Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Ex-Panama President Martinelli Asks US Supreme Court to Allow Bail.
Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to release him from a Florida jail while he fights Panama’s efforts to extradite him.
Martinelli was jailed last month in a federal detention center in Miami after Panama asked the United States to extradite him on charges that he conducted illegal surveillance and stole state funds while president — charges he has repeatedly denied.
Attorneys for Martinelli filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday seeking his release while he fights extradition, after a federal magistrate judge in Florida denied his request to be freed on bail and 24-hour monitoring.
Source: US News and World Report
How the Panama Papers Changed Pakistani Politics.
The Pakistani Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was based on corruption accusations stemming from the Panama Papers, a trove of leaked documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.
The ruling is one of the most stunning outcomes of the documents’ release, which implicated dozens of politicians and powerful international figures in shady offshore business dealings. Mr. Sharif is the second world leader, along with Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, the former prime minister of Iceland, to resign as a result of the leak.
Source: New York Times
Panama opens embassy in Beijing.
Panama has opened an embassy in China, the Central American country’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, deepening its links with the world’s No. 2 economy after its diplomatic break with longtime ally Taiwan.
Panama established diplomatic ties with China in June and broke with Taiwan in a major victory for Beijing, as it lures away the dwindling number of countries that have formal relations with the self-ruled island that China regards as a wayward province.
“The opening of the embassy of the Republic of Panama in the People’s Republic of China has been done in accordance with the rules that dictate diplomatic relations between the two countries,” Panama’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Source: The Japan News
5 Ways to Enjoy Rainy Season in Panama
Rainy season’s in full swing here in Panama, and that means (unfortunately) a lot of everyone’s favorite outdoor activities may be a bit tougher to do. Panama is a tropical country, and because of this, has a serious amount of annual rainfall. Tropical rains come strongest between June and October, and serve as one of the main reasons Panama is so lush and beautiful. The downside, however, is that it may put a damper on your beach day, hike, or walking tour around the city. Don’t worry, though! We’ve got five fun ways to enjoy rainy season without getting wet, and still seeing the best of Panama.
Not to be confused with the Canal Museum at the Miraflores Locks, this 20-year-old museum is right in the heart of Casco Viejo, and has a gorgeous ambience, as well as hours of history to learn. You can get multiple language audio tours through headphones, or go through each exhibit in Spanish on your own. Learn about the history of the Canal, the future, and do it all right in the center of Panama’s urban tourism, Casco Viejo.
Source: International Relocation Firm Blog
