Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Two Men Sought Terrorism Targets in US and Panama, Feds Say
Two men from Michigan and New York City were tasked by a terrorist organization with looking for potential terrorism targets in New York and Panama, U.S. authorities said Thursday as they announced the suspects’ recent arrests.
Samer El Debek, 37, of Dearborn, Michigan, and Ali Kourani, 32, of the Bronx, were charged in Manhattan federal court with providing support to a terrorist organization. El Debek was arrested June 1 in Livonia, Michigan; Kourani was arrested the same day in the Bronx. Both men were being held in New York City after court appearances.Defense lawyers did not immediately comment. In a release, authorities said the men tried to provide support to Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad organization after receiving military training from the group.
Source: FOX News
Chicago Gay Couple Fights for Marriage Rights in Panama.
While this month’s United States pride festivities will take place for the second year in an era of marriage equality, for LGBTQ communities living in Panama it is still a dream. However, it is one that is not only seeing unprecedented support in the traditionally Catholic Central American country but has now advanced to Panama’s Supreme Court. The case facing the nine justices follows petitions filed by two couples arguing against the constitutionality of Panama’s current marriage ban.
Enrique Raul Jelenszky and John Winstaley filed in October 2016. Chicago advertising executive Ken Gilberg and his husband Alvaro Levy joined the fight on March 24 of this year and they are looking for help. Even though they live in the heart of the Lake View gayborhood Gilberg and Levy, who just celebrated their 31st anniversary, dearly want to spend their retirements surrounded by the breathtaking majesty of Levy’s home country. After all, it’s where they met in 1985 while Gilberg was on a business trip. “We kept a long-distance relationship going for a year or so,” Gilberg said. “Alvaro moved here in 1986. He eventually got his Green Card and became a citizen.”
Source: Windy City Times
Panama’s President to Visit Trump at White House on June 19th
U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela at the White House on June 19, the White House said in a statement on Monday.
Trump and Varela will discuss the fight against transnational organized crime, illegal migration and drugs, the statement said. They will also talk about the U.S.-Panama economic partnership and the situation in Venezuela, it said.
Source: Reuters
Panama Woos Tourists With Non-Traditional Ad Campaign
Panama is not for tourists, according to Panama’s tourism authority. If you had to read that twice, we understand. How could it be possible that Panama’s official agency of tourism wants to convince you of something that seems so counterproductive to their goal? Well, if you check out their latest ad campaign you’ll understand why. Panama isn’t trying to discourage tourism. In fact, they’re doing the opposite.
Just to be clear, Panama has been after the so-called “adventure tourist” market for years. Due to its geography, Panama has one of the most eco-diverse landscapes in all of the Americas, and it’s easily accessible from the capital. This has fueled tourism that revolves around surfing, hiking, nature retreats, mountain retreats, jungle expeditions, and island expeditions. With their new campaign, the ATP (Panama Tourism Authority) is hoping to capitalize on this trend by putting it front and center as the main draw for Panama. It’s a risk, but one the organization feels is worth taking, in order to separate Panama from the dozens of other similar travel options in the Caribbean and Central America.
Source: International Relocation Firm Blog
