Global trade upheaval clouds Ecuador’s strongest non-oil performance as exporters warn of rising costs and lost ground. Ecuador’s non-oil export sector posted its strongest performance on record in 2025, but the celebration has been abruptly tempered by a sweeping new trade measure from Washington that exporters say threatens to erode hard-won gains. Non-oil and non-mining […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Unions warn of rights erosion as officials say draft rules seek flexibility, not longer hours. A proposed set of labor rules aimed at reshaping how Ecuador’s 40-hour workweek can be organized has triggered a sharp response from unions, even as the Ministry of Labor insists the text is only a draft and not yet in […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Deteriorated roads, weak signals and limited state presence are turning stretches of the province into criminal hunting grounds. Road decay and rising insecurity Long-neglected roadways across Manabí are increasingly being linked to a spike in highway crime, as deteriorated pavement, missing signage and poor lighting create ideal conditions for robberies, assaults and kidnappings. Police officials […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.

Scientists reintroduce a genetically recovered Galapagos giant tortoise lineage after nearly two centuries of absence. After nearly two centuries of absence, giant Galapagos tortoises have once again begun roaming Floreana Island, marking a major milestone in Ecuador’s long-running effort to restore one of the archipelago’s most altered ecosystems. A total of 158 tortoises were released […] To access this post, you must purchase The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Monthly or The Cuenca Dispatch Subscription – Annual.