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.
Paraguai
The Tripartite Command, a division of the National Police of Paraguay that integrates security forces from Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina, completed 30 years of operations in the Triple Frontier. In a ceremony in Ciudad del Este, authorities highlighted cooperation in combating transnational crime, and the presidency was transferred from Paraguay to Argentina.
Pope Leo XIV created a Vatican commission for artificial intelligence; in Paraguay, religious leaders warn about risks and priests already use the technology with caution.
The National Police of Paraguay identified Gustavo Rubén Goncalvez Vera, 31, as the main suspect in the double homicide that occurred on May 16 in Colônia Paraná, district of Cambyretá, department of Itapúa. The victims are Francisco Alcides Saucedo Quiñónez, 28, and Brian Ariel Lugo, 24. After searches in Encarnación, the suspect was not located, but police seized cocaine, weapons, and ammunition at his residence.
The National Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office of Paraguay executed Operation Omega, which dismantled a network trading child sexual abuse material that used cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Monero, and Ethereum to conceal transactions. One suspect was arrested in Santa Rita and over 35,000 illicit files were identified.
The so-called 'Grindr Gang' has allegedly carried out another robbery in Ciudad del Este, this time in the San Rafael neighborhood, stealing about 60 million guaranis. The group uses dating apps to lure victims. Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office are investigating the case.
The Directorate of Meteorology of Paraguay forecasts a week of intense cold, with minimum temperatures between 7°C and 14°C and highs up to 20°C. The weather will remain cold to cool, with winds from the south and low probability of rain in most of the country.
Paraguay's Directorate of Meteorology reports that the arrival of a cold front will keep temperatures low and mornings freezing across much of the country throughout the week, with the possibility of light drizzle.
In the early hours of Monday, unknown individuals fired multiple shots at Lavadero Conesul in Pedro Juan Caballero and left a note in Portuguese with collection threats. The attack comes days after the Pax Conesul funeral home, owned by the same person, was also targeted by gunfire. Police are investigating the motive.
A large fire hit the Limpio Municipal Market on the afternoon of Sunday, May 17, 2026, destroying two commercial halls and mobilizing volunteer firefighters and the National Police. There were no casualties, but material damage is significant. The probable cause, according to initial reports, is an electrical fault, still under investigation.
The Specialized Court for Organized Crime has set June 3, 2026, as the start date for the oral trial of Alexandre Rodrigues Gomes, accused of international drug trafficking, money laundering, and criminal association. The defendant was arrested in August 2024, on the same day his father, Congressman Eulalio “Lalo” Gomes, died in a confrontation with police during simultaneous operations.
CODENI of Lambaré, through its director Graciela Figueredo, declared that it warned about the imminent danger and handed the child over to the uncles after the mother's psychiatric crisis, which culminated in a tragic filicide. The institution emphasizes that its intervention occurred due to a violent episode by the mother, and not because of sexual abuse allegations.
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.
A fire hit two stalls at the Limpio Market, reigniting traders' concerns about outdated wiring and the absence of hydrants in the area. Firefighters controlled the flames, but the lack of infrastructure hampered the response.
A survey by the Paraguayan Chamber of Meat (CPC) based on Senacsa data shows that between 2015 and 2025, more than 34,000 cattle farmers left the activity, while about 3% of establishments account for 61% of bovine production. The Eastern Region concentrates 90% of the reduction, with emphasis on San Pedro, Concepción, Caaguazú, Itapúa, and Caazapá.
With both IPS angiographs out of service, the pension fund signed agreements with Hospital de Clínicas and Hospital San Jorge to handle urgent cases. Five insured individuals have already been treated. The pension fund states that one device will be repaired soon and that it will begin the process to acquire three new machines.
Auto parts theft in Paraguay has evolved from a crime of opportunity into a structured illicit industry, moving millions per day. The made-to-order request model fuels the black market, with parts openly sold on social media. In Asunción, up to 250 thefts are recorded daily, and impunity is high, with detainees released in less than 24 hours.
With the arrival of autumn and winter, a period of increased respiratory virus circulation, Paraguayan experts reinforce the importance of influenza vaccination for older adults, a group vulnerable to serious complications such as pneumonia and hospitalization. Doses are available in the public health network and at IPS.
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.
Threats of school shootings in Paraguay, driven by viral challenges on social media, reveal a lack of family oversight and mobilize the Ministry of Education, Police, and Public Prosecutor's Office to strengthen security and prevention protocols.
A football player was detained after assaulting a referee during a youth match between 8 de Diciembre and Cerro Porteño de Caaguazú, causing a facial fracture to the official.
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.
A 16-year-old teenager died on Sunday after falling from his motorcycle on Route PY02 in Dr. Juan Eulogio Estigarribia (formerly Campo 9). Police are investigating whether he was participating in an illegal race at the time of the accident.
A new artificial intelligence trend creating hyper-realistic videos of people in packed stadiums has gone viral in Paraguay, while the band Korn returned to the country after 13 years with a show at the Jockey Club.