Author: Manuel Antonio Espinosa

Panama recorded 423 homicides through September 13, 2026, a marginal increase of ten cases compared to the same period last year, but the data reveals a sharp rise in gang-violence that contrasts with the country’s broader reputation as one of Latin America’s safer destinations. Firearms were used in 356 of the 415 intentional killings documented by the National Integrated Criminal Statistics System (SIEC). The most striking shift came in homicides attributed to gang activity, which jumped from 38 cases in 2025 to 68 this year, a 79 percent spike. Officials confirmed the figures in the SIEC’s weekly executive summary, which…

The Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Arauz has officially adopted a new institutional identity, selecting a winning design for its anthropological museum logo from more than 250 submissions received nationwide. The announcement came Thursday during a ceremony led by Arianne Benedetti, serving as acting Minister of Culture, alongside acting Deputy Minister Ivis Moreno. The winning proposal, titled “Etnovisión,” was created by María Milagros Vergara Rodríguez. She received a symbolic check for 10,000 balboas, with the prize funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The competition drew entries from across Panama, a turnout officials say underscores public investment in preserving national…

A $900,000 effort to restore the urban landscape of Colon’s historic center is now underway, with crews planting more than 550 trees across parks, promenades, and protected avenues. The Colon historic renovation project, led by the Ministry of Culture’s Office of the Historic Center of Colon (OCHCO), targets seven emblematic public spaces in its first phase. Workers have begun arborization, pruning, landscaping, and cleaning along Roosevelt Avenue, Sucre Park, Juan Demóstenes Arosemena Promenade, November 5 Park, Gorgas Promenade, Lesseps Promenade, and the Marine Promenade on Washington Boulevard. The initiative treats public space as part of the city’s urban heritage, alongside…

The 26th edition of Panama Fashion Week begins tomorrow at the Ciudad de las Artes, bringing together established designers, emerging talent, and industry experts through September 27. Organizers describe the event as ambitious, pairing runway presentations with a series of talks aimed at addressing shifting consumer habits, sustainability, and the financial realities of building a fashion brand. The event opens Thursday with a benefit showcase and runs through Sunday, featuring designers from Panama, Spain, Costa Rica, and Brazil. Beyond the catwalk, the program includes 11 scheduled talks covering retail experience, brand expansion, and content strategy in the digital era. Panama…

Health authorities in Coclé province have reported 119 cases of Cocle snake bites between January and August 2026, with men accounting for 75 of those affected and women representing 44 cases. The Ministry of Health released the figures as the rainy season continues to drive increased snake activity across the region. The Aquilino Tejeira Hospital in Penonomé handled the bulk of emergency care, treating 80 patients. The Antón Maternal and Child Center recorded 19 cases, while the El Valle Health Center attended to 8 victims during the same eight-month period. Rainy Season Fuels Coclé Snake Bites Risk Snake encounters typically…

Panama City, Panama – Residents across Panama are bracing for intensified extreme heat Panama conditions as meteorologists warn that the El Niño phenomenon could raise air temperatures by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in the coming months. Luz Graciela de Calzadilla, director of Panama’s Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Impha), confirmed Wednesday that current readings already show 32 degrees Celsius by late morning, with peak heat arriving near 3:00 p.m. The combination of high temperatures, elevated humidity, and direct solar radiation is creating a thermal sensation between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius, according to official data. This pattern affects not…

Panama’s ship registry has fallen to third place worldwide in gross tonnage, marking a 12.3 percent contraction in its fleet between late 2025 and August 2026. The drop reflects a deliberate purge of vessels tied to U.S. sanctions and a broader reshuffling of the global shipping fleet, according to Clarkson Research data cited by Seatrade Maritime News. The registry now counts 202.1 million gross tons across 7,677 flagged vessels, down from 230.5 million gross tons at the end of 2025. Liberia holds the top position with 314.6 million gross tons and 6,138 ships, while the Marshall Islands moved into second…

Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha formally asked Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday to facilitate the safe return of Panamanian nationals who have been drawn into the Ukraine Russia war. The request came during a high-level United Nations Security Council briefing on maintaining peace and security in Ukraine, where he emphasized the urgency of protecting citizens abroad. Speaking in New York, Martínez-Acha framed the appeal as a strictly humanitarian and consular matter, urging immediate cooperation. He asked both nations to work within their own legal frameworks to allow any Panamanian who wishes to leave the conflict zone to return home safely.…

A nationwide earthquake simulation will test Panama disaster response capabilities across all 10 provinces and every corregimiento on October 12, with emergency officials placing special emphasis on high-rise building evacuations in the capital’s dense urban core. The exercise begins at 10:00 a.m. and will involve public and private institutions, schools, hospitals, residential communities, and commercial buildings. Reyes Jiménez, director of the Academy of the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc), said the drill’s core purpose is evaluating evacuation times and institutional coordination under realistic earthquake conditions. High-Rise Evacuation Protocols Under Scrutiny Panama City’s concentration of tall structures makes vertical evacuation a…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly acknowledged Panama’s progress toward removal from the Panama tax list during a bilateral meeting with President José Raúl Mulino at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. The endorsement marks a significant diplomatic victory for Panama as it works to shift from Annex 1 to Annex 2 of the European Union’s fiscal monitoring framework. Von der Leyen specifically cited Panama’s approval of the Economic Substance Law and its accompanying regulations as key milestones. The meeting signals growing confidence from Brussels in Panama’s commitment to international tax transparency standards. Panama…