Panama’s Maritime Authority is monitoring two Panamanian-flagged ships involved in separate incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and has urged vessels to avoid the area. The warning highlights growing security risks in one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
Panama will receive documents this Friday, April 24, for the 2026 General Scholarship Contest. The program covers students in primary, secondary, and university education.
Traffic through the Panama Canal is rising, but officials are moving to ease fears of major congestion. The canal remains a crucial link in global shipping and a pillar of Panama’s economy.
Panama has approved processing of a 38 million-tonne stockpile at Cobre Panamá, a move with major economic and political implications. The decision reflects the government’s effort to balance mining activity, investor confidence, and constitutional concerns.
President José Raúl Mulino met with fishing industry leaders to agree on actions aimed at boosting Panama’s exports. The talks centered on strengthening the sector’s international trade prospects.
Panama’s Health Ministry is studying 24/7 hours for some public health centers, but officials say the change depends on technical review and funding. The minister also announced new investments in Azuero.
Authorities in Panama Oeste have opened a criminal investigation after threatening messages surfaced at one school. Education officials say the case is limited to a single campus and no similar incidents have been reported elsewhere in the region.
The Bridge of the Americas will be closed this weekend for a technical evaluation using controlled weight to assess the structure’s behavior. The closure may affect traffic across one of Panama’s most important transport links.
Panama’s courts are moving toward key rulings in major corruption cases linked to Ricardo Martinelli’s presidency, a decade after the allegations first surfaced. The outcomes could carry significant weight for public confidence in the justice system.
Threat messages suggesting a possible shooting caused alarm at the Guillermo Endara Galimany school in La Chorrera. Director Leoncio Mendoza said the school is investigating who left the warnings in the bathrooms.
Mayra Evelia Hall Conte, convicted in the murder of former Coclé governor Darío Fernández, appears on Panama’s list of prisoners eligible for possible sentence reduction. The case has renewed scrutiny of how the Ministry of Government applies prison benefits in serious crimes.
Amal Khalil was laid to rest in south Lebanon after being killed in an Israeli strike, renewing concerns over the safety of journalists in the conflict. Her death highlights the widening human toll of the Israel-Lebanon escalation.
Acodeco reported an increase in Panama’s basic food basket, with higher prices detected in supermarkets and minisúpers. The rise adds pressure to household budgets and keeps food affordability in focus.
The Sociedad Bolivariana de Panamá held an ordinary session on April 23 ahead of the Bicentennial of the Congress of Panama. The historic anniversary highlights Panama’s long association with Bolívar’s vision of regional unity.
The European Union has approved a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine and imposed fresh sanctions on Russia, reinforcing support for Kyiv as the war continues. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants the first payment released by May or June.
Pope Leo condemned the harsh treatment of migrants and refugees, warning that vulnerable people are often treated with less dignity than animals. The remarks renew global pressure on governments, including in the Americas, to balance border control with human rights.
Panama City has opened entries for the León A. Soto and Carlos Francisco Changmarín literary contests, with prizes of up to B/.7,000. Writers may submit through July, depending on the competition.
Trump said he is the one keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed, not Iran, in a brief remark involving one of the world’s key oil chokepoints. The comment underscores how tensions around the narrow waterway can quickly affect global trade and energy prices.
The emergency room at the Policlínica Don Alejandro De La Guardia in Betania will open at 9:00 a.m. on April 25 due to cleaning. The CSS has directed patients to alternate centers during the early hours.
Patients and insured residents in Bocas del Toro are urging the Caja de Seguro Social to activate an intensive care unit at Hospital Raúl Dávila Mena. The request highlights concerns about access to critical care in one of Panama’s more remote provinces.