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By Patricia Rey Mallén Latin America is not only Brazil. The fastest-growing region in the world -- with 3.5 percent GDP growth projected this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, almost three times the rate of the rest of the world -- hides more...
Britain is considering holding talks with Ecuador over the future of Julian Assange, the Foreign Office said on Monday, in the first sign of a possible solution to the year-long diplomatic standoff over the Wikileaks founder. Assange, 41, took refuge in Ecuador's tiny...
Editor's note: In the times of the Spanish Empire, the mines of Zaruma, 80 miles southwest of Cuenca, were one of the crown's major producers of gold and silver. The production, over a 250 year period, came at the cost of an estimated 10,000 lives,...
Calling gay marriage a “novelty,” President Rafael Correa says he is also opposed to the adoption of children by gay couples. Although he says he supports civil unions for gays and lesbians, Correa insists that discussions of legalizing gay marriage is a...
Cuenca´s Museo de las Culturas Aborigenes, or Museum of Aboriginal Culture, is not your typical roadside attraction. Despite the fact that it is relatively small and privately owned, many consider it one of Ecuador's best archeology museums. Operated...
Following two days of discussions that often turned incendiary, Cuenca’s fire chief has agreed to allow some fireworks at the Corpus Christi festivities that begin tonight. The new rules, however, come with strings attached and event organizers and sponors say...
Ecuador’s internal revenue service (SRI) has seized the largest privately held property in Ecuador as part of its effort to collect what it claims to be more than $100 million in back taxes. The property in Guayas Province is owned by banana baron Alvaro Noboa....
This year’s Corpus Christi celebration, set to begin on Thursday, could be the first in hundreds of years without officially sanctioned fireworks. Despite protests from pyrotechnic artists, civic groups and other government officials, Cuenca fire chief Oswaldo...
What can expats learn about living in Ecuador? Plenty, according Carmen Chuquín, director of a new course offered by the University of Otavalo entitled “Living in Ecuador.” The course has attracted 18 English-speaking expats from the Otavalo and...
On the eve of his inauguration for another four-year term, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa discussed his goals for the second full term of his presidency and said that he will not run again in 2017. "We are all necessary, but nobody is indispensable," the...
According to Cuenca city officials, UNESCO may announce next week that a large area of the Cajas mountains, west of the city, will be decalred an International Biosphere reserve. The 976,000 hectare area, about three times the size of Long Island, New York, is the...
During its first three months of operation, the new Quito airport at Tababela reports a 30% decrease in the number of domestic travelers compared to the same period in 2012. The Quito Chamber of Tourism blames the drop on the extra time and expense required for...
The U.S. State Department's assistant secretary for refugee issues is drawing attention to the plight of Colombian refugees who have fled across the border into Ecuador. Anne C. Richards says the problem is continuing even though the Colombian government is in...
Saturday’s International Museum Day festivities are a vivid reminder of the rich world of archeology, history and art housed in dozens of Cuenca museums. Here, we offer a brief primer on what we believe to be four of the best. You can’t miss the Museo del...
Ecuador’s new National Assembly convenes next week and is set to debate several high profile bills during the first 100 days of its session. Alianza PAIS, the left-leaning “citizen’s revolution” party has dominated Ecuador’s political...
The constroversy surrounding the 1981 death of Ecuadorian President Jaime Roldós has been resurrected by a new documentary film, “The Death or Roldos.” The film, directed and produced by Manolo Sarmiento and Lisandra Rivera, includes film footage...
Editor's Note: Cuenca continues to receive major media coverage as a place for North Americans to retire. Tuesday night, ABC News ran a feature on its nightly news program about Cuenca expats, focusing on the attraction of the city's low cost of living. The...
Facing growing shareholder unrest over asset seizure actions and forced to testify about his alleged misconduct in the $19 billon Ecuador case, Chevron CEO John Watson again will be on the hot seat at the company’s annual meeting in late May where rainforest...
Speculation about who will lead Ecuador’s “Citizens’ Revolution” in four years, when Rafael Correa’s second full term as president ends, has been quieted, at least temporarily. Correa’s heir apparent appears to be Gabriela...
More art, less graffiti. That’s the goal of Cuenca’s new graffiti ordinance, passed by the cantonal council last year, and both graffiti artists and and government officials agree that the new program is off to a good start. Martin Arevalo, a spokesman for...
