Stories for July 31st 2023 — MercoPress

Chilean health authorities have reported 644 deaths associated with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 2021, while some 84,000 people are estimated to be living with the disease in the South American country. According to the Institute of Public Health (ISP), 5,401 infections were confirmed in 2022 with the highest rates of infections detected in the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, and Antofagasta. Chile’s Health Ministry (Minsal) points out that the figures are consistent with the increase in testing.

Members of the United Kingdom’s elite Paras and elements of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands, stationed at Mount Pleasant Complex, plus the local Falkland Islands Defense Force, FIDF, have conducted drills to simulate a recapture of the Falkland Islands.

The Falkland Islands are short of uniformed police officers, was made public at the Police Committee meeting by Inspector and Acting Chief of Police Barry Thacker. A recruitment process has been started, and in the meantime the Royal Falkland Islands Police (RFIP) is using detectives in uniform, management, and reserve police officers to provide the policing service as well as relying on officers to work on rest days.

Ecuadorian authorities have actuated contingency protocols after a new outbreak of avian influenza was confirmed in a commercial farm in the Andean province of Cotopaxi, the Agency for Regulation and Control of Animal and Plant Health (Agrocalidad) announced Sunday in Quito.

Last Friday, Peru’s Independence Day, President Dina Boluarte called for a “great national reconciliation” in the wake of fresh outbursts of violent protests. In her state of the Nation speech before congress, the president also appealed for legislative powers to be extended to the executive branch for 120 days, in an effort to curtail crime and violence among other issues.

A delegation of lawmakers from the United States headed by Congressman Adam Smith (D) Sunday met in Asunción with Paraguay’s President-elect Santiago Peña to discuss future bilateral relations, particularly on security and trade, it was reported. Peña’s chosen Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, who also took part in the discussions, spoke of a “very productive” encounter. Peña is to take office Aug. 15.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s son and his ex-wife have been indicted for money laundering, the Prosecutor’s Office announced Sunday following the couple’s arrest on Saturday.

Representatives from various parts of the state of Rio de Janeiro took part Sunday along the Copacabana in the 9th Black Women’s March under the motto Black Women United against Racism, All Forms of Oppression, Violence and for the Good Life, Agencia Brasil reported.

Following an international appeal for help to crisis-torn Haiti, Kenya’s Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua said in a statement Saturday that his country was ready to participate in a multinational force to curb the escalating violence in the Caribbean country.

This week Brazil shipped the world’s first green lithium, produced in the Jequitinhonha Valley, in Minas Gerais, from the Port of Vitória (Espirito Santo State). The production, by Sigma Lithium, is a pioneer for having raised the level of industrial sustainability by being triple zero (zero carbon, zero waste and zero harmful chemicals). Lithium is used in electric vehicle batteries.