"Escaped Drug Lord Sparks Wave of Violence and Kidnappings in Ecuador"

President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency in Ecuador after a powerful gang leader disappeared from prison, leading to the kidnapping of at least four police officers and explosions in several cities. The gang's threats and violence have escalated, prompting the president to deploy military patrols and impose a national nighttime curfew. The country has been grappling with growing violence on the streets and in prisons, with clashes between rival gangs and links to international cartels contributing to a record number of homicides and drug seizures.