During a recent interview, Vice Minister of Finance, Daniel Lemus, said that Ecuador will need an additional $1.0 billion in external credits to cover expenses for 2023. External and internal issues are causing concern for Ecuador’s financial stability that only 5...
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Law Presented in Senate Could Result in Reduction of Tariffs on Nearly 50% of Ecuadorian Exports to US
Project presented by two senators seeks to make Ecuador eligible as a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Law. The United States and Ecuador have been strengthening their diplomatic and economic ties over the past few months. Recently, two US Senators...
Outsourcing and Fragmentation of Drug Trafficking Leads to Increased Violence in Ecuador
Ecuador is an "eloquent example" of the threat posed by local criminal groups that collaborate with foreign drug traffickers. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC's report on the global cocaine market highlights the fragmentation and outsourcing of drug...
Cancer patients in Cuenca face significant difficulties in accessing timely treatment
An investigation has revealed that the process from first symptoms to treatment takes an average of nine months, which is far longer than the ideal time frame of 30 to 90 days. The report, titled 'Perspectives: Oncology Patient Route', was developed by the Cantonal...
How to donate and help victims of the Balao earthquake
The 6.64 magnitude earthquake in Balao has left several families homeless and many people affected. As of March 20, 2023, there are 14 deaths, 446 injured, 19 people affected and 84 homes destroyed. In addition, there are damages to 180 homes, 80 educational units, 22...
Green hydrogen could mean a paradigm shift for Ecuador
Ecuador is taking steps to produce green hydrogen, a clean and sustainable energy source that is produced using hydroelectric, solar photovoltaic, biomass, and wind. German company Linde, one of the world's largest gas production and engineering companies, has been...
How and why Lasso may face impeachment and removal from office
UNES leads a four-party effort to impeach the President thru political prosecution on the grounds that he has failed to meet the requirements of office outlined in the Constitution. The Assembly is again seeking to remove President Guillermo Lasso from office. There...
Anti-Kidnapping and Extortion Unit says incidence of kidnapping increasing in urban areas, with shift towards middle-class.
This contrasts with previous patterns where kidnappings were more prevalent in border provinces. Over the past two years, Ecuador has experienced a total of 63 reported cases of kidnappings, with 32 cases occurring in 2021 and 31 cases occurring in 2022. These...
La Niña phenomenon expected to negatively impact Ecuador thru April 2023
Ecuador is currently facing the longest La Niña phenomenon in 120 years, with negative economic impacts on key sectors such as fishing and agriculture. La Niña is an atmospheric phenomenon characterized by a drop in sea surface temperature, and typically lasts between...
Sinohydro used five-country network to transfer $76 million in bribes to group that included Moreno
Prosecutor Diana Salazar has documented the movement of $76 million in bribes allegedly delivered by Sinohydro during the construction and financing of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant. The investigation is in its early stages, but the Sinohydro case appears...
Cuenca: A Destination for Romance and Gastronomy
The Municipal Tourism Foundation for Cuenca is actively promoting the city as an ideal destination for romantic activities, particularly destination weddings. With the campaign "Love Invades Cuenca," the Foundation seeks to work with the private sector to promote...
National Assembly Approves Report Recommending Impeachment Against President Lasso in Encuentro Case
Commission's Report Seen as Preamble to Possible Political Trial, but Not Binding The ‘Occasional Specialized Commission for Truth, Justice and the Fight against Corruption,’ created in January 2023 to investigate the alleged links between the government of Guillermo...
As its image falls, so do Salinas real estate prices with discounts of up to 40% being offered
According to the experts, constant sewerage problems and the chaos during the holidays, are driving owners to sell, flooding the market with listings. The ‘for sale’ signs, hung in various apartments along the Malecón de Salinas, are becoming more apparent. Owners of...
For the second time in 7 years, the new Cuenca wastewater plant is back at square one
The construction of the Guangarcucho wastewater treatment plant in Cuenca has been a necessity since 2015. For the second time since then the project was put on hold. A year and a half after starting the process, the Cuenca Telecommunications and Potable Water Company...
Peru formalizes investigation against former President Pedro Castillo for corruption
The preparatory investigation is the step prior to an accusation by the Prosecutor's Office against Castillo. Last Tuesday the Peruvian Prosecutor's Office, the preparatory investigation against former President Pedro Castillo as the alleged perpetrator of various...
Government says fuel subsidy targeting set for September 2023
The progressive implementation of the targeting of fuel subsidies would begin on the Coast, in September 2023.
Manabí beaches being used for drug trafficking
The Police say that Los Frailes beach, one of the protected areas of the Machalilla National Park, in Manabí, is being used by gangs for drug trafficking.
Families of migrants who were traveling in a bus that crashed in Panama still don’t know what happened to their loved ones
Twenty-two Ecuadorians were traveling on the bus carrying 66 irregular migrants.
Prosecutor’s Office, National Court, and Assembly at odds with Police and Minister of Government over transfer of police officers
Two sides have differing opinions on legality and propriety of transfer of police officers assigned to the Attorney General’s Office. The controversy between the Government and the Attorney General’s Office continues. On Saturday, February 11, 2023, the Ministry of...
The ripple effect of the EU’s ban on Russian fuel imports will mean a hit to Ecuador’s general budget
An increase in the price of diesel fuel due to the new sanctions of the European Union against Russia will impact Ecuador, which imports 76% of the diesel it uses. The decision of the European Union (EU) to ban the import of Russian diesel has economic implications...
Think your vote doesn’t count? Nine mayoral contests across Ecuador were decided by 80 votes or less
The election results in nine cantons were extremely close. In Colimes for example, the winner took the mayor’s office with only four votes more than his opponent. Nine cantons in the country reported the closest results in the 2023 sectional elections, with less than...
Cristian Zamora elected mayor of Cuenca with lowest vote percentage ever
Cristian Zamora won a close contest for the Mayor of Cuenca. The representative of the Democratic Left only secured 18.56% of the votes. The next mayor of Cuenca, Cristian Zamora, is 42 years old. He entered politics 18 years ago. He is an industrial engineer and has...
Insecurity and extortion are pushing Ecuadorians to risk crossing the world’s most dangerous jungle
Ecuadorians make up the second largest group trying to cross the Darién jungle to reach the United States. In a recent interview, Cristina Zugasti, representative of Doctors Without Borders in Panama, talked about the physical and emotional impact that migrants...
UN projects Ecuador to have second lowest inflation rate in South America in 2023
Ecuador will have the second lowest inflation rate in South America in 2023, behind Bolivia, and the lowest rate in all of Latin America in 2024, according to the United Nations report. Ecuador will likely see inflation of 3.5% in 2023, according to the report World...
Fourth corruption scandal hits close to home for Lasso
The Guillermo Lasso administration is facing its fourth alleged corruption scandal and this one involves his brother-in-law. As a result of a series of leaks of recordings that involve former officials, servants and people close to the Lasso government, the State...
Tourism sector in Cuenca grows with the help of private investment
Cuenca’s tourism sector has come back fast after the end of the pandemic. One of the engines for its success has been private investment in hotels and restaurants. Hotel and gastronomic entrepreneurs have invested large sums of money to give Cuenca a tourist boost....
Risky driving practices bringing more accidents to Cuenca
Cuencanos are getting more and more aggressive in their driving, causing an increase in traffic accidents over the last three years. Offensive behaviors are common in Cuencanos when driving, a pattern that is aggravated by the vehicular chaos that the city endures....
Government to prioritize the fight against illegal mining in Azuay
The causes of violent deaths in Azuay are mainly associated with illegal mining. The province has four conflictive points in Ponce Enríquez, Sígsig, Pucará and the Molleturo parish (Cuenca).
“The radar contract in Cuenca should be cancelled due to the falsehood of the experience”
The president of the Supervisory Commission of the Cantonal Council spoke about the inconsistencies detected by assembly members in the contract signed for the implementation of electronic radar devices in Cuenca.
Foot-long dwarf boa found in Ecuadorian Amazon
Scientists have identified a tiny new species of dwarf boa living in the Ecuadorian Amazon that even a snake hater could love: these small reptiles are just a foot long. Alex Bentley, research coordinator of the Sumak Kawsay field station, in the eastern foothills of...