Panama Shuts Down Internet, Mobile Services amid Violent Protests in Bocas del Toro
Taarek Refaat
Panama's president José Raúl Molinar declared a state of emergency on Friday, suspending the rights to assemble and move freely in the province of Bocas del Toro, after demonstrators set up roadblocks, damaged the local airport, and caused significant disruptions to businesses and offices.
In a statement released on X, the National Public Services Authority confirmed that, under the emergency decree, "temporary suspension of mobile phone and home internet services will be implemented in the province of Bocas del Toro until June 25."
The authority clarified that internet access will still be available for healthcare institutions, businesses, and government agencies.
The unrest in Bocas del Toro, a key banana-producing region, erupted nearly two months ago in opposition to government pension reforms. The protests escalated into violence on Thursday in the town of Changuinola, where masked groups looted several stores and set part of a baseball field on fire while police officers were inside. According to authorities, the violence resulted in one fatality, more than 100 arrests, and dozens of injuries, including 13 police officers.
The protests initially began in late April with workers from the American banana giant, Chiquita, striking against pension reforms they argued would force them to work longer before retiring. In response, Chiquita terminated thousands of workers, which led to further unrest. Although banana farmer unions called off their protest last week in an attempt to prevent more layoffs, other groups and unions have continued their blockades and sit-ins.
President Molinar is facing growing discontent on multiple fronts. In addition to the pension reform protests, Panamanians have also taken to the streets in opposition to a controversial agreement signed between the Panamanian government and U.S. President Donald Trump in April, which allows U.S. forces to deploy at U.S. military bases along the Panama Canal.
In response to the increasing instability, the U.S. Embassy in Panama issued a security warning on Friday, advising American government employees against traveling to the protest epicenter in Bocas del Toro "until further notice."
read more
CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion
Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect
Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document
Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister
Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years
Business
Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves
Business
Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue
Business
Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday
Business
Wheat delivery season commences on April 15
News
China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier
Sports
Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer
Lifestyle
Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt
Business
Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
Arts & Culture
Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
Videos & Features
Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall
News
Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Videos & Features
Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
News
Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
Technology
50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
5 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Russia Announces Readiness to Supply Mexico with LNG
Taarek Refaat As the global energy landscape shifts, Russia has extended a strategic offer to Mexico, presenting an opportunity for the Latin American country to diversify its energy sources and modernize its oil and gas sectors. In a bold move to solidify bilateral ties, Russia has proposed supplying Mexico with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and offering advanced oil extraction technologies to boost the country's energy capabilities. The Russian Ministry of Energy's recent announcement emphasized the country's readiness to support Mexico in overcoming the energy challenges it faces. Russia's Energy Minister, Sergey Tsivilev, stated, 'We are already working with Mexico, and we are prepared to share our advanced LNG technologies, along with supplying gas to support their energy needs.' The proposal underscores Russia's desire to be a key player in Latin America's energy future, positioning itself as a reliable partner for Mexico's growing energy demands. This offer is particularly timely, as Mexico's oil and gas sectors are under pressure from aging infrastructure, declining production rates, and the ongoing need for substantial investment. The Mexican government, seeking to boost its domestic oil output, has struggled to meet its production targets, with state-owned oil company Pemex falling short of the national goal of 1.8 million barrels per day. In addition to LNG, Russia's offer includes the transfer of sophisticated oil extraction technologies tailored to challenging geological conditions. These technologies could be pivotal in addressing some of the systemic issues faced by Pemex, including the need for efficient and sustainable oil recovery methods. Currently, Pemex operates over 30,000 wells, a significant portion of which remain dormant or underperforming due to funding limitations and outdated infrastructure. Despite efforts to rejuvenate dormant wells and enhance output from existing fields, the pace of recovery has been slow. The Russian offer represents a critical opportunity for Mexico to access the technical expertise necessary to increase oil production, improve field recovery rates, and ensure that its energy infrastructure remains competitive. Mexico's reliance on U.S. natural gas imports further complicates its energy security. With 72% of its gas needs met through imports, primarily via pipelines from the United States, Mexico remains highly vulnerable to fluctuations in the geopolitical climate and any disruptions to the supply chain. This dependence has become particularly concerning in light of past political tensions and the potential for future supply interruptions. The 2021 winter storm in Texas, which led to widespread energy disruptions in Mexico, highlighted the precariousness of this dependency. The gas shortages that resulted from the storm caused massive economic losses and widespread power outages, shaking the confidence in Mexico's reliance on U.S. imports. In response, Mexican officials have been accelerating plans to enhance the country's strategic gas storage capacity. The goal is to double storage capabilities by 2025-2026, in order to better insulate the country from any future energy crises. Russia's offer to supply LNG and share expertise in oil extraction presents an opportunity for Mexico to reduce its dependence on U.S. energy imports and diversify its energy sources. By tapping into Russian LNG, Mexico could ensure more stability in its energy supply while gradually shifting away from reliance on U.S. natural gas. This partnership could also provide Mexico with the tools it needs to modernize and expand its oil production, using Russian technologies to unlock reserves that have long been stagnant. For Mexico, this cooperation with Russia aligns with the broader vision of bolstering national energy security and infrastructure while fostering stronger ties with one of the world's major energy powers. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
See - Sada Elbalad
5 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Panama Shuts Down Internet, Mobile Services amid Violent Protests in Bocas del Toro
Taarek Refaat Panama's president José Raúl Molinar declared a state of emergency on Friday, suspending the rights to assemble and move freely in the province of Bocas del Toro, after demonstrators set up roadblocks, damaged the local airport, and caused significant disruptions to businesses and offices. In a statement released on X, the National Public Services Authority confirmed that, under the emergency decree, "temporary suspension of mobile phone and home internet services will be implemented in the province of Bocas del Toro until June 25." The authority clarified that internet access will still be available for healthcare institutions, businesses, and government agencies. The unrest in Bocas del Toro, a key banana-producing region, erupted nearly two months ago in opposition to government pension reforms. The protests escalated into violence on Thursday in the town of Changuinola, where masked groups looted several stores and set part of a baseball field on fire while police officers were inside. According to authorities, the violence resulted in one fatality, more than 100 arrests, and dozens of injuries, including 13 police officers. The protests initially began in late April with workers from the American banana giant, Chiquita, striking against pension reforms they argued would force them to work longer before retiring. In response, Chiquita terminated thousands of workers, which led to further unrest. Although banana farmer unions called off their protest last week in an attempt to prevent more layoffs, other groups and unions have continued their blockades and sit-ins. President Molinar is facing growing discontent on multiple fronts. In addition to the pension reform protests, Panamanians have also taken to the streets in opposition to a controversial agreement signed between the Panamanian government and U.S. President Donald Trump in April, which allows U.S. forces to deploy at U.S. military bases along the Panama Canal. In response to the increasing instability, the U.S. Embassy in Panama issued a security warning on Friday, advising American government employees against traveling to the protest epicenter in Bocas del Toro "until further notice." read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
Daily News Egypt
7 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
Egyptian ministers visit mega date farm project to boost agricultural exports
Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, and Minister of Agriculture, Alaa Farouk, traveled to New Valley governorate to inspect progress on what is expected to become the world's largest date farm—part of a national initiative to expand agricultural exports and transform desert land into productive farmland. The visit aligns with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's directive to plant 2.5 million date palms in the western desert region, positioning Egypt as a global leader in date production. During the tour, both ministers planted palm trees to mark the project's advancement and reaffirm the government's commitment to agricultural development. The ministers also visited the Central Groundwater Laboratory and the Sustainable Development Center for New Valley Resources—research institutions affiliated with the irrigation and agriculture ministries. Minister Sewilam underscored the importance of equipping laboratories with state-of-the-art technology and building technical capacity to enhance groundwater monitoring and desert water resource management. Sewilam noted that the laboratory is internationally accredited through December 2025 and plays a central role in safeguarding groundwater—a vital but non-renewable resource that supports Egypt's desert farming projects. He emphasized the need for strict regulation and responsible groundwater usage to ensure long-term sustainability. Minister Farouk highlighted the Desert Research Center's work in cultivating non-traditional, drought-tolerant crops such as quinoa, panicum, and cassava—better suited to Egypt's arid climate. He also pointed to the government's unprecedented investment of more than EGP 1trn in reclaiming approximately 4 million feddans of desert land, with per-feddan development costs ranging between EGP 250,000 and EGP 300,000. Accompanied by New Valley Governor Mohamed El Zamlout, the delegation toured an exhibition featuring the center's work in seed banking, organic fertilizers, and greenhouse agriculture. Farouk called for continued technical support for local farmers and the expansion of agricultural outreach programs to raise productivity and promote sustainable practices. He added that wheat yields have improved significantly, with productivity increasing by nearly one ardeb (around 150 kg) per feddan, helping Egypt exceed last year's wheat procurement by over 500,000 tonnes. The visit reflects Egypt's broader national strategy to modernize agriculture, boost exports, and ensure long-term food security by transforming its vast desert regions into thriving agricultural zones.
