Author: spieper
The 2025 academic year in Panama officially ends this Friday, December 19. The nation’s Ministry of Education confirmed the date while awaiting final statistics on student performance and dropout rates.Official data on how many students failed subjects, dropped out, or advanced to the next grade will only be available after school directors complete their year-end reports. This annual review process provides the definitive picture of the educational landscape. Preliminary figures from the second trimester, however, have already revealed an unexpected trend in subject performance.Authorities noted that students are struggling not just in traditionally tough sciences but in social studies courses…
The Dr. Rafael Estévez Hospital in Aguadulce has initiated its first coronary angiography service. This new diagnostic capability, launched by the Caja de Seguro Social (CSS), represents a major advancement for cardiac care in Panama’s central provinces.Patients with suspected heart conditions no longer face mandatory transfers to Panama City for specialized evaluation. The local availability of this procedure dramatically improves access to critical care and speeds up treatment for individuals experiencing chest pain and other high-risk cardiovascular symptoms.Transforming Cardiac Diagnosis and CareA coronary angiography is a vital diagnostic tool. It allows cardiologists to visualize blockages within the heart’s arteries and…
The public transport operator MiBus has launched a special recruitment call for women aged 25 and over in Panama City. The company seeks new electric bus drivers and maintenance staff as it prepares to expand its fleet. This initiative aims to strengthen female participation in a sector traditionally dominated by men.Company officials said the drive responds directly to the imminent arrival of a new fleet of electric buses. The modernization effort creates immediate job opportunities for women interested in joining the city’s transit modernization. MiBus currently employs about 300 women as bus operators, a number it hopes to significantly increase…
More than 150 people have joined a waiting list for a key admissions exam at Panama’s Instituto Técnico Superior Especializado (ITSE). The high demand follows an initial application round that exceeded institutional expectations. This surge highlights a growing national focus on rapid, job-ready technical education.The “Piense II” exam evaluates the academic competencies of applicants for the institute’s short-cycle career programs. Officials use it to determine if candidates possess the necessary foundation to effectively absorb technical training content. Those who achieve the minimum required score gain direct entry into their chosen career path.Applicants who do not meet the threshold are referred…
Panama’s flagship jaguar protection initiative has received the highest possible international evaluation for the second consecutive year. The GEF 7 Jaguars Panama Project earned a “highly satisfactory” rating in the 2024 progress report from the Global Wildlife Program (GWP).The Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente) announced the recognition this week. This assessment ranked Panama’s work among 50 projects across 38 nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.Exclusive Achievement in Wildlife ConservationRicardo Moreno, president of the Yaguará Panama Foundation, provided context for the award. He stated that only 71 percent of globally evaluated projects received a “satisfactory” score. Panama’s project alone maintained the…
The municipality of San Miguelito, Panama, has postponed for a third time the bidding process for its comprehensive urban solid waste management contract. Mayor Irma Hernández confirmed the new submission date is now February 18, 2026, pushing back a process originally set for December 19 of this year. The decision, made during a Municipal Council session, aims to attract more bidders to the $315.2 million public service concession.This critical public tender covers the district’s entire waste stream. It includes collection, transport, street sweeping, treatment, and final disposal. Officials stated the delay followed adjustments to the bid requirements to better match…
Panama’s National Border Service (Senafront) has dismantled a major criminal network and deactivated improvised explosive devices in the treacherous Darién Gap. The operation, conducted on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, resulted in multiple arrests and significant weapons seizures, highlighting the escalating security challenges in the remote border region with Colombia.Senafront Director Larry Solís Velásquez detailed the successes of “Operation Sentinel.” His forces captured Colombian migrant smugglers, known as “coyotes,” and neutralized several deadly explosive traps. Authorities directly linked these activities to the transnational criminal organizations Tren de Aragua and the Gulf Clan (Clan del Golfo).Explosive Devices and Criminal InfiltrationThe operation launched…
Panama’s Copa Airlines has prolonged its suspension of flights to and from Caracas, Venezuela, for the rest of the year. The carrier announced the decision on Tuesday, December 16, citing ongoing issues with the main runway at the Venezuelan capital’s primary airport. Operations will remain halted until at least Thursday, January 15, 2026. Company officials stated they expect the main runway at Simón Bolívar International Airport (Maiquetía) to be fully operational again by that date. The required repairs include restoring its critical Instrument Landing System (ILS), a key safety feature for guiding aircraft in poor visibility. Airline Tests Alternate Cargo…
Panama is leading a major regional security initiative this week, hosting a two-day training session for Latin American and Caribbean officials. The event focuses on strengthening measures to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Representatives from across the region gathered in Panama City on Monday to enhance coordination and legal frameworks against this global threat.The workshop specifically aims to build the capacity of national points of contact responsible for implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540. Adopted in 2004, this binding resolution obligates all UN member states to refrain from supporting non-state actors seeking nuclear, chemical, or biological…
The Panamanian government officially revoked its economic countermeasures against Ecuador on Tuesday, December 16. This decisive action by the Cabinet of Panama follows Ecuador’s removal of the Central American nation from its discriminatory list of fiscal jurisdictions.Authorities stated the retaliatory measures, originally imposed in response to Ecuador’s listing, are no longer necessary. The diplomatic and economic shift stems from a formal tax information exchange agreement signed by both countries on August 15.A Bilateral Agreement Paves the WayThat August agreement established a framework for the automatic exchange of tax information. Its core purpose is preventing hidden income and strengthening institutional capacity…