In-depth reporting on government actions, political parties, and policy debates in Panama. We track elections, legislative changes, and the actors shaping public life.
Iranian Kurds living in Iraq say they will return to Iran only if the country’s theocratic system ends. Many families have remained in exile since the 1979 revolution and still cannot go back.
La Prensa corrected a March 19, 2026 article to state that Caribbean Holding Services Ltd. redirected Odebrecht funds to Martinelli Berrocal, Juan Carlos Varela and Importadora Ricamar.
Aaron ‘Ronny’ Mizrachi’s lawyer, Basilio Enrique González, disputes La Prensa’s reporting, saying Mizrachi only received 2009 Odebrecht donations and denies later transfers or payments to other named individuals.
Air raid sirens sounded across Kuwait City during Eid on March 20, 2026, after Iran launched missiles and drones targeting US assets, highlighting heightened Gulf tensions.
Panama’s National Police executed Operation Armageddon XXXVII at La Joya Penitentiary in Pacora, seizing weapons, drugs, phones and a Starlink antenna as part of ongoing security efforts.
Donald Trump has denounced NATO as ‘cowards’ and urged allies to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid NATO’s relocation of personnel from Iraq, highlighting rising regional tension.
Panamanian authorities have rejected claims by a unit of CK Hutchison that they ignored an arbitration process, after the company filed an administrative petition urging reconsideration of an executive decision.
President Mulino has rejected CK Hutchison’s claims that Panama failed to meet arbitration obligations, while Panama Ports Company pushed back and cited transition-era information gaps and constitutional questions over tax exemptions.
Panama’s president will travel to Canada to accompany the national team at the World Cup, expressing confidence the side can open with a victory as it prepares for Group L matches.
At the EU‑Central America Forum 2026, Panama demanded removal of “discriminatory lists,” defending its international image and urging cooperative solutions to boost investment.
Three weeks into the US-Israeli campaign, the mix of targets points to multiple aims — degrading military capacity while trying to foment unrest — rather than a single clear endgame.
European leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine as disagreements over a €90 billion EU loan — meant to cover Kyiv’s needs for two years — reveal mounting strains amid wider regional conflicts.
Authorities arrested a former IFARHU official and a merchant on March 20, 2026, in an investigation into alleged embezzlement of scholarship funds tied to IFARHU’s Panama East office.
Switzerland announced it will halt weapons exports to the US and has closed its airspace to US military flights directly linked to the Iran war, Al Jazeera reports.
Pete Hegseth’s Christian rhetoric and push to revamp the military chaplain corps have drawn renewed scrutiny after the U.S. went to war with Iran, raising concerns about religious neutrality in the armed forces.
At the EU-Central America Forum 2026, Panama’s foreign minister demanded removal from “discriminatory lists,” urging reciprocity from the EU while highlighting a $1.2B EU pledge for regional infrastructure.
The US is considering removing sanctions on Iranian oil stranded on tankers at sea, a move that could be seen as a de-escalatory step and may affect global energy flows.
Donald Trump publicly attacked NATO allies as “cowards” and called the alliance a “paper tiger” over their lack of support in the US‑Israel war with Iran, urging help to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs “clear dates” for the next round of talks with Russia as Ukrainian negotiators prepare for discussions in the United States.
US Central Command said an F-35 made an emergency landing after a combat mission over Iran; Chinese analysts say EO/IR sensors likely exposed the stealth jet, marking the first known combat damage to an F-35.