Panama City

The article highlights affordable international travel options, including $50 hotel rooms and $1 street food in Luang Prabang and under-$130 accommodations in Panama City featuring canal locks and colonial quarter attractions.

Panama uses the US dollar alongside the balboa, eliminating currency risk for dollar holders and removing exchange controls. Panama City hosts one of Latin America’s largest international banking centers, attracting numerous local and foreign banks.

Jorge Fonseca, a youth baseball coach in Alabama, was killed during an argument at a Birmingham barbershop. The suspect was arrested later, and Fonseca's community is mourning his loss, with plans to honor him. Fonseca was known for coaching travel baseball teams and mentoring children.

Jorge Fonseca, a beloved youth baseball coach in Alabama, was killed during an argument at a Birmingham barbershop. The suspect was arrested later, and Fonseca's community mourns his loss, highlighting his impact on local travel baseball teams and his family's planned trip to a World Series tournament in Panama City.

Panama's healthcare system features a two-track approach with public care managed by the CSS and the health ministry, alongside world-class private hospitals in Panama City. Many doctors are trained abroad and commonly speak English, facilitating access for international patients.

Panama City offers fast fiber and cable broadband with good mobile coverage from operators +Móvil, Tigo, and Claro. Prepaid SIM cards are easily purchased with a passport, and the city has a growing coworking hub.

Panama offers free public schools in Spanish and Panama City has numerous international and bilingual private schools. Options include US-accredited, British, IB, French, and German curricula, with school calendars varying between local and international schedules.

The cost of living in Panama for 2026 estimates a single expat's monthly budget at US$1,200 to US$2,200, while a couple in the capital requires US$2,500 to US$3,500. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment ranges from US$800 to US$1,500 in Panama City and US$500 to US$800 in Boquete.

A naval base employee in Panama City, Florida, was critically injured in a shark attack while swimming at a marina during his lunch break. The incident left the man with bites to both arms, and he remains in critical condition in the hospital.

A Navy base employee is in critical condition after a shark attack in Florida and is being treated at HCA Gulf Coast Hospital in Panama City.

Austen Scott Tucker, a 29-year-old man from Panama City, Florida, has been federally indicted for attempting to entice a minor. The charges were announced by authorities in Tallahassee, Florida.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that China-Panama relations should not be interfered with by third parties, amid a dispute over a Panama Canal port. He met with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation.

Richard Werstine, a 56-year-old Michigan man, was arrested in Panama City after evading authorities for over three decades for allegedly killing his punk-rock singer roommate Rodney Barger. Werstine was sought by authorities since 1993 and was finally caught on April 29, 2026. He confessed to his true identity and was extradited to the United States.

Businesses are paying up to $4 million to transit the Panama Canal as geopolitical tensions block the Strait of Hormuz, causing a surge in demand and rerouted global trade. The Panama Canal Authority reports auction fees for urgent passage have spiked to $425,000 on average, with a fuel company paying $4 million to redirect a shipment to Singapore.