The Ministry of Government issued Executive Decree 9 of 2026, ordering public offices in Panama to close from midday on April 2 for Semana Santa while exempting essential health, security, transport and basic services.
The Panama Canal Authority said it will allow uninterrupted ship passage during a planned maintenance period from March through September, aiming to prevent transit disruptions.
Bill No. 306, approved March 19, sets hours and limits for debt-collection contact, bans workplace visits and strengthens privacy and transparency protections for Panamanian debtors.
Three victims of IRA bombings withdrew a civil damages claim against Gerry Adams on the final day of a two-week trial, ending efforts to link him legally to the attacks.
Panama’s Economic Commission approved in first debate Ley 491, a bill that seeks to raise income for retirees and pensioners who earn less than $600, moving the proposal to later legislative stages.
President José Raúl Mulino signed Law 513 establishing a national paid internship program that offers monthly subsidies of B/.450 to eligible young Panamanians and sets rules, limits and oversight for participating employers.
Mayor Mayer Mizrachi met with a senior U.S. State Department official to present a smart cities project. Details remain limited; observers will watch for follow-up on technical cooperation, funding and pilot plans.
Panamanian authorities seized more than 1,000 drug packages hidden in a container at a Panamá Oeste port; the shipment was scheduled for transshipment in Belgium and final delivery to Lithuania.
President Mulino has sanctioned a law creating paid internships for Panamanian youth aged 18–25 from secondary, university, vocational or technical education, TVN 2 reported.
The CSS terminated its $9.2M contract with the Alca-Ger consortium for the Boquete polyclinic due to missed deadlines; the consortium appealed to the TACP, suspending the termination.
Darren Indyke, Jeffrey Epstein’s attorney for roughly two decades, told a U.S. House committee he “had no knowledge whatsoever” of the abuse tied to Epstein, a statement that shapes ongoing investigations into Epstein’s network.
A brief report says a prime minister has called for seizure of diesel aboard the Panamanian‑flagged vessel Humilde Viajero; details remain scarce and official responses are pending.
Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written Nowruz message declaring the “enemy” defeated while remaining out of public view since replacing his slain father as Iran’s supreme leader.
CMA CGM has added a Cork port call to its PANAMA DIRECT service, expanding direct shipping links between Europe and Panama and offering more routing options for shippers.
Reuters reports the Panama Canal will allow uninterrupted ship transits during planned maintenance from March through September, aiming to keep shipping schedules steady despite work.
The Panama Canal will allow uninterrupted ship passage during planned maintenance from March through September, a move aimed at minimizing disruption to shipping and trade.
Panama hosted a conference on March 17 to strengthen sports arbitration ahead of the IV South American Youth Games 2026, featuring experts, officials and athlete outreach.
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.
The University of Panama issued its first digital diploma, awarded to a Faculty of Pharmacy graduate, with 508 diplomas approved for electronic signature out of over 3,000 requests.