
Paraguay's Lower House on Monday approved the Free Trade Agreement between the South American Common Market (Mercosur) and Singapore signed in December 2023 in Rio de Janeiro. The deal had already been approved by the Senate. The understanding seeks to increase accessibility and transparency for businesses engaging in electronic transactions and public procurement.

Paraguay's Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare has issued an epidemiological alert due to a measles outbreak in the northern department of San Pedro. The measure was adopted after an initial case was confirmed in a five-year-old boy, which has since led to three additional cases. All four confirmed patients were unvaccinated. The first victim was apparently in contact with people from abroad.

Paraguay's National Civil Aviation Authority (Dinac) has authorized the Teniente Amín Ayub International Airport in Encarnación to operate 24 hours a day as an international terminal, making it the third in the country with this capability, alongside Asunción's Silvio Pettirossi and Ciudad del Este's Guaraní.

Panama has officially opened its market to beef from Paraguay, a decision announced by the National Animal Health and Quality Service (Senacsa) in Asunción. This authorization allows Paraguay to begin exporting boneless beef products to the Central American country. This authorization is another significant step in the expansion of national livestock products into Central American markets, Senacsa said in a statement.

Paraguay's Public Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal investigation into former President Mario Abdo Benítez and his wife, Silvana López Moreira, for the alleged concealment of assets. The investigation was prompted by reports from an Argentine outlet claiming that the former president had hidden assets in tax havens, such as the Seychelles.

A team from Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries is in Paraguay to audit the South American country's meat production until August 8, with visits to various facilities and regional offices.

The construction of the Bioceanic Road Corridor in Paraguay is progressing, with a major emphasis on sustainability, particularly in Section 3 of Route PY15. This key highway project, which will connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, is a significant part of Paraguay's plan to become a logistical hub for the Central Chaco region.

Paraguayan Congressman Hugo Meza has called for a national debate on recognizing mainland China and severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan, arguing that his country was “wasting time” with the island Beijing holds for a rogue province.

A new unified border control system is being implemented as a pilot program starting Monday at the Posadas-Encarnación bridge. Hence, all immigration procedures across the San Roque González de Santa Cruz international bridge will now be conducted solely on the Argentine side, eliminating the need for separate checks in Paraguay.

The Paraguayan Government of President Santiago Peña has submitted an ambitious bill before Congress to reshuffle the State. Peña hailed this initiative as a historic milestone.