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By Jim Wyss Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has had a month to remember. Over the course of a few weeks, he’s seen his foes in the region rattled by violent protests, his allies bolstered at the polls, and attempts to ostracize him diplomatically fail miserably. In a...
Five members of an indigenous guard in Colombia were killed Tuesday in what authorities are describing as a massacre by a dissident guerrilla front. The attack occurred in the southwest department of Cauca, near the city of Tacueyo, and also left five guard members...
Despite the fact that President Lenin Moreno has withdrawn his controversial order eliminating subsidies for gasoline and diesel fuel, the issue of subsidies has not gone away. “The fiscal health of the country depends on making changes to the system currently in...
Turmoil. On the phone today that’s about the best way I could describe South America to my friend who lives in Thailand. He’s seeing it there too; the King is tossing out and making moves that to many people there, look like he is taking a stronger autocratic position...
The flow of Venezuelans crossing the Colombian border into Ecuador has gone from a veritable deluge to a trickle since the government began requiring visas in August. “We were required to limit the number entering the country for the welfare of both Ecuadorians and...
By Steve Hanke The real problem that plagues most Latin American countries -- and a contributing cause of the current political unrest -- is the fact that they have central banks that issue half-baked local currencies. Although widespread today, central banks are...
By Valerie Volcovici Latin American countries have set a collective target of 70% renewable energy use by 2030, more than double what the European Union is planning. Colombia, representing the pledges from eight Latin American countries, presented the target at the...
By Julia Buckley Picture the scene. You're on vacation. You've had a slow morning wandering round, a long lunch and a stroll around the city. You realize you're near that gallery you've been meaning to visit -- so you walk over. Even five years ago, you could probably...
Proposals to turn the economy around are headed for failure, according to an organization representing Ecuador’s largest businesses. “We were hoping for measures that would encourage investment and lead to higher employment,” says Patricio Alarcón, president of the...
By Jessica Brown Even though alcohol kills millions of people every year, humans have been imbibing for millennia. In the last few decades, wine, in particular, has gained a reputation for being good for our health. Red wine even has been linked with longevity and...
The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights believes that Ecuadorian government fiscal austerity measures will have a “disproportionate impact" on the country’s poor population. The committee also criticized the International Monetary Fund...
The Azuay Province Prosecutor's Office is investigating five cases of alleged police brutality during the protests earlier this month. All five incidents under review occurred during confrontations between police and protesters in Cuenca’s historic district. Most of...
Argentine President Mauricio Macri conceded defeat to his center-left rival Alberto Fernandez late Sunday after the first round of voting in the country's closely fought election. Voters turned out in numbers to reject the austerity measures introduced by Macri as the...
By Mitra Taj and Daniel Ramos Bolivian President Evo Morales on Saturday vowed to hold a run-off election if fraud is found in a vote count that gave him an outright win, but warned his rural base would siege cities if they keep protesting his disputed re-election to...
By Ashley Rogers If you’ve been keeping an eye on the revival and renaissance of real estate in downtown Cuenca, you may have heard of ISAM (Inmobiliaria San Alberto Magno.) If you haven’t, you’re invited to get an up close and personal tour of this award-winning...
The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology says the “atmospheric conveyor belt” bringing heavy rain from the Amazon to Ecuador’s mountain region will remain in place through the weekend. “The amount of rain we are receiving is unseasonable but we see it...
By Simeon Tegel Protesters in Quito city dug up cobblestones to throw at the police and set fire to the office of the comptroller general. In Peru, enraged marchers picketed Congress and images of a traffic cone, hurled from a distance, crashing onto a lawmaker's head...
“Don’t believe everything you read on social media.” That’s the message that President Lenin Moreno’s communication office is sending to millions of Ecuador cell phone users. “Ecuadorians, do not believe the false news. Salaries are not being lowered. A cash bonus is...
Ecuador’s United Nations representative pushed back Thursday on government claims that the violence in recent indigenous protests was the result of organized efforts by “outside agitators” working with other countries. According to Arnaud Peral, who is moderating...
Trek text and photos by John Keeble Four old geezers, looking like an international chapter of Last of the Summer Wine, trudge towards the immigration desk at Lima airport, Peru. We are an unusual ethnic mix and we have travelled from Cuenca, where we live when we are...
