Author: spieper

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino held a high-level meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in Oslo, Norway, on Thursday. The encounter marked Machado’s first public diplomatic engagement in nearly a year and occurred just before she received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Machado, who has lived clandestinely due to security concerns, expressed profound gratitude for Panama’s support during Venezuela’s prolonged political crisis. She specifically highlighted Panama’s role in safeguarding critical electoral documents for Venezuela’s opposition movement. “The support has been extraordinary for all Venezuelans. It began with our records being safeguarded in Panama. That has been for us…

The Panamanian government has officially approved a new minimum wage structure following negotiations between labor, business, and state representatives. The Ministry of Labor (Panama) announced the agreement on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, after the final session of the National Minimum Wage Commission. The increases will apply to over 400,000 workers across dozens of economic sectors starting January 16, 2026.Labor Minister Jackeline Muñoz detailed the specific adjustments, which vary by region and occupation. The agreement ensures every covered worker will receive a raise of at least 9.50 balboas per month. Panama uses the US dollar as its official currency, with the…

Gasoline and diesel prices in Panama will fall starting Friday, December 12. The country’s energy authority confirmed the two-week price adjustment, which offers modest relief at the pump during the holiday season.The new rates, set by the Panama Secretariat of Energy, will remain in effect until 5:59 a.m. on December 25. Officials cited fluctuations in the international oil market as the primary reason for the reduction.Specific Price Adjustments for ConsumersPremium 95-octane gasoline will see a decrease of three cents per liter. Its new price will be 86 cents per liter. The lower 91-octane gasoline, a common choice for many vehicles,…

Residents of two large apartment buildings in Colón, Panama, are pleading for immediate government action as their homes crumble around them. More than 35 families in buildings 11073 and 11077 on Calle 12, Avenida Meléndez say they live in constant fear of collapse. They accuse the housing ministry of ignoring their documented requests for relocation after being declared at risk.The structures suffer from severe structural damage including falling ceiling slabs, roof detachment, and deep cracks in load-bearing walls. A formal evacuation order for the buildings is already in place. Issued by the National Civil Protection System (Panama), the order has…

The Forum of Journalists for Freedom of Expression and Information in Panama has issued a stark declaration. The group warns that press freedom, a cornerstone of democracy, faces escalating threats from disinformation and the commodification of news. The statement was released to coincide with global observations of International Human Rights Day.This professional association framed its message as a direct response to current challenges within Panama and other democracies worldwide. Their central argument holds that independent, ethical journalism is a non-negotiable requirement for a transparent and healthy society, not a secondary aspiration. The forum’s document insists a community’s ability to understand…

A groundbreaking study from Panama has established specific clinical recommendations to improve care for patients, especially children, following scorpion stings. The research analyzed the venom of five common local species to understand their toxic effects on the human body. Its findings are now guiding new emergency room protocols across the country. The work was led by toxicologist Maricruz Morán, a technical assistant at the University of Panama’s Center for Research and Information on Drugs and Toxins (CIIMET). Her team conducted a detailed analysis of venom from the Tityus atreus, Tityus championi, Tityus festae, Centruroides bicolor, and Centruroides limbatus scorpions. Researchers…

The Government of Panama has issued a forceful rejection of a national deputy’s claims that the country is inactive in fighting illegal fishing. In a joint statement released this week, multiple ministries labeled the accusations as contradictory to verified progress recognized by the European Union.Deputy Roberto Zúñiga, while in Brussels, alleged Panama maintained an insufficient effort against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The administration of President José Raúl Mulino responded directly, stating the comments do not align with the reality of work undertaken since July 2024. Officials provided a detailed list of enforcement actions and legislative upgrades already implemented.European…

American and Panamanian special operations forces executed a coordinated crisis response exercise at the U.S. Embassy in Panama in Panama City on December 5. The drill involved elite units from both nations working to secure the diplomatic compound during a simulated emergency scenario. Officials stated the training aimed to validate joint response protocols and enhance interoperability for real-world incidents.Participating forces included operators from the U.S. Navy SEALs and the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). They trained alongside their counterparts from Panama’s Dirección Nacional de Fuerzas Especiales, known as DINFEE. The exercise focused on rapid deployment, site security, and tactical coordination…

Panama will host the eleventh International Spanish Language Congress (CILE) in 2028. The decision, now at the center of a public dispute between Spain’s leading language institutions, was confirmed this week by the director of Panama’s Language Academy, Jorge Eduardo Ritter.The announcement follows reported tensions in Spain between the director of the Instituto Cervantes, Luis García Montero, and the head of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), Santiago Muñoz Machado. García Montero has publicly suggested that Muñoz Machado unilaterally selected Panama without proper consultation, a claim Panamanian officials strongly deny.In an interview with La Prensa on Tuesday, December 9, Ritter clarified…

Panama has been selected to chair the region’s primary anti-money laundering body next year. The country will assume the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT) for 2026, a decision made during the organization’s latest plenary session in Guatemala.Isabel Vecchio Arófulo, Panama’s National Coordinator before GAFILAT, will lead the presidency. Her role places Panama at the helm of setting regional priorities and directing key committees for the 18-member organization. This position grants the country significant influence over initiatives in financial transparency and crime prevention.”We assume this responsibility with a firm commitment to the transparency…