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☆ 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

The negotiations, meant to provide a way out of Venezuela's long-running political and economic crisis, will take place in Barbados. The U.S. State Department celebrated the announcement of the return to talks but did not mention sanctions relief. Some members of the opposition said on Monday that they doubted Maduro would follow through on his promises. But with no substantial investment in Venezuela's oil sector for over a decade, any real oil output increase will take time, according to analysts. The return to talks between Maduro's government and the opposition was announced in a statement published by Norway, an observer.

Persons: Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Jesus Maria Casal, Venezuela's, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump's, Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Maurel, PDVSA, Maduro's, Washington, Biden, John Barrasso, Mayela Armas, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Electoral Council, Primary Commission, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . State Department, Reuters, U.S, Republican U.S, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, WASHINGTON, HOUSTON, Washington, U.S, Maduro, Barbados, United States, Venezuelan, The U.S, Qatar, China, Russia, Cuba, Ukraine, OPEC, America, Norway, Houston

The opposition considers the bans unlawful, and Washington has rejected any roadblocks to opposition candidates' race to the presidency. The agreement to be signed on Tuesday would lift all public office bans, one opposition source told Reuters, but its wording is too vague to inspire confidence that Maduro will honor the deal. Four other opposition sources agreed, with one saying the deal was largely negotiated by the United States. "We all have our doubts, but we're exhausting our options," said another opposition source. The U.S., which is expected to loosen some sanctions in recognition of the government-opposition deal, will act only once the deal has been signed, sources told Reuters on Monday.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela Milton Rengifo, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Maria Corina Machado, There's, Maduro, What's, Benigno Alarcon, Andres, Alarcon, it's, Marianna Parraga, Mayela, Deisy Buitrago, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Maduro's, United, Andres Bello Catholic University, Mayela Armas, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Miraflores, Caracas, Rights CARACAS, HOUSTON, Barbados, Washington, United States, U.S, Doha, Houston

☆ 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

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

☆ Colombia eyes two rate cuts before year-end, finance minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Jorgelina Do Rosario | Thomson Reuters | Jorgelina Do Rosario Is Emerging Markets Correspondent At Reuters Based In London | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The expectation is for another cut in December," Bonilla told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings in Marrakech. "The message of reducing the key rate is for all the banks, because today the rate is an obstacle for economic recovery," he added. The central bank held the key rate steady at 13.25% in September for the third time in a row, citing stubborn inflation. That was down from highs in 2022, but still more than double the central bank's long-term target of 3%. The central bank's technical team expects Colombia's economy to grow 0.9% this year, compared with an expansion of 7.3% in 2022.

Persons: Ricardo Bonilla, Susana Vera, Bonilla, Gustavo Petro, Jorgelina, Julia Symmes Cobb, Mark Potter, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Colombia's, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, REUTERS, Rights, Colombian Finance, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, Rights MARRAKECH, Israel, Hamas, Rosario

☆ Colombia to Spend $4.25 Billion to Buy Land for Poor Farmers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Luis Jaime AcostaBOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's leftist government will spend $4.25 billion to buy some 1.5 million hectares (3.7 million acres) of land for poor farmers or displaced people, as part of a bid to increase agricultural output and boost peace efforts, an official said. The conflict, which has involved rebels groups, the government, paramilitary organizations and crime gangs, originally began as a fight for land rights. Petro had originally said his government would buy 3 million hectares, but the official goal is now half that. Colombia's government also redistributes land confiscated from criminals and rebel groups and is making a push to formalize ownership for farmers who have worked land for generations without formal deeds. Some 1.3 million hectares have already been formalized, Vega said, and all the redistribution efforts should total about 7 million hectares by the end of Petro's term.

Persons: Luis Jaime Acosta BOGOTA, Gustavo Petro, Gerardo Vega, Petro, Vega, Luis Jaime Acosta, Julia Symmes Cobb, Bill Berkrot Organizations: National Land Agency

☆ 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

☆ 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

REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 5 (Reuters) - The United States is restarting deportations of Venezuelans who cross the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on Thursday, part of attempts to curb a record number of migrant crossings. The record number of arrivals has strained resources in cities across the United States, with Democratic officials in New York and Chicago sounding the alarm. Frosty diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela had made it difficult for the U.S. to deport Venezuelans to their home country. Migration is the direct result of sanctions, the Venezuelan government added, repeating its frequent accusation that U.S. measures are a violation of international law. Washington has insisted Maduro must take steps toward free elections before it considers any further significant sanctions relief, though the U.S. has faced calls from some Latin American governments to take such action without further delay.

Persons: Jose Luis Gonzalez, Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden, Mayorkas, Biden, Donald Trump, Yvan Gil, Washington, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Mica Rosenberg, Kristina Cooke, Julia Symmes Cobb, Vivian Sequera, Matt Spetalnick, Simon Lewis, David Ljunggren, Grant McCool, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, Homeland, U.S, Republican, Democratic, Foreign, United, United Nations, Trump, Socialist, Thomson Locations: U.S, Mexico, Ciudad Juarez, United States, Venezuela . Washington, Venezuela, Mexico City, Darien, New York, Chicago, Venezuelan, Latin America, Caribbean, Colombia, Nicolas Maduro . Washington

☆ Exclusive: At least 40% of Colombia's ELN rebels seen rejecting peace deal, security sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | 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: +5 min

Pablo Beltran, head of leftist guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN), speaks with members of the media in Caracas, Venezuela January 21, 2023. It would also appear to undermine repeated reassurances by ELN leaders that the group is united behind talks. The three security sources said some 2,300 of the ELN's total 5,850 members were seen as likely to reject the deal. The ELN talks, which restarted in November 2022, are the most advanced of Petro's peace efforts, which also include conversations with crime gangs like the Clan del Golfo. "We don't deny the risks that could come from a dialogue that doesn't acknowledge that reality," Rueda said, but added that orders from national ELN leaders are respected by fighters.

Persons: Pablo Beltran, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Gustavo Petro, holdouts, they're, Antonio Garcia, Danilo Rueda, Rueda, Ariel Avila, Avila, Luis Jaime Acosta, Julia Symmes Cobb, Daniel Wallis Organizations: National Liberation Army, REUTERS, Rights, Colombia's National Liberation Army, Revolutionary Armed Forces, Northeastern Fronts, Reuters, Green Alliance, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights BOGOTA, Colombia, Eastern

Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero sits underneath one of his sculptures during a stroll with Medellin's Mayor Federico Gutierrez (not pictured) in Medellin, Colombia January 27, 2017. REUTERS/Fredy Builes/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsBOGOTA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Colombian artist Fernando Botero, whose sculptures and paintings of playful, rotund subjects in sometimes harrowing situations made him one of the world's richest artists, has died at 91. "Fernando Botero has died, the painter of our traditions and defects, the painter of our virtues. Although widely known for his large subjects, Botero insisted his pieces were not focused on body type. As an artist, Botero sought to make his work accessible, donating over 200 works to create the Botero Museum in Bogota, which is free and receives half a million visitors a year.

Persons: Fernando Botero, Federico Gutierrez, Fredy, Picasso, Botero, lounging, Abu, Gustavo Petro, Spain's, Manuel Marulanda, Mona Lisa, Fernando Botero Angulo, Dali, Monet, Sophia Vari, Colombia's, Julia Symmes Cobb, Diane Craft, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Medellin's, REUTERS, Rights, Spain's El Mundo, Revolutionary Armed Forces, The New York Times, Museum, Colombia's El Tiempo, Thomson Locations: Medellin, Colombia, Rights BOGOTA, Colombian, U.S, Bogota

☆ Colombia Potential Cocaine Output Rose 24% in 2022 - UN
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Also at a more than 20-year high was potential cocaine output, which rose 24% to 1,738 metric tonnes. Coca is the chief ingredient in cocaine, whose production has fueled the Andean country's six-decade armed conflict, which has killed at least 450,000 people. Petro's government wants to help rural communities voluntarily substitute some 100,000 hectares of coca crops over the next four years, an official told Reuters recently. The government wants to reduce cultivation areas to 150,000 hectares and production capacity to 900 metric tonnes by 2026, Osuna said. Some 13% of Colombia's annual deforestation is linked to illicit crops, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad told a drugs conference last week.

Persons: Candice Welsch, Welsch, Gustavo Petro, Colombia's, Nestor Osuna, Osuna, Susana Muhamad, oversupply, Luis Jaime Acosta, Oliver Griffin, Julia Symmes Cobb, Richard Chang Organizations: United Nations Office, Drugs, Reuters, UN, Food Locations: BOGOTA, Colombia, Putumayo province, Ecuador

REUTERS/Johnny Carvajal Acquire Licensing RightsCARACAS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Before they were arrested and sentenced to 16 years in prison on conspiracy charges, the six Venezuelan activists marched peacefully to call for better salaries for teachers, according to their families and lawyers. The latest moves by Venezuelan authorities demand a coordinated response from other countries, advocates said. He has long accused Venezuela's opposition of seeking to spread chaos. "But obviously I don't have faith in Venezuelan justice," said Oropeza, the wife of activist Bracho. Reporting by Vivian Sequera; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Oropeza, Alcides, Johnny Carvajal, Nicolas Maduro's, Yorbelis Oropeza, Fionnuala Ni Aolain, Clement Nyaletsossi Voulue, Juan Pappier, Gonzalo Himiob, Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's, Maduro, Javier Tarazona, Tarazona, Roland Carreno, Joel Garcia, Tarazona's, Himiob, Valentina Ballesta, Franks Cabana, Oscar Perez, Ana Leonor Acosta, Xiomara Andara, John Alvarez, Garcia, Bracho, Vivian Sequera, Julia Symmes Cobb, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Maduro, Judiciary, United Nations, Human Rights, Foro Penal, Amnesty International, Coalition for Human Rights, Democracy, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, U.S, they'll, Foro, Russia, China, Colombia, Brazil, Colombian, Venezuelan

But by January of this year, faced with rising rent, increased taxes and financing constraints, he closed it down. The government of Nicolas Maduro relaxed currency controls in 2019, allowing more transactions in dollars despite U.S. sanctions. The move led to a slight recovery in 2021 and 2022 after eight years of economic collapse and the migration of some 7.3 million Venezuelans. 'NO BUYING CAPACITY'Other businesses which have survived said they were slashing prices, salaries and profit margins to stay afloat. "Structural economic problems like scarce credit, an absence of recovery in public utilities, among others, were not resolved."

Persons: Enrique Perrella, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Yaner Fung, Fung, Ecoanalitica, Jesus Palacios, Migdalia Uviedo, Ivan Puerta, restaurateurs, Giulio Gallucci, Mayela Armas, Keren Torres, Tibisay Romero, Johnny Carvajal, Julia Symmes Cobb, Vivian Sequera, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Venezuelan Finance Observatory, Retailers, Restaurants, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Caracas, Barquisimeto, Valencia, Ecoanalitica, Mexican

☆ Quito says security operations within prisons may have led to car bombs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Firefighters work on the remains of a car, that according to authorities was loaded with two gas tanks and later exploded when suspects set it on fire, seemingly targeting Ecuador's prison agency SNAI, in Quito, Ecuador August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro Acquire Licensing RightsQUITO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Two car explosions targeted at Ecuadorean prisons agency SNAI may have been set off in response to government security operations at prisons this week, President Guillermo Lasso and a top security official said on Thursday. "There are violent actions like that of the two cars burned in Quito last night, clearly that's a reaction to an action. The action of imposing order in the prisons, the reaction to intimidate," Lasso said at a housing event in Los Rios province. Bravo also said the Quito explosions could be related to prisoner transfers.

Persons: SNAI, Karen Toro, Guillermo Lasso, Lasso, Fernando Villavicencio, Juan Zapata, Zapata, Wagner Bravo, Bravo, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Holmes, Cynthia Osterman, Leslie Adler Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Interior, Security, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Rights QUITO, Los Rios, Cuenca

☆ Ecuador should hold violent convicts on prison boats, says presidential hopeful Noboa
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Yury Garcia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

GUAYAQUIL, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Ecuador should strengthen controls at its borders and ports to fight drug trafficking and isolate its most violent criminals on prison boats, presidential candidate Daniel Noboa said on Tuesday. Noboa, son of prominent banana businessman and perennial presidential hopeful Alvaro Noboa, was a surprise second-place finisher in the weekend first round of Ecuador's presidential election, winning 23.5% of the vote. "We should reinforce the border, have a military presence at the borders, a military presence at the container ports because that's where the drugs leave from," Noboa told reporters in Guayaquil. Prison boats could take 300 to 400 each of the country's most violent criminals some 80 miles (130 km) out to sea, he said. "It is important to totally isolate the violent criminals, who from prison generate terror and plan more crime," Noboa said.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Noboa, Alvaro Noboa, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Yury Garcia, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Security, Reuters, El, Thomson Locations: GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador, South America, Guayaquil, Quito

Gonzalez, a protege of former President Rafael Correa who has promised to revive his social programs, won 33% support, while Noboa, son of prominent banana businessman and former presidential candidate Alvaro Noboa, was a surprise second-place with 24% of the vote. The contest was darkened by the assassination of anti-corruption candidate Fernando Villavicencio earlier this month. The crime is still under investigation, but Villavicencio, who was replaced as a candidate by his friend and fellow investigative journalist Christian Zurita, came third with 16%. Noboa seemingly gained support after performing well in the only televised debate of the campaign. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia and Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Luisa Gonzalez, Daniel Noboa, Ecuador's, Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Noboa, Alvaro Noboa, Fernando Villavicencio, Villavicencio, Christian Zurita, Sharp, Correa, Guillermo Lasso, Alfredo Espinosa, Espinosa, " Espinosa, Villavicencio's, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Amazon, Thomson Locations: QUITO, Quito, Choco

Six suspects, all Colombians police say belong to criminal gangs, are being held in the murder. Other candidates have reported attacks against them, though in several cases police have said that violence was not directed at the hopefuls themselves. Luisa Gonzalez, a protegee of Correa, led polling before Villavicencio's murder with about 30% of voting intention. Pro-market candidate Otto Sonnenholzner has hardened his discourse since Villavicencio's murder, repeatedly promising that criminals who use violence will be shot by police under his government. "The new president must propose things that are real, not just words," said university student Menaly Luge, 18, who is voting for Villavicencio's Construye party.

Persons: Otto Sonnenholzner, Christian Zurita, Luisa Gonzalez, Fernando Villavicencio, Monica Barba, Rafael Correa, Correa, Daniel Noboa, Alvaro Noboa, Yaku Perez, Villavicencio's, Zurita, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Oliver Griffin, William Mallard Organizations: Law, French Foreign Legion, Thomson Locations: Guayaquil, Ecuador, Quito, QUITO

☆ Shoot-out occurs near Ecuador candidate Sonnenholzner day before vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Ecuador presidential candidate Otto Sonnenholzner of the Actuemos Coalition gives remarks as he arrives to participate in a presidential debate, in Quito, Ecuador August 13, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro Acquire Licensing RightsQUITO, Aug 19 (Reuters) - A shoot-out erupted on Saturday near a restaurant where Ecuadorean presidential candidate Otto Sonnenholzner was eating with his family, police and the candidate said, though the violence was not directed at him. Ecuadoreans head to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president and legislature after a campaign clouded by the assassination of anti-corruption candidate Fernando Villavicencio 10 days ago. "We just suffered a shoot-out in front of the place where I was breakfasting with my family," Sonnenholzner, a pro-market candidate and former vice president said on X, previously called Twitter. Fellow presidential candidate Daniel Noboa on Thursday said there was an attack on his campaign caravan in Duran, but police later said the shooting was not directed at Noboa, son of prominent banana businessman and former presidential candidate Alvaro Noboa.

Persons: Otto Sonnenholzner, Karen Toro, Fernando Villavicencio, we're, Sonnenholzner, Villavicencio, Daniel Noboa, Alvaro Noboa, Francisco Tamariz, Tamariz, Agustin Intriago, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Cynthia Osterman, Grant McCool Organizations: Ecuador, Actuemos Coalition, REUTERS, Rights, Police, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Rights QUITO, Guayaquil, Duran, Noboa, La Libertad, Santa Elena, Pacific, Manta

☆ Ecuador's Perez to review mining contracts suspected of polluting if elected
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Candidates have pledged to fight crime and improve the struggling economy, amid unemployment woes which have increased migration. Mining is a top contributor to Ecuador's economy, but Perez, an erstwhile water activist, said late on Thursday he would ask the country's comptroller to review contracts suspected of polluting, to define their continuity under Ecuadorean law. He would approach Ecuador's multilateral creditors and bondholders to ask for payment extensions because of the difficult economic and security situation, he said. Perez pledged to make agriculture - not oil, the country's top source of income - Ecuador's economic driver, creating 500,000 jobs. Better social programs and data-based security programs are also on his agenda if elected, he said.

Persons: Yaku Perez, Fernando Villavicencio, Perez, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Reuters, United Nations, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: QUITO, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Quito

☆ After killing of Ecuador candidate Villavicencio, speculation and recrimination
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Police said last week their investigation includes questions about why an armored vehicle normally used by the candidate was in Guayaquil and not with Villavicencio on the day of the murder. "He should have had a much stronger (security) structure," Patricio Carrillo, a former interior minister and legislative candidate who was with Villavicencio at the event where he was murdered, told Reuters. After the event, Villavicencio exited out the front of the sports center, where many people had gathered, Carrillo said, adding that he himself had stayed inside chatting to some friends. Christian Zurita, Villavicencio's replacement candidate for the Construye party, was also at the sports center on the day of the murder. Correa, who in office regularly clashed with Villavicencio, has called the killing a false flag operation to hurt his Citizen's Revolution party.

Persons: Fernando Villavicencio, Villavicencio, Patricio Carrillo, Carrillo, Villavicencio's, Christian Zurita, Guillermo Lasso, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Correa, Gonzalez, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Police, Reuters, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: QUITO, Quito, Guayaquil, Ecuador

☆ Magnitude 6.3 quake shakes Colombian capital, one dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BOGOTA, Aug 17 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake of 6.3 magnitude struck the Colombian capital Bogota on Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, prompting frightened residents to flee into the street and leading a woman to fall to her death. There were no immediate reports of major damage from the quake, which Colombia's national geological service reported as a magnitude 6.1. "It was strong, and lasted a long time, said Adrian Alarcon, 43, who works near the capital's busy Park 93 district. [1/5]A Medical personnel of the Primavera clinic helps to evacuate patients after a strong earthquake in Villavicencio, Colombia, August 17, 2023. Colombia's national geological service estimated the second quake at a 5.6 magnitude, with the following aftershock measured at 4.8.

Persons: Adrian Alarcon, Claudia Lopez, Santiago Molina, Lopez, Julia Symmes Cobb, Oliver Griffin, Luis Jaime Acosta, Sarah Morland, David Alire Garcia, Alistair Bell Organizations: . Geological Survey, Primavera, REUTERS, Windows, Thomson Locations: BOGOTA, Colombian, Bogota, Villavicencio, Colombia, Madelena, Calvario

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