The latest, verified reporting on events across Panama and beyond. This section covers breaking stories, developments, and essential daily news.
Cabinet approved more than B/.6.3 million for ATP to carry out tourism works, maintain Atlapa, and cover several sector commitments across Panama. The funds will support infrastructure, convention centers, cultural projects, and cruise-related payments.
Former prosecutor Gómez linked Panama’s political fragmentation to a deeper national choice between the canal and mining. Her remarks came as Martín Torrijos moved to launch a new political organization after breaking with his former party base.
Panama has signed a conservation agreement with the Charles Darwin Foundation to strengthen protection for hammerhead sharks and rays. The plan combines research, regulation, community training and financing tied to the Eastern Tropical Pacific marine corridor.
Panama is using AI to strengthen cargo screening against cocaine and contraband, reflecting the country’s dual role as a trade hub and trafficking corridor. The shift could improve enforcement without slowing the flow of legitimate shipments.
Panama’s environmental authorities are warning that El Niño could worsen drought risk by exposing the country’s water sources to deforestation and poor land-use planning. The call is for communities to help protect watersheds before dry conditions intensify.
Panama’s Education Forum 2026 is bringing together officials, business leaders and specialists to debate how the country can prepare students for the future. The discussion also highlights the need for stronger institutions and long-term policy agreements.
The WHO says the Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine could take months to develop, while the Congo outbreak remains a regional emergency and the global risk is still low. Health officials are focused on breaking transmission in a conflict-hit area where diagnosis has been difficult.
CAF has expressed interest in financing canal-linked port projects in Panama, including Isla Telfers and Corozal, as part of a $10 billion regional integration push through 2031. The move highlights Panama’s role in shifting global trade and regional logistics.
Panama City has awarded a $2.5 million contract to renovate Calle Estudiante in Santa Ana after a bid process that faced challenges and partial annulments. The project will upgrade sidewalks, lighting, crossings and greenery near the Instituto Nacional.
Panama is evaluating a pedestrian tunnel under the Canal, a proposal tied to mobility pressure in the capital region and the challenge of crossing a global trade route. The idea highlights how the Canal shapes not only commerce but also daily life in Panama City.
Jonathan Andic, Mango’s vice chairman and son of founder Isak Andic, was arrested in Spain and released on €1 million bail as a homicide probe into his father’s 2024 death advances. The case has put renewed scrutiny on one of Europe’s best-known fashion families.
Panama is preparing for an EU fishing audit that could lift its yellow card and improve access to European seafood markets. Officials say new monitoring and traceability systems are nearly ready, with a decision expected after the review later this year.
The IMA will consult consumers before deciding whether Christmas bags and hams should stay in neighborhood fairs or move to supermarket chains. The outcome could change how Panamanians buy seasonal holiday staples.
Isla Perico has become a case study in Panama’s weak oversight of coastal concessions, as a long-running dispute over Las Brisas de Amador moves into forced liquidation. The island now mixes private developments, state facilities and unresolved legal conflicts over valuable Amador land and seabed use.
China and Russia renewed their 25-year Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation during a high-level meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in Beijing. The talks also set up dozens of agreements and fresh statements on strategic cooperation and global order.
Panama’s police chief says recent homicides are partly a backlash from major drug seizures, gang arrests and anti-narcotics operations. Authorities see a growing web of 121 gangs tied to larger criminal structures across several provinces.
Panama’s Comptroller General has reversed a salary suspension affecting 48 Assembly workers linked to Vamos, but the pay delay remains unresolved. The case is now heading toward new legal challenges before the Supreme Court.
Panama’s rising homicide figures have sharpened debate over whether the government is doing enough to confront gang violence and protect citizens. The killings are concentrated in several key districts and are affecting young people, officials and civilians alike.
Casco Viejo has become Panama’s top tourist attraction, but complaints about noise and weak management are raising concerns about the visitor experience. The challenge now is whether authorities can protect the historic district’s appeal while tourism keeps growing.
A school in El Chorrillo is testing Magrid, a 15-minute weekly tablet program designed to strengthen early cognitive skills in children from maternal to third grade. The pilot could help shape future Ministry of Education decisions on early learning tools.