Paraguay

For millions across the heartland of South America, bitter-tasting yerba mate tea is a beloved staple of social gatherings and morning routines. But here, in the steamy grasslands of Argentina’s northeast Misiones Province, mate is also a way of life — literally.

Paraguayan producers Wednesday dispatched the first shipment of mosquito repellent to Argentine, where President Javier Milei's administration opened up the borders to import this product in a move to curb black-market-like prices given the high demand stemming from the onset of a dengue fever outbreak.

Presidents Javier Milei of Argentina, Luis Lacalle Pou of Uruguay, and Santiago Peña of Paraguay are expected to be the three most important participants of the so-called Llao Llao Forum starting Wednesday in the Patagonian resort of Bariloche in the Argentine province of Río Negro.

After attending a South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) event in Luque on Thursday, Presidents Luis Lacalle Pou and Santiago Peña flew to Uruguay for further engagements.

Presidents Santiago Peña of Paraguay and Luis Lacalle Pou of Uruguay Wednesday attended a dinner hosted by the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) at the historic building of the Port of Asunción. Also participating in the event was Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President Gianni Infantino.

The United States Senate last week passed a resolution overturning the US Department of Agriculture rule allowing Paraguayan fresh beef imports. The next step in the process in the House of Representatives where the show of bipartisan consensus is expected to be repeated, reported the US Beef Newsletter.

Paraguayan Foreign Ministry Rubén Ramírez Lescano told Congress Wednesday in Asunción that the government of President Santiago Peña was not against barges sailing through the Paraná Waterway paying toll provided there was a service in return.

Paraguay's Central Bank (BCP) issued a report last week announcing that the country had recorded the highest regional growth in the last quarter of 2023, with a positive rate of 4.9%.

Paraguayan Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano and US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell discussed this week in Washington DC the ongoing events in Venezuela, where opposition leaders have been unable to enter this year's presidential elections.

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Latin America is looking ahead at the worst dengue season in history, mainly due to the global increase in temperatures and extreme weather. The worst scenario is likely to occur in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Paraguay's Lower House unanimously passed a resolution objecting to the US Senate's decision to ban meat imports from the South American country while urging lawmakers in Washington DC to honor the technical reports attesting to the safety of the merchandise, it was reported in Asunción.