Author: Sebastian Pieper

President José Raúl Mulino isn’t merely listening to complaints about Panama’s erratic electricity supply from frustrated citizens. He lives them. At his own residence, unpredictable blackouts have fried refrigerators, televisions, and microwaves, he revealed this week. Now, a sweeping package of new laws is being readied to overhaul the national power grid and inject fresh momentum into construction and tourism, two pillars of the country’s services-based economy. A ‘True Disaster’ at Home: How the President’s Appliances Became Casualties Speaking after a memorial mass marking 38 years since the death of three-time president Arnulfo Arias Madrid, Mulino pulled no punches. ‘The…

A weekend of bloodshed across Panama left four people dead in under 24 hours, including a 13-year-old boy, highlighting a deeply troubling pattern of youth homicides that continues to challenge authorities and terrify communities. The attacks, concentrated in the metropolitan area and the Caribbean province of Colón, underscored how quickly armed violence can snuff out young lives in neighborhoods already scarred by gang activity and the proliferation of guns. Youth Homicides and the Vulnerability of Teens The youngest of the recent victims was only 13 years old. He was intercepted by gunmen on a motorcycle near the main entrance of…

Across Panama, thousands of cats navigate alleys, dumpsters, and parked cars without much notice. They aren’t noisy or confrontational. They simply try to survive. This quiet crisis is what Spay Panama confronts daily, and on International Cat Day the organization stepped up with a targeted sterilization drive that reached more than 400 felines in a single effort. The initiative prioritized rescuers and low-income families, offering each procedure for a copay of just 10 dollars. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Spay Panama (@spaypanama) The Hidden Struggle of Panama’s Street Cats Unlike dogs, whose presence often draws immediate…

When residents of Boca la Caja began posting videos of foul-smelling, discolored water gushing toward Panama Bay, they probably didn’t imagine their social media complaints would trigger one of the country’s most aggressive environmental crackdowns. Those citizen reports, shared widely in mid-2025, caught the attention of Panama’s Ministry of Environment and ultimately led to a record pollution fine of more than 1.1 million balboas against a corporation that has operated along the bay for decades. How Dye Tests Uncovered the Untreated Discharge The investigation took off in July 2025 when technicians from the Directorate of Environmental Performance Verification, known as…

When the engines fire up at the Autódromo Panamá in December 2026, the track won’t be dominated by full-sized race cars. Instead, a fleet of high-performance karts will take center stage as Panama welcomes the IAME Panamerican Championship, a premier karting championship that draws elite talent from across the Western Hemisphere. The three-day event, scheduled for December 11 through 13, marks a significant moment for Panama’s growing reputation as a motorsport destination in Latin America. Panama’s Ascent in International Motorsport For years, Panama has quietly built the infrastructure and expertise needed to host world-class racing events. The selection of the…

A Panamanian diplomat crossed into active combat territory to personally escort two citizens out of Ukraine, a mission that will see Edmar Camacho and Efraín Calvo arrive home safely today, on Sunday, August 9, 2026. The two Panamanians return from Ukraine after what the Foreign Ministry described as a complex consular operation, one that required direct coordination with Ukrainian authorities and an overland journey through the war zone to neighboring Poland. Their evacuation marks the final piece of a broader repatriation effort involving seven Panamanian nationals linked to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. A Diplomat Crosses Into the War Zone Aldo…

A violent altercation that landed a former municipal employee in the hospital has spiraled into a full-blown constitutional crisis, pitting President José Raúl Mulino directly against Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi. The president’s sharp condemnation of the newly formed Municipal Police came Saturday, marking the most direct intervention yet in a dispute that now sits before the Supreme Court. With the phrase President Against Mayor framing the escalating tension, the future of local law enforcement in Panama’s capital hangs in the balance. Hospital Confrontation Sparks National Firestorm The controversy erupted into public view after events on Monday, August 3, when…

Forty lots of Panama’s finest specialty coffee now sit under lock and key, guarded by external auditors in a quiet office, waiting for the moment they’ll face the world’s most demanding buyers. The international Panama coffee auction scheduled for September 23 represents the culmination of months of meticulous farm work, rigorous tasting panels, and a three-decade gamble that transformed a struggling agricultural sector into a global luxury market. Each sealed bag carries not just beans but the weight of a nation’s reputation for producing some of the most expensive and sought-after coffee on the planet. A Global Stage for Panama…

Panama tax collection climbed 13.3 percent during the first six months of 2026, a surge that tax officials attribute to a creative scheme turning everyday shoppers into unpaid tax auditors. According to preliminary figures from the Directorate General of Revenue (DGI), the Impuesto de Transferencia de Bienes Muebles y Servicios (ITBMS ), similar to VAT tax in other countries, brought in B/.563.4 million by June 30. That represents B/.66.3 million more than the same period last year. A 13.3 Percent Rise in Consumption Tax Revenue The ITBMS functions much like a value-added tax, with a standard rate of 7 percent…

In a country where centuries-old cathedrals stand a few blocks from gleaming Baha’i domes and Jewish synagogues, a quiet revolution of understanding is taking shape. The fourth edition of open temples week will welcome Panamanians into sacred spaces often hidden behind ornate doors, from August 10 through 15, as twelve distinct faith communities join forces to replace suspicion with conversation. Organizers from the Interreligious Committee of Panama announced the initiative this Friday, framing it as a direct response to the polarization and social fragmentation that dominate headlines across the Americas. The week’s program, which drew roughly 2,500 visitors during last…