Author: spieper

The Municipality of Panama will inaugurate five newly themed public parks across the capital later this month. Officials confirmed the recreational spaces, featuring installations from dinosaurs to world capitals, will open to families after January 15 following the removal of traditional holiday decorations. This initiative forms a core part of the city’s strategy to provide continuous, engaging public spaces beyond the festive season. The project is being coordinated with local community boards to ensure it meets neighborhood interests. “We are going to have one with a universe theme featuring planet pieces, and another called Capitals of the World with replicas…

The creative industries sector now accounts for 6.8 percent of Panama’s total economic activity. Minister of Commerce and Industries Julio Moltó confirmed the figure this week, positioning the sector as a major driver for national development.This substantial contribution highlights the growing economic power of fields like design, audiovisual production, music, fashion, and crafts. The data emerged from a meeting of the Coordinating Commission for Creative and Cultural Industries (CCICC), which is steering public policy to harness this growth.Minister Moltó directly linked the sector’s visibility to the official “Made in Panama” branding seal. He argued the seal is crucial for organizing…

The Panama City Mayor’s Office has initiated a cleanup and restoration project for a small urban beach in the city’s historic district. The effort aims to reclaim public space and boost local tourism by creating a new recreational area for residents and visitors. Work began this Thursday with a coordinated cleaning operation involving municipal workers and security personnel. This project is a key initiative of Panama District Mayor Mayer Mizrachi, who has recently promoted the site as a leisure alternative. The goal is to transform the neglected area into a managed public space that also supports local entrepreneurship. Officials estimate…

Venezuelan authorities began releasing political prisoners this week. The move follows intense international scrutiny after the January 3 arrest of former President Nicolás Maduro by United States agents. The releases, confirmed by human rights groups on January 9, 2026, mark a significant shift in the country’s domestic political landscape.The government of interim President Delcy Rodríguez did not provide an official list or total number of those freed. Local rights organization Foro Penal confirmed at least five high-profile detainees regained their liberty. This action represents the largest such gesture since Maduro’s detention, which fundamentally altered internal power dynamics.”Only five have been…

Panama’s border service has initiated a major new security operation in its remote southeastern province. The Servicio Nacional de Fronteras (Senafront) officially launched Operation Steel Shield from its Eastern Brigade headquarters in Metetí, Darién, this week. Led by Senafront Director General Larry Solís Velásquez, the operation focuses on two core institutional pillars. Officials say it aims to strengthen territorial control and enhance citizen security across the sensitive frontier zone. Multi-Phase Security Strategy Deployed The operation involves a coordinated deployment of specialized units across land and sea. Senafront’s Special Forces teams will conduct reconnaissance and territorial control missions in remote Pacific…

A United States citizen was handed over to American authorities at Panama’s Tocumen International Airport this week. The National Police confirmed the extradition, which stems from allegations of international child abduction.Officers from Interpol Panama executed the transfer in close coordination with agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The woman had been the subject of an active Interpol Red Notice issued by the United States. She was wanted for the alleged crime of kidnapping a minor and transporting the child across international borders.The suspect was initially apprehended in a residential area of Panama City on December 9, 2023. The operation…

Panama’s Caribbean coast welcomed high-profile visitors this week as actors Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones toured the Bocas del Toro Province. The Panama Tourism Authority celebrated the celebrity visit on its official social media channels, highlighting the region’s growing appeal to an international audience. The couple’s trip represents a significant promotional moment for Panamanian tourism officials. Their presence underscores a strategic push to position the country as a premier destination for luxury travel and natural beauty. The Panama Tourism Authority shared images of the stars’ visit with a caption stating the province had the honor of receiving them. “An experience…

The Panama City Mayor’s Office and the Canal Sentinel Association held a commemorative ceremony this week at the Avenue of the Martyrs. The event honored the patriotic struggle of January 9, 1964, a pivotal moment in Panama’s history. Officials also detailed ongoing restoration work at the site’s central monument and pedestrian bridge. This annual ceremony consistently draws attention to the condition of monuments dedicated to the students who led the historic protests. The 1964 clashes, which extended over several days beginning on January 9, were a critical catalyst for Panama’s eventual sovereignty over the Panama Canal. Mayor Mayer Mizrachi explained…

The Panamanian government has set new retail fuel prices for a two-week period starting Friday, January 9. The country’s Secretariat of Energy released the updated pricing structure, which shows a mixed adjustment for consumers at the pump.According to the official announcement, premium 95-octane gasoline will see a slight increase. Its price will rise by one cent, reaching 84 cents per liter. Regular 91-octane gasoline will hold steady at 78 cents per liter. In a move that will benefit commercial and industrial users, the price of low-sulfur diesel will decrease by one cent to 76 cents per liter. These government-mandated prices…

The Panamanian government has committed to building 100 new pedestrian bridges in remote indigenous territories. Officials from the Ministry of Public Works (Panama) announced the plan this week, targeting communities with severe access limitations.Minister of Public Works José Luis Andrade confirmed the cabinet approved the first phase of 50 bridges. This initial stage involves an investment of $18.1 million. The project focuses primarily on the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca, Panama’s largest indigenous region.”The first 50 bridges of a total of 100 to be built in the comarca are by instruction of the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino,” Andrade stated. [Translated…