Author: Editorial Team

The Supreme Court of Panama is drafting formal rules to govern the use of artificial intelligence within the nation’s judicial system. Magistrate Olmedo Arrocha announced the initiative this week, stating the Plenary of the Court is actively analyzing how AI tools are currently used by judges and court officials.This regulatory effort aims to establish clear boundaries for artificial intelligence (AI) applications in legal processes. The primary goal is ensuring technology supports, rather than supplants, human judgment in rendering verdicts.”In this case we seek to establish an agreement that assures the user of the administration of justice that AI will not…

The Municipality of San Miguelito has filed three separate criminal complaints against its former garbage collection contractor. Legal action targets Recicladora Vida y Salud, S.A. (Revisalud) for alleged environmental, economic, and public health violations following a contract dispute that left streets piled with waste.Municipal legal advisor Claudio Francis detailed the complaints during a council session this week. He stated the complaints were formally presented to the Public Ministry (Panama) for investigation. The allegations stem from the company’s performance in the final months of a contract that ended in January 2025.”From November until January, the company deliberately reduced the waste collection…

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino positioned his nation as a critical global hub for maritime, air, and digital connectivity during a keynote address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. His speech on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, focused on leveraging Panama’s geographic advantage to attract investment in logistics, energy, and technology sectors.The president served as a lead panelist in a session titled “Industry Leaders: Ideas on How to Recalibrate the New Energy Reality.” He argued that Panama’s role extends far beyond its famous canal, describing a nation actively building infrastructure for a decarbonized future. This vision includes major regional…

Business leaders in Panama’s Chiriquí Province are betting on major infrastructure projects to drive economic growth and job creation in the country’s western region. This optimism was the central theme at the “Visión Chiriquí 2026” forum held in David this week, where projects like the $250 million Puerto Barú and a proposed Panama-Paso Canoas train were highlighted as transformative investments.The forum, organized by La Prensa newspaper, brought together key private sector figures to discuss the future of a province historically known as Panama’s breadbasket. Participants argued that strategic location and new logistics corridors could diversify the local economy beyond agriculture,…

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino secured significant investment interest from three corporate giants during meetings at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. Executives from Citi, Maersk, and AES Corporation each expressed concrete plans to expand their financial, maritime, and energy operations in the Central American nation. The discussions, held on Tuesday, January 20, focused on funding for Panama’s largest infrastructure projects.The presidential delegation presented a portfolio of strategic national initiatives. These projects included the Panama-David train, an electrical interconnection with Colombia, and new Panama Canal investments like the Rio Indio reservoir. Two new mega-port terminals and a gas…

Panama’s Ministry of Health (Minsa) has confirmed eight deaths from influenza during the first week of 2026. The fatalities occurred between January 4 and 10, prompting health officials to issue a public alert about rising cases.The deaths were recorded across multiple regions including Panama Metro, the Ngäbe Buglé Comarca, Chiriquí, Bocas del Toro, Coclé, and San Miguelito. A significant majority of the victims, 75 percent, were adults over the age of 60. Two of the deceased were children under five years old.Vaccination Status and Comorbidities Highlighted in Fatal CasesHealth data reveals a stark correlation between the fatalities and vaccination status.…

A critical seasonal ocean event that has sustained Panama’s Pacific coast for generations failed dramatically in early 2025. For the first time in at least four decades of recorded data, the annual upwelling in the Gulf of Panama did not occur, leaving fisheries depleted and coral reefs vulnerable. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences links the collapse to altered wind patterns, delivering a stark warning about climate disruption in tropical seas.The Gulf of Panama has historically relied on a predictable cycle. From December through April, strong northerly trade winds push warm surface water…

Panama’s consumer protection agency recovered nearly a quarter of a million dollars for travelers last year. The Authority for Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition (Panama) resolved 81 formal complaints against hotels and vacation package providers in 2025.Consumers filed claims totaling $391,855, according to the agency’s annual data. Officials stated that a lack of clear information from companies caused the majority of the financial losses.Thirty-two complaints, representing over $253,000 in claims, cited insufficient or misleading information. Other major grievances involved unfair contract terms and failures to deliver promised services. The agency’s statistics section confirmed a long-term trend, with over 2,150…

Panama’s National Aeronaval Service (SENAN) intercepted a major drug shipment off the country’s Pacific coast this Sunday. The maritime interdiction operation resulted in the seizure of 1,311 packages of narcotics and the detention of two suspects near Puerto Escondido in Veraguas Province.Officials reported that three high-speed boats were also confiscated during the mission. Authorities recovered one rifle from the abandoned vessels. The operation unfolded during a routine patrol when crews spotted three vessels clustered together and conducting suspicious cargo transfer maneuvers.Chase Leads to Coastal CaptureThe crews of the detected boats fled in different directions upon noticing the naval presence. During…

Panamanian food exporters are actively seeking access to 21 international markets through 52 separate regulatory processes. This push for market diversification comes as a longstanding trade conflict with neighboring Costa Rica continues to block key agricultural exports. The Panamanian Food Safety Authority (APA) is managing the requests for meat, dairy, seafood, and poultry products.At least eight Panamanian plants remain blocked from exporting to Costa Rica. Panama has reciprocated by restricting entry for 26 Costa Rican facilities, primarily affecting meat and dairy goods. This bilateral dispute, which intensified between 2019 and 2020, has forced local companies to urgently find alternative destinations…