In the early hours of Tuesday, a car fell into a deep hole on Pozo Favorito Street in the Central neighborhood of Mariano Roque Alonso, Central Department. The driver, Medardo Olmedo, was unharmed, but the vehicle had to be removed by a tow truck. Residents attribute the asphalt collapse to the rupture of Essap pipes and recent rains, and criticize the administration of Mayor Carolina Aranda for lack of maintenance.
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https://www.hoy.com.py/Paraguay's National Police detained three men suspected of robbing two gas stations in Limpio. The main accused, Jorge Daniel Samudio, known as 'Freddy Mercurie', had a prior record for theft. The group was captured in the same vehicle used in the crimes, with a weapon and ammunition.
Alcemir de Souza, a 47-year-old Brazilian pastor, was detained in Saltos del Guairá, Canindeyú, on charges of sexually abusing 30 boys in Brazil. He was a fugitive and worked as a delivery driver in Paraguay. After capture, he was extradited to Brazil.
The Honor Colorado movement, led by pre-candidate for mayor of Asunción, Camilo Pérez, rejected the request for an audit of voting machines made by Senator Lilian Samaniego and her brother Arnaldo, classifying the demand as an attempt to destabilize the electoral process three weeks before the Colorado internal elections.
New IPS board member Mirtha Arias promises to combat medical supply shortages and employer evasion, but faces distrust from insured member associations questioning her independence.
Paraguay's National Emergency Secretariat (SEN) sheltered four homeless people in the early hours of Tuesday as part of Operation Jaho'i, which activates the Costanera Sur shelter when temperatures drop below 10 °C. The facility has capacity for 30 people and offers food, showers, warm clothing, and medical assistance. Three other individuals who chose to stay on the streets received mattresses and blankets.
The construction of a hydroelectric plant in southern Bolivia, on the Pilaya River, puts the Pilcomayo River and the livelihoods of indigenous communities and farmers at risk. Experts warn of extreme sedimentation and lack of prior consultation.
Paraguay's Ministry of Justice has eliminated cash in the prisons of Emboscada and Minga Guazú, replacing it with electronic wallets activated by fingerprint reading. The measure aims to curb bribery, coercion, and organized crime control within prisons, with real-time monitoring and deposit limits.
The Superior Electoral Court (TSJE) of Paraguay reaffirmed that internal party elections will take place on June 7, according to the original calendar. Despite requests for review, the court is willing to hold up to two days of technical clarifications on the voting machines, which already underwent an audit in February with participation from parties and international observers.
Paraguay's Ministry of Social Development warns of fraudulent messages offering a supposed 'Bono Mujer' of G. 600,000 with malicious links. Meanwhile, the influenza vaccination campaign has already administered more than 800,000 doses, and the Pneumococcal 23 vaccine is available for those over 60.
Paraguay's Ministry of Health has already administered more than 806,000 doses of the trivalent influenza vaccine, as the country faces a week of low temperatures. The campaign, which has 1.5 million doses available, aims to prevent severe forms of the disease, especially in children and the elderly. Additionally, the Pneumococcal 23 vaccine is available for those over 60. In Asunción, vaccination posts operate from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The United States announced strict screening measures at airports and entry restrictions for travelers from African countries affected by the Ebola outbreak, after the WHO declared an international emergency. An American was infected in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the risk to the general public in the US is considered low.
Deolinda Torres de Dick, 67, died on Monday night, May 18, on Route PY19 in Villeta after falling from the motorcycle where she was riding as a passenger and being run over by a truck. The motorcycle driver, Evelin Catalina Pérez Núñez, 20, and the truck driver, Luis Ángel Candia Giménez, 24, were unharmed. Breathalyzer tests for both drivers came back negative. The truck driver was placed in pretrial detention on suspicion of negligent homicide.
The Municipal Council for Children and Adolescents (Codeni) of Presidente Franco, Alto Paraná, has extrajudicially notified the parents of three children who refuse to vaccinate them against measles and other preventable diseases. The Family Health Unit of the San Miguel neighborhood reported the case after exhausting attempts at dialogue. If the situation is not regularized, the case will be forwarded to the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Public Defender's Office, potentially resulting in mandatory vaccination or a penalty of up to three years in prison for violation of the duty of care.
Authorities from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPBS) and the Social Security Institute (IPS) met to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation and expand access to health services, with successful examples in Itapúa and Ayolas. The meeting also addressed challenges such as the shortage of specialized professionals and the need to plan new hospitals under a complementary model.
The Honor Colorado movement of the Colorado Party rejected the request to suspend the electoral schedule for internal party elections scheduled for June 7, 2026, defending the transparency of the voting machine system. Deputy Rodrigo Gamarra also defended the system, classifying suspicions of fraud as unfounded.
Until May 31, artists and technologists from Paraguay and Ibero-America can apply for free scholarships to Expylab 2026, which will take place from August 17 to 29 at the French Alliance of Asunción. The program offers intensive training in extended realities, artificial intelligence, and interactive design, with awards including residencies in Germany and internships in Argentina.
The Municipal Police Surveillance Directorate forwarded 2,602 infraction reports to the Misdemeanor Courts, aiming to combat vector breeding sites and trash accumulation. The measure seeks to reduce diseases such as dengue and chikungunya.
The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPBS) rescheduled the publication of the internal job regularization exam scores to June 2, 2026, after receiving 3,910 complaints about the scoring. Only 55% of the appeals have been analyzed so far.
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (Mitic) issued an alert about fraudulent text messages promising a fake 'Bono Mujer' of G. 600,000, aiming to steal victims' personal and financial data.
The president of the Institute of Social Welfare (IPS), Isaías Fretes, revealed that two of the five machines in the Central Hospital's laundry have been broken for three years, forcing employees to carry water in buckets. The area also lacks running water due to an unfinished construction project. Fretes announced that he will resort to a leasing system to resolve the problem.
Rossana Edith Gómez Ortiga, pre-candidate for mayor of Villa Elisa on the Colorado Party's List 2A, has been reported for alleged domestic violence. The case is being processed in the local Peace Court and has generated political repercussions.
The Paraguayan documentary 'Renacer Albirrojo', which narrates the journey of the Paraguayan national football team towards the World Cup, premiered in cinemas in Argentina, the United States and Spain, expanding the reach of the local production.
The Chamber of Commerce and Services of Ciudad del Este sent a letter to President Santiago Peña requesting the full opening of the Puente de la Integración as of July 1, 2026, amid the impasse in negotiations with Brazil, which maintains restrictions on light vehicle traffic.
The Paraguayan Public Prosecutor's Office has filed new charges against former peace judges Analía Cibils and Nathalia Garcete, as well as lawyers, court officers, and other officials, in the case known as the 'promissory note mafia'. The charges include malfeasance and falsification of public documents.
Paraguay's Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MTESS) issued Resolution No. 462/2026, regulating the mandatory adoption of Labor Information Books in digital format, with gradual implementation between August 17 and 28, 2026. The measure aims to modernize labor records, strengthen legal certainty, and promote formal employment, with fines of 10 to 30 minimum wages for employers who fail to comply.
A survey by the InSight Crime foundation shows that Paraguay is no longer the central corridor for drug trafficking it was three years ago. With stricter controls and inter-institutional surveillance, cocaine seizures fell from 5.4 tons in 2024 to about 1 ton in 2025, consolidating the country as a hostile environment for criminal logistics.
TSJE Minister Jorge Bogarín González stated there is a campaign of hatred and discredit against the voting machines, which have been used in previous elections without issues. The opposition and dissident Colorados request an audit, but the TSJE says it has already been carried out.
The Ministry of Children and Adolescents (MINNA) coordinated an action that removed 42 indigenous children and adolescents from the streets of Ciudad del Este, amid cold and danger. Three adolescents were unaccompanied, and an indigenous woman with seven children was taken to a shelter. The group will be reintegrated into their communities of origin in Guairá, Caazapá, and Alto Paraná.
The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) explains the difference between 'si' (conditional) and 'sí' (affirmative), and also addresses the ethical dative, the lunula, and petrichor, in a section dedicated to the proper use of the language.
The Director of Information and Communication Technologies of the TSJE, Fausto von Streber, explained in an interview that the voting machines are 'unhackable' due to mechanisms such as RFID chip, Faraday cage, and jammer, which prevent external interference.
The second commander of the Paraguayan Volunteer Fire Department criticizes the lack of action by mayors to prevent fires, while the Sentencing Court receives data from the cell phone of drug trafficker Lindomar Reges Furtado for the trial of former minister Arnaldo Giuzzio. In Ciudad del Este, the 'Grindr gang' strikes again, and Operation Omega combats child pornography.
Congress President Basilio Núñez responded to Senator Lilian Samaniego's criticism regarding the audit of electronic voting machines, stating that the process was carried out according to schedule and that the opposition had the opportunity to participate. Núñez also recalled that Samaniego, when she chaired the ANR, appointed people she trusted, and defended confidence in the TSJE.
Paraguayan communicator Carmiña Masi is officially in the running for the repechage of the reality show Gran Hermano: Generación Dorada. Voting is now open, and the result will be announced this Wednesday, May 20. The four returning contestants will be determined by popular vote and a 'golden ticket'.
The Specialized Court for Organized Crime has formally received data extracted from the cell phone of Lindomar Reges Furtado, sentenced to 37 years in prison in Brazil for drug trafficking. The information will be translated and analyzed to verify a possible link with former minister Arnaldo Giuzzio, accused of aggravated passive bribery.
ANR proxy Eduardo González responded to Senator Lilian Samaniego that the audit of voting machines has already been carried out at the TSJE for all parties. Meanwhile, the National Congress, under the leadership of Basilio Núñez, begins an internal audit of university diplomas of employees, an initiative of Senator Eduardo Nakayama.
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.
With the transfer of 361 female inmates to the COMPLE in Emboscada, the Paraguayan government eliminates mixed units and closes the women's prison in Ciudad del Este, complying with the constitutional separation of pretrial and convicted inmates.
Basa Capital presents a new tool that allows creating multiple investment sub-accounts with specific goals. Santo Tomás launches a special edition 'Empaque Paraguay' in honor of football and tradition. Keiki celebrates Mother's Day with a collection of floral arrangements.
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.
The president of the Social Security Institute (IPS), Isaías Fretes, announced an asset audit to map the agency's more than 800 properties. Preliminary estimates indicate that the IPS receives only 20% of the amount due in rents, generating huge losses. The investigation, coordinated by Minister Alberto Cabrera, will also cover the control of medicines and supplies.
The 'Women Who Build' panel brings together six public and private sector leaders at the 26th International Constructecnia Fair in Asunción to discuss women's impact on construction, tourism, and finance. AFD data shows over 2,600 guarantees issued by FOGAMU, totaling US$55 million in credits.
IPS President Isaías Fretes announced the removal of 817 items from the vademecum that were purchased but not used, as part of efforts to combat a monthly deficit of up to US$26 million. An audit of the institution's properties was also announced, with support from Executive Branch auditor Alberto Contrera.
The Paraguayan-German Cultural Institute (ICPA) launches the reading club 'Voces Femeninas', coordinated by writer Estela Asilvera, with free meetings starting May 18. The initiative promotes contemporary literature by six Paraguayan and German authors, with biweekly sessions in Spanish.
Foundation work for the pillars of the future Las Residentas Corridor viaduct in Luque causes detours on the Silvio Pettirossi highway between General Aquino Avenue and Ñu Guasu. The closures are expected to last until May 26, subject to weather conditions.
A woman killed her 7-year-old son and then committed suicide in Lambaré, leaving a letter attributing the act to alleged sexual abuse by the father. The Public Prosecutor's Office reported that the complaint was never confirmed: a medical examination found no injuries and the child was unable to recount the facts.
An intoxicated Army non-commissioned officer lost control of his vehicle on PY 01 route and collided with a grain truck. The accident, which occurred in the early hours of this Monday, resulted only in material damage. Meanwhile, the president of IPS, Isaías Fretes, presented the results of the vademecum review, announcing the elimination of about a thousand items considered unnecessary.
The president of the Social Insurance Institute (IPS), Isaías Fretes, presented this Monday (18) the results of the formulary review, identifying about a thousand products acquired unnecessarily, which expire unused. The measure aims to clean up the Health Fund's finances and redirect resources to effective purchases. President Santiago Peña reiterated support for Fretes until 2028, highlighting spending efficiency and combating evasion as priorities.
The week begins with low temperatures across Paraguay, while police detain two youths with a fake gun in Luque and a patient's family denounces negligence at the IPS Central Hospital after the death of an elderly man.
A police patrol in Mayor Otaño, Itapúa, ended with the seizure of 760 kg of marijuana, the arrest of Nazario Lencina Oliveira, and the death of Miguel Ángel Talavera Amarilla after an exchange of gunfire.
Paraguay's Ministry of Justice concluded Operation Umbral 2.5 this Sunday (17), transferring 361 women deprived of liberty from six penitentiaries to the Penitentiary Complex for Women Deprived of Liberty (COMPLE) in Emboscada. The operation, supported by the National Police and the Armed Forces, proceeded without incidents, following security protocols and respect for human rights. A press conference is scheduled for Monday (18) to detail the action.
Emerging Paraguayan singer Elias Glz presents his new album 'Black Side', produced by Montevideo Music Group and featuring a collaboration with Alex Gargolas. Meanwhile, vocalist Amaia Montero, back with La Oreja de Van Gogh, responds to criticism of her performance in Bilbao, stating she is healthy and determined to continue the tour.
InSight Crime data shows an 82.6% drop in cocaine seizures in Paraguay in 2025, indicating the country is no longer a central corridor for trafficking to Europe, following enhanced controls and international cooperation.
The National Secretariat of Culture, the Paraguayan Institute of Crafts, the Pussineri Foundation and the Municipality of Piribebuy, with support from UNESCO, launched a mastery contest for the elaboration of the Poncho Para’i of 60 Stripes, an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The in-person competition will be on May 20 at the Demetrio Ortiz Cultural Center in Piribebuy.
On World Hypertension Day, health authorities emphasize the importance of early detection and control of blood pressure, a condition affecting 1.4 billion people worldwide and the leading preventable cause of premature death. The date also exposes challenges in the Paraguayan healthcare system, such as a case of negligence at the IPS Central Hospital.
Preeclampsia, the leading cause of maternal death in Paraguay, has no initial symptoms. Specialists and the Rassmuss Foundation emphasize the importance of prenatal care from the first weeks, with actions in 12 hospitals and training in obstetric emergencies.
Paraguay's Ministry of Justice has launched Operation Umbral 2.5, transferring female inmates to the Emboscada Women's Penitentiary Complex (Comple), in a coordinated action with CODENA and other security forces. The operation takes place under strict security measures and aims to reorganize the national prison system.
On the solemnity of the Ascension, a Franciscan meditation highlights that Jesus' ascent to heaven is not an abandonment but a permanent divine presence. The text, published on the blog Gotas de Paz, invites the faithful to recognize God's initiative and the joy that surpasses the pains of battle.
For the second consecutive week, the Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies includes on its agenda a bill declaring bull runs (torín) as traditional and cultural heritage. The initiative, already approved by the Senate, faces strong opposition from the National Directorate for Animal Defense, Health and Welfare and civil organizations, which consider it incompatible with the law recognizing animals as sentient beings.
A 35-year-old Brazilian man, resident in Cascavel, was robbed by eight hooded and armed criminals in the San Rafael neighborhood of Ciudad del Este after arranging a date through the Grindr app. The thieves took an iPhone 17 Pro Max and forced the victim to transfer 45,000 reais via Pix. In a separate case, authorities are investigating another robbery with hostages in which 28 million guaranis in cash and 29 million guaranis in transfers were stolen.