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The OAS approved a resolution urging Nicaraguan authorities to create conditions for free, fair and inclusive elections. Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano was elected by acclamation to preside over the meeting in Washington.
Joshua Duerksen will race for Hitech in Formula 2 in 2027, the season the series adopts a new car model.
An intervention into Óscar Rodríguez’s administration documented G. 512 billion in municipal bond resources routed through the single-account system and said more than 92% went to current expenses. The separate G8 issue raised G. 360 billion for eight storm-drainage projects.
The MOPC has opened a tender for the first phase of the Eco-Inclusive District, which calls for about 320 homes, urban infrastructure and family resettlement in Asunción’s Chacarita and Las Mercedes areas.
Foxconn has expressed genuine interest in exploring investment in artificial intelligence in Paraguay, combining Taiwanese technology and expertise with the country’s natural resources and young talent, Taiwan’s embassy said.
An MOPC account reportedly attributed statements on possible regulatory changes, long-term policy and mineral resources Paraguay could exploit to Deputy Minister Mauricio Bejarano.
Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service began a 30-day test in October 2026 of a biometric reader that records pedestrian crossings at Friendship Bridge and may help direct inspections.
Representatives of businesses in Lambaré testified that they had paid their taxes to the municipality. The report says the suspicious cancellations totaled more than G. 9 billion.
IPS authorized a 550 million guarani tender to supply eyeglasses after canceling a contract scheduled to run through November 2026. Óptica María Auxiliadora disputes the decision and is seeking payments it says remain outstanding despite investments made to serve insured members.
More than five million eligible voters will choose mayors and municipal boards in 263 districts on Sunday. The electoral authority has also said it plans to publish a non-voter list afterward; appearing on that list is not the same as receiving a final fine.
Health surveillance reported no confirmed dengue cases, outbreaks or deaths during the latest three-week period. Suspected-case notifications nevertheless increased in ten regions, including Asunción.
Paraguay’s vehicle fleet grew by 139% between 2014 and 2025, while fuel sales increased by 80%. Vice Minister Alberto Sborovsky also highlighted the country’s complete dependence on diesel imports and the expansion of biofuels.
For Portal Paraguay, Identidad Electrónica is the login account, not the qualified signature. For e-Kuatia’i, DNIT provides the required qualified certificate free of charge; e-Kuatia with a company’s own software requires a certificate from an authorised qualified trust-service provider. For general qualified document signing, the chip cédula provides a concrete F2 route. This guide starts with the use case and only then explains legal effect, obtaining a certificate and validation.
The Senate and Congress president ties his tenure to Colorado Party results in ten districts of Presidente Hayes in the October 4 municipal elections. He also responded to rumors of an attempt to remove him.
Attendance fell from 32 to 19 as Rafael Filizzola sought reconsideration; Dionisio Amarilla defends the declaration concerning the court’s delay.
A later report says Aldair Ovelar was expelled and handed over to Brazil’s Federal Police. Initial reports had described arrangements for his return as pending.
The Central University of Paraguay’s proposal aims to attract about US$200 million in investment over five years. Its first phase, planned for February 2027, includes relocating the medical faculty.
Paraguay’s second satellite was developed domestically and is intended to test solar panels and image processing, and measure a magnetic anomaly that extends across part of the country.
The British company and Paraguay’s state power utility disagree over energy pricing for a fertiliser plant in Villeta. Termination is due to take effect at the end of 2026; September 30 was a deadline for an addendum or bank guarantee.
Paraguay is participating in the Latin American Reserve Fund’s Lúmina project alongside Chile, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay. The initiative aims to make international transfers as straightforward as domestic payments.
At a meeting in Asunción, officials and business representatives discussed quota allocation and preparations for access to the European market. Infrastructure, certification, logistics and firms’ ability to adapt remain challenges.
Electoral officials explain how nonvoters will be identified and discuss justifications and collection. Voters can check their polling place on the TSJE portal and should bring their physical identity card, even if it has expired.
Paraguayan anti-drug chief Jalil Rachid wants to identify possible local connections following operations in Bolivia. Bolivia’s government accuses the attorney general of leading an organization that allegedly protected drug trafficking; the accusation is not a conviction.
Fitch kept Paraguay’s sovereign rating at BB+ with a positive outlook, citing about $1.3 billion in payment delays to suppliers and fiscal uncertainty as obstacles to investment grade.
Paraguay’s Identidad Electrónica is the main login for digital government services. Creating it online generally requires being at least 18, holding a valid Paraguayan cédula, having a personal email address and mobile number, and submitting front-and-back cédula photos plus a selfie with the document. This guide walks through creation, common failures, password and 2FA issues and concrete uses, while separating the account from the digital cédula and qualified electronic signatures.
A storm bringing rain and hail hit four Paraguayan departments, damaging homes and rural facilities and prompting a warning of further severe storms.
The TSJE hopes turnout will top 70%, up from 63% in 2021. Pytagua found a gap between an adviser’s quoted 5.4 million voters and the official roll of 5,043,154.
Peña attributed the attention surrounding the Comptroller General’s Office audit of the Superintendency of Banks to commercial disputes that reached Congress and, according to press reports, to political and economic interests behind headlines in some newspapers.
Costa Food Group was investing in Paraguay before buying the Incka Foods pork plant and Granja El Nido, assets previously linked to Grupo Concepción. The group plans to invest more than US$300 million, expand capacity and integrate pig producers.
Javier Giménez said he sees no conflict in relation to Juan Pablo Nogués Peña’s Conacyt role or if Atome takes a dispute with the state to international forums.
Araico proposes paying ANDE US$45 per MWh for its AI center in Yguazú—50% above Paraguay’s industrial rate and far more than Brazil pays for Itaipu power—while the company’s director warns that delays could send data centers to Brazil.
The Paraguayan Chaco must launch power generation, transmission and distribution projects within five years to avoid supply constraints, warns Cavialpa president Paul Sarubbi.
Álvaro Grau proposes eliminating 10 municipal fees and taxes in Asunción, including charges for street sweeping and park maintenance. The initiative still requires municipal approval.
The removal of a 14-kilogram liposarcoma at the IPS Regional Hospital in Ciudad del Este shows that complex surgery can be performed locally, serving patients in Alto Paraná without requiring travel to Asunción.
Paraguay’s business mission to the United States secured more than $1 billion in investments, including $700 million for an events center in Asunción and $200 million for the forestry sector.
Students from CRECE in Ciudad del Este won a hackathon with AI tools in Guarani jopara for teaching math and physics, which may be tested in schools.
Paraguay's digital police-background certificate is valid for 90 days and is designed for use inside Paraguay. For residence procedures or other legal acts abroad, the formal default is an in-person certificate from the Department of Identifications so it can follow the required legalization or apostille route; rely on the digital PDF abroad only when the recipient expressly accepts it.
Soledad Núñez accused Luis Bello of advancing a new collective agreement on the eve of the election and said in an interview with ABC TV that about 93% of Asunción’s resources go to operating expenses.
The Banco Atlas–Conmebol case has been stalled since April while the court considers a recusal. The Senate approved a statement expressing concern about the delay and, in a separate vote, requested information from MITIC about the Paraguay Gigante campaign.
The Senate voted 28 to reject Santiago Peña’s veto of the expropriation of part of a property in Nanawa to regularize an Essap water intake and treatment facility; the decision now goes to the Chamber of Deputies for review.
A gradual reduction in tax incentives for electric and hybrid vehicles could raise about $20 million, estimates Iván Dumot, who criticizes the proposal and says improvements to public tenders could generate equivalent savings.
Mariscal Estigarribia’s 43.8°C reading surpassed the 43°C record set in 1952; reports differ on the day it was recorded.
Asunción is considering using cameras to expand traffic enforcement amid a shortage of officers, while the Municipal Council discusses rules for a possible electronic system.
The Sarambí operation searched seven properties in Pedro Juan Caballero to investigate a suspected network moving stolen vehicles from Brazil to Paraguay. Marciano Denis Torales, identified as its alleged leader, was not found.
Hospital de Trauma workers are seeking a law specifically for the institution and salary increases in the 2027 budget, as well as permanent status for 42 contract workers and an incentive retirement plan for 10 employees.
The Paraguayan victory at Boquerón 94 years ago paved the way for the Chaco campaign and inspired works of music, literature, visual art and comics.
The Senate approved a motion to prioritize debate on October 7, after the October 4 municipal elections, on a two-year moratorium on creating private universities and higher institutes. The proposal would allow time to review and strengthen controls and the higher-education regulatory framework.
Paraguay’s Ministry of Economy and Finance issued G. 230.527 billion in Treasury bonds in September at lower interest rates, but in the smallest of the four local offerings in 2026, limiting what the sale shows about borrowing costs at a larger scale.
A practical guide to separating ordinary damage, doubtful authenticity and anti-theft red ink on Paraguayan guaraní notes, under BCP rules.
As of September 24, Paraguayan municipalities owed G. 52.9 billion to Caja Municipal, the municipal employees’ pension fund, with G. 36.1 billion attributed to Asunción. The accounting also detailed debts owed by Concepción, Caacupé, Horqueta, Choré and other municipalities, including overdue contributions, defaulted payment agreements and debts under litigation.
Paraguay will set up 14,711 polling stations with voting machines for Sunday’s municipal elections. Voters can practice on an official simulator and check their polling place and station number on the electoral portal by presenting a valid or expired Paraguayan identity card. More than 4,000 election officials will support logistics. Counting of tally sheets is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., followed at 5:45 p.m. by preliminary results transmission: coded data from CTX centers will be processed automatically using character recognition, with 55% of the machines allocated to departments in the interior.
Days before municipal elections, Asunción’s collective agreement provides for costly benefits and was fast-tracked under union pressure, while reports differ over claims that it was driven by electoral motives. Camilo Pérez criticized the agreement and outlined proposals for management and neighborhood public works.
Hernán Rivas signed 31 resolutions of Paraguay’s Magistrates’ Disciplinary Tribunal (JEM) after leaving office—15 of them after his replacement took office—and voted to dismiss 42 cases against judges.
On September 28, buyers of properties linked to the González Daher case called for further auctions to be suspended. Among them was Ninfa Graciela González, who said she completed 11 years of payments and paid off her lot in August 2026, but had to bid for it again for G. 73 million. Protesters said the court account held more than G. 3 billion, that about 50 families had allegedly been misled by lawyers, and that roughly 90 properties were slated for auction, despite a promise they attributed to Judge Sandra Kirchhofer that the lots would not be affected.
Raúl Valdez, president of the Paraguayan Chamber of Oilseed and Cereal Processors (CAPPRO), said the electricity grid is constraining industrial projects in Villeta. He called for diversified power generation, modernized regulation and planning for the next 30 years of industrialization. In his assessment, the current energy model is nearing its limits, and demand-based tariffs could boost the sector’s competitiveness.
Cavialpa advocates raising Paraguay’s annual infrastructure investment from about US$1 billion to US$2 billion–US$2.2 billion through political will and private capital, while prioritizing public-budget investment. Each public guarani could mobilize four to five private guaranis, helping preserve a road network valued at more than US$12 billion and a sector that supports nearly 300,000 workers and their families. Uruguay is cited as a regional model; the Bioceanic Corridor connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and participation in the organization’s October 20 forum will be free with registration.
At a meeting in New York with Santiago Peña and the presidents of Panama and Bolivia, Benjamin Netanyahu invited the three leaders to join the initiative or alliance established between Israel and Argentina in April 2026 and support a U.S. initiative calling on countries to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes related to Gaza.
A UIP mission to Curitiba on October 21 will bring together at least 30 Paraguayan companies for meetings and business discussions. Martín Ruiz said that more than 60% of Paraguayan exports under the maquila regime go to Brazil and linked Brazilian businesspeople’s interest in investing in Paraguay to the pursuit of competitiveness amid the growing presence of Chinese products and investment in Brazil.
Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service will demonstrate a voluntary new biometric system on September 30 at Friendship Bridge for pedestrians arriving from Ciudad del Este. Developed by Serpro, the system will be evaluated before any future implementation stages, Diario La Jornada reports.
Organizer José Ocampos announced a public forum on Taiwan for September 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Catholic University of Asunción. Taiwan’s ambassador, Iván Yueh-Jung Lee, is expected to attend, according to the announcement.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies is scheduled to consider a bill raising the maximum penalty for false reports about acts considered crimes from five to six years and providing for economic compensation.
Eligible voluntary IPS categories under Law 4933/2013 currently contribute 13% of declared effective earnings, using at least the legal minimum wage as the base. With the minimum wage at Gs. 3,044,000 in September 2026, the minimum contribution is Gs. 395,720. While active, this route funds pension coverage rather than ordinary IPS health insurance.
Miguel Almirón scored twice, while Gastón Olveira saved a penalty and other shots in Paraguay’s 2-0 win over Bolivia in Washington, after changes by Paraguay reduced its dominance and opened up chances for both teams late in the game.
Benigno López says bank secrecy protects customers but should not prevent the Senate from learning about ueno bank’s capital, liquidity and risks. Citing Law 7066/2023, the Constitution, the public-information access law and financial disclosure requirements, he supports withholding customers’ identifying details. He says an accounting exception after Visión Banco was absorbed two years ago was intended to avert a public loss of about US$300 million, while depositors—less-informed creditors despite coverage from the Deposit Guarantee Fund—need to know the bank’s assets and exposure.
During the UN General Assembly in New York, Santiago Peña met with the U.S. Southern Command chief to assess joint efforts against narcoterrorism and defense cooperation. The president also reaffirmed Paraguay’s participation in the A3C and took part in security meetings and an investment agenda that included a US$200 million forestry project announcement.
Paving work on 11.7 kilometers of the Ruta de los Inmigrantes in Itapúa is 68.79% complete, with base, drainage and road-safety work underway, while another 32 kilometers await bidding; the project aims to facilitate agricultural transport and boost mobility and tourism in Hohenau.
The National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) destroyed five cannabis-growing areas with an estimated yield of 48 tonnes, along with 940 kilograms of processed marijuana, at a rural property in Bella Vista Norte, for a total of nearly 49 tonnes.
Paraguay’s Electoral Justice is distributing equipment for the October 4 municipal elections, with voting from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The deployment includes 2,094 backup voting machines and one training machine at each of the 1,187 polling places.
Three vehicles reported stolen in Brazil were seized in Coronel Oviedo after a Toyota Fortuner’s tracking device sent intermittent signals. The investigation is examining suspicions that police officers were using the vehicles.
Decrees signed by Santiago Peña set hydrogen tariffs of US$30 to US$32 per MWh, close to the US$30 requested by Atome. The company’s manager, Juan Pablo Nogués Peña, is the president’s cousin and represented the Ministry of Industry on Conacyt; the documents examined do not prove that he influenced the decisions.
Asunción will host the 2028 World Championship of Ancestral Asado after Paraguay secured 8 of 12 votes, equivalent to 80% support. Organizers project about 80 teams and more than 1,000 foreign visitors.
A lack of agreement with ANDE on electricity supply and tariff predictability has stalled Atome’s green fertilizer project, which was seeking to raise $700 million and could create up to 1,000 jobs, while the company considers pursuing international arbitration.
At 40, Yuyito gets food cut into pieces to make chewing easier and regular veterinary checkups at the Asunción Zoo; staff also ask visitors to avoid noise and behavior that could hurt him.
A review by COAPY and Somos Anticorrupción Py names 21 ANR leaders: six final convictions, five appealable sentences and 10 cases without a final conviction. The list classifies Erico Galeano’s conviction as final while noting a pending constitutional challenge.
Paraguay's user rules generally start with a traceable complaint to the actual water-service provider and then allow a possible appeal to the Ente Regulador de Servicios Sanitarios (ERSSAN), the regulator for drinking-water and sewerage services. Preserve the provider identity, case number, problem-specific deadline and evidence file; the regulator's provider map is useful sector context, not a reliable address-level lookup.
Paraguay has US$1,627.7 million in external financing for infrastructure, sanitation, energy and development, spread across operations at different stages of approval and administration. The amounts are not actual disbursements and should not be interpreted as entirely available for immediate implementation.
The fire aboard the Bakana hotel boat on the Paraguay River caused significant property damage and economic losses, while firefighters in Ciudad del Este and San Juan Bautista are fundraising to buy vehicles, with collections scheduled for October 4 and 9, respectively.
Hernán Rivas’s eight-year first-instance conviction, which remains appealable, could strengthen former judge Tania Irún’s constitutional challenge, which points to a discrepancy between his written opinion and decisive vote on the JEM. Mario Varela says he changed his position and backed Rivas’s departure from the JEM’s leadership, while prosecutors foresee new investigations.
Paraguay has opened its first Robotic Surgery Training Center, equipped with the South Korean REVO-i system, in a cooperative initiative between the two countries aimed at training professionals and positioning Paraguay as a regional training center.
The Paraná Military Police and Brazil’s Federal Police seized 40,000 boxes of cigarettes of Paraguayan origin in Mercedes, Paraná. The shipment was reportedly smuggled, and its estimated value is R$2.65 million.
Arlene Aquino, a candidate for mayor of Asunción who is studying political science at the National University of Asunción (UNA) and has never held public office, estimates that 500 billion guaraníes in municipal funds were allegedly diverted during Óscar Rodríguez’s administration. She compares the amount with the 5.105 billion guaraníes for which former Central governor Hugo Javier was convicted. Since November, she says, she has been campaigning door to door.
Residents of the San Roque and San Antonio neighborhoods in Lambaré went more than 24 hours without water after a maintenance shutdown by the Sanitary Services Company (Essap), which was expected to last about five hours. They demanded that service be restored.
Operations in Tava’i, Caazapá, and Bella Vista Norte, Amambay, eradicated 26 hectares of cannabis. In Tava’i, the official tally also recorded 50 kilograms of chopped cannabis destroyed and estimated losses of more than US$4.5 million.
Paraguay’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) warned producers that temperatures could reach 43 °C in the Chaco between Saturday and Monday and recommended protecting crops and animals. Forecasts published by La Nación and El Nacional point to intense heat and possible isolated showers, and advise staying hydrated, avoiding peak sun hours and using sunscreen.
Pork’s share of the Paraguayan market rose from 5% to 15%, while sales volume grew by nearly 6,000 kilograms compared with the previous year. Profitability, however, stood at about 2% amid a drop in the price per kilogram, Gustavo Lezcano of Capasu said in an interview with Radio 1000.
Paraguay has added the digital certificates for its electronic passports to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s global directory, enabling participating countries to verify document authenticity and the integrity of chip data under a shared standard, without changing visa or entry rules.
Paraguay’s GDP grew 4% in the second quarter, with net external demand adding 6.7 percentage points as domestic demand contracted. Economist Rodrigo Ibarrola said growth remains close to its potential, with no cause for concern.
For an existing marriage celebrated abroad, Paraguay may offer an administrative registration route for marriages between Paraguayans, or between a Paraguayan and a foreign spouse, when the spouses have permanent domicile in Paraguay and the Civil Registry requirements are met. The file turns on the foreign act, apostille or legalization, Spanish translation when needed, identity records, life-and-residence evidence and proof of entry. If the administrative requirements are not met, the route indicated by the Civil Registry is judicial registration.
Sociologist Carlos Peris says violence and organized crime money in Paraguay’s municipal campaigns could lead to attacks, robberies and self-staged coups, including an internal coup by a candidate’s own team to finance a future campaign. He predicts conditions will worsen as the October 4 elections approach and more money is expected to circulate.
Soledad Núñez pledged to audit Óscar Rodríguez’s administration if she wins the October 4 election, after he gave her 24 hours to substantiate her accusation of theft or delete the post, which showed the phrase “they’ll take care of him” alongside an image of Camilo Pérez.
A team found an empty grave in Itá Municipal Cemetery while searching for possible remains of Martin Bormann, while accounts attributed to former SS officer Alfonz Dierckx place Josef Mengele in Hohenau in the early 1960s.
Paraguayan chia exports nearly quintupled between the 2018/19 and 2025/26 harvests, reaching 83,591 tons and US$233.6 million, with sales to 90 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Middle East.
During a surprise ‘Taguato’ visit to San Lorenzo General Hospital, Paraguay’s health minister, Isaías Fretes, pointed to staff shortages and laboratory problems, toured services including diagnostic imaging, and advocated protocols and audits to reduce unnecessary tests.
After growers made public requests, Petropar will hire private mill Neualco through a public tender to grind some of the sugarcane registered in Mauricio José Troche, helping the state company meet its grinding and absolute-alcohol production targets for the 2026 harvest.
IPS cut the temporary cap on the Banco Atlas trust account from G. 160 billion to G. 80 billion, making up to G. 80 billion available to the Sickness and Maternity Fund while leaving payments on bonds that financed infrastructure works unchanged. The bank said the funds held in the account generated financial returns and that it will continue working with the institute and regulatory authorities.
A truck with Paraguayan license plates was carrying 240 kilograms of cocaine hidden in four tires when it was stopped on BR-277 in Céu Azul, in Brazil’s Paraná state; the driver fled on foot.
After journalist César Candia’s car was set on fire in Yasy Cañy, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested increased security for him, while police said a security detail was already in operation. The case has reignited debate over protecting journalists in Paraguay, including legislative proposals and criticism from civil society groups.
Pedro Alliana and Horacio Cartes reaffirmed unity in the Colorado Party and prioritized the October 4 municipal elections, while the choice of its 2028 presidential ticket remains undecided.
Hernán Rivas’s eight-year prison sentence has prompted Paraguayan authorities and lawmakers to call for further investigations into the fake diploma scheme, its possible masterminds and the political support that enabled his rise at the Jury for the Prosecution of Magistrates (JEM), while critics also cited damage to the country’s image and earlier cases involving members of Honor Colorado and former heads of the body.
The Asunción Municipal Council sent a collective agreement providing for salary increases and benefits to its Legislation Committee. The opposition called it an electoral campaign favoring Camilo Pérez, while Humberto Blasco questioned the agreement’s legitimacy and warned of possible legal consequences and difficulties for the next administration.
Paraguay's companion-animal route covers one to five domestic dogs or cats and requires an original International Veterinary Certificate. The key preparation rules include a clinical examination, valid rabies vaccination, a 21-day wait after a first rabies dose and internal/external antiparasitic treatment; six or more animals are treated as a commercial live-animal consignment.
Thirty packages containing 31.9 kilograms of suspected cocaine base were found beneath a truck cab in Ciudad del Este. The driver said he was transporting rice grains, and the vehicle was first taken to the Central Base of the Alto Paraná Regional Investigations Department and then to the Anti-Narcotics Department in Presidente Franco.
Former Paraguayan senator Hernán Rivas was sentenced to eight years for the indirect production and use of public documents with false content linked to his professional qualifications. His defense sought acquittal, challenging the search for records, the document-retention period and the lack of a description of a specific act attributed to him.
The dollar fell to about G. 5,890 in Paraguay, close to its 2018 level, and the Paraguayan Rural Association estimates that the guaraní’s appreciation reduced the value of livestock production by G. 2.06 trillion (US$349 million).
Asunción mayoral candidate Soledad Núñez proposed firing municipal employees who do not perform their duties, abolishing the Municipal Traffic Police and fighting corruption, without specifying how those employees would be identified.
In New York, Santiago Peña announced a US$200 million investment by J.P. Morgan Natural Capital and Grupo Robinson in Paraguay’s forestry sector, aligned with the Paraguay 2X plan, after a meeting at the bank’s headquarters. The project is expected to transfer technical expertise to local private-sector businesses.
The Paraguayan Air Force has added a Cessna SkyCourier C-408 funded by Itaipu for aeromedical evacuations, humanitarian missions, and passenger and cargo transport, including on short runways and in remote areas.
Governors from the 15 Colorado Party administrations in the G15, which received 1.6 trillion guaraníes between January and August, demanded evidence for Carlos Núñez’s accusations over Hambre Cero funds and criticized the vulgarity of his remarks. They defended the role of the departments as Honor Colorado leaders discuss the 2028 ticket and say the movement is united.
José Doldán and Milder Núñez, members of Cooperativa Poravoty, were acquitted at first instance after peaceful protests outside Pedro Loblein’s residence; the final ruling will be issued on October 1, 2026.
A second consecutive failure to reach a quorum in the Asunción Municipal Council kept the collective agreement from formally entering consideration and prompted unions to demand a new session as soon as Friday, threatening an indefinite work stoppage. A workers’ representative also announced that, if council members do not attend, the movement could close the municipal headquarters and launch a general strike, ten days before the elections, which some sources say are scheduled for October 4.
Petropar raised prices per liter by G. 495 for Diesel Porã and Mbarete and by G. 150 for Aratiri 97 gasoline, with the new prices in effect since September 24. Sources differ on the diesel prices before the increase and attribute the adjustment to higher international oil prices and a trend of increases at private stations.
I Love Paraguay, a restaurant founded in Queens in 2007, received the first international Marca País Paraguay license from President Santiago Peña, authorizing it to officially represent the country abroad.
Operation Aurelia detained four people and is investigating an alleged international gold route that passed through Paraguay, using couriers on commercial flights and jewelry-related businesses as cover; investigators found jewelry, metals and possible chemical precursors at a house in the Manorá neighborhood.
A practical holder-first guide for prepaid and postpaid subscribers in Paraguay who want to move a mobile number to another operator, prepare the request, understand rejection risks and respond to an unauthorized port.
The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) removed 37 irregular speed bumps, known locally as "lomadas," across six departments. Interventions included work on routes D030 and D032 affecting towns such as Liberación and General Resquín. In contrast, only one structure was removed in the department of Paraguarí after 17 years since Law No. 3,877/2009 came into force.
Two Congolese citizens were detained at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Luque while trying to board a flight to Europe with genuine Brazilian passports belonging to other people, revealing the use of Paraguay as a transit platform for document fraud.
Paraguayan prosecutors have formally charged four uncles of a young Mennonite woman with coercion and deprivation of liberty after they attempted to forcibly separate her from her husband, who remains in custody awaiting extradition to Bolivia on human trafficking charges filed by his parents-in-law.
The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) will have a budget of G. 9.28 trillion in 2027, with an increase of up to 35% that allocates about 70% to public investment, prioritizing the "incremented paved road network" subcategory (G. 5.11 trillion), specific road works, and contributions to the Ruta PY01 PPP trust.
Paraguay’s public debt reached US$22.208 billion at the end of July 2026, around 12% more than a year earlier. The debt-to-GDP ratio nevertheless fell to 34.8%. A stronger guaraní contributed to the decline: the US dollar lost about 9.3% against the local currency between the end of December and the end of July. Meanwhile, Asunción reports payments of ₲73.4 billion toward obligations from earlier municipal bond issues.
Defense attorney Guillermo Gayoso, who initially publicized an assault account, retracted his statements and attributed former governor Hugo Javier González's claims to delirious states. Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutor's Office maintains its primary hypothesis that injuries resulted from a fall at La Esperanza Industrial Prison, while the Chamber of Deputies requests state protection for the detainee.
The seasonal drop in the Paraguay River has reduced draft to 9.5 feet north of Asunción, limiting vessel cargo capacity, according to Bernd Gunther, president of Cafym.
Paraguay's Presidency denied a theft at the official residence, Mburuvicha Róga, while unofficial sources confirmed an internal investigation into lock tampering. Senator Filizzola demanded clarity on the origin of the cash and criticized the diplomatic meeting between Santiago Peña and Delcy Rodríguez.
Asunción recorded a 40% increase in digital nomad arrivals over the last nine months, establishing itself as the 18th fastest-growing city globally in this segment according to the Nomads.com platform ranking.
Paraguay’s Court of Appeals overturned the statute-of-limitations ruling and reactivated the embezzlement case against Senator Rafael Filizzola in the “Comisarías de Oro” case, ordering the file returned to the intermediate stage after finding procedural inactivity that was not attributable exclusively to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
At the 81st UN General Assembly, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña demanded immediate Security Council reform, reaffirmed diplomatic alignment with Taiwan, and requested the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb. He also detailed his strategy for Venezuela, coordinated with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and discussed his participation in the hemispheric initiative Shield of the Americas.
Only four private vehicles crossed the Integration Bridge in its first week, while regular bus lines and closed-circuit services utilize the structure around the clock, despite documentary restrictions and specific schedules for trucks.
A receipt alone does not create a general right to return goods in Paraguay. Conversely, not having a RUC tax number does not mean consumers lose their rights or that refunds are inherently impossible. What matters is why and where the purchase was made: changing your mind after an in-store purchase, a defective product, an incorrect online delivery and a statutory withdrawal are governed by different rules. Even official guidance is inconsistent about one important deadline.
Joshua Duerksen became the first Paraguayan to drive a Formula 1 car during private Mercedes tests.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies did not reach the bill restricting mobile phones and other portable electronic devices in schools on Tuesday after the session lost its quorum. The statutory deadline now expires on Friday, September 25. The Senate version is then expected to receive automatic congressional approval and proceed to the Executive. That does not mean the restrictions are already in force.
Paraguay's state electricity utility, ANDE, has set September 30, 2026, as the deadline for Atome to define its operations in Villeta and presented a $2.34 billion budget for 2027. The proposal includes an 11% reduction in overall resources and allocates $956 million to energy purchases, primarily from Itaipu.
Luis Raúl Menocchio, sentenced to life imprisonment in Argentina, claimed in an interview that he enjoyed political protection in Paraguay and denied involvement in the murders of Eduardo Maciel and Graciela Méndez, crimes for which he was never tried in the neighboring country because he fled before proceedings began.
An analysis by MF Economía and Inversiones of the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026 places Asunción in 446th place, with its worst performance in Governance (652nd) and a ranking of 418th in Environment.
Roberto González (ANR) threatened to seek the impeachment of BCP President Carlos Carvallo Spalding, also spelled Carlos Cavallo Spalding, unless questions about Ueno, the custody of public funds and possible conflicts of interest are clarified. He also challenged the “neopeñistas” to defend the government of Santiago Peña’s actions.
An IPS audit identified a G. 625.159 billion discrepancy between electronic records and the physical movement of medicines and supplies from 2020 to 2024, attributing it to failures in system integration and incomplete documentation. It did not prove a shortfall, while the institution investigates possible responsibility.
Deputy Johanna Ortega alleged in the Chamber of Deputies that CEMUPE may be collecting bribes, issuing charges without tax receipts and failing to trace funds after visiting the site with a public notary. She also questioned rents for rooms occupied for more than 10 years, contracts that cannot be extended, payments to instructors selected by partner private companies and an earlier allegation of parallel collections at the Directorate of Consumer Protection.
Warnings and indications—including the registration of his degree with the Ministry of Education and Sciences in just over four hours, his lack of command of legal language, and the mismatch between the creation of the university and the period of study he claimed—were ignored before Hernán Rivas joined the Jurado de Enjuiciamiento de Magistrados, while Celeste Amarilla warned of possible invalidation of the body’s decisions and perjury, and prosecutor Patricia Sánchez reported a threat attributed to him concerning her remaining in office, with no mention of a death threat.
Volunteer firefighters from three municipalities in Paraguay's Alto Paraná department protested against withheld municipal funds, a situation that compromises the operational capacity of their units and results in inoperable vehicles and reduced emergency services.
The legal team of former Paraguayan governor Hugo Javier González has alleged physical assault in prison and judicial obstruction, while the opposition demands protection for the politician, who is recovering from a traumatic brain injury in hospital.
Judge Osmar Legal authorized the forensic extraction of data from four mobile phones belonging to former leaders of the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) and a Ministry Public official to investigate alleged corruption networks and leaks of sensitive information in the #LaMafiaManda case.
Paraguay toll planning works best plaza by plaza. Use MOPC’s official toll portal and dated operator notices, then calculate your route by vehicle class, plaza and payment method instead of assuming one national rate.
Homeschooling is practiced in Paraguay, but the publicly available rules do not establish it as a separate educational pathway with a clear registration, examination and recognition procedure. Paraguay nevertheless has broad compulsory-education requirements: under the current system, compulsory pre-school, Educación Escolar Básica and Educación Media are relevant. Distance education is expressly provided for by law, but learning at home is not automatically the same as officially recognized distance schooling. Families therefore need to know who will document school years and qualifications and whether those records can later be recognized in Paraguay.
Paraguay’s prosecutors requested a 12-year prison sentence for former senator Hernán Rivas over the alleged use of a false diploma, said he used political influence to obtain registrations and serve on the JEM, cited a threat against prosecutor Patricia Sánchez and requested an investigation of Education Ministry auditor Nilda Rosa Rojas Melgarejo, while the court plans to issue its final decision on September 24 and the case has revived debate over educational privileges, oversight and about 1,500 suspected diplomas.
Paraguayan public agencies awarded 475.835 billion guaraníes in consulting and professional services over the past three years, with about 75% concentrated in the MOPC and ANDE, mainly for supervising and managing infrastructure projects.
Paraguay’s National Library marks 139 years of preserving the country’s documentary heritage and facilitating access to it under the National Secretariat of Culture, while supporting the public library network and participating in CONALIB, which helps shape national reading and book policies.
Allies in Honor Colorado disagree over the 2028 presidential ticket and Santiago Peña’s political standing, as Beto Ovelar calls for unity and focus on municipal elections, Basilio Núñez defends Cartes’s leadership and Peña’s integration into the movement, César “Landy” Torres cites the support of 15 governors and 35 lawmakers, and Juan Carlos Galaverna proposes considering a “third way” guided by the collective interest.
The Senate gave the Central Bank of Paraguay 15 days to explain the concentration of public funds at Ueno Bank, accounting discrepancies, transactions with related companies and the handling of an internal memorandum, while the Paraguayan Banking Association calls for transparency and uniform application of the rules.
Vori vori ranked first, with a score of 4.7, in Taste Atlas’s list of the 50 best soups in the world, updated in September 2026, for the fourth consecutive year.
The opening of the Integration Bridge is advancing in stages, while about 7,500 trucks have already traveled through the corridor and the Paraguayan access route to the International Friendship Bridge has potholes along approximately four kilometers of Ruta PY02.
Santiago Peña met in New York with businesspeople Santiago Jariton, María Bertha Peroni and Daniel Hiller, described as driving one of the most important entertainment and urban-development projects in Paraguay’s history, to present a complex on Asunción’s Costanera Norte with an arena, event center, hotel and shopping mall aimed at Paraguay and the region, with construction expected to begin in early 2027 and backing from the government and the Municipality of Asunción.
The Central Bank of Paraguay has put the CDA-d system into operation, allowing authorized banks and finance companies to offer fully digital savings deposit certificates while paper versions coexist for at least two years.
A total of 1.36 million voters aged 18 to 29, equivalent to 27% of Paraguay’s electorate, are eligible to vote in the municipal elections on October 4, 2026, according to data from the Permanent Civic Registry.
The MADES environment ministry, the Paraguayan Naval Prefecture and the Yacyretá Binational Entity (EBY) are carrying out fishing controls in the Ayolas area during the upstream migration of dourado and boga, checking licenses, tagging records and the minimum sizes established by law.
Paraguay’s Senate launched the Mi Senado app to follow sessions and bills, consult parliamentary information and take part in non-binding consultative votes, following digital-interaction models used by regional parliaments such as Colombia’s.
In Paraguay’s municipal elections on October 4, 2026, the Supreme Court of Electoral Justice (TSJE) will organize and supervise the election, while political parties, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the National Police will oversee the process, investigate electoral crimes and secure polling places.
Santiago Peña and Delcy Rodríguez have opened talks in Caracas on restoring diplomatic relations. The move follows the 2025 rupture and combines security, economic and migration interests with a domestic debate over Paraguay’s position on Venezuela’s democratic institutions and human-rights situation.
Paraguay’s proposed 2027 budget projects a fiscal deficit of 3.9% of GDP, partly concentrated in the payment of overdue debts. Former minister Benigno López criticized it for doing little to expand public-service capacity while putting pressure on investment.
Two Brazilians were detained in Saltos del Guairá, Paraguay, with R$44,900 in presumably counterfeit banknotes, along with checkbooks and cellphones, while experts investigate the money’s authenticity and origin.
Senator Rafael Filizzola accused Santiago Peña of using Ueno to make poor deals with state funds and IPS contributors’ money, with possible effects on health care and retirement, as well as supplying energy at low prices and ignoring warnings about the bank.
Camilo Jorge Pérez López Moreira reported the highest spending among the Colorado Party candidates in the primary for mayor of Asunción, exceeding the amount reported by Arnaldo Samaniego by 21.8 times, while allegations involving the use of municipal resources and digital advertising remain officially unconfirmed.
An IPS audit identified discrepancies of up to G. 625.159 billion between recorded and physical medicine inventories, attributed mainly to incomplete integration between the SIH and SAP MM systems, and recommended assessing possible effects on accounting and medicine availability for insured people.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office presented more than 2,000 chats involving Sebastián Marset and Miguel Ángel “Tío Rico” Insfrán at the trial in the A Ultranza Py case, while documents released by U.S. prosecutors record contacts between Marset and a DEA agent before his capture in Bolivia.
A Brazilian merchant was held hostage and robbed in María Auxiliadora, Itapúa, and the suspects’ escape in a Toyota Hilux ended in a police chase and shootout recorded by security cameras; 21-year-old Walter Eliezer Vera Aquino was detained, while the second suspect remained at large.
When the Itaipú reservoir was filled in 1982, Paraguay’s Operativo Mymba Kuéra recovered 27,150 wild animals; the BBC reports around 11,000 more on the Brazilian side. The operation was remarkable, but it could mitigate only part of the damage: the new reservoir flooded about 1,350 square kilometres, submerged the Saltos del Guairá and permanently altered habitats and fish communities. Historical sources even disagree on the total number of animals rescued.
Petropar cut the budget and maximum volume of a tender to purchase aviation fuels, raised the reference price and rescheduled the session for September 23, 2026.
Work-life balance is the main priority for 41.6% of the 3,908 participants in Rankmi’s study across 14 Latin American and Caribbean markets, while remote or hybrid work leads the conditions for balancing responsibilities; for companies, flexibility affects talent attraction and retention, and in Paraguay, Jobs Paraguay reported that 37% of 193 surveyed companies had work-from-home practices, especially in technology (33%), administration (30%) and human resources (12%), generally under a hybrid model.
Online study from Paraguay can lead to Cambridge examination qualifications, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, a U.S. High School Diploma, or merely preparation for an external examination. These options can look similar online but are not legally or academically equivalent. This article compares explains what families should establish about the final credential, examination location, recognition and total cost before enrolling.
Residents of “La Lengua” in Asunción’s Barrio Jara report small-scale dealing of crack, marijuana and cocaine, along with thefts, assaults and threats in precarious settlements near the former railway line, while police operations and a court-ordered eviction have failed to stop the problems.
Itaipu is keeping its spillway open after flow rose 61%, from 1,735 to about 2,800 m³/s, a change attributed by the binational entity to upstream rainfall and demand from interconnected systems. Technicians explained the alternation between spillway channels, while Silver Guerrero told Radio Nacional that operations could change depending on rainfall, with minimal impact on riverside residents for now, normal generation and tourist visits available.
Rubén Ramírez Lezcano said Andy Rivas is his friend but has no contract with the government, although he had direct access to authorities, joined official delegations abroad, appeared as an adviser at the Latino Inaugural Ball, lobbied for the foreign minister’s OAS candidacy and is being investigated by Congress at the request of lawmaker Espínola, while reports link him to Fernando or Sebastián Cerimedo, who is associated with right-wing campaigns, La Derecha Diario and “bot farms”.
Deputy Yamil Esgaib, elected in Asunción, has proposed licenses, paid registration — equivalent to the daily minimum wage — and rules for owning and taking potentially dangerous dogs out in Paraguay, covering more than 20 breeds and fines of up to 100 minimum wages.
Brazil’s Federal Highway Police seized 106.2 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a compartment adapted inside the fuel tank of a truck with Paraguayan license plates in Paraná and arrested the 33-year-old driver.
Lawyer Mauro Barreto accused the Public Prosecutor’s Office and courts in Ciudad del Este of an alleged illegal-fee scheme, without presenting evidence or independent investigations, and criticized alleged privileges and protection among Supreme Court justices.
Three people were detained in Capiatá, Paraguay, on suspicion of using stolen checks valued at about $350,000 to try to buy up to 100,000 liters of fuel, while police seized weapons, vehicles and cash and continued the investigation.
A joint operation by Brazil’s Federal Police and Ministry of Labor rescued 23 Paraguayans from a farm attributed to federal deputy candidate Aparecido Carlos Bernardo in Puerto Murtinho, Mato Grosso do Sul, and seized 14 weapons, including rifles, as authorities investigate allegations of informal hiring, withheld wages and restrictions on the workers’ freedom to leave.
Paraguay is discussing tourism cooperation with the Bahamas and Türkiye while preparing a second phase of a sustainable community tourism project in the Mbya Guaraní Guavirami community, linked to the Jesuit Missions of Santísima Trinidad del Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue, which are part of the Serial World Heritage listing.
Former ANDE president Félix Sosa has challenged Atome’s position in the dispute over its $665 million Villeta project. He says the power contract signed in 2022 contains neither the later 2026 decrees nor a fixed preferential electricity price, and that any change would have required an addendum signed by both parties. Sosa therefore sees no contractual basis for a claim against ANDE. A separate question remains, however, over whether Atome can pursue claims against Paraguay under the UK–Paraguay investment treaty.
Paraguay will hold its fourth local Treasury bond issue of 2026 on September 23 through the Asunción Stock Exchange, reopening series maturing in 2030 and 2035 to finance the budget and expand the guaraní capital market.
Paraguay expanded rapid HIV testing across the public health network and accelerated the start of antiretroviral treatment: 371,480 tests were conducted in 2025, while 180 people began therapy between November 2025 and August 2026, including 139 in 2026.
Students at privately managed institutions in Paraguay achieved substantially higher PISA 2025 results than students at public schools – according to the Education Ministry analysis, even after socioeconomic and cultural differences were taken into account. That does not mean every private school is better or that all private options are comparable. Paraguay distinguishes between public, fully private and subsidised private institutions. Johannes Gutenberg, Goethe, Lycée Marcel Pagnol, ASA and Asunción Christian Academy represent different education paths, qualifications, languages, access models and costs. Families therefore need to compare the complete education pathway, not only the monthly fee.
A post attributing chipa’s origin to Argentina has rekindled a cultural dispute with Paraguay, but the claim about antecedents in Itatí, Corrientes, remains independently unsubstantiated amid records of Guaraní preparations and official recognition of chipa as Paraguay’s national food.
The Paraguayan passport fell from 49th to 53rd place and from 144 to 141 accessible destinations in 2026, still equivalent to 71.2% of the destinations assessed, although prior visa requirements remain across large areas of Africa, Asia and Oceania.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies left the IPS emergency bill off its agenda despite a priority motion, as a crisis within Honor Colorado — led by Horacio Cartes, who confirmed the Pedro Alliana–Juan Carlos Baruja ticket — surrounds a proposal that could increase the exposure of the institution’s funds to Ueno Bank.
The National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) destroyed more than 10 tons of marijuana in operations in Capitán Bado and Karapa’i, seizing weapons, more than 100 rounds of ammunition and processing equipment, while official reports differed on seeds, vehicles, the estimated value and the number of detentions.
Ignacio Iramain attributed the ANR crisis to a power and business struggle between Cartes and Peña, while Raúl Benítez mocked the conflict as a fight among “hens” with a “somewhat senile” “rooster” and criticized Pedro Alliana for referring to “80 princes,” correcting the number to 43 deputies who, he said, flatter the government and vote in line on its bills.
The Ciudad del Este Trial Court sentenced eight police officers to between seven and 12 years for the double homicide of Alex Ortiz Estigarribia and Gloria Espínola Cáceres, who died after a pursuit of Carlos Cato Cabrera, while two officers were acquitted and Jaime Javier Ramírez Brítez was not tried at this stage.
Paraguayan authorities incinerated 40,048 kilograms of marijuana seized in 1,327 packages hidden in 23 underground storage sites in Paso Bravo National Park. The shipment was estimated to be worth US$6.5 million on the Brazilian market, while the investigation continues to identify those responsible.
Isaías Fretes took over Paraguay’s Health Ministry after political pressure, a doctors’ strike and demands from Horacio Cartes, Lilian Samaniego, Noelia Cabrera and Sinamed directed at María Teresa Barán, promising to expand prevention and Family Health Units, combat misappropriation — “opá la ñemondá,” he said, speaking as “Juan Pueblo” — and bring care to the country’s most remote regions.
Santiago Peña began a 10-day trip to Venezuela and the United States to try to restore relations with Caracas, address Petropar’s debt of about $300 million to PDVSA and seek investment in New York, while Isaías Fretes was appointed health minister after leaving the IPS board of directors.
Electricity surpassed biomass for the first time in Paraguay’s energy consumption in 2025, reaching 22,509.5 GWh and 27.6% of final consumption, while biomass accounted for 25.3%, according to the National Energy Balance presented by the Vice Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) said it will respond within 15 business days to Senate requests about procedures and decisions by the authority and the Superintendency of Banks (SIB) involving mergers, acquisitions, banking operations and public deposits, while Santiago Peña met with sector representatives, including Juan José Galeano and leaders of the Association of Banks of Paraguay (Asoban), who advocated transparency and the technical autonomy of regulators and highlighted the system’s strength after investment-grade status was obtained.
The Chamber of Deputies is examining transfers of about G. 2.1 billion to the Santa Rita Local Health Council and a G. 1.1 billion budget increase amid suspicions of electoral use and a lack of financial reporting, with no irregularities proven so far.
Foreign nationals with permanent residency have unusually extensive political rights at municipal level in Paraguay: they can register to vote, elect the mayor and Municipal Board, and under the statutory requirements stand for municipal office themselves. This matters in practice because municipalities regulate issues including land use, construction, streets, waste, markets and local traffic. One unusual provision of the Electoral Code, however, concerns foreign residents who are also entitled to vote in another country.
Hernán Rivas's trial will hear the Public Prosecutor's Office's closing arguments on September 21 and deliver the sentence on September 24, while prosecutors consider investigating possible false testimony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Paraguay bought ammunition valued at G. 8.2 billion from the United States through the FMS program for operations against organized crime and terrorism, while expanding air surveillance with radars and six Super Tucano aircraft that helped reduce detected illicit flights, although Senad estimates that about 20 drug-trafficking aircraft still enter the country each month.
The courts ordered the pretrial detention of three agents and Helga Solís Gómez over alleged leaks linked to Lalo Gomes, while Senator Rafael Filizzola demanded an investigation into Minister Jalil Rachid, criticized the Public Prosecutor’s Office for selective action and questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the transfer of Itaipu-funded interception equipment.
Paraguayan authorities are investigating a possible international human trafficking network for labor exploitation after finding about 200 workers, most of them Brazilian, in call centers at the AURA Paraguay building in Asunción, where more than 40% of the Brazilian workers were reportedly in irregular immigration status.
Paraguay launched the Paraguay Industrial program, with a US$100 million fund and loans of up to US$2.5 million per company, while proposing to Congress the merger of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) with the National Secretariat of Tourism (Senatur).
An audit by the Comptroller General’s Office estimates a G. 65.5 billion loss in the IPS’s real estate assets between 2023 and 2025, attributed to low returns and occupancy and collection problems, while new surveys point to possible irregularities in land in the Chaco.
The increase in U.S. interest rates to a range of 3.75% to 4% could strengthen the dollar and reduce the appeal of guarani-denominated assets, but analysts believe domestic factors should limit the immediate impact on Paraguay’s exchange rate.
Three Copaco employees were detained in Mariano Roque Alonso, Paraguay, on suspicion of removing without authorization about 300 meters of underground cable valued at up to G. 35 million; the material was recovered and the case is under investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The dispute over the 2028 vice-presidential nomination led Pedro Alliana to reject demands from Horacio Cartes and exposed tensions and new centers of power within Honor Colorado, which is postponing a decision until after the October 4 municipal elections.
ATOME notified Paraguay of its intention to take to arbitration a $665 million dispute over its green-fertilizer project in Villa Elisa after negotiations with ANDE broke down over a 15-year contract and a $30/MWh tariff, while Sitrande cited the Imperium alternative to ABC Color at $70/MWh and the government argued that generation costs could reach $50/MWh in 2043; backed by commitments from institutions including IDB Invest, IFC, the European Investment Bank and the Green Climate Fund, as well as a 10-year contract with Yara, the project could lead to an arbitration claim after 90 days of consultations, although the losses estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars come from an independent assessment and are not a formal claim.
The Paraguayan Senate postponed, for lack of a quorum, a vote on an independent audit of voting machines ahead of the October 4 municipal elections after governing-party senators left the chamber; the request arose from possible inconsistencies in election records, with no fraud yet proven.
An agreement between the Paraguayan government and unions providing for a 5% salary increase in 2027 reduced the national teachers’ strike, but divided the organizations and kept groups seeking 8% mobilized before some of them suspended the action.
An ordinary Paraguayan residence application generally requires valid identification, proof of registered entry, a birth certificate, relevant civil-status records and a nationally valid criminal-record certificate. Foreign public documents normally need an apostille and, when they are not in Spanish, a Spanish translation; the DNM expressly exempts Portuguese-language documents issued by Brazil from translation. This guide explains the shared Paraguayan rules and what applicants from Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland should obtain before travelling. Nationality is not the only issue: a person who lived in another country for more than one year during the previous three years may also need that country’s criminal-record certificate.
The National Development Bank (BNF) reduced the guarantees required, eased disbursements and waived G. 62 million in administrative expenses when it amended, in October 2023, the G. 62 billion credit granted to itti, despite reservations about the appraisal and condition of the properties offered as collateral.
Helga Solís Gómez, the niece of deceased lawmaker Lalo Gomes, turned herself in to police in Pedro Juan Caballero and was transferred to Asunción, where she will be investigated along with four current and former National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) employees for alleged criminal association, influence peddling, information leaks and obstruction of investigations.
The Paso Bravo Operation seized 40,048 kilograms of pressed marijuana, valued at about US$6 million, hidden in 23 underground storage sites in Paso Bravo National Park, in northern Paraguay, near the border with Brazil.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies approved a bill by Yamil Esgaib amending the Penal Code and providing for sentences of up to 15 years for officials who facilitate the escape of people deprived of their liberty, sending the text to the Senate.
Three people died when an aircraft crashed in a rural area of Água Boa, after reportedly operating without authorization or an approved flight plan, while definitive identification of the burned victims depends on DNA testing.
Cooperativa Poravoty members Milder Javier Núñez Delgado and José Rolando Doldán González will stand trial in a case brought by Pedro Loblein after depositors protested over frozen savings, while investigations into the cooperative’s crisis and liquidation continue.
Paraguay’s Senate postponed until next week a vote on a bill changing the Agrarian Statute and Indert rules, as Indigenous and peasant organizations protest possible sales of public land to people who are not eligible beneficiaries, land concentration and reduced funding for agrarian reform.
Infona and Control Union Paraguay signed, during Expo Madera Paraguay 2026, a one-year agreement to train the forestry sector in responsible management, traceability and international certifications, facilitating access to foreign markets without guaranteeing exports or commercial contracts.
IPS holds up to 82.49% of its dollar-denominated CDA in the five largest banks, while the Senate is demanding information from BCP on the management of these public resources, banking operations and loans to policyholders.
The National Unified Registry (RUN) presented the Digital Cadastral and Property Registration Certificate, whose issuance through the Sigre system begins October 1, while the gradual digitization of about 70 million pages will incorporate digital signatures and face challenges such as file cleanup and the assessment of overlapping titles.
Berta Rojas received three nominations for the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards for La huella de las cuerdas, in the categories of Best Instrumental Album, Best Contemporary Classical Work or Composition, and Best Packaging Design; the ceremony will be held on November 12 in Las Vegas.
Alto Paraná is home to 160 of Paraguay’s 324 maquila companies and receives about 90% of business inquiries from Brazil, while the 17th Expo Paraguay Brasil seeks to attract more than US$600 million in investment through productive integration between the two countries.
ravelers entering Paraguay currently have a USD 1,000 allowance when arriving by air or river and USD 300 when entering by land. Purchases made at an arrival duty-free shop receive an additional allowance of up to USD 500. Value is only part of the customs assessment: the quantity, nature and assortment of goods can indicate a commercial import even below the allowance. Under DNIT’s current instruction, monetary instruments totaling USD 10,000 or more must be declared through eDAV.
Miguel Prieto’s defense said at the Tía Chela trial that it will present suppliers, records and other documents to prove the delivery of 25,000 food kits during the pandemic, while challenging the alleged loss of G. 2.13 billion and the corruption charges.
Paraguay will host the Ibero-American Country Brand Forum for the first time in November, with 17 delegations and a program expected to include talks on global brands, training sessions, business meetings and business networking activities, while the government announced 43 new licenses and nine renewals, bringing the current total to more than 150 licensed companies, including new and previously licensed businesses.
MIGRAMÓVIL is planning to serve the foreign population at the Amambay Departmental Government in Pedro Juan Caballero from September 21 to 25, 2026, after recording 1,455 residence applications at the Mangaré Cultural Center in Ciudad del Este.
Paraguay’s Public Prosecutor’s Office charged Capitán Bado judge Cristhian Ariel Sánchez Zaracho with allegedly attempting to launder assets by ordering the auction of two properties linked to the Luiz Carlos da Rocha, known as Cabeça Branca, case despite active criminal restrictions.
Paraguay is undergoing a clear demographic transition: according to INE, the total fertility rate is 1.9 children per woman in 2026, life expectancy is rising and the share of older people is increasing. At the same time, Paraguay remains a relatively young country and its population is still growing. There are striking differences between current figures from Paraguay's INE and the UN World Population Prospects. INE puts the 2026 population at about 6.46 million, with a median age of 29.4 and 8.9% aged 65 or older; the UN series gives about 7.01 million people for 2025, a median age of 28 and 6.7% aged 65+. The differences result from separate statistical and projection systems, but both point toward the same broad trend: Paraguay is ageing, gradually rather than suddenly.
Debate over Paraguay’s 2027 social budget questioned the results of programs such as Tekoporã and Tenonderã and the operation of Hambre Cero, whose contracts totaled G. 3.8 trillion for Comepar and Ladero Paraguayo, while lawmakers demanded oversight of school time and the use of funds.
The government and Sinamed reached an agreement providing for increases of up to G. 2 million per employment relationship, 1,500 new appointments in 2027 and US$260 million for medicines and supplies in next year’s budget, but suspending the strike still depends on a medical assembly.
Traveler assistance on international bus journeys through South America should cover every country on the route, medical transport, border delays, missed connections and baggage problems, with accessible support channels even without internet.
Paraguay’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has charged five people and sought pretrial detention for four current or former members of the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) and Lalo Gomes’s niece, who are suspected of leaking information about anti-drug operations to benefit the former lawmaker’s family. The case also involves the seizure of 4.255 kilograms of cocaine bound for Brazil and questions over the transfer of the agency’s telephone-interception system.
A Paraguayan woman was among six people killed when an illegally built structure under construction collapsed in São Paulo, while another operation arrested seven people and seized more than a ton of marijuana allegedly brought from Paraguay into Paraná.
Paraguay and Bolivia approved the last pending section in La Paz and completed the demarcation of their approximately 742-kilometer common border, which will be documented and subject to periodic inspection and maintenance.
Horacio Cartes named Juan Carlos Baruja as Pedro Alliana’s running mate for 2028, while the vice president postponed the decision until after the municipal elections; in the same political landscape, Colorado Añetete declared support for Camilo Pérez and Hugo Ramírez, and the government and doctors reached a preliminary pay agreement amid a strike.
A Paraguayan birth certificate confirms a person's birth record in the Civil Registry and is required for many official and private procedures. People with an Electronic Identity can obtain their own certificate online through Portal Paraguay as an electronically signed PDF. It is valid for one year and can be used electronically inside Paraguay; use abroad requires additional apostille or legalization steps.
Paraguayan shoe manufacturers protested in Ypacaraí against the entry of Chinese products and asked DNIT to investigate goods brought from Iquique, Chile.
Paraguayan Deputy Minister Saúl Recalde apologized after being filmed holding doctor Freddy Hernán Cantero by the neck at the Ministry of Health and placed his position at the minister’s disposal.
An audit by the Comptroller General's Office found that IPS has no internal protocols to recover principal and interest invested in banks in arrears, insolvency or bankruptcy, even though savings deposit certificates account for 46.62% of its portfolio, and recommended specific prevention, monitoring and investment-recovery measures.
According to reports by Última Hora and El Nacional, Paraguay’s Criminal Appeals Court rejected the defense appeals and upheld the convictions of three former police officers for torturing political prisoners between 1976 and 1978. Fortunato Laspina and Eusebio Torres received 25 years, while Manuel Alcaraz received 20 years.
Senator Rafael Filizzola said the opposition would block any possible impeachment of independent Supreme Court justices, while defending judicial reforms based on institutional criteria and concrete grounds.
Paraguay’s Central Administration executed ₲46 trillion between January and August 2026, with spending concentrated on salaries, transfers, social programs and health, which received ₲2.1 trillion to settle pharmaceutical obligations and maintain the supply of medicines and medical supplies.
An actuarial projection by IPS indicates that the ratio of contributors to retirees will fall from 9.6 to about three by 2050, while reserves would begin to be used in 2036 and could be exhausted around 2046 without corrective measures.
The trials of former minister Arnaldo Giuzzio, accused of aggravated passive bribery, and former Ciudad del Este mayor Miguel Prieto, accused of alleged breach of trust in the purchase of food baskets, have resumed in Paraguay.
Asunción’s Codeni centralizes technical, legal, psychological and protective assistance for children and adolescents through 11 centers and hotlines, operating Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with complaints strictly anonymous and confidential by law.
Paraguayan access roads to Puente de la Integración became 15.23% more expensive, reaching G. 926.724 billion, while the bridge over the Monday River reached 45% completion, leaving the cross-border connection between Presidente Franco and Foz de Yguazú incomplete.
Paraguay’s Public Prosecutor’s Office prioritizes the theory that Hugo Javier González fell after becoming unwell but is keeping open the possibility of an assault while awaiting tests and forensic examinations; his cellmate reaffirmed the account, and the defense ruled out a targeted attack.
Operations by the National Anti-Drug Secretariat and Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service seized about 595 kilograms of marijuana in Salto del Guairá and at the Friendship Bridge on the Paraguay-Brazil border.
Paraguay requires companies and other covered legal structures to report their beneficial owners. These are the natural persons who ultimately stand behind an entity — for example because they hold at least 10% of its capital, control substantial voting rights or exercise control in another way. Where foreign companies are shareholders, identifying the beneficial owner may require tracing several layers of ownership. This guide explains who qualifies, why the information must be reported and what role SIARA plays.
Itaipu opened its spillway on Sunday to release excess water and control the reservoir level after increased rainfall, with the flow reaching 3,100 m³/s and no impact on electricity supplies to Brazil and Paraguay.
The integration of the Urban Train with Asunción’s Historic Center and port is undergoing technical analysis under the Asunción 500 Years urban revitalization plan, with studies covering the route, stations, mobility and heritage preservation.
The Paraguay River continues to fall at most major ports, while the Paraná records isolated rises attributed to discharges and precipitation in the upper basin; forecasts point to a dramatic change associated with the consolidation of El Niño, with more frequent and intense rainfall and possible flash rises and flooding if the projections are confirmed.
Paraguay’s currency exchange houses recorded a year-on-year decline in distributable profits in July despite an increase in transactions, due to narrower margins, competition, exchange-rate volatility and the digitalization of services.
In Paraguay, about 60.1% of people working outside agriculture were informally employed in 2025. At the same time, the average annual wage of around US$6,300 used in an international comparison is well below a reference level derived from research into income and well-being. The figures measure different things, but together they show why both income and access to formal employment matter when assessing Paraguay's labour market.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies will consider on September 15 bills to unblock compensation for children of victims of Alfredo Stroessner’s dictatorship and restore symbols associated with the regime, as well as proposals on sports inclusion for neurodivergent people and increased penalties for facilitating prisoners’ escapes.
Renovation work on 16 blocks of Azara and General Díaz streets in Asunción has reached its final stage, with painting and road markings underway after asphalt repairs and the application of hydraulic concrete under the ASU 400 Blocks Plan.
Families of four victims of the crash that killed six people in September 2024 in Pedrozo have sued the Paraguayan state and the Ministry of Public Works and Communications, seeking G. 27 billion in damages and alleging failures in the installation and maintenance of the traffic light on a descent on Route PY-02.
Asunción continues to face service problems, debt and allegations under Luis Bello, while Óscar Pérez’s intervention at the Roadways Directorate approaches two months; ABC Color also reports on the “Mafia del asfalto” case, allegations still without convictions against officials from previous administrations, including Constantino “Tino” Ayala and Carlos Morel Gadea, US$22.2 million in overdue interest and partial payments without a global agreement, as well as the diversion of G. 512 billion in bond proceeds for G8 projects during the administration of Óscar “Nenecho” Rodríguez, and says Camilo Pérez and the councilor slate represent the continuation of the Colorado Party model of the National Republican Association (ANR), a party linked to Horacio Cartes, despite their rhetoric of change.
During a visit to Paraguay, Eugenio Raúl Zaffaroni warned that punitive policies, lawfare, and the weakening of police forces and institutions threaten Latin American democracy; he criticized the Inter-American Court’s slowness and the excessive use of abbreviated proceedings, and defended artificial intelligence only as an auxiliary tool for the justice system.
Sedeco has requested a full veto of a law requiring creditors to return paid promissory notes and providing for a fine equal to 20% of the document’s value, arguing that the measure improperly expands its authority to cover disputes between private parties; while the Executive makes its decision, the current rules remain in force.
Santiago Peña reshuffled Paraguay’s health leadership, appointing Isaías Fretes as minister and Derlis León as IPS president, while doctors maintain a strike over a salary increase and an audit warns about the concentration of social security funds at Ueno Bank.
How high are incomes in Paraguay? An analysis of the 2025 EPHC finds a median of about Gs. 2.69 million for people reporting positive monthly income from their main occupation. The average is considerably higher at Gs. 3.27 million. That difference helps explain the country's income distribution more clearly.
The September 2021 murder of Mauricio Schuartzman in Asunción converged with Operation Smart and the A Ultranza investigation into an international cocaine-trafficking and money-laundering network attributed by authorities to Sebastián Marset and Miguel Insfrán, leading to the operation’s launch five months later.
The elevators at the Pedrozo footbridge in Ypacaraí were removed after failures and residents’ criticism, leaving the accessibility planned for the project unresolved while ramp-equipped minibuses continue to transport pedestrians.
The expansion of Paraguay’s private ports requires permanent dredging of the Paraguay and Paraná rivers, coordination with Argentina and improvements to access roads, since 80% to 90% of import and export cargo depends on the waterway and road transport.
Residents of Tablada Nueva and Virgen de Fátima in Asunción are asking the courts to suspend slaughtering operations and progressively relocate the Beef SA and Frigomerc SA slaughterhouses, citing smoke, odors, pests and health risks in a residential area.
By October 9, the Juror for the Trial of Magistrates will assess whether four orders requiring reports to be removed from ABC Color’s digital archive constituted censorship and decide whether to open an investigation or proceedings against the judges involved.
Private fuel distributors in Paraguay are considering increases of up to G. 800 per liter because of higher oil prices, while Petropar is temporarily maintaining prices with older inventories and the sector warns of effects on transport, freight and food.
Robert Harrison confirmed Gustavo Alfaro will remain with the Paraguayan national team through the 2030 World Cup after the coach took La Albirroja back to the 2026 tournament, 16 years later, with the documents due to be signed when he returns on Monday.
Paraguay’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested an oral trial for former judge Carmen Analía Cibils and three other people over the alleged falsification of a judicial notice in Argentina that was used to validate seven promissory notes and allow enforcement proceedings against a woman, although the case still requires a preliminary hearing and there is no final conviction.
Brazilian businessman Luciano Pampado Casquel, also known in Paraguay as Luciano Pereira Castelo, fled after Paraguay’s courts ordered his arrest for extradition to Brazil, where he is wanted for homicide, after he was filmed threatening a truck driver with a pistol in Asunción.
The Senate approved changes that would broaden the possibility of removing and auctioning abandoned vehicles in Paraguay after six months without a claim, but the bill returned to the Chamber of Deputies and is not yet in force.
Bonifacio Ríos Ávalos was unanimously elected dean of the National University of Asunción’s Law and Social Sciences School and, while awaiting his inauguration, pledged to strengthen institutional governance and fight clientelism amid internal disputes and allegations of academic irregularities.
The National Police and ANDE seized 25 cryptocurrency-mining machines from a residence in Ciudad del Este after residents reported intense noise, and the case was referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Travelers carrying plant material into Paraguay should treat the SENAVE phytosanitary question as separate from ordinary baggage or customs assumptions. The practical test is product, processing, origin and intended use, checked before travel through the official requirements lookup and, when needed, with quarantine staff.
Residents are demanding explanations from the Municipality of Lambaré over the alleged disbursement of about G. 6 billion for a road project with no visible progress, while potholes, poor drainage and accumulated waste are worsening streets and sidewalks, although the figure and payments still need to be verified in official documents.
Paraguayan exports under the maquila regime totaled $1.01 billion from January to August 2026, up 26% in one year, with a positive trade balance of $481 million, driven by auto parts, garments, beverages and aluminum manufactures, mainly for Mercosur.
Puente de la Amistad will have partial closures from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday for repairs to the pavement, structure and walkways, while vehicle traffic between Ciudad del Este and Foz do Iguaçu remains open.
An investigation by Última Hora concluded that the phrase was not written by Sarmiento and appears in a political pamphlet with no proven authorship, original manuscript, colophon or printing date, attributed to Caxias and classified as apocryphal by the Mitre Museum; Chiavenato acknowledged that the document might have been lost among wartime records that were burned, stolen, destroyed or misplaced, while the Imperial Museum reported, after an inquiry by the Brazilian Army’s Directorate of Cultural Affairs, that it did not possess the alleged letter.
A complaint filed with the Public Prosecutor's Office calls for an investigation into alleged inspectors who demanded payments from restaurants and offered to regularize documents on behalf of the Municipality of Asunción.
Santiago Peña announced, in partnership with Taiwan, a Sovereign Artificial Intelligence Computing Center with an initial investment of more than US$300 million and a capacity of 10 megawatts, during a forum discussing technology applications and academic training in Paraguay.
Vice President Pedro Alliana backed cutting unnecessary spending in Paraguay’s 2027 budget to meet doctors’ and teachers’ demands, maintained his support for Santiago Peña’s government and said there was unity within the National Republican Association (ANR), also known as the Colorado Party.
Attorney Lalo Gómez (Eulalio Gómez Batista) told El Observador Radio TV that political tentacles directly influence judicial decisions in Coronel Oviedo and the Caaguazú department, causing poor administration of justice, and alleged that Freemasonry exerts even broader influence over courts, lower courts, the Supreme Court of Justice and Paraguay’s Public Prosecutor’s Office, supposedly having already been denounced by Justice Minister Manuel Ramírez Candia when he was superintendent of the local judicial district.
Paraguay recorded 154,041 procedures on Portal Paraguay in August, which continues to have more than 500,000 active monthly users, while SIFEN surpassed 50,000 taxpayers authorized to issue electronic tax documents, concentrated mainly among small businesses and in the country’s main economic centers.
The Chamber of Deputies declared the protection of Médanos del Chaco National Park a matter of national interest, while a proposal to allow the exploration of possible hydrocarbons in the area remains under consideration, opposed by the MADES environment ministry and the Paraguayan Indigenous Institute.
The National Directorate of Migration recorded more than 3,000 migration security procedures in Paraguay between January and August 2026, including travel bans, refusals of entry, expulsions, transfers to security forces and extraditions.
An agreement with Paraguay’s Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare withdrew 446 resignation requests and allowed scheduled surgeries to resume, but medical organizations challenged the text and Sinamed maintained its strike for September 21 and 22, 2026, over pay increases and improvements to the system.
Paraguay's president, Congress and judiciary have separate functions, but power moves between them through defined procedures. A legislative veto is a particularly clear example of how proposals, votes, deadlines and counter-decisions interact – and why the document trail matters more than institutional labels alone.
Türkiye has authorized eight Paraguayan slaughterhouses to export boneless beef after assessing the country’s veterinary inspection system, while the state-owned Et ve Süt Kurumu expressed interest in initially importing up to 300 tons.
Miguel Ángel Robles Ibarra turned himself in to Paraguay’s National Police to begin serving a 10-year sentence for misappropriating G$5.1 billion from the Central Department Governor’s Office, while his former boss, Hugo Javier, is already imprisoned in the same case.
The public transport subsidy included in the 2027 National General Budget is expected to rise 35% to about US$74 million, while Cetrapam is calling for an update to the technical fare, which has been outdated for nine months and is based on an outdated Brazilian model.
The Senate approved changes to a bill that would provide for up to six years in prison and financial compensation for false accusations, sending it back to the Chamber of Deputies as critics warn that it could discourage legitimate complaints.
Paraguayan specialist doctors withdrew their resignations and suspended participation in the September 21 and 22 strike after reaching an agreement with the Ministry of Health, which provides for negotiations on differentiated salaries for high-complexity fields, still subject to budgetary and legislative approval.
Conmebol fined Olimpia $25,000 for using pyrotechnics and failing to follow instructions during the Copa Sudamericana match against Vasco, warned press chief Joel Barrios and ordered the amount to be deducted automatically from the club’s revenues.
Paraguay’s Senate approved requests for information from the Central Bank of Paraguay about Ueno Bank’s operations and expansion, amid questions about public deposits, possible conflicts of interest, and political rivalries involving the institution and Banco Basa.
A teachers’ strike scheduled for September 17 and 18 in Paraguay challenges the 2027 budget bill, which excludes agreed raises and demands, while senators Blanca Ovelar and Celeste Amarilla disagree over the causes of the education crisis, the results of the 2025 PISA assessment given to 6,507 students, the Ñe’ẽry program, which received US$12 million in 2023, and criticism of teacher training and meritocracy; Amarilla also fears a return of banking crises and mentions Banco Atlas and Ueno, a Paraguayan digital bank.
A 20-year-old Paraguayan woman was rescued by Brazil’s Federal Police in Marechal Cândido Rondon after being lured to Brazil by a false job offer and taken to a brothel, while authorities investigate those responsible and possible other victims.
Expo Madera 2026 brings together 17 countries in Luque through Saturday, September 12, to promote Paraguay’s forest industrialization. Sector exports reached US$101 million in 2025 and totaled US$59.9 million in the first seven months of 2026.
Former Zanja Pytã mayor Manuel Velázquez Marín was sentenced to five years in prison for possession of dangerous drugs after more than 70 kilograms of marijuana were seized at a rural property in Amambay in 2022.
The Central Bank of Paraguay will unveil a new family of guarani banknotes on October 5, 2026. The notes will enter circulation in the first quarter of 2027 with the same denominations, new designs, different sizes, new materials and security features, while current notes are gradually withdrawn.
A practical guide to Paraguay’s SPI instant-transfer rail inside SIPAP: how to check the current per-operation limit, verify a recipient, use aliases and payment requests, and respond when money is sent to the wrong account.
The National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Senad) seized 62.6 grams of cocaine base, equivalent to more than 420 doses of crack, and detained a 24-year-old woman during an operation at a residence in Remansito, Villa Hayes, identified as a possible site of small-scale drug dealing.
Paraguay raised its health alert, stepped up inspections against the smuggling of poultry and pork products, and proposed a permanent technical working group after avian influenza was detected in domestic birds in Uruguay.
The suspension of Brazilian beef exports to the European Union could redirect Brazil’s supply and increase competition for Paraguay in Chile and the United States, while Mercosur discusses how to divide a potential European quota.
An agreement signed by the municipalities of Presidente Franco and Puerto Iguazú and by Blasa Iguazú and Intercom authorizes tourist vehicles carrying passengers to use the ferry between the cities, subject to authorization from national authorities, to expand tourism and generate jobs and development in the region.
Santiago Peña said there is no break with Horacio Cartes, attributed criticism to the municipal elections, defended clarifications over a request for information from the Central Bank involving Ueno Bank, and called for continued dialogue with doctors threatening a strike on September 21 and 22.
With technical support from Chile, Paraguay is preparing the first tender for transport reform along the Mariscal López corridor, while bus companies say the technical fare has gone nine months without an update and are pressing for funds to keep the service running.
The National Agency for the Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education (Aneaes) said during Hernán Rivas’s trial that the law degree from Universidad Sudamericana was not registered with the National Council of Higher Education (Cones) or accredited, while witnesses described aspects of the former senator’s education and prosecutors questioned the dates on academic documents.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office charged former National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) technical intelligence director Mauro Ruiz Díaz and his ex-wife, Andrea Karina Martí, over suspected illicit enrichment and money laundering after they moved G. 2.8 billion with no justified origin, and requested the freezing of accounts and assets; Ruiz Díaz is also under investigation over alleged leaks linked to the A Ultranza PY case, with no conviction having been issued.
Paraguay recorded one of the weakest Latin American performances in PISA 2025, with declines in reading, science and mathematics, while Hermenegildo Cohene Velázquez was appointed to chair the National Council of Higher Education, replacing Luis Fernando Ramírez.
Senator Rubén Velázquez called for transparency and updated information on Paraguay’s state revenues from its 5% stake in Latam Airlines, gold extraction in Paso Yobái and energy tariffs paid by crypto-mining operations.
The European Union and Paraguay agreed to expand cooperation against transnational organized crime and advocated moving ahead with implementation of the trade agreement between Mercosur and the EU.
Paraguay Business Week will bring together investment, trade, maquila and support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises from November 11 to 13 at the TASK Center in Hernandarias, with more than 10,000 participants expected and US$1 billion in projected business, strengthening business ties between Paraguay and Brazil.
In ordinary private employment in Paraguay, the final settlement starts with the reason for termination. Unpaid wages, aguinaldo and vacation are checked separately; an unjustified dismissal can add notice pay and 15 daily wages of indemnity per service year. Ten continuous years trigger a special employment-stability regime.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce launched MIC MAP, a platform that integrates territorial, productive, logistics, energy, social and trade data from across Paraguay to guide public policy, investment and productive planning.
Paraguay’s Senate sent the Central Bank 31 questions about Ueno Bank’s operations and the oversight it received, including transactions with companies linked to Grupo Vázquez, the sale of a US$35 million loan portfolio and possible corrective measures, with 15 days to respond.
Yo Creo leaders accused the Public Prosecutor’s Office of trying to keep Miguel Prieto out of the 2028 presidential race through a criminal case investigating payments of more than G. 11.2 billion for works linked to the Hospital of Ciudad del Este. The case, which also involves lawmaker Walter García, has not produced public evidence of political coordination.
DNIT is studying a review of tax benefits for corporate reserves and electric vehicles and a change to the tax on tirzepatide, while UIP is urging caution over regimes such as maquila; all the measures depend on Congress.
Paraguayan teachers will hold a nationwide strike on September 17 and 18 to press for the inclusion of an 8% pay increase in the 2027 budget, with the possibility of expanding the mobilization and joining the doctors’ strike.
Paraguay’s draft 2027 National General Budget provides $76.5 million to subsidize public transport in Asunción and the metropolitan area, with coverage linked to public borrowing and, according to local reports, bond issuance. Lawmakers question the increase amid continuing service problems.
According to the organizers, the 3rd Taiwan–Paraguay Technology Forum, scheduled for September 11 and 12 at the Central Bank of Paraguay in Asunción, will bring together experts to discuss applications of artificial intelligence in areas including industry, agriculture, health, energy, logistics, finance, cybersecurity and digital government, with free admission upon prior registration.
Paraguay’s manufacturing industry has grown and is seeking long-term credit, stable energy, training and technology to expand investment, jobs and exports.
Pablo Callizo and Sebastián Garay were taken to a police station and released about two hours later after taking part in a teddy-bear protest outside Horacio Cartes’s home in Asunción. The episode drew criticism from opponents and sparked debate over the limits of police action during public demonstrations.
IPS reviewed low returns, payment defaults and legal disputes involving Villa Santo Domingo, Isla de Francia and Cantegrill, considering converting part of the first property into accommodation for medical residents and improving the use of the other properties.
Paraguay fell in reading and science in PISA 2025 and ranked 11th among 13 Latin American countries. The results fueled debate over the digital administration of the test, screen use and artificial intelligence, and education policies such as the Ñe’ēry program; Minister Luis Ramírez said he would explain the results at a press conference on Friday.
Since July 2026 Paraguay's general minimum wage is Gs. 3,044,000. A full-time domestic worker also generates a 16.5% employer IPS contribution; adding the annual bonus produces a baseline annual employer budget of about Gs. 45.6 million before overtime and other variable costs.
Hugo Javier González remains in serious condition and on a ventilator at Itauguá National Hospital after reportedly being found unconscious in his cell bathroom at 11:12 p.m., while the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Internal Affairs unit investigate the case; there is no footage from inside the area.
Digitalization, used by about 85% of Paraguay’s population in 2025, is driving e-commerce, fintech, digital wallets, QR payments and online betting, while virtual transactions are expected to exceed 40 million in 2026.
Documents presented by Óscar Tuma are offered as evidence that Basilio Núñez graduated in medicine from the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste in Argentina and worked as a medical surgeon in the public health system, but they do not demonstrate his alleged specialization in neurosurgery, which Aníbal Filártiga questioned.
Brazil is negotiating with Paraguay to reduce the DTVF fee before private vehicles begin crossing the Integration Bridge on September 14, under a regime restricted to residents of four border cities.
Paraguay’s Congress has begun reviewing the 2027 General National Budget, estimated at G. 166.3 trillion and listing health care among its priorities, while the Senate prepares requests for information from the Central Bank about Ueno Bank and lawmakers negotiate doctors’ salary demands.
Sitrande will step up protests against plans to create a Ministry of Energy, Mining and Hydrocarbons and an Energy Regulatory Authority, demanding guarantees from Santiago Peña’s government as negotiations over Itaipú’s 2027 tariff move forward.
Senators called for an investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and an internal inquiry by the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Senad) into the operation in Canindeyú that killed Antonio Carrillo and teacher Catalino Correa, questioning the official account of the two men’s involvement and the use of force.
The Paraguayan government has proposed a salary adjustment and a medical pay scale based on training, specialization, seniority and responsibilities after medical representatives announced 631 resignation requests; the Health Ministry counts 270 formalized cases.
Up to 800,000 jobs in Paraguay are exposed to artificial-intelligence automation, especially in call centers, telemarketing and customer service. The scale of possible effects by 2035 depends on the definitions and conditions of the estimate, while vocational training is presented as a response.
ANR mayoral candidate Guido González said his administration took on no new debt and promised to finance road projects with monthly payments of up to G. 300 million, although inherited obligations remain.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance transferred more than G. 2.33 trillion to Paraguayan departments and municipalities during the first eight months of 2026. A spreadsheet lists no transfers for Asunción and five other municipalities, but does not itself detail the individual reason in each case.
In Brussels, Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano advocated expanding cooperation between Paraguay and the European Union into a strategic partnership covering security, the fight against organized crime, investment and development, with the Mercosur–EU agreement as a foundation, according to the position he presented.
Under ANDE’s standard residential tariff, the entire month’s consumption is billed at the unit price of the band reached. That can create surprisingly large jumps at tariff thresholds. Here is how to check a bill systematically.
An opinion article argues for policies to support Paraguayan publishers, including financing, public purchases and more accessible incentives, to reduce production barriers and broaden the circulation of books and knowledge.
Amateur anglers from Alto Paraná caught an approximately 90-kilogram freshwater stingray in the Paraguay River, at Posadas del Tebicuary, a rural locality in Tacuaras, Ñeembucú, with help from local guides to bring it to shore.
Practical guidance based on lawyer María José Ojeda Argüello’s interpretation covers rent adjustments, repairs, penalties, deposits, a photographic inventory made before signing and Civil Code provisions attributed to the law. Disputes and contract decisions require professional advice.
The National University of Asunción’s Law School opened a preliminary investigation into alleged attempts to alter grades after chats surfaced mentioning requests to pass students and lists of names, including student representative Alejandro “Tratito” Ovelar, while the authenticity of the messages and whether any changes occurred remain to be established.
Asunción has presented an urban design manual for the Historic Center that calls for wider sidewalks, pedestrian-only streets and shared streets, with guidelines to standardize public spaces under an urban resilience project financed by a $100 million World Bank loan.
WhatsApp messages submitted for forensic examination and examined in a report link Deputy Minister of Communications Alejandra Duarte to cash withdrawals, operations involving Azafrán and Prana, and the creation of phone lines used by pages linked to the so-called Disinformation Network. The records do not establish the purpose or legality of the payments or any possible criminal responsibility.
Nicaragua rejected Paraguay’s concern over its constitutional reform, defending national sovereignty, while Asunción said the changes could restrict political participation and undermine free elections.
A bill by senators José Oviedo and Rubén Velázquez proposes establishing the second Sunday of September as National Sopa Paraguaya Day to promote and preserve the dish, but the date still depends on congressional consideration and approval.
IPS, the institution that administers Paraguay’s social-security system, has launched a mandatory, free digital census to update the information of 90,855 retirees and pensioners by December 7. The procedure does not replace the quarterly proof-of-life requirement needed to continue receiving payments.
Raúl Latorre said Hernán Rivas presented himself as a lawyer to represent the Chamber of Deputies on the JEM. Hugo Estigarribia said a final conviction could prompt an examination of decisions if Rivas’s vote was decisive.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office accused former Ciudad del Este mayor Miguel Prieto, Sebastián Martínez Insfrán and councilor Valeria Romero of an alleged breach of trust involving Regional Hospital funds and asked for the case to proceed to oral trial. The request remains subject to a preliminary hearing.
Asunción bondholders will decide on September 16 whether to seek legal action if the municipality does not prove that it paid the G. 41.101 billion promised for the previous day, while accumulated debt and unfinished drainage works expose the administration’s financial crisis.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies will again review a bill that could allow different financial products from the same institution to be counted separately, while IPS investments in Ueno Bank exceeded the legal limit described in the sources.
Dionisio Manuel Cáceres Cabrera, a former aide and alleged associate of Sebastián Marset, was arrested in Itacurubí during Operation Nexus II and is being investigated for possible involvement in an international cocaine-trafficking network that allegedly used football to move funds.
Paraguay has moved many government procedures online, but “online” means different things depending on the process. Temporary residency must be applied for in person. RUC tax registration starts online but, according to DNIT, is completed at a government office. An EAS company can be incorporated online, but the principal legal representative must meet specific electronic-identity requirements — and the subsequent RUC process may still involve an in-person step.
Soledad Núñez presented five strategies to reorganize Asunción City Hall, focusing on fighting corruption, cleanliness, urban planning, recovering municipal spaces and assets, professionalizing employees and balancing the finances, with the capital’s 500th anniversary as the target.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies completed only eight of the year’s 41 sessions because of a lack of quorum, leaving bills unvoted, and is preparing changes to its rules to enforce pay deductions and penalize absent lawmakers.
Senave has postponed until December 31 the mandatory registration in the Fruit and Vegetable Traceability System and the issuance of the Plant Traceability Document for bananas, pineapples, melons and papayas, allowing producers time to regularize their status and receive training.
Itaipu Binacional transferred US$310 million to Paraguay in the first eight months of 2026 for royalties, energy transfers and ANDE investments, bringing transfers since August 2023 to US$1.532 billion to finance the public budget, school meals, construction and electrical infrastructure.
Paraguay and Japan have signed a US$24 million grant to build and equip a space technology center at the National University of Asunción, focused on professional training, small-satellite development and the use of geospatial data in areas such as agriculture, environmental monitoring and disaster prevention.
The Trudgeon stroke, popularized by English swimmer Jack Trudgeon, was reportedly learned by him as a child while playing in the water with Payaguá children in Asunción and later spread with the expansion of competitive swimming and municipal pools. The account is based on a statement by the swimmer and research by Gary Osmond, although no record documents a specific teaching scene.
Paraguay’s 2027 General National Budget bill projects a fiscal deficit of 3.9% of GDP, spending of G. 166.3 trillion and increased funding for social programs, including 30,000 new beneficiaries of the elderly pension.
Jorge Brítez, former president of Paraguay’s Social Security Institute (IPS), chose not to testify to the Public Prosecutor’s Office about the failed installation of modular operating rooms at Central Hospital. The case concerns the management of funds and possible responsibility at an institution central to the country’s public healthcare system.
Coscoroba swans return to Paraguay in winter and can be seen in lagoons, wetlands in the Chaco and areas near the Paraguay River, where they feed and attract birdwatchers.
Rumors of possible impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court justices are dividing Paraguay’s Colorado Party, although no formal proposal exists. Senator Derlis Maidana said Santiago Peña denied any government initiative, while Mario Varela acknowledged discussions that could involve Liberal senators, Juan Bartolomé Ramírez and a possible political move after the municipal elections.
TECHO Paraguay is seeking to raise G. 1.55 billion by Saturday, September 5, to assist more than 500 vulnerable families, with about 8,400 volunteers mobilized at 211 locations and donations earmarked for emergency housing, community infrastructure and social projects.
A joint operation seized more than 7,000 doses of cocaine, marijuana, weapons, cash and property in five searches in Guarambaré. Twelve people were detained or identified, while investigators examine possible links to a small-scale drug-trafficking and money-laundering structure.
Joshua Duerksen won the Formula 2 sprint race at Monza, the championship’s 10th round, after starting seventh because of penalties for Nikola Tsolov and Noel León, passing Alex Dunne, Martinius Stenshorne, Ritomo Miyata, Oliver Goethe and Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak — going off track twice before legally completing the pass on the last of them — and taking the lead on lap nine of 21, while Rafael Câmara will start Sunday’s main race from pole at 4:45 a.m., with coverage on Disney+.
Air Europa flight AEA024 from Asunción to Madrid was diverted to Salvador because of a technical failure on the Boeing 787. Passengers reported possible ticks in the cabin, an allegation that has not been confirmed, and the airline arranged maintenance, accommodation and rebooking.
Victims of the “Mafia de los Pagarés” called for impeachment proceedings against Paraguayan Supreme Court justices, alleging irregularities and a lack of progress on the constitutional mechanism because of alleged complicity between Parliament and the judiciary.
Cerneco rejects tax increases in Paraguay and says the government should prioritize combating tax evasion, reviewing public spending and reforming the Caja Fiscal before raising taxes, citing Bendaña’s unverified claim that about 50% of business owners do not pay taxes.
The phone of Yecika Bracho, the holder of the line linked to Despierta Paraguay, is being examined after an agreement with Christian Chena in an investigation into an alleged network of digital attacks that may have used accounts and SIM cards registered in other people’s names, while possible links to companies and public officials remain judicially unproven.
Lawyer Ezequiel Santagada asked Paraguay’s Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the possible use of public funds in disinformation campaigns against journalists and opponents, including the summoning of witnesses and Deputy Minister Alejandra Saldivar.
A meeting held on September 2 in Encarnación celebrated 90 years of Japanese immigration to Paraguay and discussed the contribution of immigrant communities to the country's development.
Paraguayan exports grew 27% in volume, but the fall in the dollar stripped G. 15.45 trillion from revenue, which remained virtually unchanged at G. 81.89 trillion, while the foreign-exchange derivatives market expanded to protect companies from volatility.
Paraguay reiterated its proposal to divide export quotas for the European Union equally among Mercosur’s four countries, but Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have yet to reach consensus and will discuss the issue again within 60 days.
Eduardo Nakayama’s bill proposes about $20 million a year to strengthen Paraguay’s firefighters, expand territorial coverage and reduce reliance on donations.
Paraguay’s Ministry of the Interior projects increasing the National Police force to 42,611 officers by December 2026, with 5,000 new graduates, stronger training and internal controls, while Minister Enrique Riera acknowledges that the expansion will not eliminate the sense of insecurity.
Paraguay will hold municipal elections on October 4, 2026, to elect 263 mayors and 5,664 councilors to five-year terms, with preferential voting for principal candidates and proportional seat allocation under the D’Hondt system.
Silvio Pettirossi International Airport will continue operating for at least four or five years, with expansion work under way as the government weighs a new terminal costing more than US$320 million and Latam Airlines expands flights to Lima, São Paulo and Montevideo.
Estefanía Laterza de los Ríos has taken office as Paraguay’s ambassador to the United States with an initial two-year plan covering political, economic, trade, security, science, education, public diplomacy and community cooperation.
Asunción plans to invest US$100 million, financed by the World Bank, in transforming the Costanera, including urban works, housing and the relocation of 550 families from La Chacarita. The plan also provides for a first railway phase reaching Luque, with possible later extensions to Areguá and Ypacaraí.
Paraguay plans to expand organic farming, which covers 160,000 hectares, includes 7,500 certified producers and exported about $40 million in the past year, according to figures presented by President Santiago Peña. The strategy involves investment, added value and regional cooperation.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies is preparing changes to its internal rules to enforce deductions of G. 300,000 for tardiness and G. 600,000 for unjustified absences, review attendance monitoring and limit flexible justifications after repeated quorum problems.
Truck driver Nicolás Bourscheidt Alves was fined about G. 1.17 million after being filmed performing the dangerous “quebradinha” maneuver with a semitrailer on Ruta PY06 in Trinidad, Itapúa.
Former Yby Pytá councilor Juan Antonio Villalba Cardozo was arrested in Operation Ignis, in Canindeyú, on suspicion of providing political protection and logistical support to the drug-trafficking network led by Felipe Acosta Riveros, known as “Macho.”
Paraguay’s 2027 General National Budget bill directs most education funding to salaries and benefits, with different percentages applying to different allocation scopes, and may be amended during consideration.
Paraguay plans to install a nitrogen fertilizer plant in Carmelo Peralta, initially supplied with Argentine gas from Vaca Muerta and later with gas from the Paraguayan Chaco, mainly serving Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul through the Bioceanic Route and the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway.
Paraguayan stylist Luján Riquelme is traveling through South America with her family and a sewing machine during the Canadian Cirque du Soleil’s “Alegría” tour, creating and repurposing clothing—much of it bought at thrift stores—while sharing the journey through her perspective as she balances motherhood and adapting to the unfamiliar.
Latam will launch a direct route between Asunción and Montevideo in the first quarter of 2027, with five weekly flights, and increase weekly departures on existing routes from Paraguay from 26 to 32 by the end of 2026. With the new route, the total will reach 37 weekly frequencies.
Paraguay will promote food and wine companies on October 19, 2026, at Castello di Solfagnano in Italy’s Umbria region, in a planned program of meetings, tastings and visits aimed at connecting producers with potential European buyers, investors and partners.
The Paraguayan government has proposed, starting in July 2027, bringing the salaries of contracted doctors in line with those of appointed doctors and paying for holidays worked, but Sinamed considers the offer insufficient and will decide on a new strike at an assembly.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office seized products containing tirzepatide from the “TG,” “Tirzec” and “Lipoless” brands at two pharmacies in Ciudad del Este. The products are suspected of being counterfeit, but their authenticity still must be confirmed by forensic testing.
ANDE is preparing its first tender to purchase 140 MW of solar power from a private plant in Loma Plata, with an estimated investment of US$100 million and connection to the National Interconnected System.
Former UNA rector Froilán Peralta was released on September 3, 2026, after serving a three-year sentence for breach of trust related to a loss of G. 1.15 billion for the university.
Santiago Peña reaffirmed that he will not raise taxes as the government reviews tax exemptions estimated at about US$1 billion and faces demands from doctors for higher pay and protests over health services.
The Older Adults Program will cost US$564 million in 2027, add 30,000 people and reach 406,000 beneficiaries, while about 100,000 will complete enrollment in 2028; Economy and Finance Minister Óscar Lovera also reported that an additional US$200 million is already included in the 2026 budget for medicines and supplies, rejected a general 76% raise for 12,000 doctors for lack of financing, and Rossana González acknowledged much of the data about her two positions with the Ministry of Health, dual employment with the Social Security Institute (IPS), monthly income of about G. 25 million, and alleged care for 37 patients in 2025 and none in 2026, saying she works at San Pablo Hospital, which has 1,200 vulnerable employees.
The European Union’s two-year sanitary suspension of Brazilian beef could increase Paraguay’s presence in the European market, while also intensifying Brazilian competition in Chile and other regional destinations.
Sandra Isabel Cárdenas says G. 34,112,616 was deducted from her salary in two collection cases based on the same promissory note, which she says she never signed. She reported the case to the Public Prosecutor’s Office and links it to the so-called “promissory-note mafia.”
Moria Casán recalled her detention at the Buen Pastor during the investigation into the disappearance in 2012 of a necklace valued at US$70,000. She returned to Paraguay while an international arrest warrant was in force, and the case involved a private US$35,000 settlement later revisited by Netflix’s biographical series.
Paraguay’s public debt rose 15% in 12 months to reach US$21.947 billion in the first half of 2026, equivalent to 34.4% of GDP, as the government prepares a plan to reduce the deficit to 1.5% by 2028.
The Paraguayan government will keep tax rates unchanged through 2028 but will review exemptions and regimes such as maquila, estimated at up to US$1 billion, while lawmakers debate new taxes and spending cuts to finance public priorities.
Senator Líder Amarilla criticized Santiago Peña’s government for prioritizing major sporting events and ironically suggested a world horse race, citing problems in hospitals, public safety and highways.
DNIT and the Association of Paraguayan Banks are advancing preparations for an integrated platform to speed up access to bank activity during audits, with analysis based on taxpayers’ financial profiles and restricted access; banks may view tax returns only with express authorization.
Itá municipality reported former mayor Jorge Di Martino to the Public Prosecutor’s Office over alleged overcharging exceeding G. 1.4 billion in 12 projects and other contractual irregularities that remain under investigation.
The Asunción Stock Exchange handled 4.2 trillion guaraníes in August, down 33.1% from July after an exceptional boost from Treasury Bonds issues the previous month.
Paraguayan Senator Colym Soroka has proposed capping private charges on soybean seed patents, requiring contract transparency and allocating 2% of royalties to public research and rural road maintenance in a bill that still must be debated and voted on by the Senate.
Dense fog temporarily diverted international flights from Silvio Pettirossi Airport to alternative terminals, while Paraguayan air traffic grew 41.5% over a decade and is driving plans to expand airport infrastructure.
Paraguay’s consumer price index (CPI) inflation was 0% in August 2026, as lower food prices and imported durable goods offset increases in fuel and services; inflation was 1.8% year to date and 1.5% over 12 months.
Two suspects were detained in the district of Independencia, Guairá, over a possible connection to at least four aggravated robberies that mainly targeted German families and citizens; weapons, ammunition, cellphones and clothing were seized, and the case remains under investigation.
The first Expo Concepción is expected to generate more than US$13.5 million in business by September 6, according to organizers, driven by Nelore cattle, auctions, agricultural machinery and vehicles, while generating demand for local businesses.
SENAD carried out three searches at Mercado 4 in Asunción and found different types of medicines in a basement while investigating suspected irregular sales of controlled medicines and contraband products. The items’ origin and legal status remain subject to verification.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies approved a World Bank-linked USD 1 million grant for preparatory studies for Itapúa’s logistics infrastructure and transport project. Separately, it is considering a request to question MOPC Minister Claudia Centurión after the Pedrozo crash that killed six people, but the initiative is likely to be rejected by the majority.
Paraguay’s Defense Ministry contracted snack kits worth up to G. 1.8 billion for more than 2,000 military personnel deployed to provide security at Rally del Paraguay in Itapúa, reigniting debate over public spending under the government’s austerity policy.
Paraguay ended 2025 with 16 banks, maintaining virtually the same number of institutions since 2013 and ranking among Latin America’s smallest banking markets, amid a regional decline from 551 to 524 banks over the period.
Sinamed will decide Thursday, September 3, whether to call a new national strike after a five-day stoppage, amid dissatisfaction over salaries, working conditions and the supply of medicines and medical supplies.
The National Police commander says more than 200 officers received discharge after integrity assessments and polygraph tests used in the annual promotion process. No official list or independent verification was available, and failing the test does not by itself constitute evidence of corruption or criminal proceedings.
Gol will operate nonstop flights between Asunción and Florianópolis twice a week from January 5 to February 14, 2027, to meet higher summer demand.
Paraguay and Argentina signed treaties in Buenos Aires on August 31, 2026, to facilitate the recognition and enforcement of court judgments and coordinate the international return of children and safe returns; the agreements still require domestic approval before taking effect.
Paraguay’s 2027 General National Budget bill provides for spending of G. 166.322 trillion, an 11.2% increase and a deficit of up to 3.9% of GDP, but excludes the pay increase demanded by striking doctors, while five babies were transferred after a flea infestation in a neonatal unit in Ciudad del Este.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies reelected Camilo Benítez with 64 votes and elected Armindo Torres to the leadership of the Comptroller General’s Office, the constitutional body that oversees public resources, assets, budgets, and the State’s economic and financial activities. The opposition criticized the placement of Colorado Party members in both top posts, while Camilo Pérez leads election surveys with incomplete available methodology.
A total of 1,605 escribanos take the examination on September 1 to compete initially for 92 vacant notarial offices in a process organized by the Supreme Court of Justice, with optical-scanner grading followed by an assessment of academic merits and curricula vitae.
The Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court unanimously rejected Gianina García Troche’s habeas corpus petition and upheld her pretrial detention in proceedings over alleged drug trafficking, related crimes and money laundering.
Alias registrations in Paraguay reached 5,355,557 in July 2026, up 54% in 12 months. Separately, information about QR Hub describes plans to expand interoperable payments, while the available material does not establish how much of the Alias growth has translated into actual merchant use.
Operation Nueva Alianza 57 destroyed 222 hectares of marijuana plantations, 44 camps, 5,250 kilograms of processed drug and an estimated potential output of 666,000 kilograms during 12 days of incursions in Canindeyú and Caaguazú.
Senad seized 30 7.62-caliber rifles in Pedro Juan Caballero and detained two brothers. Authorities are investigating whether the weapons were intended for criminal groups in Brazil.
From September 14, 2026, residents of Ciudad del Este, Presidente Franco, Hernandarias and Foz do Iguaçu will be able to cross the Puente de la Integración in private cars from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. using the Documento de Tránsito Vecinal Fronterizo, while empty trucks will have extended access from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The dollar was selling for about G. 5,940 in Paraguay on August 31, 2026, close to average levels at the end of 2018, as the guarani’s appreciation affected exporters and benefited buyers of products and services abroad.
The Paraguayan Industrial Union rejected raising taxes to finance salary increases sought by doctors and called for structural public-spending reform. Analyst Stan Canova criticized the proposal to raise the Personal Income Tax from 10% to 14% and cited monthly pay of up to G. 24 million for doctors with four contracts, which he described as four 12-hour weekly workloads.
The trial of Miguel Prieto and 10 other defendants in the Tía Chela case, concerning the purchase of 25,000 food kits in 2020, will continue on September 7 after the first hearing ended without the presentation of the main evidence.
An audit by the Comptroller General’s Office presented to Congress on August 31 found payments exceeding G. 50 billion to more than 11,000 deceased retirees at the IPS, alongside a G. 624 billion discrepancy in inventory, while public doctors continue mobilizing for better wages and working conditions.
Construction employed more than 262,000 people in Paraguay in the second quarter of 2026, up 9.1% year on year, while public works had executed 34.5% of the US$1.281 billion allocated in the budget by the first week of August.
At least 197 specialist doctors formally submitted resignations in Paraguay after a five-day strike, as patients report shortages of medicines and supplies; the government attributes rejection of a across-the-board raise to fiscal constraints and is considering measures to fill vacancies, regularize 2,390 contracted workers and include US$760 million for medicines and supplies in the 2027 budget proposal, which has not yet been approved. University lecturers are also threatening mobilization, while Eduardo Nakayama proposes eliminating state-paid private insurance to direct US$100 million to US$120 million annually to public health without shifting pressure to the Social Security Institute (IPS), which is facing its own crisis.
Infrastructure for Nuevo Barrio Bañado Tacumbú in Asunción is 66% complete. Housing for more than 2,500 families is still awaiting evaluation of a tender that received 21 bids.
The Paraguayan Society of Diabetology says more than 10% of the country’s population has diabetes, associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity. The organization did not provide the estimate’s year, methodology or statistical source; it will hold a congress and a community day on prevention and care from September 9 to 11.
Senator Gustavo Leite proposed reducing public spending by up to US$400 million a year, including an incentivized voluntary retirement program for up to 100,000 public employees, merging redundant agencies and freezing hiring. The figures and effects are Leite’s projections, and implementation still depends on financing, executive decisions and negotiations.
Rocío Vallejo submitted a draft resolution requesting that the MOPC provide information on the background, tenders, progress, costs, financing, possible obstacles and timeline of the Tren de Cercanías, a project relevant to metropolitan mobility and regional connectivity. The text will still be reviewed by Chamber of Deputies committees.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to spend between $1 million and $2 million to buy Boston Dynamics Spot quadruped robots for inspections and risk assessments in dangerous, confined or hard-to-reach areas, but it has not yet determined the quantity or final purchase price.
Sami Pajari won Rally del Paraguay 2026 for his third consecutive victory of the WRC season. Diego Domínguez Bejarano won WRC2 at home, while Santiago Peña said he would work to bring more competitions to Paraguay; Pedro Alliana presented Andrea Lafarja as the first Paraguayan woman to reach a World Rally Championship podium.
Economist Gladys Benegas proposes expanding the review of Paraguay’s Fiscal Responsibility Law to measure unexecuted spending, the cost of idle public liquidity and returns on financial investments, citing Argentine funds with low execution and resources invested in Treasury securities.
The Carandayty Basin in Boquerón has an estimated gas potential of 70 Tcf, according to Giuliano Franco, CEO of Zeus Energy. The volume is not yet a proved reserve or commercial production and depends on confirmation of recoverability, feasibility and market demand.
Ueno Bank’s solvency ratio could fall from 12.4% to about 6.12% at the end of 2025 if G. 876.7 billion invested in UPay and Wepa were deducted, below the legal minimum of 8% for Tier 1 capital.
A student from the Primera Escuela Paraguaya de Sordos asked in sign language why Paraguayans were persecuted during a morning visit to Plaza de los Desaparecidos in Asunción, where Néstor Vera explained the persecution of people demanding better working conditions and human rights during the Stroessner dictatorship; the activity, part of a three-article series on historical memory, also brought together victims and relatives, while the Truth and Justice Commission estimates around 107,987 affected relatives and records 20,090 direct victims.
Paraguay is home to 15 Manihot taxa, six of them endemic, including Manihot takape, described in 2018 through a research project on wild relatives of economically important crops.
The Asunción Downtown Resilience Project has three construction contracts, including the burial of 2.5 kilometers of a transmission line and work in the Historic Center and Parque Caballero, but it is still awaiting contracts for housing in the Chacarita Eco-Inclusive District and for supervision.
The Caja de Jubilaciones y Pensiones del Personal Municipal (CJPPM), known locally as the Caja Municipal, is facing a crisis attributed to poor administration, delayed municipal transfers and limited state action, while 2,503 retirees have received benefits in installments since 2023.
The APS is preparing Paraguay’s National Opening of Soybean Planting 2026/27 and projects 3.6 million to 3.7 million hectares for the new campaign. The meeting will examine the outlook for the new cycle, which depends on weather, prices and production costs.
The National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Senad) seized 30 7.62 mm FAL rifles hidden beneath provisions in a pickup truck in Pedro Juan Caballero and detained two brothers suspected of preparing to send the weapons to Brazil, while Paraguay’s arms sector calls for a review of import procedures and authorizations.
Alberdi celebrated its 96th anniversary with a civic, student and military parade as border trade faces the effects of the Argentine peso’s devaluation and the city benefits from new road connections since 2021. With Argentine purchasing power declining, improved road access could redirect commerce toward Paraguayan customers.
Maigotex turns mango residues into biomaterial for bags, footwear and accessories after more than 1,500 tests with support from the National University of Asunción, developing a local alternative to leather.
A study involving the Market 4 Directorate, the Municipality of Asunción and engineering students from Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic University (UC) proposes turning one lane of Rodríguez de Francia Avenue, in front of the market, into a protected pedestrian area, while organizing loading and unloading and regularizing more than 100 sales points.
PLRA deputies held a service day in Córdoba for Paraguayans and proposed integrating the identity and voter-registration systems after the local consulate closed in 2024 for budgetary reasons.
Operational problems in Montevideo, restrictions on convoy formation width and Argentina’s US$1.30-per-net-registered-ton toll, charged on both outbound and return journeys, are raising costs and uncertainty for Paraguayan cargo transported along the Paraná–Paraguay waterway, as the country seeks transshipment alternatives at Punta del Arenal Sur.
Lawyer and activist María Esther Roa, a member of the Coordinadora de Abogados del Paraguay and Somos Anticorrupción Paraguay, accused the Public Prosecutor’s Office and ministers of Paraguay’s Supreme Court of failures and possible favoritism. She cited officials’ salaries and family ties—including María Verónica Lina Sienra Bertón, Analía Carrillo and relatives of Carolina Llanes—compared corrupt judges with members of the First Capital Command (PCC), and advocated structural reform with more resources and protection for investigators.
The Court of Appeals upheld the rejection of Luis Carlos Benítez Aguilar’s request for access to the source code and hashes of voting machines for Paraguay’s municipal elections on October 4, 2026, citing contractual and intellectual-property limitations.
Paraguayan cattle prices rose by about 22% in dollars between January and August 2026, while revenue converted into guaraníes increased by approximately 6%, according to an Appec report. The gap shows how the guaraní’s appreciation affected results in the local currency.
Rosa Vacchetta proposes restoring the Ferreira and Mburicaó streams with 24 kilometers of linear parks and bike paths to reduce flooding, contamination and congestion concentrated on six avenues, creating alternative routes for pedestrians and cyclists. In an interview, she also accused Essap of discharging untreated effluent into the waterways.
A bill introduced in Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies proposes an integrated policy to research, preserve, teach and disseminate information about Acosta Ñu and the Campaign of the Cordilleras. The measures remain proposals subject to legislative review; the text would also bring together dispersed legal and institutional instruments and create an ad honorem technical committee.
Mercosur held the first round of talks with Vietnam in Buenos Aires on a preferential trade agreement aimed at expanding market access, diversifying exports and fostering investment.
A project presented in the Chamber of Deputies proposes declaring a bridge over the Paraguay River in Puerto Antequera to be of national interest, connecting San Pedro with the Chaco and the Bioceanic Corridor. The initiative does not approve construction, but could create a logistics alternative between the Eastern Region and the international corridor.
Paraguay is not best understood through a collection of mandatory stops. Asunción, the southern corridor of Jesuit missions and the Paraná, and the Chaco are three distinct journeys, each with its own history, pace and planning needs.
Paraguay and Taiwan are planning a binational artificial intelligence data center in Chaco’i, based on a model similar to Itaipu and presented by the Paraguayan government as intended to become the world’s largest AI center. The project’s final capacity is planned at up to 1,000 MW, with an estimated initial investment of US$200 million to US$300 million.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office is conducting a forensic examination at Copaco to investigate the alleged diversion of more than 1.1 billion guaraníes through fictitious payments to the Municipality of Asunción and transfers to personal accounts.
A Brazilian couple was arrested in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, on suspicion of selling their five-month-old child for R$15,000 in Ciudad del Este; the child was found in Brazil in the care of a couple.
The Senate is reviewing an agreement that could allow Paraguayans and Qataris to enter, transit through and stay in each other’s territory for up to 90 days without visas or fees, subject to approval by both houses of Congress, as the government expands its economic and trade agenda with the business sector.
Argentina’s National Gendarmerie installed a gate on the La Fraternidad footbridge between Nanawa and Clorinda, restricting passage from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and drawing criticism from local officials over the impact on trade and travel and the risk of increasing clandestine crossings.
The dollar fell to G. 5,950 in Paraguay, its lowest rate since 2019, putting pressure on exporters and real estate projects, while the Central Bank of Paraguay attributes the exchange rate to supply and demand and is assessing measures to reduce volatility.
The Mercosur-EU agreement could expand Paraguayan exports and attract investment, especially in agriculture, forestry and renewable energy, but it will require certification, audits and traceability to meet European standards.
Sara Benítez recounted on TikTok an argument with an American at a café in Asunción after photographing the venue; published reactions criticized his approach and revived debates about interactions between Paraguayans and some foreigners in public spaces.
Decree No. 6,692, signed by Santiago Peña, authorizes the transfer for consideration of a military property spanning more than 9 hectares at Km 8 in Ciudad del Este to the Ministry of Health to build the Gran Hospital de Alto Paraná. Itaipú will fully finance the physical works, initially planned to have 204 inpatient beds and 56 intensive care beds.
One hundred forty-one specialists at the Niños de Acosta Ñu General Pediatric Hospital, representing 86% of its staff, communicated or submitted resignation letters, but the union was awaiting a government counteroffer before making them effective. Another account described the situation as threats or intentions to resign.
Amid a nationwide doctors’ strike, Paraguay is debating higher taxes on tobacco and other levies to fund health care, while economists and business leaders argue for better public management, less waste and policy predictability to avoid harming investment.
The TSJE conducted a nationwide TREP simulation on August 28, while Villarrica separately tested the system at its 19 polling locations; sources differ over whether the schedule ended on August 29 or 30.
Foreigners can generally buy property, but safe acquisition requires a current RUN review, seller-authority and physical checks, a public deed, registration and a specific test for rural land near the border.
Paraguay’s Executive Branch has decreed a reduction from 1.5% to 1.4% per month in the interest rate for tax installment agreements administered by DNIT, the country’s tax authority, starting September 1, 2026.
Paraguay will see temperatures fall to highs near or below 30°C, along with rain and storms this weekend. Wind gusts of up to 90 km/h are expected, especially in the Chaco.
Judge Mafalda Cameron Luque ordered the auction of Asunción’s “House of Horror” for 208 million guaraníes after allegations of irregularities in the proceedings, including failure to notify the heirs and manipulation of the Judisoft system.
Paraguayan courts have definitively confiscated Darío Messer’s assets, including companies, real estate, vehicles, livestock and accounts, while prosecutors investigate seven offices in Hernandarias transferred to Banco Atlas through a trust.
The National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) seized 5,967 kilograms of marijuana, destroyed eight camps and five hectares of cultivation in Capitán Bado, where it detained a 16-year-old, and separately seized 13 kilograms of the drug in a package at Silvio Pettirossi Airport.
Meta’s nearly $17 billion U.S. deal, which limits teenagers’ use of Instagram and Facebook, has reignited debate in Paraguay over protecting minors online, as expert Miguel Ángel Gaspar calls for new laws, enforcement and greater parental control.
Paraguay’s Interior Minister Enrique Riera said the armed group EPP will be eliminated and the three abducted people who remain missing — Edelio Morínigo, Félix Urbieta and Óscar Denis — found by the end of his term. Former minister Francisco de Vargas warned that the group retains operational capacity and called for stronger security forces.
Five people have been formally charged over their alleged participation in using asphalt, machinery, trucks and municipal employees to pave private property. Criminal responsibility has not been established.
Petropar has opened an international tender worth up to US$24.3 million, to be paid with public funds and used exclusively to purchase up to 20,000 cubic meters of aviation fuel, while planning five aeroplants with Paraguayan company Royal Energy, an aviation-sector distributor since 2017 whose selection resulted from a process whose publication by the National Directorate of Public Procurement (DNCP) has yet to be clarified.
Paraguay's Senate approved National Evangelical Church Day for the last Sunday of October, without creating a public holiday or requiring the date to be added to the school calendar. IELPA and IERP challenge the name and historical rationale; the bill will still be reviewed by the Chamber of Deputies.
A doctors’ strike in Paraguay enters its fifth day with 39 pediatric surgeons threatening to resign from Monday, while the government proposes a phased 76% increase over 14 months and lawmakers disagree over funding sources.
The Paraguayan government is negotiating $1.3 billion in loans with CAF, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank and JICA for infrastructure, energy and logistics projects, with $700 million earmarked for the Ministry of Public Works and Communications.
Paraguay's winter is mild on average, but it is real, variable and capable of frost and sub-zero temperatures. Station records and climate normals show why both “always hot” and “European winter” are misleading descriptions.
Alfredo Benítez remains director of Administrative Management at Paraguay’s postal service while awaiting a hearing on the conditional suspension of proceedings in which he is accused of falsifying notices in 19 enforcement lawsuits. The measure would include G. 100 million in restitution and avoid an oral trial without amounting to an acquittal.
Santiago Peña has proposed turning Paraguay into a regional logistics hub by expanding the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway and the Bioceanic Corridor, improving air connectivity and modernizing institutions. The government’s goal is to gradually double the volume of river cargo.
Paraguay’s Public Prosecutor’s Office asked the courts to annul 144 demonstrably forged teaching diplomas and subsequently cancel the professional registrations linked to them. The investigation covers 525 suspicious documents and could hold beneficiaries, institutions and public officials involved accountable.
Caperex and Digemabel maintain a permanent working group to coordinate controls on weapons and military materials in courier shipments, aiming to prevent irregular operations, strengthen traceability and improve clear, secure procedures. The coordination matters for Paraguay’s security and regional logistics because it seeks to reduce risks in the cross-border transport of regulated goods.
Lambaré city government notified families living along the Lambaré Stream to leave the area as a precaution, citing risks of flooding, overflows, landslides and erosion with El Niño arriving and severe rain forecast, while residents are calling for permanent water-management works.
Women account for 16% of mayoral candidacies in Paraguay’s 2026 municipal elections, up from 12.9% in 2021, while they represent 32% of registrations for Municipal Councils, according to the Supreme Tribunal of Electoral Justice, which is providing training to expand women’s political participation.
Paraguay’s attorney general and the Association of Prosecutors asked for preventive protection for Verónica Valdez and Jorge Arce after an exchange with Arnaldo Giuzzio during his trial. Giuzzio denies that he threatened them, describing the exchange as a forceful complaint about the handling of allegations involving former president Horacio Cartes.
ANDE has halted negotiations with ATOME to supply power to the green hydrogen and fertilizer plant in Villeta, deeming it unsustainable to maintain the proposed fixed tariff for 15 years, while Sitrande challenges the state utility’s reorganization and warns of risks to the electricity sector.
Paraguay’s Senate is investigating whether IPS requires beneficiaries, retirees and pensioners to open accounts at Ueno Bank to receive loans, following a complaint of a possible monopoly and the concentration of ₲5.1 trillion in state funds at the institution.
A truck carrying 283 boxes of inputs without health registration, reportedly from Bolivia, was seized in Mariscal Estigarribia in Paraguay’s Chaco region. The driver was charged with smuggling, and authorities suspect the material could be used to counterfeit or market alleged injectable weight-loss medicines.
The Ministry of Health assigned 44 ambulances to Rally Paraguay, prompting criticism over the temporary concentration of resources and raising questions about emergency capacity, public-resource allocation and regional event planning.
Migraciones grants residence, Police Identificaciones issues the cédula, and the Supreme Court handles naturalisation; one status does not automatically produce the next.
Named former ITTI employees now publicly say they were part of an August 2026 layoff in Argentina, strengthening the evidence behind earlier anonymous reports. ITTI has not publicly quantified the cuts in the sources Pytagua could verify, and claims of hundreds of affected positions remain unconfirmed.
For families in Paraguay, the key school question is not whether a model is public, private, bilingual, online or home-based. It is who can issue the next recognised record of attainment—and whether that record keeps a later move to school, Educación Media or university open.
Paraguay and Argentina are studying a $5 billion binational hydropower project on the Paraná River, with 2,880 megawatts of capacity, possible private operation, an estimated six-year construction period and the resettlement of more than 220 families, while financing, environmental impacts and the operating model remain under review.
Paraguay granted 36,033 residence permits to foreigners between January and July 2026, 74% more than in the same period last year, including 23,994 to Brazilians, amid the expansion of the Investor Pass program and a 58% increase in applications.
Environmental organizations and citizens protested a bill by lawmaker José Rodríguez that would change protections for Médanos del Chaco National Park to allow mining and hydrocarbon extraction, risking contamination of the Yrenda aquifer, Indigenous communities and biodiversity, while the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development recommends rejecting it.
Paraguay exported 75 products to 43 new destinations between January and July 2026, including biodiesel to Singapore, in a diversification drive that generated US$5.5 million from that shipment, according to Rediex data.
Operation Mirage detained five Brazilians in La Paloma, Canindeyú, and seized weapons, ammunition, electronic devices and two vehicles reported stolen in Brazil. Police are investigating possible links to the PCC and counterfeit medicines.
Petropar has begun selling Jet A-1 and AVGAS in Paraguay, with one plant operating in Encarnación and plans for five facilities through a public-private partnership that does not require direct state investment in infrastructure.
Paraguay’s Ministry of Education and Sciences restricted the registration of diplomas without accreditation and launched RUE-ES as the trial of Hernán Rivas revealed that his law degree was registered in six minutes after an alleged “higher-up order,” despite irregularities—an allegation denied by former minister Eduardo Petta.
Former Petropar president Sergio Escobar Amarilla was sentenced to three years in prison for breach of trust after failing to properly oversee an unfinished electrification contract that caused an estimated G. 12 billion loss in Mauricio José Troche; former manager Leoncio Saúl González was acquitted after proceedings lasting more than 12 years.
Paraguay’s national doctors’ strike suspended nonurgent consultations and surgeries for a second day as the National Medical Union demands pay increases, job stability and better conditions, while the government and Congress seek negotiations amid budget constraints.
A savory cake-shaped chipa presentation offered by businesses in Argentina drew comments from Paraguayan users on social media.
MuCi will host a free viewing of the nearly total lunar eclipse at Asunción’s Costanera on Aug. 27, from 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m., with telescopes and limited places available by advance reservation.
Foreign ownership is generally possible, but ownership, local representation, SIARA disclosures, SUACE coordination, tax registration and operating licences are separate compliance layers.
Paraguay has 111 missing minors, with most adolescents missing due to voluntary runaways from family conflicts and most children missing due to custody disputes between parents.
ECLAC has lowered Paraguay's growth projection to 4.3% in 2026, keeping it among the highest in a region expected to grow 2.2% on average, despite warnings about vulnerabilities due to commodity dependence and structural problems.
The Rutas del Este consortium, formed by Sacyr and Ocho A, has received US$374 million since 2022 for the concession of the PY02 highway in Paraguay under a public-private partnership, with funds coming from tolls and top-ups from the National Treasury, while critical sections of the road remain without definitive solutions.
In the Asunción election campaign, Soledad Núñez presented a six-measure plan against municipal corruption, while her rival Camilo Pérez's team promised to secure $300 million in international funding to restructure the capital's finances.
The ANDE Workers Union (Sitrande) suspended its protest after Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies postponed the vote on the bill creating the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Hydrocarbons and announced a broad dialogue table with participation from the state utility, government, and lawmakers.
Paraguayan public entities are massively resorting to the argument of 'unavoidable urgency' to make purchases without bidding, a practice criticized by Senator Rafael Filizzola, who warns that the legal exception has become the rule.
Consumer credit in Paraguay grew 25% through July, boosting e-commerce which projects 40 million transactions in 2026, while the IMF warns of over-indebtedness risks and the Central Bank defends the growth as economic expansion.
The Supreme Court of Paraguay pays a salary exceeding 22 million guaranis per month to the wife of one of its ministers, who holds the position of director-general, without having a record of her education in the official files, which has drawn strong criticism from legal experts who call the appointment irregular and ethically questionable.
The Asunción Municipal Board approved preliminary plans for 11- and 18-story towers in residential neighborhoods under an exceptionalities regime, while opposition councilors warn the recurring practice worsens infrastructure collapse, with 85% of the capital's streets past their useful life, and blocked a third 25-story project in Recoleta.
A joint anti-drug operation between Paraguay and Brazil destroyed over 436 tons of marijuana in natural reserves in eastern Paraguay, causing an estimated loss of more than 65 million dollars to criminal groups.
MOPC conducted aerodynamic tests at the Polytechnic University of Milan to test the future Bioceanic Bridge, which will connect Paraguay and Brazil, against extreme winds in a controlled environment.
Paraguayan doctors began a five-day national strike, suspending consultations and elective surgeries, to demand a salary adjustment, an end to precarious contracts, and the replenishment of supplies, while the government claims a lack of resources to meet the demands.
Paraguay is more violent than Germany and Argentina but substantially less violent than Brazil on the latest comparable homicide measure. Inside the country, risk is highly uneven—and property-crime tables are much harder to compare than headlines suggest.
The Paraguayan private sector warns that the toll on the Argentine stretch of the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway may exceed the profit margins of agricultural exports, prompting the government to seek a diplomatic solution with Argentina.
An American investor denounced alleged judicial maneuvers in a commercial dispute over the registration of the drug Tirzepatida to the US embassy in Paraguay, as reported by his lawyer Daniel Alarcón to broadcaster El Observador Radio TV.
Experts presented at the XV Regional Congress of Technology in Architecture in Paraguay that sustainable construction, despite an initial investment about 4% higher, generates savings of 30% to 60% in water consumption and 40% to 70% in energy, with financial returns occurring within two to five years.
Paraguayan producers denounce chia smuggling from Brazil as the cause of a nearly 50% drop in domestic prices, while exports of the grain record growth in volume and value.
The historic ships Cañonero Paraguay and Patrullero Capitán Cabral docked for the first time in Encarnación, attracting thousands of visitors during their stay linked to the World Rally Championship (WRC), after a journey that faced a storm and consumed 31,852 liters of fuel.
Chia producers in Paraguay blame smuggling from Brazil for a nearly 50% price drop, while DNIT denies the existence of the problem.
While economist Sergio Sapena advocates raising Paraguay's debt to 70% of GDP to finance development, the Santiago Peña government has already issued $5.4 billion in bonds, and experts warn of the risks of accelerated indebtedness amid fiscal deficits.
Paraguayan entrepreneurs are creating the Paraguay-United Arab Emirates Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (Capecit) and a Business Council before Dubai Chambers to expand commercial relations and take advantage of investment opportunities.
Despite Guarani's cultural boom in Paraguay with increasing use in arts and institutions, experts warn of language displacement risk, with speakers incorporating Spanish out of necessity and the percentage of monolingual speakers declining.
Youth held Paraguay's first aura farming competition in front of San Lorenzo Cathedral, a phenomenon that drew reflections from a parish priest about the need to be seen and support from a pediatrician for promoting outdoor socialization.
Paraguay's Food Bank holds its annual dinner on Wednesday, August 26, at 8 p.m. in Asunción to raise funds that will finance the distribution of 76,500 meals to people in vulnerable situations.
The Paraguayan district of Nueva Germania celebrated its 139th anniversary with civic and cultural events, marking its evolution from a colony founded with racist ideals by Bernhard Förster in 1887 to its current integration as the Capital of Yerba Mate.
Germany advises visitors to carry an international permit with the German original for up to 90 days. A resident then needs the Paraguayan municipal route—not an assumed automatic exchange.
An apostille authenticates the origin of a public document; it does not translate it, prove the underlying facts or decide whether a Paraguayan authority will accept it. The safest workflow starts with the issuing country and ends with the receiving agency's exact checklist.
The level of the Paraguay River continues to fall, reaching 1.36m in Asunción and putting commercial navigation, a vital activity for the country's economy, on alert.
Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies is debating a request to summon the Minister of Public Works over the state of highways, prompted by a fatal accident, while expecting to approve a new $1 million credit for her ministry.
Paraguay's Ministry of Economy and Finance made compensation payments to 46 victims of the Stroessner dictatorship, while 18 other beneficiaries had payments suspended due to pending documents.
Paraguay's National Police has more than 120,000 identity documents and passports unclaimed by citizens and warns of fraud attempts by Brazilian criminals from gangs seeking to obtain Paraguayan documents.
Diesel price increases of up to 39% in Paraguay are pressuring freight transport and agricultural sector costs, while also raising the technical fare for public transportation, with risk of pass-through to consumer prices.
Payment volume in Paraguay doubled in one year, driven by the massive adoption of instant transfers, which moved $14 billion in July alone.
The National Traffic and Road Safety Agency of Paraguay will implement a point system on driver's licenses starting January 2027, aiming to penalize reckless drivers and suspend those with risky behaviors.
The classic between Olimpia and Cerro Porteño this Sunday at the Sajonia stadium could equal or extend the narrow historical advantage of 77 to 76 wins that the striped team holds in the 224 matches already played at the venue.
Paraguay celebrates National Folklore Day with a cultural agenda of free events and a sociological debate on national identity, which is seen as plural and constantly transforming.
Prison officers intercepted a package with explosive substances at Minga Guazú prison, leading to an investigation into possible dynamite manufacturing, while in an unrelated event, a driver was shot dead in Pedro Juan Caballero.
Guairá Governor César Sosa denies a presidential pre-candidacy and prioritizes municipal elections, while the opposition, led by Senator Yolanda Paredes, crafts a strategy for 2028 focused on unity and fighting corruption.
Paraguay's timber industry attracts about 20 international business delegations to a fair in September 2026, amid sector export growth that exceeded 100,000 tons from January to July.
Paraguay's DNIT requires declaration of crypto asset operations above $5,000 annually, and local businesses warn the rule may drive users to informality due to costs and requirements, calling for dialogue to adjust the measure.
The Paraguayan government authorized the creation of 11,100 permanent healthcare positions, a historic measure announced days before the start of a national doctors' strike demanding salary adjustments.
Paraguay and Chile are assessing the creation of an electrical interconnection network to strengthen regional energy security, enable energy exchange, and protect against system vulnerabilities.
Petra Group ended the process and canceled the controversial Petra Signature project after reaching a friendly agreement with the other involved party.
Paraguay discusses reform of state-owned ANDE and risk of energy deficit by 2032, with proposals including splitting the company into multiple corporations and creating a regulatory body, while experts warn of delays in projects and rising demand.
The price of Paraguayan beef reached a historic record as the United States suspends import tariffs for ground beef, creating a strategic opportunity for the country's exports.
Paraguayan police remove an agent and investigate an alleged scheme for irregular issuance of identity cards to foreigners, mainly Brazilians, after blocking the delivery of documents to people with criminal records.
Paraguayan justice dismissed the investigation for money laundering and influence peddling against former deputy Orlando Arévalo, his wife, former councilwoman Carolina González, and prosecutor Sandra Ledesma, stemming from a contractual dispute with a construction company.
President Santiago Peña moved the national holiday of September 29, which marks the Day of the Battle of Boquerón, to Monday, September 28, 2026, to create a long weekend aimed at boosting tourism and the economy.
The Court of Appeals rejected the recusal request by presidential pre-candidate Arnoldo Wiens and maintained Judge Humberto Otazú in the case investigating alleged damages of G. 14,955 million to the State in the Metrobús project.
Minister Llanes proposes centralizing communication for Paraguay's Judiciary, an initiative critics view as shielding information and emerging amid influence peddling accusations against her son.
Paraguay has received its fifth A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, with the sixth and final one to be delivered in September, in an investment of 100 to 150 million dollars that the government considers crucial to combat clandestine flights and strengthen air sovereignty.
A practical Paraguay government directory with official portals, phone numbers, emails and the right starting point for residence, ID, tax, work, health, utilities and apostilles.
The Paraguayan flag carrier LAP completed 63 years since its inaugural flight, which departed from Asunción for Brazilian cities, marking the start of an operation that expanded to intercontinental routes before entering decline in the late 1970s.
A Paraguayan company launched a chocolate with traditional flavors like chipa pirú and yerba mate, developed with technical support from a Paraguayan government program and the Taiwan Technical Mission.
Ueno Bank expanded its public deposits in Paraguay to US$862 million in July, capturing US$52 million in one month and sparking debate about limits for state funds in financial institutions, while denying irregularities and rebutting criticism about its investments and intangible assets.
ATOME is advancing the development of a 300 MWp solar plant project in Villeta, Paraguay, after securing financial support for its feasibility study.
Paraguay's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Marco Riquelme, announced a new strategy to replace the cooperation and donations model with Taiwan with one focused on commercial transactions, including direct soybean sales and expanded meat exports.
Paraguay's hotel sector supports merging Senatur with MIC, while travel agencies express caution about the proposal to create a new integrated ministry.
Former IPS president Vicente Bataglia received house arrest for irregular entry into the country, while another former president Jorge Brítez faces a second criminal case for elevator bidding and his lawyer alleges political persecution, and a third, Andrés Gubetich, returned to EBY with high salary and is investigated for fraud, amid a billion-dollar loss case at the institute.
Asunción Mayor Luis Bello replaced a director convicted of corruption in less than a day after a union ultimatum threatening to halt garbage collection and political pressure.
Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill of San Lorenzo has signed with France's Lille after negotiations with Italy's Monza, which offered a loan, did not progress, amid conflicting reports about the percentage of his economic rights involved in the proposals.
The Paraguayan national team will face Bolivia, led by Óscar Villegas, and Colombia, managed by Néstor Lorenzo, in friendlies in the U.S. in September, while working on renewing coach Gustavo Alfaro's contract.
Paraguay's Ministry of Public Health, with support from PAHO/WHO, began a workshop to define a national strategy aimed at eliminating more than 30 communicable diseases and preventable conditions, consolidating historical achievements, accelerating short-term goals, and updating health interventions.
Paraguay expelled to Brazil the leader of the Comando Catarinense, Fábio Celso Oberoli, and his companion, who were detained in Pedro Juan Caballero and are wanted for drug trafficking.
Ueno Bank reported equity of G. 2.12 trillion at the end of 2025. At the same time, G. 2.11 trillion appeared on its balance sheet as rights in a trust created in connection with the merger with Visión Banco. The public financial statements do not explain how much of this amount consists of actual investments and how much represents deferred costs. Rating agency FIX also reports “adjusted capital” of only G. 1.22 trillion. A stress test shows why the missing details about the trust are crucial for assessing the bank.
Thousands of farmers and Indigenous people marched in Asunción to demand land reform and housing, while the National Institute for Rural and Land Development (Indert) acknowledges having titled only 5% of lands acquired over 122 years and requests more resources to expand land regularization.
The 27th edition of the National Prayer Marathon, organized by Fundación Jesús Responde with support from evangelical entities, gathers faithful for 24 hours at the CONMEBOL complex in Luque and in other cities to pray for various causes in Paraguay.
A judge dismissed a breach of trust complaint against former Ciudad del Este mayor Miguel Prieto in the asphalt plant bidding case, after the Public Prosecutor's Office found the municipality made no payments to the awarded company.
Electricity consumption in Paraguay grew 18.2% in the first seven months of 2026, straining the system and leading ANDE to accelerate infrastructure projects, while the new Puerto Esperanza power plant marks the beginning of solar energy integration into the national grid.
The Paraguayan Chamber approved in general a bill to increase corruption penalties to up to 25 years, but postponed the final analysis sine die, amid criticism about the contradiction between official discourse and parliamentary practice in combating this crime.
Asunción Mayor Luis Bello appointed Víctor Basualdo, convicted of breach of trust and criminal association in a scheme to divert public funds, as director of Urban Services, prompting a motion of censure from the Municipal Board.
Paraguay launched a national financial inclusion strategy for 2026-2031, which aims to promote responsible use of financial services and combat overindebtedness, following rapid growth in consumer credit in the country.
Brazil's Federal Revenue changed the priority access system at the Friendship Bridge to an individual electronic registry after detecting irregularities, maintaining the benefit for patients undergoing regular treatments, which sparked protests from families fearing a return to long queues.
Paraguay Police seized cocaine in a parcel bound for Spain, marijuana in vegetables destined for a prison, and over 300 kg of premium marijuana in a truck at Puente de la Integración.
Mercosur has not yet reached a consensus on the allocation of export quotas provided for in the agreement with the European Union, with Paraguay advocating for an equitable distribution of 25% for each bloc member.
Paraguay's IPS launched a nationwide online tool that allows beneficiaries to check real-time medicine availability at institution pharmacies.
The court convicted five people, including former security managers of Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, for cocaine trafficking in the Scanner case and referred background materials to investigate Senator Líder Amarilla.
Ninety years of Japanese immigration have created a relationship between Paraguay and Japan that extends far beyond cultural ties. The first agricultural settlements developed into an institutional partnership encompassing development cooperation, political dialogue, investment protection, as well as technology and space cooperation.
Paraguay's Social Security Institute faces a multifaceted crisis with a mass exodus of doctors, a change in its board, an asset crisis, and a bill to declare a state of emergency, while the government highlights its construction of new hospitals.
The Brazilian government has decided to return the historic cannon "El Cristiano", taken as a war trophy in the War of the Triple Alliance over 150 years ago, to Paraguay, following political approval from President Lula, although the process still depends on formal procedures and occurs amid recent diplomatic tension between the two countries.
A SENAD agent was convicted for attempting to leak confidential data on trafficker Sebastián Marset, while another agent from the same institution denies extortion accusations in a separate case.
The Paraguayan Executive branch modifies the 2026 budget by approximately 55 million dollars, while Moody's warns that low revenue collection and rising mandatory expenses are reducing the country's fiscal space.
A rural producer paid off his debt but remains threatened with losing his land, two lawyers were convicted for actions with false documents, and the first trial of the scheme was suspended, leading to a complaint against judges for undue delay.
Ipswich Town announced the permanent signing of Paraguayan forward Julio Enciso in a transfer worth around 30 million euros, making it the most expensive in history for a Paraguayan player and also the largest ever conducted by the English club.
Paraguay's National Police arrested two Brazilian citizens suspected of belonging to the First Capital Command (PCC) criminal faction in Ciudad del Este. One was using a false identity and had an international arrest warrant for drug trafficking. They entered the country from Argentina clandestinely and were presumed to be planning to cross illegally into Argentina.
At 93, Lilia Piatti defended her thesis with top marks and became a Doctor of Education from INAES, with research on the impact of the digital divide on adult learning.
The Paraguayan Authors Association is investigating the irregular registration of more than one hundred national songs with a US rights management entity, while a Paraguayan producer celebrates a royalty agreement with Shakira and the success of his songs.
Senave issued a sanitary alert against the cassava 'Witches' Broom' pest that threatens food security and warned that the El Niño phenomenon may favor the emergence of other pests in various crops.
Former minister Arnoldo Wiens rejected judge Humberto Otazú to halt the criminal proceedings in the Metrobús case, in which he is accused of causing a loss of 15 billion guaranis to the state, while the Public Prosecutor's Office requested the dismissal of the case against his predecessor, Ramón Jiménez Gaona.
After the sixth death in the Pedrozo accident, Minister Claudia Centurión ordered the removal of the traffic light at the location within 30 days.
A hectare is always 10,000 square metres. Its useful price is not. Buyers need to separate asking price, fiscal value, legal title, usable area and the cost of making the land fit the intended use before comparing one Paraguayan property with another.
South America recorded a record grain harvest in 2026, with historic production in Paraguay, recovery in Argentina, and record-breaking output in Brazil, reshaping the global food supply.
After the Russian Revolution, a small group of military officers, engineers and artists settled in Paraguay. Their role in the Chaco War was real, but the popular legend often makes it larger—and simpler—than the evidence.
An ABC Color investigation reports that a Singapore company less than a year old with an opaque structure offered $70 per MW to ANDE, more than double the price negotiated with Atome. The report identifies inconsistencies in the documentation and questions about the company’s investment capacity.
Paraguay's automotive sector grew 20.6% driven by dollar stability and ample credit, while exchange houses saw their profits halve in the same period due to currency market normalization.
The German ambassador to Paraguay, Gordon Kricke, stated that there is growing interest from German companies in investing in the country, especially in the green energy, agribusiness, and maquila sectors, driven by local stability and the Mercosur-European Union agreement.
Senator Lilian Samaniego supports a bill to make mandatory vehicle technical inspection compulsory in all municipalities of Paraguay, aiming to decentralize the service and prevent accidents caused by vehicles in poor condition.
Five people died and seven were injured after a truck with brake failure collided with vehicles at the Pedrozo intersection in Ypacaraí on the PY02 highway, exposing mechanical failures, poor infrastructure, and delays in promised works for the site, while the driver is charged with negligent homicide and the opposition demands accountability from the Public Works Minister.
Urban planner describes being a pedestrian in Asunción as a high-risk act of audacity due to car-centric infrastructure, inadequate sidewalks, and lack of traffic education.
Paraguay's airports recorded the highest passenger traffic of the year in July, with over 122,000 boardings and deboardings, according to Dinac.
Two lawyers were sentenced to two years in prison with conditional suspension after admitting, in an abbreviated procedure, their participation in the procedural fraud scheme known as the Recoleta promissory note mafia.
The minister of the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) defended an operation in Paraguay that killed an indigenous leader and a teacher, denying summary executions in the face of criticism from politicians and human rights groups.
Itapúa department in Paraguay is preparing to host the 2026 World Rally Championship stage, expecting to surpass the previous edition's attendance, generate temporary jobs, boost local tourism, and implement a comprehensive security plan and naval attractions.
The Paraguayan Air Force is analyzing the possible incorporation of F-5 fighters from Taiwan to regain supersonic capability, in preliminary talks that also assess high operational costs and necessary logistics.
Paraguay marks the 20th anniversary of the death of dictator Alfredo Stroessner, who ruled the country for 35 years until being overthrown by a coup in 1989, with a memory that still divides the country.
Experts warn that the profitability of real estate flipping, the practice of buying, renovating, and selling properties quickly, is no longer guaranteed as it once was, requiring rigorous planning to avoid losses.
DNIT listed 4,669 taxpayers with firm tax debts, with 96% of them being small entrepreneurs.
Exports from Paraguay's maquila sector totaled $858.7 million through July 2026, with growth driven mainly by new products like ethyl alcohol and biodiesel.
A tomato oversupply in Paraguay, caused by weather conditions and expanded planting, threatens to cause a sharp drop in prices, while authorities monitor the situation and producers warn of the need for market balance.
Paraguay is creating the first historical corpus of 18th-century Spanish, digitizing one hundred documents from the period for linguistic study and heritage preservation.
Paraguayan governor Ricardo Estigarribia has formalized his pre-candidacy for the 2028 presidency under the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), advocating for opposition unity, while reports question his administration, citing alleged irregularities in public tenders and his economic rise after taking public office.
Climbing birds, essential for the health of Paraguayan woodlands by controlling pests, are threatened by deforestation and fragmentation of their habitats.
Paraguay's Social Security Institute (IPS) is spending more to resume construction of surgical centers at the Central Hospital in Asunción after fraud, million-dollar contract amendments, and three-year delays in the contract with Neighpart S.A., while former managers are investigated for losses to the public treasury.
Ueno Bank reported intangible assets related to software systems for 2025 whose book value is around three times higher than the corresponding assets of nine other major banks in Paraguay combined. The unusual scale of the figure has raised questions within the financial sector. According to opposition lawmaker Mauricio Espínola, the Paraguayan banking association Asoban may also have approached the Central Bank over the matter.
The low-cost pizza and empanada sector is expanding in Argentina, accounting for 33% of the country's franchises, with chains scaling up operations despite a drop in consumption and a competitor's recent bankruptcy filing.
The Paraguayan Antique Vehicle Club is holding the fourth stage of its national championship in September, a regularity rally on the Jesuit Route that will bring together around 50 antique, classic, and sports cars.
Every traveller must register entry and exit at an enabled migration post. A passport or eligible Mercosur identity card, any required visa, and the entry receipt determine a lawful tourist stay of up to 90 days—not the fact that a bus or car crossed the bridge.
The jet of jailed former banker Daniel Vorcaro operates from its base in Asunción, with flights to various international destinations, to avoid seizure by the Brazilian Federal Police, as it has not entered Brazilian airspace since August 2025.
The municipality of Ciudad del Este is preparing a local ordinance and a bill is moving through the National Congress to regulate the circulation of electric scooters, aiming to reduce accidents following their increased use.
On its 489th anniversary, Asunción is experiencing a real estate boom that contrasts with the neglect of its historic center and overwhelms the infrastructure of the Paraguayan capital.
Moody's warns that low revenue and an increasingly rigid budget, with rising mandatory spending, limit Paraguay's fiscal space and reduce its investment capacity, despite the country maintaining stable debt levels and one of the lowest public expenditures in the region.
The Federal Revenue seized at the Friendship Bridge a shipment of sealed boxes that, supposedly containing high-value cellphones, were filled only with dirt.
Paraguayan exports of soybeans and derivatives totaled $3.5 billion in the first seven months of 2026, a 41% growth compared to the previous year, with Argentina as the main destination.
President Santiago Peña appointed Juan Manuel Maioli García, son of one of the owners of the company Parxin, as Paraguay's representative to the World Bank Group.
Paraguay sends 50 tons of humanitarian aid to Colombia after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Chocó leaves 294 dead, 3,935 injured, 320 missing, and damages infrastructure, housing, and animals.
An anti-drug operation in Paraguay resulted in only one person accused and raised questions about the deaths of two indigenous men, whose official confrontation version is rejected by the community alleging execution.
President Santiago Peña proposed career diplomat Estefanía Laterza de los Ríos to the Senate as Paraguay's ambassador to the US, filling the vacancy left by politician Gustavo Leite.
Asunción celebrated its 489th anniversary with traditional festivities and a civic-military parade, while the electoral scene for the mayoralty and statements from authorities on security and municipal finances formed the backdrop of the celebrations.
Japan's Crown Prince and Princess visit Paraguay on a nine-day official mission to mark the 90th anniversary of Japanese immigration, with an agenda including a meeting with President Santiago Peña, commemorative ceremonies, and highlighting cultural exchanges between the two countries.
The Paraguayan Prosecutor's Office requests a jury trial for a politician's brother for child sexual abuse and rejects the statute of limitations in the case against former minister Arnoldo Wiens for the Metrobús project, while police seize weapons in a security operation for Asunción's anniversary.
Lighter and more rhythmically percussive than a concert pedal harp, the Paraguayan arpa evolved through local makers and virtuosos into the leading voice of polca and folk ensembles.
Amid a rise in pickup truck thefts using signal jammers in Asunción, Paraguay police recommend using mechanical locks on the gear shift lever as an effective security measure.
Supermarkets and malls in Paraguay will operate with extended hours on the August 15 holiday and Children's Day, with expectations of increased sales, adaptations to cold weather, and growth in electronic payments.
Paraguayan children and adolescents presented seven demands for rights, such as decent work and mental health, in a context where official data reveals high rates of poverty, violence, and nutrition problems in this population.
A criminal complaint filed by a city councilor and a lawyer alleges that the fuel diversion scheme known as the 'asphalt mafia' persists in the Asunción Municipality with new methods, even after an administrative intervention.
Paraguay's securities market recorded 25% growth in the first half of 2026, reaching $6.6 billion in custodial assets, with 5,500 new investors and $625 million in primary issuances.
The Paraguayan government is negotiating the assignment of $400 million to pay part of its roughly $1 billion debt to pharmaceutical suppliers, with $320 million already available for negotiation.
Workers from various sectors protest in Asunción against the deterioration of public services, labor precarity, and the high cost of living, blaming the government of Santiago Peña, which completes three years, while an analyst points to the strengthening of tax collection as a positive achievement.
The National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) dismantled two drug sales points in Asunción and Hernandarias this week, seized narcotics, and arrested two suspects.
Swiss chef Javier Rocca, after traveling to 62 countries, chose Paraguay to live and do business, highlighting the country's economic stability, social peace, and banking system as decisive factors.
While Paraguay's Social Security Institute (IPS) approves a mandatory digital census for retirees, the institution faces a crisis with stalled modular operating room construction, which has consumed multimillion-dollar payments and generated lawsuits, and with the allegation that 569 nurses receive less than the minimum wage.
The union of ANDE workers accuses the Paraguayan government of hiding an offer from the company Imperium to buy energy at $70 per MW, more than double the amount negotiated with the company Atome.
Paraguayan banks offer dollar savings and current accounts, including products for non-residents subject to review. But a USD balance is not a US bank account: cash handling, local transfer hours, international wires, minimum balances and source-of-funds checks still matter.
The tricolour carries the national coat of arms on its front and the Treasury seal on its reverse. The unusual design comes from the sovereign symbols adopted by the 1842 congress.
Paraguayan Senator Esperanza Martínez denounces that politicians, including senators, deputies, governors, and ministers, are linked to drug trafficking, finance campaigns with illicit money, and enjoy impunity, pointing to systemic tolerance for corruption in the country.
Consumption in Paraguay grew 4.1% in June, driven mainly by the services, commerce, and manufacturing sectors, closing the first half of the year with an accumulated increase of 4.5%.
The Paraguayan government launched the Urban Design Manual, a binding plan with World Bank support to revitalize Asunción's Historic Center by the city's 500th anniversary in 2037, focusing on pedestrian mobility, green infrastructure, and economic stimulus.
H&M has opened its first store in Paraguay, with a second unit scheduled for next week, and confirmed plans to expand to Argentina in 2027, as part of its growth strategy in Latin America.
Argentine airline Flybondi had its accounts frozen due to tax debts, is delaying employee salaries and severance payments, and is accumulating flight cancellations and fines from ANAC, while the sector speculates about a possible court-supervised restructuring.
The Paraguayan government presented bills to create a Ministry of Mines and Energy and an electricity sector regulatory body, with broad private sector support viewing the measure as crucial for attracting investments.
Paraguay's Congress automatically approved a reform that maintains a differentiated and more advantageous parliamentary retirement regime compared to the general pension system.
The drop in fuel prices in Foz do Iguaçu attracts Paraguayan drivers seeking savings, but long traffic jams on the Friendship Bridge reduce the benefit of refueling in Brazil.
A judge ordered the removal of cameras and imposed restrictions on YouTuber Nathan Pratt Seastrand to protect the Ayoreo Totobiegosode indigenous people in voluntary isolation in the Paraguayan Chaco, following allegations that he offered money and alcohol to locate them.
The trial of former senator Hernán Rivas for using a fake law degree exposes widespread flaws in Paraguay's academic document control system, with university authorities admitting irregularities and the Ministry of Education confirming its registration system is insufficient.
The Prosecutor's Office accused a couple of operating a pyramid scheme in Asunción since late 2025, promising high returns on events such as the pilgrimage to Caacupé, while in Encarnación a woman received alternative measures to imprisonment for diverting 200 million guaranis in a currency exchange operation.
In a podcast interview, US Senator Marco Rubio joked about bombing Paraguay while recounting the effects of the ketogenic diet, a week before signing a nuclear agreement with the country.
The railway opened in 1861, grew into an Asunción–Encarnación spine and helped create towns. War, foreign ownership, underinvestment and road competition left most of the network silent.
President Santiago Peña completes three years in government in Paraguay with economic growth, attainment of investment-grade status, and an increase in foreign investment, but faces a growing fiscal deficit, rising public debt, and structural challenges in areas such as tax collection, pension reforms, and institutional fragility.
Paraguay's DNIT will begin requiring the declaration of cryptocurrency transactions exceeding $5,000 annually for tax oversight, a measure an expert warns needs balance to avoid harming the sector with excessive complexity.
Paraguay's Ministry of Industry and Commerce launched the Expo Maquila and Plaza Mipymes platforms, which will be part of the Paraguay Business Week 2026 in Alto Paraná with the goal of generating $1 billion in business.
Police operations in Paraguay resulted in the death of a PCC inmate in a prison, the arrest of suspects linked to the faction and drug trafficking in several cities, the seizure of drugs and luxury goods, and the interception in Bolivia of a bus carrying marijuana that displayed the name of São Paulo.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña denied payment to foreign influencers in the country, highlighted the attraction of digital nomads and investments in infrastructure and security, but documents reveal the government allocated $1.5 million for campaigns with influencers until 2027, in addition to defending the Social Security Institute (IPS) and avoiding comment on Horacio Cartes' Senate candidacy.
An Argentine commercial mission with about 100 businesspeople is in Paraguay to conduct business rounds, mainly in the food and beverage sectors, aiming to open new trade channels.
Paraguay advances work on the bioceanic corridor and the paving of PY05, while the Legislature releases loans of $75 million for rural connectivity and $286 million for the southern bioceanic corridor after overcoming political impasses.
The Paraguayan Prosecutor's Office formally accused former minister Arnoldo Wiens of causing a million-dollar loss to the state with the demolition of the Metrobús, while the politician and allies allege judicial persecution with electoral motivations.
Paraguay's judiciary has dismissed the criminal case against businessman Eugenio Sanabria Vierci, accused of negligent homicide in the deaths of four people, after approving economic compensation agreements with some families, a decision contested by other relatives excluded from the process.
Paraguay's Tourism Minister, Jacinto Santa María, resigned after three months for "personal and dignity reasons", and the government announced the merger of the portfolio with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
An American tourist was detained by police in Coronel Bogado, Paraguay, after being reported by residents for photographing an exotic plant in front of a Public Prosecutor's Office assistant's house.
Paraguay has an official employment portal, public competitions, in-person recruitment drives and a large informal labour market. This step-by-step guide shows where to look, what to prepare and how foreign applicants should read the rules.
Paraguay's general private-sector minimum is Gs. 3,044,000 a month from 1 July 2026. The useful number, however, depends on whether the worker is monthly-paid, a day labourer, part-time or working night hours—and the official table should control the calculation.
Paraguay recorded a 40% increase in foreign direct investment in 2025, driven by hydropower and telecommunications, while the government launches strategies like the 'Industrial Revolution' to attract more capital and double GDP with sectoral reforms.
Paraguay integrated its police databases with Interpol for real-time queries, while Parliament debates a bill granting police access to private security cameras.
Asunción Municipality prohibits cutting trees on private properties without authorization, under penalty of fine according to Ordinance 169/2025, which classifies the infraction as a very serious offense.
Former Senator Enrique Bacchetta alerted the Chamber of Deputies in 2020 about doubts regarding Hernán Rivas' law degree, whose trial for using a false document reveals certificates with serious spelling errors and testimony from a former university rector who claims to have signed it inside a car without ever seeing Rivas attend classes.
The Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies approved a bill declaring April 14 as National Vorí Vorí Day and analyzed a proposal to declare the Virgin of Caacupé festival as intangible cultural heritage.
President Javier Milei's government has regulated restrictions on access to Argentine public healthcare for foreigners without permanent residency, who must now pay for non-urgent care except in emergency cases.
A bill redirecting 500 billion guaranis from spending considered superfluous to purchase medicines is stalled in the Paraguayan Senate due to lack of opinion from the Finance Committee, which did not meet, revealing an internal division within the ruling party.
Paraguay's National Electricity Administration (ANDE) maintains suspended two strategic financial projects — energy sales to Brazil and a $198 million bond issuance — while focusing efforts on internal debt renegotiation programs and warning about the inclusion of defaulters in the Equifax credit bureau.
The campaign of Asunción mayoral candidate Camilo Pérez, which celebrates its team unity, includes public officials such as a deputy minister and a former presidential social media operator in its WhatsApp group for the press, raising questions about the use of state resources.
Paraguay's Public Ministry accused former minister Arnoldo Wiens of breach of trust and damage to the Metrobús project in Asunción, with estimated losses of Gs. 14.955 billion, and requested an oral trial, while also seeking to expedite an appeal in another corruption case involving officials.
Avianca will increase its flight frequency between Asunción and Bogotá to a daily service starting October 2026, an expansion that contrasts with the reduction in operations of local carrier Paranair due to operational issues.
Court unanimously acquits former judge Tania Irún of misconduct charges in the Alto Paraguai lands case, while in a separate proceeding former Petropar president Sergio Escobar Amarilla is accused of breach of trust in a contract that caused billions of guaranis in losses.
Paraguay’s fleet is large because the Paraguay–Paraná waterway is its commercial route to Atlantic ports. But the famous global ranking refers mainly to inland barges and push boats, not an ocean-going navy.
Paraguay's Court of Accounts ordered the Atyrá municipality to remove pipelines installed by Highlands Park to extract water from the Caacupé Aquifer, annulling a precautionary measure that benefited the development.
Paraguay's new SIARA system has already enabled thousands of people and legal structures and processed over 87,000 requests since its implementation in January.
Lack of practical experience and English proficiency are the main barriers for young Paraguayans to get jobs, according to a survey that also reveals a massive preference for digital and practical training.
A report from Paraguay's Public Ministry reveals that domestic violence, violent crimes, and the advance of organized crime are devastating indigenous communities, which also face social exclusion and loss of identity due to migration.
Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies recorded that 84% of its sessions were interrupted due to lack of quorum, despite the high salaries and privileged retirement regime of the parliamentarians.
The Environment Commission of Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies approved a bill transferring management of Asunción's North, Central, and South waterfront roads from the municipality to the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC).
The Paraguayan government projects a fiscal deficit of 3.9% of GDP and new debt of $600 million for 2027, a plan criticized by experts and the president of Congress as fiscally irresponsible and unsustainable without spending cuts and reforms.
The selection process for Paraguay's new Ombudsman, which closes applications on Monday, is under strong criticism from experts and the opposition, who point to a history of partisan influence, the institution's insignificant performance, and an incumbent candidate accused of maintaining political affiliation prohibited by law.
The Paraguayan Senate postponed the vote on the fuel transparency law and the insurance bill to form working groups, following objections from regulatory bodies and lack of consensus in committees.
Senator denounces overpricing of up to 81% in MOPC bids, while minister denies irregularities and seeks to calm lawmakers with details on a financing package for works.
While Senator Lilian Samaniego projects her candidacy for President of Paraguay for 2028, factions of the Colorado Party are proposing former President Horacio Cartes as a Senate candidate for the party.
Paraguayan professor rescued after being lost for days in the Misiones forest in Argentina while trying to recover a weather balloon for an academic project, after reporting fleeing from a jaguar.
Paraguay does not have one single access route. MSPBS offers a universal public network, IPS serves insured contributors and beneficiaries, teaching hospitals add another public route, and private plans operate by contract.
Paraguay's public debt reaches US$21.9 billion, equivalent to 30% of GDP in 2026, with 83.5% in external obligations and accelerated growth of dollar-denominated credit, while loans in guaranis advance at a slower pace.
Paraguay has the third lowest sovereign risk in Latin America and was recognized as the second best country in South America to establish a new residence, with experts highlighting its advantages in energy, taxes, water, and stability for attracting investments.
Paraguay's Internal Defense Operations Command (CODI) has spent $68 million since 2013, facing criticism over its limited effectiveness against the armed group EPP, whose attacks continue despite the military force's expanded operations.
Eduardo Bolsonaro supports the Paraguayan Congress's condemnation of Lula over statements about the War of the Triple Alliance, which caused diplomatic friction.
Paraguay and the United States signed a memorandum for cooperation in civil nuclear energy, aiming to prepare the country to eventually adopt small-scale reactors and explore its uranium reserves, seeking to meet the growing energy demand projected for the next decade.
Paraguay implemented a new permanent residence visa for foreign investors requiring applications starting at $70,000 in productive, tourism, real estate, or financial sectors.
Paraguayan lawyer Ricardo Sasciain launched the 'Dr. IA' app, an artificial intelligence platform that uses national legislation to conduct legal consultations, draft contracts, and calculate compensation, already available in free and paid versions.
Paraguay's state electricity utility ANDE has kept two strategic projects stalled for years: the sale of energy from the Acaray plant to Brazil and the issuance of its own bonds, both without an official completion schedule.
Paraguay repatriated 14 Central American migrants to their countries of origin, bringing the total number of people who have transited through the country under the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States to 52, an operation that received support from IOM.
In a rare move, Brazilian media outlets published a joint editorial rejecting gambling house advertising, voluntarily renouncing a revenue source.
Public pressure for judicial effectiveness against corruption at IPS grows with the recent indictment of nine people, while experts and retirees warn about procedural delays and demand recovery of misappropriated funds.
Paraguay's Ministry of Education is creating a blockchain-based cryptographic diploma registry following an internal scandal that revealed hundreds of forged documents.
Paraguay's statutory Deposit Guarantee Fund covers eligible deposits at BCP-authorized banks and finance companies up to a per-person, per-institution limit. Cooperative savings sit outside that fund.
Since 2008, the real estate sector has concentrated 44% of foreign direct investment in Paraguay, leading capital attraction with $4.4 billion, followed by manufacturing (26%) and financial services (20%), according to a report from the Central Bank of Paraguay.
Paraguay plans to have its first nuclear microreactor in operation in about five years, following an agreement with the US, with costs ranging from $50 million to $4 billion for modular reactors that could exceed the capacity of the Acaray hydroelectric plant.
DNIT and Asoban signed an agreement to create a secure platform for exchanging tax and banking data starting in 2027, while the tax authority also reviews special regimes and regulates cryptocurrencies to increase revenue.
While Itaipu rehabilitates a main bridge on PY07, about 400 families in Alto Paraná have depended for decades on a precarious ferry to cross the Monday River.
Deputies and representatives of agencies, including the Superior Court of Electoral Justice, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies, the Secretariat for Development for Repatriated and Refugee Compatriots, the Paraguayan Migration Coordination, and the Migrant Women's Network, will meet on August 10 to evaluate the implementation of the automatic registration law in the Permanent Civic Registry for Paraguayans abroad.
The Expo Cadam in Asunción reflects a Paraguayan market still dominated by SUVs and pickups, but with significant growth and gradual consolidation of electric and hybrid vehicles.
Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies will decide next Tuesday whether to insist on or archive the bill, already rejected by the Senate, that grants police access to private security camera footage.
Paraguay's Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) warns that over 60% of microenterprises resort to loan sharks, with interest rates that can exceed 10% per month, and announces initiatives such as the 'Adelanta' factoring mechanism to facilitate access to formal credit.
Twenty-five organizations launched the Network for the Right to the City to transform Asunción, which faces historical neglect of plazas, loss of green areas, flooding, and an inefficient transportation system, also denouncing a technical, financial, and moral crisis in the municipality.
Paraguay will host the XV Regional Congress on Technology in Architecture (CRETA) and the Smart City Paraguay event in August to debate sustainable urban development and responses to climate change with national and international experts.
Works on the return viaduct over Silvio Pettirossi Avenue, part of the Las Residentas Road Corridor duplication, advance with beam assembly and will require traffic diversions starting August 15, while parallel diversions in the area will occur between August 10 and 30 for drainage works.
Paraguay's hotel sector recorded 43% growth in the first half of 2026, with an average occupancy of 61% driven mainly by business tourism and markets from Argentina and Brazil.
Created by the 1943 monetary reform and circulated from 1944, the guaraní replaced the peso fuerte, unified issuance and became one of South America’s longest-continuing currency units.
Paraguay initiates a study in partnership with Japan to test the effectiveness of an ecological bio-larvicide in combating the Aedes aegypti mosquito, transmitter of dengue.
Paraguay and Brazil are negotiating an agreement to accelerate the transfer of convicts between the two countries, focusing on reducing bureaucratic delays such as official translations and implementing the Electronic Judicial File system.
Paraguay's banks warn that the recently achieved investment grade requires fiscal and pension reforms, along with strong institutions and regulation aligned with international standards, to ensure macroeconomic stability and competitiveness in the financial sector.
US company Uranium Energy Corp. has begun titanium prospecting in Paraguay's Alto Paraná department, with results considered promising by the US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires.
Paraguay's Ministry of Economy will begin a comprehensive review of the public budget and seek a loan to settle accumulated debts with Health Ministry suppliers.
The Asunción Zoo recorded the birth of three capybara pups, raising its captive population to ten animals, which are monitored 24 hours a day and kept without direct contact with visitors for their welfare.
IPS began its restocking plan with the arrival of 124 medicines, which will reduce the shortage rate from 28% to 19% in the next 15 days and is expected to cover demand for two months.
Paraguay accumulated US$10 billion in foreign direct investment between 2008 and 2024, with emphasis on non-financial services, manufacturing, and the financial sector, according to a study by the Central Bank of Paraguay and the Latin American Reserve Fund (FLAR) that points to macroeconomic stability and investment grade as attraction factors.
Paraguayan police arrested five Colombians accused of being part of a criminal organization that carried out kidnappings and extortion linked to the "gota a gota" (drop by drop) loan-sharking scheme.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña attends Abelardo de la Espriella's inauguration in Colombia, emphasizing regional security cooperation after revealing difficult relationship with predecessor Gustavo Petro.
Police arrested five foreigners — two Spaniards and three Bolivians — for the double homicide of gold buyers in Encarnación, following a scam that left two victims dead and one man injured.
The Tourism Minister and the Governor of Itapúa launched a tourist guide for the WRC Ueno Rally del Paraguay 2026, whose organizers project the attraction of 400,000 visitors with new attractions at the event.
A clean morning in Greater Asunción highlights Paraguay’s advantage over severe pollution hotspots—but annual PM2.5 exposure remains above the World Health Organization guideline, regional fire smoke can rapidly transform conditions, and MADES has expanded public monitoring and data access since the August snapshot.
Itaipu will hold the final presentation of its light show with the current system this Saturday before a one-year pause for modernization with LED technology.
The daughter of Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner lost an appeal in Brazil against the recognition of a half-brother as heir, in a dispute over a fortune spread across several countries.
The Embassy of Taiwan granted 76 scholarships to Paraguayan youth for undergraduate, graduate, and Mandarin language courses, in a ceremony with officials from both countries who highlighted the initiative as a strategic investment in Paraguay's future.
Paraguay's Public Prosecutor's Office has charged nine people, including two former presidents of the IPS, for an alleged embezzlement of 61 billion guaranis related to a never-completed modular operating room project, amid a crisis at the institution where the Comptroller General's Office points to much larger losses and beneficiaries demand broad investigations.
The Municipality of Asunción is preparing two large plots of land, not squares or avenues, to serve as temporary refuge for thousands of families who may be affected by flooding of the Paraguay River caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
In 2026, Paraguay ceased to be the cheapest country in South America, rising to third place in the cost of living index, while also being highlighted as the second-best destination to settle in the region, as Buenos Aires records disparities in the real estate market between new and used properties.
Paraguayan police dismantle a clandestine Tirzepatide falsification laboratory in Pedro Juan Caballero, seize a thousand vials, and detain three people in an operation investigating a cross-border distribution circuit for the lucrative black market of the drug.
Paraguay and the US signed a nuclear agreement to explore uranium, but experts and a senator warn the country lacks the institutional foundations for a safe program and question its need given the mostly renewable energy grid.
Councilor Álvaro Grau denounces irregular cleaning contracts in the administration of Luis Bello, criticizes the slowness of the Public Prosecutor's Office in investigating embezzlement from the previous administration of Nenecho Rodríguez, and reports judicial progress in the "golden detergent" case.
Paraguay reaches the milestone of 200 aeromedical transfers while preparing for the arrival of storms and a cold front with strong winds and a sharp drop in temperature.
The administration of Mayor Luis Bello faces criticism in the City Council over plans to rent trucks and the lack of public transport, while the municipality announces free festivities for Asunción's 489th anniversary.
The Paraguayan beer industry, which generates about 30,000 jobs and holds 80% of the local market, was highlighted for its economic weight and dynamism by the Paraguayan Chamber of Alcoholic Beverages during International Beer Day celebrations.
The crisis in the Caapucú Municipal Council escalated with opposition councilors being locked in the chamber and targeted with pepper spray to prevent a session that would approve the resignation of Mayor Gustavo Penayo, who is trying to invalidate his own request after realizing his successor would not be an ally.
Former Finance Ministers warn that Paraguay's tax capacity has reached its limit and that the growing fiscal deficit may be a structural problem, advocating for greater efficiency in public spending.
President Santiago Peña celebrates the expansion of the Zero Hunger program, which serves over one million students, while Senator Ignacio Iramain criticizes the lack of reliable measurement of its real impact, pointing to operational failures and the absence of a baseline for evaluation.
Paraguay's agricultural machinery imports grew 29.5% in the first half of 2026, driven by a historic soybean harvest and the appreciation of the guaraní, with tractors and sprayers leading purchases while combine harvesters registered a decline.
The Paraguayan government and businessman Henrique Junqueira announced the construction of the first export slaughterhouse in the San Pedro department, in the General Resquín district, with an investment of millions of dollars.
The Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) withdrew its candidacy in Ciudad del Este to unite the opposition around Daniel Pereira Mujica, while the Colorado Party intensifies its campaign in the Central Department for the October municipal elections.
The president of Paraguay's Congress asks Petropar to keep prices low to regulate the market, while he and other politicians, including former deputies and a senator, are linked to fuel stations of the state-owned company.
Paraguay's Prosecutor's Office charged nine former IPS employees, including former presidents, for embezzlement of G. 61 billion in a contract for modular operating rooms never installed.
The Central Bank of Paraguay reported that dollar credit grew 22.47% in the first half of 2026, reaching $13.7 billion, with services, construction, and housing sectors leading the expansion, while local currency credit advanced 3.77%.
Former mayor Miguel Prieto will stand trial in the Tajy Case after admissions by former collaborators, while his party denounces political persecution and expands international operations.
A court ordered parents in Presidente Franco to vaccinate their three children after months of refusal, and the children were immunized in compliance with the judicial order.
Paraguayan courts have definitively acquitted former Lambaré mayor Guido González of charges related to the deaths of two soldiers swept away by a flash flood in 2023, after the Public Ministry requested dismissal due to lack of evidence to hold him criminally responsible.
Police inaugurate identification agency at Asunción Port to decentralize services, while the president of the IPS warns of an imminent healthcare crisis with the application of a law that reduces doctors' working hours and will affect around 2,000 professionals starting in September.
The tajy, sacred Guaraní tree known as lapacho, blooms coloring Paraguay and its flowering dictates cultural traditions, agricultural calendars, and has medicinal and historical material uses.
The Peña government is preparing a temporary increase in the deficit cap while paying US$1.27 billion in quantified legacy debts and planning a return to the 1.5% of GDP limit in 2028.
The National Development Bank postponed technical details to later stages in the 135.853 billion guaranis bid for a new banking core. ABC Color alleged possible favoritism toward the Vázquez Group, but the official DNCP registry does not prove this accusation.
Eight politicians, including Vice President Pedro Alliana, Senator Lilian Samaniego, and former minister Arnoldo Wiens, have confirmed their pre-candidacies for Paraguay's presidency in the 2028 elections.
ANDE is conducting studies to define a new technical, unique, and transparent tariff scheme for both industries, based on voltage level, and residences, aiming for the company's financial sustainability.
The Paraguayan Chamber debates an IDB loan for rural connectivity that may be delayed due to disagreements in resource distribution, while the Senate advances with a Japanese loan for the bioceanic corridor.
Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies debates a bill to eliminate the fee charged by Opaci on driver's licenses, facing resistance from cartismo, while proponents allege the private entity generated millions with the system and practices political patronage.
Paraguay and the United States signed a civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement in Washington, with the leaders of both countries also addressing regional issues such as Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Horacio Cartes seeks reelection to the presidency of Paraguay's Colorado Party, while the ruling faction faces allegations of internal division and political maneuvers in the Chamber of Deputies to pass a controversial debt payment bill.
Judge Humberto Otazú decided to send former Ciudad del Este mayor Miguel Prieto and six other defendants to trial on charges related to food purchases during the pandemic that, according to the Public Prosecutor's Office, caused a loss of G. 306,188,500. Prieto denies any wrongdoing and says the case is politically motivated.
The Paraguayan Senate approved in committee a $286 million loan for an integration corridor, while opposition senators accused the Ministry of Public Works of corruption for alleged overpricing in tenders, leading to the summons of Minister Claudia Centurión to provide explanations.
Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies approved a bill modifying the 2026 budget to grant tax exemptions for imports related to Events of International Sporting Relevance, sending the proposal to the Executive Branch for approval.
Paraguay's Public Ministry has requested the preventive detention of two former presidents of the Social Security Institute (IPS) and seven other former officials for an alleged diversion of 61 billion guaranis in unfinished works. In separate cases, former mayor Miguel Prieto will stand trial for a simulated purchase during the pandemic, and three people are accused of fraud against Mennonite settlers.
President Santiago Peña enacted the law that approves the bilateral agreement with Japan to promote and protect reciprocal investments, establishing rules for legal security and dispute resolution.
Paraguay distinguishes qualified and non-qualified electronic signatures: the first is equivalent to a handwritten signature, while procedures, costs, uses and security duties vary by certificate and user.
President Santiago Peña and Economy Minister Óscar Lovera met with former ministers, who warned that recognizing a $280 million hidden debt with health sector suppliers will push the fiscal deficit close to 4% of GDP, missing the 1.5% target set for 2028.
Senator Celeste Amarilla announced her pre-candidacy for the presidency of Paraguay for the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) in 2028, criticized the possibility of the party supporting "outsiders", rebutted accusations from colleague Dionisio Amarilla, and expressed concerns about Eduardo Nakayama's commitment.
Paraguayan lawmaker Rocío Vallejo of the Partido Patria Querida had her Itaú bank account emptied following a cyberattack while accessing the bank's official website, which is under investigation and prompted a digital security alert from Paraguay's Central Bank.
The Paraguay National Police has appointed new directors of Prevention and Security in Asunción and nine departments, including a replacement in command of Alto Paraná following a series of million-dollar robberies, as part of a broad operational restructuring based on the institution's reform law.
Paraguayan tourism associations have asked the civil aviation authority, Dinac, to intervene due to repeated flight cancellations and delays by Paranair, which have already led to administrative actions against the airline.
A Paraguayan court has ordered the capture of former Central governor Hugo Javier González and his former chief of staff to serve a 10-year prison sentence for the final conviction in the pandemic fund diversion case known as "ghost works".
Tomato farmers in Caaguazú are selling at a loss, dispute official production data, and blame smuggling for the crisis threatening their livelihood.
Paraguay recorded its second consecutive monthly deflation in July, with a 0.1% drop in the CPI driven mainly by lower food and fuel prices, while the annual inflation rate fell to its lowest level in several years.
Paraguay's beef exports fell 24.6% in volume in the first seven months of 2026, but the total value declined only 9% due to an increase of more than 20% in the average price per kilogram.
Operation in Paraguay arrests five people for a digital scam scheme that recruited victims with fake job offers and laundered over $3 million in cryptocurrencies.
Senator Javier Zacarías Irún responded with irony to businessman José Ortiz, who excluded him from the mayoral campaign in Ciudad del Este, citing high electoral rejection of the Zacarías family.
Paraguay's vice president travels to Washington for high-level meeting to strengthen ties with the US amid diplomatic tension with Brazil over Lula's statements regarding the War of the Triple Alliance.
An official study by Paraguay's Ministry of Health reveals that 24% of the population over 50 suffers from some form of visual impairment, affecting approximately 236,000 people, with cataracts being the leading cause of blindness.
Presidential hopeful Miguel Prieto promises comprehensive public healthcare and salary improvements, while denouncing judicial persecution by the Colorado Party and an alleged PLRA collusion to benefit the ANR in the 2028 elections.
Candidates for mayor of Asunción declared widely varying amounts for their campaign expenditures, with Camilo Pérez leading at G 700 million, while the 24 city council candidates from the Colorado Party collectively declared G 2.436 million, in public data that experts criticize for failing to detail the actual source of funds.
Paraguay's Social Security Institute seeks to recover $711 million from private companies and proposes a trust as a solution, while facing budget pressure in healthcare, with most medication funds consumed by oncology drugs.
Itá Lagoon requires urgent dredging to prevent drying out and to control alligator overpopulation, according to environmental and technical alerts.
Lula's statements on the War of the Triple Alliance, justifying the military budget, reignite crisis with Paraguay, which had already suspended Itaipú negotiations and recalled its ambassador in 2025, amid tensions over Brazilian intervention in Uruguay and 19th-century territorial annexation.
Colorado leader José Luis Rodríguez Robertti multiplied his salary in Paraguay's Congress nearly 20 times over 13 years, moving from a contract employee in the Chamber of Deputies to a director in the Senate.
Paraguay's labor market expanded in the second quarter of 2026, but informality reached 61.6% of the non-agricultural employed population, with 1.75 million workers lacking social protection.
A pro bono legal program at the Catholic University has completed 14 years in Paraguay, handling more than 800 cases for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
The president of Paraguay's National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt), Benjamín Barán, stated that artificial intelligence is already transforming engineering in the country with practical applications, but warned that its risks, such as generating false information, require critical human supervision.
The Paraguayan government and the APCC highlight the contact center sector, vital for generating youth employment and exporting services, and promote an international congress in September to consolidate the country as a hub for the sector.
Experts warn that only 31.3% of Paraguayan infants under six months receive exclusive breastfeeding, one of the lowest rates in the region, during World Breastfeeding Week, which also highlights national efforts to reverse the trend.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña has enacted the law approving the Mercosur agreement to provide consular assistance to citizens in countries where their nation lacks representation.
Horacio Cartes suggested that Camilo Pérez consider charging vehicles entering Asunción. Soledad Núñez rejected the idea and attributed the municipal crisis to corruption and the alleged diversion of funds under the previous administration.
A three-day operation in northern Paraguay combined seizures with the eradication of crops whose potential yield was estimated at nearly 160 tons; in separate developments, three people were arrested in Ypané and a court conditionally granted former footballer Julio César Manzur house arrest.
Paraguay's Ministry of Health is urging continued prevention measures against dengue, zika, and chikungunya, even though confirmed cases are low, with only four in the last three weeks and 290 for the year.
The Consulate of Thailand has reopened in Asunción with businessman Jorge Salomón Jure Vallejos as the new honorary consul, in a ceremony attended by diplomatic and Paraguayan government authorities.
The Paraguayan government and industry associations have established a technical agenda to modernize mining with a new code, aiming to attract over $2 billion in investments, despite private sector criticism over a lack of dialogue in the process.
The Center for Judicial Studies launched a campaign warning that prison overcrowding in Paraguay, where 60% of inmates await trial, is worsening a health crisis with an increase in diseases like tuberculosis.
President Santiago Peña revoked the controversial "special permission" that had kept Carlos Liseras away from Conajzar, allowing him to resume his post after leaving the Senate, where he had taken a seat due to a vacancy created by the unconstitutional leave of scandal-embroiled Hernán Rivas and the resignation of substitute Julio Borba.
Paraguay's soybean industry recorded a 12% growth in processing in the first half of 2026, boosting exports of derivatives and the revenue generated by the value chain.
Paraguay delivered a protest note to Brazil over President Lula's statements about the War of the Triple Alliance, reiterating the request for return of war trophies, while the Brazilian ambassador stated the remarks were taken out of context.
An Argentine man was arrested in Paraguay for human trafficking and sexual violence, with police describing a sadistic profile after testimonies from seven victims who reported recruitment through fake job offers, kidnapping, assaults, and forced filming.
GuaraníSat-2, Paraguay's second satellite and the first built entirely in the country, will be sent to the US for integration and is scheduled for launch in October, following three years of development by a predominantly young team with international cooperation.
An Ecuadorian business group, formed by Novacero and Holding Swissôtel, will invest $200 million in Paraguay for a hotel complex and to transform an acquired steel distributor into an industrial unit, attracted by economic growth, investment promotion laws, and cheap energy.
Twenty-two years after the fire that killed more than 400 people at Ycuá Bolaños, survivors transform pain into memory and a demand for justice, while the Asunción city council approves a G. 700,000 subsidy for victims and a commemorative program marks the date.
A sewage leak from Essap on Camilo Recalde Avenue in the commercial microcenter of Ciudad del Este is causing a strong odor and disruptions, leading workers to call for urgent action from the municipality and the company in an area crucial for tourism and border trade.
Experts warn that Paraguay faces an imminent energy crisis by 2030 due to lack of new investments and growing demand, while a binational plant project with Argentina, Corpus Christi, is reintroduced as a potential solution.
At least five Paraguayans recruited with promises of high salaries are missing in the war between Russia and Ukraine, with the government denouncing the enlistment as a new form of human trafficking.
Paraguayan institutions, including the Highway Patrol and Security Forces, are finalizing security preparations and volunteer training for the WRC Rally del Paraguay 2026, which takes place in August in Itapúa.
The "Ahorrá PY" campaign, promoted by the Paraguayan Chamber of Wholesale and Retail Merchants with government support, offers discounts on more than 400 basic basket products starting this Saturday.
Paraguay's National Institute of Statistics reports the unemployment rate fell to 4.1% in the second quarter of 2026, but underemployment, which measures people working fewer hours than they desire, rose to 4.8%.
Private fuel distributors in Paraguay have increased prices by up to G. 800 per liter for diesel and between G. 500 and G. 600 for gasoline, citing the impossibility of maintaining previous prices in the face of high international oil market costs.
Paraguay's Meteorology and Hydrology Directorate has issued an alert for severe storms with winds up to 90 km/h and possible hail that will affect the entire country over the weekend.
Lawmakers have introduced a bill to make permanent the toll exemption for residents of Ypacaraí, which currently depends on annual inclusion in the national budget.
Paraguayans consume the traditional carrulim drink on the first day of August to ward off bad luck, while doctors warn of health risks such as toxicity and risk of miscarriage.
The president of Paraguay's Social Security Institute (IPS), Isaías Fretes, warns of an irreversible crisis at the institution after 100 days of management, marked by severe financial challenges, medicine shortages, and a "perfect storm" caused by reduced working hours for health professionals.
Paraguay's capital market shows growth in bank credit, driven by consumption and services, while stock exchange trading is dominated by debt securities, with stocks representing only a small fraction.
Paraguayan authorities and lawmakers coordinate actions, including the incorporation of farmers into emergency committees and the preparation of animal shelters, to face the forecasted arrival of the El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to hit the departments of Misiones and Ñeembucú starting in August.
Paraguay's Ministry of Health is preparing a large-scale operation with 500 professionals, 42 fixed posts, 44 ambulances, and five mobile clinics for the World Rally Championship in Itapúa in August 2026, centered on the region's General Hospital.
Paraguay's Ministry of Industry and Commerce has created a business council to ensure continuity of sectoral policies across governments and presented a zoning plan to develop specialized industrial hubs in regions like Caaguazú and Caazapá.
Interpol arrested in Paraguay a Paraguayan citizen wanted for sending cocaine to Asia concealed in wine bottles through an international drug trafficking network.
Paraguay's Senate approved a bill lowering the minimum age for app drivers to 19 and tractor operators to 18, sending the proposal back to the Chamber of Deputies.
Paraguayan engineer José Salinas creates free Nugon app that sends SMS or internet alerts in under three seconds for health emergencies, working even with the phone locked.
Paraguay's Superior Tribunal of Electoral Justice has published the income and expense declarations of all candidates for the October municipal elections, which are available for public consultation on the ONAFIP portal.
Paraguay's Supreme Court dismissed the money laundering case against Óscar Rubén González Chaves due to the statute of limitations, but upheld his conviction for illicit enrichment, ordering a new jury for sentencing and his immediate house arrest.
Asunción Municipality approved updated plans for Club Olimpia's new stadium, a roughly US$ 80 million project designed for about 46,000 spectators and scheduled to open in 2029.
Paraguay has approved a new mandatory protocol for migration agents at all of the country's borders to detect and report human trafficking cases during routine inspections.
The dollar reached its lowest value of the year and in nearly seven years in Paraguay, closing at G. 5,961, which benefits importers but worries exporters and reduces customs revenue.
Paraguay's first multidimensional poverty map, released by the National Statistics Institute (INE), reveals extreme disparity between districts, with Puerto Pinasco reaching 82.2% of its population in this condition and Fernando de la Mora registering only 0.9%.
A study by Aneaes indicates that graduates from accredited programs in Paraguay earn up to 13% higher salaries in formal employment, while a critic points out that the public sector is the largest employer of professionals from non-accredited courses.
The Public Prosecutor's Office of Paraguay is investigating the destruction and looting of a state-owned property in Asunción that was under the custody of the National Police.
Brazil begins a military operation on the border with Paraguay, called Operation Ágata, to combat crimes such as smuggling, arms trafficking, and drug trafficking.
The Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MTESS) of Paraguay has established a 30-day process for companies to pay overdue minimum wage debts of G. 3,044,000, subject to fines, with inspections set to begin in August.
The Paraguayan Alerta Mafe system, in partnership with the company Meta, located a six-year-old child in its first case, which resulted from a family communication breakdown, while authorities state that all alerts issued since its activation in July have been resolved, without disclosing the total number of cases.
The limited supply of fat cattle in Paraguay, caused by climatic factors and on-farm retention, is pushing prices upward and reducing slaughter schedules, intensifying competition among meatpacking plants amid external commercial pressure.
The poor condition of roads in the Paraguayan Chaco is delaying the construction of 100 homes for the indigenous Ishir Virgen Santísima community in Fuerte Olimpo, with the project 55% complete and a completion date now forecast only for October.
The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) tendered two contracts (IDs 488061 and 488092) with a total reference value of G. 1.089 trillion, financed by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), to rehabilitate and maintain 219 km of roads in Concepción, including route PY22 and strategic access roads such as the one for the future Paracel plant.
The Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) arrested an on-duty national police officer who was transporting 20 assault rifles, which were hidden in a vehicle with a false bottom. The weapons were seized while allegedly destined to be smuggled into Brazil.
The presidents of Paraguay and Ecuador signed seven bilateral agreements in Quito, covering security, defense, cybersecurity, and human mobility, with a focus on combating transnational organized crime.
Paraguay and Brazil have launched Operation Nueva Alianza 56, a binational offensive with special forces and air support to eradicate marijuana plantations in the department of Amambay, aiming to destroy the drug trafficking infrastructure that supplies the Brazilian market.
Paraguayan producers support maintaining vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease until 2028 to protect exports, even though the country is internationally recognized for its expertise in controlling the disease, as the sector warns that the current success does not guarantee conditions to suspend immunization without sanitary and commercial risks.
Groups have filed a complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office against mining company Latin American Minerals Paraguay for alleged environmental crimes involving cyanide in Paso Yobái, where an academic study detected levels of the substance up to 40 times above the permitted limit. Official inspection operations had already been carried out in the area in July to investigate contamination reports.
Construction on the Puente Bioceánico and Puente de la Integración border bridges is advancing, but the necessary highway access roads and customs facilities required for their full operation are only projected for completion in 2027. Meanwhile, the increase in traffic on one of them is already drawing criticism for a lack of urban planning.
After the first reactions to Lula’s remarks, Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies preliminarily approved a joint declaration calling for a formal request to return the Cristiano artillery piece, archives and other war relics. The final text is still pending.
Paraguay has assumed the presidency of the Network of National Public Investment Systems of Latin America and the Caribbean (Red SNIP) for the first time, for the 2026-2028 period, and has presented its progress in incorporating climate criteria and evolving towards a more strategic National Public Investment System.
A judge has ordered Paraguay’s Jury for the Impeachment of Magistrates (JEM) to release, within 15 business days, all resolutions and opinions signed by former senator Hernán Rivas. Rivas is on trial over an allegedly falsified law degree.
The Encarnación Regional Hospital has become a mental health referral center in the interior of Paraguay with a new psychiatric unit, while the Itapúa General Hospital, its partner in the project, celebrates one year of operation with hundreds of thousands of consultations that reinforce healthcare access in the country's southern region.
Air traffic in Paraguay grew by 13% in the first half of 2026, with 715,372 passengers transported, according to data from the country's civil aviation authority.
Paraguayan guitarist Berta Rojas has received the 2026 Honorary Guitarist José Tomás Award, the highest distinction of the Petrer International Guitar Festival in Spain.
Camera monitoring on Paraguay's Bioceanic Corridor has recorded 23 species, including the threatened giant armadillo, using wildlife crossings built to safely traverse the highway.
IPS plans to refinance short-term liabilities to free about 105 billion guaranis a month for medicines. The Economy Ministry and a Senate committee currently oppose bonds and emergency legislation, respectively.
The Paraguayan Ministry of Economy and Finance will hold its third public bond issuance of the year this Wednesday, a reopening of two series maturing in 2030 and 2035, through the Asunción Stock Exchange.
The Paraguayan government has announced a full exemption and discounts of up to 75% on more than 100 procedures for micro and small businesses holding the Mipyme ID. The measure was presented at the Mipyme 360 Forum to boost the sector that generates the majority of jobs in the country.
Residents of the Mbocayaty neighborhood in Asunción are denouncing the halt in the land titling processes by the Municipalidad de Asunción and pressure from Grupo Vázquez to buy their properties, leading city councilors to request official information.
A Macuco Safari tour boat capsized at Iguazú Falls, killing a Dutch tourist and injuring at least two other people.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña and Peru's new president, Keiko Fujimori, signed agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation in security and trade during the Peruvian leader's inauguration.
The Comptroller General's Office of Paraguay has concluded that the asset growth of the former mayor of Asunción, Óscar "Nenecho" Rodríguez, is justified by his legal income, despite his resignation amid corruption scandals and being charged with criminal association.
The Public Prosecutor's Office of Paraguay has requested the trial of the son of former congressman Lalo Gomes, his former lawyer, and two notaries for concealing assets in the Pavo Real case, accusing them of being part of a scheme to frustrate the confiscation of properties and vehicles.
The government of Santiago Peña spent over US$ 22 million on advertising through Itaipú, which defends the expenditures, while Petropar plans to bid out promotional items like bags and uniforms, and lawmakers propose redirecting such funds to healthcare.
President Santiago Peña has enacted a law increasing the maximum prison sentence for adolescents from 8 to 10 years in exceptionally serious cases, following the murder of María Fernanda Benítez.
In anti-drug operations, Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) destroyed 12 tons of marijuana in Amambay, Brazilian police intercepted a helicopter carrying cocaine coming from Paraguay, and agents arrested youths linked to the Rotela Clan for micro-trafficking in Luque and a suspect in a shooting in Asunción.
Wholesale merchants at the Mercado de Abasto in Asunción are denouncing the persistence of a structure of corruption, extortion, and severe insecurity, threatening protests if five accused employees are not removed.
The Public Prosecutor's Office of Paraguay recorded 14 femicides and 24 attempts through July 2026, leaving 26 children orphaned, with the majority of the crimes occurring inside the home and committed by partners or ex-partners.
The former president of the Institute of Rural and Land Development (Indert) has been sentenced to seven years in prison for breach of trust in an irregular land sale that caused a loss of 15.38 billion guaranis to the state, and had previously received another conviction for producing false documents.
President Santiago Peña has appointed Miguel Báez Reyes as the head of Paraguay's state electricity utility ANDE, replacing Félix Sosa. The government states the move is intended to unblock investments, but unions and the opposition link it to pressure for a preferential tariff contract with the company Atome.
Journalist Lorenzo Villalba was detained and assaulted by police officers while covering a fire at a nightclub in Asunción. He was released after three hours with injuries and the intention of filing a complaint with the Public Prosecutor's Office.
A delegation of business leaders from Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul is in Asunción to explore investment opportunities in Paraguay, facilitated by the Paraguay-Brazil Chamber of Commerce (CCPB) and hosted by the Paraguayan Industrial Union (UIP).
The Paraguayan state publicly acknowledged responsibility for the 1991 murder of journalist Santiago Leguizamón, partially complying with an Inter-American Court judgment as the family and journalists union criticized continuing impunity and alleged links between the current government and those who ordered the killing.
During a televised debate, Paraguay's Interior Minister Enrique Riera accused criminologist Juan Martens of having links to organized crime after he linked a fatal attack on a police station to corruption and the actions of criminal factions in the Canindeyú department.
The Paraguayan Congress and politicians from various sectors, including the left and the ruling party, condemn Lula's statements regarding the War of the Triple Alliance and question the silence of Santiago Peña's government.
Brazil denies visas to two U.S. officials planning to meet with electoral authorities, citing risk of political manipulation, amid tensions between the two countries.
The 2026 Expo Paraguay, organized by the Paraguayan Rural Association (ARP), concluded by exceeding expectations for attendance and business generation, which are expected to continue even after the event.
Historical documents, including treaties and the work of joint commissions since 1872, form the basis of Paraguay's position in the border dispute with Brazil over Salto del Guairá, a process that still has sections awaiting demarcation.
The Colorado Party held a unity rally in Luque to launch its municipal campaign, while pre-candidate Arnoldo Wiens rejected the event, accused the cartismo faction of corruption, and faced internal criticism for his stance.
Former manager of Uruguay's National Administration of Power Plants and Electrical Transmissions (UTE), Carlos Pombo, stated that Paraguay has a "brutal advantage" in the regional electricity market and highlighted the Uruguayan experience with long-term contracts, smart meters, and combating energy losses as examples for the sector.
The crisis in Paraguay's public health system and social security institute IPS is forcing families to cover high out-of-pocket costs for medications and treatments, driving many into financial ruin.
Paraguayan lawmakers, a lawyer who is the granddaughter of a war veteran, and Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro have condemned President Lula's statements regarding the War of the Triple Alliance, which they consider a historical distortion.
After an attack on a police post in Naranjito, authorities and a former deputy presented conflicting versions attributing the attack to the Paraguayan People's Army (EPP) in alliance with drug traffickers, to organized crime alone over a drug debt, or denying any link to drug trafficking.
The Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay has approved a declaration requesting the Executive Branch to install an identification outpost in the Alto Paraguay department to resolve the lack of access to documents that is preventing the local population from exercising their basic rights.
The Palacio Ingrid, a historic jewel of Asunción, has been fully restored after a lengthy administrative process and will be transformed into an events center.
A fire destroyed around 70% of the Nápoles nightclub in central Asunción without causing any casualties.
As of January 2026, the georeferencing of properties has become mandatory for procedures at Paraguay's National Unified Registry (RUN), requiring the hiring of a licensed professional and involving costs for fees and professional services, with an average processing time of 20 to 25 days.
A decree issued in Paraguay in 1814 prohibited marriages between Spanish men and American women in an effort to weaken the peninsular elite. However, by suppressing only legal unions, it ended up fostering an increase in concubinage.
Taiwan has announced new funding of US$200 million for the Paraguayan housing program Che Róga Porã, whose initial funds were nearly depleted. The announcement was made during the program's Expo & Forum, where the government reaffirmed its commitment to the initiative.
Itaipú Binacional increased its vehicle-rental budget by G. 10.7 billion under Paraguayan management, adding an armored fleet and substantially expanding the number and cost of other vehicles.
The USDA projects a favorable scenario for the global soybean supply in the 2026/27 crop year, while cereal production is expected to face a tighter supply.
The Colorado Party launched its campaign for the municipal elections in Luque, emphasizing unity and harmony, despite the notable absences of figures like Mario Abdo Benítez and Arnoldo Wiens.
Paraguayan driver Joshua Duerksen finished seventh and scored two points in the Formula 2 sprint race in Hungary, where he also qualified fourth for the main race.
The Paraguayan passport rose to 28th place in the global ranking in July 2026, with visa-free access to 145 countries, rounding out the list of the ten most powerful in the Americas, behind Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and others.
The IPS (Instituto de Previsión Social), Paraguay's social security agency, announced a gradual restocking of over 180 medicines that had been unavailable nationwide, pledging to restore normal inventory levels within 15 days following the crisis that affected patients, especially those with cancer.
The Brazilian Federal Police (PF) seized over two tons of marijuana hidden in a shipment of rice that originated in Paraguay and was intercepted at a toll booth on the BR277 highway in Paraná state.
Paraguay's electricity demand grew by 18.3% in the first half of 2026, with supply being led by the Itaipú, Yacyretá, and Acaray hydroelectric plants, while the state-owned utility ANDE reinforces its commitment to infrastructure projects for a more reliable service.
The cost of the Bioceanic Route bridge connecting Carmelo Peralta in Paraguay to Puerto Murtinho in Brazil has increased by $11.5 million during the project's construction, which is funded by Itaipu Binacional.
The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) will expand its infrastructure fund manager, CAF Asset Management Corp (CAF-AM), into Paraguay and Peru, following positive results in Uruguay and Colombia, with the aim of attracting private capital for strategic projects.
Residency applications in Paraguay increased by 62% in the first half of 2026, totaling over 33,000 requests, with Brazilians representing the majority of applicants, leading the government to adopt measures to streamline the procedures.
Cybersecurity expert warns of cyberattack risks and advocates for digital sovereignty in Paraguay, citing espionage from countries like China and the need for a regulatory framework to protect data and investments.
Energy experts and business leaders warn that Paraguay's state electricity utility, ANDE, requires an urgent tariff adjustment and an opening to private capital to prevent an energy collapse, as the surplus from its hydroelectric plants is expected to be exhausted within three to five years.
President Santiago Peña supports a bill that would allow mining in Médanos del Chaco National Park, sparking a debate between economic development and environmental protection.
President Lula defended military spending by citing a Paraguayan invasion of Brazil, while Paraguayan historians dispute this version, attributing the start of the war to Brazilian intervention in Uruguay.
The Paraguayan Prosecutor's Office carried out operations against the alleged "asphalt mafia" to investigate the diversion of funds and machinery from the Asunción Municipal Government for work on a private sports complex and a commercial parking lot.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) confirmed that the SIFEN electronic invoicing system increased the VAT base by 27.3%, declared VAT by 31.3%, and the tax payable by 40.7% for companies in Paraguay, according to a study submitted to the local tax authority, DNIT.
The mayor of San Estanislao, Agustín Ovando, has once again been charged by the Public Ministry for the alleged embezzlement of approximately 1.85 billion guaranis, a case that also involves municipal employee María Lourdes Ocampos, with preventive measures requested for both. Ovando remains in office and has announced he will not seek re-election.
The Supreme Court of Justice of Paraguay has rejected the request for the disqualification of César Daniel Ojeda Figueredo, unblocking the "golden detergent" case, which investigates former mayor of Asunción, Óscar "Nenecho" Rodríguez, for the alleged embezzlement of 1.8 billion guaranis in the purchase of cleaning products.
The Municipality of Asunción intervened after a structure from a construction site fell onto a dance studio in the Madame Lynch neighborhood, an incident that caused no injuries but resulted in material damage and the application of sanctions.
Attack on a Paraguayan police station leaves three dead, reignites debate over the EPP's restructuring, and exposes rifts within security forces and concerns among rural producers.
Paraguayan merchants project growth of over 5% for the sector in 2026, highlighting the strengthening of the national industry and the upcoming Expo COMAMPAR in October.
The Paraguayan government has reduced the mandatory biodiesel blend in diesel to 7% until the end of 2026, with an increase to 8% starting in 2027, following dialogue with the productive sector.
An attack attributed by Paraguay’s government to the EPP and allied criminal groups killed three people at a police post, exposed intelligence failures, and prompted political criticism and security-policy changes.
The Paraguayan Prosecutor's Office has accused four directors of the pharmaceutical company Indufar of fraud and criminal association for allegedly breaking an exclusive distribution agreement and diverting the production of the drug tirzepatide to their own pharmacies, while the defense argues that it is a commercial dispute with a termination agreement already in place.
The World Bank has kept Paraguay in the upper-middle-income category, a position shared by the majority of South American countries, while Uruguay and Chile are classified as high-income and Bolivia as lower-middle-income.
The Senate and the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Paraguay have signed an agreement to investigate a scheme of fake academic diplomas, focusing on three areas: lack of accreditation, irregular courses, and direct forgery.
Paraguay is experiencing its biggest real estate boom, with projections to reach $3 billion in 2026, fueled by investments, economic stability, and high demand in cities like Asunción, Ciudad del Este, and Encarnación.
Financial expert proposes a four-pillar method for private retirement in Paraguay, with a 20% income investment even for those earning the minimum wage.
Paraguay is including approximately 4,000 new seniors in its pension program starting this Friday, benefiting individuals who turn 68 by July and meet specific income criteria.
Paraguay's Congress is tendering seven elevators for $600,000 with a 20% advance payment, amid criticism over public healthcare and a history of investigations into irregularities in similar contracts.
Paraguayan banana producers warn of a crisis in the sector, which supports over 20,000 families, due to the devaluation of the dollar against the guaraní, which harms exports, and a widespread increase in operational costs.
This Sunday, July 26, Casco Abierto will offer a guided tour of eight historic mansions in Areguá led by architect Laurie Alice Vera Jiménez. Registration is available by calling 0971 116 250, with participation limited to 25 people.
President Santiago Peña and former President Mario Abdo Benítez greeted each other with a hug during a reception at the U.S. Embassy in Asunción, a gesture described by Nicanor Duarte Frutos as a civic act of party unity, while Abdo Benítez downplayed its political nature.
The sewer system project in Mariano Roque Alonso, financed with over US$ 160 million, is at a standstill, with the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) and the municipal government trading accusations over who is responsible for the delay related to the construction land.
Paraguay's tax and customs authority, DNIT, saw its revenue grow by 359% over 15 years, reaching G. 24.39 trillion in 2025, with the Value-Added Tax (VAT) being the main tax, accounting for 52.8% of the total.
Ueno Bank, which is controlled by a former business partner of President Santiago Peña, held twice its net worth in public funds in June, a value that exceeds legal limits. Meanwhile, the Social Security Institute (IPS) has not fulfilled its promise to withdraw the deposits, and the bank is still settling a heavy debt inherited from the defunct Visión Banco.
Paraguayan Minister describes Cartes' trip to the US to attend the 2026 World Cup final and meet with officials as an act of justice after sanctions were lifted.
The IPS, the largest holder of public funds in the Paraguayan banking system, is considering investing abroad after reaching its legal investment limit in the sector.
The Finance Committee of the Paraguayan Senate halted a project that would redirect communication funds to healthcare and postponed for 15 days the analysis of a budget increase to pay off the sector's debts.
A large armed group attacked a police outpost in Canindeyú, leaving three dead, reigniting criticism of public security, with the main suspects being the Paraguayan People's Army (EPP), an armed group, or organized crime factions.
The 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC) round in Paraguay, hosted by Encarnación, is projected to generate an economic impact of $200 million and attract 400,000 spectators, cementing the event's status after it was recognized as the best rally in the world in 2025.
Senator Ever Villalba formally denounced to the Senate that the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), led by Claudia Centurión, overcharged by more than US$157 million in 13 tenders, excluding companies with bids close to the reference price in order to award contracts to more expensive consortiums, and requested that the minister provide clarifications.
A Brazilian military operation on the border with Paraguay, which began on July 20th, is causing major traffic jams and impacting tourism in the region during the Argentine winter holidays.
The Union of Engineers of Paraguay's state electricity utility ANDE has proposed a 700 MW limit for cryptocurrency mining and data centers and the creation of a separate industrial tariff, with allocation by auction starting in 2028.
An expert reports that approximately one thousand flights carrying cocaine land monthly on clandestine airstrips in Paraguay, primarily in the Central region bordering the Paraguay River. From there, the drugs travel via the Paraguay-Paraná waterway to Europe or overland to Brazil and Argentina, in an operation facilitated by bribes and low state capacity.
The Argentine coffee shop chain Café Martínez has announced a $35 million investment to quintuple its network, expanding from its current 250 stores to 600 by 2035.
Senator Gustavo Leite returns to the Paraguayan Senate after 11 months as ambassador to the U.S., defending his diplomatic tenure which included meetings with lawmakers and Trump, while the opposition criticizes the mission's high costs and lack of concrete results.
A large, heavily armed group attacked a police outpost in Canindeyú, Paraguay, leaving three dead, including two police officers, and one injured, with authorities investigating the involvement of criminal groups from the region.
Paraguayan public officials are turning down cybersecurity scholarships donated by the United States because the courses and exams are in English—a language not required for their positions—amid a growing wave of cyberattacks against the state.
Moody's has maintained Paraguay's investment-grade rating, but economists warn that fiscal arrears, equivalent to 2.1% of GDP, represent the most immediate risk to the country's fiscal credibility.
The Paraguayan government has presented a bill to Congress to secure a $286 million loan from Japan to build the Southwest Corridor, a nearly 200-kilometer road project in the south of the country. The announcement has sparked debate over public debt priorities amid a crisis involving shortages of medicines.
Congressman Roberto González has accused the Minister of Education, Luis Fernando Ramírez, of appointing 916 interim teachers without the proper qualifications, citing specific cases, while only 798 tenured teachers from the Eligible Database were made permanent.
The Paraguayan Minister of Public Works, Claudia Centurión, warned that the country has only 15% sewage coverage, but listed progress on projects such as the construction of seven hospitals and the Bioceanic Corridor bridge.
The National Police of Paraguay has issued an alert regarding the increase in stolen luxury vehicles from Brazil that are being modified and sold illegally in the country, following the seizure of a Toyota Fortuner pickup truck with falsified documents.
The government of Santiago Peña used funds from Itaipú and Yacyretá to finance an advertising campaign in allied media outlets during the World Cup, according to a complaint by Senator Yolanda Paredes.
Social and peasant organizations held protests this Thursday in front of Paraguay's state electricity utility ANDE against power cuts, high tariffs, and benefits for large consumers, demanding the suspension of disconnections for vulnerable families and the expansion of the social electricity tariff.
President Santiago Peña and the President of the Supreme Court, Alberto Martínez, met to seek solutions for the operational crisis at the National Unified Registry (RUN), which is facing widespread criticism for its slowness, errors in documents, and risks to legal security.
Around 150 Argentine brands are expanding their franchises into Paraguay, attracted by tax advantages such as the "Triple 10" system, monetary stability, and competitive costs, with investments ranging from affordable amounts to millions of dollars.
The trial of former senator Hernán Rivas, accused of using a fake law degree to register as a lawyer and preside over the Magistrates Impeachment Jury (JEM), was postponed for 20 days at the request of his new defense team.
The Paraguayan Senate is debating two bills to address the public health system's financial crisis, including the reallocation of funds from the Itaipu Binacional hydroelectric plant for the purchase of medicines and the relaxation of a debt payment mechanism for suppliers.
A 68-year-old man died after being attacked by a swarm of bees during a soccer match in Iturbe, Paraguay.
The Paraguayan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) has issued an alert for farmers to adopt protective measures due to a storm system forecast to bring up to 50 mm of rain to several regions, primarily in the center, south, and east of the country, between Tuesday and Wednesday.
The IPS (Instituto de Previsión Social, Paraguay's social security institute) and pharmaceutical companies have established a working group to combat the severe medication shortage crisis that is forcing beneficiaries to pay for treatments out of their own pockets.
Deputy Yamil Esgaib wants Paraguay to adopt versions of national symbols associated with the Stroessner era. The 1842 record sent by the National Secretariat of Culture does not mention the red border cited by the proposal backers.
Mandatory expenditures consumed 81% of tax revenues in the first half of 2026, while Moody's maintained the country's credit rating but warned that payment delays expose weaknesses in the management of public finances.
The Central Bank of Paraguay has maintained the free nature of transfers between bank accounts and established maximum fee limits for commercial payment services, such as direct debits and QR code payments.
The president of the Paraguayan Chamber of Real Estate Developers (Capadei), Raúl Constantino, warns that investing in the Paraguayan real estate market requires knowledge of local legislation, analysis of supply and demand, and verification of the developers' financial stability to avoid risks.
The stock of Paraguayan Treasury bonds in circulation reached G 9.473 trillion in the first half of 2026, a value equivalent to 2.36% of the country's GDP.
The Paraguayan Armed Forces are carrying out dredging and cleaning of the Tayuazapé stream in San Lorenzo to prevent flooding ahead of the arrival of the El Niño weather phenomenon, after identifying that the riverbed was obstructed by sediment and household waste after 16 years.
Paraguay has made it mandatory to blend between 8% and 10% biodiesel into common diesel, a measure supported by the government and the biofuels sector to encourage local production, which they claim is technically safe for engines.
The Superior Court of Electoral Justice of Paraguay (TSJE) warns that the current political financing legislation has limitations that make it difficult to prevent illicit money from entering campaigns, with effective oversight only possible after elections, and that the body is working on proposals for adjustments to achieve more effective control.
The Public Prosecutor's Office of Paraguay is investigating the diversion of approximately 80 tons of public asphalt to pave private properties, a scheme known as the "asphalt mafia" involving the Municipality of Asunción.
The New York Times highlighted the research of Paraguayan microbiologist Walter Sandoval and his team from the National University of Asunción (UNA), who are mapping the country's unique bacterial diversity with the potential to impact global health strategies.
The headquarters of the National Unified Registry (RUN) in Asunción was evacuated and services were suspended following a bomb threat made by phone, with security forces on site to verify the report.
The National Union of Retirees of Paraguay is pressuring Congress to approve a bill that would declare an emergency in the IPS health fund to release extraordinary funding and address the critical shortage of medicines.
Paraguay's DNIT (National Directorate of Tax Revenue) is using artificial intelligence and business intelligence to audit tax returns more efficiently, while revenue in the first half of the year exceeded a 2% expansion despite a drop in collections in guaraní caused by the depreciation of the US dollar.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has requested the dismissal of the complaint against the Paraguayan director of Itaipú Binacional regarding the purchase of school furniture, having found no evidence of irregularities, although the case continues to generate public debate.
Artificial intelligence is being widely adopted in Paraguayan studios to speed up music production, while experts debate the challenges of defining authorship and copyright for works generated with the technology.
The Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay approved an official recognition of Lieutenant Derlis Cáceres Troche for his research on artificial intelligence applied to education, whose work had already been awarded at an academic forum in Spain.
Former President Nicanor Duarte Frutos states that Vice President Pedro Alliana and Minister Juan Carlos Baruja will be the ticket for the Honor Colorado movement in the 2028 elections, as the movement celebrates the growth of its electoral potential following the municipal elections.
The Association of Platform Motorcyclists of Paraguay is demanding to participate in the discussion of a bill to regulate the sector, arguing that the proposal was drafted without consulting workers.
The Paraguayan Senate is considering an open skies agreement with Argentina that, by replacing a 1964 treaty, aims to reduce flight costs and create new routes by granting greater freedom to airlines.
Former Itaipú director Gladys Benegas points out that regulatory failures, such as the overlapping functions of the state utility ANDE and a lack of tariff predictability, are hindering private investment in Paraguay's energy sector.
Paraguay recorded deflation of 0.3% in June, leading price stability in the region, while its energy exports fell 12.3% in the first half of the year due to increased domestic consumption.
Senator Lilian Samaniego defended the continued tenure of the IPS Board of Directors, while an internal audit contradicted the allegation of financial damage to Banco Atlas in the trust fund case.
Strong winds in Paraguay have caused widespread power outages, multi-million-dollar agricultural losses in Caaguazú, and wildfires that have burned hundreds of hectares in Misiones, as authorities work to restore normalcy.
Candidate Mauricio Maluff denounces that the Municipality of Asunción collected only G. 2.5 billion in taxes from concerts in 2023, despite his calculations indicating that the amount owed was approximately G. 7.5 billion.
Paraguay produced over 65,000 tons of watermelon in 2023, generating USD 12 million, and projects exceeding 80,000 tons in 2024, with technical support from the government for both the domestic market and exports.
ANDE, Paraguay's state electricity utility, seized nine cryptocurrency mining machines from an illegal power connection in Ciudad del Este during an operation investigating the irregular use of electricity.
The Paraguay-Brazil Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 25th anniversary in Asunción, with authorities highlighting that bilateral trade has quadrupled since the entity's founding, rising from US$2 billion to approximately US$8 billion.
The Areguá Strawberry Expo, which has been underway since July 5th with over 80 producers, will have its official inauguration this Friday with a ceremonial act and an artistic festival, after being declared of National Interest by Paraguay's Congress.
Paraguayan farmers warn that the mandatory increase of biodiesel in common diesel, announced by the government, threatens to cause machinery damage, significant additional costs, and potential billion-dollar losses for the harvest.
Colorado Senator Carlos Liseras admitted to serious and long-standing failures at the IPS, attributing them to past administrations, but avoided commenting on the allegations of favoritism towards Banco Ueno, of which President Santiago Peña was a partner.
The former mayor of Tomás Romero Pereira reported a G. 1.1 billion asset loss to the Comptroller General's Office, while the Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating a G. 9 billion loss to the municipality and the Chamber of Deputies has kept requests to intervene in the city hall stalled for three years.
An investigation into fake university degrees in Paraguay, which is already looking into suspicions involving more than 300 local public officials, including high-ranking positions, has extended to Brazil with the scrutiny of hundreds of degrees issued by an unauthorized institution.
The Paraguayan Senate approved a declaration demanding that the Minister of the Interior, Enrique Riera, provide a transparent explanation for the death of a 22-year-old man during a police operation in Alberdi, investigating a possible case of excessive use of force.
A specialist argues that fire protection should be integrated from the architectural design phase and maintained throughout a building's lifespan, also warning of the need to update municipal regulations.
Joshua Duerksen won the Formula 2 sprint race at Spa-Francorchamps, moving up to 10th place in the championship.
President Santiago Peña publicly expressed his support for Vice President Pedro Alliana for the 2028 elections during an inspection of the expansion works at the Yacyretá hydroelectric plant. Meanwhile, the president of the PLRA, Alcides Riveros, announced that the party will cut off financial transfers to allies from a third political force in the municipal elections, allocating resources only to liberal candidates.
IPS began holding Saturday ultrasound marathons to reduce the waiting list and bring forward to this year appointments that were only scheduled for December, January, and February.
President Santiago Peña removed Carlos Miguel Torres Romero from the embassy in Lebanon through a decree that also prompted other movements within the foreign service, while the official is under investigation for alleged irregularities, including rank usurpation and misconduct.
Economic agents consulted by the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) project a decline in the dollar, stable inflation at 3.5%, and GDP growth of 4.2% for 2026.
Former senator Hernán Rivas will stand trial next Tuesday for falsifying a university degree, after being represented by a public defender appointed at the last minute when all his previous lawyers resigned.
The Port of Asunción, inactive since 2012, will resume operations in November following a private revitalization that includes repairs to the dock and the conversion of warehouses into service, dining, and event centers.
Moody's has maintained Paraguay's investment grade with a stable outlook, while construction on the Aña Cuá energy project at the Yacyretá dam has reached 76% completion.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña has advanced his anti-corruption plan with support from the United Arab Emirates, focusing on digitalization and transparency to optimize public spending.
Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano and U.S. Special Envoy Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun reinforced bilateral cooperation against antisemitism during a meeting in Washington, agreeing to strengthen actions and explore joint academic initiatives.
Paraguay has made its first export of pine resin to Brazil, a milestone for the forestry sector, while strong winds have caused widespread damage, including power outages, roof collapses, and the spread of over 70 fires across the country.
Photos reveal VIP cells in Paraguayan prisons, exposing illegal privileges for high-profile inmates, despite the government's promises to reform the penitentiary system.
The Asunción Municipal Board approved the 2025 budget, which covers both the previous and current administrations, amid criticism from the opposition, which labeled the decision a "whitewashing" of a government targeted by corruption allegations.
The Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) arrested a former soccer player for cocaine trafficking in Cordillera and destroyed 29 tons of marijuana in separate operations in Cerro Corá and on the shores of the Itaipu Lake.
A Paraguayan court unanimously acquitted the former head of the Secretariat for Money Laundering Prevention (Seprelad), Óscar Boidanich, who was accused of deliberately delaying a report on currency trader Darío Messer. The court ruled that the Public Prosecutor's Office failed to prove that his actions obstructed the criminal prosecution.
The official campaign period for Paraguay's 2026 municipal elections began on Thursday, July 16, while the electoral authority is also maintaining the final deadline for the submission of political financing reports.
President Santiago Peña awarded Paraguay's highest military decoration to former president Juan Carlos Wasmosy and former commanders Eduardo González Petit and Silvio Rafael Noguera Ramírez during the ceremony for the 33rd anniversary of the Armed Forces.
The mayor of Asunción intervened in the Directorate of Public Works and removed its director following allegations that public funds were being used for work on private properties, a case that sparked protests from municipal workers and a criminal complaint for an alleged "asphalt mafia."
The deficit of Paraguay's Public Sector Pension Fund (Caja Fiscal) reached US$216 million in the first half of 2026, financed by the National Treasury, with the military, police, and teaching sectors being the primary contributors, while a reform approved by President Santiago Peña is considered a stopgap solution.
The Bioceanic Corridor was presented as an opportunity to consolidate new tourist circuits and strengthen regional connectivity between Paraguay and Bolivia, aiming to position the Gran Chaco as an international destination for nature, culture, and history.
The MADES environment ministry has shut down the Laguna Blanca tourist complex in San Pedro due to unauthorized construction in the protected area and improper waste disposal.
Foreign residents in Paraguay are entitled to an old-age pension starting at age 65, provided they can prove at least 30 years of permanent residency in the country and meet requirements such as not receiving other salaries and not owning more than 30 head of cattle.
The physical connection of the international bridge over the Paraguay River, which links Carmelo Peralta in Paraguay to Porto Murtinho in Brazil and is a fundamental part of the Bioceanic Corridor, has been completed, with an official ceremony planned and complementary works to continue until 2027.
Paraguayan police seized gun parts shipped from Miami and declared as electronics at the Luque airport, with suspicion that the final destination was Brazil for criminal factions.
The 2022 Census reveals that Asunción is the city losing the most inhabitants in Paraguay, with an intense migratory flow to the Central department, redrawing
Paraguay has raised $9 billion in sovereign bonds since 2013, with funds allocated to public bodies and infrastructure projects, as it begins a 77-day municipal election campaign marked by criticism over the lack of regulation for digital advertising.
Three generations of a Paraguayan family, members of a dance academy that had won an international competition in Gramado, were killed and dozens injured when the bus bringing them back to Paraguay overturned in Santa Catarina, prompting the Paraguayan government to declare a period of mourning and mobilize assistance.
The Senate approved a request for information from the Ministry of Social Development to obtain the list of contracted companies and family farming producers that supply the Hambre Cero program in the Central Department, aiming for greater transparency.
Data from the Central Bank of Paraguay shows that digital payments are advancing while ATM withdrawals fall by 19.5%, reducing the use of cash in the country. This includes increased card usage and a 51% surge in online commerce.
Operation Hawala has arrested 10 people for laundering R$ 100 million for criminal factions and is investigating evidence of a link to Al-Qaeda in the Triple Frontier region.
IPS technicians and lawmakers are debating the issuance of bonds and the assignment of debt to resolve the financial crisis at the institution, which is facing a shortage of medicines and billion-dollar debts with pharmaceutical companies, while associations suggest using sovereign bonds to settle the government's debts.
Paraguay has increased the mandatory biodiesel blend in common diesel to between 8% and 10% starting this Sunday, despite protests from the fuel sector, which warns of potential price increases and engine damage.
The Timore podcast analyzed the discrepancy between the positive international view of Paraguay's economy and the social reality faced by its population in the first half of 2026.
Paraguay's maquila export regime grew by 25% in the first half of 2026, reaching $717 million, with the Mercosur trade bloc as its main destination and a 6% increase in jobs.
The Paraguayan Journalists' Union has called for the resignation of the Minister of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (Mitic), Gustavo Villate, following investigations that revealed an alleged network financed with public funds to attack journalists and political opponents, in violation of freedom of expression commitments.
A technical report from the School of Engineering of the National University of Asunción (FIUNA) has identified low-resistance concrete and expansions without adequate reinforcements as the causes of the building collapse in Encarnación, which killed Monserrat Brítez and her grandmother in April 2025.
The hotel network in Itapúa, Paraguay, already has 70% of its 6,000-bed capacity reserved for the 2026 World Rally Championship, which takes place in August and is expected to attract 400,000 spectators.
Two former employees of Paraguay's tax and customs authority, DNIT, have been ordered to stand trial for extortion and corruption after being accused of demanding cash payments to release a shipment at the Luque airport.
Spanish Ambassador Javier Parrondo highlighted the 150,000 Paraguayans residing in Spain and projected that the trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur will significantly boost bilateral economic relations.
Paraguay has signed open skies agreements with countries in the region to eliminate operational restrictions and expand air connectivity, aiming to boost tourism, trade, and consolidate the country's position as a logistics hub.
The IPS, Paraguay's social security institute, is facing a multifaceted crisis involving allegations of fund diversion to Ueno Bank, a chronic shortage of medicines, internal turmoil, and pressure from Congress, which is debating an emergency bill.
A former IPS advisor accuses president Isaías Fretes of suffering political interference and failing to report irregularities, while the administration announces its first criminal complaint and attributes the crisis to an inherited administrative disorganization.
Law 6534/2020 in Paraguay requires credit bureaus to include positive payment histories, limits the registration of defaults to five years, and prohibits the use of this data for employment purposes or to deny medical care. Meanwhile, the National Administration of Electricity (ANDE), Paraguay's state power utility, will begin reporting customers with overdue accounts.
The Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) of Paraguay admits it is extremely difficult to identify all teachers with fake degrees after discovering that 550 user codes were used to carry out 130,000 irregular actions in the academic document registration system, with a formal complaint focusing on 330 suspicious titles.
The Paraguayan Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating allegations of alleged Chinese cyber espionage in state systems, filed following a joint alert with the United States, while China denies the accusations.
The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) has guaranteed the preservation of trees in the revitalization project of Plaza Uruguaya in Asunción following protests from residents, stating that removal will only occur if a tree poses an imminent danger.
Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile have signed the ALAS agreement to liberalize the regional airspace, aiming for more flights, greater connectivity, and reduced costs.
A farmer threatened to kill trespassers after around 50 ignored complaints about the destruction of his crops, in a long-standing conflict in the rural area that also involves accusations of environmental damage and mutual aggression between the parties.
Paraguayan authorities are assessing the impact of the provisional application of the EU-Mercosur agreement, which creates a free trade zone after more than 25 years of negotiations, as they await the final ratification of the political component by the European Parliament.
The Taiwanese company Master Bus will invest USD 30 million to manufacture electric buses in Paraguay, a project expected to generate thousands of jobs and has the support of the Paraguayan government.
The Paraguayan pharmaceutical sector is challenging a bill that would require pharmacies to provide free basic health services, arguing that it imposes excessive operational costs and transfers a constitutional responsibility of the State to the private sector.
The Spanish multinational CIRSA, controlled by the Blackstone fund, has acquired a controlling stake in Paraguay's leading casino operator, Slots del Sol, entering a local market that is seen as attractive due to its economic stability and regulatory framework.
The prosecutor ordered the preventive detention of eight tactical police officers for the shooting death of a 22-year-old young man who disobeyed a stop order in Alberdi, following a protest for justice held by family members and local residents.
The Japanese dredge DRM-5 "Paraguay", donated by the government of Japan, has arrived in Paraguay to ensure the navigability of the waterway, with its official christening ceremony scheduled for the visit of Crown Prince Akishino on August 19.
The Vázquez Group, whose main bank received billions in public deposits from the social security institute IPS, expanded rapidly during the Peña administration, while the bank defends the legality of the operations.
The Paraguayan government is accelerating plans to diversify its energy matrix with natural gas, solar, and wind projects to prevent the depletion of its electricity surplus by 2030.
Paraguay acknowledges a shortage of cybersecurity technicians after neutralizing, with U.S. support, a cyberattack attributed to China, a problem exacerbated by the private sector's salary competition.
The Paraguayan city of Atyrá, in the Cordillera department, has historical and religious attractions, including the Church of San Francisco de Asís, and a reputation for cleanliness described by ABC Color.
The Asunción Stock Exchange (BVA) projects a new historic record for operations in 2026, with the expectation that the National Treasury will resume issuing public bonds through the exchange starting in July. This follows a two-year period during which issuances were made exclusively by the Central Bank.
Former Argentine senator Edgardo Darío Kueider and his secretary, Iara Guinsel, were convicted of attempted smuggling in Paraguay. Their sentences of two years and one year and ten months, respectively, were suspended.
A Paraguayan Navy petty officer crashed through a security barrier and died by suicide with a gunshot in front of the Government Palace in Asunción after being intercepted by police and military personnel.
A seven-year ethnographic study has identified alleged networks for the sale of courses, certificates, and promotions within the National Police of Paraguay, where training and promotion processes would be transformed into economic transactions.
May 2026 data show unrecoverable loans at 3.16% of BNF’s portfolio and 2.74% of Ueno Bank’s. Six institutions have more than 90% of their loans in Category 1.
Experts project that Paraguay's chronic fiscal crisis, characterized by low revenue and growing debt, will force a drastic reduction in public investment in the 2027 budget.
The Paraguayan Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) has identified 13 public servants involved in irregularities within the diploma system, with 130,000 suspicious actions and 283 employees under investigation, while the Senate expands its inquiry to include 20 educational institutions, including the Universidad Sudamericana.
Paraguay and Meta officially launch the MAFE Alert system, which uses Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger to notify users within a 160-kilometer radius and expedite the search for missing children and adolescents.
The Minister of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (Mitic) provided false information to Congress by denying the execution of funds for digital advertising, concealing secret agreements worth up to US$ 8 million annually that were outsourced through the Itaipu Technological Park Foundation (PTI-PY).
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña reaffirmed the strong alliance with Taiwan while celebrating 69 years of diplomatic relations, marked by cooperation in technology, health, and trade, despite diplomatic pressure from China.
A man was arrested in Canindeyú on suspicion of providing logistical support to the “Macho” drug-trafficking group and belonging to the self-styled Paraguayan People’s Army’s (EPP) Terrorism Support Network (RAT).
The Paraguayan-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organizing two events to explore business opportunities in Paraguay, focusing on water treatment and the forestry and pulp industries.
A teacher reported to the Senate Special Commission a scheme that multiplied purchase debts through compulsory salary deductions, involving companies such as Nueva Visión S.A., which issued multiple authorizations for the same product, inflating amounts originally paid by teachers and public employees.
Itaipu Binacional has confirmed that modernization work has reduced energy transmission to Brazil to zero, with a sector analyst criticizing the lack of a sovereign energy policy in Paraguay and warning that the increase in local consumption is being driven by cryptocurrency mining farms.
The real estate boom in Asunción, driven by the $200,000 investment-for-residency program, attracted 18,071 applications from foreigners in the first quarter of 2026, an 85% increase compared to the previous year.
Paraguay will develop its first AI-powered climate and energy data platform, selected by an international fund, to predict environmental risks and map renewable energy potential, starting with a pilot region.
Former police officer Richar Cáceres Ojeda, who had been released by the Ñeembucú court system, was killed in a shootout with police in Alberdi after resuming a series of robberies.
The prosecutor is investigating a scheme of fake diplomas within Paraguay's Ministry of Education, with over 300 documents identified, suspected sabotage of the system, and 17 higher education institutions under review by the National Council of Higher Education.
According to PMT director Leonardo Roa, customs inspections contributed to traffic congestion in Ciudad del Este, where queues stretched for several kilometers and waits to cross the border reached up to three hours. He also cited limitations in the road infrastructure.
Businessman Christian Chena and lawyer Alejandra Peralta de Merlo accuse Yecika Magle Bracho Atacho, the operator of the pro-government Facebook page "Despierta Paraguay," of defamation in a paid advertising campaign and are seeking 800 million guaraníes in damages. Meanwhile, critical media outlets are facing cyberattacks linked to investigations targeting the network.
Paraguay’s economic activity grew by a cumulative 5.6% in the first five months of 2026, according to preliminary IMAEP data.
Congress President Bachi Núñez defended a proposal to nominate two Colorado Party members to the Comptroller General’s Office, citing cases involving former comptrollers linked to the opposition. The report criticized Núñez’s defense, citing his vote for Hernán David Rivas to lead the JEM and the claim that the governing majority could proceed without the opposition.
Judge Carlos Mendoza Peña began enforcement of the confiscation of assets belonging to former Indert president Justo Pastor Cárdenas Nunes, who was sentenced to 7 years in prison for illicit enrichment and money laundering. The order provides for measures affecting a number of assets and their registration in Senabico’s name, subject to required notifications.
Opposition Senator Rafael Filizzola criticized the concentration of IPS funds at Ueno Bank and cited other cases that, he said, create an impression of impunity, including proceedings involving Óscar Boidanich, Itaipú and President Santiago Peña’s assets.
The ninth edition of the Asu Coffee Fest will take place on July 25 and 26 at the Centro de Convenciones Universitaria (the former Hotel Casino Itá Enramada) in Asunción, offering over one hundred activities such as tastings, workshops, and competitions to celebrate coffee culture.
Starting in 2026, businesses in Asunción will be required to obtain a commercial license from the Municipal Government, presenting documents such as a Taxpayer Identification Number (RUC), proof of income, a fire prevention plan, and property documentation, with in-person processing and a variable cost based on the company's assets.
The National Single Registry (RUN) has begun requiring georeferenced plans in property titles to combat real estate fraud and strengthen legal security, in accordance with Law 7424/25 regulated by President Santiago Peña.
Paraguay’s National Directorate of Migration reported 1,338 exit-denial cases and 867 foreign nationals denied entry in the first half of 2026, along with cases involving document fraud and internationally wanted individuals.
The number of people with credit in Paraguay has doubled to 2.3 million over three years, according to the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP), which attributes the growth to greater financial inclusion and dismisses immediate risks, despite a prior warning from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Supreme Court rejected former governor Hugo Javier González’s appeal, making his 10-year sentence in the pandemic-fund case final, while his defense announces a new motion to annul the verdict.
The Paraguayan economy grew by 5.6% in the first five months of 2026, with services, commerce and agriculture driving the increase. The secondary and services sectors also posted gains, with mixed results across their subsectors.
ANDE, Paraguay's state electricity utility, received bids of up to US$110 million in tenders for two substations, processes marked by technical challenges among the competing consortia.
Paraguay’s state electricity utility will send Equifax the details of 10,000 customers with six or more overdue bills or debts of at least G. 1,500,000; its Ñande Ahorro campaign runs through July 31.
After winning the 2026 Apertura and reaching the Copa Sudamericana round of 16, Olimpia transferred players including Hugo Lorenzo Quintana, Facundo Insfrán, and Adrián Alcaraz.
The French magazine Charlie Hebdo has published a second cartoon targeting Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla, expanding its satirical response to her racist comments about player Kylian Mbappé during the 2026 World Cup.
Expo Paraguay 2026 begins this Saturday in Mariano Roque Alonso, featuring business activities, a job fair, and concerts and entertainment through July 26.
The TikTok video shows a Spanish visitor reacting to yacarés at Laguna de Itá.
Paraguayan minors traveling abroad without both parents need free judicial authorization. The procedure can be completed in person, through a public instrument, or by appearing before the competent justice of the peace by telematic means, and the document must be legalized.
Paraguay’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested a two-year, six-month prison sentence for former Seprelad head Óscar Boidanich. Prosecutors allege he intentionally delayed a report on Brazilian businessman Darío Messer, hindering criminal proceedings and the seizure of assets they say were illegally obtained.
The Paraguayan capital market recorded a slight 0.8% drop in volume for the first half of 2026, but showed a recovery in June with a 9.7% increase driven by the secondary market.
A congressman has requested an urgent investigation into the cattle deaths in Ñeembucú, following reports of cattle deaths in the region, in order to prevent further losses for small-scale farmers.
Nineteen Paraguayans, including two minors, were rescued from labor exploitation under conditions similar to slavery on a cassava farm in Paraná. They faced exhausting workdays, poor living conditions, and restrictions on their freedom.
Service to Fuerte Olimpo and Bahía Negra resumed after more than 40 days of disruption caused by flooded road sections. Fares rose by an average of 10%; Carmelo Peralta has an all-weather road.
The National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) has received proposals from Tigo and Personal for Paraguay's second 5G license auction, which offers two frequency blocks. The type of award will be determined after the companies' proposals are analyzed.
Amid the celebrations for Paraguay's victory over Germany in the World Cup, a Brazilian woman thanked the country for being a refuge and an opportunity for a fresh start for thousands of her compatriots.
The governments of Paraguay and the United States issued a joint statement denouncing cyber espionage operations against Paraguayan state networks, which they attribute to actors linked to the Chinese government.
Paraguay has made its first shipment of pork to the Philippines, a milestone for a sector that has already exported over 8.7 million kilograms in 2026 and is seeking to consolidate its international markets.
Liberal candidate Luis Fretes compared a potential victory by ANR candidate Camilo Pérez in the Asunción mayoral race to the historic sacking of the city during the War of the Triple Alliance.
Paraguay’s Senate is investigating the blocking of a video of its session on YouTube. Copyright infringement involving FIFA footage is the leading hypothesis, but the reason has not been confirmed; the content remains available on the Senate’s institutional website and Facebook page.
Former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes has had his visa to the United States reinstated following the complete lifting of financial sanctions against him, allowing him to plan a trip to attend the final stages of the 2026 World Cup.
The sister-in-law of the governor of San Pedro, sentenced to 11 years for drug trafficking in Operation Austral, served most of her sentence under house arrest after a court decision overturned her pre-trial detention.
A specialist warns that allergies, which already affect 30% of Paraguay's population, are becoming a global epidemic projected to impact half the world's population by 2050, driven by factors like pollution and urbanization, while public health systems lack the resources for adequate treatment.
The city of Paraguarí, Paraguay, is promoting domestic tourism for the winter holidays with historical museums, the Cerro Hũ Ecological Park, adventure activities, and cultural events.
The Coordinator of Victims of the Promissory Note Mafia says alleged judicial irregularities are affecting workers, rural communities and small business owners in Paraguay, and has called a protest for July 13.
Paraguay’s Conatel approved changes concerning equivalent power flux density and an exception for the use of certain frequencies. The regulator says the changes could increase user speeds by up to eight times.
The Paraguayan finished-cattle market is maintaining stable prices despite downward pressure in Brazil, with limited supply and solid international demand. The source report says Paraguay again set a record for average beef export value in June, which it says supported prices for export cattle.
Three drones were spotted flying over Minga Guazú prison, prompting police to carry out preventive patrols in the area.
The majority bloc in the Asunción Municipal Board approved a G. 4.5 billion increase for contracts with the Directorate of Vialidad (Road Maintenance), ignoring allegations of materials being diverted to private projects and criticism of overpricing.
Lawmakers are urging the executive branch, the Central Bank and the BNF to take steps to ensure the security and continuity of automatic-debit services for businesses that comply with regulations.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office asked President Santiago Peña whether he knew of and consented to an out-of-court agreement involving IPS. According to the report, the former legal director said in IPS board minutes that he had acted with the president’s direct approval; he is under investigation on suspicion of breach of trust and unlawful enrichment.
An explainer describes the monthly VAT calculation and expenses that, according to the article, may qualify for tax credits for certain independent service providers.
Delia Patricia Samudio, former head of Petropar, and her husband, José Costa Perdomo, were sent to prison to serve the sentences imposed in the Tonic Water case.
After his standout performance at the World Cup, Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill was cheered during a visit to a school in Asunción and has attracted interest from European clubs, with negotiations underway.
Paraguay has launched the Validador PY platform to verify digital documents across the Mercosur trade bloc, along with a new version of its service provider registry, Repse 2.0, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and combat informality.
Payroll-deductible loans in Paraguay recorded a 50.6% increase through May 2026, with the balance reaching G. 1.62 trillion in popular credit lines, while the default rate on these operations rose to 7.4%, alerting authorities to the risks of accelerated growth.
ANDE, Paraguay's state electricity utility, has begun a socioeconomic census to determine financial compensation for 165 landowners affected by the easement for the new Valenzuela-Guarambaré transmission line, a 70-km project financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that will cross five municipalities.
A debate in Paraguay's Senate about comments made by Senator Celeste Amarilla and player Kylian Mbappé, which revealed political divisions, had its YouTube broadcast blocked due to a copyright claim from FIFA.
The mayor of Valenzuela, Mirtha Fernández, is on trial for embezzling G. 1.2 billion in a scheme involving phantom public works, which implicated municipal officials and construction companies.
Paraguay faces an imminent risk of an energy crisis starting in 2026, with a red alert projected for 2030, if urgent investments in new generation sources are not made.
Data from Paraguay's Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MTESS) show that the majority of informal workers (57%) and micro-enterprises (54.2%) earn below the minimum wage, a scenario that is reversed in formal employment, where 71% of salaried workers receive above-minimum compensation.
Camilo Pérez, candidate for mayor of Asunción, presented nine strategic projects and advocated for a change in the city's management during a meeting with the Paraguayan-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
A bus from Line 30 got stuck in a crater in downtown Asunción due to a detour caused by repaving works under the "Plan ASU 400 cuadras" project, which is also underway on General Díaz Street and has been causing traffic congestion in the area.
Club Guaraní is demanding that the judiciary enforce an eviction order against the company YEM S.A., owned by congressman Yamil Esgaib, which occupies its land without paying rent despite court rulings in the club's favor.
Two plainclothes police officers fled with a stolen car from Brazil that had been located inside the courtyard of the 8th Police Precinct in San Estanislao, Paraguay, after the rental company's lawyer identified the vehicle.
Paraguay has launched a new electronic card to ensure free public transport for people with disabilities, compatible with the electronic ticketing systems of buses in the Asunción Metropolitan Area.
The Paraguayan forestry sector is increasing investments and promoting Expo Madera 2026 to consolidate its growth, with the participation of Swedish companies and a focus on industrialization and global markets.
President Santiago Peña has fully vetoed a bill that would have exempted firefighting vehicles from taxes, citing regulatory redundancy, technical flaws, and budgetary impacts.
Former prosecutor Ana Girala was sentenced to seven years in prison for leading a bribery and extortion scheme at the San Lorenzo Prosecutor's Unit, along with other complicit officials and lawyers.
The Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies rejected a bill that would have eliminated bonuses for high-ranking officials until 2026 in order to allocate the funds to public health, following a debate that highlighted the contrast between these benefits and the minimum wage.
Paraguay has initiated talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to establish the foundations for a nuclear energy program, aiming to diversify its energy matrix, which is currently dominated by hydropower.
The National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) has authorized the expansion of Starlink's services in Paraguay to increase the availability of high-speed internet, especially in rural areas, as part of a strategy to reduce connectivity gaps and boost the country's digital transformation.
ANDE, Paraguay's state electricity utility, has suspended the bidding process for its first self-owned 15 MW solar plant in the Chaco region following a formal protest by the company Récord Electric SAECA against the tender's terms.
The Paraguayan Consulate in New York was preemptively closed following the evacuation of the area due to the risk of collapse of a neighboring building under construction.
The final report on the building collapse in Encarnación points to construction flaws, such as discrepancies in the plans and the lack of a signature from a responsible engineer, and has been forwarded to the Public Prosecutor's Office, which has named four people as defendants in the case.
The Paraguayan government has reallocated more than US$284 million in its 2026 budget, with increases primarily directed toward health, public works, educational institutions, and other state bodies.
The sister-in-law of San Pedro Governor Freddy D'Ecclesiis turned herself in to police to serve an 11-year prison sentence for drug trafficking and criminal association, a final conviction resulting from the 2018 Operativo Austral investigation.
A Paraguayan court has upheld a ruling ordering the State to pay a multi-million dollar compensation to the parents of a young soccer player who died in an accident caused by a pothole on the Acceso Sur highway, maintaining the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) for the poor maintenance of the road.
A gang in Ciudad del Este has been kidnapping and robbing victims, predominantly Brazilian tourists, after luring them with fake profiles on the Grindr app, in a series of cases with the same modus operandi.
The French Football Federation (FFF) filed a racism complaint against Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla for her comments about Kylian Mbappé, sparking a diplomatic crisis that led the Paraguayan president to apologize to France and prompted widespread political condemnation of the attacks within the country.
Two council members and the former municipal accountant confirmed in a hearing that the mayor of Jesús de Tavarangüe, Víctor Garay, diverted approximately G 2.44 billion to a "parallel commission." The funds, which came from laws for cultural heritage, were used for substandard public works without a bidding process, according to the Public Prosecutor's Office's accusation of breach of trust.
The Ministry of Labor intervened at the company LPG Emprendimientos S.A. to investigate the explosion of a barge on the Paraguay River that killed five workers last Saturday.
The public endorsement of former President Mario Abdo Benítez for the Colorado Party candidate Camilo Pérez in Asunción, formalizing the party alliance, has generated both internal celebration and strong criticism from party factions, such as from Senator Yamil Esgaib, who called him a "traitor."
A police operation to recover a stolen cell phone in the Chacarita neighborhood of Asunción resulted in the arrest of two men and the seizure of drugs and 140 rounds of military-grade ammunition.
A cold air mass will bring frost and temperatures as low as 2°C to Paraguay starting Tuesday, according to an alert from the country's Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH).
The Paraguayan Public Prosecutor's Office has requested a sentence of two years and two months in prison for former Argentine senator Edgardo Kueider and his secretary for attempted currency smuggling, after they were detained in December 2024 with over 200,000 undeclared US dollars, while the defense requested acquittal and the trial continues pending the verdict.
The Paraguayan financial system is facing a security crisis marked by digital attacks that have drained accounts and created fraudulent loans, in addition to violent bank robberies, including explosions in Santa Rita, Alto Paraná, with the possible involvement of security agents.
The Superior Court of Electoral Justice of Paraguay (TSJE) has opened the period for citizens and political parties to challenge candidacies for the municipal elections, with the cases to be reviewed by the electoral courts between July 13 and 15.
Economist Wildo González warns that a sharp depreciation of the guaraní would increase the cost of Paraguay's public debt, which is mostly denominated in US dollars, and could fuel inflation. However, a gradual adjustment could benefit exports and tax revenue without undermining stability.
The Petropar alcohol plant in Troche has recorded losses of $5 million and is transferring part of its production to private mills due to its inability to process all the raw material, sparking criticism over transparency and costs.
A Paraguayan court has overturned, by a divided vote, the compensation that had been granted by the state to two brothers tortured during the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner.
Paraguayan agribusiness is adopting technologies such as precision agriculture, drones, and artificial intelligence to increase efficiency and productivity, while facing challenges like high costs and infrastructure limitations.
The Paraguayan Senate has begun public hearings to evaluate 49 candidates for the positions of Comptroller General and Deputy Comptroller General. The process includes the current officeholder, Camilo Benítez, whose re-election is being questioned, and is expected to result in shortlists of three candidates each for the final selection by the Chamber of Deputies.
The Paraguayan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) will hold six family farming fairs from July 6 to 10 in the cities of Asunción, San Lorenzo, Itauguá, and Caacupé, with more than 135 producer families offering a variety of products.
Paraguay recorded deflation of 0.3% in June, reducing its annual inflation rate to 2.1%, the second lowest in the region, behind only Ecuador.
A 32-year study in Paraguay has demonstrated that no-till farming combined with crop rotation significantly increases soil biological activity and nutrients.
Paraguay faces a fiscal deficit above the legal target of 1.5% of GDP, pressured by pending debts and reduced revenues, while the IMF insists on strict compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Law.
President Santiago Peña announced the restoration of eight historical sites, including temples and railway stations, through the Tekorenda program, and stated that Paraguay has established itself as a host for international events during the presentation of his management report.
Senabico will hold an auction of assets seized from drug trafficking next Thursday
Economist Jorge Garicoche states that Paraguay, which attracts low-scale foreign investments mainly in plastics and textiles, needs more stable rules in infrastructure and energy to capture larger and impactful projects, remaining a strategic destination for Brazilian entrepreneurs.
Paraguay has inaugurated its first experimental green hydrogen unit at the Itaipu Technological Park, which already operates the full production cycle using clean energy from the plant to fuel vehicles and train specialists.
A judge in Curuguaty, previously recused from the case, ordered a repossession that benefits a mayoral candidate and affects a chia plantation and an indigenous community established decades ago.
Paraguay's Unified National Registry (RUN) has accumulated nearly 8,000 new cases in two weeks, raising the total backlog to over 45,000, and notaries report that processing times for documents, especially real estate certificates, have lengthened across the country.
The new management of Paraguay's social security institute has found 67 inherited criminal cases, including high-impact investigations and delays of up to a decade, and plans to speed up investigations to recover funds.
The World Bank will finance the second section of the Immigrants' Route, paving 35 km to connect Pindoyú and San Pedro, improving production transport and reducing distances for trucks in Itapúa.
The Paraguay River reaches a historically low level at the port of Asunción, measuring 2.53 meters, due to a water deficit accumulated since 2019, despite the onset of the El Niño phenomenon.
Paraguay invested over $170 million in circular economy initiatives last year, generating more than 7,000 direct jobs and enabling the recycling of over 215,000 tons of materials annually.
Opposition senator Antonio Rubén Velázquez announced a reform of Paraguay's 1988 drug law to combat organized crime, including updated penalties, regulation of medicinal cannabis, implementation of plea bargaining, and addressing the infiltration of drug traffickers into Paraguayan politics.
Paraguay's public debt reached US$21.8 billion in May, a 6.5% increase in absolute value over five months, but the debt-to-GDP ratio fell to 36.2% due to the appreciation of the guarani and growth in GDP projections.
The import of electric and hybrid vehicles in Paraguay grew by 65.7% in 2025, but the fleet is still one of the smallest in the region, with only 4,359 units in circulation as of March 2026, according to data from CADAM and OLACDE.
Following the robbery of an armored car in Yataity del Norte, the Public Prosecutor's Office and DNIT seized smartphones and medications lacking proper documentation that were being transported, investigating crimes such as smuggling and tax evasion.
Encarnación merchants hold a monthly discount fair to boost sales during the low season, caused by the end of the high season and the economic crisis in Argentina.
The union of Ministry of Education and Sciences employees requested suspension of the move to the new headquarters in Puerto de Asunción due to a series of structural problems, including lack of water, leaks, cockroach infestation, and poor access conditions.
The Paraguayan national team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after losing 1-0 to France, with a penalty goal converted by Mbappé, but leaves the tournament proud of its solid defensive performance and return after 16 years of absence.
An explosion on a barge in the Paraguay River opposite Asuncion's Costanera Sur killed at least five people on Saturday, according to Paraguay's Naval Prefecture.
Senator Líder Amarilla accuses the ruling majority of imposing a "tyranny of the majority" by monopolizing oversight bodies such as the Comptroller General's Office, the Jury for the Impeachment of Magistrates (JEM), and the Council of the Judiciary.
German journalist Jonas Friedrich, who had called the Paraguayan national team "third-rate" before being eliminated by them, published a message of support for La Albirroja ahead of their Round of 16 match against France in the 2026 World Cup.
The seizure of over four tons of cocaine of Paraguayan origin at the port of Barcelona in July 2024 contradicts President Santiago Peña's claims that the country is no longer a drug corridor and that no cocaine leaving Paraguay has been seized in European ports since the start of his administration.
Soledad Núñez, a candidate for mayor of Asunción, has proposed transforming the capital into a "sponge city" to reuse rainwater. The idea is part of a government plan that also includes improving public services, fighting corruption, and promoting citizen participation.
British company Atome is seeking an agreement with Paraguay's state electricity utility ANDE to resolve the impasse over the energy contract and unlock its fertilizer plant in Villeta, a project financed and supported by international institutions that promises to generate thousands of jobs.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña reaffirmed his country's alignment with the United States and Taiwan and declared that he will not yield to pressure from China to establish a formal negotiation channel with Mercosur, linking the Chinese pressure to the recent 5G network tender.
The scandal involving fake university degrees in Paraguay, with over 250 confirmed frauds and suspicions surrounding 1,500 more, has exposed a structural crisis in higher education that has led to government intervention in universities and triggered investigations by Congress and the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Revenue for Paraguay's tax and customs authority, DNIT, fell by 17% over one year, representing a loss of G 238.8 billion. The decline is attributed to the appreciation of the guaraní against the US dollar, which reduced the local currency value of customs taxes. The majority of regions were affected, with sharp drops at key points such as Silvio Pettirossi Airport (-41%) and Santa Helena (-78%).
Taiwan was the primary destination, purchasing 86% of the pork exported by Paraguay in the first half of the year, which saw an 11% growth in volume and a 15% increase in revenue.
The Quyquyhó Municipal Council held an extraordinary session at the home of its president, who is under house arrest, to consider the mayor's resignation. She is also under the same precautionary measure and is being investigated alongside him for the alleged embezzlement of public funds.
Paraguay's public health system has performed its first highly complex biventricular pacemaker implant at the National Institute of Cardiology, a historic milestone made possible by the hospital's modernization funded by Itaipu Binacional.
Businessman Édgar Darío Velazco González is denouncing unequal criteria within the Paraguayan judiciary regarding the setting of legal fees. He is questioning the amounts paid to two lawyers in a case involving his company, alleging that the calculations did not follow the law.
A Paraguayan court has sentenced a man to 10 years in prison, the most severe penalty ever recorded in the country for digital violence, for harassing his former partner with death threats while he was incarcerated.
Brazil's Federal Revenue Service seized 3,500 vials of medication, mostly for weight loss, valued at R$ 320,000 and hidden in the doors of a car on the BR-277 highway in Paraná.
The Che Róga Porã program has already benefited 6,100 families in Paraguay with housing credits, expanded the income limit to include more workers, and seeks to reduce the deficit of 1.1 million homes, while generating jobs and even serving Paraguayans abroad.
The National Service for Animal Quality and Health (Senacsa) has confirmed an outbreak of bovine rabies in Cerrito, which has resulted in the death of livestock and prompted the activation of an epidemiological blockade with human vaccination, while producers report a shortage of vaccines for the herd in the region.
Consumer credit in Paraguay grew by 42% through May, reaching G. 35.52 billion, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns of the risks of over-indebtedness, especially among lower-income families.
The director of Paraguay's social security institute, the IPS, admitted that Ueno Bank exceeds the legal limit for the concentration of pension funds, which an opposition senator called "ridiculous" while calling for an investigation. Meanwhile, President Santiago Peña denied any violation and criticized the public disclosure of the case.
Paraguay has executed only 34.3% of the $602.3 million in bilateral loans for public works, leaving $395.7 million unused.
IPS President Isaías Fretes discovered hospital equipment valued at $20 million abandoned and unused at the Central Hospital, prompting the opening of audits and the possibility of reports to the Public Ministry for alleged damage to public property.
The Senate Special Commission has forwarded a detailed report to the Federal Police outlining a fraud scheme that, for over a decade, defrauded 46 employees of the Hospital de Clínicas through the now-defunct Amuclin, using renegotiated and forged promissory notes to force lawsuits against the victims.
Mercosur has approved an agreement granting regional legal validity to the digital identities of its member countries, allowing citizens and businesses to carry out cross-border procedures online without paper documentation.
A cold air mass is bringing the coldest nights of the week to Paraguay, with temperatures potentially dropping to 3°C in the south and a risk of frost, according to an alert from the country's Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH).
The high volatility of the Brazilian real against the Paraguayan guarani is reversing the trade flow on the Brazil-Paraguay border, encouraging Paraguayans to shop in Brazil while reducing the purchasing power of Brazilian informal cross-border traders and affecting the value of remittances.
Luciano Hang, owner of the Brazilian retail chain Havan, visited Paraguay to assess investment opportunities and met with President Santiago Peña, highlighting the country's economic potential for the expansion of his store network.
A pothole on the Bioceanic Route in Loma Plata caused a truck to overturn, killed six animals, and reignited questions about the quality of the multi-million dollar project inaugurated in 2022.
The nephew of Barón Escurra, Édgar Rafael Escurra, was arrested in Amambay along with three other suspects in an operation by Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD). The operation seized drugs, weapons, and vehicles, dismantling the alleged criminal structure he led following his uncle's flight from justice.
The Comptroller General's Office has given the father-in-law of former senator Hernán Rivas 20 days to explain the source of funds for a mansion in Lambaré, while Rivas is also facing charges for failing to declare assets and for using an allegedly fake document.
The construction sector in Paraguay is pressuring the government for payment of a $340 million debt and for increased investment in infrastructure, which is currently insufficient to drive the country's economic growth.
Trading in shares of Atome PLC was suspended on the London Stock Exchange due to a delay in publishing its financial statements, caused by ongoing negotiations with Paraguay's state electricity utility, ANDE, over the power contract for its green fertilizer project in Villeta.
A court in Paraguarí sentenced a police officer to 15 years and a civilian to 9 years in prison for their roles in a robbery that resulted in the death of Swiss citizen Reto Schraner. The Public Prosecutor's Office is considering an appeal, deeming the sentences insufficient, while other suspects in the case remain at large.
Paraguayan congressional leaders were recorded on an open microphone discussing opposition lawmaker Raúl Benítez, who accused the conversation of revealing "mafia codes," while the ruling party dismissed it as a mere anecdote.
Paraguay conditions trade agreement negotiations with China on maintaining its diplomatic ties with Taiwan, highlighting progress in Mercosur's talks with Japan and Bolivia's integration into the bloc.
Mercosur and Japan have begun negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement that could create one of the world’s largest free trade zones, with a combined GDP of $7 trillion and a focus on sectors such as agribusiness, energy, and the automotive industry.
Mayors of Paraguayan municipalities resign to run for reelection, following a ruling by the Superior Tribunal of Electoral Justice (TSJE) for the October municipal elections.
A young Paraguayan man died in the Ukraine war after being recruited under false promises of employment, according to his family, who warned of other similar cases in the country.
The National Directorate of Migrations of Paraguay has increased the fees for immigration procedures and fines for foreigners by 5%, in line with the decree that updated the country's legal minimum wage.
The Central Bank of Paraguay has capped card fees at 3% for credit and 2% for debit, including QR Code payments, to reduce costs for merchants and address distortions caused by intermediaries.
Paraguay will tender 300 buses, 40% of them electric, to modernize public transportation in Asunción while keeping fares at 3,400 guaraníes, after already incorporating 90 vehicles, including donations from Taiwan.
Copaco and Vox require $100 million to modernize infrastructure and deploy the 5G network in Paraguay, according to the Telecommunications Workers Union.
Mbappé and Deschamps highlight respect for Paraguay, which eliminated Germany, ahead of the Round of 16 match in the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for July 4 in Philadelphia.
The presidents of Paraguay and Chile, Santiago Peña and José Antonio Kast, signed tax cooperation and human trafficking prevention agreements during an official visit to Asunción, strengthening bilateral ties and highlighting regional integration.
The extramarital son of dictator Alfredo Stroessner, legally recognized in 2022, has filed a lawsuit to claim a seven-hectare plot of land in downtown Ciudad del Este, where shopping malls now operate. He alleges the property was improperly expropriated in 1990 and that the city government diverted it from its original intended use.
Heat waves in Paraguay are becoming more frequent, intense, and prolonged, exposing the country's vulnerability due to a lack of infrastructure and preparation to face these extreme events.
President Santiago Peña presented his third report to Congress with data on growth, poverty, employment, and public works. However, compiled media coverage indicates the assessment is contested by the opposition, economists, and social sectors for its omissions regarding the deficit, debt, healthcare, energy, corruption, and inequality.
The global dollar strengthens with the Fed's monetary adjustment, while the Paraguayan guaraní remains stable, closing at G. 6,081.67 at the end of June, driven by factors such as the record soybean harvest and investments in local assets.
The paving of Route PY12 in Paraguay's Chaco region is progressing with additional costs of $50.8 million, exceeding the initial budget, but it promises to improve connectivity and boost economic activities in the area.
Senator Walter Kobylanski resigned from the National Crusade Party, declaring political independence due to internal disagreements and criticism of the party's lack of renewal.
The influx of Brazilian students into Ciudad del Este is boosting the local economy with over $14 million monthly, but rising rents are displacing Paraguayan residents from traditional neighborhoods, sparking a housing crisis.
Nurses leave Paraguay's social security institute IPS due to low wages and migrate to countries like Germany and Italy, while healthcare professionals protest for better working conditions and salary adjustments.
The Central Bank of Paraguay has gradually reduced credit and debit card fees to 3% and 2%, respectively, aiming to encourage electronic payments, reduce the use of cash, and promote financial inclusion in the country.
Paraguay and Colombia strengthen cooperation against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime in meeting led by SENAD.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that the rapid growth of consumer credit in Paraguay requires monitoring and macroprudential measures, despite considering the country's banking system solid and resilient.
The U.S. Attorney's Office accuses Sebastián Marset of murdering businessman Mauricio Schwartzman in Asunción and involvement in narco-terrorism, money laundering, and leading a criminal organization.
The EU's sanitary restrictions on Brazilian beef create opportunities for Paraguay to expand its exports to Europe, competing with Uruguay and Argentina for market share.
Itaipu Binacional has opened a bidding process for a fleet insurance contract worth Gs. 5.3 billion, maintaining solvency requirements despite criticism over restricted competition and high costs.
Starting August 3, 2026, the Integration Bridge between Paraguay and Brazil will expand traffic to empty trucks and international urban buses, aiming to ease congestion on the Friendship Bridge and improve border logistics.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña criticized the asymmetries in the Mercosur-EU agreement during the summit in Luque, highlighting inequalities in export quotas and logistical costs, while leaders approved negotiations with Japan and paid tribute to earthquake victims in Venezuela.
The new Law 7599/2025, enacted by the Paraguayan government to promote renewable energy, maintains the monopoly of the National Administration of Electricity (ANDE) and discourages private investment, according to an analysis by the state utility's former president, Luis Villordo.
The Paraguayan Social Security Institute (IPS) has only 63 ambulances, many of which are old or under maintenance, to serve more than two million insured individuals across the country.
The President of Paraguay will present his annual management report to the National Congress on July 1, fulfilling a constitutional obligation aimed at transparency and accountability of the Executive branch to the Legislature, with no penalties for non-compliance.
The Atome project, which plans hydrogen production in Paraguay using energy subsidized by the National Electricity Administration (ANDE, Paraguay's state utility), could cost public coffers $1.6 billion over 15 years, reduce jobs, and threaten the country's energy sovereignty, according to criticisms by energy expert Ricardo Canese.
Paraguay is negotiating over $1.6 billion in external credit by 2026 for infrastructure projects, including connectivity, sanitation, and energy, with some funds already under management and others awaiting legislative approval.
The foreign ministers of Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia signed the formal reactivation of the Urupabol integration mechanism in Asunción, which aims to strengthen political coordination and cooperation in areas such as infrastructure and trade.
Senator Rafael Filizzola demanded explanations from IPS president Isaías Fretes over the transfer of billions of guaranis from the social security fund to Ueno bank, which is linked to a former business partner of President Santiago Peña, following the relaxation of rules that reduced financial security requirements for the institution.
The Supreme Court of Paraguay suspended its jurisdictional, registry, and administrative activities nationwide in adherence to the national holiday declared after the historic qualification of the Paraguay national team for the World Cup round of 16, while maintaining scheduled judicial auctions and oral and public criminal trials.
Scientists from IICS-UNA have completed the first genomic mapping of the superbug MRSA in Paraguay, identifying three predominant genetic families and multiple resistance and virulence genes never before recorded locally, particularly in pediatric patients.
The U.S. Justice Department has expanded its charges against Uruguayan national Sebastián Marset, leader of the First Uruguay Cartel, to include narco-terrorism and international cocaine trafficking, following his capture in Bolivia and subsequent extradition. Prosecutors allege that he coordinated with the Gulf Clan to ship 1,700 kilograms of cocaine and relied on financial operators such as Federico Santoro Vassallo—who was sentenced to 15 years in prison—to launder the illicit profits through cryptocurrencies and international bank transfers.
The trial of former Lambaré mayor Armando Ramón Gómez Arévalo and four other ex-municipal employees accused of embezzling approximately G. 9.3 billion through irregular tax invoice cancellations in 2019 began on Monday, following four postponements since December 2025.
The 2026 school winter break in Paraguay will remain scheduled from July 13 to 24, with no changes despite the World Cup, after the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) concluded that the Paraguayan national team's night matches did not interfere with classes, and the tournament's key decisions will coincide exactly with the recess period.
The Paraguayan Senate will decide this Wednesday on the renewal of its representatives on the Jury for the Impeachment of Magistrates and the Magistracy Council, with Senator Derlis Maidana leaving the JEM and Mario Varela seeking to retain his position, while the ruling party attempts to preserve its influence within the justice system.
The Paraguayan government has completed Operativo Umbral 3.5, transferring 618 inmates to permanently separate convicted prisoners from those awaiting trial, as mandated by the National Constitution.
Paraguay beat Germany 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, advanced to the 2026 World Cup round of 16, and had a national holiday declared by President Santiago Peña to celebrate the historic victory.
Brazilian authorities warn that Paraguayan vehicles with outstanding fines may be impounded at the Foz do Iguaçu border crossing during the winter holidays, as debts from foreign license plates total more than 42 million reais.
Paraguay has expanded its issuance of government bonds to finance investments in 2026, having already placed $362.6 million of the $661.6 million authorized under Law No. 7609/2025, with four additional local issuances scheduled between June and October. The proceeds are earmarked exclusively for public investment projects, and foreign investor interest in the local-currency debt is growing.
The IPS Hemodynamic Service is operating at only 40% of its capacity due to a lack of dedicated rooms, while specialists warn of a rise in heart attacks and hypertension among young Paraguayans under 40, driven by factors such as the use of energy drinks, anabolic steroids, vapes, and a sedentary lifestyle.
The Mercosur Summit kicked off in Luque with a focus on the trade agreement with the European Union and negotiations over the Itaipú energy tariff.
Paraguay's net international reserves reached USD 11.46 billion in June 2026, a 16.3% increase compared to January 2025, according to data from the Central Bank of Paraguay.
Paraguay faces the challenge of turning its carbon credit potential into real revenue, with former minister Alfredo Molinas highlighting the gap between projections and concrete gains, despite the country's favorable conditions.
Itaipu opened the spillway gates on Sunday to control the reservoir, which reached 220.30 meters after heavy rains upstream, since increasing power generation was not possible due to low demand from the Brazilian and Paraguayan systems.
Paraguayan driver Joshua Duerksen, of Invicta Racing, finished ninth in the Feature Race of the Formula 2 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring and picked up two championship points after Norwegian driver Martinius Stenshorne, who had originally finished sixth, was handed a 30-second penalty for pitting to change tires under the Virtual Safety Car in violation of FIA regulations.
Paraguay argues that the toll on the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway, currently around US$1.30 per ton, should remain stable or even decrease under the new concession, in order to protect the country's foreign trade and preserve the competitiveness of the river corridor.
Platforms like Shein, Temu, and Amazon are reshaping Paraguay's textile market, intensifying competition with local brands through competitive pricing and buoyed by the falling dollar, while the maquila sector records export growth and industry representatives call for equal tax treatment and a crackdown on unfair competition.
A cell phone seized during a search in San Lorenzo may contain money laundering data linked to convicted Clan Rotela leader Armando Javier Rotela Ayala.
The government of Paraguay has added 90 new buses to the metropolitan public transportation system, including 70 electric buses (30 donated by Taiwan and 40 from private investment by Ñandutí S.A.) and 20 combustion-engine buses from Ximex S.A., with private investment exceeding US$11 million, expanding access to approximately 20,000 new passengers without a fare increase.
Paraguay is on alert for severe storms with hail and strong winds, with warnings issued by the Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology for several departments throughout the weekend, with forecasts of continued rainfall and storms across much of the national territory, including Asunción, on Monday.
The Paraguayan community in Ireland, which now numbers over 500 people, established the Association of Paraguayans Living in Ireland (APRI) in 2022 to support migrants, particularly English language students, by fostering cultural gatherings and networking opportunities.
A project funded by Paraguay's National Council of Science and Technology (Conacyt) scientifically demonstrates that construction and demolition waste can be turned into quality recycled raw material, contributing to the circular economy and the reduction of environmental contamination in Paraguay.
Duarte Palace, an architectural gem from 1908 in Asunción, is reopening to the public following a G. 3 billion restoration funded by the company Sudamérica Invest, with completion expected by mid-July.
ANDE has formally rejected Atome PLC's request for a preferential electricity tariff in Paraguay, after a technical and financial analysis concluded that it was not feasible to grant the fixed dollarized tariff of US$30 per MWh sought by the British company.
The removal of Zulma Díaz Penayo from the Education Ministry's universities directorate has widened into a broader debate over oversight, accreditation and transparency in Paraguay's higher education system.
Public debt interest payments in Paraguay surged 457% between 2015 and 2024, climbing from $187.3 million to $1.0448 billion, which narrows the fiscal space for investments in health, education, and infrastructure, even though the debt level of 36.2% of GDP is still considered sustainable by economists.
SENAD minister Jalil Rachid said Paraguay is no longer a critical cocaine route to Europe and cited seizures and $700 million in losses for organized crime. A UN report points to rising trafficking, while Copolad III's director urged a response based on science, public health and institutional cooperation.
Paraguay's DNIT has launched inspections targeting companies that retained profits as optional reserves to defer payment of the Dividend and Profits Tax, under Resolution No. 49 issued in March 2026.
The dismantling of the high-voltage towers on Asunción's North Waterfront has entered its final stage, with completion expected by July 24, as part of the undergrounding of nearly 3 km of transmission lines and the Urban Resilience Project in the Coastal Strip.
The Segundo Foro Internacional de la Ingeniería (FIING) 2026 will be held on July 23 in Asunción, organized by the Centro Paraguayo de Ingenieros to discuss national development challenges. The program will cover topics such as the Bioceanic Route bridge, the Plan Paraguay 2X, renewable energy, and the quality of higher education in engineering.
Uruguayan clothing brand Tranquera invested USD 350,000 to open its first store in Paraguay, in the Perseverancia district of Asunción, after two years of studying the local market.
The Paraguay Blockchain Summit 2026, to be held on August 7 in Paraguay, expects around 2,000 participants to discuss topics such as digital asset regulation, tokenization of real-world assets, stablecoins, and financial innovation in Latin America.
Former Finance Minister Manuel Ferreira criticized the proposed issuance of perpetual bonds of up to USD 304 million to settle the state's debt with Paraguay's IPS and defended internal measures as an alternative.
Paraguay's GDP grew by 5.8% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period a year earlier, leading growth in South America, driven notably by agriculture, which expanded 8.2%, buoyed primarily by soybean production.
Paraguay faces a low geological risk from earthquakes because it sits in the center of the South American Plate, far from active tectonic boundaries, but it lacks structural preparedness, emergency protocols and preventive education to deal with moderate seismic events.
A Paraguayan teacher who paid nearly 150 times the original amount of a 1 million guaraní debt contracted in 2007 remains listed in Informconf because the court records proving the debt was settled have disappeared from the judiciary's archives, and the agency will not remove her name from the defaulters' registry without a final court clearance.
Paraguay's nighttime minimum wage will rise to G. 3,957,200 starting in July, reflecting a 5% increase from the previous amount of G. 3,768,763.
On June 24, the Centro Cultural de la República El Cabildo received a donation of the documentary collection of Paraguayan guitarist Pablo Cáceres Escobar, delivered by his daughter, Selma Inés Cáceres Escobar.
Paraguay's Congress will hold a joint session on Tuesday, June 30, to receive the president of Chile, José Antonio Kast, with protocol honors on the occasion of the Mercosur Heads of State Summit.
Horacio Cartes and Colorado governors gathered to define the Colorado Party's strategy to win as many municipalities as possible in the October 4 elections, which traditionally serve as a political barometer for the government's standing and future national elections.
After a six-month absence, Senator Carlos Núñez returned to the Honor Colorado movement, a decision made following a meeting with the president of the ANR and leader of the movement, Horacio Cartes.
Paraguay has established new unified rules for foreigners to prove economic solvency when applying for permanent residence, which will take effect on July 6, 2026.
After 15 years closed, the Villarrica Municipal Theater reopened with the "Renace el Teatro" gala, which sold out and featured free performances by local and national artists, including the National Congress Symphony Orchestra and the Sensus Aeternus Choir, following a restoration completed with funds from Taiwan International Cooperation and municipal resources.
An air mass from the polar region brought the coldest early morning of the year to Paraguay on Wednesday, June 24, with temperatures dropping below 0°C and reaching as low as -1.4°C in the department of Boquerón.
Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset, imprisoned in the U.S. following his extradition from Bolivia, alleged in a letter to a federal judge that two American agents attempted to extort the password to his cryptocurrency wallet, valued at approximately $4 million.
The department of Alto Paraguay runs the risk of being merely a bystander to the Bioceanic Corridor due to a lack of basic infrastructure, such as passable roads, drinking water, and electricity, while Boquerón attracts private investment in the region.
The EU-Mercosur trade agreement has been provisionally in force since May 1, pending final approval by the European Parliament, which depends on a review by the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding the pact's compatibility with the European bloc's treaties.
Formal employment in Paraguay reached a record high in May 2026, with 842,023 private-sector wage earners contributing to the general regime of the Social Security Institute (IPS).
Paraguay has an infrastructure deficit exceeding $35 billion, with roads already showing deformation and deep ruts in the pavement, as well as facing difficulties in making new public-private partnerships viable due to low traffic volumes.
The border crossing between Ayolas, Paraguay, and Ituzaingó, Argentina, will be temporarily closed for maintenance at the Yacyretá Hydroelectric Plant.
After the Arévalo clan suffered a crushing defeat in the Colorado primaries, substitute councilwoman Magalí Franco was elected interim mayor of Lambaré with nine votes, including support from Liberal Cartista councilors, and will administer the municipality for four months.
Family remittances sent by Paraguayans abroad totaled US$ 11.9 billion between 2008 and March 2026, with an average annual growth rate of 11.5%, reaching US$ 1.35 billion in 2025 and maintaining a high level in the first quarter of 2026.
The municipality of Asunción, under the administration of Mayor Luis Bello, allocated 90% of the municipal budget to payroll and administrative expenses between January and April 2026, leaving less than 8% for urban infrastructure investments.
From June 25 to 27, central Asunción offers a varied program. Palma Street will be closed for the “Centro Alienta” initiative with big screens for the World Cup match against Australia, while downtown also hosts the Fiesta de la Música, a San Juan street fair, an art exhibition and a silent reading gathering.
Petropar, the Paraguayan state-owned fuel company, awarded a contract worth up to G$ 15 billion to LMB SA — the sole bidder — for corporate image services across 181 items, including price signs, totems, and LED panels, at stations operating under its brand, several of which are linked to political figures.
Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies rejected the request for an audit of the Peace Courts related to the alleged promissory note usury scheme, and the bill was referred to committees for review due to questions over its wording.
Residents of Foz do Iguaçu and Presidente Franco are complaining about noise pollution caused by powerful sound equipment on the Paraguayan side, which crosses the Paraná River and disrupts rest along the border, despite a police enforcement operation that was carried out without continuity.
The first edition of Crazy Week, held from June 25 to 28 on the border between Ponta Porã and Pedro Juan Caballero, offered discounts of 10% to 50% and is expected to generate around $35 million in revenue, with more than 50,000 tourists anticipated.
The president of the Magistrates' Impeachment Jury, Alicia Pucheta de Correa, proposed, in her personal view, a reform that would require all members of the body to be legal professionals and retired university law professors, in order to remove the influence of traditional political parties and reduce the perception of political persecution.
Miguel Almirón was sent off at the 2026 World Cup for covering his mouth during a confrontation with Turkey, while Jude Bellingham went unpunished for making the same gesture in a friendly exchange with Ghana, reigniting the debate over the enforcement of FIFA's rule aimed at preventing insults or discriminatory remarks from being concealed.
The European Union's ban on Brazilian beef imports opens up a historic opportunity for Paraguay in a global scenario where supply falls short of demand, according to specialist Marcos Medina.
Spending on salaries in Paraguay's Central Administration grew 8.3% through May 2026 and now accounts for 53% of tax revenue, while tax collections rose just 1.2%, prompting the government to announce austerity measures.
Judge Dina Marchuk Santacruz, known as the "No Tears" judge, remained in office until age 75 after the Supreme Court of Justice unanimously approved in November 2025 the irremovability of her and 31 other magistrates who met the constitutional and legal requirements.
Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies reopened the debate on the return to seasonal time changes, with a bill proposed by Congressman Édgar Olmedo that calls for ending the single time zone and reinstating the changes between UTC-3 in summer and UTC-4 in winter.
An agreement to supply electricity to Atome's fertilizer plant in Villeta at a preferential rate of $30 per MWh could result in a $750 million loss for Paraguay and ANDE over 15 years.
Senator Juan Afara proposed in the Senate the issuance of $304 million in government bonds to guarantee the purchase of medicines and medical supplies for the IPS.
The Ministry of Childhood and Adolescence (MINNA) has renewed its appeal for the public to report children and adolescents living on the streets amid the severe cold in Paraguay, through the 147 hotline (Fono Ayuda), available 24 hours a day.
Councilman Álvaro Grau described as a "veiled threat" the note sent to the Asunción City Hall by the representative of the municipal bondholders, José Montero, who accepts payment of more than G. 90 billion for the overdue bond debt but reserves the right for creditors to take future legal action.
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Paraguay unanimously decided to keep the interest rate at 5.50% per year, amid a scenario of inflation below the target, a projected growth of 4.2% for 2026, and monitoring of external risks such as oil prices and the United States' monetary policy.
Paraguay's financial system saw a 36% increase in credit operations over 16 months, with loans accounting for more than half of the total in May 2026.
China uses trade restrictions as a tool to exert economic pressure on Paraguay to force it to sever its diplomatic relations with Taiwan, while Paraguayan productive sectors struggle with lack of direct access to the Chinese market and push for formal trade ties with Beijing.
The Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) is moving forward with the QR Hub project, integrated into the Sistema de Pagos del Paraguay (SIP), which is already in the final phase of testing in a controlled production environment, aiming to create a unified and interoperable system for commercial payments through QR codes, while also enabling fintechs as Payment Initiation Service Providers (PISPs) and developing the platform for digital Savings Deposit Certificates (CDAd).
The Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) is relocating its units to a new headquarters in Tower 1 of the Government Offices complex at the Port of Asunción, bringing together approximately 1,500 employees and saving around 7 billion guaranis per year by vacating 15 rented properties.
Patients with rare and chronic diseases in Paraguay have been without essential medications for eight months due to a lack of Budget Availability Certificates, and the Paraguayan Federation of Patients with Rare Diseases (FEPPER) accuses the government, including President Santiago Peña and Economy Minister Óscar Lovera, of failing to respond to requests, while current tenders cover only 70 of the more than 350 patients in need.
The House of Representatives postponed for 15 days the analysis of a bill that provides for the payment of default interest to construction companies for halted public works, after lawmakers raised concerns about legal issues and the high fiscal cost.
The Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) intervened at the Instituto Técnico Superior de Gestão Privada San Expedito in Horqueta, in the department of Concepción, to investigate approximately 1,800 teaching degrees suspected of forgery during an audit with a 45-day deadline.
Prosecutor Ingrid Cubilla led the forensic examination of a Bombardier Challenger 601-3A executive jet seized with 261.6 kg of premium marijuana in Paraguay. The aircraft had departed from Miami and was intercepted at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport during the transfer of the drugs to a pickup truck.
The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Raúl Latorre, stated that the request to lift the parliamentary immunity of Cartista deputy Esteban Samaniego depends on a deal involving three other lawmakers with pending cases, since removal requires a two-thirds majority and no single political force can reach that number on its own.
The promissory note mafia in Paraguay has caused losses, evictions, and fraud in Ciudad del Este, while the justice system's slow response compounds the harm in a scheme involving law firms, corrupt officials, and a foreign financial company.
The Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay approved a request for information from DINAC to obtain details about the regulation, control, and institutional capacity of the agency regarding the increasing use of drones, including regulatory updates, resources of the National Aeronautical Registry, coordination with CONATEL, the possibility of mandatory technical certification, and incident statistics from the past two years.
Senator Rafael Filizzola stated that Paraguayan consumers are paying international prices for beef due to the sector's strong export orientation — around 90% of production is destined for the foreign market — and the high market concentration, in which five slaughterhouses account for approximately 85% of the country's beef processing. He voiced support for a bill that proposes capping the profit margin at 10% on three popular beef cuts.
President Santiago Peña ruled out declaring a holiday on Friday, the 26th, for the Albirroja's match against Australia, scheduled to start at 11 p.m. on Thursday and end in the early hours, but said he is still considering the possibility of holidays if the team advances in the competition.
Taxpayers in Asunción paid US$4.5 million between January and April 2026 for stormwater works that, in most of the capital, do not exist, while only four of the eight promised basins have seen construction begin, and work is progressing slowly due to a lack of financial resources.
The Social Security Institute (IPS) allocated G. 174,057,730,805 in contracts to Infocenter SA, which won three of the four bidding processes held since 2017 for the implementation of an integrated management system based on SAP technology, accounting for approximately 94.4% of the total G. 184,452,730,805 earmarked by the institution for the platform.
The investigation into the network of contacts of the late congressman Lalo Gomes remains open and could reach new names, having already resulted in charges against former congressman Orlando Arévalo and former judges Carmen Silva and Ana Aguirre for alleged favor-trading involving the Magistrates' Impeachment Jury.
The Supreme Court of Paraguay upheld the conviction of Lieutenant Carlos Coronel to 30 days in prison for fraud, stemming from the misuse of identification cards during a UN mission in Cyprus.
The ANDE Engineers Union proposed limiting the consumption of electro-intensive industries in Paraguay, such as data centers and artificial intelligence projects, to 700 MW in order to preserve the country's energy security and avoid compromising strategic resources in the medium and long term.
Paraguay formally joined the Santiago Regional Commitment against Transnational Organized Crime in June 2026, during the 56th General Assembly of the OAS in Panama City, expanding the agreement initially signed by Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
Paraguayan Vice President Pedro Alliana was photographed with businessman Guillermo del Puerto Moreno, the owner of the aircraft used by drug trafficker Sebastián Marset during the 2026 World Cup.
Judge Lici Teresita Sánchez ordered the seizure and deposit into an account of amounts in guaraníes, reais, and dollars related to Operation Air Box, which dismantled a premium marijuana trafficking network in Asunción and Luque, resulting in the confiscation of money, drugs, and the arrest of those involved.
Paraguay recorded a 35% increase in the establishment of foreign companies in 2025, totaling 660 new firms, according to Vice Minister Eduardo Gustale.
Paraguay's National Constitution turns 34 this Saturday, June 20, marking the post-Stroessner dictatorship democratic era, but it faces threats of authoritarianism and noncompliance with its provisions, according to assessments by constitutional scholars and authorities.
Senator Ever Villalba denounced an alleged fraud of 100,000 votes in the PLRA internal elections, claiming irregularities in the vote count that would have benefited Alcides Riveros, the party's current elected president.
The request to lift the immunity of Deputy Cleto Giménez, accused in the "nepobabies" case for irregularly hiring his daughters as aides, has remained unexamined in the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay for over two years.
Paraguay's tourist lodges are rolling out promotions—such as a third night free and special discounts—to counter low winter occupancy driven by seasonal factors, the election year, and the approaching 2026 World Cup, with nightly rates ranging from G. 80,000 to G. 250,000.
Luque leads real estate growth in Greater Asunción, driven by public infrastructure investments, support for local industrial development, and prominence in the Che Róga Porã housing program.
The price of live pigs in Paraguay has fallen to G. 9,700/kg, the lowest level since 2023, driven by regional and global factors such as export blockades, sanitary outbreaks, and shifts in demand.
Brazilian companies are interested in building solar plants and small hydroelectric facilities in Paraguay, taking advantage of the new legal framework that allows the sale of electricity in the country, both to ANDE and through private agreements.
The Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) reported 145 fake teaching degrees to the Public Prosecutor's Office following an internal audit that identified around 1,500 diplomas of questionable authenticity, while experts suggest the scheme could be much larger and attribute the problem to credentialism and the lack of oversight by the National Council of Higher Education (Cones).
Five months after it came into force, the National Unified Registry (RUN), created by Law 7424/25 and which merged the General Directorate of Public Registries, the National Cadastre Service, and the Department of Surveying and Geodesy under the Supreme Court of Justice, has yet to deliver the operational efficiency it promised, according to representative bodies of Paraguayan notaries. They point to a lack of real integration between databases, the persistence of separate procedures, longer processing times — from around 10 calendar days to up to 15 business days or more — and risks associated with the physical transfer of files between offices.
In 2026, Paraguay's apparent labor productivity was US$13,728 per person, placing it below eight Latin American countries, including Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, and surpassing only Bolivia.
The Coordinadora de Víctimas, representing victims of the so-called "promissory note mafia," denounced the "absolute defenselessness" of thousands of Paraguayans affected by irregular wage garnishments and judicial enforcement actions, held the Supreme Court of Justice responsible for omission, and demanded that the National Congress initiate impeachment proceedings against the Court's justices.
FADA-UNA is investigating an allegation of favoritism in the CPA entrance exam after parents of candidates claimed that a teacher provided direct assistance to a specific group of students during the Mathematics test, while Dean José Insfrán Guerrero stated that internal protocols were activated and preventive measures, such as teacher rotation, were implemented for the Physics exam.
Former Senator Sixto Pereira, from the Tekojoja party, stated that Paraguay is currently experiencing "the government of the mafia and organized crime," recalling the 14th anniversary of the removal of then-President Fernando Lugo on June 22, 2012, through a political trial in Congress. He emphasized that this political situation has significant implications for foreign investors, diplomats, and regional observers due to the resulting political and economic instability affecting business and international cooperation.
The department of Alto Paraná has established itself as the main stage for major heists in Paraguay over the past twelve years, with criminal organizations adopting paramilitary tactics inspired by the "Nuevo Cangaço," including the most recent attack in Santa Rita, where around 20 criminals stole approximately 3 billion guaraníes from banks and exchange houses.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) established through Resolution No. 472 that the mandatory biodiesel blend in Type III Diesel will be 8% to 10% by volume, revoking the previous regulation from October 2023 and taking effect 30 days after publication.
Paraguayan producers reduced the wheat cultivation area in 2026 in the regions of Alto Paraná, Itapúa, Caaguazú, and San Pedro due to low profitability, high production costs, and competition with soybeans and corn.
Chilean diplomat Hernán Brantes Glavic presented his credentials to Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano as the new ambassador of Chile to Paraguay, with the official ceremony before President Santiago Peña expected to take place at the Palacio de López.
The deadline to renew vehicle registration in Asunción is June 30, after which the Municipality will impose fines equivalent to four minimum daily wages on drivers who operate vehicles without the required safety seal.
The Paraguayan government has opened a public tender worth G. 10 billion (approximately USD 1.6 million) to contract protocol event organization services for the Mercosur Summit, which will be held on June 29 and 30, 2026, in Asunción, including hospitality, catering, protocol coordination, and institutional gifts featuring Paraguayan handicrafts.
DNIT has published General Resolution No. 54, requiring manufacturers, importers, exporters, and retailers of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and pyrotechnic articles to issue electronic tax documents exclusively through Sifen, with a 90-day compliance deadline. For companies with their own systems, the transition favors API-based integrations that preserve commercial operations and keep auditable fiscal evidence.
Soledad Núñez, candidate for mayor of Asunción representing the Unidos por Asunción alliance, met with TSJE authorities to denounce "vote stuffing" and demand stricter oversight in the municipal elections on October 4, including manual vote counting for single-member positions and limiting the number of voters per polling station.
The Paraguayan Senate passed the bill creating the National Registry of Students with High Intellectual Capacity, which had already been approved by the Chamber of Deputies and was sent to the Executive Branch for enactment or veto.
Brazilian authorities seized explosive material with a detonating cord on Friday night, believed to have been used in the June 16 mega bank robbery in Santa Rita, Paraguay, during a joint operation in the border area that led to the arrest of two suspects and their transfer to the Federal Police in Foz do Iguaçu.
Zlatan Ibrahimović criticized the sending-off of Miguel Almirón under the "Vinícius Law" in the match between Paraguay and Turkey, calling the rule an overregulation, but praised the grit of La Albirroja, who played the second half with ten men and held on to the win.
Asunción is facing a fiscal crisis following the diversion of more than G. 500 billion from the G8 bond, originally intended for stormwater drainage works, during the administration of former mayor Óscar "Nenecho" Rodríguez. Meanwhile, the current administration under Luis Bello is paying contractors with current municipal revenue, while residents endure poor public services, including potholed streets that cause accidents, inconsistent garbage collection, and chaotic traffic.
Cartista senators have introduced a bill expanding the powers of the Comptroller General's Office to fine, prosecute, and take legal action against agencies that fail to comply with the Transparency Law (No. 5189/2014). The proposal amends Articles 8 and 9 of the law so that noncompliance constitutes an enforceable instrument and authorizes agreements with the Ministry of Finance for the collection of fines.
The Che Róga Porã 3.0 housing program, launched by the Paraguayan government, has increased maximum credit amounts, included families earning six to nine minimum wages, and expanded geographic coverage to the entire Central department and Presidente Hayes, with financing of up to Gs. 792 million in Asunción and Gs. 652 million in other locations, while maintaining a fully digital application process.
In the first four months of 2026, the Paraguayan National Police recorded 1,020 missing persons reports, of which 772 were located and 248 remain missing — 154 adults, 78 adolescents, and 16 children.
The Paraguay-Brazil Chamber of Commerce (CCPB) hosted the event "How Much Is My Company Really Worth?", bringing together specialists to discuss traditional business valuation methods in the context of mergers and acquisitions, amid growing foreign investor interest in Paraguayan firms driven by the country's dual investment-grade rating.
In Paraguay, the use of apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram for contact between managers and employees outside working hours has reignited the debate over the legal limits of professional availability. Labor law experts warn that a mere message or call after the end of the workday does not create an obligation to respond immediately, but the effective performance of services during that period may constitute overtime under the Paraguayan Constitution, which limits the working day to eight hours daily and 48 hours weekly, and Law No. 6738, which regulates remote work and recognizes the right to digital disconnection with at least 12 consecutive hours free from the obligation to respond to work-related communications.
Paraguay and Argentina are making progress in defining the terms for the concession of dredging, signaling, and technological modernization works on the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway, with exclusive participation of Paraguayan companies in the consortia. The goal is to ensure 24-hour navigation, increase the operational draft of the Paraná River, and reduce logistical costs.
Paraguay has established itself as an exporter of high-quality ovine genetics following a qualitative leap over the past 15 years, driven by private investment and formalization through trade fairs and exhibitions. The country has recently opened four new international markets and shipped lamb meat to the United Arab Emirates.
The Estudio de Arquitectura aquino+, led by architect César Aquino, won two consecutive international tenders and was commissioned to design and build the first two H&M stores in Paraguay—one at Paseo La Galería and the other in the Distrito Perseverancia neighborhood, both in Asunción.
The Public Prosecutor's Office of Paraguay has surpassed 100,000 reports filed so far this year, and Attorney General Emiliano Rolón Fernández has called for more resources in infrastructure, technology, and personnel to meet the growing demand.
Paraguay will host the first Fintech Iberoamérica Summit on August 6, 2026, at Paseo La Galería in Asunción, bringing together industry leaders, investors, and companies such as Amazon to connect startups with investors and boost the regional fintech ecosystem.
Starting July 1, with the minimum wage adjusted to G. 3,044,000 and the daily minimum wage to G. 117,077, child support payments will be automatically updated under Article 189 of the Code for Children and Adolescents, without the need for a new court proceeding, explained Judge Pili Rodríguez.
La Casa Pederzani was born in the Pederzani family's backyard barbecue area in Asunción after a financial crisis in the 1990s derailed a pasta factory project, and it grew into a gastronomic empire with three business lines — Pedersani Celebraciones, Pedersani Bar Bistro, and Ketosani — employing around 120 people.
Paraguay faces Turkey this Friday at midnight (Paraguay time) at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara in a crucial Group D match of the 2026 World Cup, after losing 4-1 to the United States in their opener and needing a result to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The National Animal Quality and Health Service (Senacsa) has extended the second vaccination period against foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis in Paraguay until June 26, with data registration open until July 3, due to weather conditions. The department of Itapúa has reached approximately 90% of the targeted establishments, with more than 101,000 animals vaccinated.
The Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (DNM) outlined the procedure for foreigners who are children or spouses of Paraguayans to obtain permanent residence in Paraguay, which includes obtaining a free repatriation certificate from SEDERREC, issuance of the Cédula de Identidad Paraguaya at the Departamento de Identificaciones of the Policía Nacional, and subsequent registration with the DNM within 90 days, with fee exemptions for those who hold the certificate.
A delegation of 22 Paraguayan students took second place at the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship, a tournament recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest robotics competition in the world, bringing together more than 3,000 teams and over 30,000 participants from across multiple continents.
Researchers from the Institute of Health Sciences Research at the National University of Asunción in Paraguay are studying antimicrobial resistance in bacteria such as Escherichia coli, seeking to understand how resistance genes spread among humans, animals, and the environment in order to guide prevention and control strategies.
The Paraguayan government, through its embassies in Bolivia and Peru, is providing consular assistance to Paraguayan citizens stranded and unable to travel within Bolivian territory due to weeks-long protests and road blockades.
Judge Osmar Legal accepted the charges against former judge Carmen Analía Cibils Miñarro for malfeasance and use of public documents containing false information in the "promissory notes mafia" case, imposing precautionary measures including a ban on contact with employees of the Peace Court of La Encarnación, a requirement to appear monthly to check in, and a preventive embargo on her property up to 300 million guaraníes.
The rise in prices in Argentina, driven by President Javier Milei's economic normalization measures, has significantly reduced the flow of Paraguayan shoppers to Clorinda, reversing a commercial dynamic that for decades had favored cross-border shopping tourism.
The president of Paraguay's Congress, Basilio "Bachi" Núñez, is the most sought-after Judas Kái effigy among Market 4 vendors in Asunción for this year's San Juan celebrations.
Residents of the Buena Vista neighborhood in Caacupé, Paraguay, peacefully protested against the possible installation of a 5G antenna near a school and homes, gathering more than 100 signatures against the project and awaiting a public hearing in July.
The Rally del Paraguay, to be held from August 27 to 30 in the department of Itapúa, is expected to generate a record economic impact of more than 200 million dollars, driven by the presence of over 400,000 spectators and by the boost to sectors such as hospitality, dining, transportation, and retail.
The Agriculture Ministry (MAG) warned of a high probability of El Niño developing in Paraguay between June and August, with an estimated duration of six to nine months and the possibility of extending into April 2027, bringing risks of flooding, crop losses, and impacts on livestock.
Ajupem called for the incorporation of 20,600 contracted employees into Paraguay's Caja Municipal to address the financial crisis that is preventing the full payment of retirement benefits and pensions.
The first concrete highway in Paraguay, on the PY05 route between Pozo Colorado and Concepción, already has more than 14 kilometers of rigid pavement completed, with an investment exceeding G. 611 billion financed by CAF and Fonplata.
The Senate of Paraguay has set up a special commission to investigate an alleged scheme involving approximately 100,000 irregular university degrees issued between 2023 and 2025, of which roughly 60% correspond to programs lacking quality accreditation. The first institution under investigation is Universidad Sudamericana, the alma mater of former senator Hernán Rivas.
The Senate approved with modifications the bill that restricts the use of portable electronic devices in early childhood, primary, and secondary education institutions, allowing their use only for educational purposes and according to each school's internal regulations, and sent the proposal to the Chamber of Deputies for review.
President Santiago Peña announced a 5% increase in the Paraguayan minimum wage, doubling the accumulated inflation of 2.4% over the past 12 months, raising the floor from G. 2,899,048 to approximately G. 3,044,000, after the National Minimum Wage Council (Conasam) failed to reach a consensus between unions, which demanded between 20% and 22%, and the business sector, which advocated for an adjustment limited to inflation.
The Paraguayan economy is expected to grow 4.2% in 2026 and 4% in 2027, according to the Central Bank of Paraguay's (BCP) monthly expectations survey, which also projects inflation of 3.5% for both years, an exchange rate of G. 6,393 per dollar at the close of 2026, and the monetary policy rate held at 5.50% through July 2026, easing to 5.25% by the end of 2027.
Paraguay will present unprecedented asset forfeiture decisions during the upcoming Gafilat evaluation, as part of the Judiciary's efforts to combat organized crime, corruption, and money laundering.
The Federal Highway Police made the largest rifle seizure in its history by intercepting a truck on BR-277 in Santa Terezinha de Itaipu carrying 25 rifles, 16 pistols, over 5,000 rounds of ammunition, and 127 magazines. The 28-year-old driver was arrested and handed over to the Federal Police on charges of international arms trafficking.
Liberal Congressman Freddy Franco criticized the bill passed by the Senate that regulates the use of cell phones in schools, arguing that the restriction would represent a technological setback for Paraguay and hinder access to knowledge and the development of talent.
Users of 39 bus lines in Asunción and the metropolitan area can now transfer free of charge to the E1, E2, and E3 electric lines within a 120-minute window, with up to two connections at no cost, under the Universal Integration and Transfer Plan implemented by the MOPC's Vice Ministry of Transport in December 2025.
Three candidates — Édgar Hernán Sosa, Rubén Darío Robadín, and Óscar Enrique Rolón — are vying for the position of Comptroller General of the Republic in Paraguay, with expectations that new authorities will be chosen as early as November, following a process led by Congress.
The Colorado caucus in the Chamber of Deputies postponed until mid-July the vote on the bill requiring a law degree and ten years of legal practice to serve on the Magistrates' Trial Jury, paving the way for the selection of new members of the body at the beginning of that same month.
The construction of an international bridge between Humaitá, in the department of Ñeembucú, Paraguay, and Las Palmas, in the Argentine province of Chaco, is moving forward as a physical integration initiative with the potential to boost trade, logistics, and tourism between the two countries.
IPS canceled tenders that included items removed from its formulary, following the withdrawal of 23 products — 12 vaccines and 11 medications — as part of a broader review that eliminated 916 items from the institution's official supplies list.
The Indert issued property titles to families in Marina Cué, 14 years after the Curuguaty massacre, completing the titling of 100% of the 243 lots in the colony through peaceful agreements and mediation.
Japan and Mercosur announced the formal start of negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement during the G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, following a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Brazilian President Lula.
The president of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, presented his third annual report to the Colorado Party, facing criticism from the opposition, which questions the priority given to the party over Congress.
The Hospiclean Consortium was reported to the DNCP for paying cleaning workers at the IPS below the legal minimum wage, despite declaring costs of up to G. 9.5 million per worker per month, while the outsourcing contract, signed in November 2024, had a total value of G. 126.9 million.
A new bilateral protocol between Paraguay and Brazil could exclude around 400 small cross-border carriers by eliminating the N1 category and requiring costly international documentation, with a transition period running through November 1, 2026.
The Public Prosecutor's Office formally charged former congressman Orlando Arévalo with aggravated passive bribery in the #LaMafiaManda case, for allegedly accepting checks worth Gs. 202,000,000 as loan collateral in exchange for favoring prosecutor Stella Mary Cano in a disciplinary proceeding before the JEM.
The Supreme Court of Justice of Paraguay unanimously upheld the 30-year prison sentence of former police officer Eusebio Torres Romero for tortures committed during the Stroessner dictatorship, rejecting the defense's appeal that claimed the crimes were time-barred and affirming that crimes against humanity are imprescriptible under international law norms.
The Chamber of Deputies rejected on Tuesday two requests for information addressed to President Santiago Peña — one regarding the expenses of his trip to the United States to attend the Albirroja's debut at the 2026 World Cup, and another concerning the Comptroller General's review of correspondence that validated the 2,400% increase in the president's assets over six years.
Mass resignations of professionals in the Neonatology Department at the IPS Central Hospital threaten the continuity of the service. Management is proposing public calls for foreign doctors to fill the vacancies.
The PLRA proclaimed Alcides Riveros as president for the 2026–2031 term, consolidating the hegemony of the Nuevo Liberalismo movement in Asunción.
The IPS Board of Directors unanimously approved a private godparent sponsorship proposal presented by board member Mirtha Arias to improve the conditions, considered precarious and inhumane, of shelters for relatives of hospitalized patients. A pilot plan will be implemented after discussions with pharmaceutical chambers and the institution's suppliers.
Paraguay's Interior Minister Enrique Riera has proposed adopting a Brazilian bank security system that destroys cash during robberies by cutting and saturating bills with security ink when a forced entry into vaults is detected.
The Unión Industrial del Paraguay (UIP) and Club Mipymes will hold the fourth edition of Networking Financiero 2026 on Thursday, June 18, at the UIP headquarters in Asunción, bringing together 15 financial institutions to facilitate access to credit and business strengthening tools for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
The court authorized the forensic examination of eight cell phones seized from suspects involved in the trafficking of 261.6 kg of premium marijuana transported on an executive jet in Paraguay.
The Paraguayan Senate is reviewing on Wednesday, the 16th, a bill authored by Senator Lilian Samaniego that proposes the so-called "express divorce," allowing couples with mutual agreement to divorce directly before a judge, without the need for lawyers or payment of court fees and legal costs.
A group of about 20 heavily armed men simultaneously attacked four financial institutions in Santa Rita, in the Alto Paraná department, using explosives to empty the vaults of two banks, overpowering four police officers, and setting vehicles on fire during their escape. Authorities are investigating the possible involvement of a criminal network made up of Paraguayans and Brazilians, without ruling out the participation of the PCC.
The Argentine government's decision to expand the installation of free shops beyond border posts and authorized urban centers, formalized by Decree 438/2026, has raised alarm among merchants in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, who fear losing customers to neighboring Puerto Iguazú, Argentina.
Senave has ordered the mandatory elimination of all live soybean plants during the phytosanitary fallow period, which in the Western Region runs from June 15 to September 15 and in the Eastern Region, exceptionally this year, from June 20 to August 30, as a preventive measure against Asian soybean rust.
The Ministry of the Interior and the National Police of Paraguay announced the opening of 1,000 spots for the 2027 admissions process at the Police College "Sgto. Aydte. José Merlo Saravia," following protests by young applicants and their families against the possible suspension of the call due to a lack of budget. The decision was reversed after a dialogue session with authorities and representatives of the applicants.
The dollar fell again in Paraguay and was quoted at G. 6,120 in the spot exchange rate on Monday, the 15th, accumulating a 9% decline so far this year and 25% over 12 months, which has raised concerns among exporters and impacted customs revenue.
The Senate of Paraguay established a Special Investigation Commission on Monday, June 15, to investigate the issuance, sale, and use of allegedly fake or irregular university degrees, diplomas, and higher education certificates. This follows the scandal involving Universidad Sudamericana, which is believed to have issued around 2,500 irregular degrees over three to four years, a case that led to the resignation of former senator Hernán Rivas.
The president of IPS, Isaías Fretes, found leaks in 80% of the roof of Clínica 12 de Junio in Asunción, a hospital that opened just a year and a half ago and also suffers from issues such as a non-functioning water pump, a kitchen closed for over 18 months, and a flooded X-ray department. He has called for a comprehensive technical, administrative, and contractual audit to determine accountability.
The Central Bank of Paraguay recorded a record delinquency rate of 8.1% in the financial system in April 2026, driven by a 45.7% increase in overdue loans and growth in credit card debt balances, particularly among lower-middle-income consumers.
The National Doctors' Union of Paraguay has announced a national strike in the public health sector from August 24 to 28, with emergency services remaining operational but scheduled appointments and surgeries suspended, demanding a salary adjustment after nearly 15 years of minimal wage corrections.
Seprelad warns that the deadline for the 2026 annual fee payment and mandatory data update in the SIRO system ends on June 30, with the risk of fines for those subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Law.
The Assunção City Hall is facing a financial crisis after the embezzlement of 500 billion guaranis intended for stormwater drainage projects, which led to duplicate payments and investigations into the management of the funds.
Paraguay has reported 12 confirmed cases of dengue and one of chikungunya in the past three weeks, bringing the total to 261 dengue cases and 16 chikungunya cases in 2026, including three imported from Bolivia.
The Court of Appeal on Monday, the 15th, rejected the challenge filed by the accused Damián de Jesús Galarza Dárdano in the case against the mayor of Quyquyhó, Patricia Corvalán, and 13 others charged with embezzlement, money laundering, and criminal association. The court confirmed Judge Humberto Otazú as the presiding judge and urged him to impose disciplinary sanctions on defendants who use delaying tactics to stall the proceedings.
Paraguay's EAS is a genuinely flexible company form: it can have one shareholder, has no statutory minimum capital and can be formed online. The weak point is not the legal design but the assumption that an advertised 72-hour process means a company will be operational in three days.
The MTESS emphasized that work on national holidays in Paraguay must be paid at double the regular rate, according to Article 234 of the Labor Code, and that payment must be made in cash, with no option for compensatory time off.
Paraguay has stepped up immigration controls and international cooperation after an Argentine case exposed an alleged Russian-linked influence network, though authorities have not confirmed whether any suspects or Russian nationals were actually identified or turned away at the border.
Congressman Carlos Godoy introduced a resolution bill requesting the Executive Branch, through the National Emergency Secretariat (SEN), to provide detailed information on the actions, resources, and results achieved since the enactment of Law No. 6319/2019, which declared a state of emergency for the indigenous communities of Paraguay's 19 native peoples.
The World Bank warns of a slowdown in global economic growth due to the conflict in the Middle East, but maintains an optimistic forecast of 4.4% GDP growth for Paraguay in 2026.
Workers are demanding a 20% increase in Paraguay's legal minimum wage, while business owners are pushing for a 2.4% adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the Central Bank of Paraguay. The final decision rests with President Santiago Peña following the sixth meeting of the National Minimum Wage Council (Conasam) scheduled for this Wednesday.
A family from Caaguazú lost their home, valued at G. 1.5 billion, over a debt of G. 15.5 million — equivalent to just 1% of the property's value — in a court case that began in 2000 and involved property transfers and alleged procedural irregularities.
Luis Szarán, born in Encarnación in 1953 and who arrived in Asunción at the age of 12 on a yerba mate truck without money for the fare, has been the conductor of the Asunción City Symphony Orchestra (OSCA) since 1978 and its principal conductor since 1990. He has held the position for nearly five decades, performed over 2,500 concerts internationally, composed around sixty works, and published the Dictionary of Music in Paraguay in 1999.
The rise in auto parts theft in Paraguay, especially in vehicles imported through Chile, has driven up insurance premiums and led insurers to adopt measures such as coverage limits, annual claim caps, and deductibles to contain losses.
Economists assessed that the austerity measures announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) will have a marginal impact on Paraguay's public accounts and do not address the structural problems of the fiscal deficit.
The Paraguayan real estate market kicked off 2026 with growth driven by a projected GDP of 4.2%, the achievement of investment-grade status by Standard & Poor's, and strong demand for rentals, which accounted for 53% of searches on the InfoCasas Paraguay portal, with Asunción concentrating 70% of that demand and two-bedroom apartments being the most sought after, while access to housing credit remains the main challenge for 38% of respondents.
Taiwanese electric buses recorded over 350,000 validations in Asunción between January and May 2026, with the Mariscal López Avenue corridor leading demand with more than 217,000 validations.
Paraguay is facing an imminent energy crisis due to a 21% increase in electricity consumption in the first four months of the year, a delay of about two years in ANDE's Master Works Plan, and an investment deficit, which currently stands at $340 million annually compared to the $900 million needed per decade, potentially exhausting the energy surplus from Itaipú and Yacyretá by 2029.
The Paraguayan forestry sector exported $8,575,626 worth of wood products in May 2026, reaching 28 countries, with the United States as the main destination, according to the National Forestry Institute (Infona).
Researchers from the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences at the National University of Asunción have published a guide documenting 38 species of wild food plants traditionally used by Mbya Guaraní communities in the department of Itapúa, in the area of the San Rafael National Park Reserve, with the aim of preserving ancestral knowledge and enhancing Paraguay's biocultural heritage.
Paraguay's public debt hit a record $21.781 billion in April 2026, up 6.5% from December 2025, with more than 84% concentrated in external debt, while the government says the debt-to-GDP ratio remains around 36.2%, although economists warn of the risks posed by the continued growth of financial commitments.
The Criminal Appeals Court of Paraguay unanimously dismissed the habeas data petition filed by businessman Iván Pergher Bruneta against the newspaper Última Hora, ruling that the right to be forgotten does not exist in Paraguayan law and that media outlets cannot be compelled to remove journalistic publications through this constitutional remedy.
Paraguay has privileged conditions to meet global demand for food, strategic resources, and forest products, but faces structural obstacles such as rural poverty, infrastructure deficits, informality, and the need for productive diversification, according to CAF's Report on Economics and Development, presented during an event that brought together authorities and analysts.
Minister Marco Riquelme announced a forum in Silicon Valley on June 26 to position Paraguay as a regional hub for artificial intelligence, clean energy, and digital infrastructure, bringing together leaders from the tech sector and promoting investments in the country.
President Santiago Peña has proposed a bill to eliminate the 3% upfront payment for rural land titling in Paraguay, making it easier for thousands of farming families to obtain property titles and extending payment terms to up to 20 years for men and 30 years for women.
A disinformation network linked to the government of Santiago Peña, operated by the digital agency Comunik, led by Juan "Jimmy" Villaverde and Fabio Morales, moved around half a million dollars through fake news pages and digital influencers to spread pro-government content, promote government policies, and attack opponents.
An internal audit by IPS uncovered a scheme that concealed over PYG 7.670 billion in employer debts owed by more than 50 companies and individuals, through irregular alterations to data in the RUC and REI systems, with approximately 14 employees linked to the modifications.
The Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay has nine requests for the removal of parliamentary immunity pending, but President Raúl Latorre says there is no scheduled vote yet due to the need for unanimous agreement among the deputies involved.
International political analyst Héctor Sosa Gennaro stated that Paraguay is falling behind in strategy, training, and technology to confront transnational criminal factions such as the PCC and the Comando Vermelho, both designated by the United States as global terrorist organizations, and criticized the lack of concrete results from the cooperation agreement signed in March between Presidents Santiago Peña and Donald Trump.
Paraguayan shipowners are pushing for a reduction in toll fees on the Paraná-Paraguay Waterway, currently around US$1.30 per net registered ton, arguing that there is no justification for the rates and citing shortcomings in maintenance services. Meanwhile, the Argentine government is moving forward with the pre-award of the new concession for the Argentine stretch of the waterway to the consortium formed by Belgian company Jan De Nul and Argentine firm Servimagnus, with a contract expected to run for 30 years.
Economist Luis Rojas criticized the economic model of Santiago Peña’s government in Paraguay, highlighting contradictions between the growth rhetoric and fiscal challenges, such as the public debt reaching a historic level of USD 21.7812 billion in the first four months of 2026, representing 36.2% of GDP, along with low tax revenue, poor public services, labor informality, and foreign direct investment of only USD 400 million in 2024.
The Executive Branch enacted Law 7665 to implement the commuter rail system in Asunción, with an investment of US$480 million and construction scheduled to begin in April 2027 in partnership with the United Arab Emirates.
The MIC met with European ambassadors to assess access for Paraguayan products to the EU market under the Mercosur-EU agreement, with a focus on zero-tariff quotas in sectors such as meat, rice, honey, and organic sugar. The agreement's entry-into-force date requires independent confirmation.
Judicial clerk Antonia Galeano, a defendant in the so-called Ankle Bracelet Mafia case, will remain under house arrest but without an electronic ankle monitor, as she can no longer afford the equipment, according to a ruling by Judge Humberto Otazú.
The former legal director of IPS, José González Maldonado, received Gs 412.5 million (Paraguayan guaraníes) in his personal account as legal fees from an out-of-court settlement of Gs 7.5 billion with Consorcio Hotelero Sudamericano, in a case under investigation for possible illicit enrichment and breach of trust.
Ricardo Canese criticized President Santiago Peña for granting subsidies to electro-intensive companies that generate 433 times fewer jobs per megawatt than Paraguayan MSMEs.
The Court of Asunción has definitively confiscated an aircraft carrying 265 kg of cocaine and sentenced Bolivian pilot Lucio Paz Fernández to 14 years and Peruvian copilot Elmer Figueroa Paredes to 13 years in prison for international drug trafficking.
A gang disguised as Dinatran agents stole a shipment of the drug tirzepatide in Luque, Paraguay, and attempted to kidnap Chinese businessman Jin Xiaodi, a suspect in an international fraud case, in a foiled attack near Silvio Pettirossi Airport.
The Federal Revenue Service of Foz do Iguaçu is holding the Contraband Expo at the Brazilian customs post to warn tourists about seized prohibited goods at the border crossing of the International Friendship Bridge.
The prices of asado cuts in Paraguay have practically tripled since 2010, while the minimum wage has barely doubled over the same period, highlighting a significant loss of purchasing power for Paraguayan families.
Paraguay has revoked the decrees that encouraged electro-intensive industries and strengthened its National Energy Strategy through 2050 to ensure energy security amid growing industrial demand.
Asunción organizes the "El Centro Alienta" celebration to welcome up to 50,000 fans in the historic center for the Paraguayan National Team’s debut at the 2026 World Cup, with security and infrastructure plans in place for the event.
Paraguay’s payment infrastructure, long known as SIPAP and now presented publicly under the SIP brand, already powers 24/7 instant transfers, aliases, payment requests and interoperable QR payments. Digital savings certificates (CDA-d) entered full production on 21 September 2026; contactless SPI and regional cross-border interconnection remain later-stage objectives.
JBS inaugurated the Pollos Blanco mega poultry plant in J. Eulogio Estigarribia, Caaguazú, with an investment of 185 million dollars, an initial capacity to slaughter 100,000 chickens per day, and the creation of 780 direct jobs.
The Attorney General, Emiliano Rolón, met with the president of the IPS, Isaías Fretes, to discuss the payment of a debt of approximately G₲ 10 billion related to the rent of properties occupied by the Public Prosecutor's Office in Asunción, with a commitment to settle the amount in monthly installments. This debt is part of a larger total exceeding G₲ 19 billion, which has significant implications for Paraguay's social security finances and raises concerns about governance and transparency at IPS.
Construction works on the future Chaco General Hospital, which will benefit around 150,000 people in the Western Region, are progressing through the foundation phase, with 70% of earthworks completed and the first 22 piles already installed. The project is being carried out by the Western Health Consortium, which includes a firm linked to Grupo Cartes, under the supervision of the MOPC and the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, with funding from Itaipú Binacional. The consortium's links to Grupo Cartes and related procurement controversies have been reported.
Brazil has enacted the Agreement on Police Cooperation Applicable to the Border Areas of Mercosur, signed by President Lula and published in the Official Gazette of the Union, allowing pursuits and joint operations among the security forces of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay in border zones.
The Paraguarí department has established itself as a holiday getaway destination, combining historical heritage — such as the Ybycuí iron foundry, the Carlos Antonio López railway complex, and the San Buenaventura church, a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status — with nature, hiking trails, and culture in towns like Carapeguá and Cabañas.
Paraguay has nearly doubled the average years of schooling among its population over four decades, rising from 5.2 years in 1982 to 9.8 years in 2022, but it still does not guarantee the full completion of secondary education or ensure learning quality and retention within the education system.
The Paraguayan stock market saw a 3% drop in total trading volume through May 2026 compared to the same period last year, reaching 22.2 trillion guaraníes, but bond issuances neared 1 trillion guaraníes, the highest cumulative amount so far this year.
The Municipality of Asunción has launched the "World Cup Discount" campaign, offering up to 100% exemptions on fines and interest, 10% discounts for lump-sum payments, and installment plans of up to six payments without interest for taxpayers who settle their debts with the municipality by June 30, including a daily raffle for official Paraguay national team jerseys.
The IPS dismissed the entire mastology team at Hospital Ingavi after a Health Superintendency audit revealed that the medical staff removed the wrong breast from a 62-year-old cancer patient, ignored safety protocols, skipped the "time out" safety pause, and attempted to destroy evidence, including tampering with the surgical record and editing the electronic system to justify the error.
The corridors of Paraguay's National Congress stood empty on Wednesday, the eve of a public holiday and the Albirroja's World Cup opener, reigniting debate over high absenteeism in the legislature, which allows up to 30 days of annual leave for personal reasons with minimal justification.
Victorio Oxilia warns that electricity rates below ANDE’s actual cost for energy-intensive industries could jeopardize the finances of the Paraguayan state utility.
The Supreme Court of Justice of Paraguay unblocked the case against former Interior Minister Rafael Filizzola on Wednesday, June 11. Filizzola is accused of causing a financial loss of G. 1,131,812,500 to the State due to alleged breach of trust. The Court ordered the case file to be sent to the Court of Appeals, First Chamber of the Capital, so that its natural sitting members can resolve the pending appeals, ending a composition conflict that had stalled the case for over a decade.
Paraguay's economy remains heavily concentrated in a few regions, with five areas — the departments of Central, Asunción, Alto Paraná, Itapúa, and Caaguazú — accounting for more than 70% of the country's production, formal employment, and business structure, according to an analysis by researcher Belén Servín from the Center for Analysis and Dissemination of the Paraguayan Economy (Cadep).
The Ministry of Justice seized cell phones from the cells of Ramón González Daher and his son Fernando González during a security search at UPIE in the early hours of Thursday, the 11th.
The 2026 World Cup will generate around 30,000 temporary jobs in Paraguay, especially in gastronomy and retail, and boost consumption in supermarkets and stores by 35%, according to expert Enrique López Arce.
A trust-based self-service egg system created by Víctor Giesbrecht in the Sommerfeld colony in J. Eulogio Estigarribia draws hundreds of customers who pick up the products and pay on their own at unattended kiosks.
Senave recorded a record in Paraguay's stevia exports through May 2026, with a 518% increase compared to the previous year, totaling 142 tons exported mainly to Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Spain.
Paraguay's Supreme Court rejected former Senator Kattya González's appeal, upholding the loss of her Senate seat and ending her judicial bid to return to the upper house.
Fiat, represented in Paraguay by Grupo Garden, began construction of its new corporate headquarters in Asunción on June 9, with an investment of 30 million dollars. The 13-story building will cover 45,700 m² at the intersection of República Argentina and Guido Boggiani avenues. This investment is significant for Paraguay's economy and the regional automotive industry, marking a milestone in the development of the local automotive sector and reinforcing Paraguay's potential as an industrial growth hub in South America.
The Municipality of Ciudad del Este ordered the preventive closure for three days of an electronics store belonging to JMC Emprendimientos S.A. (J.M. Electrónicos), located in the city's downtown area, following repeated complaints of alleged fraud against Brazilian tourists. In one case, two Brazilians reportedly paid around 97,000 reais via Pix and received only 30% of the purchased products, while in another case involving 22,500 reais, a salesperson was charged with fraud.
The pharmaceutical company Megalabs Paraguay SA filed a complaint with the National Directorate of Public Procurement (DNCP) alleging that the Social Security Institute (IPS) suddenly and without prior notice moved up the bid opening date for a G. 51.5 billion tender to purchase critically low-stock medicines, preventing the company from submitting its bid on equal terms.
The Social Security Institute (IPS) failed in its electronic auction, managing to place only G. 30 billion of the G. 200 billion offered in Certificates of Deposit (CDA), leaving G. 170 billion unplaced.
Alcides Riveros was elected president of the PLRA, Paraguay's main opposition party, with the support of nearly 90 percent of liberal mayors, as well as the backing of senators, deputies, and governors, aiming to strengthen the party ahead of the 2026 municipal elections and the 2028 presidential election.
The International Friendship Bridge, the main connection between Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) and Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil), will have partial traffic interruptions on the nights of June 11 and 12 for maintenance work carried out by the concessionaire EPR Iguaçu, including pavement repairs and lighting system restoration. Pedestrian access will also be restricted in the work area, but crossing will remain available on the opposite side.
President Santiago Peña will present his third management report to the ANR Governing Board on Wednesday, June 17, before appearing before the National Congress on July 1, as mandated by the Constitution. This report is a key step in political accountability in Paraguay, reflecting the relationship between the president and his party, the ANR, with implications for political stability and policy direction in the country.
The Municipality of Ciudad del Este has issued a tender to revitalize the Alejo García, Agustín Van Aaken, and Chino parks with an investment exceeding G. 64.8 billion, aiming to transform them into recreation centers, social integration hubs, and tourist attractions.
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña will travel to Los Angeles from June 11 to 15 to attend Albirroja's debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Paraguay's Resolution DNM No. 407 changes the permanent-residence solvency test from a generic document exercise into a consistency test: the evidence should show how the applicant actually supports themself and should match the activity declared to Migraciones.
Asunción's Plan Regulador divides the capital into residential, mixed, central, industrial, special-use and protected areas. The map is not legal advice for a specific property, but it shows how the city expects different places to grow.
The Paraguayan economy grew by 3.4% in April 2026 and recorded a 5.1% increase in the first four months of the year, driven by all major sectors. Notably, agriculture led the primary sector, energy generation and construction stood out in the secondary sector, and government services, transportation, and financial intermediation were key contributors in the tertiary sector.
UNESCO declared Ñacunday National Park and the Moisés Bertoni Scientific Monument as part of the Upper Paraná South Biosphere Reserve in Paraguay during the 38th session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme.
The Dirección de Meteorología e Hidrología of Paraguay has issued a warning for a storm system that will affect the entire Paraguayan territory between Wednesday, the 10th, and Thursday, the 11th. The system will bring heavy rain, lightning, the possibility of hail, and wind gusts of up to 100 km/h. The northern part of both the Eastern and Western regions will be the most affected, with rainfall totals between 60 and 100 millimeters.
Workers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles have approved a strike that could begin before Paraguay's World Cup 2026 debut against the United States, demanding better wages, a contract, and raising concerns over ICE immigration enforcement during the tournament.
The Federal Revenue Service and the Federal Police dismantled a money laundering criminal organization linked to cigarette and agrochemical smuggling in Guaíra (PR), involving more than 375 million reais between 2019 and 2024, during Operation Sicarius, which executed 120 court orders across several Brazilian states.
Paraguayan attorney María Fernanda Melgarejo Ainsworth warned about the limitations of the U.S. B1/B2 tourist visa and the consequences of violating its rules, following the case of singer Marilina, who had her visa revoked before traveling. She emphasized that immigration enforcement remains active for the entire duration of the visa and that any paid work requires specific visa categories such as the O-1 or P-3.
Paraguayan businessman Alberto Acosta Garbarino warned that the Banco Master scandal in Brazil — considered the largest banking fraud case in the neighboring country's history — could be repeated in Paraguay if adequate oversight measures are not put in place.
Deputy Yamil Esgaib requested clarification from the Executive Branch and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the accreditation and operations of the Honorary Consulate of Seychelles in Paraguay, but the proposal was not voted on due to a lack of quorum and will be reintroduced next week.
On Accountants Day, Alba Talavera, Director of Education at the Colegio de Contadores del Paraguay (CCP), stated that artificial intelligence and other technologies help streamline tasks but cannot replace the accounting professional, emphasizing that regulatory and technological updates are essential for the sector's future, which has 24,093 professionals nationwide, according to data from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE).
The Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay was suspended for the second consecutive week after cartista (Colorado Party faction) deputy Yamil Esgaib threatened and provoked opposition member Raúl Benítez during the session, resulting in a loss of quorum and the session ending without any votes.
President Santiago Peña moved the national holiday of June 20, the date of the Promulgation of the 1992 Constitution, to Monday, June 22, creating a second consecutive extended weekend in the month.
Atome PLC has finalized a $665 million investment to build a green fertilizer plant in Villeta, Paraguay, contingent upon the approval of a preferential electricity tariff by ANDE to ensure the project's financial viability.
Brazil has temporarily suspended the single-dose dengue vaccine developed by the Butantan Institute following two suspected deaths linked to the immunization.
Cancer patients and their families protested in Paraguay on Sunday against the shortage of essential medicines and demanded that the government comply with court rulings ordering the supply of high-cost drugs.
The Paraguayan government has created a working group led by Deputy Minister of Industry Javier Viveros, with representatives from various financial and government institutions, to streamline the process of opening bank accounts by foreign investors following complaints about excessive bureaucracy, with a 60-day deadline to present a concrete proposal.
The duplication work on Tape Tuja, General Elizardo Aquino Avenue, has already seen a 25% increase, totaling G. 166,960 million, and the assembly of the piles for the return viaduct over Silvio Pettirossi Avenue, in Luque, has begun.
A client of Banco Itaú, Delmis Martínez, reported being the victim of a financial fraud exceeding 85 million guaraníes, which included the draining of her accounts, unauthorized use of her credit card, and the approval of a loan she claims she never requested.
The Argentine National Gendarmerie intercepted an abandoned truck in Villa Nueva, Córdoba, carrying about 1,100 liters of liquid ecstasy, a synthetic drug that is believed to have entered the country through the San Ignacio de Loyola crossing from Paraguay.
Sedeco is pushing for an update to Paraguay's Consumer Protection Code to adapt legislation to online purchases, digital services, artificial intelligence, social media advertising, and credit operations, including minimum legal guarantees, expanded cooling-off rights, and rules for influencers and automated customer service.
FIFA has confirmed Dutch referee Danny Makkelie to officiate Paraguay's opening match against the United States at the 2026 World Cup on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Paulo Cándido Oliveira Da Silva, 39, considered the "ambassador" of the Comando Vermelho in Paraguay, was arrested in Luque during Operation Puma Py and expelled from the country in June 2026. He reportedly confessed to Brazilian authorities to the murders of 18 people during his time in Paraguay, including the killing of Arnaldo Rotela Gauto, known as "the king of cattle rustling," who was killed in Yuty in August 2024.
The Government of Paraguay, in partnership with Starlink, has launched 1,600 high-speed internet kits to connect rural schools, health centers, and remote communities, benefiting more than 50,000 students and teachers.
The Tooshe Qaltaq indigenous community of the Qom people is threatening to block Route PY12 if the state does not acquire land for the families that have lived for more than four decades on the right-of-way strip belonging to the Ministry of Public Works and Communications.
A Brazilian company has signed an agreement with the municipality of Itakyry, in the department of Alto Paraná, to retrofit the local ethanol plant, which has been idle for over a decade, and produce ethanol from corn instead of sugarcane, with operations expected to resume before the end of the year.
The Instituto de Previsión Social (IPS) and the Dirección Nacional de Ingresos Tributarios (DNIT) have signed an agreement to cross-check financial and tax data, aiming to increase social security revenue in Paraguay and combat fraud and informality.
The Paraguayan government defended the preferential rate of US$30 per MWh granted to the company Atome for green fertilizer production, arguing that the figure is justified by operational efficiency and low transmission losses, while the ANDE workers' union and experts criticized the measure and pointed to regulatory weaknesses in the electricity sector.
The Honor Colorado movement, led by former President Horacio Cartes, won in 239 of the 263 districts in the Colorado Party's internal elections, consolidating its hegemony and securing representation in the vast majority of municipalities for the October 4 elections, with a voter turnout of 48.3%.
Rediex launched the free program Paraguay Exporta + at FEPY 2026 to train and provide technical support to Paraguayan companies seeking to expand their exports, with a focus on sectors such as food, apparel, forestry, and metalworking.
Uruguayan player Alejandro Silva, a former Olimpia midfielder, had his home at the Country Club Montesol in Luque robbed while he was on vacation in Brazil, with the criminals making off a safe containing approximately 3,000 dollars, three Tag Heuer watches, and jewelry.
Senator Esperanza Martínez threatens to leave the Senate special commission investigating the "degree mafia" if there is no genuine investigation free from political interference, after the Cartismo movement appointed Patrick Kemper to chair the body.
Paraguayan business leaders supported the transparency required by the DNIT regarding corporate reserves through Resolution No. 49/2026, but they categorically rejected the possibility of taxation on retained earnings.
Camilo Pérez, of the Honor Colorado movement, won by a wide margin the ANR internal elections held on Sunday, June 7, obtaining 78,137 votes against 41,770 for Arnaldo Samaniego, and will be the Colorado Party's candidate for the Asunción mayoralty in the October municipal elections.
Paraguay's forestry sector exports grew 4.6% in volume and 9% in value between January and May 2026, totaling 68,953 tons and US$38.08 million, driven mainly by plywood and charcoal with briquettes, according to data from the Unión de Gremios de la Producción (UGP) based on figures from the Instituto Forestal Nacional (Infona).
A 49-year-old woman was arrested in Arroyos y Esteros, Paraguay, during the simultaneous primary elections — party-level votes in which members select candidates for the general elections — after being caught with seven identity documents that did not belong to her, in what is suspected to be a case of vote buying.
The soybean harvest in the Paraguayan Chaco reached an average yield of 2.4 tonnes per hectare, approaching the Eastern Region, which recorded an average of over 3 tonnes per hectare, with total Paraguayan production estimated at 12.34 million tonnes for the 2025-26 cycle.
Judge Vivian López stated that the community of property regime, established under Law No. 1/92, provides greater asset protection and legal security in marriage, particularly for women who dedicate themselves to homemaking, although she acknowledged that the separation of property regime may be appropriate in cases of inherited assets or high-risk business activities.
Congressman Cleto Giménez introduced a resolution bill requesting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide a detailed report on the operations of Paraguayan consulates abroad, including information on their locations, jurisdictions, services offered, and traveling consular outreach events, with the aim of strengthening legislative oversight of services for Paraguayans living outside the country.
Since 2001, the armed group EPP has carried out 17 kidnappings in Paraguay, collecting over 3 million dollars in ransom and leaving several victims murdered or missing.
Uruguayan Sebastián Marset Cabrera used Paraguay as an operational base for his international drug trafficking network between 2020 and 2021, coordinating Bolivian and Paraguayan mafias to stockpile and export large volumes of cocaine to Europe and Africa. He was arrested in Bolivia in March and extradited to the United States, where he faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Informality in Paraguay affects 60.1% of workers and accounts for approximately 20.5% of GDP, representing a structural challenge that spans from street vending to sectors such as construction, domestic services, transportation, agricultural activities, and small family businesses, according to economist Rodrigo Ibarrola of Cadep. He argues that education is a key factor in reducing this phenomenon and advocates for incentive-based formalization, accompanied by visible benefits and improved public services.
The Paraguayan government enacted Decree No. 6120/2026 to implement austerity measures in 2026, but analysts warn that one-off cuts are insufficient and are calling for structural reforms in public procurement, civil service management, supplier debt, and the Caja Fiscal deficit.
An internal audit at the IPS uncovered a scheme to manipulate computer records that concealed employer debts exceeding G. 7.670 billion, involving 14 employees who altered data in the REI system between January 2024 and May 2025, benefiting 59 companies.
The municipal primaries held on Sunday, June 7, saw episodes of violence and irregularities in Lambaré, San Lorenzo, and Mbocayaty, with clashes at schools used as polling stations, polling tables not being set up, and reports of assaults and ballot boxes being excluded.
The trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, in force since May 1, 2026, guarantees zero or preferential tariffs for 95% of Paraguayan exports to the European market, consolidating the country as a production and export platform geared toward Europe.
A baby carriage preserved at the Volendam Museum in Paraguay tells the story of Alma Thiessen, who died at six months old from meningitis aboard the Dutch ship Volendam in 1947, and of her mother, who, in mourning, breastfed the newborn Mari Anne Bergen, ensuring her survival.
Paraguay and Bolivia completed in December 2025, after 87 years of technical and diplomatic work, the full demarcation of the 742 kilometers of shared border between the two countries, becoming the only nations in South America with fully demarcated borders.
The Paraguayan pharmaceutical industry already produces 70% of the medicines consumed in the country, with investments in modernization and technology that strengthen competitiveness and open up room for exports, in addition to generating around 8,500 direct jobs and more than 45,000 indirect ones.
The Aguavista Airport Executive (AVA) was inaugurated on June 5, 2026, in San Juan del Paraná, in the department of Itapúa, Paraguay, becoming the first private aerodrome integrated into a residential complex in the region, with an investment of 17 million dollars in aeronautical infrastructure.
Expo Paraguay ARP 2026 will be held from July 11 to 26 at the Rural fairgrounds in Asunción, featuring around 200 exhibitor companies, a program that includes concerts, a job fair, a cattle show, and gastronomic and artistic activities.
Ahead of Paraguay's municipal primary elections, reports have emerged about the alleged mass purchase of pens containing hidden cameras that could be used to record votes inside the voting booth, a practice prohibited under Paraguayan law.
The Paraguayan pork industry is projecting strong expansion in the coming years, with a 43% increase in exports so far this year compared to the same period last year, and estimates that the country could more than double the number of breeding sows in production between 2027 and 2028.
Paraguayan exports with a Certificate of Origin totaled $693 million in May, with the Americas as the main market ($510 million), led by Brazil ($190 million), followed by Argentina ($170 million) and Chile ($60 million).
Paraguay recorded a 46% increase in international tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period the previous year, leading global tourism growth according to the UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer, while South America as a bloc saw a 1% decline in the period.
The President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, appointed principal and alternate representatives to the Board of the Caja Ferroviaria for the 2025-2028 term, according to Decree No. 6113 signed on May 27, 2026.
The Paraguayan Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology has issued a warning for storms with winds of up to 80 km/h, heavy rain, lightning, and hail starting Sunday, with the phenomenon affecting 14 regions of the country through Monday night.
Four ANDE unions have filed an unconstitutionality lawsuit against presidential decrees 5306, 5307, and their amendments 5860 and 5861, signed by President Santiago Peña. They claim the measures would cause significant financial harm to the state electricity utility — which manages Paraguay's share of the binational Itaipú dam — and result in a 15-year subsidy to a business group involved in crypto mining, data centers, and hydrogen production, with the cost passed on to the public through electricity rates.
DNIT projects that 90% of Paraguay's invoices will be electronic by the end of 2026, with more than 38,000 taxpayers already operating through Sifen, which validates an average of 2.5 million electronic receipts per month.
The election campaign for the October municipal elections in Paraguay caused the Chamber of Deputies to fail to reach a quorum for a session this week, leaving nearly twenty bills stalled, including the creation of the National Care System, changes to the universal pension for the elderly, judicial reforms, land regularization, and a proposal for the automatic termination of child support at age 18.
Conatel launched Tender No. 01/2026 for Mobile Broadband, approved by Board Resolution No. 1309/2026, to award radio spectrum licenses in the 2,300 MHz and 3,500 MHz bands for mobile broadband services and 5G technology through a simultaneous ascending auction with base prices ranging from US$1 million to US$1.6 million. Bids are due by July 10, 2026, amid oversight by the Comptroller General's Office regarding the previous spectrum award to Nubicom Paraguay S.A.
The defense team of former minister Arnoldo Wiens appealed the definitive acquittal of fellow former minister Ramón Jiménez Gaona and challenged two members of the Court of Appeals in the Metrobús case.
The Senate postponed the creation of Smartum University due to the absence of a binding opinion from the National Council of Higher Education (CONES), as required by law.
Basilio Núñez, president of the Paraguayan Congress, criticized a possible smear campaign funded by Santiago Peña’s government against journalists and opponents, involving the agency Digimarketing SAS and connections with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies. The case highlights concerns about political governance and internal party dynamics in Paraguay, with potential implications for regional stability.
Economist Sergio Sapena warns that Paraguay’s actual fiscal deficit, estimated at 4% with accumulated debt of around 2 billion dollars, threatens the country’s investment grade. He recommends transparency in the figures and increasing the deficit to 6% to stimulate strategic sectors.
Indert transferred a three-hectare plot of land to the Ñeembucú Governorship for the construction of a recreational complex in Pilar, with an investment of US$5 million.
The Paraguayan government's debt to construction companies remains at US$300 million despite payments made in April and May, according to Capaco, which rejected the factoring system proposed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), considering it unfeasible due to the high interest rates charged by financial institutions.
Judge Humberto Otazú, of the Criminal Court of Guarantees Specialized in Economic Crimes, rejected the defense appeal of former minister Arnoldo Wiens and upheld the charges against him in the Metrobús case, concerning alleged acts of public corruption linked to the transportation project.
Congresswoman Rocío Vallejo denounced an alleged scheme at the Attorney General's Office that would drastically reduce the amounts recovered by the state in legal settlements with private companies while maintaining high legal fees. The allegations raise important issues about governance and institutional integrity at the PGR, with implications for trust in Paraguay's legal system and for international investors and observers interested in the country's transparency.
Brazil and Paraguay held a joint commission meeting to negotiate expanding the operations of the Puente de la Integración, with Brazil prioritizing cargo transport and resisting the passage of light vehicles, while complementary works on both sides of the border still need to be completed for the bridge's full opening.
Paraguay's Electronic Identity has surpassed 1.5 million users, representing around 30% of the population over 18 years of age, and enables access to more than 480 digital public services through the Portal Paraguay, with the 18-to-35 age group accounting for 56% of registrations.
Paraguay ended May with the third-lowest country risk in Latin America and the Caribbean, with an EMBI of 104 basis points, trailing only Uruguay (61 points) and Chile (86 points), according to data from Bloomberg Línea based on the index compiled by J.P. Morgan.
Former director of the Entidad Binacional Yacyretá, Nicanor Duarte Frutos, warned that Paraguay could consume all of its available energy in about 10 years and called for investment in new energy projects and the strengthening of the national industry.
Paraguayan slaughterhouses supplied 49.9% of domestic beef consumption in 2025, a jump of more than 12 percentage points compared to 2023, when their share stood at 37.6%.
The accelerated aging of Paraguay's population is already underway and will require companies to deeply revise their investment, employment, and productivity strategies, warned UNFPA specialist Claudina Zavattiero during ADEC's 18th International CSR and Sustainability Congress. She noted that the country will undergo in three decades an aging process that took roughly a century in Europe, which will reshape both consumer markets and labor availability.
Agricultural producer Almir de Brum, 32, was released this Thursday, April 4, after more than three months in captivity by the armed group EPP in Canindeyú, without any ransom payment, and is now at his home under the protection of state security forces.
SENAD agents eradicated approximately 18 tons of marijuana and dismantled two camps used for drug production in Bella Vista Norte, in the department of Amambay, following an operation carried out in the area known as Cascada.
The Extended Constitutional Chamber of Paraguay's Supreme Court of Justice rejected by six votes to three the unconstitutionality action filed by former Senator Kattya González against her expulsion from the Senate in February 2024, ruling that the court cannot intervene in the disciplinary acts of the Legislative Branch. This case holds broader significance as it may set a precedent affecting the balance of powers and legal certainty in Paraguay, with implications for the country's institutional stability and rule of law.
MITIC confirmed having reported only two of at least 14 social media accounts linked to the "dirty campaign" against opponents, journalists, and media outlets critical of the Santiago Peña government, a response lawmakers investigating the case deemed insufficient.
Former mayor of Lambaré, Roberto Cárdenas, sentenced to eight years in prison for misappropriation of public funds, is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on June 29, convened by Judge Rosarito Montanía, as part of an investigation into an alleged corruption scheme involving the collection of bribes for the granting of Phytosanitary Import Accreditations (Afidi) at the National Service for Plant and Seed Quality and Health (Senave), which also involves the former head of the institution, Pastor Emilio Soria Melo, and seven other defendants.
The Paraguayan Congress approved by constructive approval the merger of the Secretariat of Development for Repatriated Nationals and Compatriot Refugees with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dissolving the secretariat as an autonomous institution after more than three decades and creating in its place the Specialized Program for Repatriated Nationals and Compatriot Refugees (PEPRRC), with administrative and financial autonomy within the Foreign Ministry.
TikToker Jabari Stephan Brown, known as Treezy and co-pilot of the executive jet that arrived from the United States carrying 261 kilograms of drugs, testified on Thursday in a pretrial evidence hearing before Organized Crime Judge Rosarito Montanía. He cooperated with the investigation and is allowed to leave the country after giving his testimony.
OTP Bank invested USD 47 million in U Holdings, the parent company of ueno bank, becoming the main shareholder with 9.99% and a strategic partner of the Paraguayan digital bank.
Data from the National Cadastre Service in 2019 reveal that rural land registered in Paraguay totals 654,861 km²—about 270,000 km² more than the country's officially recognized territorial area of 406,752 km²—reigniting the debate over title overlaps, historical surveying errors, and irregularly acquired lands.
The Central Bank of Paraguay set the ceiling interest rate for loans in guaraníes at 27.11% per year for June, while the limit for foreign currency loans was maintained at 11.20%.
Senator José Oviedo, of the Yo Creo movement, warned of the risk of misuse of public resources and political exploitation of the law declaring a national road safety emergency in Paraguay, criticizing the lack of clarity in the text and the fact that its one-year duration coincides with the electoral calendar.
The El Niño phenomenon is expected to reach Paraguay between July and August, bringing heavy rains, high temperatures, and flood risks, with government agencies already working on preventive measures.
The National Police's Anti-Narcotics Department arrested Paulo Candio Oliveira, a 39-year-old Brazilian and key link in the Comando Vermelho, during Operativo Puma PY in the Cuarto Barrio neighborhood of Luque, where a cell phone, a laptop, sheets of cocaine, and other evidence were seized. He will be deported from Paraguay and handed over to Brazil.
Paraguay's Business Expectations Indicator rose from 49.68 to 49.83 points in May 2026, remaining below the 50-point mark that separates optimism from pessimism, with the financial sector and trade in optimistic territory, while construction and other services continue in negative territory.
Paraguay was elected on Tuesday, the 3rd, to hold one of the vice-presidencies of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, corresponding to the 2026-2027 cycle, with representation by Ambassador Marcelo Scappini.
The Paraguay national team faces Nicaragua this Friday at 7:15 p.m. at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asunción in a farewell friendly ahead of the World Cup in North America, following a 16-year absence, with head coach Gustavo Alfaro defining the starting lineup and the goalkeeper position as the main unknown among Orlando Gill, Gatito Fernández, and Gastón Olveira.
An Appeals Court has confirmed the oral and public trial of former Central Department governor Hugo Javier González and other defendants accused of the alleged embezzlement of more than G. 18.3 billion in public funds, with proceedings set to begin on February 3, 2027.
A Brazilian man was arrested with cocaine in La Paloma, Paraguay, and assaulted a police officer inside a police station.
Brazil has proposed the creation of a free flight zone within Mercosur to allow national airlines to operate domestic flights in other member countries, aiming to enhance regional integration and facilitate low-cost flights.
The Central Bank of Paraguay maintains a neutral stance and does not intervene in the dollar's decline against the guarani, attributing the depreciation to external factors, internal economic improvements, and a record soybean harvest.
Architect Luis Moya warns that 25% of the historic heritage in downtown Asunción is abandoned, and the local population has dropped to around 3,000 residents.
ANDE held a public virtual hearing on the international tender for the construction of a 140 MW photovoltaic solar plant in Loma Plata, in the Paraguayan Chaco, with more than 380 participants, including companies from Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil.
Itaipú transfers to Paraguay fell 12.53% in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, totaling $205,265,900, with the steepest drop in the Energy Cession Compensation, which declined 34.15%, while royalties fell 1.13% and benefits to ANDE rose 1.51%.
Lawyer Cecilia Pérez denounced that the referral of complaints about the Santiago Peña government's "dirty campaign" to the Comptroller General's Office by Attorney General Emiliano Rolón Fernández represents an attempt to close the case, pointing out procedural flaws, failure to preserve evidence, and disparity in treatment compared to other investigations.
The Municipality of Asunción is preparing temporary shelters and emergency protocols in anticipation of potential flooding of the Paraguay River, whose current level stands at 3.15 meters and could reach between 3.80 and 4 meters by the end of the month.
The Paraguayan Senate passed on Tuesday, June 2, the bill declaring a national road safety emergency for one year, authorizing the ANTSV to adopt exceptional measures for the prevention and enforcement of traffic accidents, including the use of automated speed cameras and radar systems, despite opposition criticism over the lack of technical studies and the broad powers granted to the agency.
Daniel Pereira Mujica resigned as mayor of Ciudad del Este to focus on his election campaign, and Pedro Acuña was elected interim mayor by the Municipal Council.
The 24% drop in the dollar against the guaraní so far this year drove a 31.7% increase in vehicle imports to Paraguay in the first quarter, with sales growth of over 19%, especially in the SUV segment. However, the surge has overwhelmed the capacity of authorized service centers, prompting dealerships to invest in infrastructure and spare parts.
The Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice was composed of justices Víctor Ríos, Manuel Ramírez Candia, and Gustavo Santander, the only three of the nine justices who did not take part in the secret meeting with President Santiago Peña at Mburuvicha Róga, to review the constitutional challenges in the case involving the Seprelad leaks.
The Canadian group International Airways Holding acquired 95% of the shares of Paraguayan airline Paranair, with the remaining 5% going to Bolivian businessman Marco Paniagua. The deal includes all of the company's assets, such as its ANTA maintenance division, while Jaime Cassola remains as general manager and Juan Albino Bazzanella takes over as president, replacing Augusto Fúster.
Aneaes reported that out of 53 Pharmacy and Chemistry degree programs authorized by CONES in Paraguay, only 4 currently hold accreditation (7.5%), and that of the 1,364 diplomas issued by the MEC between 2023 and May 2026, 76.3% correspond to programs that have not completed the accreditation process.
The commuter rail project in Asunción is being challenged by engineer Guillermo López Flores, who argues that the initiative constitutes a 30-year hidden sovereign debt, financed by annual government subsidies, with the Guaranteed Minimum Revenue mechanism ensuring minimum revenue for the Special Purpose Company responsible for building and operating the system.
Two men were placed in preventive isolation in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on suspicion of Ebola after trips to Africa, amid an outbreak in Central Africa caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment.
Three armed and hooded men posing as police officers and SENAD agents broke into the home of 38-year-old prison officer Manuel Galván in San Salvador, Guairá, stealing approximately G. 280 million in cash, weapons, a cell phone, and two motorcycles.
The Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur) condemned the acts of violence recorded in Bolivia during protests demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz and called for respect for the Ushuaia Protocol, the bloc's democratic clause.
United States President Donald Trump announced on Monday, the 1st, the nomination of businessman Paul Kalmbach, CEO of Kalmbach Feeds, Inc., as the next U.S. ambassador to Paraguay, submitting the proposal to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.
The guarantees judge ordered the preventive detention of three Americans accused of international trafficking of 261 kg of high-purity marijuana, seized from an executive jet that came from Miami with a stopover in Panama.
Paraguay has stepped up health surveillance at all points of entry into the country after the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern over the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and imported cases in Uganda, with no confirmed cases in Paraguay to date.
The Argentine provinces of Corrientes and Chaco have declared a temporary ban on all forms of surubí fishing in a shared stretch of the Paraná River, aiming to protect the species during a period of mass aggregation of fish. The Paraná River forms the Paraguay-Paraná waterway, which is of major importance to Paraguay's trade and ecology.
During Basilio Bachi Núñez's tenure at the National Congress, two officials — Catherine Larissa Benítez Pascottini, a prospective city council candidate in Ñemby for the Honor Colorado movement, and Adilson Sosa, the son of a Villa Hayes city councilor — were hired and promoted with significant salary increases within just a few months, prompting allegations of influence peddling and waste of public resources.
The National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) intercepted a jet from Miami carrying approximately 261 kilograms of premium marijuana on Saturday and detained several U.S. citizens at a private hangar at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Luque, as part of the Colibrí Program.
On June 7, 4.3 million voters affiliated with 32 parties, 22 movements, and 214 alliances will go to the polls in Paraguay to choose the candidates who will run in the municipal elections on October 4, when 263 mayoral positions and 2,832 councilor seats will be decided for the 2026-2031 term.
The Electoral Court began distributing 16,582 electronic ballot boxes and election kits on Sunday, May 31, for the June 7 simultaneous primary elections, with shipments by land, river, and air to various departments of Paraguay, coordinated by the National Police, Military Forces, and Public Prosecutor's Office.
Paraguayan forward Isidro Pitta has been confirmed as the 26th and final player on La Albirroja's definitive squad for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, following a strong first half of the year at Bragantino, where he recorded nine goals and five assists in 28 matches.
The Ministry of Urbanism, Housing and Habitat (MUVH) has launched Che Róga Porã 3.0, a new phase of the Paraguayan government's housing program that expands access to credit for families earning 6 to 9 minimum wages, with loans of up to G. 792 million, terms of up to 30 years and an interest rate of 9.9%.
The Paraguayan national team's qualification for the 2026 World Cup is boosting tourism and consumption in the country, with around 2,000 Paraguayans traveling to the United States on unprecedented charter flights, while sectors such as food, beverages, meat, and retail are bracing for a sharp surge in sales during the Albirroja's matches.
The main tourist attractions at Itaipú Binacional will be closed to the public from June 1 to 7 due to the 38th Session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC) of UNESCO, an event that will be hosted at the hydroelectric plant's facilities and will bring together delegations from several countries.
Expert questions Paraguay's sovereignty in the Yguazú Digital project, a mega artificial intelligence center with Taiwan that will use energy from Itaipú, warning that the country will have no control over hardware, algorithms, or significant job generation.
Luis Amadeus Monges Medina, 34, self-proclaimed leader of the Rotela Clan, was arrested in Lambaré after a rollover traffic accident on Avenida Cacique Lambaré. He was taken to the Trauma Hospital and, after being discharged, transferred to the 4th Police Station by order of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
José Gabriel Leguizamón Díaz, known as "La Vaca," was captured in Lambaré after a chase involving gunfire that began on Asunción's Costanera Sur during a marathon, resulting in the death of Guadalupe Yamile Simón Pérez, 25, who was riding with him in the vehicle.
President Santiago Peña lashed out at journalists who questioned his wealth growth, suggesting without evidence that a reporter might be receiving money from organized crime, while opposition legislators and a lawyer reported irregularities in the Comptroller General's investigation of his assets.
Congressman José Rodríguez (ANR–Capital) introduced a bill for the recovery, enhancement, and comprehensive management of the Mirador de Itá Pytã Punta, located on the Bay of Asunción, seeking to preserve its historical, cultural, scenic, tourist, and urban value as an inclusive and sustainable public space.
Digital lending platforms in Latin America charge interest rates that can exceed 60% per year, deduct administrative fees of more than 30% of the disbursed amount, and use digital harassment — including sending messages to family members, friends, and employers — to collect debts, with complaints filed by regulatory authorities in Paraguay, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, where the practice became known as "montadeudas."
The Ciudad del Este municipal government announced the construction of six plazas in neighborhoods across the city, with participation from residents' committees in the design of the projects, which will be funded with the municipality's own resources.
Former Senator Kattya González announced that she will present her case at the 56th OAS General Assembly, in Panama City, in June 2026, and warned of authoritarian risks in Paraguay, criticizing the Cartes movement and the concentration of power.
The Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay approved on May 26 a bill that increases the penalty for false accusations to up to six years in prison when it results in restrictive measures on freedom, such as preventive detention, and the text was sent to the Senate for review.
The Expo Paraguay ARP 2026 and the 80th National Livestock Exhibition will be held from July 11 to 26, with expectations of surpassing 800,000 visitors, bringing together around 200 companies, competitions featuring various breeds and species, job fairs, networking spaces, and musical performances on the three Saturdays of the event.
The Yacyretá Binational Entity (EBY) refused to disclose the results of audits conducted by the firms Audicon and Ayca in 2023, as well as internal and external audits, citing legal constraints arising from the special regime governing the entity. Paraguayan lawyer Federico Legal, who requested the information through a public access to information request, described the refusal as arbitrary and stated that those responsible may face penalties under Paraguayan law.
The Paraguayan national team has stepped up its preparations for the 2026 World Cup at the High-Performance Sports Center (Carde) in Ypané, with the arrival of players based abroad, including Gustavo Gómez, Ramón Sosa, Maurício Magalhães, Gustavo Velázquez, and Roberto Junior Fernández, under the command of head coach Gustavo Alfaro.
An armed group carried out a planned heist on Tuesday morning, May 26, in Ciudad del Este, stealing approximately $200,000 from employees of the importer Vía Brasil as they were heading to a bank along Route PY02. On the same day, a separate robbery occurred involving employees of Distribuidora Renacer, with four suspects arrested and part of the money recovered.
Paraguay and Brazil signed a police and border security cooperation agreement and the "2026 Asunción Commitment against Corruption and Organized Crime" during Mercosur ministerial meetings, including joint actions against corruption, money laundering, integration of migration systems, and the creation of the Puerto Murtinho–Carmelo Peralta binational command.
The Central Bank of Paraguay recorded a 24.7% increase in household credit through March 2026, driven by consumption, while total credit grew 17.1% and the delinquency rate stood at 2.5%.
Minimum wage negotiations in Paraguay remain stalled after workers reiterated their demand for a 20% increase and the business sector refused to submit a counterproposal until inflation data is released by the Central Bank.
Óscar Lovera, Minister of Economy and Finance, confirmed a payment of US$80 million to pharmaceutical suppliers as part of a plan to reduce a total debt of about US$1 billion. He also announced a new Treasury-backed factoring mechanism with the Central Bank of Paraguay that will allow suppliers to assign receivables to banks and receive immediate liquidity, with payment terms extended up to 36 months.
Paraguayan scientists sent a letter to President Santiago Peña and the National Congress warning about the proliferation of low-quality doctoral programs in Paraguay, highlighting issues such as conflicts of interest within the National Council of Higher Education (Cones), lack of academic rigor, and shortcomings in the evaluation and accreditation of these programs by the National Agency for the Evaluation and Accreditation of Higher Education (Aneaes).
The Paraguayan government has reactivated the "Cielo Guaraní Soberano" program with U.S. support to shield its airspace against drug trafficking, integrating intelligence, radars, and Super Tucano aircraft without shoot-down authorization.
The construction sector in Paraguay presents a contradictory scenario in 2026, with growth in the volume of projects driven by investments from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) and the expansion of Route PY01, but it faces persistent financial difficulties, especially among public works companies, according to Gustavo Masi, director of the Paraguayan Road Chamber (CAVIALPA).
Paraguay recorded a labor informality rate of 60.1% in 2025, equivalent to approximately 1.66 million workers without access to social security or labor rights, according to data from the National Statistics Institute obtained through the Continuous Permanent Household Survey.
The Oñoiru Agroecological Agriculture Association, which brings together more than 150 families of small rural producers from the departments of Itapúa and Caazapá, will open a commercial office in Warsaw, Poland, in June to export 100% organic Paraguayan yerba mate to over 30 European Union countries. This initiative is supported by the National Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Market Insertion Project, which allocated more than 2.232 million guaraníes to modernize the association's industrial plant.
The president of the Paraguayan Congress, Basilio "Bachi" Núñez, described the display of degrading messages and images on an LED screen in the primary zone of Ciudad del Este, near the Puente de la Amistad, as an "affront to dignity" and demanded an investigation to determine responsibility.
Cybersecurity expert Miguel Ángel Gaspar warned that Paraguay needs to strengthen its digital sovereignty and adopt more robust regulations on personal data protection and the responsible use of artificial intelligence, given the risks posed by platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Grok.
The mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes, publicly asked Google not to set up operations in Paraguay during the inauguration of the company's engineering center in the São Paulo capital, amid a regional dispute over attracting data center and artificial intelligence investments, driven by the abundance of cheap Paraguayan hydroelectric power from Itaipu and Yacyretá.
ANDE's low electricity tariffs, among the cheapest in the world, are preventing the growth of residential solar energy in Paraguay, making the injection of surplus power into the grid financially unattractive in the short term.
Swedish brand H&M has confirmed the opening of two stores in Asunción, Paraguay, with inaugurations scheduled for August 13 at Paseo La Galería and August 22 at Distrito Perseverancia, advancing its expansion in Latin America.
The Colegio de Contadores del Paraguay has requested a technical and public debate with the DNIT regarding Resolution No. 49/2026 and a potential bill affecting companies' retained earnings, citing a lack of clarity in the rules and calling for formal explanations before the measures proceed.
The government of Paraguay published Decree No. 6120, signed by President Santiago Peña and Minister of Economy and Finance Óscar Lovera, establishing austerity measures to optimize, prioritize, and efficiently manage public spending in the 2026 National Budget, prioritizing expenditures on health, education, security, and social programs, while imposing restrictions on operational spending and non-essential procurement.
Pirayú is preparing to host the 11th edition of the National Chipa Festival from May 29 to 31, 2026, at the city's train station, featuring a gastronomic exhibition of local traditional products.
Through April 2026, banks and the Deposit Guarantee Fund (FGD) held 80% of the G$8.5 trillion in Treasury Bonds (BOTES) circulating in Paraguay, underscoring the heavy reliance of state financing on local financial institutions.
Following the detection of an unauthorized drone flying over Module 7 of the Minga Guazú Penitentiary, where members of the PCC and Miguel Ángel Insfrán are held, a search conducted by authorities found no illegal items at the site.
Paraguay's Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) and the Patrulla Caminera have issued a warning about a digital scam in which criminals impersonate officers to demand payment for non-existent fines via instant messaging. Authorities clarified that official notifications are delivered only in person and payments must be made exclusively at government-authorized locations.
Prosecutor Jorge Arce, who was part of the team that requested the dismissal of charges against Horacio Cartes, has been assigned to investigate President Santiago Peña for alleged illicit enrichment, money laundering, and other crimes.
The L'Étape Encarnación 2026 by Tour de France cycling event, scheduled for May 31, is projected to generate an economic impact of between $3.5 million and $5 million for Itapúa's economy, with participation from athletes in Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile.
Judge Francisco Acevedo granted the Public Prosecutor's Office a four-month extension to conclude its investigation into businesswoman Dalia López, who is accused of producing forged documents and criminal association for facilitating the acquisition of Paraguayan identity cards and passports for Ronaldinho Gaúcho and his brother. The new deadline has been set for October 2, while López remains under house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor.
According to the commercial director of Agrofuturo Paraguay, the global uncertainty generated by conflicts and logistical crises opens a historic opportunity for Paraguay to strengthen its local agricultural inputs industry, gaining competitiveness and productive sovereignty.
The Chamber of Shopping Malls of Paraguay (CCCPy) reported a 7% increase in mall sales during the first four months of 2026, driven by supermarkets and food services, but warned of a slowdown in growth momentum due to a 25% drop in spending by Argentine visitors and the impact of dollar devaluation on exchange rates.
The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Marco Riquelme, and representatives of the Yacyretá Binational Entity met with local authorities in Ayolas to assess the installation of new industrial parks, aiming to align the necessary infrastructure and leverage the energy surplus to attract investments.
Itaipú Binacional is investing more than G. 20.5 billion in the comprehensive revitalization of Ñu Guasu Park in Luque, with works including the renovation of restrooms, roadways, fencing, parking areas, and playgrounds, as well as the construction of a new User Service Center.
Paraguayan production sector representatives warned Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano about the risks posed by the European Union's proposed ILUC regulation, which classifies soybean oil as an unsustainable biofuel and threatens national exports by disregarding local realities.
Itaipú Binacional plans to install up to 14,000 MW of floating solar power on its reservoir, a capacity equivalent to that of the current hydroelectric plant. By utilizing 10% of the water surface, the project aims to reduce reliance on hydropower and minimize evaporation. This initiative builds on the success of a pilot plant that already supplies part of the facility's internal consumption and is currently being expanded to include battery storage.
Brazil's Federal Police rescued ten Paraguayan women who were victims of human trafficking in Santa Helena, Paraná, during an operation to dismantle a network accused of sexual exploitation and slave-like labor.
The Public Prosecutor's Office seized a herd of cattle in Concepción, Paraguay, after authorities identified 13 animals with markings suggesting Brazilian origin among the 150 head being transported from Santa Rosa del Aguaray to Alto Paraguay. They are now awaiting a report from Senacsa to confirm the suspicion of smuggling.
Under the leadership of Mayor Jaime Hinterleitner, the district of Cambyretá in Itapúa has revived its iconic Mirador, transforming it into a new cultural center featuring exhibitions, an educational area, and panoramic access via an elevator, while planning to extend opening hours and revitalize the adjacent amphitheater to boost tourism and community integration.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has requested the preventive detention of a 19-year-old Brazilian citizen, a migration consultant, accused of stealing a notarial seal from Escribanía Amarilla in Ciudad del Este, based on security footage that recorded the crime on May 25.
Opposition lawmakers dismissed the Comptroller General's Office report, which found no irregularities in President Santiago Peña's asset growth but failed to examine the period during which his wealth increased by approximately 20 billion guaraníes, as a whitewash.
Son of former Paraguayan congresswoman Perla de Vázquez arrested in San Estanislao with cocaine, marijuana, and a weapon on suspicion of leading a drug trafficking ring in the region.
Experts advocate for the use of prescribed burns as a controlled management tool to reduce the buildup of combustible material and prevent disastrous wildfires in Paraguay.
A leaked audio recording reveals that Cartismo senator Javier Zacarías Irún negotiated a position at the Itaipu Binacional entity for the brother of a political operative in exchange for electoral support in Ciudad del Este.
Producers in Alto Paraná are forecasting a record corn harvest and export volumes, provided no frosts occur by mid-June, after crops overcame initial water stress with no reported pest infestations.
Police seized 15 kilos of undocumented liquid mercury and detained three men in Ciudad del Este, suspecting the Bolivian-origin material was destined for clandestine gold mining in Paso Yobái.
Paraguayan banks accumulated profits of US$302 million in the first four months of 2026, a 5.8% increase compared to the same period in 2025, led by Banco Continental.
The Paraguayan pork industry is advocating for an end to foot-and-mouth disease vaccination in order to access premium markets such as Japan and South Korea, projecting a surge in exports from 20,000 to 250,000 tons within five years.
The Paraguayan justice system sentenced Rodrigo Sebastián Tamarasco to two years of effective imprisonment and the confiscation of equipment for stealing electricity from ANDE to conduct illegal cryptocurrency mining in Ciudad del Este, causing losses of approximately 381 thousand dollars.
The IPS investment portfolio reached G$ 20 trillion in March 2026, with more than half of the funds concentrated in instruments issued by local banks and financial entities.
Paraguayan exporters warned the Central Bank about the losses caused by the dollar's 23% depreciation over one year, which is affecting sectors such as cassava, pork, the forestry industry, and recycling.
Itaipú Binacional has launched five tenders totaling nearly US$11.4 million for private security services, gardening, tree pruning, and mineral water supply.
The Itaipú Technological Park Foundation opened a G. 11 billion bidding process for cell phone interception equipment for the National Police, while Tedic warns that such devices violate fundamental rights such as privacy and freedom of expression.
Paraguay is accelerating the modernization of its Armed Forces with U.S. support, including the purchase of armored vehicles and the creation of counterterrorism units to combat organized crime.
President Santiago Peña projected during the Student Economics Summit at UNA that Paraguay will see GDP growth above 4% in 2026, driven by public and private investment.
Lambaré is facing a severe urban crisis with destroyed streets and flooded neighborhoods, as candidates from different parties gear up for the June 7 municipal elections amid accusations and widespread public discontent.
MITIC announced that access to platforms such as Portal Paraguay, MI IPS, and Digitalia will now require mandatory two-step authentication via SMS, in addition to a password, to strengthen digital security.
Lease contracts for approximately 190,000 hectares belonging to IPS in the Teniente Ochoa region reveal monthly fees as low as G. 627 per hectare, with terms of up to 20 years and 24-month grace periods. An economic analyst warns of poor asset management and possible favoritism.
The Superior Electoral Court will mobilize over 82,000 people and 16,582 voting machines for the June 7 internal party elections, in which 4,338,716 voters will choose candidates for mayor and city council across the country.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has scheduled eight family farming fairs between this Monday and Saturday in Asunción, San Lorenzo, Itauguá, Caacupé, and Concepción to encourage the direct sale of products without intermediaries.
The Paraguayan justice system has confirmed that the State must pay teacher Clementina Ruiz Díaz Ojeda over 853 million guaraníes in compensation for having spent nearly three years wrongfully imprisoned following the accidental death of her baby.
Analyst Wildo González, criticizes the monetary policy of the Central Bank of Paraguay, arguing that the current low inflation is the result of currency appreciation and liquidity tightening, not lasting success. He warns of future risks with the reversal of capital flows.
Electrical expert Guillermo Krauch said that electricity consumption in Paraguay is growing far above forecasts by the National Electricity Administration, bringing forward by two years the point where availability and real demand intersect.
The country reached sixth place among regional destinations in the ICCA 2025 Ranking, with Asunción ranking eighth among cities. The segment generated an estimated economic impact of US$300 million.
Luis Carlos Ortiz Godoy, a patient at the National Cancer Institute (Incan), obtained a constitutional injunction to receive the drug glofitamab, but the Ministry of Health has not complied with the court order for more than 60 days, according to his lawyer.
Inaugurated in 1965, the main border crossing between Ciudad del Este and Foz do Iguaçu operates well beyond its original capacity, creating kilometer-long traffic jams that worsen on shopping dates and holidays. Motorcycle taxis have become an alternative for crossing the 552 meters over the Paraná River, while the full opening of the Integration Bridge is seen as an urgent solution.
Defense Minister Óscar González stated that organized crime and terrorism are the main threats to Paraguayan sovereignty, as he pushed back against opposition criticism of the military cooperation agreement with the United States and detailed an investment plan of over US$179 million for the Armed Forces.
The 20th edition of the Asunción International Book Fair kicks off on May 28 at the Mariscal Convention Center, bringing together more than 60 exhibitors through June 7. The United States is the guest of honor, amid celebrations of the 250th anniversary of its independence.
IPS President Isaías Fretes reported that the institution disbursed around Gs. 46 billion over a decade on renting instruments for knee surgeries, an amount far exceeding the purchase cost. The Board of Directors session also exposed 22 families that have not paid rent on IPS properties since 2012.
Tripartite Command officers executed five search warrants in Ciudad del Este in the early hours of Thursday, resulting in three arrests and drug seizures. The operation targets a criminal group responsible for the robbery at Recicladora Walter and suspected of planning an attack on Guaraní International Airport.
Isaías Fretes, president of the IPS, acknowledged on Friday that the institution is going through a critical liquidity and medicine shortage crisis, attributing the collapse to past administrations and stifling bureaucratic processes.
Paraguay’s National Police have concluded that the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Araguá is already operating in the country and has begun recruiting local citizens. The investigation was driven by the capture of three suspects in Luque, including two Paraguayans and one Venezuelan, linked to a series of luxury-watch robberies in Asunción.
The international construction fair held at the Conmebol Convention Center ends this Sunday with free admission, bringing together around 900 brands and more than 200 companies. Organizers highlight surpassing business roundtable targets and the event's role as a showcase of innovation for the sector.
The regulation of the Non-Conventional Renewable Energy Law defines four categories for private participation in electricity generation, but the lack of clarity on grid wheeling charges and the need to pay new producers are expected to affect the price paid by residential consumers.
Gustavo Ovelar, pre-candidate for mayor of Ciudad del Este for the Colorado Añetete movement, accused the government of using Itaipú Binacional funds to finance attacks on opponents. The accusation was made during a rally with the support of presidential pre-candidate Arnoldo Wiens, on the eve of the municipal internal elections.
Transfers from Itaipu and Yacyretá fell 23.5% from January to April 2026, totaling US$143.5 million, reflecting lower royalties, energy compensation, and energy cession.
Eulalio Aquino, a Colorado Party council candidate and Paĩ Tavyterã language promoter, died after being shot outside his home in Amambay. Health officials said he suffered three gunshot wounds and could not be transferred because of his critical condition.
The sworn statements of the former pro‑government senator show a loss of roughly G$ 30 billion over five years, mainly due to the sale of shares in four companies, as well as declines in the value of real estate and vehicles. This case highlights important issues regarding political transparency and the investment climate in Paraguay.
On the morning of May 22, two Paraguayan buses carrying 106 Cerro Porteño fans returning from São Paulo lost their brakes and collided with light vehicles on BR-277 near the Friendship Bridge. The drivers were taken to Foz do Iguaçu Municipal Hospital with minor injuries; all passengers disembarked without serious injuries.
Paraguay's Social Security Institute (IPS) announced a contingency plan to address the medicine shortage crisis affecting its entire healthcare network. President Isaías Fretes confirmed the removal of nearly a thousand items from the formulary, sparking debate over the effectiveness of the measures.
President Santiago Peña inaugurated a new oncology block at the Regional Hospital of Caazapá and pledged to decentralize public health, but the promise contrasts with ongoing drug shortages and poor infrastructure.
Sergio Daniel Riquelme, a businessman and pre-candidate for city council in Benjamín Aceval with the Honor Colorado movement, was sent to the National Pretrial Detention Center after being identified as the head of a scheme involving the theft and illegal slaughter of cattle in the Paraguayan Chaco.
Criminal groups dominate the illegal trade of tirzepatide-based weight-loss drugs in the Triple Border region. Robberies, smuggling and counterfeiting generate million-dollar profits, while authorities struggle to contain the black market's advance.
After years away, artist Pedro Barrail opens the "En alerta" exhibition this Saturday (May 23) at Hive Coworking, as part of the 12th Noche de Galerías program. The works, which move between furniture design and sculpture, were created in partnership with the Paĩ Tavyterã community, which used pyrography to incorporate symbols and narratives from its cultural memory.
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Paraguay unanimously decided to keep the policy rate at 5.50% per year, amid strong domestic economic activity and external uncertainties.
The Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice rejected the final appeal and made final the sentence of Patricia Samudio to 4 years in prison and her husband, José Costa Perdomo, to 3 years and 9 months, for the embezzlement of G. 359.7 million from the state-owned company during the pandemic.
Official spreadsheets from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) reveal that Ueno Bank, linked to former partners of President Santiago Peña, increased its state deposits in foreign currency by more than US$102 million between December 2025 and April 2026, taking advantage of the dollar's depreciation on the local market. The funds include resources from the Social Security Institute (IPS).
Data from the Ministry of Economy and Finance show that civil servant remuneration consumed G. 7.9 trillion in the first four months of 2026, driven by strategic sectors. In contrast, transfers for works and infrastructure fell to G. 1.1 trillion, with a sharp decline in public credit resources.
President Santiago Peña inaugurated the Hospital Día Oncológico in Caazapá and stated that the government is working to offer quality cancer treatment in the country, comparable to what is available in São Paulo. He highlighted a more than threefold increase in the Incan budget and the construction of a new hospital in Itauguá that will be a reference in South America.
President Santiago Peña has signed a law eliminating the minimum 6% commission that airlines paid on each ticket sold in Paraguay. The measure, approved by Congress in April, aims to reduce operating costs and lower fares, while the government resumes talks with Gol to establish a direct Asunción-Miami flight.
Asunción mayoral candidate Soledad Núñez has reported the dismantling of garbage trucks, tractors and other city assets, which she says are being stripped for parts under interim mayor Luis Bello. She pledged an overhaul of municipal asset control and use.
The Chamber of Deputies approved in general terms a bill that requires creditors to return paid-off promissory notes within five business days, under penalty of a fine of 20% of the debt amount. Voting on the details was postponed to Tuesday, 26 May, at the request of Cartist bench leader Miguel Del Puerto.
Former Paraguayan senator Erico Galeano, sentenced to 13 years in prison for money laundering and criminal association in the “A Ultranza” case, was transferred on Wednesday morning to the National Prevention Center, located in the former Tacumbú prison in the Santa Ana district of Asunción.
Data from the Public Ministry show that 34,001 children and adolescents were treated as victims of sexual abuse between 2015 and May 2026. The aggressor is a family member in 40% of cases, and the Central Department concentrates the highest number of reports.
The Chamber of Deputies declared a national emergency for small yerba mate producers, who receive only G. 700 per kilo of green leaf, while processed yerba sells for G. 6,000. Many are already uprooting their plantations to plant transgenic soy.
Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies approved a declaration recognizing the South American Rally Championship – CODASUR 2026 and the fourth stage of the National Rally Championship as events of national and tourist interest, aiming to boost the economy and international projection of the Guairá department.
Economist Verónica Serafini highlighted the fragmentation and low coverage of social security in Paraguay during a Cadep panel. She pointed out that only a quarter of the population contributes to the Institute of Social Welfare and that the current model excludes especially women and informal workers.
Brazilian citizen Antonio Ademir Andrioli, 72, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempted murder after shooting Carlos Manuel Martínez at a car dealership in Ñemby in June 2020. The sentence was handed down unanimously by the Trial Court, which considered evidence presented by prosecutor Lourdes Bobadilla.
Susan Janeth Gamboa Stumpf, from Encarnación, graduated with distinction in mechanical engineering from Boston University after overcoming challenges of adaptation and language. She interned at Tesla, contributed to annual savings of US$5 million, and had a prize-winning project in the semiconductor field.
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (Mitic) has selected Consorcio TIC to equip the new State Modular Data Center, a multimillion-dollar investment financed by the IDB to be installed in Nueva Asunción, Presidente Hayes, with Tier III certification and a 20-month timeline.
Paraguay's National Police have reinforced security at Guaraní International Airport in Minga Guazú after an intelligence alert about a planned large-scale heist. The criminal group, comprising 17 to 25 heavily armed members, is said to target shipments of electronics, medicines, and cash. Preventive measures focus on nighttime hours, especially Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The Paraguayan government launched the Investor Pass in April, allowing foreigners who invest at least US$150,000 to obtain permanent residency through an accelerated process.
Nine cattle loads were held at checkpoints in San Pedro and the Chaco with inconsistencies in transit guides and brands. The investigation looks into possible smuggling, and the alleged owner is Bianca Judith Noria, reported to be the sister of Senator Alfonso Noria and sister-in-law of the governor of Canindeyú.
Conmebol President Alejandro Domínguez has been internally reported for allegedly receiving more than $5 million from funds recovered in the FIFAGate scandal, according to The New York Times. The complaint was filed with FIFA's ethics committee over a year ago, and world football's governing body is said to be aware of the case.
On the fourth anniversary of the murder of prosecutor Marcelo Pecci, his brother Francisco harshly criticized the lack of results from investigations in Paraguay, pointing to failures in the administrations of Sandra Quiñónez and Emiliano Rolón, and warned that the country risks becoming a 'narco-nation'.
Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano met with US Deputy Trade Representative Jeffrey Goettman to negotiate a specific access quota for Paraguayan beef. The meeting also reviewed the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).
Paraguayan Sebastián Galeano, 13, national karting champion, traveled to Genk, Belgium, where he will compete in the first round of the 2026 FIA Karting Academy Trophy, a competition bringing together young talents from over 40 countries.
Nuria Segura, a Spanish photo editor, went viral for showing how she works with images of international celebrities, such as Nicole Kidman, from Asunción, Paraguay. Her story illustrates how remote work and talent can overcome geographic barriers in the fashion industry.
Painter Horacio Guimaraens opens this Tuesday, May 19, the solo exhibition 'Les coupoles de Paris' at the Galeria de Arte com Aroma Café in Asunción. The show brings together ten large-format acrylic-on-canvas works depicting emblematic domes of the French capital in an architectural realism style.
On May 30, Palma Street in Asunción will host the second edition of the Palmear Sin Fronteras Fair, bringing together 16 immigrant communities with typical cuisine, artistic performances, and traditional dances in a day of multicultural integration.
Guillermo Zaracho Mármol, a doctoral candidate at the University of Bath, had his work on digital literacy in rural and suburban schools in Paraguay recognized by the magazine Inspire.
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