Author: Sebastian Pieper

President José Raúl Mulino stood before a crowd of diplomats and cabinet members at the Biomuseo in Amador on Thursday evening. The occasion was a reception hosted by the US Embassy Panama celebrating 250 years of American independence. But Mulino used the platform to deliver a pointed message about Panama’s place in the world. The president stressed that cooperation between the two nations must rest on mutual respect. He referenced the Neutrality Treaty as the foundation of modern bilateral relations. That treaty, signed alongside the Panama Canal transfer, guarantees the waterway remains open and neutral during times of peace or…

The newly elected leader of Panama’s legislative body wants citizens to watch their representatives vote in real time. Shirley Castañedas, who secured 42 votes to become president of the National Assembly for the 2026-2027 term, promised a new era of transparency during her inauguration speech. She called on lawmakers to set aside partisan interests and focus on national priorities. Alongside Castañedas, lawmakers Manuel Cohen Salerno and Manuel Chen Peñalba were elected as first and second vice presidents respectively. The new leadership team takes over at a moment when Panama faces pressing questions about economic recovery, mining policy, and public trust…

Nearly 2,000 children and teenagers across Panama remain trapped in labor situations, a reality that government officials are now tackling with a revamped educational strategy. Labor Minister Jackeline Muñoz recently revealed that her office is partnering with the Institute for Training and Utilization of Human Resources (Ifarhu) to dramatically expand a program called ‘Abrazos del Futuro’ (Hugs of the Future). The goal is simple: pull minors out of work and put them back into classrooms. The initiative specifically targets children under 15 who have been rescued from Child labor in Panama. Instead of focusing solely on penalties or inspections, the…

Patients scheduled for surgery at Panama’s flagship hospital will need to make new plans starting this week. The Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) confirmed the temporary closure of 20 operating rooms at the Complejo Hospitalario Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid. The shutdown, which begins Wednesday, is expected to last roughly five days while crews perform corrective work on the air conditioning system. Hospital administrators insist that no one will be left without medical attention. Surgeries already on the books are being rescheduled or moved to other facilities. These include the Ciudad de la Salud, the Hospital Dra. Susana Jones Cano, and…

For shipowners flying the Panamanian flag, the past few years have brought uncertainty. Port inspections carried extra weight. The threat of detention loomed larger. That changed this week when President José Raúl Mulino announced the country’s reinstatement to the Paris Memorandum of Understanding White List. The move signals a major turnaround for the world’s largest ship registry. “Yesterday we received good news. Through effort, compliance with regulations, and thanks to the constant work of the Maritime Authority, we managed to return to the Paris MoU White List. This means our flag meets the highest international standards. It is a very…

Panama City, Panama. Inside the National Assembly, President José Raúl Mulino delivered a stark assessment of what he called the country’s most pressing challenge. The issue isn’t infrastructure or foreign investment. It’s something far more personal for millions of Panamanians. “The concern I hear most frequently during my travels across the country is the lack of job opportunities, especially among our young people,” Mulino told lawmakers. [Translated from Spanish] That frustration has now become the centerpiece of a new government initiative. Mulino announced the launch of “Panamá Pa’ Ti,” a comprehensive national strategy built on four pillars. The program targets…

A new traveling exhibition in Panama tells a story of medical triumph that changed global trade forever. The “Freedom 250: Frontiers of Science” exhibit opened June 26, 2026 at the Gorgas Memorial Institute in Panama City, celebrating both American scientific achievement and the 250th anniversary of the United States. U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera led the inauguration ceremony. The exhibit centers on Dr. William Crawford Gorgas, a U.S. Army physician whose work during the construction of the Panama Canal saved thousands of lives. Gorgas implemented a mosquito eradication campaign that defeated yellow fever and malaria, diseases that had…

Fire crews raced to a burning building on Veraguas Street in Panama City’s historic district Wednesday night, marking the second major blaze in less than a week. The Casco Antiguo neighborhood, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its colonial architecture, faced another emergency just days after a separate fire displaced dozens of families. The Panama Fire Department confirmed crews were on scene but has not yet released details about the extent of the damage or whether anyone was injured. Officials are still gathering information as the situation develops. Power Cut as Precaution Energy company Naturgy announced it had temporarily…

When containers carrying AI components and semiconductors pass through the Panama Canal, their journey now carries new geopolitical weight. The Central American nation officially became the 24th signatory of the Pax Silica Initiative on June 26, 2026, during the Pax Silica Summit 2.0 in Washington, D.C. This move signals a significant shift in how smaller nations are positioning themselves within the global technology economy. U.S. Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera framed the partnership as a natural extension of bilateral ties. “Panama’s participation in Pax Silica strengthens our bilateral relationship and advances our shared commitment to building secure, resilient, and trusted supply…

Deep inside a sprawling construction site in Panama City, workers are carefully installing climate control systems and display cases. These aren’t just any rooms. They’re preparing a vault designed to hold thousands of years of human history. The Museum Reina Torres de Arauz, once known as the Museum of the Panamanian Man, is taking shape. And when it opens, it will house more than 16,000 pieces of the nation’s soul. José Ramón Icaza, the secretary of Goals, recently walked through the unfinished building. He checked every floor. He inspected the electrical plant and the water reserve tank. He saw the…