Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
The Panama Papers, One Week Later: What We Know, and What We Still Don’t
This past week has been a big one for Panama in the news, as a huge data leak exposed many of the world’s leaders’ offshore assets, thanks to an anonymous source at the law firm Mossack Fonseca. The firm claims they are being deliberately targeted as a smear campaign, and insists that they, and their clients, followed Panamanian law.
Last Sunday, the world witnessed the biggest data leak in history. The Panama Papers, as the 11.5 million documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca have now been dubbed, were released by a massive global reporting partnership of over 100 publications led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
The 2.6 terabytes of data detailing the firm’s financial dealings — leaked a year ago to German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, which then shared them with the ICIJ — cover a myriad offshore accounts and shell companies in tax havens like the British Virgin Islands, the Seychelles and, of course, Panama.
Source: Time Magazine
Like golf? Check out this well-known course just steps away fro the heart of Panama City!
Panama City is known as being a densely populated urban hub, and the center for city nightlife, business, and tourism. But did you know that within the boundaries of Panama City, there’s a fantastic 18-hole golf course? You can play right on the Panama Canal, without leaving town, and experience high quality greens and service to boot.
Enjoy a unique experience at The Tucan Country Club & Resort. The club, which is located in the grounds of a former military base, is offering a special price for tourists who want to play golf during their stay in Panama. The green fee price with cart included is $80.00 plus taxes and from 1:00 p.m. the cost is $65.00 plus taxes.
Panama has grown into an interesting golf destination for foreign players, with some top quality courses to choose from such as the one in Tucan.
Source: The Visitor, Panama
5 Movies Made In Panama You Must See At The Film Festival
This past week kicked off the Panama International Film Festival, and this year looks to be one of its best. Even if you missed the festival, there are a few important films screening that you should remember for future viewing, and that may garner even more international recognition for the country’s film industry. Here are five you should see
Movie theaters in Panama rarely show anything but the big American box office hits so it’s the one week out the year we get to view the best films produced by our neighboring countries and the rest of the world! Throughout the week movies will be shown at Teatro Balboa, Teatro Anita Villalaz, Anfiteatro de la Presidencia, Cinepolis Multiplaza, and FREE outdoor screenings on Cinta Costera (view complete schedule here).
I’m really proud of Panama this year because they actually have five movies that are going to be shown during the festival. It’s exciting to see more and more local talent being showcased in the cinema and the movies this year look great!
Source: PTY Life
Moving to Panama City? Here’s a good list of what you should look for in your new building.
With so much real estate development in Panama City, new buildings have been competing for residents for years. One of the ways they do this is through offering amenities, especially in Panama City’s more luxury skyscrapers. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what types of amenities you should look for, if you’re looking to relocate to Panama City yourself.
We followed the line, and did some market research, inviting our users to participate in the survey, “What are you looking for in a social area in a building?”. In the survey, more than 500 people participated and the results surprised us, because of course it is very important for us to know what people want and need when deciding to choose a building. Below, we show you the survey results.
Source: GoGetIt Panama
Panama City’s Top 5 Neighborhoods for Expats
Expats from all over the world rave about the comfort, convenience, and quality of life offered to them by living in Panama City. But with so many choices as to where you should live, it’s hard to know what area is best for you before arriving. Here are our picks for Panama City’s top 5 neighborhoods for expats.
Casco Viejo
Panama City’s Casco Viejo neighborhood is by far the most popular for expats. It is the #1 tourist destination, and a hub for local culture, as well as some of the city’s oldest architecture, and a UN heritage sight. It’s also going through a renaissance of sorts, with massive refurbishment making it a very hot spot for real estate. Casco has a vibrant expat social scene, but also a very authentic local flavor, which makes it ideal for people who want to relocate to Panama and really experience the best the country has to offer. Casco isn’t for everyone, however, as prices for real estate and nightlife tend to be very high when compared to the national average.
Continue reading about Panama City’s best neighborhoods for expats
