The latest, verified reporting on events across Panama and beyond. This section covers breaking stories, developments, and essential daily news.
Violence in San Miguelito has forced Panama health centers, including Torrijos Carter, to shorten hours and increase security. Authorities have also imposed curfews in high-risk corregimientos as shootings continue to disrupt daily life.
Unachi workers say payroll deductions for loans were withheld from their salaries but never sent to banks, leaving them exposed to debt problems and credit damage. The case adds to scrutiny over the university’s finances and management.
Washington is rebuilding its Caribbean strategy through diplomacy, security cooperation, and pressure on adversarial governments. The shift has wider implications for regional politics, trade routes, and U.S. influence across the hemisphere.
The IMA will survey 10,000 consumers to decide whether Christmas ham and bag sales should stay in Naviferias or move to supermarkets. The plan would keep prices unchanged and depends on logistics, oversight and public preference.
A marina project on Flamenco Island near the Panama Canal is drawing scrutiny over direct concessions, public land use, and possible conflicts of interest. The case highlights broader questions about transparency in valuable coastal developments in Amador.
Fitch Ratings has upgraded Banesco Panamá to A+ (pan), the bank’s highest local rating since entering the market 19 years ago. The move reflects stronger financial performance, solid liquidity and a stable outlook.
Rubén Blades will place a personal item in the Instituto Cervantes’ Caja de las Letras during a ceremony in Panama City on May 23. The tribute is part of Centroamérica Cuenta and highlights the Panamanian artist’s international cultural legacy.
Violence near health facilities in San Miguelito has forced shorter hours at several public clinics, with authorities prioritizing safety for staff and patients. The main concern centers on repeated shootings near the Amelia Denis de Icaza center in Pan de Azúcar.
Panama’s Environment Ministry has launched a strategic alliance to identify and protect biodiversity hotspots, with a focus on endangered species such as the golden frog. The plan also highlights Indigenous knowledge and the need to confront deforestation, water pollution, and waste problems.
Spain’s Audiencia Nacional has summoned former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in a Venezuela-linked corruption probe involving alleged influence peddling and irregular payments. The case is drawing political backlash in Madrid and wider regional attention.
Jonathan Andic, son of Mango founder Isak Andic, was released on €1 million bail in Spain as investigators continue a homicide probe into his father’s 2024 death. The court also imposed a passport surrender, travel ban, and weekly check-ins.
Michelle Bachelet met with President José Raúl Mulino in Panama City as she seeks support for a UN candidacy. The meeting also highlighted Panama’s role in managing migration through the Darién Gap.
Martín Torrijos says the initials of his new UNE party are a coincidence, not a reference to Guatemala’s UNE. The former president is now focused on gathering signatures to register the movement ahead of Panama’s 2029 elections.
Britain has warned that disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a global food crisis by choking fertiliser supplies. The warning highlights how conflict in the Gulf can affect prices and food security far beyond the region.
Bolivia’s protest crisis has entered a third week, with road blockades in La Paz escalating into looting and attacks on public and private property. The unrest brings together labor, rural, and political groups demanding President Rodrigo Paz’s resignation.
Portugal has named Cristiano Ronaldo in its 2026 World Cup squad, setting up the forward’s sixth and final tournament. Roberto Martínez’s team will use June friendlies against Chile and Nigeria to prepare for Group K.
Panama added 73,733 formal jobs in 2025, led by the private sector for the first time in years. The shift comes after a long cycle of state-driven employment growth financed by rising debt.
Panama City has awarded a B/. 2.56 million contract to remodel Calle Estudiante, with upgrades planned for accessibility, lighting, landscaping and urban furniture. The project is part of the municipality’s wider effort to modernize busy public spaces in the capital.
Panama City officials are considering longer restaurant hours during the World Cup while tightening nighttime inspections. Businesses that want to benefit from the event may need to meet permit and safety requirements first.
Member states of the OAS are trying to block a proposed rights declaration through procedural maneuvers, turning the issue into a test of regional principles. For Panama, the dispute matters because it touches the credibility of the hemisphere’s main diplomatic body.