Author: Talgas

For many years, Tajikistan has been gravely affected by drug trafficking. At least 15-20 tons of opium and between 75 and 80 metric tons of heroin are smuggled into the country each year from Afghanistan either for local consumption or for transfer to Russia and Europe. Despite an official Tajik government policy to fight illicit drug trafficking in cooperation with foreign governments and international organizations, trafficking continues to increase. The volume of drug transit through Tajikistan is now equivalent to 30 percent of the country’s GDP. So far, the success of domestic Tajik policies and international assistance has been minimal. Trafficking is a product of numerous complex…

The regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has expelled ambassadors from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay. This move follows widespread international condemnation of the recent presidential election results, which declared Maduro the victor amidst allegations of significant irregularities. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil announced the expulsions on Monday, accusing these nations of “interfering” in Venezuela’s internal affairs. Gil stated that Venezuela would withdraw its diplomatic personnel from these countries and demanded their representatives leave Venezuelan territory immediately. “Venezuela expresses its firmest rejection of the interference actions and statements of a group of right-wing governments,…

Chile’s referendum on December 17 will reveal if voters back the second attempt at rewriting the constitution in as many years. According to polls, chances are that this new draft will not obtain more than 40-45% support, in which case the current constitution, which dates back to 1980—the Augusto Pinochet era—will remain in force. The country’s political divide will likely contribute to mostly “no” votes in the plebiscite. While an elected convention dominated by leftists drafted the first version rejected in 2022, this second iteration is the product of an elected council controlled by conservatives. Most Chileans prefer a modernized charter…

BEIJING, Nov 24 (Reuters) – Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou and Chinese Premier Li Qiang are keen to keep working on a bilateral free trade agreement as well as pursue one between China and the wider Mercosur trade bloc, according to a joint statement. The statement follows a Thursday meeting in Beijing between the two and comes after China and Uruguay this week upgraded their bilateral relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” elevating Montevideo’s ties with Beijing to those of Argentina and Brazil. Beijing is seen as particularly interested in an FTA with Mercosur as that could put pressure on Paraguay, the…

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden met separately with the leaders of the Dominican Republic and Chile at the White House on Thursday to discuss key issues like economic relations and migration. The meeting with Dominican President Luis Abinader aimed to strengthen economic ties, democratic principles and labor rights, as well as address the security situation in neighboring Haiti, the White House said in a statement before the meeting. It was the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders. Haiti has suffered major security issues in recent years, including the assassination of its president, Jovenel Moïse, in 2021, as well as gang violence and kidnappings, including of two Americans who…

SANTIAGO, Oct 11 (Reuters) – ​​Chile will most likely face higher than average temperatures in the upcoming Southern Hemisphere summer due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, according to official forecasts. In a press conference on Wednesday, Catalina Cortes, head of the climate services office at Chile’s Meteorological Directorate said that temperatures have increased strongly since 2015 and El Nino will likely make it warmer. “Last summer, in the central region of the country, was the warmest since 1950 and it is very likely that this situation will extend into next summer,” Cortes said, adding that the EL Nino is…

Anglo American says it has successfully launched its first hydrogen-powered bus for operational service in Chile, in partnership with Andes Motor, Foton, Copec, and Linde. It states: “The collaborative effort with Buses Hualpén marks a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainable transportation solutions within the region.” The bus uses a cutting-edge 120kW SinoHytec G120 hydrogen fuel cell, showcasing the miner’s dedication to innovative technologies. Able to fit 47 passengers, it can cover distances of up to 400 km when its hydrogen tanks and batteries are fully charged. It also has advanced safety features, including lane departure warning (LDWS), advanced…

(Bloomberg) — Chile plans to raise public spending by just 3.5% next year, less than in 2023, as the government struggles to move past political tensions and deliver on its key policy proposals. President Gabriel Boric said late on Thursday that the 2024 budget will prioritize areas including public security, health care, education and housing. Inflation will end this year at about 4% after fiscal responsibility helped stabilize the post-pandemic economy, he said. “The year 2024 will be marked by the revival of the economy, and this budget seeks to accompany that revival by putting the people first,” Boric said…

Belgian bakery-café chain Le Pain Quotidien has opened its first store in Uruguay at the Punta Carretas shopping centre in Montevideo.  Le Pain Quotidien will invest $3.5m to open six further outlets in the South American country over the next five years. The bakery café chain will be operated by the same regional team as in neighbouring Argentina, where Le Pain Quotidien has opened 40 stores since its debut in 2012.  Argentina is Le Pain Quotidien’s second largest market by outlets and sales, behind the US where it operates 50 stores.   The bakery café chain’s total global footprint comprises…

The Chilean Air Force (FACh) launched its FASat-Delta satellite, a milestone that initiates the implementation of its National Satellite System (SNSat). The device left for space from the U.S. Space Force’s Vandenberg Base in Santa Barbara, California, aboard the Falcon 9 rocket transport module of U.S. company SpaceX. “Thanks to FASat-Delta, Chile will improve the monitoring of its borders and the use of its air, land, and maritime space, and will improve the monitoring of the impact of global warming,” Guillermo Holzmann, defense analyst and academic at the University of Valparaíso, told Diálogo on July 17. “In defense, the technological upgrade of…