The latest, verified reporting on events across Panama and beyond. This section covers breaking stories, developments, and essential daily news.
Police and prosecutors detained 24 people in Arraiján during Operation Bloqueo, seizing illicit substances and technological equipment. The action targeted microtrafficking in the Panama district.
Alberto Paz Rodríguez Jr., former director of Panama’s Food Agency, has died. He led the APA from June 2024 to September 2025.
Panama’s Regional Fiscal Lottery deadline is May 15, with taxpayers able to enter by depositing five valid fiscal invoices in official mailboxes. The program offers cash prizes across four regions and is meant to boost tax compliance.
Panama’s Environment Ministry is reviewing whether the Vista Azul project still has a valid environmental study as residents near Condado del Rey raise traffic and service concerns. The development has been stalled for more than a decade and is now trying to restart.
Producers in the lowlands of Chiriquí are preparing for El Niño, a climate pattern that can reduce rainfall and disrupt farming in Panama. The province’s agricultural sector is watching closely as weather conditions develop.
Unachi rector Etelvina Bonagas acknowledged the university’s financial crisis and called for collective responsibility after faculty raised concerns about possible salary delays. The issue has heightened pressure on the public university’s leadership and payroll stability.
Vamos has emerged as a powerful independent bloc in Panama, winning 20 National Assembly seats and challenging the country’s traditional party system. Its rise reflects growing public frustration with corruption, patronage, and political elites.
Calls for Panama’s next constitutional reform are putting ethics at the center of the debate, including bans on immediate re-election, dual candidacies, and candidacy for those convicted of intentional crimes. The discussion is sharpened by the political vacuum seen in Colón’s Barrio Norte.
Panama’s Education Ministry has announced the 2026 Escuela para Padres schedule, a mandatory workshop connected to the PASE-U payment process. Sessions will be held regionally on May 11 across the country.
MEDUCA will begin filling teaching vacancies after several resignations tied to allegations of document falsification. The case has raised concerns about staffing continuity and document verification in public education.
Panama Metro will introduce operational changes on Lines 1 and 2 starting Monday, May 11, to speed passenger flow during rush hour. The move targets smoother commutes across the capital’s busiest transit corridors.
Panama is under heightened measles surveillance after two imported cases were confirmed, prompting doctors to urge families to review vaccination records. Health authorities say there is no evidence of community transmission so far.
INADEH has opened registration for its General Welder program at the Bonifacio Pereira center, giving applicants a chance to secure technical training in a high-demand trade. The course forms part of Panama’s wider workforce development effort.
New vacancies tied to the Fourth Bridge over the Panama Canal and the ACP are opening fresh employment opportunities in Panama. The positions are linked to two of the country’s most important infrastructure and canal institutions.
Students in Panama toured aircraft at Panama Pacífico International Airport during an outreach event led by U.S. and Panamanian partners. The program aimed to inspire interest in aviation while strengthening institutional ties.
Alfredo Castillero Calvo was awarded the Order of Belisario Porras and used the occasion to reflect on how trade, liberal ideas, and elite interests shaped Panama’s independence. His remarks highlighted the enduring divide between the capital and the interior.
The CSS has confirmed the 2026 payment dates for the permanent bonus for retirees and pensioners in Panama. The benefit will be delivered by ACH and by check.
Panama’s Regional Fiscal Lottery will close entries on May 15, with draws set for four regional dates later in May. Each region will award 25 prizes, including top prizes of B/.10,000.
Panama celebrates Mother’s Day on December 8, not in May, reflecting a tradition linked to the Catholic feast of the Immaculate Conception. The date remains one of the country’s most important family observances.
Complaints from teachers inside Panama’s education system helped trigger a probe at Meduca into alleged fake university diplomas. The ministry has opened a confidential channel for citizens to report suspicious cases.