Rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are putting new focus on the Panama Canal as a strategic trade route in the U.S.-China rivalry. For Panama, the canal remains both an economic pillar and a key geopolitical asset.
Panamanian authorities seized 194 suspected drug packages hidden in a container from Jamaica that was heading to Ireland. The bust adds to 3,307 illicit packages confiscated at ports in Panama so far in 2026.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was grilled in Congress over the Trump administration’s war with Iran and a record defense budget request. The hearings highlighted rising questions about strategy, spending, and global fallout.
Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro will face off in a decisive Game 7 tonight for the 2026 Béisbol Mayor championship. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. and will air on TVMAX, TVN Pass, and TVMAX Panamá YouTube.
May 1 marks Labor Day around the world, a date rooted in the fight for shorter hours, fair pay, and labor protections. In Panama, the eight-hour workday was established in 1914 under Belisario Porras.
Traffic slowed along the Inter-American Highway in La Chorrera and Capira, causing congestion for drivers heading toward the interior of Panama. The route is a vital link for travel and commerce across the country.
Heavy congestion on the Inter-American Highway in Capira and La Chorrera prompted a lane inversion to improve traffic flow. The corridor is a vital route linking the capital area with western Panama.
Labor Day in Panama highlighted a clear shift in how many people earn a living, with freelance work, digital platforms and entrepreneurship gaining ground. The trend points to a more flexible but changing labor market.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed a woman and injured children, highlighting the collapse of a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire and the widening civilian toll. The violence has displaced more than a million people and risks broader regional escalation.
Panama will launch the official bicentennial celebration of the Congreso Anfictiónico on June 22, with several presidents expected to attend. The commemoration revives Bolívar’s dream of uniting the nations of the Americas.
Panama’s Labor Day observance began with a mass at Don Bosco Basilica, honoring the historic fight for workers’ rights. The May 1 commemoration remains a key date for labor identity and public reflection.
Panama’s OECD ambitions are being linked to a broader reform agenda focused on productivity, innovation and diversification. The push highlights informality, weak R&D and the need to modernize the state.
Nelva Reyes marked May Day with a forceful defense of labor rights, warning that informal work, weak wages, and union pressures are still hurting Panamanian workers. She also linked the holiday to the historical struggle that won the eight-hour day.
Panama will soon welcome a new apostolic nuncio after Monsignor Dagoberto Campos is transferred to Ecuador. He will remain in Panama for about six more weeks during the transition.
Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and took 22 vessels to Crete, deepening tensions over the blockade of the enclave. The incident is likely to intensify international debate over humanitarian access and maritime restrictions.
Residents in El Clavel, Arraiján, have spent more than a month without drinking water, forcing families to adjust daily life and rely on alternatives. The outage underscores long-standing infrastructure pressure in West Panama’s fast-growing suburbs.
Opposition to the proposed Río Indio dam is growing as rural communities raise concerns about land rights, identity, and the impact of canal-related development. The dispute has become a wider debate over infrastructure and the treatment of Panama’s countryside.
Students in Panama commemorated Labor Day with a civic display dressed as police officers. The event highlighted public service, labor traditions, and school-based civic education.
Former officials were arrested in Panama over an alleged embezzlement case tied to Don Bosco Technical Institute in Panama City. The probe is part of Operation “Pupitre,” which has put education spending under scrutiny.
Susan Elizabeth Castillo has left her role as director of Public Relations and Press at the Panama Fire Department after 15 months. In a parting statement, she said she came to work, not to occupy a seat.