ComicCon Panama; Change in Fuel Prices; MEF Files Complaint Over Hacking; Moody’s to Decide Panama’s Rating in Its Sovereign Committee.

Friday, September 19, 2025. COMICCON Panama For the last few years, my boys have been pestering me to let them dress up in costumes and spend the weekend getting candy and toys. No, it’s not Halloween, it’s COMICCON!!! That’s right, they are absolutely hooked on COMICCON, and this year it’s coming up on us fast being the 19–21 of September. COMICCON isn’t Halloween, but one may say that it’s sort of like a combination of Halloween and Oktoberfest, minus the hangovers and bratwurst. Instead of vampires and superheroes roaming the streets, you’ll find Stormtroopers standing in line for hot dogs, Pikachus taking selfies, and at least three versions of Spider-Man comparing web-slinging poses. Of course, with thousands of people in one place, ComicCon is also a security director’s version of a “Where’s Waldo?” puzzle. You’ve got Darth Vader trying to get through metal detectors with a lightsaber, Deadpools sneaking candy into the venue like it’s contraband, and a couple of suspiciously realistic stormtroopers who make you wonder if they’re guarding the Death Star or the snack bar. Every year I catch myself doing mental “threat assessments” while the boys are just doing costume assessments. They’re deciding which Iron Man suit looks coolest; I’m watching crowd flow and exit routes. They’re chasing toys; I’m counting how many Batmans it would take to hold the line if things got rowdy. But at the end of the day, ComicCon is one of those events that reminds me of why we love what we do. Whether you’re in costume or in plain clothes, everyone’s there to celebrate creativity, stories, and a little bit of organized chaos. And sometimes, the best security plan is simply to join in the fun… just so long as nobody talks me into being Chewbacca again. Brett MikkelsonDirector, B.M. Investigations, Inc. TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Panama Airport Surpasses 13.7 Million Passengers Through August The Tocumen International Airport, Panama’s main gateway and a regional benchmark in air connectivity, recorded a total of 13,773,580 passengers during the first eight months of the year, representing an 8% increase compared to the same period in 2024, equivalent to more than 1,006,497 additional travelers. According to the airport, in August 2025, total passenger traffic reached 1,851,451, with a daily average of 59,724 movements, with Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays being the busiest days. Of this monthly total, 74% were transit or transfer passengers, amounting to 1,365,912 travelers. Regarding visitors entering Panama, 1,882,031 passengers disembarked between January and August, reflecting a 4% increase compared to the same period last year, or 71,854 additional travelers. Meanwhile, passengers departing to international destinations totaled 1,925,779, a level virtually unchanged from 2024 (-529). Air traffic also maintained a positive dynamic. Between January and August, 109,260 flight operations were recorded, representing an 8% increase (7,864 more flights). In August alone, 14,279 operations were registered, 10% more than in the same month of 2024, with a daily average of 413 flights. The monthly breakdown shows that 90% were commercial flights, 7% cargo, 2% general aviation, and 1% special flights such as charter, military, or technical. Currently, Tocumen operates with 15 passenger airlines and 15 cargo airlines, connecting to 86 international destinations in the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean, reaffirming its position as a strategic regional hub. The top five origin and destination cities in August were led by Bogotá (698,487 passengers), followed by San José (618,552), Miami (602,118), Medellín (578,026), and Punta Cana (529,115). Air cargo also showed outstanding performance. Between January and August, 159,233 metric tons were transported, a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2024 (21,696 additional tons). In August alone, the volume reached 20,958 metric tons, also reflecting 15% growth. For Tocumen International Airport’s General Manager, Jose Ruiz Blanco, these figures reaffirm the terminal’s strength as a driver of tourism and the Panamanian economy: “Tocumen is not only the main gateway to Latin America; it is also a symbol of Panama’s commitment to innovation, connectivity, and service excellence. These results reflect the trust of millions of passengers and airlines that choose us every day, consolidating our role as a world-class regional hub.” READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE Metro Line 3: President Mulino Details Tunnel Progress and Promises to Complete It During His Term The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, highlighted the progress in the construction of the Panama Metro as the one-year anniversary of the Panama Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) operation was marked. “Exactly one year ago, we put the Panama TBM into operation and reached the maximum depth, and now we are rising to connect Farfán with Albrook. Believe me, it has been a real feat,” Mulino stated. The President also criticized changes made to the original project, which had planned a combined bridge for vehicles and the Metro. He noted that it was ultimately split into a bridge for vehicles and a tunnel for the Metro, but “in the end, they did neither one nor the other.” Mulino emphasized the complexity and challenges overcome during the project, which aims to improve connectivity and mobility in the city. READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE The Clear Channel in the Pacific: Canal Seeks Solution Amid Construction of New Ports In the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, there is a condition that acts as a restriction for ships wanting to enter or exit the ports along the shore. They cannot do so while a vessel is passing through the canal in either direction, and some ships have to wait for hours. With the arrival of a new port in the area, the Canal administration needs to find a solution. In a press conference held on Tuesday, September 16, Canal administrator Ricaurte Catín Vásquez responded to SNIP Noticias regarding this condition, known as the clear channel. “In managing Canal operations, we will assess the benefits of having a terminal owned by the Panama Canal. It is now essential that the Panama Canal, in its traffic management process, give higher priority to terminal operations,” he said. He explained that