MercoPress https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[At least 12 schools in Paraguay receive shooting threats; authorities probe possible viral "challenge"]]> The phenomenon extends beyond Paraguay. In Argentina, threats with nearly identical messages — “Tomorrow, shooting. Don't come” — appeared in at least a dozen schools across Buenos Aires At least 12 schools in Paraguay received shooting threats between Thursday and Friday, with messages written on bathroom walls reading "tomorrow there will be a shooting," said Sonia Escauriza, director of Child and Adolescent Protection at the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC). The figure rose to 13 in the following hours, according to the same official in statements to radio station Universo 970 AM.

]]> Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:17:00 GMT <![CDATA[“We are oppressed in Brazil”: thousands of conservative Brazilians seek new life in Paraguay]]> Paraguay broke a record in 2025 by granting 40,600 residency permits to foreigners. More than half — 23,500 — went to Brazilians, far outpacing the 4,300 Argentines in second place Hundreds of Brazilians camped overnight on beach chairs, plastic benches and tarps outside an immigration center in Ciudad del Este, on the border with Brazil, to secure a spot in a Paraguayan government drive to fast-track residency applications. Some organized an improvised barbecue on a barrel while they waited. Others had traveled more than 1,500 kilometers by bus. All shared a common thread: the desire to leave Brazil for reasons they describe as political, economic and ideological, according to a report by BBC News Brasil.

]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:08:00 GMT <![CDATA[Paraguay expects over US$1 billion in Singapore carbon credit investments]]> De Barros said President Santiago Peña received the delegation and expressed confidence that if ”all processes of interest with Singapore are completed Paraguay's government expects investments from Singapore in carbon credit projects to exceed $1 billion, Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Rolando De Barros said on Wednesday, as a delegation from the Asian nation visited Asunción led by Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu Hai Yen, accompanied by 20 business executives.

]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:55:00 GMT <![CDATA[Holy Week boosts Paraguayan tourism: 90% hotel occupancy and 36% revenue increase]]> Senatur promoted the season under its “Guide Your Inner Self” campaign Domestic tourism during Holy Week in Paraguay grew 15% compared with the previous year, with 409,431 visitors generating revenue of $55.5 million, a 36% increase, the National Tourism Secretariat (Senatur) reported based on data from its Tourism Observatory.

]]> Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:15:00 GMT <![CDATA[Lula and Peña agree to accelerate Itaipú treaty review]]> Annex C stipulates that both countries are entitled to 50% of the energy generated, but requires whichever party does not use its full share to sell the surplus to the other at preferential rates The presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Paraguay, Santiago Peña, agreed on Sunday in Campo Grande to intensify negotiations over Annex C of the Itaipú treaty, the instrument that governs the financial terms and energy sales of the binational hydroelectric dam, one of the largest in the world.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:53:00 GMT <![CDATA[Paraguay and Germany seek to deepen trade ties under EU-Mercosur agreement]]> “We have very good relations with Paraguay — everything is in place to work very well here,” Herrera said. Relations between Paraguay and Germany are at a positive juncture, with prospects for growth in trade, investment and tourism, according to German Deputy Ambassador in Asunción Jörg Herrera, in an interview with state broadcaster Paraguay TV.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Peña promotes Paraguay as investment destination at meeting with Brazilian business leaders]]> We met with business leaders who already invest in Paraguay and want to expand, but also with new players who see a concrete opportunity in our country,” Peña said Paraguay's President Santiago Peña met on Sunday in Campo Grande, the capital of Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state, with business leaders from the state's Federation of Industries (FIEMS) to promote investment opportunities in his country. The meeting, organized at the association's request, brought together representatives from sectors including bioenergy, food, construction and logistics.

]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2026 21:32:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguayan fugitive Sebastián Marset captured in Bolivia and placed in U.S. custody]]> Marset was also listed among the DEA’s most wanted fugitives and was regarded as one of the agency’s five highest-priority drug trafficking targets Suspected Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset was captured on Friday in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, in an operation that ends one of the Southern Cone’s longest and most visible manhunts. Paraguayan authorities confirmed the arrest and said Marset had been secured after a raid carried out by Bolivian forces.

]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:03:00 GMT <![CDATA[Paraguay steps up intelligence and financial controls in the Tri-Border Area amid Middle East tensions]]> Pereira said the focus is on tighter oversight of “illicit financing” and on preventing the “infiltration of extremist groups,” with counterterrorism and anti–money laundering efforts Paraguay’s government has activated intelligence, prevention and financial-control measures in the Tri-Border Area it shares with Argentina and Brazil amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, according to Internal Security Vice Minister Óscar Pereira.

]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:18:00 GMT <![CDATA[Paraguay central bank cuts rates as inflation runs below target]]> The Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) reported January inflation at 0.6%, with annual inflation easing to 2.7%—below the 3.5% target Paraguay’s central bank chief Carlos Carvallo says the country is dealing with a “nice problem”: inflation is converging to the official goal “from below,” an unusual pattern in the region that has prompted policymakers to start trimming interest rates to prevent price growth from staying too low.

]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2026 02:57:00 GMT