The latest, verified reporting on events across Panama and beyond. This section covers breaking stories, developments, and essential daily news.
Panama’s 2026 school calendar sets the first trimester to end on May 29, giving families and schools a clear timeline for the academic year. The schedule also includes several days off for students across education levels.
Panamanian prosecutors want more time to continue the long-running investigation into the 1994 Alas Chiricanas plane bombing that killed 21 people. The case has been linked to Hezbollah and remains one of Panama’s most serious unresolved attacks.
Panama City Hall has launched a digital Temporary Circulation Permit with QR validation and a physical sticker option for vehicle procedures. The move updates a routine administrative process with a faster, more modern verification system.
Alfredo Cantón students will take classes at Iglesia del Carmen while they are moved to the regional university center in San Miguelito. The church will serve as a temporary learning space during the transition.
Yohany Guevara will be the flag bearer for the 2026 Gran Desfile de la Etnia Negra in Panama, a major celebration of Afro-descendant heritage. The event will feature cultural delegations, music, dance, and Afro-Caribbean cuisine.
President José Raúl Mulino announced progress on the Northern Hydraulic Ring, a project aimed at improving water pressure and distribution in Panama. The plan also includes repairing leaks to help strengthen the potable water network.
Panama is nearing a nationwide rollout of its digital driver’s license, which will cost less than the physical version. The new format is part of the country’s push toward more modern public services.
Residents in Colón are questioning whether police checkpoints, maintained from afternoon through morning, are truly helping reduce violence. The concern reflects ongoing frustration over security in the province.
Students at a school in Chame are being forced to walk along the Inter-American Highway after water main repairs affected access in front of the campus. The situation has raised safety concerns because children must travel beside heavy traffic.
Panama has launched a national postal code system aimed at giving every home a precise location and improving deliveries, e-commerce, and public safety. Officials say the digital tool will modernize address management across the country.
President José Raúl Mulino said Panama will not negotiate with gangs to stop violence, backing police and intelligence operations instead. The stance underscores a hardline security strategy as concern over crime persists.
IFARHU says PASE-U 2026 payments could begin between late June and early July through a new card and banking system. The move could affect thousands of Panamanian families that depend on the education benefit.
The Panama Canal is more than a trade route for the United States; it is a strategic asset tied to security, logistics, and regional influence. Its central role also reinforces Panama’s importance in global commerce and geopolitics.
The Northern Hydraulic Ring has entered service in Guarumal, Caimitillo, to strengthen water supply for capital-area communities. Mulino said the project is a step toward improving access in neighborhoods long affected by shortages.
Panama City is moving forward with bridge rehabilitation and beautification work in Chilibre San Vicente, a project that will benefit more than 500 families. The upgrades include sidewalks and street improvements designed to improve safety, mobility and access.
Panama has completed the Anillo Hidráulico Norte, a water infrastructure project that now benefits more than 200,000 residents in Panama Norte. The system includes new tanks, pumping stations and distribution lines built to improve reliable potable water service.
President José Raúl Mulino inaugurated the Panama Norte Hydraulic Ring in Caimitillo and ruled out cabinet changes during his weekly address. He also highlighted water service, security, and the growth of the state payroll as key government priorities.
Panamanian migration authorities deported foreign nationals tied to immigration evasion and criminal proceedings as part of a national security enforcement effort. The action reinforces Panama’s push to tighten compliance with migration rules.
Panama’s emergency operations center is monitoring earthquake activity reported in Colombia and Costa Rica. The watch reflects ongoing regional seismic preparedness across Central America.
President José Raúl Mulino inaugurated the Panama Norte Hydraulic Ring in Caimitillo during his weekly press conference. He also addressed the state payroll, water service projects, and security.