In-depth reporting on government actions, political parties, and policy debates in Panama. We track elections, legislative changes, and the actors shaping public life.
Panama’s push to project itself as a modern hub continues to clash with slow, paper-based bureaucracy in parts of the state. Some institutions have advanced digitally, but others still resist deeper change.
Debate is intensifying in Panama over the need for a Constituent Pact to define any future process aimed at drafting a new Constitution. Advocates say only a broad national agreement can give such a process legitimacy.
Panama City is facing renewed criticism over weak enforcement of urban rules, especially sidewalk obligations, as residents see basic needs ignored in favor of major projects. The debate centers on whether the capital should fix what already exists before pursuing costly new works.
Panama’s possible copper mine reopening is shaping up as a defining economic and political test for the government. Supporters argue it could restore jobs, revenue and investor confidence if a stronger contract and tighter environmental controls are secured.
Panama’s National Assembly is weighing a bill that would remove ITBMS from menstrual products, framing it as an issue of economic justice. The debate now centers on whether the tax relief should be financed through higher levies on tobacco and nicotine or through a more targeted fiscal design.
Panama’s Social Security Fund said prosecutors recovered more than $2.4 million after an investigation into altered data. The agency also said it has filed more than 1,000 complaints as part of a wider internal cleanup effort.
Iran has condemned a U.S. ship seizure as “piracy,” warning of a response as tensions rise at sea. The incident comes amid shifting diplomatic signals and could ripple through global trade and energy markets.
US forces seized an Iranian-flagged ship near the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring renewed tension in a key global shipping lane. The incident could reverberate through energy markets and maritime security well beyond the Gulf.
Panama’s prosecutors recovered more than $2.4 million in a case involving alleged manipulation of the CSS database. The Social Security Fund says the result is an important step in its anti-corruption effort.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei reaffirmed support for the US and Israel during a Jerusalem visit, signaling a clear alignment in the escalating war with Iran. The move underscores his government’s pro-Western foreign policy and its wider regional implications.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says close economic ties with the United States have turned into a vulnerability, not just an asset. He is urging Canada to broaden its trade relationships as global economic and political uncertainty rises.
Panama’s new decree on digital ride-hailing platforms has triggered sharp criticism from lawmakers, former officials and users who say it protects traditional taxi interests. President José Raúl Mulino plans to meet transit and government authorities to review the concerns.
The U.S. seizure of an Iranian cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz has triggered retaliation threats from Tehran and renewed fears of escalation in a critical shipping lane. The episode could ripple into energy markets and global trade.
A military strategist says U.S.-Iran tensions may be entering a more dangerous phase as shifting war aims and escalation traps raise the risk of miscalculation. The standoff could have broader implications for global shipping, energy prices, and Panama-linked trade.
Women head roughly 40% of households in Panama, and community groups in Curundú are stepping in with aid for single mothers. The trend is highlighting persistent gaps in jobs, care work and social support.
Female-led households are becoming a more visible part of Panama’s social reality, with single mothers facing rising vulnerability. Community support efforts, including those led by the Panamanian Women’s Center, are drawing attention to the challenge.
Panama’s Ministry of Public Works says pile work on the Cuarto Puente over the Panama Canal is nearing completion, allowing the bridge’s upper construction to begin. The project is a key infrastructure link for the capital area.
Iran and the United States are testing whether diplomacy can overcome years of mistrust, sanctions and regional tensions. Any breakthrough could ease Middle East instability and help steady global energy and trade flows.
Iran, Israel and the United States have moved from decades of covert hostility to open war, creating one of the most dangerous escalations in the Middle East in years. The conflict could affect global energy prices, shipping and regional stability.
The Gulf war has shown how fast military tensions can damage investor confidence, a lesson with clear relevance for Panama’s neutral image around the Canal. The conflict also underscores the economic value of stability in a region tied to global trade.