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☆ Colombia to break diplomatic ties with Israel over actions in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | Michael Rios | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Colombia says it will break diplomatic relations with Israel on Thursday over its actions in Gaza. Colombian President Gustavo Petro made the announcement at a rally at the Bolívar Square in Bogotá on Wednesday. Its devastating response has since killed more than 34,000 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro at a rally in Bogota, Colombia, on May 1, 2024. Bolivia cut diplomatic ties with Israel last year, citing “crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people” in the wake of Israel’s war with Hamas.

Persons: Gustavo Petro, Petro, ” Israel, ” Katz, Luisa Gonzalez Organizations: CNN, Wednesday, Reuters CNN, Colombian Foreign Ministry, Israel, Hamas Locations: Colombia, Israel, Gaza, Colombian, Bogotá, Bogota, Bolivia

☆ New York Mayor Eric Adams accused of sexual assault in 1993
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 23 (Reuters) - A woman on Wednesday accused New York Mayor Eric Adams of sexual assault and other offenses in a court filing, alleging they occurred in 1993 while both of them worked for the city of New York. A spokesperson for Adams denied the claim and said the mayor does not know the accuser and does not recall meeting her. New York City Mayor Eric Adams reacts during his visit to Colombia in Bogota, Colombia October 7, 2023. "The mayor does not know who this person is. Adams' lawyer said that the mayor was cooperating with an investigation but did not say what it was about.

Persons: Eric Adams, Adams, Luisa Gonzalez, Daniel Trotta, Kanishka Singh, Ross Colvin, Daniel Wallis Organizations: New York, York City, REUTERS, Reuters, New York Police, department's Guardians Association, Black, Guardians Association, FBI, New York Times, Thomson Locations: New York, New, York, Colombia, Bogota, Turkish

☆ Ecuador legislature begins new session, Noboa joins leftists for majority
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Members of Ecuador's National Assembly take part in a session, the first since President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the assembly, to elect a new head of the legislature, in Quito, Ecuador November 17, 2023. The legislature was dissolved in May by outgoing President Guillermo Lasso to avoid his own likely impeachment, bringing forward legislative and presidential elections scheduled for 2025. Analysts say the coalition could help Noboa ensure he is able to govern - unlike his predecessor Lasso - during his truncated term. Noboa, who won a runoff election in October to beat Correa's protégé Luisa Gonzalez, will be sworn in next week. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Guillermo Lasso, Karen Toro, Daniel Noboa, Rafael Correa, Henry Kronfle, Noboa, ADN, Alfredo Espinosa, Fernando Villavicencio, Correa, Correa's protégé Luisa Gonzalez, Alexandra Valencia, Oliver Griffin, Richard Chang Organizations: Ecuador's National, REUTERS, Rights, National, Social Christian Party, PSC, Noboa's National Democratic, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Rights QUITO

☆ Cocaine still Colombia drug gangs' top export despite fentanyl's ascendancy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Luis Jaime Acosta | Thomson Reuters | Luis Jaime Has Worked At Reuters For More Than Years. While He Chiefly Covers Colombia'S Armed Conflict | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Rocketing consumption of synthetic drug fentanyl in the U.S. has led some - including Colombia's President Gustavo Petro - to forecast declines in cocaine production in the Andean country, the world's leading producer. Coca production is taking place in new areas and fresh trafficking routes are opening up, Zapata said. Ecuador's incoming president, Daniel Noboa, who takes office this month, has promised to confront rising crime in the country, where violence linked to drug trafficking has increased sharply. Colombia hopes to destroy 200 square kilometers of coca crops by the end of the year and seize a record 834 tons of cocaine. "Drug trafficking is changing.

Persons: Luisa Gonzalez, Gustavo Petro, We're, Nicolas Zapata, Petro, Zapata, Daniel Noboa, we've, Luis Jaime Acosta, Oliver Griffin, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Colombian, United Nations Office, Drugs, Thomson Locations: Putumayo, Colombia, Rights BOGOTA, U.S, Europe, Ecuador

☆ Ecuador's incoming president picks new finance chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Noboa, 35, has pledged to rebuild the South American country's ailing economy, create jobs and work to quell rising crime and violence largely blamed on organized crime. Moya will serve in a cabinet that the incoming president has pledged will feature an equal number of women and men. Noboa faces the challenge of a local economy that has struggled since the coronavirus pandemic, pushing thousands of Ecuadoreans to migrate. In October's run-off election, Noboa won about 52% of the vote, besting leftist adversary Luisa Gonzalez's 48% support. Reporting by Yury Garcia in Guayaquil; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Guillermo Lasso, Noboa, Karen Toro, Sariha Moya, Moya, Luisa Gonzalez's, Yury Garcia, Sandra Maler Organizations: Ecuadorian, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Rights GUAYAQUIL, Noboa, United States, Guayaquil

☆ After Pan Am gold Twichell planning family trip to Paris
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Tokyo I definitely expected that to be the end of my career," Twichell, who finished seventh in Tokyo, told Reuters. "It was a tough lead up to Tokyo having the Games delayed a year by COVID and I just felt like I was kind of physically and mentally done and was excited to start a family. Twichell arrived in Santiago hoping for gold but unsure of her form after modest training times and going up against a strong field. "That is what I was definitely hoping for but I didn't know to be honest," said Twichell. Part of the motivation for continuing on to Paris for is that it is something Twichell can share with her son and family.

Persons: Ashley Twichell, Luisa Gonzalez, Twichell, Lochlan, Brazil's, Ana Marcela Cunha, COVID, Cunha, I'm, Twichell's, Steve Keating, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Rights, Pan American, Tokyo, U.S, Paris Olympic, Sunday, Brazil's Tokyo, Games, Reuters, Pan Am, Thomson Locations: Morros, Santiago, Chile, United States, Paris, Tokyo, Guadalajara, South Africa, Italy

☆ Businessman Noboa to face economic, security hurdles as Ecuador president
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We do not anticipate the Noboa administration will be in the position to carry out deep structural reforms." Noboa is set to take office in December and complete the current administration's term through May 2025. Noboa will need to ensure some quick security wins during his first 90 days in office to appease social and political pressures, JPMorgan added. Noboa, Ecuador's youngest president in recent history, would be able to run again in the regularly scheduled 2025 contest. Noboa made a special point to woo young people, with some supporters touting his victory as a fresh start for the country's politics.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Noboa, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Ecuadorean, Goldman Sachs, Fernando Villavicencio, Alvaro, Guillermo Lasso, Lasso, Alexandra Valencia, Rodrigo Campos, Julia Symmes Cobb, Gerry Doyle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Wall Street, JPMorgan, El, National Democratic Action, Thomson Locations: QUITO, American, Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador's

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Daniel Noboa has managed to do what his father failed at five times: Getting elected as Ecuador’s president. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesAnd as he is getting a truncated term, Noboa faces a daunting task. He cut his term short when he dissolved the National Assembly in May as lawmakers pursued impeachment proceedings against him over alleged improprieties in a government contract. His political career began in 2021, when he got a seat in the National Assembly and chaired its Economic Development Commission. The younger Noboa's party will not have have enough seats in the National Assembly to be able to govern on its own.

Persons: — Daniel Noboa, ”, Will Freeman, “, Guillermo Lasso, Noboa, Luisa González, Rafael Correa, González, Ecuadorians, Fernando Villavicencio, themslves, Álvaro, Lasso, Julio Ricaurte, Villavicencio, Correa, Rosa Amaguaña, ” Amaguaña, ” ___ Garcia Cano Organizations: American, Voters, Council, Foreign Relations, National Assembly, Corp, Economic Development Commission, National Police, Assembly Locations: QUITO, Ecuador, U.S, “, Quito, Noboa, Colombia, Peru, Mexican, wife’s, Belgium, Caracas, Venezuela

☆ Candidates vote in Ecuador's presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsCandidates vote in Ecuador's presidential electionPostedEcuadorean presidential hopefuls and rivals Luisa Gonzalez and Daniel Noboa cast their ballots on Sunday (October 15) as the country faces a tight presidential race.

Persons: Luisa Gonzalez, Daniel Noboa

☆ Ecuadoreans weigh economic, security pledges in presidential ballot
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The violence, which the outgoing government blames on drug gangs, reached a crescendo during the campaign with the murder of anti-corruption candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who was shot dead while leaving a Quito campaign event in August. He is the son of multimillionaire banana magnate Alvaro Noboa, who himself ran unsuccessfully for president numerous times. "So while the first reaction is positive, because he's a pro-business candidate, pro-business and pro-markets can mean two different things." Both have pledged to beef up security at ports and airports, hot spots for drug smuggling. About a quarter of the 13 million Ecuadoreans obliged to vote are between the ages of 18 and 29.

Persons: Ecuadoreans, Fernando Villavicencio, Daniel Noboa, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Gonzalez, Alvaro Noboa, Guillermo Lasso, Zulfi Ali, Ali, he's, Correa, Noboa, Alexandra Valencia, Rodrigo Campos, Julia Symmes Cobb, Diane Craft Organizations: Voters, PGIM, Correa's Citizens, National Democratic, Thomson Locations: QUITO, Quito, Guayaquil, New York

Voter turnout was “historic” at 82.33% despite initial security concerns, Ecuador’s National Electoral Council president Diana Atamaint said after polls closed Sunday. “We will inform the country of the first results as the votes are processed,” she said. Ecuador’s Interior Minister Juan Zapata also assured the country in a news conference that there had been no security incidents to report. “Governing Ecuador right now is hell – this presidency is designed to eliminate you from political life,” Freeman said. The new president will have relatively little time to work on a solution to the country’s woes.

Persons: Luisa González, Daniel Noboa, Fernando Villavicencio, Diana Atamaint, “, Atamaint, Juan Zapata, Guillermo Lasso, ” Will Freeman, Rafael Correa, González, César Ortiz, Ortiz, ” Freeman Organizations: CNN, Electoral, Nacional, Council, Foreign Relations, Movimiento Revolución Locations: Ecuador, Sucumbios, America, Belgium, Peru, Colombia, Europe, Quito

QUITO/GUAYAQUIL, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Business heir Daniel Noboa on Sunday won Ecuador's presidential election, vowing to rebuild the South American country, which is struggling with a weak economy and rising crime and violence. "From tomorrow Daniel Noboa starts work as your new president," he added. "Daniel Noboa, our profound congratulations, because this is democracy," Gonzalez told supporters in Quito, calling on Noboa to fulfill his promises to students and the elderly. [1/16]Ecuadorian presidential candidate Daniel Noboa and his wife Lavinia Valbonesi celebrate his win in the presidential election, in Santa Elena, Ecuador. Analysts have said a Noboa victory initially could be perceived as positive by investors, but longer-term outlook will depend on his cabinet appointments.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Noboa, Fernando Villavicencio, Alvaro, Luisa Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Lavinia Valbonesi, Santiago Arcos, Eduardo Chavez, Diana Atamaint, Correa, Guillermo Lasso, Alexandra Valencia, Yury Garcia, Tito Correa, Rodrigo Campos, Julia Symmes Cobb, Diane Craft, Bill Berkrot, Deepa Babington, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Sunday, Ecuadorian, Santiago, National Democratic, Thomson Locations: QUITO, GUAYAQUIL, American, Ecuador, Olon, Quito, Santa Elena, Guayaquil, Sucumbios, Nicaragua, Russia, Belarus, Israel, Canuto, New York

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Frightened by unprecedented violence on the streets and within prisons, Ecuadorians have a universal demand for the president they are choosing Sunday — safety. The runoff election in the South American country pits an heir to a banana empire, Daniel Noboa, against an attorney, Luisa González. The election comes as more Ecuadorians become victims of drug-related violence that erupted roughly three years ago and intensified in August, when a presidential candidate was assassinated in broad daylight. Lasso, a conservative former banker, clashed constantly with lawmakers after his election in 2021 and decided not to run in the special election. The next president must be able to do even something small.”___Gonzalo Solano contributed to this report from Quito, Ecuador.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Luisa González, Guillermo Lasso, Lasso, demagoguery, Julio Ricaurte, ”, Rafael Correa, Correa, Rosa Amaguaña, “, ” Amaguaña, ” ___ Gonzalo Solano Organizations: Sunday, National Assembly, Lasso, National Police, Assembly, Economic Development Commission, Corp Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, American, Ecuador, Quito, “

☆ Ecuador Banana Heir Daniel Noboa Hopes to Fulfill Father's Presidential Dreams
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Gonzalez won an August first round with 34%, while Noboa came a surprising second with 23%. Noboa has also promised job creation, particularly for young people, and spent significant time campaigning at universities. He would boost employment through investment in strategic sectors and vocational training for job hunters, Noboa has pledged. Noboa resigned from a management position at his family's corporation to enter politics, winning a legislature seat in 2021. Noboa, a married father of two, frequently appears in videos on social media dancing and singing or DJ-ing music at his political rallies.

Persons: Alexandra Valencia, Daniel Noboa, Alvaro Noboa's, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Gonzalez, Noboa, Fernando Villavicencio, Guillermo Lasso, Janeth Tayo, Oliver Griffin, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Alexandra Valencia QUITO Locations: Ecuador, Guayaquil, Sangolqui, Quito

☆ Ecuador candidates close campaigning ahead of Sunday vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Ecuadorean presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez waves Ecuador's flag as vice presidential candidate Andres Arauz looks on during a campaign rally, in Quito, Ecuador October 11, 2023. The campaign ahead of Sunday's election has been marked by violence and threats against candidates, including anti-corruption candidate Fernando Villavicencio's murder before the August first round. Noboa closed campaigning in Quito on Wednesday with a caravan around the city, though a technical issue with his flight from Guayaquil significantly delayed his agenda. More than 13 million people are obliged to vote in the contest, whose winner will govern during a shortened term until May 2025. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Luisa Gonzalez, Andres Arauz, Karen Toro, Daniel Noboa, Fernando Villavicencio's, Noboa, Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, hasn't, doesn't, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Manta, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Rights QUITO, Guayaquil, Santa Elena

Cocaine is also increasingly found in shipments of tuna, as well as hidden in hollowed-out pineapples and stashed amid sugar, police say. The security situation in Ecuador has sharply deteriorated in recent years, one factor in South America's migrant exodus. Police have seized some 50 tonnes of drugs so far this year at the country's two principal ports. The percentage of searched banana shipments which contained cocaine has fallen this year, but it is still very high - at 57% in 2023, from 70% in 2022, according to police figures. There is evidence some drugs may be being displaced elsewhere, with the amount of searched tuna shipments containing drugs rising to 9% from 3%.

Persons: Vicente Gaibor del Pino, Pablo Ramirez, Daniel Noboa, Luisa Gonzalez, Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Noboa, Alvaro Noboa, Guillermo Lasso, Lasso, Jose Hidalgo, Ramirez, hadn't, " Ramirez, Alexandra Valencia, Yury Garcia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Police, Reuters, U.S . Coast Guard, Ecuador's, Thomson Locations: Guayaquil, Ecuador, Rights GUAYAQUIL, QUITO, South, Europe, Quito, United States, Sierra Leone, Hong Kong

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A seventh man accused in the August assassination of an Ecuadorian presidential candidate was killed inside a prison in Ecuador's capital, authorities said Saturday, a day after six others allegedly linked to the crime were slain in a different lockup. The killing of the seven suspects happened a little more than a week before Ecuador holds a presidential runoff election and as officials struggle to explain how this was possible. The prison system said in a press release that the man killed was being held at a prison in Quito, Ecuador’s capital. Six Colombian men charged in the Aug. 9 assassination of Fernando Villavicencio were killed Friday inside a prison in Guayaquil. He had reported being threatened by affiliates of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel, one of the many international organized crime groups operating in Ecuador.

Persons: —, Fernando Villavicencio, Guillermo Lasso, Villavicencio, Luisa González, Daniel Noboa Organizations: Ecuadorian Locations: QUITO, Ecuador, Ecuador's, Quito, Ecuador’s, Guayaquil, Sinaloa

☆ Six suspects in assassination of Ecuador candidate murdered in prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The killings took place in a penitentiary in Guayaquil, the South American country's largest city, the attorney general's office announced earlier on Friday. A seventh suspect, also Colombian, was shot and killed by police, while other suspects were later arrested. The second round run-off vote is scheduled for Oct. 15, the culmination of an election cycle marred by numerous incidents of violence. She has said that surging crime is unprecedented and that voters should not allow "terror" to stop them from voting for change. Reporting by Julia Symms Cobb; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fernando Villavicencio, Ecuador's, Guillermo Lasso, Daniel Noboa, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Julia Symms Cobb, David Alire Garcia, Robert Birsel Organizations: American, Police, Thomson Locations: Guayaquil, Quito, Colombian

☆ Former Colombia President Uribe says witness tampering case to go to trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Colombia's former president Alvaro Uribe speaks to the media after his meeting with President-elect Gustavo Petro in Bogota, Colombia June 29, 2022. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBOGOTA, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Colombia's former President Alvaro Uribe said his long-running witness tampering case will go to trial, citing a news magazine ahead of an expected formal decision from a Bogota court on Friday. Uribe and several allies have been investigated over allegations of witness tampering carried out in an attempt to discredit accusations he had ties to right-wing paramilitaries. I have ardently defended my reputation but I don't know anything about bribing witnesses or misleading the court," Uribe told journalists on Thursday night. But in 2018 the Supreme Court said Cepeda had collected information from former fighters as part of his work and had not paid or pressured former paramilitaries.

Persons: Alvaro Uribe, Gustavo Petro, Luisa Gonzalez, Uribe, Uribe's, Ivan Cepeda, Cepeda, Oliver Griffin, Nick Macfie 私 Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Supreme Court Locations: Bogota, Colombia, Rights BOGOTA

☆ Colombia court rejects shelving of case against ex-president Uribe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Colombia's former president Alvaro Uribe speaks to the media after his meeting with President-elect Gustavo Petro in Bogota, Colombia June 29, 2022. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBOGOTA, Oct 6 (Reuters) - The Superior Court of Bogota on Friday rejected a prosecutor's request to shelve a witness tampering and fraud case against divisive former President Alvaro Uribe, extending a long-running legal battle. Uribe and several allies have been investigated over allegations of witness tampering carried out in an attempt to discredit accusations he had ties to right-wing paramilitaries. Reporting by Julia Symmes CobbOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alvaro Uribe, Gustavo Petro, Luisa Gonzalez, shelve, Uribe, Julia Symmes Cobb Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Bogota, Colombia, Rights BOGOTA

☆ Ecuador polls predict close race for presidency
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Noboa, 35, would win 41.5% of total votes, including blank and void ballots, while Gonzalez, who led the first round of voting, would garner 36.4%, according to polling firm Comunicaliza. The survey, conducted this week, included 5,265 people and had a margin of error of 1.35%. Some 17% of the 3,000 people polled are still undecided, while 5.3% would hand in protest ballots, Negocios & Estrategias said. This contest was called by current President Guillermo Lasso after he dissolved the legislature to avoid impeachment. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb Editing by Chris Reese and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Luisa Gonzalez, Noboa, Alvaro Noboa, Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Alvaro Marchante, Estrategias, Maluk Resarch, Guillermo Lasso, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Chris Reese, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Negocios, Noboa, Thomson Locations: QUITO

☆ Ecuador presidential rivals agree tough stance on crime, differ on economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Leftist Luisa Gonzalez, a lawyer and protege of former president Rafael Correa and young businessman Daniel Noboa will compete in a run-off vote on Oct. 15. Gonzalez won the first round with almost 34% of the votes while Noboa took a surprise second place. Both candidates promised in Sunday's debate to get tough on organized crime gangs, to strengthen the security forces and to seek international help to tackle spiraling insecurity. Gonzalez pledged to boost oil production and reiterated plans to inject $2.5 billion of international reserves into the economy. However, he also clarified that a previous proposal to use $1.5 billion of international reserves was for worst-case scenarios only.

Persons: Luisa Gonzalez, Daniel Noboa, Karen Toro, Rafael Correa, Gonzalez, Noboa, Guillermo Lasso, Alexandra Valencia, Oliver Griffin Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, El, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Rights QUITO

☆ Ecuador Presidential Rivals Agree Tough Stance on Crime, Differ on Economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Gonzalez won the first round with almost 34% of the votes while Noboa took a surprise second place. Outgoing President Guillermo Lasso called early elections in May when he dissolved the legislature to avoid an impeachment process. Both candidates promised in Sunday's debate to get tough on organized crime gangs, to strengthen the security forces and to seek international help to tackle spiraling insecurity. Gonzalez pledged to boost oil production and reiterated plans to inject $2.5 billion of international reserves into the economy. However, he also clarified that a previous proposal to use $1.5 billion of international reserves was for worst-case scenarios only.

Persons: Alexandra Valencia, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Daniel Noboa, Gonzalez, Noboa, Guillermo Lasso, Oliver Griffin Organizations: Alexandra Valencia QUITO, El

REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Ecopetrol SA FollowBOGOTA, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Colombia's government is considering revising rules to make majority state-run energy company Ecopetrol (ECO.CN) an obligatory partner in every offshore wind project, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. If approved, the revision would make it "mandatory for Ecopetrol to take part in each offshore project," another source told Reuters. Having Ecopetrol partner up with other companies on offshore wind farms would "minimize the risks of new projects" one of the sources said, adding that the size of any given Ecopetrol stake would be "very, very small," without hinting at possible percentages. Ecopetrol's involvement in offshore wind projects would help shore up energy self sufficiency, another of the sources said. Plans to hold the bidding round to assign maritime blocks for offshore wind farms are running behind.

Persons: Luisa Gonzalez, Gustavo Petro, Colombia's, Energy Irene Velez, Andres Camacho, Oliver Griffin, Timothy Gardner Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, The, of Mines, Energy, Thomson Locations: Bogota, Colombia, BOGOTA, Colombia's

☆ Ecuador youth choosing gangs as route out of poverty, UN expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lawlessness has soared across Ecuador since the coronavirus pandemic, something outgoing President Guillermo Lasso blames on disputes related to drug trafficking and common crime. Some 27% of Ecuadoreans live in poverty, while 10.8% live in extreme poverty on a national level, according to the government's statistics office. Olivier De Schutter, the United Nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, said impoverished youth were easy picking for gangs looking to recruit new members. Lasso, who brought forward elections to avoid impeachment, has repeatedly declared states of emergency in answer to outbreaks of violence. "We need a social Bukele, one that takes seriously the links between poverty and the rise in violence," he added.

Persons: Guillermo Lasso, Santiago Arcos, Ecuadoreans, Olivier De Schutter, De Schutter, Lasso, Nayib Bukele, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Daniel Noboa, Alexandra Valencia, Oliver Griffin, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, UN, United Nations, Central American, Thomson Locations: Guayaquil, Ecuador, Santiago, Rights QUITO, U.S, El Salvador

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