Cuenca, Ecuador is a place of old world beauty and tops the list of 2009 World’s Top Retirement Havens listed by International Living. Cuenca is one of most beautiful and best-preserved colonial cities yet the price to live there is wallet-friendly: rent a beautiful condo for $300 a month or buy a large apartment for $43,000.

Several South American countries top the chart of best places for retirement and Ecuador leads them.

We are pleased to communicate that missing student from Taylor University Luke Dornon was located near the El Cajas National Park at a refugee station last night. He had spent Sunday night lost in the park and made his way out sometime Monday. Luke was treated at a local hospital for hypothermia and dehydration, but was otherwise unhurt.

The Presidents of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela have settled a weeklong crisis that was starting to get close to war. The dispute began when Colombian forces attacked FARC rebels inside Ecuador.

Officials in Ecuador say Venezuela is to help them build a $5 billion oil refinery that will become operational in 2012.

By D. J. Hadfield

Certainly, one of the most daunting challenges an investor faces is putting on the thinking cap and calculating the value of a mining or junior exploration company share. There are countless ways of valuing and comparing companies, and tens, if not hundreds of variables to consider when making your final investment decision.

Bali and Maui top the list of top ten islands for vacation and travel.

Long focused on copper in Ecuador, Ascendant Copper (TSX: ACX), announced on October 21 that it had signed a letter of intent to acquire all outstanding common shares in St. Genevieve Resources (CNQ: SGVL), another copper company with properties in Arizona.

Investors seeking a grassroots deal with plenty of upside will find EcuaGold refreshing. Companies like this bridge the gap between gambling and putting our money into lesser risk ventures with potential for very high returns. Due diligence tells us EcuaGold has a high stake in a land area of proven mineralization, is well-funded, and works in a “mining friendly” region.

John Whittier Greenleaf, the American Quaker poet and abolitionist, was noted for saying, “I’ll lift you and you lift me, and we’ll both ascend together.” It looks as if Ascendant Copper (TSX:ACX) has taken some of his sage relationship advice as it ushers in a new phase of its ascendancy with its friendly takeover of St. Genevieve Resources (CNQ:SGVL) of Montreal.

Sixty miners have been trapped overnight in an underground gold mine in southern Ecuador after an explosion there killed at least one person, officials said.

John Whittier Greenleaf, the American Quaker poet and abolitionist, was noted for saying, “I’ll lift you and you lift me, and we’ll both ascend together.” It looks as if Ascendant Copper (TSX:ACX) has taken some of his sage relationship advice as it ushers in a new phase of its ascendancy with its friendly takeover of St. Geneviève Resources (CNQ:SGVL) of Montréal.