Author: Editorial Team

More than 30 restaurants across Panama City and interior regions are participating in Wings Week 2026. The eighth edition of this gastronomic festival runs through June 5. It celebrates chicken wings with original recipes from local chefs. [Translated from Spanish] The festival launched on May 15. Diners can enjoy Wings Specials for a fixed price of $12, excluding taxes and tips. Each special includes eight wings with a chef’s original recipe, one side dish, and a Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or Original. Some restaurants also offer boneless options. [Translated from Spanish] Visa Panama sponsors the event. Payments must be made with…

Panama’s health authorities have confirmed 2,345 cases of Dengue fever through the first 17 weeks of 2026. The Ministry of Health Panama released the data on Tuesday. The report covers the epidemiological week ending May 2, 2026. The majority of patients show no warning signs. Officials recorded 2,055 cases in that category. Another 276 patients have warning signs and 14 cases are classified as severe dengue. The Metropolitan Region holds the highest count with 608 infections. Case Distribution Across Panama’s Regions The epidemiological breakdown shows significant variation between provinces. Colon follows the Metropolitan Region with 397 cases. Bocas del Toro…

Panama has deported and expelled 45 Colombian citizens from the country. The group departed from Marcos A. Gelabert Airport on flights bound for Colombia. Officials confirmed the operation this week as part of ongoing immigration control measures. The Panama-United States Memorandum of Understanding on Migration provides the legal framework for these actions. Of the 45 individuals returned, 36 were deported for violating immigration laws. Their infractions include evading checkpoints, overstaying visas, and other administrative violations under national legislation. Nine Colombian citizens were expelled from Panamanian territory. These individuals had criminal records linked to crimes against collective security. Their offenses include…

The Ombudsman’s Office of Panama has launched multiple investigations into patient care at two major hospitals. Officials confirmed the probes this week following a surge in complaints from insured patients. The investigations focus on the Arnulfo Arias Madrid Hospital Complex and the Irma de Lourdes Tzanetatos Hospital. Inspectors conducted walkthroughs at both facilities to verify service conditions. The complaints allege violations of the right to health for patients covered by the Panama Social Security Fund. Specific grievances include poor medical attention, medication shortages, and a lack of reagents and supplies. Emergency room conditions have drawn particular scrutiny. Patient Accounts Reveal…

Digital payment adoption is accelerating across Panama, yet cash remains a stubborn fixture in daily transactions. New data from financial sector representatives reveals that 81 percent of Panamanian consumers now use digital payments. The findings were presented this week by Mastercard executives in Panama City. Soledad Rovira, the country manager for Mastercard in Panama, presented the key findings during a financial technology briefing. Consumers are ready for digital tools, she said, but merchants still create barriers. The gap between consumer willingness and merchant acceptance creates friction in the marketplace. “81 percent of consumers in Panama use digital payments and 90…

Panama’s Ministry of Culture has launched a technical evaluation of the presidential sash worn by former President Belisario Porras. The National Center for Restoration of Monuments and Artistic Works is leading the assessment. This piece is currently held by the Electoral Tribunal of Panama. The evaluation represents a critical step in preserving a symbol of Panama’s republican history. Experts are conducting detailed documentation of the sash’s condition. The work includes photographic records, material analysis, and precise measurements of the artifact. Scientific Analysis Guides Preservation Efforts The Ministry of Culture Panama confirmed that scientific assessments generate specialized information for future restoration…

A fire broke out in an apartment on the 20th floor of PH Tower One on Uruguay Avenue early Monday morning. The emergency alarms sounded around 6:30 a.m., jolting residents from their sleep. People scrambled down the emergency stairwells as smoke began filling parts of the building. Some residents grabbed pre-packed evacuation bags and ran outside. Workers from a nearby construction site shouted warnings to those still inside. Confusion and fear dominated the first moments of the crisis, residents told reporters at the scene. A young woman living on the same floor as the fire said the alarm didn’t wake…

Panama pushed for expanded representation and equitable financing at the World Health Organization this month. The nation’s delegation attended the 44th meeting of the World Health Organization Program, Budget and Administration Committee in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting ran from May 13 to May 15. Representatives gathered to debate budget performance, governance reforms, audits and financial sustainability. Panama specifically called for greater participation from countries in the Region of the Americas. The delegation argued that funding distribution for global health remains unbalanced. “We need a system where resources translate into real outcomes for the most vulnerable populations,” said a Panamanian health…

A tragic bus accident in Panama’s Coclé Province has left one person dead and 44 others injured. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when a passenger bus traveling from Panama City to Bocas del Toro overturned. Two of the injured victims remain in serious condition. The accident happened near Platanal in Río Hato, a stretch of the Inter-American Highway heading toward the interior of the country. Emergency crews from the Fire Department and the Traffic Operations Directorate rushed to the scene. They worked quickly to treat the wounded and coordinate transfers to local hospitals. Emergency Response and Hospital Care Medical…

The Consumer Protection and Competition Defense Authority, known as ACODECO, has collected $592,401.47 in fines during the first four months of 2026. These penalties target businesses and economic agents that violated consumer protection laws in Panama. The figures cover the period from January through April. Officials confirmed the revenue stems from multiple types of violations. Some fines relate to consumer rights infringements. Others involve failures to provide benefits for retirees, persons with disabilities, and commercial control regulations. The ACODECO headquarters in Panama City handled the largest share of collections. That office brought in $300,026.72, more than half of the national…