Ecuador

A state of emergency was declared in response to a prison crisis marked by the escape of narco leader "Fito", unleashing severe riots in six prisons; President Noboa has rejected negotiation with the "narcoterrorists" and has deployed military support

Plans for a national referendum to implement a stricter anti-crime legislation and tighten security measures have been announced in a bid to curb an upward trend of escalating crime rates and violence in Ecuador

President Daniel Noboa, in response to a surge in violence attributed to criminal gangs and drug trafficking, has declared that his government will not negotiate with criminals, emphasising a commitment to dismantling organised crime structures

Quito's metro, the first ever public transport of such large magnitude in Ecuador, and the first underground transport, came into service after 10 years of construction

To enhance international supply chain security and trade facilitation, a Mutual Recognition for such operations of Panama and Ecuador was signed, promoting adherence to safety requirements and monitoring of supply chain processes for certified operators

Ecuador has scheduled power cuts due to a severe drought affecting hydroelectric plants, with daily outages of four hours in some regions and three hours on the coast, aiming to last until mid-December

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso met with the UN's Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Director to request assistance in tackling the nation's security crisis, emphasising a "zero tolerance" policy against narcotics and violence

Presidential candidate Daniel Noboa of Ecuador's Acción Democrática Nacional party has faced allegations of 14 years of tax evasion, potentially resulting in a five-year prison term, involving around US$2,1 million in foreign transfers

Ecuador has authorised US military presence to combat drug trafficking organisations jointly in a deal signed during President Lasso's visit to Washington

Ecuador's presidential campaign has begun with security concerns after a candidate's assassination; front-runner Luisa González has taken protective measures, and other candidates are addressing insecurity and unemployment ahead of the October 15 election