Panama Canal cuts daily ship crossings as El Niño drought worsens

The Panama Canal Authority announced it will cut daily vessel crossings from 36 to 34 starting September 3, and further to 32 from September 15. The restrictions are driven by a severe El Niño-fuelled drought that is depleting the freshwater supplies needed to operate the canal's locks. The Panama Canal is a critical artery for global trade between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.