News
A former Florida resident and Quito expat admitted in Orlando federal court Wednesday that he operated a prostitution business in Ecuador and coordinated “tours” for Americans to have sex with girls. Federal agents in Central Florida began investigating Patrick Minga in August, when they spotted his Craigslist ad offering “sex tours” in Ecuador, court records...
Despite putting up a heroic fight, Ecuador was eliminated from World Cup play Wednesday in a 0 – 0 draw with France. Ecuador needed a victory or tie from Honduras in its game with Switzerland to advance but didn’t get it, as the Swiss won 3-0. Ecuador put up a ferocious defense against the French,...
The Andean Community of Nations (CAN) has temporarily suspended a resolution calling on Ecuador to lift its new import quality standards for the entry of certain imports, which were considered “unnecessarily restrictive” and harmed regional trade. Minister of Foreign Trade, Francisco Rivadeneira, told a press conference that the CAN accepted Ecuador’s request for suspension of...
In a surprise to some analysts, Ecuador sold $2 billion worth of 10-year bonds last Tuesday, marking a return to international capital markets after defaulting in 2008. The deal came on the heels of Kenya’s first-ever international-bond sale, which attracted $8 billion worth of orders for two chunks of bonds totaling $2 billion. The Kenya...
Indigenous groups opposed to legislation that would consolidate water allocations power with the federal government are in the third day of a 10-day protest march headed for the National Assembly in Quito. The march arrives in Cuenca today and protesters plan a rally in Parque Calderon. The National Assembly is scheduled to vote on the...
President Rafael Correa has announced a new service to allow Ecuadorians to report inefficiency in government offices and as well as what he called “absurd formalities.” “We talk about the good life in Ecuador but part of this is to make government services friendlier and more effective for the people,” Correa said. “We need to...
By Benjamin Dangl “Soccer, metaphor for war, at times turns into real war,” wrote Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano. For many people in Brazil, a war has indeed broken out surrounding the current World Cup. Poor communities have been displaced by stadiums and related infrastructure for the event, the high level of security has increased police...
Ecuador’s National Assembly is beginning discussion of amendments to the constitution that would eliminate presidential term limits and lower the age requirement for seeking the presidency from 35 to 32. The drive for the change of term limits was the result of April elections in which candidates from President Rafael Correa’s Pais party were defeated...
Editor’s note: To support a proposal that the Inca Trail be granted UNESCO World Heritage status, members of Cuenca’s city government walked 20 kilometers of the 600-year-old road network on Saturday morning. The trail, called Qhapac Nan by the Incas, is also known at Camino Inca. Cuenca’s support for the special designation of Qhapac Nan...
By Michael Warren Argentina’s government has finally agreed to try to negotiate a payment plan for the $1.5 billion in bad debts and interest it owes to the U.S. hedge funds it demonizes as “vultures.” But before both sides sit down for talks in New York next week, President Cristina Fernandez wants everyone to know...
As a consulting team from the University of Cuenca considers a new fare schedule for Cuenca’s taxis, some say the rates currently programmed into taxi meters are already too high. Ivan Granda, chair of the Cuenca Legislative Committee, says fares in Cuenca are the highest in the country. “Everywhere else in Ecuador the minimum is...
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Week of April 28
General Motors Auto Parts Manufacturer Laments: “Today Marks a Dark Day for the National Industry”.
Minister Requests Resignations in Termogás Machala, Dubbed ‘Epicenter of Energy Inefficiency’.
Chevrolet to Cease Car Assembly in Ecuador by August, Production to Halt in Colombia.
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