Panama

The Panama Canal has appointed its first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer, Deputy Administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta, who will lead the waterway's environmental sustainability efforts, focusing on decarbonization, adaptation, and transition

The country’s severe drought has caused shippings in the Panama Canal to drop by approximately 36%

Panamanian and Costa Rican police forces joined together on December 24 and 25 to bring joy to children in the southern border by sharing food, gifts, piñatas and games, fostering a sense of fraternity between the two nations during the Christmas season

Panama initiated the "ordered closure" of Cobre-Panama, the largest Central American mine, following the Supreme Court's ruling of its activities as unconstitutional due to its environment harm, impacting the economy and leading to employee layoffs

In a record-breaking surge, over 500.000 migrants, predominantly Venezuelans, have crossed the Darien jungle from Colombia to Panama this year, double the 2022 figure, prompting the Panamanian government to establish aid centers

Protests over a controversial mining contract persist, having caused nationwide disruption for weeks; the contract, allowing open-pit copper mining for two decades, faces opposition due to environmental and health concerns

The World Bank's executive board approved a US$40 million project aimed at enhancing fiscal sustainability and expenditure efficiency in Panama over five years, focusing on bolstering public service effectiveness through improved information systems

Due to a severe drought causing the Panama Canal to dramatically reduce booking slots, several oil tankers could cease to use the canal, with booking slots decreasing to just 18 by February 2024

Following protests against the government's contract with Minera Panamá for copper mining, Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo signed a decree prohibiting the granting of new mining concessions and rejecting pending requests

The Panamanian government, along with various private sectors, is discussing opportunities to bridge equality gaps, focusing on youth unemployment and the inclusion of women in science and technology through new programmes for the upcoming year

Latest reports have shown that in the first half of 2023 Panama welcomed a record-breaking 1.337.142 visitors, marking a 55,1% increase compared to the same period in 2022

Panama and Costa Rica's presidents aim to address the migration crisis during their visit to the Darién area this upcoming week, seeking international support and considering relocating bus drop-off points to minimize the impact on their shared frontier