Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Results for “EU”Clear
The winning design for Ecuador’s new National Museum in Quito calls for a 36,000-square-meter building near La Carolina to house about 1.4 million cultural and heritage items.
Ecuador’s e-commerce market exceeded USD 7 billion in 2025 as faster delivery, payment options, and marketplace logistics turned online buying into a permanent habit.
Ecuador’s social security system had 3.6 million active affiliates as of May 2026, up more than 102,000 from a year earlier. The useful part for expats is understanding the difference between dependent, independent, voluntary, domestic-work, and youth affiliation.
Ecuador’s tax authority began a new RIMPE recategorization process on July 1. Small-business owners should check their RUC status because category changes can bring new tax obligations.
A strong storm in Santo Domingo on the night of June 25 caused flooded homes and damage to educational and sports infrastructure. Emergency calls came after 23:00, with responders mobilized through ECU 911.
Ronald Javier Macias Villamar, known as alias Javi and identified as the brother of Los Choneros leader alias Fito, was captured in Colombia. Ecuadorian officials say the operation involved the National Police, Armed Forces, National Intelligence Center and Colombian authorities.
IESS says Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital allocated $435,083 for medications and supplies, including antibiotics, neonatal respiratory supplies, suction hoses and Tocilizumab. For expats using IESS or watching the public system, this is a concrete supply update with named purchases and dollar amounts.
Travelers connecting through Lima’s Jorge Chávez airport must pay an $11.86 transfer fee called the TUUA. Ecuadorians using Lima for onward connections to South America, Asia and Europe are already feeling the extra cost.
El Telegrafo reports that scientists identified Microeledone galapagensis, a small blue deep-sea octopus first collected near Darwin Island during a 2015 expedition with the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park Directorate.
SECAP has opened 30,000 free virtual course spots through the Compromiso por el Empleo program. Courses run 60 to 90 hours and cover areas like e-commerce, web programming, gastronomy, computer maintenance, basic electricity and auto mechanics.
The May 12 price adjustment is official — diesel crossed $3/gallon for the first time, stations in Quito and Guayaquil are running dry, and Ecuador is importing 65% of its fuel. The refinery FCC unit restarts May 15.
A survey of 2,570 companies found that nearly half can't fill open positions. The biggest barriers: lack of experience, weak digital skills, and wages that don't compete.
