Not long ago, Ecuador was chiefly known for its volcanoes, wildlife and eco-tourism. It’s an image that may now need some rehabilitation after chaos and bloodshed sparked by the prison escape last week of Adolfo Macías, the country’s most notorious gang leader and drug lord.
With cartels from Peru and Colombia routinely funnelling narcotics through Ecuador’s ports en route to Europe, Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips reports on a rising problem that threatens to tear apart the once-peaceful Andean state.
In the Middle East, Yemen’s Houthi rebels could stymie the increasingly slim chances of preventing a regional war. With the US and UK bombing Houthi bases in response to attacks on commercial shipping, diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour recounts the Houthis’ rise and why military strikes against them may not lead to the desired outcome.
As of this week Denmark has a new monarch – Frederik X – following the abdication of Margrethe II. But, finds our Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant, a growing number of Danes dream of a republic. And Europe environment correspondent Ajit Niranjan examines the green credentials of the continent’s more eco-conscious royals.
Farmers in parts of Europe have been better known for angry protests than food production lately, but there’s a melancholic, risk-laden side to the profession that often goes unseen. Bella Bathurst meets the woman whose job is to be a friend and counsellor to Britain’s farmers in challenging times.
In Culture, Chinese-American director Lulu Wang speaks to Claire Armitstead about her new TV series Expats, exploring the recent turmoil of life in Hong Kong. And, from theatres to art galleries, there’s a guide to the new rules of audience etiquette from our critics.
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