5:20 p.m.
The 15-nation Caribbean Community and Common Market is fighting the perception of the region as a tax haven following the leak of confidential documents from a Panama-based law firm specializing in offshore accounts.
CARICOM said financial industry regulations in the region fully comply with international standards overseen by institutions like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Financial Action Task Force and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force.
The trade block urged caution Saturday against unjustly labeling the region's financial services industry as more disclosures from the Panama Papers are made public.
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4:30 p.m.
Portuguese newspaper Expresso says it has identified more than 240 citizens or foreign nationals with residence in Portugal involved in the creation of offshore accounts through the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.
Expresso says Ilidio Pinho, a one-time top official linked to Banco Espirito Santo, and Manuel Vilarinho, a former president of the Benfica soccer club are mentioned in the leaked documents from the law firm it has had access to.
A one-time leading Portuguese bank, Banco Espirito Santo collapsed in 2014 causing an unprecedented financial scandal with reported losses of 9.2 billion euros ($10 billion).
Pinho was a non-executive officer of BES between 2000 and 2005, and Expresso says in 2006 he and eight other unnamed individuals opened offshore accounts via Panama-based company Stardec Investments SA.
Expresso quotes Pinho as saying he had nothing to do with the transactions.
Vilarinho was Benfica's president from 2000 to 2003. According to Expresso, he acknowledged that he held an offshore account in Soyland Limited Liability Company, based in Nevada, but insisted everything was done legally and with the full knowledge of Portuguese authorities.
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2:05 p.m.
Fallout from a massive leak of offshore finance data has led to a media boycott of the talks between French and Algerian ministers after authorities in the North African country denied visas to journalists from Le Monde.
Le Monde was one of many media organizations that broke news from the leak of offshore data from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. The flagship French daily notably explored the finances of several high-profile Algerians, including Industry Minister Abdeslam Bouchouareb.
Algeria has since refused visas for Le Monde and the French satirical news show "Le Petit Journal." Other French reporters have refused to cover the talks in solidarity.
In a Twitter message, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls expressed his "profound regrets" over the visa denials and promised to bring it up during his trip.