The president of Panama denied Thursday that US military exercises on its soil were in any way a “hostile act against Venezuela.”US forces have carried out survival and combat exercises in Panama’s Darien jungle bordering Colombia this year, and at a police base on the Caribbean coast.They have coincided with a US military deployment against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific, which Venezuela claims is really a maneuver to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino insisted Thursday the Central American country was not “lending out its territory for any type of hostile act against Venezuela or any other country in the world.”US strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in Latin America have claimed at least 76 lives since September.Washington has provided no evidence the boat occupants were traffickers, and rights groups say the strikes are illegal even if they were.The US military exercises in Panama were made possible by a security agreement signed by the allies in April.It sparked protests by Panamanians who oppose any perceived infringement of their country’s sovereignty after a 1989 US invasion to depose then-leader General Manuel Noriega.The agreement allows Washington, with Panamanian authorization, to use air and naval bases for “training” purposes for a renewable period of three years. The agreement was signed amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to “take back” control of the Panama Canal that the United States built and controlled until 1999.”There is no unauthorized military presence in Panama,” said Mulino.

Bad Bunny looks set for a big night on Thursday when the Latin Grammys, the biggest celebration of Spanish and Portuguese-language music, return to Las Vegas.The reggaeton star has 12 nominations, including best album, best record and best song — categories in which he is also competing at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in February.A triumph for “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos” (“I should have taken more photos”) would be another chapter in a year in which the 31-year-old — whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — has swept the entertainment world.A barnstorming residency in his native Puerto Rico has just ended, with a world tour set to kick off this month in the Dominican Republic.The reggaeton breakout made headlines when he said the tour would not include any dates on the US mainland because he was concerned his fans might be targeted by President Donald Trump’s immigration raids.The one exception to his self-imposed ban will be the Super Bowl halftime show on February 8 in Santa Clara, California.The performance, which comes midway through the NFL final, is routinely one of the television events of the year, watched by well over 100 million people in the United States alone, with millions more tuning in around the world.On Thursday night, Bad Bunny faces competition from Argentinian duo Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, whose album “Papota” is also vying for the night’s biggest awards.They are the first nominations for the explosive hip-hop duo, who recently opened several concerts in Latin America for Kendrick Lamar, a strong favorite for the 2026 Grammys. Edgar Barrera, who as a producer and songwriter has garnered more than 70 nominations at the Latin awards, is also competing for Song and Record of the Year for his work with Karol G on “Si antes te hubiera conocido” (If I Had Met You Before). The album’s single “Tropicoqueta” also earned the Colombian singer a nomination for Best Tropical Song. Karol G is set to be one of the headliners at Coachella next year.Brazil’s Liniker, who in 2022 became the first transgender artist to win a Latin Grammy, is sitting on seven nominations for her album “Caju,” including the top three prizes.Other nominees for the award include Alejandro Sanz, Carin Leon, Gloria Estefan, Joaquina, Rauw Alejandro, Vicente García, and Natalia Lafourcade, who has a total eight nominations.The Latin Grammys return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena after editions in Spain and Miami. The show, which kicks off at 5 pm (0100 GMT Friday) will feature performances from Bad Bunny, Karol G, and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, as well as by Alejandro Sanz, Carlos Santana, Rauw Alejandro, Kacey Musgraves, Edgar Barrera, Joaquina, Christian Nodal, Nathy Peluso, Elena Rose, and Grupo Frontera.

Hundreds of unionized Starbucks baristas kicked off an indefinite strike Thursday in cities across the United States, protesting working conditions and stalled labor negotiations.Like last year, the work stoppage came on the coffee chain’s popular Red Cup Day, when Starbucks gives reusable cups to customers who purchase holiday-themed drinks.The “Red Cup Rebellion” will see rallies at 4 pm local time in more than a dozen US cities, and a work stoppage by about 1,000 baristas, according to Starbucks Workers United.More than 65 cafes in over 40 cities are part of this first phase of the strike, which the union said could expand to include more than 550 unionized locations representing over 10,000 employees.The baristas are demanding better wages, improved working conditions, and stable and adequate hours.”It’s hard to get more than 19 hours a week, which isn’t enough to qualify for the health care,” said Dachi Spoltore, who has worked as a barista for five years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.In the United States, health insurance is commonly provided by employers, and Starbucks only gives the benefit to employees working more than 20 hours per week.For Lynne Fox, president of Workers United, which represents more than 90,000 employees across all industries in the United States, Starbucks management has refused to negotiate in good faith.Founded in 2021, the Starbucks union is trying to develop a “foundational framework” on key issues such as wages, scheduling policy and access to health care. Talks have been deadlocked since April.In the United States, Starbucks owns nearly 10,000 cafes and has more than 7,000 franchise locations. The company told AFP it was experiencing very little disruption on Thursday morning, ahead of the work stoppage.”We’re disappointed that Workers United, who represents less than four percent of our partners, has called for a strike instead of returning to the bargaining table,” spokesperson Jaci Anderson said, adding that less than one percent of cafes were experiencing disruptions.”We’ve been very clear — when the union is ready to come back, we’re ready to talk,” she added.