Ecuador Health Crisis: Ecuador’s Mobile Health Care Service is in institutional collapse, with over half of ambulances reportedly inoperable and a shortage of trained staff, leaving rural and high-vulnerability areas exposed. Fintech Expansion: Felix Pago, a WhatsApp-based remittance startup for US-based Latinos, closed a $200M Series C and plans to move beyond transfers into lending, savings, and AI-driven financial guidance—benefiting from a new tax that exempts digital transfers. Ecuador El Niño Response: Ecuador raised its El Niño risk alert to “red,” activating emergency committees and preventive evacuations as Pacific warming intensifies. Community Renewable Power: In Intag Valley, 19 families are building a 300-kW run-of-river micro-hydropower plant, aiming for income diversification while funding conservation. Biodiversity & Discovery: Ecuador’s cloud forests yielded four newly described Pristimantis frog species, with multiple proposed for Critically Endangered status—highlighting how hard-to-see diversity can be missed. Galápagos Wildlife Tracking: Satellite tracking found yellow-morph green sea turtles staying within the Galápagos Marine Reserve for years, challenging expectations about migration. Data Centers Policy (Canada): New Brunswick seeks public feedback on a framework for future data centre development focused on electricity costs, sustainability, and community engagement. Logistics Deal: DHL Global Forwarding acquired Uruguay’s Aero Cargas to strengthen regional freight and life-sciences logistics capacity.