials said.
Analysts warn the Philippines risks leaving an estimated US$1 trillion in critical minerals untapped unless it adopts a coherent national road map as it forms partnerships to develop the sector.
An Israeli strike hit a petrol station near the Rashidieh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, raising humanitarian concerns and highlighting cross-border tensions.
President Trump’s public statements on the Iran war have shifted repeatedly since strikes began on Feb. 28, increasing uncertainty as Iran retaliates with drone and missile attacks across the Gulf.
Major US markets opened higher after President Trump announced he was postponing strikes on Iran, prompting investor relief as geopolitical tensions eased.
Against Child Abuse presented a survey of 308 professionals at its March 13 forum in Hong Kong, gathering attitudes, knowledge and perceived challenges around mandatory reporting of child abuse.