Latest Ecuador News

Alberto Fujimori, a former president of Peru who was convicted of human rights abuses, dies at 86

Sep. 12, 2024 15:17 PM EDT

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Alberto Fujimori, whose decade-long presidency began with triumphs righting Peru’s economy and defeating a brutal insurgency only to end in autocratic excess that later sent him to prison, has died. He was 86. His death Wednesday in the capital, Lima, was...

Catholic leaders discuss family and fraternity during congress in Ecuador

Sep. 12, 2024 14:30 PM EDT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The world is wounded, Catholic leaders said Thursday in Ecuador. But an emphasis on supporting the family could be a path towards healing. Catholic leaders from more than 50 countries have discussed this and other topics in Quito, the Ecuadoran capital,...

Police in Guinea-Bissau seize nearly 3 tons of cocaine on plane from Venezuela

Sep. 09, 2024 15:07 PM EDT

BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau (AP) — Police in Guinea-Bissau seized 2.6 tons of cocaine from a plane that arrived from Venezuela in the West African country’s capital, Bissau, over the weekend, judicial police said Monday. The agents confiscated 78 bales of drugs that were smuggled in...

Proposed resolution asks UN to plan for UN peacekeepers to replace Kenya-led police mission in Haiti

Sep. 07, 2024 17:48 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Ecuador circulated a draft resolution on Friday asking the United Nations to begin planning for a U.N. peacekeeping operation to replace the Kenya-led mission now in the Caribbean nation helping police to quell gang violence. The proposed...

Ecuador starts dismantling Yasuni National Park oil block two days before court deadline

Aug. 29, 2024 19:00 PM EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Ecuador's government says it has started dismantling infrastructure on a controversial oil drilling block in Yasuni National Park, just as Friday's court-imposed deadline for completion looms. The Ministry for Energy and Mines said in a statement Wednesday...

Ecuador's citizens voted to stop oil drilling in heart of Amazon. A year later, it hasn't happened

Aug. 28, 2024 09:46 AM EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — It's been a year since the people of Ecuador voted to halt oil drilling in a national park in the heart of the country's share of the Amazon, and nothing has been done to start shutting down operations. For supporters of the shutdown, that's not even the worst part: the...

Greek customs agents seize more than 90 kilograms of cocaine from a ship that originated in Ecuador

Aug. 10, 2024 14:45 PM EDT

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Customs agents have seized around 93 kilograms (205 pounds) of cocaine at the port in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, authorities said. The cocaine was found on a ship that had sailed from Ecuador to Thessaloniki carrying bananas, which would...

Border arrests plunge 29% in June to the lowest of Biden's presidency as asylum halt takes hold

Jul. 15, 2024 20:30 PM EDT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico plunged 29% in June, the lowest month of Joe Biden's presidency, according to figures released Monday that provide another window on the impact of a new rule to temporarily suspend asylum. Arrests totaled 83,536...

Convicted instigators in murder of Ecuador presidential candidate get 34-year prison sentences

Jul. 13, 2024 12:05 PM EDT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The two instigators of the 2023 assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio were sentenced on Friday to 34 years and eight months in prison. Three accomplices were sentenced to 12 years in prison. The Prosecutor’s Office had...

The UN condemns increasing gang violence and criminal activity in Haiti that is undermining peace

Jul. 13, 2024 02:19 AM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution condemning “in the strongest terms” the increasing gang violence and criminal activity in Haiti that is undermining peace, stability and security in the country and the region. Friday's resolution...