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Although the number of Covid-19 infections has risen sharply in recent weeks, the government says it has no plans to return to the lockdowns and other restrictions imposed earlier in the pandemic. “The measures used in the early stages of the pandemic were devastating...
By Amélie Bottollier-Depois From ocean depths to mountain peaks, humans have littered the planet with tiny shards of plastic. We have even absorbed these microplastics into our bodies—with uncertain implications. Images of plastic pollution have become familiar: a...
By John Anderer There are plenty of reasons to keep moving well beyond your 60th birthday. Regular exercise in old age helps preserve cognition, improve balance, and prevent bone loss—just to name a few perks. In fact, a recent study even reports that when we...
Administrators of Ecuador’s public universities were taken by surprise Friday when President Guillermo Lasso announced he was eliminating the Senescyt exam used for student admissions. Under executive order, each of the country’s 33 public universities will now be...
The construction of mid- and high-rise condominiums and office buildings is accelerating in Cuenca and developers say the trend will help control urban sprawl. According to Romel Zhindón, president of the Azuay College of Architects, at least 20 projects, ranging in...
By Aarthi Swaminathan and Michael B. Kelley The world is currently embroiled in "Cold War II" — and has been for a while — and the path ahead is lined with the geopolitics of nuclear weapons, says one historian. "And we've now forgotten so much of that history that we...
Negotiators for the government and indigenous organizations said Friday that talks have been “constructive and cordial” since they began on Wednesday. “We have a long way to go, with major issues to resolve, but we’ve made a good start,” said Gary Espinoza, President...
By Shafik Meghji After cresting the 4,800m Cumbre pass, the trufi (shared taxi) plunged into a cloud of swirling mist. Inside the vehicle it felt strangely peaceful, as if we were trapped in a bubble, which was perhaps for the best given we were travelling along the...
By Dave Barry We need to talk about the lizards. I think they’re up to something. Here in South Florida we’re accustomed to lizards, of course; they’re everywhere. When I moved here decades ago, the lizards were one of the things I had to adjust to, along with the...
By Jen Mills There are about 4,000 members of the Huaorani tribe living in Ecuador’s rainforest, many still hunting for food using traditional methods such as catching monkeys with blow pipes and poison darts. Pete Oxford, a conservation photographer from Devonshire,...
The number of Covid-19 cases reported Thursday was the highest since January, according to the Ministry of Health. Of the 2,415 cases confirmed, 930 were in Pichincha Province while another 387 were in Guayas. “As new subvariants of Omicron are introduced into the...
A strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake centered 15 kilometers north of Guayaquil was felt throughout much of the country Thursday afternoon, sending workers and residents into the streets and causing damage to some structures. One person was killed in Samborondón as a...
By David Morrill Although cost and location are probably the biggest considerations when looking for property in the countryside near Cuenca, there are other factors that deserve serious attention, some of which are easily overlooked. What elevation are you...
By Zach Wichter A favorable exchange rate between the dollar and the euro may make a summer getaway to Europe look attractive this year, but travelers who have been there warn that the continent's airports are a mess. Mark Cassell, a political science professor at...
In the first day of negotiations between the government and indigenous groups, both sides agreed to develop their own plans for how fuel subsidies should be targeted. “With the approach, we will consider fully developed proposals that can be modified and adjustment to...
In a major victory for local residents and environmentalists, an Azuay Provincial Court judge ordered all activity suspended at the Kimsakocha gold and silver mine south of Cuenca. The judge ruled that local communities of Tarqui, Victoria de Portete and Girón, were...
The Intercontinental Gala of Classical Opera and Ballet, featuring 40 artists from three continents, will perform highlights of four operas Friday, July 15 at 8:30 p.m. at the Carlos Cueva Tamariz Theater in Cuenca. The Gala, making its first appearance in Ecuador,...
Given the thousands of Latin Americans deported or refused entry at the Mexico - Texas border and the dozens of times the United States has sent troops into Latin America over the years, you might assume that the region is consumed with resentment against the U.S. In...
Negotiators from the government and the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities begin talks today in Quito to resolve differences that led to the 18-day strike earlier this month. The talks, to be moderated by the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic church, are...
By Jeff Van Pelt Critical thinking seems to be in short supply across the planet. One reason is that, too often, we teach children to memorize information (and disinformation) instead of teaching them to think critically. In other words, we teach them what to think,...
