A | CARACAS, Venezuela -- Frightened by unprecedented violence on the streets and within prisons, Ecuadorians have a universal demand for the president they will choose Sunday — safety.The runoff election in the South American country pits an heir to a banana empire, Daniel Noboa, and an attorney, Luisa González. Both have limited governing experience and will undoubtedly have their work cut out.The election comes as more Ecuadorians become victims of drug-related violence that erupted roughly three years ago and intensified in August, when a presidential candidate was assassinated in broad daylight. People continuously watch their backs and limit how often they leave home. The uneasiness even pushed Noboa to add a bulletproof vest to his daily outfit.Whoever wins with a simple majority of votes will govern for only 15 months, until May 2025, which is what remains of the presidency of Guillermo Lasso. He cut his term short when he dissolved the country’s National Assembly in May as lawmakers carried out impeachment proceedings against him over alleged improprieties in a contract by a state-owned company.Lasso, a conservative former banker, clashed constantly with lawmakers after his election in 2021 and decided not to run in the special election. Under Lasso's watch, violent deaths soared, reaching 4,600 in 2022, the country’s highest in history and double the total in 2021. The National Police tallied 3,568 violent deaths in the first half of 2023.“Security affects us all, and whether poor or rich, no one is safe from criminals anymore,” housewife Ximena Flores said ahead of the runoff election. “Do you think that a new president will be able to do something in such a short time? I think not. It will be a new disappointment for everyone.”The spike in violence is tied to cocaine trafficking. Mexican, Colombian and Balkan cartels have set roots in Ecuador and operate with assistance from local criminal gangs.Voting is mandatory in Ecuador for people ages 18 through 64. Those who don’t comply face a fine of about $45. Polls were to close in late afternoon, and results were expected Sunday evening.Noboa and González, both of whom have served short stints as lawmakers, advanced to the runoff by finishing ahead of six other candidates in the election’s first round Aug. 22.Noboa, 35, is an heir to a fortune built on Ecuador’s main crop, bananas. His political career began in 2021, when he won a seat in the National Assembly and chaired its Economic Development Commission. He opened an event organizing company when he was 18 and then joined his father’s Noboa Corp., where he held management positions in the shipping, logistics and commercial areas.González, 45, held various government jobs during the decade-long presidency of Rafael Correa, her mentor, and was a lawmaker until May. She was unknown to most voters until Correa’s party picked her as its presidential candidate. At the start of the campaign, she said Correa would be her adviser, but she has recently tried to distance herself a bit in an effort to court voters who oppose the former president.___Associated Press writer Gonzalo Solano in Quito, Ecuador, contributed to this report.。 一包疑似“马丸”的毒品被藏在摩托车内。（图：中国报）在新加坡当焊工的马来西亚男子在新山油站打油时，在摩托车座内发现两粒疑似毒品的药丸，赶紧扔掉后报警。《中国报》报道，这名男子星期二（20日）早上6点41分左右在新山马芝迪马来甘榜的油站打油时打开车座，意外发现一包塑料袋，里头装有两粒疑似甲基安非他命（Methamphetamine）的毒品“马丸”。男子发现塑料袋里的东西不对劲，当场丢弃在油站。
B | 新山南警方昨天（24日）受询时证实，警方接到这名37岁骑士的报案，并透露男子在新加坡担任焊工。警方前晚（23日）展开调查，但没有在油站找到相关塑料袋，警方正在追查涉案嫌犯。早前，男子的摩托车疑似遭人藏毒的帖文在网上流传，不少网民替他庆幸，还好他当时还没有骑到新加坡工作，否则后果不堪设想。网民也互相提醒大家提高警惕，避免惹上无妄之灾。
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