Ecuador news stories on Newser

Last Tortoise of His Kind Needs a Date

Matt Cantor — Tue, 10 May 2011 15:20:05 CDT

When you’re the only known member of your species, romance is hard to find. Such is the case for Lonesome George, the last Pinta tortoise in the Galapagos. Since George’s discovery in 1971—at a time when his species was believed to be extinct—scientists have searched far and wide...

Chevron Appeals Massive Amazon Pollution Fine

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 01:42:00 CDT

Chevron has launched an appeal challenging a whopping $9.5 billion penalty for polluting much of Ecuador's Amazon region. Company attorneys are accusing lawyers and supporters of the indigenous groups who brought the suit against Chevron of "corrupting" the trial, and claims that the finding against the corporation is filled...

Tiny Ecuadorean Villagers Free of Cancer, Diabetes

John Johnson — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 07:45:18 CST

After studying a group of villagers in Ecuador for nearly a quarter-century, researchers think it's safe to say it: These people don't get cancer or diabetes. The villagers are dwarfs—more specifically, they have Laron syndrome—and their particular genetic mutation helps keep them free of those two common diseases...

Chevron Fined $8B for Ecuador Pollution

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:25:34 CST

An Ecuadorean judge ruled today that Chevron was responsible for oil contamination in a wide swath of Ecuador's northern jungle and fined it at least $8 billion, the plaintiffs' lead attorney says. Chevron said it would appeal and called the ruling "illegitimate and unenforceable" in a news release. The plaintiffs'...

Assange Could Face Espionage Act Charges

Kevin Spak — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 08:38:31 CST

The US government is trying to pin Julian Assange and his WikiLeaks cohorts with charges under the Espionage Act—a 1917 law that predated various Supreme Court cases expanding First Amendment protections. The FBI is examining everyone who came into possession of the State Department cables that leaked yesterday, sources...

Troops Save Ecuadorean Prez from Rogue Cops

Rob Quinn — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 22:57:51 CDT

Troops have rescued Ecuador's president from a hospital where he had been trapped for over 12 hours by police officers rebelling over benefit cuts. Rafeal Correa, who was tear-gassed and roughed up by rogue cops, described widespread police protests as an attempted coup. He had vowed to leave the hospital...

Ecuador, DEA Bust Drug-Smuggling Sub

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 07:13:10 CDT

The Drug Enforcement Administration said yesterday it has helped seize a diesel electric-powered submarine constructed in a remote jungle and capable of transporting tons of cocaine. The sub was captured near a tributary close to the Ecuador-Colombia border, and Ecuadorean authorities said it was seized before it could make its...

Mosquito Invasion Threatens Galapagos Wildlife

Rob Quinn — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:10:19 CDT

Scientists fear that winged invaders could wipe out native species on the islands where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution, the Times of London reports. Mosquitoes have been hitching rides to the Galapagos on incoming aircraft, and now Galapagos species—including iguanas, tortoises, and Darwin's finches—are in serious...

Mexico Protests 'Unjustified' Response as Flu Stabilizes

Wesley Oliver — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:54:57 CDT

Mexico is striking back at countries it says are overreacting to swine flu fears, BBC reports. The country’s foreign minister singled out China, Peru, Argentina, Cuba, and Ecuador for halting flights to Mexico, saying, “We’re surprised by the adoption of unjustified measures.” The news comes as Mexican health officials said...