Author: spieper

The Technological University of Panama has secured a national patent for a pair of smart glasses designed to assist people with visual disabilities. University officials announced the formal registration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on December 23, 2025, marking a significant step in translating academic research into practical, inclusive technology. This invention originated from a student project at the university’s Veraguas Regional Center. It was developed during a Scientific Initiation Journey, a program aimed at fostering early research. The patent application was filed by Rut Sierra, the Intellectual Property Coordinator at the university’s Directorate of Knowledge Management and…

Panama will host a major bilateral security training program from January 12 to February 26. The exercise involves specialized units from three Panamanian security forces and approximately 50 United States Marines.The official announcement came from Panama’s National Aeronaval Service. Training will occur at two key military installations: the Jungle School at the Admiral Cristobal Colon Aeronaval Base and the Marine Infantry facilities at the Captain of Frigate Noel Antonio Rodriguez Justavino Naval Base. This six-week program aims to enhance the tactical and operational readiness of Panamanian forces through direct collaboration with U.S. personnel.Bilateral Cooperation Focuses on Strategic ReadinessAuthorities framed the…

A long-awaited trial for one of Latin America’s largest corruption scandals is scheduled to start in Panama City on Monday, January 12, 2026. Prosecutors will present their case against 31 individuals accused of orchestrating a vast bribery scheme with the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. This proceeding represents a pivotal test for Panama’s judicial system after more than a decade of investigations and five previous failed attempts to begin the trial.The case centers on allegations that Odebrecht paid over $59 million in bribes to Panamanian officials and political operatives between 2010 and 2014. These payments were allegedly made to secure lucrative…

A major private hospital in Panama City has been sold to a consortium of private universities. The Santa Fe Hospital, a fixture on Simón Bolívar Avenue for decades, officially changed ownership in November 2025 according to filings with the nation’s Public Registry (Panama).Documents show the hospital’s corporate entity was acquired by a new group of shareholders linked to several prominent educational institutions. The sale price is estimated to be around $90 million according to sources within the medical center. All medical and administrative staff are reportedly continuing their work without interruption.New Leadership Tied to AcademiaThe Public Registry documents list the…

Panama’s National Assembly has passed a law creating prison sentences for importing food without proper health permits. The legislation, known as Bill 152, was approved in a third and final debate on January 8 and now awaits presidential action. It aims to protect public health and the national agricultural economy from unsafe and illegally imported products.The bill adds a new chapter on crimes against food security to Panama’s existing Penal Code. Its core provision establishes prison terms of six to eight years for anyone who brings plant or animal-based food products into the country without the required sanitary permits from…

The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) has issued a nationwide maritime vigilance advisory. The warning, effective from early Saturday, January 10, through Tuesday night, January 13, forecasts intensified winds and dangerously high waves along the entire Pacific coastline.Officials attribute the hazardous conditions to a significant atmospheric pressure gradient. This gradient is the result of a high-pressure system over the Atlantic interacting with a semi-permanent low-pressure zone located between Panama and Colombia. The resulting weather pattern is driving strong offshore winds toward the Pacific, churning the ocean’s surface.”The maritime conditions will be marked by intense winds and a…

Officials in Santiago, Panama, are proposing fines as high as $2,000 for individuals caught illegally dumping trash. The district government in the Province of Veraguas announced the plan this week during a cleanup operation targeting a notorious illegal dump site. This drastic increase from current penalties aims to combat a growing epidemic of clandestine waste disposal plaguing local roads and communities.Authorities revealed the strategy while removing tons of garbage from the road connecting the San Martín and Urracá districts. That specific area has become a recurring hotspot for illegal dumping. The sheer volume of waste collected during the operation underscored…

The Omar Torrijos Herrera Public Library in Panama’s San Miguelito District has won a major international grant. The library’s community reading project was selected as one of 23 winners from 176 submissions across Ibero-America in the 13th Call for Aid from Iberbibliotecas for 2025. Panama’s Ministry of Culture of Panama announced the competitive award this week.This victory places Panama among a prestigious group of selected nations including Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil. Only 125 projects even advanced to the pre-selection stage from the initial pool. The winning proposal, titled “Building Community Through Reading,” aims to transform the library into…

Panama’s government has launched formal investigations into activating special agricultural safeguards on imports from the United States. The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Panama) confirmed the move this week through eight separate resolutions targeting sensitive products like rice, chicken, and dairy. This action stems from the countries’ bilateral Trade Promotion Agreement and aims to protect local producers from a sudden surge in foreign goods.Officials already activated one such measure on January 6 for specific cheeses, including mozzarella. Import volumes for these items reached the predetermined trigger levels outlined in the trade pact and national law. The immediate goal is safeguarding…

Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha will travel to Washington, D.C. this weekend for high-level meetings with United States officials. His visit, confirmed on Thursday, focuses on bilateral cooperation and regional security challenges, explicitly excluding discussions on the Panama Canal or trade agreements from the agenda.The minister’s primary engagement will be with the newly appointed United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. He is also scheduled to meet other figures within the administration of President Donald Trump. Martínez-Acha framed the trip as a routine diplomatic effort to strengthen an already fluid partnership.Addressing speculation about tensions, the Foreign Minister was unequivocal. He…