Cuenca news today, written for expats

Toys R Us opens to the public in Cuenca on May 30 at 11:00, El Mercurio reports. The store is on Avenida de las Americas, diagonal to Centro Cristiano, and the company announced inauguration surprises.

A University of Cuenca study evaluated 1,200 students from four universities and found links between intensive mobile-device use, lower academic performance and emotional-wellbeing effects. The project also created CIARA, an app that reduced average daily phone use from six hours to two among participants.

El Mercurio's weekend agenda includes a Saturday school parade, Paccha festivities, Ruta de Leyendas, a free Cuenca Symphony concert, Pumapungo Children's Day activities, a Banos parish open house and Corpus Christi sweet blessing.

Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso recorded 428 births in sitting or squatting positions during the first four months of 2026, El Mercurio reports. The model is part of ESAMyN care and includes family accompaniment during labor, birth and postpartum.

El Mercurio reports a TCE judge accepted a gender-based political violence complaint against Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora in first instance. The ruling suspends his political rights for six months, sets a $12,050 fine and requires a 40-hour course, but Zamora says he will appeal.

More than 100 families in Ochoa Leon are living with a closed vehicle bridge that residents continue to use despite collapse concerns, El Mercurio reports. A new wooden pedestrian bridge is close to opening, but residents still want a vehicle solution.