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☆ 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

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

REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMARRAKECH, Morocco, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Barbados is hoping to execute a "debt-for-climate" swap early next year to secure savings of around $300 million over a 15 year period to fund clean water supplies, the island state's finance minister told Reuters on Tuesday. In September 2022, Barbados carried out a "debt-for-nature" swap, which saw $150 million of international bonds swapped for cheaper debt, generating $50 million for marine conservation. The savings from the island's mooted "debt-for-climate" swap will be used to upgrade a water treatment plant to help better manage water resources and improve food security, Straughn said. Barbados's previous debt-for-nature swap funnelled money towards protecting and rehabilitating the surrounding Caribbean sea. A debt-for-climate swap would be an almost completely new concept, though, and one that other climate change vulnerable countries are likely to want to explore.

Persons: Toby Melville, Ryan Straughn, Straughn, We've, Rachel Savage, Marc Jones, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Inter, American Development Bank, European Investment Bank, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Bridgetown, Barbados, Rights MARRAKECH, Morocco, Marrakech

☆ Ecuador Investigates Prison Agency After Killings of Suspects in Candidate Assassination
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

Ecuadorean authorities said they initiated the investigation because SNAI did not carry out a pending order to transfer the inmates for security reasons. Villavicencio, a prominent journalist who exposed corruption and organized crime, was gunned down while leaving a campaign event in August, bringing the country's rising violence to the spotlight this campaign season. On Friday, six of the suspects, who were identified by authorities as Colombian nationals, were killed in a prison in Guayaquil. The Colombian government condemned the killings and offered its support to Ecuadorean investigators in a statement on Saturday. The second round run-off vote will be held on Oct. 15, ending an election cycle marred by the South American country's rising violence.

Persons: Fernando Villavicencio, SNAI, Guillermo Lasso, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Franklin Paul Organizations: Reuters, Police, South Locations: Guayaquil

☆ Ecuador investigates prison agency after killings of suspects in candidate assassination
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Persons: Fernando Villavicencio, SNAI, Guillermo Lasso, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Franklin Paul Organizations: Police, South, Franklin Paul Our, Thomson Locations: Guayaquil

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

☆ 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

Production of the chocolate-making ingredient is expanding outside of the main growing area in West Africa as farmers in places such Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia see potential profit in the crop. The rally in prices to the highest level in nearly 50 years is boosting that trend, which could alleviate the current supply tightness in the global cocoa market. The country was once the second only to Ivory Coast in cocoa production, but a devastating fungus in the 1980's known as Witches' Broom sharply reduced production. "I believe that the new profile of cocoa production will be large-scale," said Moises Schmidt, one of the owners. "If you plant cocoa trees there (Amazon region), it is considered reforestation," said Douglas.

Persons: Schmidt Agricola, Moises Almeida Schmidt, Handout, Moises Schmidt, Jeroen Douglas, Douglas, Jose Garcia, IFAD's, Alvaro Lario, Marcelo Teixeira, Maytaal Angel, Simon Webb, Anna Driver Organizations: REUTERS, International Cocoa Organization, Reuters Graphics, Ivory, UN's, Fund for Agricultural Development, Thomson Locations: Bahia, Brazil, West Africa, Ecuador, Colombia, Africa, South America, Ivory, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Asia, United States, Europe, Guayaquil, Para, Netherlands, Medicilandia, New York, London

☆ 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

☆ Ecuador nature reserve will take years to recover after oil exit-minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] A pipeline of state-owned Petroecuador is pictured as Ecuador is preparing to shut down oil production in the Yasuni Amazon reserve, in Via Auca, Orellana province, Ecuador July 28, 2023. Ecuador is preparing to shut down block 43-ITT, which is operated by state-owned Petroecuador, after a majority of Ecuadoreans voted to close the project in August. While oil wells have been closed before, Ecuador has no experience in abandoning an entire block of this size, which includes three fields and about 230 operating wells, he said. Environmentalists and some communities nearby insist that prohibiting future oil operations and other extractive industries is the only way to take care of nature and curb climate change. While some groups have demanded the immediate cessation of operations at 43-ITT, Davalos said an orderly closure was necessary.

Persons: Karen Toro, Jose Davalos, Ecuadoreans, Guillermo Lasso, Davalos, Petroecuador, Alexandra Valencia, Chizu, Oliver Griffin Organizations: REUTERS, ITT, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ecuador, Via Auca, Orellana province, QUITO

☆ New mosaic of Mars could enable humans to settle on another world
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —When the Perseverance rover landed on Mars in February 2021, it wasn’t alone. The instrument’s capabilities demonstrated that oxygen for life support systems and rocket fuel could be created on Mars rather than transported from Earth. The device is another tool enabling the eventual exploration of Mars by humans. Other worldsThis map of Mars, created by researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi, uses color photographs of the entire planet. That’s what researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi are aiming to do with the Mars Atlas.

Persons: Percy, Dimitra Atri, ”, Fujianvenator, Christopher Owen Hunt, Ralph Solecki, Arlette Leroi, Gourhan, Chris Hunt, Nicolas Reusens, Jack Zhi, ” Zhi, —, REx, Comet Nishimura, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, New York University, NYU Abu Dhabi Center for Astrophysics, Mars, United, United Arab Emirates, Mars Research, Liverpool John Moores University, Amagusa, CNN Space, Science Locations: Mars, New York University Abu, New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab, China, Fujian, Kurdistan, Iraq, United Kingdom, Japan, Israel

☆ 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

☆ Ecuador Youth Choosing Gangs as Route Out of Poverty, UN Expert Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

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

☆ 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

☆ Martin, Perez seal double glory for Spain in 35km race walks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I had this problem with my hamstring after the 20km race and I was still considering whether to start at the 35km but I managed to get through," said Perez, who smashed Garcia Leon's 35 km world record by nearly half a minute in May. "I was fourth in the Olympic Games and it was very tough to get so close to an Olympic medal. It's wonderful now to be a double world champion in Budapest. "I see Maria is first too in the women's race, so today is a great day for Spain." Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Hyderabad; Editing by Devika Syamnath, Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Spain's Maria Perez, Alvaro Martin, Marton Monus, Maria Perez, Martin, Brian Pintado, Perez, Kimberly Garcia Leon, Perez's, Peru's Garcia Leon, Antigoni Drisbioti, Garcia, Aurelien Quinion, Kawano, Massimo Stano, Maria, Hritika Sharma, Devika Syamnath, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Alvaro Martin REUTERS, Rights, Spanish, Olympic Games, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Hyderabad

☆ Spain's Martin wins men's 35km race walk at world championships
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Athletics - World Athletics Championship - Men's 35 km Race Walk - Budapest, Hungary - August 24, 2023 Spain's Alvaro Martin celebrates after winning the gold medal in men's 35 km race walk REUTERS/Marton Monus Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Alvaro Martin of Spain secured his second gold medal at the World Athletics Championships after winning the men's 35 kilometres race walk on Thursday, adding to his victory in last week's 20km event. After early leader Aurelien Quinion of France had dropped off the pace and was then disqualified, Martin shared the lead with Ecuador's Brian Pintado and Japan's Masatora Kawano entering the final 4km. Martin made the break with less than 2km remaining and crossed the line in two hours, 24 minutes and 30 seconds, four seconds before Pintado. Kawano posted a season's best of 2:25:12 to finish third, while defending champion Massimo Stano of Italy was seventh with 2:25:59. Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Hyderabad; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Alvaro Martin, Marton Monus, Alvaro Martin of Spain, Aurelien Quinion, Martin, Ecuador's Brian Pintado, Kawano, Massimo Stano, Hritika Sharma, Devika Organizations: Rights, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Hungary, France, Italy, Hyderabad

☆ 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

☆ Ecuador heads to run-off election after voting
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsEcuador heads to run-off election after votingPostedTwo former lawmakers, leftist Luisa Gonzalez and business scion Daniel Noboa, will battle for Ecuador's presidency in an October run-off, after coming top in a first round of voting over the weekend. Olivia Chan reports.

Persons: Luisa Gonzalez, Daniel Noboa, Ecuador's, Olivia Chan Locations: Ecuador

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

☆ 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

☆ Factbox: Top five candidates vying for presidency of Ecuador
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

She was leading voting intention with about 30% in recent polls, though no polls have been published since Villavicencio's killing. The 54-year-old widower has promised to fight crime with better social programs and data-driven security policies. OTTO SONNENHOLZNERSonnenholzner, a 40-year-old businessman and economist, has promoted himself as a young policymaker seeking to bring "peace, money and progress" to Ecuador. JAN TOPICTopic, 40, a private security and telecommunications businessman, has promised security would be his first and most important focus if elected. Already-printed ballots will show Villavicencio's name and photo, but the electoral authority has said votes will be counted for his replacement.

Persons: Yaku Perez, Henry Romero, Guillermo Lasso, Fernando Villavicencio, LUISA GONZALEZ Lawyer Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Gonzalez, Correa, YAKU PEREZ, Perez, Carlos, Yaku, OTTO SONNENHOLZNER Sonnenholzner, Lenin Moreno, Moreno, Sonnenholzner, El, Nayib Bukele, CHRISTIAN ZURITA Zurita, Zurita, Fernando, Alexandra Valencia, Oliver Griffin, Julia Symmes Cobb, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, French Foreign Legion, Central, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Rights QUITO, Here's, Belgium, Choco, Ukraine, Central American

☆ Ecuador presidential hopefuls close campaign clouded by violence
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Christian Zurita, who is replacing slain presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, and vice presidential candidate Andrea Gonzalez gesture after a news conference, in Guayaquil, Ecuador August 16, 2023. Candidates have pledged to fight crime and improve the struggling economy, amid sharply rising violence blamed on drug traffickers and unemployment woes, which has increased migration. Luisa Gonzalez, a protege of former President Rafael Correa, led polling before Villavicencio's murder with about 30% of voting intention. "We are committing to have zero tolerance for corruption, for organized crime, for all structural violence." Businessmen Otto Sonnenholzner and Jan Topic have rallies planned in Guayaquil, where violence has been acute, and have both promised economic reactivation and security.

Persons: Zurita, Fernando Villavicencio, Andrea Gonzalez, Vicente Gaibor del Pino, Guillermo Lasso, Milton Oleas, Luisa Gonzalez, Rafael Correa, Gonzalez, Correa, Yaku Perez, Perez, Otto Sonnenholzner, Villavicencio's, Christian Zurita, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Guayaquil, Ecuador, Rights QUITO, Quito, Mexico

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