Hong Kong police and fire officials raided three illegal fuelling stations last week, seizing more than 1,800 litres of petrol and arresting multiple suspects as oil prices climb.
Panama’s Cabinet approved a decree on March 18, 2026, allowing the Ministry of Economy and Finance to seek up to $12 billion in financing to cover the State’s liquidity needs. The move gives the MEF authority to arrange funding, with details on instruments and timing to follow.
Donald Trump’s request to delay a planned China visit after his decision to attack Iran, amid White House turmoil, has reportedly strained Beijing’s patience and complicated diplomacy.
Telemetro reports Panama will roll out a digital driver’s license priced between $6 and $8; authorities will soon detail how to apply and the changes it will bring.
Panama is moving toward contactless electronic payments on the Metro and Metrobús, enabling bank cards and digital devices for fare payment and reducing reliance on cash.
Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission has urged the stock exchange to tighten listing and compliance rules after reviewing 2024 cases involving internal controls, auditor resignations and listing processes.
President Volodymyr Zelensky urged EU leaders to bypass Hungary’s veto blocking a vital €90bn (US$103bn) loan, calling resolution of the dispute the main issue at an upcoming Brussels summit.
After U.S. tariffs on “Liberation Day” in April 2025 rattled markets, Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia negotiated reciprocal trade agreements with Washington to lower tariffs and restore access.
Hong Kong players are competing in a local FIP Bronze padel tournament this week to gain ranking points and press for Asian Games recognition after padel was awarded medal status for the September Games in Japan.
Tim Cook visited an Apple Store in Chengdu on March 18 amid Apple’s 50th anniversary events while the company’s COO met key suppliers, signaling continued reliance on China’s manufacturing ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia has opened a Red Sea ‘Plan B’ using Yanbu to route crude around the closed Strait of Hormuz, allowing some VLCCs to avoid the chokepoint amid ongoing regional conflict.
Athlete Hanna is seeking Central American and Caribbean (CAC) qualification at a senior regional meet in Panama City this weekend, aiming to build on a recent gold-medal finish and follow up with competition in Guatemala.
Chinese experts say recent US‑ and Israel‑led “decapitation” strikes in Iran and actions in Venezuela highlight the limits of leadership-targeted operations, arguing regime change often requires ground forces—a lesson Beijing is weighing for Taiwan.
FreshPlaza reports that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed some shipping traffic toward the Panama Canal, increasing transits and raising operational and economic considerations for the waterway and Panama.
At a Panama–Germany Economic Meeting, officials and business representatives highlighted investment and logistics cooperation, noting German business activity in advanced manufacturing and pharmaceuticals in Panama.
The second Wing Lei Bar & Friends brought top bartenders from six global cities to Wynn Palace in Macau on March 13–14, with guest shifts hosted by head bartender Mark Lloyd and a panel discussion on the event’s second day.
Five members of Iran’s women’s football team returned to Iran after withdrawing asylum claims filed in Australia; six players and one staffer had received humanitarian visas.
A Hong Kong campsite operator, Tang Lung-fai, 56, was found guilty of murdering his live-in girlfriend, Fok Sin-yee, and jailed for life after telling police he believed she was an ‘alien’.
Japan beat South Korea 4-1 in a Women’s Asian Cup semi in Sydney, with Ueki, Hamano, Kumagai and Chiba on the scoresheet. The win sets up a final against hosts Australia.
Hutchison has intensified criticism of Panama in a port terminal dispute, alleging unconstitutional actions, a “radical occupation,” and improper seizure of investor documents, raising concerns about foreign investment.