Author: Sebastian Pieper

More than twenty countries have urged Panama to enhance legal protections for its LGBTQ citizens. The recommendations came during Panama’s Universal Periodic Review before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Nations including Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Iceland, and Australia called for specific legal reforms. The session, focused on Panama’s human rights record. A primary demand was the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories within the country’s existing anti-discrimination law, Law 7 of 2018. Several countries also pressed for administrative, safe, and self-determination based procedures for legal…

Panama has formally requested the extradition of a suspect in the 1994 Alas Chiricanas Flight 901 bombing after his capture in Venezuela. Venezuelan authorities detained Ali Zaki Hage Jalil, a 57-year-old man wanted for one of the deadliest attacks in Panamanian aviation history, on Margarita Island. The Panamanian government announced it is initiating all necessary diplomatic and judicial procedures to bring the long-sought suspect to trial. This arrest concludes a manhunt that spanned more than three decades. The suspect was apprehended by agents from Interpol Venezuela, acting in coordination with Panamanian judicial authorities. A Red Notice from Interpol Panama had…

Panama’s Ministry of Culture has chosen the artistic project that will represent the nation at the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2026. The winning proposal comes from the collaborative duo Antonio Jose Guzman and Iva Jankovic, selected through an open international competition. This announcement, made on November 7, 2025, confirms the country’s continued participation on one of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art stages. A rigorous independent jury reviewed eighty-nine submissions before reaching its final decision. The selection process emphasized principles of openness and institutional transparency, aiming to strengthen the global projection of Panamanian contemporary art.…

Chiquita Brands is initiating a large scale hiring campaign in Panama to staff its banana plantations in the Bocas del Toro Province. The company plans to fill 5,000 jobs through a series of recruitment fairs scheduled from November 11 to 15, 2025. This hiring surge marks a significant step in resuming full operations after a months long shutdown caused by regional protests.All new positions will be managed through five partner farming companies operating under a specific agricultural model. Under this arrangement, Chiquita provides the land to producer associations who then cultivate the fruit. The global company handles purchasing the harvest…

A major disruption in Panama’s National Interconnected System left large sectors of Panama City and Colon without water for hours on Saturday. The widespread power outage forced the critical Chilibre Federico Guardia Conte water treatment plant offline, halting potable water production for the metropolitan area. Rutilio Villarreal, the General Director of the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan), confirmed the cascade of failures and detailed the ongoing recovery efforts in a press conference from the institute’s control center.The Chilibre plant, a primary source of drinking water for the capital, remained non-operational for approximately one hour due to the electrical…

Panamanian homeowners with subsidized mortgage loans will see higher monthly payments starting this November. The Superintendency of Banks of Panama officially increased the benchmark mortgage interest rate for the final quarter of 2025, a move that directly impacts preferential housing loans across the banking system. This adjustment raises the key reference rate from 6.25 percent to 6.50 percent, representing an increase of twenty-five basis points. Financial institutions including Banco General, Multibank, and Global Bank have already begun notifying customers about the change. The new rate took effect October 1, with banks implementing the adjustment throughout October and November. Regulatory Announcement…

A new $15 million university campus in Panama sits empty and nearly finished, awaiting final approval from government auditors. The San Miguelito Regional University Center, a project of the University of Panama, has reached 98 percent completion but remains closed to students due to bureaucratic delays. University officials are now appealing directly to President Jose Raul Mulino for intervention to open the advanced facilities. Legal advisor Miguel Delgado confirmed the standstill stems from two pending addendums that require approval from the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic. These documents are essential for releasing the final funds and authorizing…

Air travel between Panama and the United States continues uninterrupted this week despite significant flight reductions within the US. The Federal Aviation Administration is temporarily cutting domestic flights by ten percent due to a federal government shutdown that has limited air traffic controller staffing. This situation has not impacted international routes to and from Panama, according to officials at Tocumen International Airport and major airlines.Passengers can expect their flights to operate on schedule. Airlines are nonetheless advising travelers to arrive at the airport early and monitor for any notifications about potential delays with connecting flights inside the United States. The…

Two major ferry companies halted all passenger service to Taboga Island on Friday, November 7, stranding residents and cutting off tourist access. Taboga Express Fast Ferry and Barcos Calypso announced the indefinite suspension, citing unsafe conditions at the island’s docking pier and a lack of security guarantees for passengers. The decision plunges the popular island destination into a transportation crisis. It follows recent protests by island residents who are angry about a recent fare increase that raised ticket prices for locals and tourists. The situation leaves the island’s community fearing economic isolation and a collapse in vital tourism traffic. “[We…

Panama’s Ministry of Health has officially confirmed a major new hospital project for the capital’s northern district. Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo announced the government will invest more than 60 million dollars to build the Panama North Hospital, a facility that will feature 170 beds and serve a population exceeding 300,000 residents.This long awaited infrastructure project aims to address a critical healthcare gap for communities that have sought proper medical facilities for over ten years. Minister Boyd Galindo characterized the hospital as an urgent necessity for improving medical attention in the sector. He expressed the current administration’s commitment to finally…