Author: Sebastian Pieper
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino confirmed that Israeli President Isaac Herzog will make an official visit to Panama on May 6. The announcement came during an expanded cabinet meeting held in the province of Los Santos. [Translated from Spanish]The visit will focus heavily on national concerns, particularly the water crisis affecting the Azuero Peninsula. President Mulino made the statement while Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo was addressing the cabinet. Water scarcity has become one of the most pressing issues for communities in that region.”I am going to have the official visit of the president of Israel on May 6 so…
Panama City’s historic Casco Antiguo, Panama district will mark its first anniversary as a pedestrian-only zone this Sunday. The event runs from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., drawing artisans, merchants and tourists together for a massive street celebration. City officials announced the milestone during a press conference this week. The pedestrian initiative, known locally as the casco peatonal, has transformed how people experience the colonial neighborhood. Over 800,000 visitors have walked its cobblestone streets during the first year. That foot traffic generated more than $14.5 million in economic activity, based on average spending for transport, food, local shops and cultural…
Panama City, Panama – President José Raúl Mulino has returned three legislative bills to the National Assembly of Panama without his signature. The President cited constitutional and procedural flaws in all three proposals. The move forces lawmakers to reopen debates on legislation covering bank debt, municipal taxes, and government office rents. Mulino sent formal objections to Assembly President Jorge Luis Herrera on Tuesday. His office described the bills as both “inconvenient” and “unconstitutional” in their current forms. Bank Debt Bill Rejected in its Entirety The strongest rejection came for Bill 388. This proposal would have allowed banks and financial entities…
The Panama Canal recorded a significant increase in both transits and cargo tonnage during the first six months of Fiscal Year 2026. Canal officials shared the positive results during a virtual market update organized by Bank of America Merrill Lynch on Tuesday.Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, the Canal administrator, confirmed the waterway handled 6,288 transits from October 2025 to March 2026. That represents an increase of 224 transits compared to the same period last year. Total cargo reached 254 million PC/UMS tons, roughly 5 percent higher than the 243 million tons recorded in the prior fiscal year.Strong Performance Across Key SectorsThe numbers…
Panama’s Ministry of Social Development is making progress with a new early childhood initiative. The pilot program called Cuidarte now reaches 900 families across three distinct regions. These include Coclé province, the Emberá Wounaan comarca, and the Ngäbe Buglé comarca. The program targets children between 6 and 48 months of age. It focuses on strengthening family bonds and supporting comprehensive child development. Community workers conduct weekly home visits to provide direct guidance. Parents and caregivers learn through play-based activities, interaction exercises, and exploration techniques. The goal transforms ordinary homes into active learning environments for young children. Minister Visits Remote Communities…
A partnership between Trashforma, Senacyt Panama and the Remar Foundation is turning trash into jobs. What many people see as worthless garbage is becoming a source of employment and innovative waste solutions. Glass bottles become drinking glasses for hotels and restaurants. Plastics transform into raw materials for the textile industry. These recycling centers use industrial processes to give materials a second life. Even discarded plastic pipe fragments can be reused to make clothing. The project has recycled more than 2,000 tons of waste in less than seven years. That waste now serves useful purposes across multiple sectors. Industrial Process Turns…
The San Miguelito District in Panama has inaugurated its first municipal veterinary clinic. The facility, named “Más Colas,” officially opened its doors this week. It provides low-cost medical services for dogs and cats in response to a rising number of abandoned and mistreated animals. Located in Los Andes 2, behind the local sports court and next to the Los Andes 2 school, the clinic aims to deliver dignified and accessible care. Services include general consultations, surgeries, vaccinations, deworming, and sterilization. The project is a collaborative effort between the Manchitas Foundation, the Presidency, and the office of the first lady. “We…
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…