A judge-led inquiry heard that residents in Tai Po were steered toward a convicted contractor amid widespread bid‑rigging, and that a consultant allegedly accepted a stipend to rubber‑stamp tenders.
Russian Urals crude has risen sharply amid the US‑Israel conflict with Iran, potentially benefiting Russia and other producers while posing wider implications for fuel and shipping costs in Panama and Latin America.
Donald Trump publicly attacked NATO allies as “cowards” and called the alliance a “paper tiger” over their lack of support in the US‑Israel war with Iran, urging help to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and star of Walker, Texas Ranger, has died at 86. His family called it a ‘sudden passing’ and requested privacy.
Muslim communities across Panama observed Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan with prayers, family gatherings and charitable acts, underscoring the country’s religious diversity.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs “clear dates” for the next round of talks with Russia as Ukrainian negotiators prepare for discussions in the United States.
Panama’s Ministry of Economy and Finance released a payment calendar for disbursements in the second half of March 2026, providing timing guidance for government payments.
US Central Command said an F-35 made an emergency landing after a combat mission over Iran; Chinese analysts say EO/IR sensors likely exposed the stealth jet, marking the first known combat damage to an F-35.
Panama Canal chief Ricaurte Vasquez said the waterway is operating at top capacity with 36–38 transits per day, driven in part by increased LNG vessel traffic linked to the Iran war.
The Alcaldía de Panamá will hold public consultations March 21–26 to discuss proposed PLOT Distrital zoning changes for projects across Don Bosco, Chilibre, Alcalde Díaz and Caimitillo.
Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit said in a broadcast interview she was “manipulated” by convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and accused him of extorting others. Her name appears in DOJ files released earlier this year.
Telemetro reports that differences between Grupo Hutchison and AMP will be resolved before an international arbitral tribunal, which will decide the merits of the dispute.
CONMEBOL’s group draw placed six Panamanian players across the 2026 Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, with Luis Mejía, Jorge Gutiérrez and Alexander González in the Libertadores and Kadir Barría, Irving Gudiño and Jiovany Ramos in the Sudamericana.
Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi met with U.S. State Department official John Mills to seek cooperation on smart-city projects, including a pending US$700,000 smart-stops funding request.
Zelenskyy says Ukraine is sharing drone expertise with five countries facing attacks tied to Iran and is exploring a role in restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Siobhan Haughey won the women’s 50m freestyle (24.41) at the China Open in Shenzhen, adding a 200m silver and following a 100m victory the night before, while Australia’s Cameron McEvoy set a new world record in the men’s sprint.
The Panama Canal is operating at top capacity, with 36–38 daily transits, as increased LNG vessel traffic driven by the Iran war puts pressure on scheduling and canal throughput.
A 51-year-old man, Luis Castillo, died in a rollover on the road to Chiriquicito in Boquete after hitting a drop in the surface linked to repair work; authorities have launched an investigation.
A draft Chinese finance law proposes tools to counter foreign sanctions, protect offshore assets and impose national security checks on financial data, with potential effects for offshore centers including Panama.
Senators met behind closed doors Thursday with White House border czar Tom Homan as they pursue a bipartisan path to end a Department of Homeland Security funding shutdown that began over a month ago.