Ecuador, amid its worst drought in six decades and severe power shortages, announced the elimination of electricity subsidies for mining companies, redirecting support to those most in need

A partial state of emergency was declared in Quito due to rising violence from drug trafficking groups, with the measure lasting 60 days and including a curfew, as the government combats organized crime linked to international cartels

Both day and night power outages are occurring amid the worst drought in 60 years, with the Ministry of Energy announcing that scheduled nighttime blackouts have extended into daylight hours due to severe weather conditions

María Daniela Icaza, the director of Ecuador's largest prison, was shot and killed by hitmen while traveling near Guayaquil, marking the second prison director assassination in less than two weeks