ABC Color

In Presidente Franco, Alto Paraná department, a father refused to vaccinate his three children against measles, raising concern among health authorities. The director of the Tenth Health Region, Federico Schrodel, and the head of the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI), Sergio Cetrini, warn that misinformation can lead to outbreaks of the disease, which is highly contagious and has already been reported in neighboring countries. The Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (Codeni) was notified and may sue the father for breach of duty of care.

Lawyers Juan José Bernis and María Muñoz filed a criminal complaint against the former president of the Institute of Social Welfare (IPS), Jorge Brítez, and other former directors, for alleged irregularities in five tenders totaling G. 391,574,472,965. The action was filed with the Public Prosecutor's Office and points to breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds.

The strong appreciation of the guarani against the dollar, with the exchange rate near G. 6,000, is reducing the tax base on imports and pressuring revenue for the National Directorate of Tax Revenues (DNIT). Director Óscar Orué states that although import volume grew 5.2% in dollars through April, the 20.5% depreciation of the US currency caused the taxable base in guarani to fall 16.2%, mainly affecting the customs component. DNIT maintains its revenue projection for 2026, betting on strengthened oversight and better performance of internal taxes to offset losses.

Mirtha Arias, the first woman to represent workers on the IPS Board of Directors in 80 years, took office with a promise to humanize medical care, speed up maternity payments, and protect hospital shelters.

The Asunción Stock Exchange (Bvpasa) is working with the Central Bank of Paraguay to enable the trading of currency futures (forwards) on the stock market as a hedging tool for importing and exporting companies amid exchange rate volatility. Bvpasa President Pablo Cheng also highlighted the potential of the Investor Pass program to attract foreign capital and provide liquidity to the market.

Frente Guasú, the left-wing coalition led by former President Fernando Lugo, has again stated that electronic voting machines represent a direct threat to the popular will and democracy in Paraguay. The party criticizes the Electoral Justice for allegedly preventing independent audits and demands transparency in the electoral process.

The Specialized Environmental Crimes Prosecutor's Office of Villarrica is investigating alleged irregularities in drainage works on a rural property in the San Agustín community, Paso Yobái district, which may have caused damage to a protected wetland. The action was prompted by complaints from residents and indicates that the work may have exceeded the environmental license granted by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (Mades).

Mirtha Arias, a union leader with three decades of experience, has become the first woman to sit on the Board of Directors of the Institute of Social Welfare (IPS) in eight decades. She promises to prioritize the humanization of healthcare, speed up maternity leave payments, and protect the hospital's shelters.

Paraguay's Consumer Confidence Index (ICC) fell to 40.17 points in April 2026, the lowest level since the series began, reversing the slight improvement seen in March. The decline occurs despite the depreciation of the dollar, reflecting internal and external uncertainties, including the so‑called 'war economy' announced by the former Minister of Economy.

Edson Álvarez, Jorge Sánchez and Mateo Chávez joined the Mexican national team's training camp on Monday, preparing for the 2026 World Cup. The trio will participate in the last three friendlies before the debut against South Africa on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca.

A delegation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was in Pilar, capital of Ñeembucú, for an international security cooperation agenda, which included visits to historical sites in the region and meetings with local and police authorities.

Paraguayan athlete Lars Anthony Flaming, 23, won the silver medal in the javelin throw at the Continental Tour Halle 2026 in Germany with a mark of 81.19 meters. The result reinforces his consistency and his chances of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

A joint operation by the 5th Metropolitan Police Station and the Tourist Security Department in the Ricardo Brugada neighborhood, known as La Chacarita, in Asunción, resulted in the arrest of Josías Daniel Aranda Santacruz, 20, wanted for aggravated theft. Additionally, six people were detained for identity verification and two motorcycles were seized.

Deputy José Rodríguez (ANR, HC) stated he fully trusts the Superior Electoral Justice Tribunal (TSJE) and denied that dissident Colorados were prevented from auditing the voting machines, despite the Colorado Party's own Electoral Party Tribunal (TEP) having acknowledged the issue and requested measures to resolve the doubts.

Villa Hayes, capital of the Presidente Hayes department, will have five aspirants to the mayoralty in the Colorado Party primaries. The cartismo faction is divided between current mayor Luis López, backed by Congress President Basilio “Bachi” Núñez, and councilwoman Karina Zárate, supported by the Roussillón and Zárate groups. Two other Colorado candidates and an opposition alliance complete the scenario.

A lawyer was detained this Monday (18) in Santa Rita, Alto Paraná, during Operation Omega, an international action against child sexual exploitation. He is suspected of storing, distributing, and selling child sexual abuse material, receiving payments in cryptocurrencies. The investigation, which began in 2019, analyzed over 35,000 files and may lead to further arrests abroad.

The Asunción City Hall closed a section of Presbítero Justo Román Street for 45 days for storm drainage works in the Santo Domingo basin. The measure further isolates the Manorá and Santo Domingo neighborhoods, which already suffer from traffic collapse. The work, promised by former mayor Óscar Rodríguez with funds from G8 bonds, is delayed and marked by allegations of fund diversion.

Hernán Adolar Schlender, former mayor of Jesús de Tavarangüé (ANR), has been a fugitive since October 2025, accused of using Fonacide funds to launder drug trafficking money. Former accountant Zenón Cáceres Duarte was sentenced to four years in prison, with the sentence confirmed in March. The estimated loss to the municipality is G. 7.418 billion.

Prosecutor Andrea Vera requested on Monday (18) the conviction of former sports executive Ramón González Daher to 6 years in prison for perjury during the closing arguments of the trial. González Daher, who is already serving a 15-year sentence for aggravated usury, money laundering, and false accusation, is accused of lying about the reasons for his departure from the Paraguayan Football Association (APF) in testimony given in 2021.

Peace Judge of La Encarnación, Analía Cibils, and former Peace Judge of La Catedral, Nathalia Garcete, have been charged again by the Paraguayan Public Prosecutor's Office for alleged malfeasance and use of false documents, as part of the scheme known as the 'Promissory Note Mafia'. The accusations also include actuaries, court clerks, and representatives of credit companies.

Pumas UNAM, with Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas, visit Cruz Azul on Thursday in the first leg of the Mexican Clausura final. The return leg will be on Sunday at Estadio Ciudad Universitaria. Pumas seek their eighth title, while La Máquina aims for its tenth.

Arnaldo Andrés Lezcano Ramírez, 20, was detained by the National Police after punching referee Jorge Junior Villalba Ortíez in the face, causing a cheekbone fracture. The assault occurred at the end of a match of the Liga Caaguazú de Futebol, at the Club 8 de Diciembre field in the Santa Isabel neighborhood. The player attempted to flee but was captured a few blocks away and remains at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Paraguay's Social Security Institute (IPS) activated a contingency plan due to shortages and transferred the definition of the formulary to doctors, after finding that only 200 medications (45% of the total) consume 95% of available resources. The measure seeks efficiency and elimination of unnecessary supplies.

The National Police of Paraguay arrested Daniel Pereira Medina, 31, as the fifth suspect in the homicide of German citizen Olga Brodkorb, which occurred on April 26, 2026, in the Planchada community, Paso Yobái, Guairá department. The arrest was carried out this Monday (18) by agents of the Guairá Regional Crime Investigation Department, under the order of prosecutor Rocío Raquel Rivas. With this capture, the number of detainees in the case rises to five, including Juan Alberto Rodas García, Eleno Fonseca, Venancio Trinidad González, and Darío Aguilar Saucedo. The investigation indicates that the group, described as amateur criminals, allegedly planned a robbery at the victim's residence, but the plan went wrong when Brodkorb unexpectedly returned, resulting in a fatal confrontation. The victim was killed with a gunshot to the head. After the crime, the suspects fled with the victim's car, a white 2023 Chevrolet Onix Joy, which was found incinerated on a rural road near Arroyo Morotí. During previous searches, police seized more than 17 million guaranis in cash, a .22 caliber rifle, cell phones, motorcycles, and clothing. Authorities do not rule out further arrests.