Paraguay

• Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 08:20 UTC

  EU/Mercosur trade agreement “closer than ever”, says Spanish president Rajoy

  

  The European Union and South American trade bloc Mercosur should intensify talks to reach a trade agreement this year, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Tuesday, urging haste after 18 years of negotiations.

• Tuesday, April 25th 2017 - 07:10 UTC

  Paraguay and Brazil after a 60-member gang that robbed US$ 40 m and terrorized a city

  

  Brazilian police near the border with Paraguay have exchanged gunfire with members of a gang who carried out what Paraguayan officials are calling the robbery of the century. So far three gang members were killed and two injured in the clash, police say. The number of robbers involved and display of weapons has led authorities to believe it is a one of Brazil largest criminal gangs.

• Tuesday, April 4th 2017 - 07:13 UTC

  Paraguayan opposition conditions political dialogue to suspension of reelection amendment

  

  Paraguay's conservative President Horacio Cartes reached out to his opponents Monday for talks after a bid to lift a ban on him seeking re-election sparked deadly riots. His opponents say the constitutional change would raise the risk of a return to dictatorship for a country that transitioned to democracy in 1989 after 35 years of military rule.

• Monday, April 3rd 2017 - 09:02 UTC

  Paraguayan president sacks Interior minister and Chief of Police following torching of Congress

  

  President Horacio Cartes fired Paraguay’s interior minister and chief of police on Saturday following the death of a young opposition party leader and violent overnight clashes sparked by a secret Senate vote for a constitutional amendment to allow presidential re-election.

• Saturday, April 1st 2017 - 19:34 UTC

  Paraguay officials pledge the reelection amendment will be submitted to binding referendum

  

  A protester was killed in Paraguay after violent clashes overnight sparked by a secret Senate vote for a constitutional amendment that would allow conservative President Horacio Cartes to run for re-election. The political move also had the support and Senate votes from the left leaning former removed president Fernando Lugo, which polls show he has significant support ahead of the 2018 presidential election.

• Saturday, April 1st 2017 - 09:43 UTC

  Paraguay: protestors set Congress on fire following secret vote allowing presidential reelection

  

  Protesters stormed and set fire to Paraguay's Congress on Friday after the Senate secretly voted for a constitutional amendment that would allow President Horacio Cartes to run for re-election, a change that will also require approval by the Lower House. The country's constitution has prohibited re-election since it was passed in 1992 after a brutal dictatorship fell in 1989.

• Tuesday, February 28th 2017 - 18:18 UTC

  Brazil manufacturers set up “maquila” assembly plants in neighboring Paraguay

  

  When toymaker Estrela decided to move manufacturing capacity back to Latin America from China, it sank US$ 2 million into a new factory not in its native Brazil - the region's largest economy - but in its tiny southern neighbor Paraguay. The plant, which opened this month in the border town of Hernandarias, stands near a 4,500-hectare industrial park filled with Brazilian companies making everything from auto parts to clothing.

• Sunday, February 26th 2017 - 13:50 UTC

  Paraguayan guerrillas free abducted teenager after ransom is paid

  

  A Mennonite teenager, Franz Weiber who was abducted last July by Paraguayan Marxist inspired guerrillas in the north of the country was released on Saturday, safe and sound, after the family and friends collected the equivalent of US$ 25.000 in food to distribute among fourteen Indian communities in the area.

• Friday, February 17th 2017 - 08:44 UTC

  Matthew Hedges new British Ambassador to Paraguay

  

  Mr Matthew Hedges has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Paraguay in succession to Dr Jeremy Hobbs, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr. Hedges will take up his appointment in August 2017.

• Thursday, February 16th 2017 - 10:43 UTC

  Thirty tons of Venezuelan currency are seized in Paraguay; smuggled from Brazil

  

  Central Bank employees will count about 30 tons of Venezuelan currency seized in a private house in Paraguay, while officials try to figure out why the vast quantity of 50- and 100-bolivar bills was brought into the country. The cash was discovered in Salto del Guaira, a city about 370 kilometers northeast of the capital of Asuncion, on the border with Brazil in a region known for the contraband trade.