Canal & Trade Diplomacy: France’s Trade Minister Nicolas Forissier is set to visit Panama on Sept. 14 to focus on Canal opportunities and infrastructure cooperation, including meetings tied to the Panama Canal Authority. Electoral Integrity: Panama’s Electoral Tribunal-backed reforms would tighten how private campaign money is tracked, requiring signed documentation and electronic submission to improve oversight of political financing. Canal Leadership: The Panama Canal Board appointed Miguel Antonio Lorenzo Fábrega as Deputy Administrator, emphasizing continuity and long-term stability for the waterway. Public Finance for SMEs: CAF and Banco Nacional signed a $500 million financing line to boost small and medium-sized enterprises, with half earmarked for rural and agricultural/agro-industrial producers. Education & Testing: New PISA 2025 results highlight Latin America’s lag, with Panama still “in the dark” about the current state of its education system. Tourism Growth: Cruise traffic rose 21.6% in Panama’s first half of 2026, reaching 243,075 passengers. Maritime Security (Global, Panama-flagged): India condemned an attack on the Panama-flagged tanker MT El Gaia off Oman; 13 of 14 Indian crew were rescued, with one still missing, as search operations continue. Science in Panama: A NASA/NOAA SABRE mission using a WB-57 aircraft is operating in Panama through Sept. 23 to study tropical atmospheric conditions.