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By Carol E. Leutner This article honors my friend, Julia Rux. Julia was one of those persons that expats like me, living in the now international city of Cuenca, are privileged to know. I have a wonderful life here and wonderful friends. Julia exemplified those human...
British rock icon Sting played to a full house of almost 20,000 Friday night in Cuenca’s Alejandro Serrano Stadium. The two-hour concert, part of the performer’s 2025 world tour, included such hits as “All my Heart,” “Always on Your Side and “When We Dance.” Despite...
Ecuador's electoral court suspended the political rights of Vice President Veronica Abad Thursday for engaging in what it said was "gender-related violence," effectively removing her from office amid her feud with President Daniel Noboa. The Contentious Electoral...
Ecuador’s Trade Ministry expects a “very significant increase” in trade with China with the opening of the Chinese-managed port in Chancay, Peru. “We expect as much as a 20% increase in exports to China in 2025, and much more in the future,” the ministry said in...
The word went out weeks ago. “Come to Cuenca and Azuay Province for Carnaval– it’s safe and it’s fun!” In television and social media ads, Cuenca Mayor Crisitian Zamora and Azuay Prefect Juan Cristóbal Lloret aimed the message at coastal residents besieged by crime....
By Ben Brasch For coffee lovers, getting their caffeine fix is becoming more expensive — and there’s little relief in sight. It’s one reason Starbucks, attempting a turnaround after a disappointing 2024, on Monday announced job cuts and a further streamlining of...
Cuenca's Carnaval celebration gets underway tonight with the Compadres and Comadres celebration in Parque Ciudadela Álvarez. The action begins at 6 with food, dance and music honoring the city’s ancient and modern traditions. Later, the park and other public areas...
Employees of three Cuenca facilities that house and care for children and the elderly say they have not been paid by the government for three months. On Tuesday, about fifty workers from Cristo Rey, Miguel León and Tadeo Torres protested in Parque Calderon and outside...
By Stephen Vargha When it comes to longevity, leather can easily out last synthetic leather. Animal-based leather is time-tested, with products in pretty good condition after a century or more. Depending on how it’s made and used, synthetic leather can be less durable...
By Autumn Spredemann Widespread outrage has erupted in Bolivia over the details of contracts officials signed with Chinese and Russian companies to exploit the country’s vast lithium reserves. Bolivians say the new agreements offer zero benefits for locals. A...
Ecuador’s National Assembly approved President Daniel Noboa's proposal to form agreements with other countries to confront international drug cartels and gangs. The nearly unanimous vote allows, “if necessary,” foreign military troops on Ecuadorian soil under special...
By Steven Rigney Author's note: Names have been changed to protect the guilty. It all started innocently enough. There was a posting in the classified section of a local online gringo publication recommending Isabela, the English-speaking wife of an excellent cabinet...
By Valerie Thompson An international team led by researchers from the Australian environmental and energy-focused unit of RINA Consulting, part of Italy-based RINA, has examined the potential to deploy floating photovoltaics (FPVs) at hydropower plants (HPPs) in...
By Liam Higgins Former Education Minister Milton Luna says Ecuador is suffering an education crisis every bit as extreme as the crime and energy crises, but no one is talking about it. “I was saddened that the subject received so little attention during the election,”...
The National Emergency Operations Council (COE) declared a weather emergency in six coastal provinces Monday, as the weather service predicts more rain through the first part of Carnaval weekend. Azuay and Loja Provinces were also included in the emergency due to road...
By James Bosworth In the midst of campaigning for reelection, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa last week offered a shocking policy proposal: He said he will invite foreign troops to the country to combat criminal gangs. Although Noboa had earlier proposed allowing...
Ecuador’s Energy Ministry has announced a project to increase the country’s electric generation by 8,000 megawatts between 2025 and 2030. The plan calls for the construction of seven new hydroelectric facilities, a nuclear plant and several geothermal, wind and solar...
Editor's note: This the first in a series of 3 articles covering the most important things you want to know about collecting your U.S. Social Security while living in Ecuador. By Carolyn V. Hamilton 3 things you must know about collecting your social security when you...
The Cuenca- Molleturo-Guayaquil highway reopened to traffic Friday morning following a six-hour closure due to landslides between kilometer markers 50 and 52. The highway has experienced a series of landslides since last weekend, following heavy rain. Although the...
I would be hard-pressed to name the 12 things I like best about living in Ecuador: tucked-away haunts serving coffee and munchies amid endless conversation, oases of beer and laughter nourishing those tumbling downhill towards the church, and clouds like unruly mobs...
