Heads of state shun Panama canal expansion opening

Panama opened the long-delayed expansion of its shipping canal yesterday, with just a dozen of the 70 heads of state invited to see the debut of the third set of locks attending the ceremony.

Analysts said the rank of those leading the delegations was affected by the Panama Papers scandal, in which millions of documents were leaked from law firm Mossack Fonseca, revealing how some of the world's richest people use offshore firms to avoid tax and launder money.

Panama's foreign ministry said the event was a diplomatic success, with representatives from nearly all the invited countries in attendance, including from China, Japan, Peru, South Korea, Colombia and Mexico, as well as executives from top shipping firms and thousands of Panamanians. – (Reuters)