In-depth reporting on government actions, political parties, and policy debates in Panama. We track elections, legislative changes, and the actors shaping public life.
A hearing began for former Colón mayor Alex Lee, a former Barrio Sur representative, and the Barrio Norte treasurer as a court reviews arrests, charges, and precautionary measures. The case has drawn attention because it involves former local officials in one of Panama’s key provinces.
A court hearing involving the representative and treasurer of the Barrio Norte community board led to provisional detention for the board official. The judge also reviewed the legality of the arrest, the formal charges and possible precautionary measures.
Lebanon is deeply divided over whether to pursue talks with Israel or continue backing Hezbollah’s armed stance. The debate comes as pressure grows to find an end to the conflict and avoid further escalation.
A legislative staffer has taken Panama’s comptroller to the Supreme Court over unpaid leave imposed on Assembly employees. The challenge centers on whether the comptroller had the authority to suspend salaries without a request or approval from the legislature.
Panama condemned the seizure of the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca after Iranian forces took control of the vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident underscores the risks facing Panama’s global ship registry in a volatile shipping corridor.
President José Raúl Mulino has named Antonio Tercero González as the next director of Idaan, Panama’s national water and sewer utility. His appointment now moves to the ratification stage before he formally takes office.
Drought, failed rains and conflict are driving 6.5 million people in Somalia into hunger, with children facing acute malnutrition risks. The crisis underscores how climate shocks and insecurity can combine into a major humanitarian emergency.
A Palestinian teenager was killed after Israeli forces shot him during a raid in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian media. The incident adds to mounting violence in a territory already at the center of regional tensions.
Panama’s National Assembly has resumed debate on bioethanol after committee divisions led to minority reports from deputies who opposed the proposal. The discussion keeps energy policy and fuel-market questions at the center of legislative attention.
Mexico is turning back to a kingpin-focused cartel strategy under U.S. pressure, reviving a tactic that has often weakened crime groups in the short term while fueling fragmentation and violence. The move matters across Latin America because cartel shifts can affect trafficking routes, security, and migration.
An Iranian national extradited from Panama has appeared in the United States to face sanctions and illegal export allegations involving sensitive technology. The case highlights Panama’s role in international enforcement cooperation and global trade oversight.
Lucy Molinar sent written answers to lawmakers after missing two summonses, but several responses on laptops, school meals, FECE and teacher cases lacked detail. The questionnaire keeps pressure on Meduca over spending, planning and school conditions.
Nine people were charged with peculado and cohecho in the IFARHU aid case, and prosecutors will appeal after the judge declined precautionary measures. The case centers on alleged misuse of public funds tied to student assistance.
Panama’s Labor Ministry says PedidosYa riders are not employees under the Labor Code, but it will still offer them guidance as they strike for better conditions. The case highlights the legal gap around platform work and worker protections.
Former La Chorrera mayor Tomás Velásquez was detained during an anti-corruption operation linked to an alleged embezzlement case involving municipal funds. The investigation centers on suspected irregular handling of public money in the local administration.
Panama’s National Assembly resumed debate on Bill 443, a proposal to make ethanol blending mandatory in gasoline. Lawmakers split over consumer costs, competition, environmental concerns, and the country’s ability to supply the fuel mix.
The National Assembly says it never approved unpaid leave for 39 staff members whose salaries were suspended by the Comptroller General’s Office. The dispute centers on attendance records, internal rules, and who has the authority to authorize the measure.
The UNDP warns that a war in Iran and a closure of the Strait of Hormuz could push 30 million people back into poverty by disrupting fuel and fertiliser supplies. Panama and Latin America could feel the shock through higher import and energy costs.
The CSS is asking former employees and family members to complete the required notification step for Prima de Antigüedad claims. The agency says the process helps speed up labor benefit paperwork.
President José Raúl Mulino has appointed Antonio Manuel Tercero González as the new director of Idaan from a shortlist chosen by the agency’s board. The move places him in charge of Panama’s national water and sewer utility.