Author: Editorial Team

Panama’s Land Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT) has announced a permanent lane reversal scheme on a key capital artery to combat severe evening congestion. The change, affecting Martyrs Avenue during peak hours, is a direct response to traffic counts showing over 37,000 vehicles moving west in a single morning. Officials confirmed the measure will remain in effect indefinitely on school days. The reversal will run daily from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., stretching from the National Assembly building to the entrance of the Panama Pacifico Special Economic Area. A second phase activates at 3:00 p.m. from Burunga, entering the Arraiján-La…

Panamanian authorities arrested a former high-ranking tax official this week on suspicion of embezzlement. The Public Ministry (Panama) confirmed the detention of the ex-head of Collections for the Directorate General of Revenue following a coordinated raid in the Brisas del Golf area.In the same operation, prosecutors secured a provisional seizure order for a $145,000 apartment in the upscale Bella Vista neighborhood linked to the suspect. The former official served as the Collections chief from 2020 until 2024, a period now under intense scrutiny for alleged fiscal crimes.Investigation Uncovers Fictitious Tax CreditsAccording to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, the arrest stems from…

Mexico is weeks away from launching a major new trade route designed to compete with the Panama Canal. The 303-kilometer Interoceanic Corridor across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec will connect ports on the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico by rail, offering a “dry canal” for global shippers. This massive infrastructure project arrives as climate pressures threaten the reliability of traditional maritime passages.A Rail-Based Answer to Maritime DisruptionBulldozers and construction crews have spent years reshaping the narrow isthmus in southern Mexico. The finished corridor will link the deep-water ports of Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos with modernized rail lines, highways, and supporting infrastructure.…

The BAC Financial Group has solidified its position as Central America’s leading bank. The institution closed the 2025 fiscal year with a pre-tax profit of one billion dollars, a result it attributes directly to its 6.3 million clients across six nations.Consolidated financial statements reveal a robust portfolio of $28.3 billion and customer deposits totaling $30.2 billion. This performance underscores the bank’s dominant regional footprint after 74 years of operation.Executive President Ramón Chiari Brin emphasized the human impact behind the figures.”These results fill us with pride, but what truly motivates us is knowing there are real stories behind each number,” Chiari…

Residents of Bellavista in the Guararé District blocked a key bridge for several hours on Monday. They were protesting a severe and weeks-long interruption of their potable water service. The demonstration coincided with the first day of the new school year, amplifying community frustration over the critical shortage.Protesters barricaded the bridge over the Guararé River starting in the early morning. They demanded an immediate response from Panama’s national water utility. Officials from the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (IDAAN) and National Police officers were dispatched to the scene to address the escalating situation. The bridge closure disrupted local traffic…

Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha stated on Monday that his nation cannot remain passive in the face of actions by the Iranian regime. The declaration followed Panama’s official condemnation of regional attacks attributed to Iran and its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.The minister emphasized Panama’s traditional neutrality and promotion of peaceful dialogue. He argued, however, that certain realities demand a firm stance from the international community.”We cannot be passive in the face of the reality of a regime that has violated all kinds of rights of its population and that has enriched uranium beyond the civil use accepted by specialized agencies…

Residents of Panama City’s Parque Lefevre and Rio Abajo neighborhoods are raising alarms over the widespread removal of mature trees for a major road expansion project. The Ministry of Public Works (Panama) is moving forward with an $80 million plan to widen Via España and add an exclusive lane for the Metrobus (Panama) system. Community representatives say the project is proceeding without sufficient notice or a plan to preserve the area’s urban canopy. Crews have already marked numerous trees along the busy corridor with red paint, signaling their imminent removal. The loss of these trees, which provide essential shade and…

Israel’s ambassador to Panama, Mattanya Cohen, publicly defended a major joint military operation by Israel and the United States against Iran. Speaking from Panama City, Cohen framed the late February strikes as a necessary response to what he called a decades-long existential threat from Tehran.The operation, which triggered explosions in Tehran and other Iranian cities, targeted high-level Iranian leadership. According to Israeli public broadcasting, objectives included the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Masoud Pezeshkian. The attack comes amid a sharp escalation in regional tensions and failed diplomatic efforts.Ambassador Cites Nuclear Program as Core JustificationIn his remarks,…

A total lunar eclipse will be visible across Panama in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3. The celestial event, often called a “blood moon,” will see Earth’s shadow completely cover the moon, transforming its color to a deep reddish hue for nearly an hour.This astronomical alignment occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon line up perfectly. Our planet blocks direct sunlight from reaching the moon’s surface, casting it into shadow. Instead of disappearing, the moon takes on a coppery red tone due to a process called Rayleigh scattering. Sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere gets filtered, with blue light…

The Panama Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture issued a stark warning on the eve of the 2026 school year. The nation’s leading business group demanded a complete overhaul of the country’s education system to address a growing skills gap.In a strongly worded statement released Sunday, March 1, the Chamber argued Panama’s economic future depends on immediate and decisive action. Their call for reform comes as 876,605 students nationwide prepare to return to classrooms on March 2.A Framework for Evolution, Not a StraitjacketThe Chamber’s proposal centers on creating a flexible, modern legal framework for education. This framework would allow for…