El Nacional

Economist and former mayor of Asunción, Martín Burt, stated that Paraguay has the conditions to significantly reduce poverty in the short term, focusing on employment, education, and comprehensive support for vulnerable families. He highlighted the country's macroeconomic stability and natural resources, as well as official data showing that more than 213,000 Paraguayans left poverty in 2025 and extreme poverty stands at 2.4%.

Parishes in Asunción and the Central Department have started accepting donations via QR Code, adapting to the growth of digital payments and preventing worshippers from relying on cash during services.

Criminal judge José Agustín Delmás stated that family violence is the most frequent crime in Paraguay's judicial system, followed by aggravated theft and alimony. On average, five to six cases of each type are registered per month.

Coach Pablo Sánchez, known as Vitamina, will be without Richard Sánchez and may lose captain Richard Ortiz for the match against Vasco da Gama on Wednesday at Defensores del Chaco, in the fifth round of Group G of the Copa Sudamericana.

The Public Prosecutor's Office investigation found no evidence of sexual abuse against the 7-year-old boy killed by his mother in Lambaré, who later committed suicide. The complaint made by the woman on social media was not corroborated by exams or testimonies, and the owner of the boarding house where the tragedy occurred stated that the mother had mental health issues and had been admitted to a psychiatric center.

The Paraguayan government announced a restructuring of the female prison system, turning the Emboscada Penitentiary Complex into the country's only prison exclusively for women. The measure includes the definitive closure of the Juana María de Lara Penitentiary Center in Ciudad del Este and the elimination of mixed units in five cities.

A large fire destroyed two commercial establishments at the Limpio Municipal Market in the Central Department on Sunday afternoon. Six fire companies prevented the flames from spreading, but the lack of hydrants on site forced the use of water tanker trucks, reviving long-standing complaints from merchants about precarious electrical installations and difficult access to water.

Dass Group, a Brazilian manufacturer of brands such as Nike, Adidas, Fila, Umbro, Asics and Champion, has transferred its production line from Argentina to Paraguay, attracted by tax incentives from the Maquila Regime. The new plant, inaugurated in March, received a US$ 40 million investment. While the factory in Coronel Suárez (Buenos Aires) was closed, the unit in Eldorado (Misiones) operates at reduced capacity, generating uncertainty among workers.

The president of the Superior Electoral Justice Tribunal (TSJE), Jorge Bogarín, stated that criticism of the voting machines aims to discredit the Paraguayan electoral system, weeks before the simultaneous internal party elections on June 7. Bogarín defended the transparency of the mechanism, implemented since 2021, and attributed the questions to an intention to weaken the model established by Law 6318/2019. Colorado senator Lilian Samaniego reiterated the request for an audit of the machines to the ANR.

Paraguay's Social Security Institute (IPS) announced the exclusion of 817 medications and supplies from its vademecum as part of a broad administrative and financial review. The measure aims to eliminate obsolete or unproven products, while the institution faces reports of shortages and irregularities in purchases and property management. IPS President Isaías Fretes and Executive Branch Auditor General Alberto Cabrera lead the audit covering rental contracts, properties, and inventories.

The accident occurred on Avenida Médicos del Chaco in the Nazareth neighborhood when the vehicle collided with a tree and overturned. The driver, Arnaldo Díaz, 22, did not suffer serious injuries.

Paraguay's Ministry of Justice executed operation "Umbral 2.5", transferring about 225 women from six prisons to the new Women's Penitentiary Complex in Emboscada, Cordillera department. The action aims to centralize the female prison population and improve detention conditions.

Esperanza Martínez denounces that the General Budget of the Nation (PGN) needs transparent resources for policies protecting women, girls, and adolescents, highlighting the high rates of child and teenage pregnancy in the country.

Technicians from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) visited the property of producer Gabriela Maidana Sanabria in San Rafael, Caazapá, and observed good development of hybrid tomato and locote, as well as a mild whitefly infestation, with management recommendations and a nutrition schedule.

Starting this Monday (18), Paraguay records a gradual drop in temperature, with highs between 16°C and 19°C in the Eastern and Western regions. The most intense cold is expected between Tuesday (19) and Wednesday (20), with lows from 6°C to 10°C. Isolated rain occurs in the north of the country, but no precipitation is forecast for the other days.

Research by employment specialist Enrique López Arce reveals that about 40,000 Paraguayan mothers face discrimination in hiring, with 35% of households having women as the main breadwinner.

The growth of quick credit apps in Paraguay exposes consumers to interest rates reaching 60% and administrative fees of up to 30% of the borrowed amount, a practice regulated by the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) but still escaping authorities' control. The "shadow banking" model is also adopted by appliance retail chains, which inflate prices and impose disguised charges to circumvent usury laws.

The phenomenon of 'kodokushi' — people who die in complete isolation — now accounts for about 5% of registered deaths in Japan. Official 2025 data shows 76,941 cases, an increase of 921 from the previous year. The government has created a specific ministry and approved a law to address the social crisis.

Criminal judge José Agustín Delmás stated that Paraguay's prison legislation, dating from 1970, is completely outdated and does not meet the needs of social reintegration of convicts. He highlighted the creation of execution judges as progress, but warned that the system still operates under a "totally outdated" law.

The 12th edition of Noche de Galerías, Paraguay's largest visual arts event, will be held on May 23, 2026, with 23 participating spaces and, for the first time, a general curator, Ticio Escobar. The event celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Spanish Cultural Center in Asunción and includes the launch of the Young Critical Writing Award.

The Paraguayan play "En Penumbras," written by Santiago Filártiga Lamar and directed by Carlos Arbués, premieres on May 22 at the Casa Argentina auditorium in Asunción. The production, featuring a cast of five actors, explores the discomfort and hypocrisies of a dinner between in-laws, continuing the author's style initiated in "A la luz" (2019).

A pedestrian was killed Thursday night on Route PY02 in Caaguazú when struck by a vehicle in which Senator Silvio “Beto” Ovelar was a passenger. The driver was detained, and the investigation is ongoing.

Paraguay's Mother's Day on Friday, May 15, 2026, will bring fresh morning temperatures, afternoon highs of 21–25°C, mostly cloudy skies, and scattered showers with possible thunderstorms in the north and east, according to the Dirección de Meteorología e Hidrología (DMH).

Paraguay's INE reports 1.43 million mothers, 876,000 employed, and 36% of households headed by mothers. Despite rising labor participation, challenges remain in informal work, pay equity, and care burdens.