LatinNews Daily - 12 March 2025

*Ecuador’s government led by President Daniel Noboa has announced that, to mitigate the economic impact of recent heavy rains, residents of the provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Santa Elena, Lojas, and Azuay will be given credit equivalent to 180kw/h for their March electricity bills. With the 13 April second round of the presidential election fast approaching, the government also asked the national electoral council (CNE) not to fine people affected by the rains who do not vote. The rains, which have lashed Ecuador since late February, have killed at least 18 people and affected over 82,000, on local press reports.