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Before last month’s arrests of relatives of fugitive José Macías, alias 'Fito', authorities believed Macías was out of the country. “Our best information was that he was in Colombia,” Interior Minister John Reimberg said. “The interrogations of the family members...
Why are your beans so stubborn, your beef is gristly, and your salvation hisses like a steam engine? It’s no secret that some things can take a little longer in Cuenca. Buses. Bank queues. Getting your cedula laminated. But if you’re new in town, nothing quite...
By Gretchen Reynolds A simple test of your balance, strength and flexibility, known as the sitting-rising test, could be an early indicator of how long you’ll live, according to a large-scale new study of mobility and mortality. The study, published Wednesday in the...
By Juan Pablo Calero An ancient society near the southern shores of Lake Titicaca in modern-day Bolivia was once one of the continent's most powerful civilizations. Known as Tiwanaku, the ancient society is widely considered by archaeologists to be one of the earliest...
Jose Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito," Ecuador's most-wanted fugitive, has been captured after escaping from prison in early 2024, President Daniel Noboa announced Wednesday. The leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang, Macias, disappeared from Guayaquil's Litorial prison...
Exposiciones en Museo de Arte Moderno -- 2 exhibits are at the MMAM until July 13, "Narrativas de un país en ciernes" (Narratives of a country in the making) by artists Jorge Vinueza, Claudia Cortez and Pedro Freire and "Pasando Revista" (Passing Review) by Luis...
By Jonathan Mason The modern politician does not lead. He follows. He has his ear to the ground so persistently that his spine must be permanently bent. In theory, democracy is government by the people. In practice, it has degenerated into government by the pollster,...
By Manuel Rueda and Astrid Suarez Dozens of Colombian waste pickers inundated Bogota’s iconic Bolivar Square with about 15 tons of recyclable goods Tuesday to protest decreasing income and tougher conditions for scavengers. They collect trash from homes, factories and...
By Marcena Hunter In recent years, Ecuador’s gold sector has transformed dramatically. Once a largely informal livelihood, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) has evolved into a criminally exploited industry. Drawing on interviews, fieldwork, and open-source...
The escape last week of Leandro Norero, alias "Fede," from Guayaquil’s Litoral Prison, once again highlights the extent of corruption within the country’s penal system. Unlike earlier escapes, Norero’s was the result of bribes paid to soldiers charged with maintaining...
By Stephen Vargha William Shakespeare wrote, “If music be the food of love, play on.” And the Cuenca Symphony Orchestra will be doing that for one of their beloved members. “Yackson has a love for music and is very knowledgeable. He is very open to sharing his...
Ecuadorian farmers who bet on cocoa beans rather than bananas, the country's top agricultural export, are cashing in as a global shortage of the main ingredient in chocolate feeds a price bonanza. Cocoa is now a billion-dollar business in the Andean country, rivalling...
As former municipal councilman Xavier Bermúdez replaces Santiago Malo as governor of Azuay Province, many are predicting a contentious relationship between the national government and Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora. Bermúdez resigned last week from the municipal council...
By José María León Cabrera On a sweltering Sunday morning, 20 Indigenous men in the Ecuadorean Amazon boarded a canoe in their community near the border with Peru. Their destination was a neighboring village 45 minutes away by river. They were athletes, headed to an...
By Lucy Brewer A recent survey found 42% of Americans prefer to cook meals traditionally, like their elders. Unfortunately, while we all love Grandma, bless her heart, much of her advice around food was based on folklore and not testing, facts and data. It may have...
Author's note: The OASIS Center for Conscious Living near Cuenca is offering weekly classes beginning in mid-July focused on the "Path to Mastrery." The following is an overview of Lesson 1, "Freedom from the Past.". Those interested in participating can contact Louis...
The United Nations Office for Refugees (UNHCR) predicts “thousands more” Venezuelan refugees will arrive in Ecuador in the coming months. In a statement, UNHCR said that recent changes in immigration policy in the United States will increase the number of refugees in...
I used to carry an Alien Registration card. That isn’t a metaphor, or a bit of nostalgic whimsy. It was a real laminated rectangle issued by the United States government, tucked into my wallet for years, identifying me as a resident alien. It even had my fingerprint...
By Jim Smith Cuenca has long attracted retirees from North America and Europe with its pleasant climate, walkable streets, quality health care, and lower cost of living. But a growing number of these retirees are not just here to relax. Many are part of a growing...
President Daniel Noboa will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping June 27 as part of an international tour. “Ecuador and China have for years enjoyed a productive and positive relationship and the president’s visit is intended to reinforce that relationship and...
