Author: Sebastian Pieper

The National Police of Panama has launched a massive security operation in San Miguelito. More than 500 officers are now hitting the streets. The deployment began this week as part of a comprehensive strategy to fight crime. Public Security Minister Frank Ábrego made the announcement alongside National Police Director Jaime Fernández and Aeronaval Service Director Luis De Gracia. The operation targets areas with the highest crime rates in the district. Officials call it a coordinated push to restore public safety. Community Collaboration and Crime Prevention Minister Ábrego directly addressed residents during the announcement. He urged them to play an active…

Panama City, Panama – Venezuelan democratic forces signed the “Panama Manifesto: For the Great National Agreement and the Transition toward Democracy in Venezuela” on Thursday. The document formalizes a political roadmap for the country’s future. Representatives from the Democratic Unitary Platform and other opposition movements gathered in Panama City to sign the agreement. The manifesto officially designates María Corina Machado as the leader of negotiations with the regime. Signatories recognized the Venezuelan presidential election July 28 2024 as a citizen mandate. They argue this mandate must translate into a real democratic transition. The document also endorses the Three-Phase Plan proposed…

The Panama Urban and Domiciliary Cleaning Authority will launch a new tender for garbage collection in Eastern Panama. This decision comes after the previous bidding process was declared void. The Panama public procurement tribunal upheld the cancellation ruling. Authority Director Ovil Moreno confirmed the news this week. Neither of the two companies that participated met all the minimum requirements. The dispute centered on a bank reference letter whose validity was questioned. [Translated from Spanish] Failed Bidding Process Explained The evaluation committee included nine qualified professionals from different fields. They determined both companies failed to meet a key requirement. This led…

Panama City, Panama. A staggering 95 percent of Panama’s population does not use tobacco products. The Panama National Tobacco Survey revealed this positive public health data on Tuesday. Health officials presented the findings at a press conference in the capital. The survey marks a significant drop in tobacco use over the past twelve years. Prevalence of tobacco consumption fell from 6.4 percent in 2013 to just 5 percent in 2025. That represents a reduction of nearly 22 percent. Researchers conducted the study among Panamanians aged 15 and older. Daily Smokers Decline But Occasional Use Rises Panama now records roughly 146,000…

The president of Panama’s legislative body has kicked off a new digital training program. Jorge Herrera, head of the National Assembly of Panama, inaugurated the workshop for government employees on Wednesday. The training focuses on using TikTok as a tool for institutional communication. The program aims to bring parliamentary work closer to ordinary citizens. Officials want to strengthen direct and transparent accountability through the popular video platform. The event took place in Panama City. Digital Training Program Targets Government Transparency The workshop carries the title “TikTok, politics and government.” Herrera emphasized how digital platforms reshape the relationship between elected officials…

Panama has opened a new interactive space called Sala Panama directly in the corridor connecting Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Tocumen International Airport. The exhibit targets the thousands of transit passengers who pass through the facility daily. Officials hope to convert a fraction of those travelers into actual visitors to the country. Tocumen International Airport moves more than 62,000 passengers every day. The vast majority of these travelers are simply passing through on their way to other destinations. Between January and April of this year, the terminal processed 7.61 million travelers. That figure represents a 15 percent increase compared…

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino has signed legislation modifying the country’s tax framework for multinational entities. Law 526, dated May 28, 2026, updates the Panama Tax Code with new rules on passive foreign income. The law appeared in Official Gazette No. 30534-B on Wednesday. The new regulations target companies that are part of multinational groups and operate from Panama. These entities must now prove they meet strict Economic Substance Requirements for passive income earned abroad. Passive income includes dividends, interest, royalties, and capital gains from foreign sources. What Economic Substance Means Under the New Law The legislation defines economic substance…

Panama City authorities are intensifying efforts to drive tourism through a monthly pedestrian initiative in the historic district. The program, called Casco Peatonal, has drawn nearly 800,000 visitors since its launch. City tourism director Karla Duque confirmed the next event is scheduled for May 31. The pedestrian zone transforms the Casco Antiguo (Panama) district into a car-free gathering space on the last Sunday of each month. Duque said the city government is committed to expanding family-friendly and recreational activities. The goal is to attract both local residents and international tourists to explore the area’s cultural offerings. “We are committed, as…

Panama and Israel elevated their bilateral relations on Wednesday. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to promote strategic development projects. Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha and Israeli Ambassador to Panama Mattanya Cohen formalized the agreement in Panama City. The pact establishes a new cooperation framework between both nations. It focuses on joint initiatives in sectors considered strategic for development. The Israeli Agency for International Development Cooperation, known as Mashav (Israel Agency for International Development Cooperation), coordinated the effort alongside Panama’s Foreign Ministry. Strategic Sectors Targeted for Cooperation The memorandum covers multiple development areas. Water management, agricultural technology, and digital…

The Colon Free Trade Zone received two modern X-ray scanners on Thursday. The United States government donated the equipment as part of a bilateral cooperation program. Officials said the technology targets narcotrafficking and contraband in the country’s largest duty-free area. The inauguration ceremony took place in Colon, Panama. Soraya Valdivieso, the director general of the Panama Customs Authority, led the event. She was joined by Presidential Minister Juan Carlos Orillac, who represented the president. Luisa Napolitano, the general manager of the Colon Free Trade Zone, also attended. US Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera participated as well. US Donates Four…