The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday, Nov. 25, edition that Panama's top court started deliberations on Friday to rule on several constitutional challenges to First Quantum Minerals' contract for the Cobre Panama mine. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that First Quantum has faced massive protests since the Panama government signed a new contract for the Cobre Panama mine on Oct. 20, amid allegations of corruption and lack of transparency in the negotiations. The company has denied any wrongdoing. Cobre Panama is producing about 1 per cent of global copper supply. A majority of lawyers surveyed by Reuters this month said the Supreme Court is likely to rule against the company, citing a precedent. The court has not given a timeline to release the verdict, but some lawyers and officials expect a decision in the coming days or weeks. A ruling against First Quantum will have huge implications. The uncertainty has already wiped about $10-billion, or 50 per cent of its market value, in about a month, affected by copper prices and could be a blow to the Central American country as the mine accounts for about 5 per cent of its GDP. First Quantum says the mine is not operating at commercial levels.