International reporting on events and trends that influence Panama and the region. Stories include geopolitics, diplomacy, and global developments.
A replica Christopher Columbus statue was placed near the White House at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a move by the Trump administration that revives debates over monuments and colonial memory.
The Supreme Court heard a challenge by the Republican National Committee over whether states may count mail‑in ballots that arrive after Election Day if postmarked on time, a decision that could affect millions of ballots this fall.
A US congressional advisory report warns that China’s promotion of open AI models combined with manufacturing strength forms a feedback loop that could challenge US AI leadership.
Analysts on PBS say the Homeland Security shutdown is causing long airport lines while President Trump pushes the SAVE Act; Republicans face added pressure from the Iran war and rising fuel costs.
Geoff Bennett’s new book Black Out Loud examines how a 1990s wave of Black sitcoms and sketch comedy—including In Living Color and Living Single—expanded portrayals of Black life and fits within a longer history of Black humor.
Hainan is seeking to move beyond beach tourism as new customs rules are floated that could help diversify its economy. The island’s shift mirrors China’s wider economic transition.
A Washington-based expert working group warns the U.S. could face a critical shortage of China expertise within a decade as experts retire and fewer Americans study in China, posing national security and economic risks.
Allegations of abuse have triggered rapid removals and reconsiderations of public honors for Cesar Chavez, prompting communities to debate how to handle the legacy of a prominent labor leader.
A U.S. district judge in Boston blocked a DHS policy that would have allowed detention of refugees who had not secured green cards within a year, after a legal challenge by six refugees and two advocacy groups.
The conflict in Iran entered its 24th day as the Strait of Hormuz remained at a virtual standstill, contributing to a global surge in fuel prices and raising concerns for shipping and import-dependent economies.
Al Jazeera reports that civilian targets have been struck by Israel, the United States and Iran, prompting questions about possible breaches of international humanitarian law and the need for independent scrutiny.
Recent Middle East unrest highlights growing westward risks for South Asia, showing that demographic, economic and cultural ties to the Middle East now matter as much as eastward Indo-Pacific links.
Israel’s far-right finance minister Smotrich has urged annexing southern Lebanon up to the Litani River amid rising attacks on Lebanon, raising concerns about regional escalation and diplomatic fallout.
Senior Iranian officials denied reports that Iran held talks with the United States, rejecting claims of direct diplomatic contact amid long-standing tensions.
Former US diplomat Kurt Campbell predicts an amicable Trump‑Xi summit in Beijing despite disruptions from the Iran conflict, citing both leaders’ focus on stability and short‑term deliverables.
A missile struck near Israel’s president shortly after a press conference, forcing him to take cover; the incident highlights security risks for senior officials and potential regional implications.
President Trump made a surprise tour of Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis amid attention on the war in Iran and U.S. airport disruptions, drawing scrutiny over presidential optics.
Ukraine said it struck Russia’s Primorsk oil terminal and a refinery in Ufa on Monday, targeting key energy infrastructure with possible implications for global oil flows and markets.
President Donald Trump said on March 23 he postponed U.S. strikes on Iran’s power plants after Tehran contacted him seeking a deal, framing the move as an opening for diplomacy.
The EU and the four Mercosur countries will implement a long-negotiated free trade agreement on May 1, a pact the EU says will cover about 25% of global GDP amid rising global trade uncertainty.