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 Ecuador


Between cartel threats and U.S. airstrikes, Ecuador fishers have nowhere to hide

The Japan Times

Between cartel threats and U.S. airstrikes, Ecuador fishers have nowhere to hide Fishers unload their fresh catch near a market in Manta, Ecuador, on June 4. JARAMIJO/SAN MATEO, ECUADOR - At first light on Ecuador's Pacific coast, small fishing boats fan out from the villages of San Mateo and Jaramijo, their bows pointed toward deeper waters and the promise of a good catch. Other boats come in from the rolling surf to battered coves, where crews unload baskets of tuna and swordfish and traders rush to inspect the day's haul. The scene belies the dangers some fishers face pushing out into these waters. Onshore, drug cartels have turned the small ports of Ecuador's Manabi province into a cocaine-trafficking hub, extorting local fishers who are prized for their navigation skills. The cartels present an impossible choice: earn more than a year's legal income smuggling drugs, or face extortion, threats and violence.


Sutton's predictions v Crookhaven stars Amari Bacchus & Genesis Lynea

BBC News

Two of the teams fighting relegation meet on Sunday when Tottenham host Nottingham Forest, but are there more than just points at stake? If we do get a winner here, it is a huge boost for that team psychologically going into the international break, said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton. But, for the losing manager, it could mean the sack. That applies to Forest's Vitor Pereira as well as Igor Tudor at Spurs - this is a classic game where triumph or disaster awaits both clubs. Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests. His guests for week 31 are Amari Bacchus and Genesis Lynea, stars of new CBBC drama series Crookhaven. Crookhaven begins with a double bill on Sunday, 22 March at 15:05 GMT on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and at 17:25 on CBBC. The full series will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from this date.


Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads Bafta Games Awards nominations

BBC News

This year's Bafta Games Awards nominations have been released, and the unstoppable Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the front-runner once again. The role-playing adventure, made by French developer Sandfall Interactive, received 12 nominations in total, including best game, best music and best narrative. Having already swept the board at several video game award ceremonies, Expedition 33 was widely expected to feature heavily in this year's Bafta list. But, in a ceremony which aims to celebrate multimillion-dollar productions and independent games made by tiny teams, there are also some surprising inclusions and omissions. Expedition 33's 12 nominations is not a record for Bafta. In 2023, God of War Ragnarok was up for 14 awards - although it lost out on best game to independent game Vampire Survivors.