Paraguay ex-president charged in banking crisis that sparked protests

Former Paraguayan President Santiago Pena was charged and taken into custody Saturday over a banking crisis that left millions unable to access their money and triggered widespread protests. Pena, the country's youngest-ever president, was impeached by the Senate on Friday after the collapse of Ueno Bank, where he previously owned shares. He faces charges of "breach of trust and mismanagement for personal gain" and was ordered held in pre-trial custody in Asuncion. The bank's failure affected nearly half of Paraguay's 6.5 million population, including pensioners. Protests erupted demanding Pena's imprisonment, while his successor, Pedro Alliana from the same Colorado Party, pledged to support affected depositors.