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☆ Serbia and France off to winning starts in Davis Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The 36-year-old's team mates ensured there were no hiccups in their opener as Dusan Lajovic downed Hong Seong-chan 6-4 7-6(3) and Laslo Djere battled past Kwon Soon-woo 4-6 6-2 6-2 to give Serbia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie. "It's tough to play against a player who you consider is not at his highest level but this is the Davis Cup and everybody can surprise you." Adrian Mannarino battled past Dominic Stricker 3-6 6-1 6-4 while Ugo Humbert sealed a comfortable 6-4 6-4 win over veteran Stan Wawrinka, who made his return to Davis Cup duty earlier in 2023 after seven years away. Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin teamed up to beat Wawrinka and Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-2 6-2 in the doubles rubber. Nicolas Jarry then settled the contest by defeating Elias Ymer 6-2 6-4 in 69 minutes.

Persons: France's Ugo Humbert, Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka, Jason Cairnduff, Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, Margaret Court's, Dusan Lajovic, Hong, Laslo Djere, Kwon, Djere, He's, hasn't, Adrian Mannarino, Dominic Stricker, Ugo Humbert, Stan Wawrinka, It's, Stan, he's, Humbert, Adrian, Nicolas Mahut, Edouard Roger, Vasselin, Wawrinka, Marc, Andrea Huesler, Leo Borg, Bjorn Borg, Cristian Garin, Nicolas Jarry, Elias Ymer, Wesley Koolhof, Harri Heliovaara, Patrik Niklas, Salminen, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ken Ferris Organizations: AO, Rights, Davis, South Korea, Spain, U.S, France, Chile, Thomson Locations: France, Manchester, Britain, Serbia, Valencia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Australia, Malaga, Sweden, Bologna, Croatian, Split, Netherlands, Finland, Bengaluru

☆ Djokovic will dominate tennis for years, says Murray
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 10, 2023 Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates while wearing a shirt with an image of Kobe Bryant after winning the U.S. Open REUTERS/Mike Segar Acquire Licensing RightsMANCHESTER, England, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic, who won his 24th Grand Slam title on Sunday, will dominate men's tennis for years because younger players have yet to reach his level, according to Andy Murray. It doesn't look like that's close to happening," Murray told the BBC on Monday. He's played at this level for such a long time now," said Britain's Murray, who won three Grand Slams. In July, 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz ended Djokovic's Wimbledon reign after the Serbian had won four titles in a row at the All England Club. "Physically, motivation, whether someone like Alcaraz improves - he's an amazing player Alcaraz, he's brilliant, but to do what Novak is doing on a consistent basis is different."

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Kobe Bryant, Mike Segar, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Djokovic's, Margaret Court's, Novak, Murray, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, He's, Britain's Murray, Carlos Alcaraz, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: U.S, Open REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., BBC, Wimbledon, Serbian, All England, Serbia, Davis, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Kobe, Rights MANCHESTER, England, Valencia, South Korea, Spain, Czech Republic, Gdansk

☆ Serbia target Davis Cup progress with Djokovic boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The world number one is set to travel to Valencia and join the Serbia team for their Davis Cup Finals group stage ties with South Korea, Spain and Czech Republic, although he is likely to feature only in the final two clashes. "We can't wait to have him for Friday," Kecmanovic told a news conference before their Group C opener against South Korea on Tuesday. "It definitely takes a little bit of the pressure off since he always carried the team so well. Defending champions Canada clinched their first title in the men's premier team event beating Australia in last year's final. They are joined by the 12 winners of the 2023 qualifiers - Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Britain, South Korea, Netherlands, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States - apart from wild cards Italy and Spain.

Persons: Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Mike Segar, Novak, Miomir Kecmanovic, Daniil Medvedev, Margaret Court's, Kecmanovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Medvedev, Carlos, David Ferrer, Shrivathsa Sridhar Organizations: U.S, Open REUTERS, Davis, U.S ., Serbia, South, Wimbledon, Switzerland, Split, Canada, men's, Australia, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Serbia, New York, Valencia, South Korea, Spain, Czech Republic, Sweden, Chile, France, Netherlands, Finland, Bologna, Manchester, Malaga, Croatia, Britain, Switzerland, Italy, Bengaluru

☆ 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

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: 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

☆ 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

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

☆ Subway, train lines, roads closed in Madrid, central Spain after heavy rain
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Susana Vera Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Sept 4 (Reuters) - A few subway lines in Madrid and high-speed train connections with southern cities were closed on Monday morning and two men were missing after torrential rain hit central Spain. Several roads in the Madrid region were closed as half a dozen bridges were torn down by water overflowing the riverbanks. The sudden torrential rain that hit the country transformed streets into rivers in Madrid, Castile, Catalonia and Valencia regions. Several subway lines were closed in the centre of Madrid on Monday morning. Some high-speed connections between Madrid and Andalusia region, in southern Spain, resumed later on Monday, but trains were operating at lower-than-normal speeds.

Persons: Susana Vera, Javier Chivite, Chivite, Rain, Inti Landauro, Alex Richardson Organizations: Spain's State Meteorological Agency, REUTERS, Rights, National Weather Agency, Thomson Locations: Spain's, Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Aldea del Fresno, Castile, Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia

☆ Madrid residents advised to stay indoors as capital braces for torrential weather
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Claudia Rebaza | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Residents in Madrid were instructed by city authorities to stay indoors Sunday with Storm Dana set to lash the Spanish capital. The state meteorological agency, AEMET, issued a warning for Madrid, Toledo and Cadiz, where Dana is expected to bring strong rains. According to AEMET, up to 120 liters per square meter of rain could fall over Madrid in 12 hours. Madrid’s emergency services sent texts to residents warning them of flood risks and advising them against using vehicles. Atletico Madrid wrote on X that Sunday’s LaLiga football match against Sevilla had also been postponed due to the storm.

Persons: Storm Dana, AEMET, Dana, AEMAT, José Luis Martínez, Almeida, ” Martinez Organizations: CNN, Residents, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla Locations: Madrid, Toledo, Cadiz, Valencia

"Increasingly we are going to turn used clothes into raw material from Europe for fashion companies." Also in Spain, rivals including H&M, Mango and Inditex have created a non-profit association to manage clothing waste, responding to an EU law requiring member states to separate textiles from other waste from January 2025. OBSTACLESThe obstacles to significantly reducing clothing waste are formidable, despite the EU crackdown, industry sustainability commitments and initiatives like the Moda Re expansion. Adidas (ADSGn.DE), Bestseller, and H&M (HMb.ST) have invested in Finnish start-up Infinited Fiber Company, which manufactures fibre out of textile waste, cardboard and paper. As in Spain, textile waste associations would be set up in each country.

Persons: Albert Alberich, Inditex, Dijana Lind, Hugo Boss, Lind, Moda, Aissatou Boukoum, Mauro Scalia, Corina Pons, Helen Reid, Horaci Garcia, Nacho, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: BARCELONA, Moda, Caritas, Union, European Commission, Union Investment, Adidas, McKinsey, Reuters, EU, ReHubs, Moda Re, United Nations, Inditex, Puma, Infinited Fiber Company, Thomson Locations: Spain, Barcelona, Spanish, Europe, Zara, Bilbao, Valencia, EU, Frankfurt, ReHubs Europe, Mali, Sant, AFRICA, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Africa, Senegalese, Germany, Texaid, Switzerland, Vestisolidale, Italy, France, EURATEX, Madrid, London, Nacho Doce

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

☆ At Taser maker Axon, ex-staff say loyalty meant being tased, tattooed
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Scottsdale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +34 min

Reuters also interviewed 63 current and former Axon employees, including nine former executives. No one with whom Reuters spoke was aware of deaths or lawsuits stemming from tasings of Axon staff. Axon has faced fewer lawsuits since 2009, the year it introduced a new Taser model with a lower charge. Screenshots from an Axon promotional video show CEO Rick Smith taking a Taser hit in 1993, the year he co-founded the business. And that’s off-putting.”Gorman, the former Axon lawyer, said he “vividly” remembers an executive asking him if he was going to be tased.

Persons: Ross Blank, Blank, Steve Tuttle, Shawn Gorman, ”, Jennifer Chatman, Rick Smith, Andrea James, ” James, Axon’s, tasings, ” Blank, Tuttle, Staff tasings, “, Valencia Gibson, Gibson, Reuters –, Axon’s “, Bro, Josh Isner, Isner, James, –, Ann Rosenthal, Rosenthal, ” Rosenthal, Sigma Chi, Smith, ” Smith, ” Michael Church, Hans Marrero, Marrero, ” Marrero, “ I’m, ’ ” Smith, “ It’s, ” Gibson, ” ‘, impressionable, squinting, Keara, Rylan, Mihir Shah, ” Shah, Mario Barth, “ Willing, It’s, Isaiah Fields, Wayne Guay, Lamar Cousins, Cousins, Kevin De Rosa Jr, De Rosa, ” Isner, Smith’s, De Rosa bellowed, They’re, ” Gorman, You’re, Jeffrey Dastin, Paresh Dave Art, John Emerson, Julie Marquis Organizations: Enterprise Inc, Reuters, Haas School of Business, University of California, Staff, Scottsdale, Yorker, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, . Occupational Safety, Health Administration, federal, Safety, Health, Labor, Sigma, Harvard, Sigma Chi, Boston Magazine, Harvard’s Sigma Chi, U.S . Marine Corps, YouTube, Employment, Los, Keara Berlin, ” Employees, Los Angeles Police Department, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, strapping, Culture Locations: Berkeley, Rome, United States, Arizona, U.S, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, “, Berlin, Sacramento, San Jose , California, tasings, Mandalay, Scottsdale, wasn’t

☆ Kane scores twice on league home debut as Bayern beat Augsburg 3-1
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MUNICH, Germany, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Bundesliga record signing Harry Kane scored twice in his first league appearance in front of a home crowd on Sunday to steer champions Bayern Munich to a 3-1 victory over Augsburg and make it two wins out of two matches. Despite their second straight league win coach Thomas Tuchel was not happy with his team's overall performance, especially after a sluggish first half. Bayern had their opponents on the backfoot from the start but chances were few and far between. Augsburg did manage to cut the deficit in the 86th when they caught the Bayern defence napping and Dion Beljo rounded keeper Sven Ulreich. Bayern are on six points, as many as Union Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Wolfsburg and Freiburg.

Persons: Harry Kane, Kane, Adolfo Valencia, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Tuchel, Tuchel, Augsburg's Felix Uduokhai, Leroy Sane, napping, Dion Beljo, Sven Ulreich, Karolos Grohmann, Pritha Sarkar, Toby Davis Organizations: Bundesliga, Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur, Werder Bremen, Bayern, Champions League, Union Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Wolfsburg, Thomson Locations: MUNICH, Germany, Augsburg, Munich, England, Union, Freiburg

☆ Beriso leads Ethiopian 1-2 in women's marathon
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Athletics - World Athletics Championship - Women's Marathon - National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary - August 26, 2023 Ethiopia's Amane Beriso Shankule reacts after crossing the line to win the women's marathon final REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Amane Beriso produced an authoritative performance to win the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships on Saturday, overcoming baking morning conditions to finish well clear of compatriot and defending champion Gotytom Gebreslase. Beriso, who ran the third-fastest marathon ever when winning in Valencia last December, pulled clear soon after entering the last of four 10km laps and came home in 2:24.23. Beriso then forged ever more strongly ahead and split the group, putting 20 metres into Yalemzerf Yehualaw, who herself was clear of Gebreslase. Neither of them, however, were able to make any inroads into the leader and Beriso was an impressive winner. The men's marathon is on Sunday morning, the final day of the championships.

Persons: Shankule, Dylan Martinez, Beriso, Gotytom Gebreslase, Gebreslase, Fatima Gardadi, Morocco's, Yehualaw, Mitch Phillips, Robert Birsel, Jason Neely Organizations: National Athletics Centre, Rights, Valencia, Boston Marathon, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Hungary, Valencia

☆ 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

☆ Portugal is the best European country for retirement based on cost of living, healthcare and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

1 best country in Europe to retire is Portugal. 1 best country in Europe for retirement: PortugalRetirement score: 7.83 Portugal is the best country in Europe for retirement. Portugal ranked as the best country to retire, according to the Moving to Spain report. 2 best country in Europe to retire. Italy tied with Spain as the second best country to retire.

Persons: It's, Alexander Spatari, Pol, Trevi Organizations: Global Citizens Solutions, UNESCO, Heritage, Portugal, Greece Bulgaria France Slovenia Croatia Malta Ireland, Med, World Bank, World Health Organization Locations: Spain, Europe, Portugal, U.S, SmartAsset, Alto Douro, Pico, Azores, Portugal Spain, Italy, Greece Bulgaria France, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, United States, Pisa

☆ 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

☆ 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 candidate Noboa unhurt amid gunfire at event, legislature hopeful says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Ecuador presidential candidate Daniel Noboa of the Accion Democratica Nacional party, who is wearing a bulletproof vest, makes remarks as he arrives to participate in a presidential debate, in Quito, Ecuador August 13, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsQUITO, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Gunfire interrupted a caravan being held by Ecuador presidential candidate Daniel Noboa on Thursday, local media reported. Noboa and others accompanying him were unhurt in the incident, said legislative candidate Jonathan Parra on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia Writing by Julia Symmes CobbOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Noboa, Karen Toro, Noboa, Jonathan Parra, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb Organizations: Accion Democratica Nacional, REUTERS, Rights, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Ecuador, Quito, Rights QUITO

☆ 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

☆ Ecuador presidential hopeful Zurita promises better policing, social programs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Ecuadorean presidential candidate Christian Zurita, who has replaced assassinated presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, speaks during an interview with Reuters prior to Sunday's presidential election, in Quito, Ecuador August 15, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Romero Acquire Licensing RightsQUITO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Ecuador presidential hopeful Christian Zurita, who is running in place of his friend, slain candidate Fernando Villavicencio, said on Tuesday he would better equip the police and enshrine intelligence protocols to fight crime, and use international loans to shore up social programs. Like his predecessor, Zurita is an investigative journalist known for tracking alleged corruption. The two men worked on 300 investigations together over the last decade, Zurita, 53, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday. Villavicencio's death must be thoroughly investigated, Zurita added, and given how much corruption Villavicencio exposed, the suspect list is long.

Persons: Christian Zurita, Fernando Villavicencio, Henry Romero, Villavicencio, Fernando, Zurita, There's, SLB, Rafael Correa, Luisa Gonzalez, Correa, Alexandra Valencia, Gary McWilliams, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Schlumberger, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Rights QUITO, Houston

☆ FBI team joins probe into Ecuador presidential candidate slaying
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A view of the rally site where Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was killed at a campaign event in Quito, Ecuador August 9, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro/File PhotoQUITO, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Agents from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were meeting with Ecuadorean police and prosecutors on Sunday as part of a joint effort to uncover who was behind last week's assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Villavicencio was one of eight candidates crisscrossing the Andean country for votes ahead of the Aug. 20 election. While ballots for the election had already been printed prior to Villavicencio's assassination, votes for him will automatically transfer to the party's replacement. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fernando Villavicencio, Karen Toro, Juan Zapata, Villavicencio, Guillermo Lasso, Zurita, Alexandra Valencia, David Alire Garcia, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Villavicencio, Thomson Locations: Quito, Ecuador, QUITO, American, Spanish

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