News of Nick Evans

Nick Evans

Nick Evans is a British journalist and tour guide based in Salta, Argentina. Since 2008, he has been running Poncho Tours, a travel company specialising in tailor-made tours in northwest Argentina, with his wife.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Conviction fails to solve mysteries surrounding French tourist's death

05-12-2020 10:04 French backpacker Mathieu Martin went missing in August 2018 in the north of Argentina. Last month, a court in Salta convicted a 41-year-old of manslaughter, holding the defendant responsible for the tourist’s death.

by Nick Evans

Valeria Juárez, 34, is embarking on a fresh career in the parks department after suffering years of torment at the hands of her former partner Héctor Fabián Mendoza.

GENDER VIOLENCE

Groundbreaking gender violence initiative sees victim handed ex-partner’s job

28-11-2020 08:19 In a groundbreaking ‘reparations’ ruling advance hailed by campaigners, a local council in La Pampa has awarded 34-year-old Valeria Juárez her former partner’s job as compensation for years of abuse.

by Nick Evans

More than one million hectares of land have been devastated by fire so far this year, according to official government figures.

ARGENTINA ABLAZE

More than one million hectares destroyed by fire in Argentina this year

21-11-2020 08:54 Environmental calamity continues: over 10,000 square kilometres of land has been destroyed by fire so far this year.

by Nick Evans

Franco Arias is one of a rare group of police officers who have won two gold medals for valour in the course of duty.

POLICE & THE PANDEMIC

Police hero sells off bravery medals to make ends meet

24-10-2020 09:11 Franco Arias is one of a rare group of police officers who have won two gold medals for valour in the course of duty. He’s also been forced into obligatory retirement as a result of long-term illness – despite the national government’s ban on dismissals during the Covid-19 pandemic.

by Nick Evans

A spokesperson for Ledesma, which shared these photos with the Times, said that they had sent firefighters to help tackle the blaze, while putting their airstrip at the disposition of the authorities.

ARGENTINA ABLAZE

Authorities demand probe as fire ravages Jujuy national park

20-10-2020 22:28 Authorities at Calilegua National Park file writ demanding investigation into causes of a fire thought to have started on neighbouring land owned by Ledesma sugar giant. Company says it is cooperating with efforts to tackle the blaze.

by Nick Evans

GENDER VIOLENCE

‘This can’t happen’: Teen’s murder puts spotlight on Argentina’s femicide scourge

17-10-2020 08:19 Parents of slain 16-year-old Iara Rueda join campaigners in call for improved efforts to tackle gender violence. According to the MuMaLá NGO, there have been at least 213 femicides in Argentina so far this year already.

by Nick Evans

A firefighter trying to extinguish the fire in damaged area.

ENVIRONMENT

Argentina ablaze: 7,600 sq km lost to fires since turn of year

10-10-2020 08:32 Fires in Argentina have raged through an estimated 7,697 square kilometres since the turn of the year, according to government data, with Córdoba and Entre Ríos bearing the brunt. National parks also affected, as campaigners warn of environmental impact.

by Nick Evans

On the left, Malvina and Delia Rodriguez. On the right, Cook Azucena Chaile, comedor regular Emilio Olmos and Ines Garcia.

POVERTY & THE PANDEMIC

Argentina’s poorest struggle in face of crisis, pandemic

03-10-2020 09:06 More than 45% of people living in Salta City are now considered poor. With jobs few and far between and incomes going down the drain, the poverty-stricken are being forced to adapt in their struggle to survive.

by Nick Evans

Fabiola, pictured with her family. On the right, her police identification photo.

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Police deaths in Salta highlight threat facing frontline workers

26-09-2020 09:43 Frontline workers are bearing the brunt of Covid-19 in the northern province of Salta, with the deaths of two doctors and three police officers in the past week alone.

by Nick Evans

Two individuals are stopped by Border Guard officers, attempting to smuggle bags of coca leaves.

NORTHERN ARGENTINA

Covid border closures prompt surge in coca smuggling

19-09-2020 09:40 Coca leaves grown in Bolivia can be sold for 10 times its value in Argentina, and with borders closed, the shortage in supply has lead to surge in smuggling.

by Nick Evans

In the centre, image of Irene in a hospital bed, two weeks before she died.

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Insecurity and infection: Nurses on frontline of virus fight

12-09-2020 10:57 Numbers of healthcare workers who have died after being infected with Covid-19 are difficult to ascertain exactly.

by Nick Evans

Founded in 1889, Ledesma is one of the oldest companies in Argentina.

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Ledesma sugar refinery at centre of Jujuy's Covid-19 crisis

12-09-2020 09:18 Workers file legal action against Ledesma after deaths of at least 13 workers at company's sugar refinery in northern province of Jujuy.

by Nick Evans

Nick and his wife, Alicia, and 15-year-old son Calixto.

GUEST VOICE

Tourists will return, but how many of us will be left?

29-08-2020 09:14 In Salta Province, we are one of 164 travel agencies; there are 530 hotels and more than 1,200 bars and restaurants, many of whom rely on free-spending holidaymakers to improve their profit margins.

by Nick Evans

Jorge Pastrana and Olivia Zamora in their workshop.

COPING WITH CORONAVIRUS

Tourism workers in Salta reinvent themselves amid virus crisis

29-08-2020 09:05 Roughly a fifth of the working population in Salta Province makes their living from tourism. With activity non-existent amid the pandemic, many in the industry are turning their hand to new ventures in order to survive.

by Nick Evans