The latest, verified reporting on events across Panama and beyond. This section covers breaking stories, developments, and essential daily news.
Panama’s Caribbean coast is expected to stay rainy, while the Pacific will begin with partly cloudy to clear skies before isolated showers develop in maritime areas. The Gulf of Chiriquí, southern Veraguas, and Isla Coiba are among the areas highlighted for rain.
Panama’s Ministry of Public Works is moving ahead with a $10 million plan to widen and rehabilitate the José Agustín Arango road between Cerro Azul and Pacora. The project targets congestion, safety and drainage problems in one of eastern Panama City’s busiest commuter corridors.
A 23-acre farmland parcel in Penonomé, Coclé Province, has been reduced to $229,000. The property offers river access, road frontage, natural springs, and proximity to town, beaches, and the Río Hato airport.
Richard Werstine, a fugitive accused in a Michigan rock singer’s killing, was arrested in Panama after evading capture for 30 years. The case highlights Panama’s role in international law enforcement cooperation.
The Panama Canal Authority says prices have not increased and congestion is not the issue, even as a slot auction set a record $4 million bid. The result highlights how valuable priority access to the canal remains for global shipping.
Panama’s vaccine innovation center in Clayton is more than 80% equipped and preparing to begin operations in June. The project aims to boost regional biotech capacity and strengthen health sovereignty after lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Antai fined Arraiján mayor Stefany Peñalba over ethics violations tied to family members on the payroll. Meanwhile, lawmakers inspected major public hospitals and highlighted delays, breakdowns, and neglect.
Panamanian authorities say a drug network used customs insiders and port workers to contaminate containers with cocaine for shipment through key Pacific and Atlantic ports. The case underscores Panama’s vulnerability as a major transshipment hub.
Panama’s billeteros are warning that lottery libretas withdrawn over alleged political ties may be returning to the same circles. The Lotería Nacional says the files are being corrected and denies political influence.
Higher fuel prices are driving more Panamanians to the Metro de Panamá and MiBus, pushing ridership to new highs and forcing operational changes. Both systems are expanding efforts to manage crowding as demand keeps rising.
Panama’s comptroller is preparing to defend his actions amid criticism over decisions seen as politically sensitive and legally contentious. The controversy has sparked broader questions about impartiality, due process and institutional trust.
Panamanian families are feeling squeezed by rising food, transport, and service costs that are outpacing wages. Many households are turning to credit cards and loans just to cover monthly essentials.
Pedro Crenes Castro will present his Ricardo Miró-winning novel Crónicas del solar in Vigo on May 21, joining a public conversation on memory and fiction. The book revisits Panama in the 1980s through the life of a writer reflecting on his past.
Panama’s pension deadline on August 18, 2026 is pushing workers to choose among systems with very different rules and benefit calculations. The biggest concern is the lack of clarity over how the new solidarity-guaranteed pension will be applied in practice.
Voces de Colón will use young participants, acting, and heritage tours to promote the province’s history and support cultural revitalization. The project aims to turn Colón’s patrimonial sites into an engaging experience for visitors.
Panama’s first regional tax lottery will stop accepting invoice envelopes on May 15. Only receipts issued between March 15 and May 15 qualify for entry.
Panama’s transparency authority fined Arraiján Mayor Stefany Peñalba 50% of her salary over alleged ethics breaches and nepotism tied to relatives’ appointments. The case renews scrutiny of hiring practices in local government.
Acodeco confiscated more than 600 pounds of spoiled chicken from a business in Changuinola, Bocas del Toro. The seizure was part of consumer protection efforts aimed at keeping unsafe food off the market.
Panama’s meteorology and hydrology institute has issued an El Niño alert after confirming typical conditions and a strong chance they will continue for months. The warning raises concern over rainfall, water supply, agriculture, and other climate-sensitive sectors.
Panama will announce its 26-player World Cup squad ahead of a May 31 friendly against Brazil. The match will air on TVMAX, TVN, TVN Pass, and TVMAX PANAMÁ’s YouTube channel.