Latest news with #homicideRate
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At 2nd inauguration, Noboa vows to 'save' Ecuador from gangs
Daniel Noboa was sworn in Saturday for a second term as Ecuadoran president, promising to "save" his South American country from narco-traffickers allied with foreign criminal gangs. The 37-year-old leader, speaking after his installation ceremony at the National Assembly in capital Quito, promised a "direct confrontation with organized criminal structures." "There will be no truce against crime," he vowed. Noboa, who has served as president since late 2023, handily defeated leftist rival Luisa Gonzalez in elections in April, handing him a full four-year term. The opposition, led by exiled former president Rafael Correa, has denounced what it says was election fraud and boycotted Saturday's inauguration ceremony. Those allegations have been dismissed by international election observers. Noboa, a wealthy businessman, first became president of the country of 18 million following early elections in 2023 that came amid a wave of drug-linked violence. Criminal groups specializing in cocaine smuggling pose a challenge to the government, as drug-related violence has given Ecuador the highest homicide rate in South America, according to the Insight Crime think tank. During Noboa's first year in office the homicide rate fell, which he attributed to his crackdown on crime. Among other things, he declared Ecuador to be in an internal armed conflict, empowering him to deploy the armed forces in the streets and prisons. Noboa touted the drug fight as a center point of his campaign. His youth and Correa's unpopularity among many voters helped power him to re-election, analysts say. But the fight against crime is far from over. Between January and April, Ecuador counted 3,084 homicides, making it the bloodiest start to any year since records were kept. Noboa promised on Saturday not "to look the other way," saying he would carry on the fight against criminals "who believed they own the country." Seeking to strengthen an alliance with the United States in the fight against crime, Noboa said he would allow foreign forces into the country. He also said recently that Israel wanted to "help" Ecuador with intelligence for the anti-crime struggle. Among foreign dignitaries attending Noboa's inauguration was US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. representing President Donald Trump. Colombia President Gustavo Petro and his Peruvian counterpart Dina Boluarte were also there, as were the foreign ministers of Brazil, Bolivia and Costa Rica. als-pld/das/llu/bbk/nl
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Atlanta crime dips: APD release late crime stats
The Brief It may be getting safer to walk down Atlanta streets. Crime is down overall. The homicide rate dropped 23 percent from the same time last year. The mayor credits community policing, youth programs, and stronger relations with neighborhoods. ATLANTA - City leaders say the drop in homicides shows their crime-reduction efforts are working. People who spoke to FOX 5 say they see the difference. What they're saying Joann Hawkins says she can tell deadly violence in Atlanta is down. When asked what she noticed, Hawkins said, "Less crime, less arguments." Grace Vetuschi says she feels more secure. "Great to hear that our community is safer," Vetuschi said. By the numbers Atlanta police report the overall crime rate dipped 11 percent in the first four months of this year compared to the same time last year. Homicides dropped 23 percent. Atlanta police investigated 30 homicides year to date. That's down from 39 in 2023. "Anytime that it decreases, that's a good indication that something you're doing is being effective," said Council member Michael Julian Bond, post 1 at large. Bond, a member of the Public Safety Committee, says Atlanta is putting more cops on the streets. "We've been able to hire more police officers and have more people patrolling," Bond said. "They're focusing on gang activity, focusing on violent crimes, making sure they're on top of those types of things." Bond says initiatives to provide young people alternatives to crime are working. "We're going to continue to have Camp Best Friends, we're going to continue to have midnight basketball, we're going to continue to have the summer jobs program and all the activities we can provide to give young people something to do," Bond said. The bad news is the rates of certain crimes rose. Rape is up 24 percent. Robberies increased 26 percent. Bond says APD will increase policing efforts even more as the summer months heat up. The other side The Atlanta Police Department declined to provide a comment for this story. The Source Atlanta Police Department crime statistics
