A Telemetro report featuring journalist Hugo Famanía examines the financial and institutional costs of creating political parties in Panama, where nine parties currently compete but many historically fail to deliver public policy benefits.
Deputies in Panama’s National Assembly have formed rival blocs supporting China and Taiwan respectively, exposing a legislative split over diplomatic relations and which partner offers Panama the greatest benefits.
Matchday 9 of the LPF Apertura Tournament begins Friday as San Francisco FC faces Arabé Unido to open the round. The clash headlines another key weekend in Panama’s top football division.
A bill in Panama’s National Assembly would make Mides the coordinating agency for national homeless policy and permit exceptional involuntary admission when medical evaluations find a person is a danger to themselves or others.
Ifarhu announced the second PASE-U payment will begin in October, deposited directly to beneficiaries’ cards to avoid the long lines seen during the first disbursement.
The Panama Canal Authority presented its 2027 budget projecting $5,555 million in revenues and $3,937 million in total contributions to the state, alongside a 75% tonnage fee increase. The plan anticipates 10,750 vessel transits despite challenging water conditions.
Panama’s draft 2027 budget proposes zero dollars for electricity at the Gorgas Institute and cuts its operating funds by $5.8 million, prompting lawmakers to demand justification and the MEF to pledge a reevaluation.
A La Prensa opinion column is fueling debate over Panama’s public party financing system, asking whether parties should keep receiving state funds when their leaders are implicated in proven corruption, and what role the Comptroller General should play in enforcing accountability.
Panama’s National Police conduct more than 30,000 identity checks per week at Panama Metro stations, with contempt warrants for unpaid child support the most frequently detected offense. The figure highlights how transit hubs have become key enforcement points for family support obligations.
Vendors at Merca Panamá expect prices of several agricultural products to rise due to higher fuel costs and the effects of the El Niño phenomenon. Consumers may soon feel the impact at markets across the country.
A crocodile attack on a fisherman has heightened safety concerns in Puerto Coquira, where residents depend on daily fishing and are now being urged to avoid behavior that could provoke the animals. Officials and locals call for coexistence measures as human-crocodile contact rises.
Central America’s nations celebrated 205 years of independence with a festival of food and tradition at Panama City’s Parque Omar, strengthening cultural ties between Panama and its regional neighbors.
A NASA WB-57 high-altitude research aircraft is conducting scientific flights over Panama through September 23 as part of NOAA’s SABRE mission, measuring aerosols, gases, and ozone in the tropical atmosphere. Panama’s strategic location near the Intertropical Convergence Zone makes it ideal for the research.
French Trade Minister Nicolas Forissier visits Panama to explore business opportunities tied to the Panama Canal and the country’s infrastructure projects, including rail, water, and security sectors. He will meet top Panamanian officials ahead of upcoming tenders.
UDELAS has presented a B/.70.7 million budget proposal for 2027 that includes new tuition discounts, alongside planned projects and investments. The plan now awaits review as part of Panama’s national budget process.
Three crew members are missing after their boat disappeared off Veraguas, Panama, with search operations on hold due to severe weather. Teams stand ready to resume as soon as conditions improve.
Panama’s cruise ports received 243,075 passengers in the first half of 2026, a 21.6% year-on-year increase, with Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas the latest ship to call at Colón.
A Colón court sentenced two former Miguel de la Borda communal board officials to eight years in prison for embezzling $29,505 during 2009-2014, amid a broader probe into more than $247 million in diverted funds.
Panama finished first in the CODICADER 2026 medal table, winning 72 gold, 46 silver, and 64 bronze medals in a historic national sports achievement. The result cements Panama’s standing as the region’s leading force in school and youth sport.
Panamanian migration authorities denied entry at Tocumen International Airport to two Colombians who admitted they came to work as “gota a gota” lenders, after officials found debt-collection cards in their belongings.
