writer & journalist @NYTimes @guardian @BBC | PATRIA (2024) | Fascinated by South American history | Paraguay posting @theparaguaypost
Asunción, Paraguay
Joined June 2013
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NEW for The New York Times w @aellick
How Ueno Bank and its Elon Musk wannabe came crashing down, throwing Paraguay into turmoil
“This is a tale of a death foretold,” said elder statesman Dionisio Borda. “It’s a naked fraud of the Paraguayan people.”
nytimes.com/2026/11/09/world…
Joshua Abreu, evangelical pastor and Ueno Casa de Bolsa boss, gives a sermon
He says investing is “giving” and tells people who don’t feel ready to do it anyway
Weeks later Ueno went bust, stranding the money & pensions of millions
Edir Macedo un poroto
Laurence Blair retweeted
A través de un documento de 39 páginas previo a la publicación de este reportaje, Paracel respondió a nuestros hallazgos negando "rotundamente" denuncias de contaminación y deforestación.
Si admitió uso de sulfluramida y glifosato en eucaliptos.
consen.so/p/imperio-de-eucal…
Laurence Blair retweeted
Confieso que hoy tengo la energía por el suelo 🫠 no les pasa?
Hay una fatiga que viene de leer, procesar y tratar de dimensionar todo lo que está pasando en Paraguay.
Cuesta encontrar la luz al final de este túnel oscuro al que nos metieron sin preguntarnos si queríamos entrar.
Paraguay’s ruling Colorado Party formally expels ex-president Peña.
For context, they’ve never repudiated Stroessner, who murdered hundreds and stole billions.
Santiago Peña’s summer mansion, built with a huge loan from Ueno bank, has been formally confiscated.
After 48 hours, prosecutors just gained access to the walk-in safe, itself hidden in a secret passageway. It was empty.
📸 Matteo Fabi for @theparaguaypost
“Este es el caso de una muerte anunciada”, dijo @PyBorda.
El colapso de Ueno bank ha sumergido a Paraguay, un país que a veces se promueve como el nuevo Dubái, en una crisis en espiral de dinero, política e investigaciones penales.
nytimes.com/es/2026/11/09/es…
Shout out to all the “digital nomad” morons who think because they got their $100 back Paraguay’s crisis is over.
You’re being reimbursed by taxpayers. Meanwhile, firms are going under. People are suffering.
And the bank held $850m in government money, including pensions, none of which is guaranteed.
Laurence Blair retweeted
Comunidades afectadas por la "mayor inversión privada de la historia del país" con financiamiento del gobierno de Paraguay.
Una inversión que usa agroquímicos como el sulfluramida, prohibido en Europa y considerado un químico que dura para siempre.
¿ORO VERDE O PULP FICTION?
Hoy publicamos una investigación conjunta con @guardian + @theparaguaypost sobre las denuncias de contaminación de comunidades campesinas e indígenas rodeadas por Paracel en Amambay y Concepción.
El Imperio de los Eucaliptos.
Laurence Blair retweeted
“Those eucalyptus plantations will last five, six years. And what will be left?
“Sand, sun, and earth. Paraguay will end up like the Sahara Desert.”
theparaguaypost.com/p/eucaly…
NEW: “Paracel is a hidden monster that has quietly taken root. They’re murdering nature for profit.” ☠️🌳💰
Our @guardian @UnConsenso @theparaguaypost story on the vast pulp project “poisoning” northern Paraguay with cancer-causing chemicals:
theguardian.com/global-devel…
Absolutely wild video of the manager of Ueno Casa de Bolsas tearing up documents, just as the authorities arrive.
Police have since arrested her for allegedly destroying evidence. Some of the documents mention Santiago Peña:
NEW @theparaguaypost
Meet Paraguay’s New Boss, Same as the Old Boss
Pedro Alliana owes Horacio Cartes his new position, his career, and arguably his life. Could he shake him off?
theparaguaypost.com/p/paragu…
Laurence Blair retweeted
"Prosecutors say Peña & Ueno executives worked in tandem: Govt funds gave the bank liquidity, as Ueno was lending huge sums to insider-owned companies. This fueled the conglomerate’s breakneck expansion
“Instead of pumping the brakes, they pressed the accelerator,” said @PyBorda
NEW for The New York Times w @aellick
How Ueno Bank and its Elon Musk wannabe came crashing down, throwing Paraguay into turmoil
“This is a tale of a death foretold,” said elder statesman Dionisio Borda. “It’s a naked fraud of the Paraguayan people.”
nytimes.com/2026/11/09/world…
“Inequality is not only that some earn more,” said senator @edu_nakayama.
“It is that some can lose everything while others lose nothing.”
Gift link, free to read:
nytimes.com/2026/11/09/world…
A small measure of justice, and a promising sign for Paraguay’s institutions.
President Alliana nominates Fernando Rivarola – one of the few officials to warn of ueno’s imminent collapse – to the Central Bank board.
La institucionalidad y el rigor técnico vuelven a ocupar el lugar que les corresponde.
He presentado ante el Congreso Nacional la propuesta de incorporación de Fernando Rivarola al Directorio del Banco Central del Paraguay. Un joven comprometido y valiente.
Confío en que el Congreso acompañe esta designación para seguir fortaleciendo nuestras instituciones.
Laurence Blair retweeted
Mi primer trabajo para el New York Times (thanks @laurieablair @aellick).
“Ueno’s rocket-fueled rise was not without skeptics. But banking insiders were hesitant to speak up, some officials said, because the banking sector was booming.”
nytimes.com/2026/11/09/world…
