More than 100,000 return to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan in two weeks
More than 100,000 people entered Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan between 19 July and 1 August, increasing pressure on communities and humanitarian ...
A group of migrants deported from the U.S. to Panama were moved from a hotel in Panama City to the Darien jungle, a lawyer confirmed. The transfer is part of a U.S.-Panama deal to handle deportees whose home countries refuse to accept them.
🔹 170 out of 299 migrants were transferred to Meteti, a town in the Darien jungle, according to La Estrella de Panama.
🔹 The migrants had been staying at a hotel in Panama City under government protection, with financial support from the U.S. via the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration.
🔹 Panama’s government has not commented on the move.
According to Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, the group includes people from:
🔹 Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
🔹 These nationalities were deported to Panama instead of their home countries, as some governments refuse to accept U.S. deportation flights due to diplomatic tensions.
🔹 Human rights groups have criticized the process, warning that some migrants could face danger or persecution if sent back to their countries.
🔹 Lawyer Susana Sabalza, representing a Muslim migrant family, said they are at risk of execution if returned home.
🔹 Sabalza is seeking asylum for them in Panama or another country willing to accept them.
🔹 The Trump administration is ramping up deportations and using Panama as a transit country for migrants whose home nations refuse U.S. deportation flights.
🔹 Panama is responsible for repatriating the migrants to their countries of origin.
🔹 More than half of the deported migrants have voluntarily accepted repatriation, according to Panama’s security minister.
🔹 Migrants at the hotel in Panama City were not allowed to leave, according to media reports.
🔹 Some were seen waving to journalists from their windows.
🔹 A Chinese national, Zheng Lijuan, escaped from the hotel, according to Panama’s migration service, which accused outsiders of helping her flee.
🔹 Officials urged her to return but provided no further details.
The situation has drawn international scrutiny as Panama continues receiving U.S. deportees, while migrants face an uncertain future in the lawless Darien region.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 5th of August, covering the latest developments.
U.S. President Donald Trump said there was an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening to hit Iran "really hard" if a deal was not reached.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, two key maritime chokepoints in the region, decreased significantly from the previous day, according to shipping data.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 6th of August, covering the latest developments.
Kazakhstan’s main oil export corridor was disrupted by drone strikes near Russia’s Black Sea coast in July, forcing a temporary suspension of crude loadings and raising fresh concerns over the vulnerability of regional energy infrastructure to the war in Ukraine.
Türkiye's ruling alliance on Wednesday (5 August) submitted a bill to parliament aimed at advancing peace with the outlawed PKK by offering legal protections to former militants who disarm.
Ukraine has warned that its ability to defend against Russian missile attacks is weakening as Moscow appears to be expanding its missile arsenal ahead of a possible winter campaign targeting critical infrastructure.
Azerbaijan and Ukraine are seeking to deepen cooperation in energy, reconstruction and trade, with Baku signalling its readiness to supply natural gas to Ukraine and expand its role in rebuilding projects following high-level talks in Kyiv.
The UK government announced a new package of sanctions on Thursday (6 August) aimed at disrupting Russia's financial sector and oil exports, expanding pressure on Moscow more than four years after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) has approved Kyiv’s Resilience Plan for the autumn-winter season, aimed at strengthening the capital’s ability to withstand continued Russian attacks and ensuring the uninterrupted operation of critical services.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment