Author: Sebastian Pieper
The Panama Maritime Authority has issued a formal warning to all vessels flying the Panamanian flag. This action follows two separate incidents involving commercial ships in the volatile waters near the Strait of Hormuz. The agency confirmed the alert on Tuesday. Two container vessels, the Euphoria and the MSC Francesca, found themselves in danger this week. The Euphoria came under fire from three unidentified boats. No injuries were reported among the crew. That ship is now anchored safely in Khorfakkan, United Arab Emirates. The second vessel faced a more direct confrontation. Iranian Forces Intercept Second Vessel The MSC Francesca was…
Panama’s highest court has definitively rejected all legal challenges from former President Ricardo Martinelli’s defense team in the New Business money laundering case. The Supreme Court of Justice of Panama published a ruling this Wednesday, upholding the validity of the original investigation and the subsequent guilty verdict. This decision closes a major avenue for appeal, solidifying the legal standing of the case that resulted in Martinelli’s conviction last year. The court’s edict, numbered 560, specifically addressed multiple unconstitutionality claims filed by Martinelli’s lawyer, Ángel Álvarez. Those claims sought to annul the investigative resolution issued by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office Against…
The Caja de Seguro Social (Social Security Fund) has opened a new human milk bank at the Irma de Lourdes Tzanetatos Hospital in Panama City. General Director Dino Mon Vásquez accepted the keys to the facility this week, a project spearheaded and funded by the Club Activo 20-30. This modern center, which includes a refrigerated transport vehicle, will collect, process, and distribute donated breast milk to hospitalized infants whose own mothers cannot feed them for medical reasons. The new installation represents a significant upgrade for neonatal care at the public hospital. Officials estimate the facility cares for approximately 700 newborns…
Panamanian legislator Ernesto Cedeño is demanding a formal law passed by the National Assembly to regulate the country’s transport sector. He argues that improvised executive decrees are illegal and favor special interests over drivers and passengers. The deputy filed a lawsuit with the nation’s highest court to challenge the current regulatory framework. Cedeño made his case during a recent interview on the news program Noticias AM. He stated that the existing decrees, which aim to organize selective transport services, could actually consolidate the power of brokerage firms known as ‘prestatarias’. These firms manage taxi permits and act as intermediaries for…
The Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Panama issued a formal clarification this Wednesday, April 22, regarding its use of unpaid administrative leave for state employees under investigation. The statement directly addresses concerns raised by National Assembly deputies about the scope and application of this measure within the legislative branch.This clarification comes in response to inquiries from deputies Roberto Zúñiga and Luis Duque. They had publicly requested an explanation after alleging that approximately 40 officials linked to their political bloc saw their payments withheld. The comptroller’s office, the nation’s supreme audit institution, moved to define the legal…
Dr. Pablo Moreno Franco has become the first Latino physician inducted into the Medical Hall of Fame in the United States. The Panamanian specialist, who works at the Mayo Clinic in Florida, received the honor for his international contributions to healthcare and his pioneering work integrating technology into medicine. His induction highlights a career dedicated to advancing patient care through innovation. The recognition was announced this week, placing Moreno Franco among an elite group of medical professionals honored for transformative work. His current focus involves the practical application of artificial intelligence in healthcare within clinical settings. These tools are already…
Panama’s government has enacted a new executive decree to attract international scientists and researchers through a specialized immigration pathway. The National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (Senacyt) announced the policy this week, aiming to bring between 25 and 50 foreign experts to the country. Officials framed the move as a critical step to accelerate Panama’s transition toward a knowledge-based economy by addressing a significant shortage of specialized human capital. Executive Decree No. 6, dated March 20, 2026, establishes a new permanent residency subcategory specifically for scientists and technologists. Published in the Official Gazette, the decree creates a formal framework…
Panama’s Ministry of Public Works (MOP) will completely close the Bridge of the Americas for four hours this Thursday night. The full vehicular shutdown is for a critical structural load testing procedure following a recent fire incident near the bridge’s foundations. The closure is scheduled from 10:00 p.m. on April 23 until 2:00 a.m. on April 24. Officials stated the controlled test will apply weight to the structure to collect technical data and verify its safety for all users. This action comes just weeks after a dramatic fire erupted dangerously close to the bridge’s support bases. Precautionary Measures After Nearby…
Global temperatures continue to climb, with 2024 confirmed as the warmest year on record, followed by 2025. This stark reality underscores the critical message of Earth Day 2026, observed on April 22, as scientists and international bodies call for accelerated action against climate change. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) states the planet’s climate is increasingly “unbalanced.” Its forecasts indicate a 70 percent likelihood that temperatures will temporarily exceed the critical 1.5-degree Celsius threshold above pre-industrial levels in some periods. This threshold represents the recommended limit set by the international Paris Agreement to prevent the most catastrophic effects of global warming.…
Jaime Alemán, a Panamanian lawyer and diplomat, has become the first person in history to visit all United Nations member states, reach both poles, and travel to space. He completed this unprecedented feat, dubbed the “Travel Grand Slam,” with a suborbital flight on May 31, 2025. Alemán has now chronicled his six-decade journey in a free digital book titled “The Grand Slam of Travel,” available on his website. The book details a lifetime of exploration that began with childhood curiosity about distant lands. His quest officially concluded with the Blue Origin NS-32 mission, cementing a record that blends extreme tourism…