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Tag: Panama City

  • Rich Cultural Vacations Await At These Central And South American Countries

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    Central and South America are having something of a moment in the travel world. From the elegant sophistication of Buenos Aires in Argentina to the fascinating Indigenous communities hidden away in the mountains of Bolivia and Peru, there are stunning and unusual places to discover from the top to the bottom of Latin America.

    There are plenty of spots in Central and South America that are already world-renowned vacation destinations, but there are also some truly stunning places that are getting more attention this year. Not only are these spots incredibly beautiful, but they also offer a rich, cultural experience that is truly hard to beat. With an extraordinary cultural diversity on show, Latin America provides a unique and fascinating array of traditions, history, art, and culture that makes it one of the world’s best regions to explore.

    We looked at some of the most authoritative travel guides in the world and cross-referenced several Best Travel Destinations for 2026 lists. From these sources, we’ve chosen five of the most exciting countries in South and Central America: Panama, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil. These destinations should definitely be on your radar to visit in 2026 for a rich cultural experience.

    Read more: 20 Most Dangerous Islands In The World

    Panama

    Panama City old building at night – angela Meier/Shutterstock

    Panama is sometimes seen as just the country of the Panama Canal and retired expats, but there are a whole lot of other reasons why Panama should be your next travel destination. This small, beautiful, friendly country boasts a fabulous climate, some amazing beaches and rainforests, and stunning colonial relics, and it is a wonderfully affordable place to visit as well.

    One of the emerging places in Panama that is set to be a standout destination for 2026 is the Chiriqui Province, on the Pacific Coast, about 300 miles southwest of the capital, Panama City. It is a fantastically diverse region, offering a combination of stunning natural beauty, fascinating history, and castaway-style vibes. It is one of Panama’s biggest coffee-producing regions, and the Feria de las Flores y Del Café in the picture-perfect town of Boquete is a wonderful way to experience the culture surrounding this industry. Even if you miss the festival, a coffee-tasting at one of the many plantations surrounding the town is a great experience.

    Chiriqui’s natural environment is one of its biggest draws. La Amistad International Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site covering nearly 1 million acres and Central America’s largest nature reserve. The Gulf of Chiriqui National Marine Park is also worth visiting, particularly from July to October during the humpback whale migration. The region is also famous for its farm-to-table cuisine, with spots like Finca Lerida in Boquete serving up fabulous Panamanian flavors using local organic produce.

    Colombia

    A wide view of the city of Medellin, Columbia in the valley of the mountains during a colorful sunset

    A wide view of the city of Medellin, Columbia in the valley of the mountains during a colorful sunset – Matt Lavigne/Getty Images

    For many years, Colombia has had a reputation as one of the most dangerous South American destinations to visit, but the last few years have seen it shake off this image, and there are some excellent destinations set to be huge in 2026. The vibrant city of Medellin is emblematic of Colombia’s evolution, having gone from the narco capital of the country to one of the most exciting food cities in South America in just two decades. Famed for its buzzy nightlife and ingenious urban sprawl, the cluster of hillside communities that make up this vibey city is filled with incredible places to eat and drink, and the arrival of the $100-million Wake development is set to turbo-charge this foodie atmosphere.

    Colombia’s rich cultural offerings continue in the fortified seaside city of Cartagena de Indias. With its wonderfully preserved stone walls, charming historic city center, gorgeous Spanish colonial architecture, and magnificent museums, it is a treasure trove of historical and cultural experiences. Don’t miss the Museo de Oro Zenú and the Museo Histórico de Cartagena for a chance to explore Colombia’s varied and at times dark past.

    Brazil

    Pampulha Lagoon, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais

    Pampulha Lagoon, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais – Ribeirorocha/Getty Images

    Brazil is hardly a hidden gem in South America. From the endless white-sand beaches and vibrant nightlife of Rio de Janeiro to the lush Amazonian rainforests, Brazil has been a bucket list destination for many travelers for years. But there are still plenty of undiscovered gems in this vast country ready to be discovered.

    One spot that is being heralded as a breakout star for 2026 is Minas Gerais. One of the largest states in Brazil, it has been overlooked by international tourists for years but is an astonishingly rich and diverse region with a wonderful gastronomic culture, beautiful colonial architecture, and vibrant boteco nightlife. Its capital, Belo Horizonte, is sophisticated and lively in equal measures, with an astonishingly hip and forward-thinking dining scene boasting a series of young, talented chefs like Caio Soter and Bruna Rezende. It is one of the best places in Brazil for contemporary art, with spots like Mercado Novo, Albuquerque Contemporânea, and the recently-opened Galeria Ficus in the city itself, and Inhotim, Latin America’s largest open-air art museum, just over 30 miles out of town.

    Another fantastic yet underappreciated gem in Brazil is the lush, stunning wetlands of the Pantanal. The world’s largest tropical wetland, this enormous region has a truly staggering variety and amount of wildlife, from jaguars, capybaras, and giant otters to caimans, tapirs, and the legendary hyacinth macaws. A seasonal floodplain of epic proportions, it is exceptionally remote and quite a challenge to visit, but this makes it all the more worthwhile.

    Chile

    Guanaco with a mountain in the background in Chilean Patagonia

    Guanaco with a mountain in the background in Chilean Patagonia – Espiegle/Getty Images

    Chile is an extraordinary country. A long sliver of land sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and Argentina, it runs around half the length of South America, bordering Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. Often overlooked in favor of its more famous neighbors, it offers an astounding variety of landscapes, ecosystems, and cultures, from incredible wines and gaucho culture to the wide-open skies of the Atacama Desert and the soaring peaks of the Andes.

    Right at the southern tip of the continent, Patagonia is a famous destination for adventure travelers, with Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park a favorite. But recently, the lesser-known delights of the north of the region have begun to gain popularity, thanks to its unspoiled natural beauty, incredible wildlife, and magnificent hot springs.

    Another relatively underexplored spot in Chile that is primed for a huge 2026 is the Colchagua Valley, Chilean wine country. Chilean wine is often slept on, overlooked in favor of its noisier Argentinian cousin, but the Colchagua Valley boasts some of the world’s most impressive wineries, as well as being the center of Chilean cowboy culture. With 2026 marking the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of Chile’s Wine Route, it is looking like it will be a big year for this area in particular.

    Bolivia

    Cityscape of Potosi with the red mountain Cerro Rico in the background

    Cityscape of Potosi with the red mountain Cerro Rico in the background – Rchphoto/Getty Images

    Bolivia is one of South America’s true hidden gems. Known by international tourists and photography fans primarily for the bizarre and beautiful shimmering bone-white landscape of Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world, the rest of the country is far less explored. But there’s a tremendous amount to discover, and 2026 might be the year it gets the recognition it deserves.

    Potosí is the region that surrounds the otherworldly expanse of Salar de Uyuni and has plenty of other attractions to recommend it to adventurous tourists. The capital city, Potosí, has an extraordinary history intertwined with the silver mines of the Cerro Rico, and popular legend has it that at least one street in the city was literally paved with silver! A UNESCO World Heritage site, the city boasts some truly gorgeous Mestizo-Baroque houses, churches, and theaters, as well as the Casa Real de la Moneda, the former mint now converted into a museum.

    The rest of the region is splendidly weird, from the looming summit of Cerro Rico (known as the mountain that eats men due to the vast number of people who died working in its mines) to the crimson waters of the Laguna Colorada. One of the main attractions is the bubbling thermal springs that pop up from the volcanic energy below the surface of the Earth, like the Termas de Polques and the mythical Ojo del Inca, usually known as Laguna Tarapaya.

    Methodology

    Lake Pehoe in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile

    Lake Pehoe in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile – Aoldman/Getty Images

    To curate this list, we looked at lists of travel destinations for 2026 from authoritative sources, searching for compelling arguments in favor of particular countries or destinations. We prioritized popular countries with regions or cities that have, up to now, been underexplored or overlooked, as well as places that have a particular anniversary or occasion that would suggest increased tourist interest in 2026. Other considerations were areas that offered specific experiences that were similar to those elsewhere in the country but with fewer visitors.

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    Read the original article on Explore.

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  • Something’s Smelly About DeSantis’s Weed Statement

    Something’s Smelly About DeSantis’s Weed Statement

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    Facts and history seems to be short in the Florida Governor’s campaign against marijuana

    For those who love exploring and have visited Hershey, Pennsylvania, you know it has a unique smell. Built to produce the famous candy bar, the area smells like chocolate. It is a factory town pumping out the order all day long.  Few places in the country has issues with smells like Hersey.  But if you listen to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, you would think over half the country has to deal certain odors.

    DeSantis has called recreational cannabis a problem and lamented marijuana’s “stench”. This is in response to the state’s Supreme Court allowing recreational marijuana be put on the November ballot. It seems something’s smelly about DeSantis weed statement.  He seems to not understand science or history. And with over 50% of the country population having access to legal marijuana, you think there might have been a bigger stink if his statement was correct.

    RELATED: Looks Like Virginia Is The Newest Marijuana Nanny State

    Now those over 40 can remember when it was legal to smoke inside, meaning in restaurants, groceries stores and other public spaces. You did get a whiff of stale tobacco.  But smoking outside is now required by law.  And while Florida is not in top 10 states which smoke, an estimated 2.2+ million of its citizens (not counting tourists) still light up.  Yet, he has not made a comment of being near a beach or roaming the street of the state capital and smelling a Marlboro.

    Near Tallahassee, where the Governor sits, he is near the Florida Panhandle. For generations, its economy was driven by paper mills.  Living in this panhandle puts you near some of hte most beautiful beaches, but will also, in some areas, assult your sense of smell. RockTenn, one of the areas larger paper mills, produces some particularly odorous fragrances when they “cook” paper. A strong sulfuric smell occasionally wafts across the region, and though harmless, it’s certainly unmistakeable.  An economic lifeline paper mills are a part of the fabric of North Florida. When the Foley Cellulose Mill in Perry closes, economist at the university of Florida predict havoc. It will cost Florida nearly 2,000 jobs and $9.9 million in state and local taxes.  This is much less than the almost zero smell of gummies and vapes which will be part of the $1+ billion plus industry in the Sunshine State alone.

    There are now 24 states (plus the District of Columbia) with legalized recreational marijuana as of February 2024.  Some including California, New York and DC have high visitor counts, and yet no one complains of a long or even mid term cannabis odor over the city.  Yes, like cigarettes, when you walk by someone smoking you can smell it, but as you pass, it goes away.

    RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

    The Governor seems dismayed the Florida State Supreme Court advanced a proposed adult-use cannabis legalization initiative, by a 5-2 ruling, to the November 5, 2024, ballot.  Florida voters again will be able to express their opinion.

     

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    Anthony Washington

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  • Chilling moment gunman kills two protesters blocking road in Panama

    Chilling moment gunman kills two protesters blocking road in Panama

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    A 77-year-old man shot dead two environmental protesters on Wednesday in an apparent outburst of rage over a roadblock in Panama.

    The gunman was named in local media as Kenneth Franklin Darlington Salas. If he is convicted, Mr Salas could be sentenced to house arrest rather than being sent to jail because of his age.

    The protesters, who were opposed to a controversial mining contract, had blocked the Pan-American Highway in Chame, 51 miles from the capital Panama City.

    Footage posted on social media showed the motorist walking from his car, demanding the protesters get out of the road.

    Initially, Mr Salas removed tyres which were obstructing the road. The protesters, according to witnesses, shouted at the man: “Are you going to kill someone?”

    The gunman replied: “You want to be the first?”

    He opened fire, first shooting a protester holding a flag and then a second man who went to confront him, before walking off and removing tree trunks that had been blocking the road. He was then arrested.

    Local media identified the victims as Abdiel Diaz, a teacher and union activist, and Ivan Mendoza.

    The deaths are the first fatalities in protests that broke out on October 20 against a contract that allows Canada-based First Quantum Minerals to operate Central America’s biggest open pit copper mine for at least another 20 years.

    The man was handcuffed and detained

    The man was handcuffed and detained – Bienvenido Velasco/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

    The site, in the jungle to the west of the capital, is considered environmentally sensitive.

    In an effort to calm tempers, congress last week passed a law that imposes a moratorium on new metal mining contracts and left it up to the Supreme Court to decide on whether to allow the contract with First Quantum Minerals.

    Environmentalists have welcomed this decision by lawmakers, saying indeed it is the court that should rule on whether the contract violates the constitution.

    But a powerful construction union called Suntracs, teachers unions and other organisations want the contract to be annulled through a law passed by Congress, so they are continuing their protests.

    Panama-America said Mr Salas was born in Colon and had been a teacher at several universities.

    Mr Salas was previously arrested in 2005 after weapons – including an AK-47 and M-16 – were found in his flat. He was later acquitted after a court accepted his plea that they were merely part of a collection.

    He was employed as a spokesman for Marc Harris, a Panamanian accountant who was jailed for 17 years in 2004 after being convicted of money laundering and tax evasion.

    Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.

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  • Exploring Florida’s 30A: A Stunning Stretch Of Coastal Towns Hiding In Plain Sight

    Exploring Florida’s 30A: A Stunning Stretch Of Coastal Towns Hiding In Plain Sight

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    The white, sandy beaches that decorate the coast of Florida are certainly no secret. In Miami Beach alone—with a full-time population of about 80,000—just under 11 million visitors stay overnight in the small beach town every year. A similar story can be seen across many coastal towns across the Sunshine State.

    However, with an incredible 1,350 miles of shoreline, some of Florida’s beach towns fly under the radar. In the case of the collection of small, coastal communities that make up the 24-mile stretch known as 30A, it is this anonymity that created the area’s relaxed and private reputation.

    Tucked away on the western side of the Florida Panhandle, 30A—named after the two-lane country highway that runs along the coast—is positioned between popular destinations Panama City and Destin.

    Laid along the “Emerald Coast,” the shoreline region is home to a long span of rustic, soft sand beaches that touch against the cerulean waters of the Gulf of Mexico, rivaling even the best of the Caribbean Islands. Dotted along these shores are distinct, picturesque beach towns, each with a character and appeal of its own.

    It’s no surprise then that this secret treasure is not so secret anymore—the area has seen a significant influx in visitors as of late, says James Watts and Brad Hilderbrand, co-founders of luxury brokerage Coastal Abode.

    “At some point in the last 10 years, we’ve been the sixth-fastest growing county in the country in terms of population. It used to be a very seasonal area, but there’s been a shift toward more full-time residents, and now there’s year-round activity. ”

    Despite the newfound popularity and the subsequent increase in commercial and residential development, Watts says that 30A has yet to lose its laid-back vibe.

    “It still feels friendly; it still feels inviting. What people say around here is that it’s flip-flop luxury.”

    Homes in 30A

    Save for what could be described as a “beach feel,” an overarching architectural trend for the area is hard to pin down as many of 30A’s communities feature unique and differing aesthetics and styles.

    For example, Watts described the town of Rosemary Beach as having an “almost a European village feel with cobblestone streets and a town center” while the next town over, Alys Beach, is a blend of “the Mediterranean and Bermuda, with its emphasis on white, bright beach homes.” Further west, another beach community, WaterColor, is known as an “upscale community made up of beach cottages.”

    This variation allows a wider range of buyers to find something that suits their preferences, added Watts. “It’s not all uniform; it’s a little bit of everything. Whatever your taste is, you can likely find it.”

    While styling may differ, many homes throughout 30A boast similar amenities, including golf cart garages, ocean views and access to community facilities, such as swimming pools, fitness centers and spas.

    Property Prices in 30A

    According to the August market update provided by Coastal Abode, the average sale price for the West End of 30A was $1.7 million and for the East End was $3 million. On the high end of those averages was a $10.9 million sale while the lowest-priced sale landed at $484,000.

    Such a range in pricing reflects the diversity of the 30A market, where properties whose values differ by many millions of dollars can often be within a few blocks of each other, says Watts.

    “30A is a hodgepodge—you can have a $15 million, golf-front home and then down the street a 1950s classic cottage for around a million.”

    The most expensive homes in the area consist primarily of those located directly off the beach, listing for upward of $20 million. In particular, newer construction beachfront homes—often larger than older homes and decked out with modern amenities—come with the most premium price tags.

    The Vibe of 30A

    Despite being famous for its pristine beaches, Watts says that 30A has much more to offer than surf and sand.

    “There’s not this 100 percent focus on the beach. There are exceptional hiking and biking trails, golf courses and incredible restaurants and events.”

    In recent years, the area has adapted to the arrival of more full-time residents with an increase in commercial offerings. “The longer people stay here, the more they want those things that they’re used to back home—they want restaurants, they want shopping options, they want events. So that’s been driving an increase in these local amenities.”

    Many of the towns in 30A were designed with walkability in mind. One town in particular, Seaside, is known as a model for New Urbanism—an urban planning movement that promoted eco-friendly habits by creating walkable neighborhoods. The small beach town’s reputation for “picturesque perfection” even drew the attention of Hollywood, with Seaside serving as the filming location for the 1998 film The Truman Show.

    Surrounding 30A

    Multiple airports are located within a short distance from the towns of 30A. To the east, the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City offers direct flights from all over the country, including major hubs like Atlanta, Denver and Dallas. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport sits about 40 minutes away from Miramar Beach.

    Tallahassee is located more than 100 miles to the east or roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive.

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    Spencer Elliott, Contributor

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  • A wave of political turbulence is rolling through Guatemala and other Central American countries

    A wave of political turbulence is rolling through Guatemala and other Central American countries

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    MEXICO CITY (AP) — Central America is experiencing a wave of unrest that is remarkable even for a region whose history is riddled with turbulence. The most recent example is political upheaval in Guatemala as the country heads for a runoff presidential election in August.

    A look at various events roiling Central American countries:

    Guatemala

    Costa Rica and the U.S. government have agreed to open potential legal pathways to the United States for some of the Nicaraguan and Venezuelan migrants among the 240,000 asylum seekers already awaiting asylum in the Central American country.

    Chinese migrants line up to take a boat to Lajas Blancas after walking across the Darien Gap in Bajo Chiquito, Panama, Sunday, May 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

    Despite a dissuasion campaign by the U.S. government, migrants are headed toward its southern border in growing numbers ahead of the end of pandemic-era asylum restrictions and proposed new restrictions on those seeking asylum.

    FILE - Police officer run a checkpoint set up in the nightclubs and bar zone of San Jose, Costa Rica, Jan 27, 2023. According to authorities, the Central American nation has reached its highest murder rate since the Organization of Judicial Investigation office has kept records. (AP Photo/Carlos Gonzalez, File)

    Costa Rica’s president is promising to put more police in the streets and he wants legal changes to confront record-setting numbers of homicides that have shaken daily life in a country long known for peaceful stability.

    Guatemala is locked in the most troubled presidential election in the country’s recent history. The first round of elections in June ended with a surprise twist when little known progressive candidate Bernardo Arévalo of the Seed Movement party pulled ahead as a front-runner.

    Now headed to an August runoff election with conservative candidate and top vote-getter Sandra Torres, Arévalo has thus far managed to survive judicial attacks and attempts by Guatemala’s political establishment to disqualify his party. It comes after other moves by the country’s government to manage the election, including banning several candidates before the first-round vote.

    While not entirely unprecedented in a country known for high levels of corruption, American officials call the latest escalation a threat to the country’s democracy.

    El Salvador

    El Salvador has been radically transformed in the past few years with the entrance of populist millennial President Nayib Bukele. One year ago, Bukele entered an all-out war with the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatruchas, or MS-13, gangs. He suspended constitutional rights and threw 1 in every 100 people in the country into prisons that have fueled allegations of mass human rights abuses.

    The sharp dip in violence that followed Bukele’s actions, combined with an elaborate propaganda machine, has ignited a pro-Bukele populist fervor across the region, with other governments trying to mimic the Bitcoin-pushing leader.

    At the same time, Bukele has announced he will run for reelection in February next year despite the constitution prohibiting it. He has also made moves that observers warn are gradually dismantling the nation’s democracy.

    Nicaragua

    President Daniel Ortega is in an all-out crackdown on dissent. For years, regional watchdogs and the U.S. government raised alarms that democracy was eroding under the leader of the Sandinista National Liberation Front. That came to a head in 2018 when Ortega’s government began a violent crackdown on protests.

    Most recently, Ortega forced hundreds of opposition figures into exile, stripping them of their citizenship, seizing their properties and declaring them “traitors of the homeland.” Nicaragua has thrown out aid groups such as the Red Cross and a yearslong crackdown on the Catholic Church has forced the Vatican to close its embassy. The tightening chokehold on the country has prompted many Nicaraguans to flee their country and seek asylum in neighboring Costa Rica or the United States.

    Honduras

    President Xiomara Castro took office last year as the first female president of Honduras, winning on a message of tackling corruption, inequality and poverty. The wife of former President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a military coup, she won a landslide victory.

    But her popularity has dipped as many of her promises for change have gone unfulfilled. At the same time, the government has sought to mimic neighboring El Salvador’s crackdown on gangs, responding fiercely to a grisly massacre in a women’s prison in June.

    Costa Rica

    Once known as the land of “pura vida” and mild politics compared to the surrounding region, Costa Rica has seen rising bloodshed that threatens to tarnish the country’s reputation as a secure haven. Homicides have soared as the nation has become a base for drug traffickers. President Rodrigo Chavez, who took office last year, has promised more police in the street and tougher laws to take on the uptick in crime.

    At the same time, a migratory flight from Nicaragua has overwhelmed the country, which is known as one of the world’s great refuges for people fleeing persecution. The government has since tightened its asylum laws.

    Panama

    Panama is headed into presidential elections in May, with simmering frustration at economic woes, corruption and insecurity acting as a potential harbinger for change. Any shift could have global significance due to Panama’s status as a financial hub.

    The nation has also become the epicenter of a steady flow of migration through the perilous jungles of the Darien Gap running along the Colombia-Panama border.

    Belize

    Belize is often seen as a place of relative calm in a region that is anything but. A former British colony named British Honduras, Belize’s government system is still tightly tethered to the country. But Prime Minister Johnny Briceño has sought to distance his nation from the monarchy. The nation is also one of the few in the Americas that maintains formal ties with Taiwan amid a broad effort by China to pull support away from the island country by funneling money into Central America.

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  • EXPLAINER: Panama launches operation against smugglers in Darien Gap

    EXPLAINER: Panama launches operation against smugglers in Darien Gap

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    NICANOR, Panama (AP) — Panama unveiled a new effort to control illegal migration through the treacherous Darien Gap that spans its eastern border with Colombia on Friday.

    Hundreds of thousands of migrants have risked the dangerous trek through the jungle in recent years and the flow this year is on a record pace. Most of those who cross are trying to reach the United States.

    So in April, as the U.S. government prepared to lift pandemic-related restrictions that had allowed authorities to turn back asylum seekers at the border, it announced together with Panama and Colombia increased efforts in the largely lawless Darien Gap.

    Panama’s “Shield” campaign announced Friday is the first public display of those new efforts.

    WHAT IS THE DARIEN GAP?

    The Darien Gap earned its name because it is the break in the Pan-American Highway connecting South and North America. Darien is also the name of Panama’s easternmost province, which abuts Colombia.

    It is composed of dense, roadless jungle, mountains and fast flowing rivers. Migrants who have made the crossing regularly report being robbed, sexually assaulted and of seeing bodies of others who did not survive along the way. Earlier this week, three suspected bandits died in a shootout with border police in Darien.

    The crossing from Colombia can take anywhere from a few days to more than a week.

    HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CROSSING?

    Last year, nearly 250,000 people crossed the Darien Gap, nearly double the 133,000 who crossed in 2021, and a new record. That increase was driven largely by Venezuelans, who accounted for some 60% of the migrants crossing there last year.

    In April, the United Nations warned that the unprecedented number of crossings to start the year suggested that some 400,000 migrants could cross this year. According to government data, nearly 170,000 migrants crossed the Darien in the first four months of the year, five times the number from the same period last year.

    In early May before the U.S. lifted the pandemic era asylum restrictions, Panamanian officials at the edge of the jungle registered the arrival of some 2,000 migrants in one day. Venezuelans continue to be the largest group crossing, but there are also Haitians, Chinese and Ecuadorians among others.

    This week, Panamanian authorities reported that with the arrival of the rainy season and swollen rivers, on one day about 790 migrants were registered. Expanded legal pathways offered by the United States and more punitive policies who try to enter the U.S. illegally also factor in migrants’ decision-making.

    WHAT IS PANAMA’S “SHIELD” CAMPAIGN?

    On Friday, Panamanian security authorities announced it will dedicate some 1,200 immigration agents, border police and members of the naval air service to what they said will be a air, land and sea effort to take on organized criminal groups smuggling migrants, drugs and guns through the Darien jungle.

    There will be more aerial patrols with U.S.-donated helicopters and more specialized border police units to root out gangs operating along the shared border with Colombia. It is the first public sign of the coordinated efforts promised by Panama, Colombia and the United States in April.

    U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met then with the foreign ministers of Panama and Colombia in Panama City.

    “Recognizing our shared interest and responsibility to prevent the risk to human life, disrupt transnational criminal organizations, and preserve the vital rainforest, the governments of Panamá, Colombia, and the United States intend to carry out a two-month coordinated campaign to address the serious humanitarian situation in the Darien,” the governments said in a joint statement.

    Panama is framing the effort to gain control of its border as a national security issue targeting organized crime groups. For the migrants making the crossing it plans an informational campaign to combat the misinformation peddled by smugglers.

    WHAT CHALLENGES DO AUTHORITIES FACE IN DARIEN?

    It will not be easy. The migration route through the Darien has become well-established with enterprising locals, especially on the Colombian side selling outfitting services — tents, boots, food — and even porters. Additionally, for those with the resources, there are smugglers who offer a more personalized, guided crossing.

    Some of Colombia’s armed groups, principally the Gulf Clan are involved in migrant smuggling and run very sophisticated operations.

    Oriel Ortega, director of Panama’s border police, said Friday that its intelligence indicated that the Gulf Clan was the organization most involved in and profiting from smuggling migrants through the Darien.

    Panama’s Security Minister Juan Manuel Pino said that authorities have identified three main smuggling sea routes and two land routes between Colombia and Panama and will focus resources in those areas, though he recognized that criminal groups can be expected to then open new routes.

    __

    Sherman reported from Mexico City.

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  • Biden, first lady thank service members in Christmas calls

    Biden, first lady thank service members in Christmas calls

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    WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden celebrated a quiet Christmas with his family at the White House and spoke with service members stationed around the world.

    “They’re away from their families to protect us,” Biden said in a tweet. “And they have the thanks of a grateful, indebted president.”

    The White House said Biden and the first lady, Jill, called members of the Army stationed at Panama City, Panama; the Navy aboard the USS The Sullivans in the Arabian Sea; the Marine Corps at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego; the Air Force at Okinawa, Japan; the Space Force in Europe; and the Coast Guard aboard the cutter Bertholf in Alameda, California.

    This is Biden’s second Christmas as president. On Saturday, Biden and his family joined a Mass on Christmas Eve at the White House and continued their holiday tradition of an Italian dinner.

    The president and first lady on Friday also carried on another tradition with their second holiday visit to Children’s National Hospital. Biden was the first sitting president to join his wife when they visited hospitalized children and their families before Christmas last year, according to the White House.

    Surrounded by Christmas trees and holiday decorations, the first lady read “The Snowy Day” with the president’s help holding up the book.

    Biden last week encouraged national unity in a recorded address, calling out the nation’s political divisions and saying he hoped “this holiday season will drain the poison that has infected our politics and set us against one another.”

    “So, this Christmas, let’s spread a little kindness,” he said.

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  • Search for victims done, Florida coast aims for Ian recovery

    Search for victims done, Florida coast aims for Ian recovery

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    FORT MYERS, Fla. — An army of 42,000 utility workers has restored electricity to more than 2.5 million businesses and homes in Florida since Hurricane Ian’s onslaught, and Brenda Palmer’s place is among them. By the government’s count, she and her husband Ralph are part of a success story.

    Yet turning on the lights in a wrecked mobile home that’s likely beyond repair and reeks of dried river mud and mold isn’t much solace to people who lost a lifetime of work in a few hours of wind, rain and rising seawater. Sorting through soggy old photos of her kids in the shaded ruins of her carport, Palmer couldn’t help but cry.

    “Everybody says, ’You can’t save everything, mom,’” she said. “You know, it’s my life. It’s MY life. It’s gone.”

    With the major search for victims over and a large swath of Florida’s southwest coast settling in for the long slog of recovering from its first direct hit from a major hurricane in a century, residents are bracing for what will be months, if not years, of work. Mourning lost heirlooms will be hard; so will fights with insurance companies and decisions about what to do next.

    Around the corner from the Palmers in Coach Light Manor, a retirement community of 179 mobile homes that was flooded by two creeks and a canal, a sad realization hit Susan Colby sometime between the first time she saw her soggy home after Ian and Sunday, when she was picking through its remains.

    “I’m 86 years old and I’m homeless,” she said. “It’s just crazy. I mean, never in my life did I dream that I wouldn’t have a home. But it’s gone.”

    Officials have blamed more than 100 deaths, most of them in southwest Florida, on Ian, a powerful Category 4 storm with 155 mph (249 kph) winds. It was the third-deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland this century behind Hurricane Katrina, which left about 1,400 people dead, and Hurricane Sandy, which killed 233 despite weakening to a tropical storm just before landfall.

    While Gov. Ron DeSantis has heaped lavish praise on his administration for the early phases of the recovery, including getting running water and lights back on and erecting a temporary bridge to Pine Island, much more remains to be done. There are still mountains of debris to remove; it’s hard to find a road that isn’t lined with waterlogged carpet, ruined furniture, moldy mattresses and pieces of homes.

    On the road to Estero Island, scene of the worst damage to Fort Myers Beach, workers are using heavy machines with huge grapples to snatch debris out of swampy areas and deposit it into trucks. Boats of all sizes, from dinghies to huge shrimpers and charter fishing vessels, block roads and sit atop buildings.

    DeSantis said at least some of the roadmap for the coming months in southwest Florida may come from the Florida Panhandle, where Category 5 Hurricane Michael wiped out Mexico Beach and much of Panama City in 2018. Panama City leaders will be brought in to offer advice on the cleanup, DeSantis told a weekend news conference.

    “They’re going to come down on the ground, they’re going to inspect, and then they’ve going to offer some advice to the local officials here in Lee County, Fort Myers Beach and other places,” DeSantis said. “You can do what you want, you don’t have to accept their advice. But I tell you that was a major, major effort.”

    In a region full of retirees, many of whom moved South to get away from the chill of Northern winters, Luther Marth worries that it might be more difficult for some to recover from the psychological effects of Ian than the physical destruction. Two men in their 70s already have taken their own lives after seeing the destruction, officials said.

    Fort Myers was sideswiped by Hurricane Irma in 2017, but Marth said that storm was nothing like Ian, and the emotional toll will be greater, especially for older folks.

    “I’m 88 years old. People my age struggle,” said Marth, who counts himself and his wife Jacqueline among the lucky despite losing a car and thousands of dollars worth of fishing gear, tools and more when their garage filled with more than 5 feet (1.52 meters) of water.

    “If you got wiped out financially you don’t want to start over again, you don’t have the will to start again,” Marth said. “So those are the people my heart breaks for.”

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