Panama Signs On as Mercosur Associate State at Montevideo Summit
Panama signed an agreement to join Mercosur as an associate State at the bloc’s 65th Leaders Summit in Montevideo, aiming to deepen regional trade and cooperation.
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Panama signed an agreement to join Mercosur as an associate State at the bloc’s 65th Leaders Summit in Montevideo, aiming to deepen regional trade and cooperation.
President Raul Mulino’s government announced it will adopt a Bukele-style strategy to tackle gang crime under a plan called Operation Panama 3.0. Details of the measures have not yet been released.
An eight-day first visit to Panama left a traveler feeling they’d experienced three different countries in one. The article highlights Panama’s mix of modern cities and contrasting regions, suggesting variety for short trips.
President José Raúl Mulino has nominated Jaime Miguel Barroso as fiscal de Cuentas, with the Assembly’s Commission of Credentials now set to review his appointment. Barroso says he resigned from the Panameñista Party in 2019 and has had no political ties since entering the judicial system.
Panama marked 30 years since the bombing of Alas Chiricanas Flight 901, with Jewish community leaders denouncing the unresolved case as a symbol of impunity. The anniversary also renewed calls to remember the 21 victims and preserve the fight against terrorism.
The Cobre Panama copper mine, valued at $10 billion, is reportedly idle in the jungle after mining executives met at Panama’s Palacio de las Garzas. The pause raises economic, social and environmental questions for the country.
Argentina’s AMIA ruling has drawn fresh attention to Panama’s unresolved Alas Chiricanas bombing, a 1994 attack that killed 21 people after takeoff from Colón. The case remains open as Panamanian prosecutors continue their investigation.
Panama’s meteorology institute says El Niño is weakening and could shift to neutral between April and June before La Niña develops later in 2024. The change could bring relief after a severe dry season that has strained water supplies and the Panama Canal.
The Contraloría ratified a 15-year waste management concession between the Municipality of Capira and Aseo Capital S.A.; the company will begin services on March 1, 2024, with established rates and collection mechanisms.
The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Colón reported 30 complaints during the four-day carnival, with eight arrests, three provisional detentions and four plea agreements.
Los Santos health officials say emergency teams handled over 200 medical cases per day during the first three days of Carnival, with nine transfers to Panama City and 407 food stalls inspected by Minsa.
Health inspectors in Chiriquí removed soup, rice, meatballs and other foods from a fonda after finding they had been prepared the previous day and posed health risks ahead of Carnival.
Casco Antiguo in Panama City marks the 20th anniversary of its UNESCO World Heritage inscription; the district, dating to 1673, is noted for its plazas and brick-paved streets.
Panamanian prosecutors are seeking more time to advance the decades-old Alas Chiricanas bombing case, which killed 21 people in 1994. The investigation has been linked to new information, FBI interest in one suspect, and broader international terror allegations.
Cobre Panama’s large-scale copper operations, featuring a fleet of 38 ultraclass trucks each carrying 400 tonnes of ore, have renewed attention on Panama’s potential to benefit from a global copper upswing while highlighting environmental trade-offs.
The Cobre Panama mine’s large-scale operations, including 38 ultraclass trucks carrying about 400 tonnes of ore each, highlight Panama’s position to benefit from a global copper upswing while raising environmental and governance questions.
A vivid report from the Caracoles Islands captures low-tide drama—submerged at 5:00 a.m. and reappearing by sunrise as narrow 40-foot sand stripes—framing why Panama is drawing renewed attention.
Canadians Chantal Poulin and Eric left Quebec for Panama, drawn by a slower pace of life and lower living costs. Their move reflects Panama’s growing appeal as a destination for foreigners seeking comfort, warmth, and affordability.
Prosecutors in Panama presented evidence on the rapid rise of former intelligence agents Ronny Rodríguez and William Pittí during the Martinelli surveillance trial. The case centers on alleged illegal interception of communications and monitoring between 2012 and 2014.
Panama’s global profile is shaped by its strategic canal and a history of political and financial controversies, making it both a vital transit hub and a focal point for governance debates.