Author: Sebastian Pieper

When the European Union and Central American nations sat down in Brussels for their first Association Committee meeting, Panama took the lead role. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos A. Hoyos represented the region as coordinator for political dialogue and cooperation. The meetings, which wrapped up on Tuesday, produced agreements on security, digital transformation, green transition, economic integration, and sustainable development. The Association Committee serves as a key mechanism within the broader European Union-Central America Association Agreement. This framework has shaped relations between the two regions for years, though this particular committee meeting marked a fresh chapter in how both…

The quiet hum of humanitarian logistics has become the center of a bitter political confrontation between Panama and Venezuela. At the heart of this dispute lies a simple tracking device, smaller than a coin, that has exposed deep fractures in how international aid is monitored and distributed. Venezuelan Minister of Interior Diosdado Cabello did not hold back when he learned that Panama City’s mayor had been secretly tracking relief supplies sent to earthquake victims. “We reject the vulgar and miserable statements of the mayor of Panama,” Cabello said during a broadcast on Venezolana de Television (VTV), the state-run network. He…

Scammers are getting bolder in Panama. They pretend to be government officials. They call, text, and email consumers. Their goal is to steal personal information and money. The Consumer Protection and Competition Defense Authority (Acodeco) issued a public warning on July 15, 2026. The agency told citizens to stay alert and verify any communication claiming to be from them. These fraudsters use multiple methods to reach their targets. Phone calls come first. Then follow text messages, WhatsApp chats, and emails. The scammers offer to process official procedures on behalf of Acodeco. They promise to handle complaints or consumer claims. But…

Outside Hospital Regional Rafael Hernández in Chiriquí, a group of medical interns and residents gathered Wednesday in a peaceful demonstration. Their message was clear: they want what they have earned. More than 200 interns and approximately 15 residents stood together, calling attention to unpaid overtime shifts, missing bonuses, and delayed category changes that some say have been pending for over a year. One doctor participating in the protest described the frustration shared by many colleagues. “We are here in a peaceful demonstration seeking payment for owed shifts, as well as bonuses and category changes for many of our colleagues that…

The connection between women and environmental stewardship runs deep in Panama City. In July 2026, the Ministry of Environment of Panama brought together women from community boards across the capital for a specialized training session. The goal was straightforward yet ambitious: teach women how to apply a gender approach in environmental conservation to their daily community work. The gathering, organized by the Environmental Culture Section of the Metropolitan Regional Directorate, covered far more than basic ecology. Participants explored topics including women and the environment, value-based leadership, environmental justice, self-esteem, and the foundations for building community-based organizations for environmental management. Through…

The red carpet rolled out at Mexico City’s airport Tuesday morning as Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino stepped onto foreign soil for what officials describe as a pivotal diplomatic mission. Greeted with full military honors, Mulino’s arrival marks the beginning of discussions that could reshape economic ties between the two nations. The Panamanian leader was welcomed by Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Relations Roberto Velasco, along with Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean Raquel Serur and Director General for Central America and the Caribbean Carlos Imanol Belausteguigoitia. First Lady Maricel Cohen de Mulino accompanied the president on the journey. The…

A wave of speculation about pay raises for local officials has hit Panama City, but the Mayor of Panama is pushing back hard. Mayer Mizrachi stated clearly that no formal proposal exists within the Municipal Council to increase salaries for district representatives by $1,000. The rumor mill went into overdrive recently, with headlines suggesting a significant pay bump was on the table. Mizrachi wanted to set the record straight. ‘From the council members of the Municipality of Panama, no such proposal came out. I also saw those headlines, but I can tell you that in the Panama district, that conversation…

When a popular influencer posts a glowing review of a skincare product or a travel destination, many followers assume it is an honest, unpaid opinion. A new legislative proposal in Panama aims to change that assumption forever. Walkiria Chandler, a deputy in the country’s legislative body, has introduced a preliminary bill that would require content creators and influencers to clearly disclose when they receive payment or benefits for promoting products or services on social media. The proposal has sparked intense debate across digital platforms, with creators and influencers sharply divided over what the rules would mean for their work. Some…

When Nilo Murillo walks through his agency’s permanent food market in San Miguelito on a Tuesday morning, he sees something that numbers alone cannot capture. Families line up before 7 a.m. with reusable bags and careful budgets. The director of Panama’s Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA) insists these scenes justify a program that private retailers have called unfair competition. The controversy erupted after Roberto Pretelt, president of the Association of Grocery Merchants of Panama (Acovipa), questioned the expansion of IMA’s subsidized markets. He asked the government to loosen food import restrictions instead. But Murillo pushed back hard during a recent interview,…

Deep inside Panama City’s urban jungle, a different kind of development is taking root. The Ministry of Environment Panama and the Metropolitan Natural Park Board have unveiled a new complex designed to bring people closer to nature while protecting some of the country’s most fragile ecosystems. The Tropical Forest Refuge, inaugurated on July 9, 2026, marks the 41st anniversary of this protected area that sits surprisingly close to the capital’s skyline. The facility combines a nursery, a greenhouse, and a butterfly garden into one integrated space. Officials say the project responds to growing public interest in reforestation efforts, plant rescue…