Community Notes in Latin America: Meta is expanding its crowdsourced fact-checking pilot to Ecuador and 15 other Spanish-speaking countries, letting local users sign up as contributors while Meta plans to eventually publish notes and reduce reliance on third-party verification. Local Media Integrity: A regional fact-checking network (LatamChequea) and the International Fact-Checking Network warn that Community Notes alone may not be enough in high-disinformation settings, urging Meta to complement—not replace—independent checks. Ecuador Policy: Ecuador’s new adoption law bars LGBTQ+ people from adopting, drawing criticism over discrimination and potential harm to children. El Niño Watch (Galápagos + Ecuador): Ecuadorian scientists warn a stronger-than-normal El Niño could significantly affect Galápagos ecosystems, with warmer seas threatening plankton and food chains. Ecuador Security Tech/Policy: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced expanded anti-drug cooperation with Ecuador, including a terrorist designation for the Los Tiguerones gang and additional counternarcotics support. Ecuador Tech & Cybersecurity: Researchers report hackers used commercial AI tools to speed up intrusions across government, transport, water utilities in Ecuador, and financial networks in the region. Ecuador Agriculture/Climate Impacts: Reporting notes El Niño is already shifting fish behavior, with Ecuadorian fishing crews traveling farther for fewer tuna.