An armed gang stormed the TC Televisión network in Guayaquil, Ecuador, during a live broadcast, leading to the arrest of the gunmen by police special forces. President Daniel Noboa declared a state of 'internal armed conflict' as criminal groups launched attacks across Ecuador, including violence in prisons and the escape of gang leader Adolfo Macías. Peru declared an emergency along its border with Ecuador. Noboa designated 20 drug trafficking gangs as terrorist groups and authorized military action against them. The president also declared a state of emergency to regain control of prisons and plans a referendum on crime-fighting measures.

Alberto Fujimori, the former president of Peru, was released from jail on Wednesday following a humanitarian pardon granted by the country's highest court, despite attempts to block the pardon.

Peru is set to take on the year-long rotating leadership of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) at the end of November 2023. The country views this opportunity as a means to bolster its struggling economy and will host the annual meeting of APEC's 21 members the following year.

Lucha Reyes, known as Peru's Golden Black Woman, is being celebrated 50 years after her death for her contributions to música criolla and her influence on Afro-Peruvian women. Peru's culture ministry posthumously recognized her, and a Madrid-based record label released a collection of her songs. Despite a difficult life marked by poverty, abuse, and health issues, Reyes became a beloved figure in Peru, comparable to Edith Piaf. Her legacy continues to inspire, including within Peru's LGBTQ community, and efforts are being made to give her global recognition.

A proposed legislation by rightwing lawmaker Adriana Tudela to revitalize Peru's film industry by capping state subsidies has sparked outrage among Peruvian filmmakers for potentially harming Indigenous and regional cinema. The bill is seen as an attack on cultural diversity and has been dismissed by Peru's Ministry of Culture as unviable. Filmmakers argue that government support is crucial for maintaining cultural identity and point to the success of Indigenous films such as Retablo and Wiñaypacha. The controversy arose after the British comedy Paddington in Peru chose Colombia for filming due to Peru's bureaucratic barriers, despite the movie's narrative returning to Peru.

Ecuadorians have voted in a referendum to prohibit new oil wells in the Yasuní National Park, preserving the region's biodiversity and Indigenous communities. With over 58% in favor, the decision prevents the extraction of approximately 726 million barrels of oil. The referendum also resulted in a ban on gold mining in the Chocó Andino near Quito. Indigenous leaders and activists celebrated the outcome as a victory for nature and climate action. The state oil company, Petroecuador, will be significantly impacted, as it must cease operations and remove infrastructure within a year. This event marks a significant stance by Ecuador against resource extraction for environmental protection.

Ecuadorians face a critical referendum to decide on halting oil drilling in the Yasuní ITT oilfield, located in a biodiverse Amazon national park and home to Indigenous communities. Amidst economic challenges and a recent presidential candidate assassination, the vote also includes a local referendum in Quito on mining. The country's reliance on oil has been questioned, with activists and Indigenous leaders advocating for a transition to sustainable practices. The outcome could influence Ecuador's environmental and economic future.

Ecuador faces a critical referendum to halt oil drilling in the biodiverse Yasuní National Park, home to the Waorani people and other indigenous communities. Amid economic challenges and a recent credit downgrade by Fitch, the vote represents a conflict between environmental conservation and the country's reliance on oil revenue. Indigenous leaders and activists, such as Nemonte Nenquimo and Patricia Gualinga, advocate for a 'yes' vote to protect the environment and transition away from fossil fuels. The country has a history of oil spills, including a protracted legal battle with Chevron, and indigenous communities have suffered from poverty and environmental degradation despite oil wealth.

In Lima, Peru, a retired dancer is working to make ballet accessible to girls from families who cannot afford classes and to those who were previously considered unable to dance.

Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, known for his fight against drug cartels and corruption, was assassinated, marking the country's first political assassination. The incident has raised concerns about the influence of organized crime in politics and the government's ability to protect its citizens. Ecuador's homicide rate has increased significantly, drawing comparisons to Colombia in the 1980s. Villavicencio, a former journalist and whistleblower, had made enemies in various sectors, including drug gangs and the public sector. The US has criticized Ecuador's judiciary for corruption, and the country is at risk of becoming a narco-state. The upcoming election presents challenges for the next administration to address the security crisis with international support.

The article discusses the efforts of Dutch historian Ronald Elward and Peruvian geneticist Ricardo Fujita to trace the noble Inca bloodlines to the modern descendants of Atahualpa and his kin in Peru. Elward has examined historical records and public documents in Cusco to identify 25 royal Inca families and their descendants. Fujita, with support from National Geographic's Genographic Project, has found genetic links between individuals claiming descent from Huayna Capac and indigenous populations near Lake Titicaca. The research aims to reconstruct the history of the Inca people, which has not been recorded in writing but is believed to be preserved in the DNA of their descendants. The article also touches on the cultural pride of the Inca descendants and the resurgence of interest in the Quechua language and heritage.