Panama News in English
Panama news in English — trade, markets, politics, and daily life, tracked every day by The Rio Times, with the company and economic intelligence our readers rely on.
Panama news in English, updated daily: the canal and its water crisis, the balboa-dollar economy, banking and logistics, copper mining at Cobre Panamá, and the politics of the isthmus. The Rio Times covers Panama City for international readers — shipping, finance, trade, and the companies that make the country the hemisphere's crossroads — with the latest Panama news, data, and analysis on one page. Independent reporting, in English.
The Big Read: Today in Panama
The stories that matter most today. Updated Oct 26, 5:30 PM ET.
Russia Warns Panama Arms Ships Can Be HitPanama says Russia's ambassador warned on 23 October that ships carrying weapons can be military targets, whatever their flag.
Mon 4:18 AM ET
- Panama Politics Explained, Who Holds Power in 2026
A guide to who holds power in Panama in October 2026: the president and cabinet, Assembly blocs, courts, security forces and open questions.
Mon 9:26 AM ET
- Panama Plans Cleanup at Quake-Hit Gold Mine
Panama has begun a cleanup plan at the abandoned El Remance gold mine, where the 9 October quake set off a landslide, with US$780,000 more under review.
Sun 5:47 AM ET
Panama — the brief
Who Runs Panama’s Economy, the Key Players in 2026
Panama economy in 2026: the canal authority, banks, ports, the Copa air hub and the idle copper mine, and who controls each one.
Market snapshot
Analysis & Deep Dives
All analysis →Panama Geopolitics Explained 2026
Panama geopolitics explained: what the US, China, Europe and others want from the canal, its ports...
Panama Clinic Shooting Fuels Gang Fears
Gunfire in a Veracruz health center wounded two on 17 October. See what police, prosecutors and...
Panama in Latin America, Its Role, Weight and Alliances
Panama continent role explained: its weight in the Americas, Canal power, OAS and Mercosur ties, and...
Latest from Panama
Panama Moves to Drop 7 Sanctioned Ships
Panama's Maritime Authority has started cancelling the registration of seven sanctioned ships after the US Treasury listed them...
Panama Port Fight Pits 2 Wealthy Americans
A Panama port fight over the US$260 million Puerto Barú terminal pits two wealthy Americans against each other...
Panama Cabinet Moves US$186.8M in Budget
Panama's Cabinet moved US$186.83 million inside its 2027 budget on 20 October, and kept the total at US$35.1...
Panama Canal Revenue Jumps 16.6% to US$6.6B
Panama Canal revenue rose 16.6% to US$6.6 billion in fiscal 2026, with 13,951 transits and 521 million tons,...
Panama Hosts 27 Global Business Leaders
The World Economic Forum meets 27 business leaders from 17 countries in Panama City on 21 and 22...
Panama Firm and 7 Ships Face US Sanctions
The US Treasury sanctioned Panama law firm Karnakis and Karnakis, five people and seven Panama-flagged ships over Iranian...
Panama Canal Last-Minute Slots Return
Panama Canal last-minute slots are back at the older locks from 21 October 2026, the canal authority says,...
Panama Telethon Aims at Quake Homes Oct 24
A Panama telethon on 24 October will raise money for homes lost in the 9 October earthquake, with...