Bulletins and News Discussion from February 10th to February 16th, 2025 - There Is Noboa Alternative - COTW: Ecuador

Image is of the Galapagos Islands, sourced from here.

Moving the megathread topic slightly away from the chaos of the United States and going back around the world, we will begin with paying attention to Ecuador.

Ecuador has been ruled by Daniel Noboa since 2023, after he won the snap election. He's about as ghoulish as one gets; a neoliberal right-winger and as much as a marionette to the United States as Milei. Two months ago, he gave effective control of the Galapagos Islands to the United States and is allowing them to build a military base there - beginning the potential conversion from a natural paradise to unsinkable aircraft carrier.

We are now seeing the rematch between Noboa and Gonzalez; the latter of which is a leftist politician with a similar ideology to Correa, the socialist who ruled Ecuador from 2007 to 2017. The divide in Ecuador today is largely between the Correaists and those who oppose them, though Leonidas Iza represents the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador and commands a notable share of the vote.

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454 comments

From the FT this morning, it's print so can't provide a source. Very grim for Ukraine. "Service guarantees citizenship" type hours.
Ukraine has launched a military recruitment campaign targeting 18- to 24-year-olds... the campaign was announced alongside a promotional video showing a montage of soldiers leaping into action as cash rolls off a printer. While rock music plays, an opening messages declares: 'Change your life in a year.'
Recruits will receive 1mn hryvnia, or about $24,000 paid in installments... recruits will also be eligible for subsidies for rents and mortgages, as well as state funded higher education, and the right to travel abroad after completion of service. Currently, under martial law, Ukraine does not allow men aged 18 to 60 to leave the country. They will be exempt from mobilisation for 12 months after their service.
Trump's national security adviser Michael Waltz said the US would push Ukraine to lower its conscription age to 18.
Ukraine is absolutely fucked in terms of demographics for the next forty years. That ad sounds horrific. What a disaster this war has been for a generation.
- the campaign was announced alongside a promotional video showing a montage of soldiers leaping into action as cash rolls off a printer. While rock music plays, an opening messages declares: 'Change your life in a year.'
- More workers into the meat grinder.