In-depth reporting on government actions, political parties, and policy debates in Panama. We track elections, legislative changes, and the actors shaping public life.
March has been identified as a critical month for the Panama–David–Border Train after reports that Panama’s National Railway Secretariat and the Costa Rican railway authority are moving toward signing a railway agreement. Panama’s foreign minister highlighted the project’s regional importance.
President Jose Raul Mulino denied that officials ignored an arbitration lawsuit filed by Panama Ports Company opposing the Panama Canal takeover, stressing the government responded to the legal challenge.
Iranian strikes on Persian Gulf oil and gas facilities, following an Israeli strike on Iran’s main gas complex, have rattled markets. The Pentagon is reportedly preparing to request up to $200 billion from Congress as fuel prices surge and President Trump seeks to reassure Americans.
PBS correspondent Reza Sayah reports from Tehran as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran nears its third week, detailing how residents are adjusting to prolonged instability.
California is moving to rename César Chávez Day after allegations of sexual assault; the news wrap also warns small U.S. airports may close amid a partial shutdown and Democratic-led states are suing over a repealed climate science finding.
Sen. Rick Scott told PBS the U.S. must balance its budget while seeking to “demolish” Iran’s nuclear capability, as the Pentagon considers a roughly $200 billion funding request for the third week of the war.
PBS reports the White House used memes and pop-culture clips to promote messaging on the Iran conflict, drawing criticism that the approach turns war into spectacle.
Polls show more than half of Americans oppose U.S. military action in Iran, a divide highlighted in an interview with Curt Mills of The American Conservative amid the Trump administration’s push for a tougher stance.
Newly released body camera footage has cast doubt on the DHS account of an ICE agent shooting that killed 23-year-old Ruben Ray Martinez in Texas, prompting fresh scrutiny and calls for answers from his family.
The Panamanian government approved an $18.84 million transfer to the Western Tariff Fund to keep electricity rates unchanged for about 183,000 residents in Bocas del Toro.
President Jose Raul Mulino on March 19 rejected accusations from CK Hutchison’s local unit over setbacks in arbitration tied to canceled port contracts, calling the claims “outrageous.”
At a joint appearance with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Donald Trump told a Japanese reporter allies were kept unaware of an Iran plan to preserve “surprise,” invoking Pearl Harbor.
An investigation by a Trump administration official could keep Jerome Powell at the Federal Reserve beyond his May 15 term end, creating uncertainty over U.S. monetary leadership and potential effects on markets in Panama and Latin America.
President Trump is weighing a high-stakes decision on whether to deploy U.S. troops to seize or destroy Iran’s near‑bomb‑grade uranium, a move he has discussed cautiously given its risks.
China has stepped up inspections of Panama-flagged ships amid tensions over Canal-related port contracts, a move that could affect shipping operations and diplomatic ties.
Reporting shows Israel has intensified targeted strikes on senior Iranian figures. Experts warn the rare strategy of killing state leaders risks escalation and regional blowback.
The U.S. Treasury has begun taking over part of the federal student loan portfolio from the Education Department in a first step as the Trump administration moves to shrink the agency’s role.
Panama expects first-phase feasibility results for the Panama–David rail project by March 31. A newly signed memorandum with Costa Rica aims to create a regional railway logistics corridor linking Panama City to Paso Canoas.
President José Raúl Mulino rejected claims by CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company that Panama missed deadlines in a ports arbitration, underscoring tensions in a high-stakes dispute over port operations.
Panama’s National Assembly approved a law on March 19, 2026, regulating debt-collection agencies and limiting calls and emails to specific hours. The measure aims to curb intrusive contact while implementation details are still pending.