Panama

Opening Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley; Hearing, the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement

May 21, 2009 -- "I’ll begin by thanking the chairman for his leadership in scheduling today’s hearing on the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement. I also thank our witnesses for being here, and in particular, I want to extend a special welcome to Mr. Sam Carney, a pork producer from Adair, Iowa, and the president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council.    » read more »

May 6, 2008 -- PRESIDENT BUSH: It's been my pleasure to welcome my friend, the President of Panama. Mr. President, welcome back. It's good to see you, sir. I can't thank you enough for your friendship and your leadership. Under your leadership, relations between the United States and Panama are strong and healthy and vibrant.

George W. Bush sits near the President of Panama, Martin Torrijos: White House photo    » read more »

Number of tournament teams to expand through qualifying rounds in 2013

02/19/2008 -- World Baseball Classic, Inc. (WBCI) today announced the final eight teams that will be invited to participate in the 2009 World Baseball Classic next March, as endorsed by the tournament's Steering Committee.    » read more »

29 January 2008 -- President Bush has thanked the U.S. Congress for approving a free trade deal with Peru and is urging lawmakers to pass similar agreements with Colombia and Panama.

In his final State of the Union address Monday, President Bush highlighted Colombia in particular. He said failure to pass the deal with the Andean nation would "embolden the purveyors of false populism" in the Western Hemisphere.    » read more »

PANAMA CITY, Panama, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire - FirstCall/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Panama to purchase land for the construction of a demonstration and learning center and other operations near Panama City. Measuring 100 hectares (approx. 250 acres), the land provides ample space for Caterpillar to establish a major operational presence close to its Latin America customers and dealer base.    » read more »

30 August 2007 Osaka, Japan (By David Byrd) -- American sprinter Tyson Gay has won his second gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. As VOA's David Byrd reports, Gay added the 200-meters title to his 100-meters gold medal.

Thursday's race was a duel between two men - Tyson Gay of the United States and Jamaica's Usain Bolt. After a false start, the sprinters took off clean and Bolt had a slight lead through the curve of the track.    » read more »

28 August 2007 -- A U.S. judge Monday approved the extradition of former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega to face money laundering charges in France. In Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports that Noriega's lawyers have vowed to challenge the ruling and press for Noriega to be returned home to Panama when he is released from a U.S. prison next month.    » read more »

14 August 2007 -- A U.S. judge has delayed a ruling until later this month on whether former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega should be extradited to France to face trial.

The judge, William Hoeveler, said in court Monday in Miami, Florida that he will announce a decision on August 24 on Noriega's bid to be sent to Panama. Noriega appeared during the hearing wearing a military uniform.    » read more »

17 July 2007 -- Chinese manufacturers are facing harsh scrutiny after a series of health scares involving toxic exports to several nations. In Panama, officials are struggling to understand how a poisonous chemical made in China was wrongly mixed into a cough syrup formula, killing more than 100 people since last year. China has denied wrongdoing in the incident. Panama City victims' families say the Asian manufacturing giant should bear part of the blame.    » read more »

Secretary deplores repression in Venezuela, Cuba

05 June 2007 -- Washington – The Panama Canal, now being widened to make the waterway even more competitive in the global market, is a prime example “of how friendly states can make potential sources of conflict a source of cooperation,” according to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.    » read more »

22 May 2007 -- Authorities in Panama and the Dominican Republic have pulled tens of thousands of tubes of Chinese-made toothpaste from the shelves in stores after it was discovered to contain a potentially deadly chemical.

Health authorities in Panama told VOA that investigators confirm the toothpaste contains diethylene glycol - an ingredient commonly used in antifreeze. The toothpaste was sold under the brand names of Mr. Cool and Excel.    » read more »

Panama City, Panama, May 11, 2007 – President Martin Torrijos attended a ceremony today where World Bank Vice President Pamela Cox and the country’s Minister of Economy and Finance Héctor E. Alexander,signed a US$39.4 million loan agreement for Panama to increase productivity among rural small-scale farmers while protecting important forest, mountain and marine-costal ecosystems.    » read more »