Summary: Presidential candidate Fernando Villegasencio shot dead after campaign event. Authorities declare state of emergency following the shooting. Villegasencio's campaign focused on ending corruption and organized crime . Candidate's defiance against criminal threats underscored his commitment. Criminal gang Los Lobos claims responsibility, but authorities arrest suspects. Ecuador grapples with increasing violence and in security amidst political transition. President Lasso unveils measures to combat rising violence . Nation mourns Villegasencio's death and questions its security situation. Ecuador 's...

Migrant crossings: 'Can you stop the small boats?' Are you going to be able to stop the small boats? Well, that's our objective. We couldn't have been clearer in putting it as one of the five central promises of this government to stop the boats, secure our borders and bring fairness back to our asylum system. We're going to do everything in our power to achieve that, and ultimately, it will be for the public to decide at the next general election whether we've succeeded or not. But be in no doubt that the Prime Minister of the Home Section and I will do everything we can to achieve that goal. I'm just interested in listening to some of the language you're using there. It's your objective. You're going to do everything you can to achieve it, not saying, yeah, we are going to stop the small boats. We are going to stop the small boats, and we wi...