Latest news with #Chilean
Yomiuri Shimbun
an hour ago
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Human Hair: A Water-Saving Tool in Drought-Hit Chile
SANTIAGO (Reuters) — Small mats of human hair line the base of plants, helping lock in moisture for crops in orchards around Chile that have been struggling with drought for years. The hair, which is turned into sheets and discs of compostable mulch through mechanical weaving, reduces direct evaporation by 71% and saves up to 48% of irrigation water, according to the Matter of Trust Chile foundation, which makes the hair mats.'Hair is very interesting. It contains nutrients, nitrogen, calcium, sulfur and organic matter that is added to the soil, improving it and enhancing plant growth and agricultural production by at least 30%,' said Mattia Carenini, CEO of the foundation. Farmer Maria Salazar said the hair has helped get excellent crop yield from lemon trees in Taltal, about 900 kilometers north of the Chilean capital in the arid Antofagasta region. 'The hair mats are a benefit to the system and water stress we're facing,' Salazar said. 'By providing shade, they maintain a lot of humidity and prevent the sun's rays from evaporating the little water we have.' The foundation was created in 2020 to promote conservation and regeneration through the creative use of waste. The hair is sourced from deals with 350 salons and 10 pet groomers around Chile, with about 2% of the hair used in the mats coming from pets. Other products from the foundation include a liquid fertilizer made from recycled hair and a hair-based absorbent for recovering oils, metals and other contaminants from water.
Miami Herald
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Chilean officials acknowledge organized crime infiltration in military
July 16 (UPI) -- The discovery of drugs on Chilean military bases and vehicles in early July has raised alarms about possible infiltration of drug trafficking networks into the country's armed forces. Authorities found a shipment of narcotics hidden at a military base in Colchane, near the Bolivian border, followed days later by a suitcase containing ketamine aboard an Air Force plane. The incidents have prompted closed-door Senate sessions and demands for answers from military leaders. The discoveries followed the June 29 arrest of seven people -- six Army noncommissioned officers and one civilian -- who were charged and placed in pretrial detention. Prosecutors accuse the group of trafficking at least 423 pounds of cocaine and cocaine paste. Security Minister Luis Cordero said there are "serious cases" showing organized crime has infiltrated the armed forces and could threaten public security, though he denied it is a structural or widespread issue. "This wasn't an issue a few years ago, so legislation and measures need to be updated. Organized crime must be confronted early," Defense Minister Adriana Delpiano said. Both ministers participated in a special session of the Senate Constitution Committee to examine ties between organized crime and the armed forces, and to discuss legislative and administrative steps to prevent future infiltration. Lawmakers addressed jurisdictional disputes between military and civilian courts, proposed reforms to the Code of Military Justice and efforts to bolster institutional intelligence and counterintelligence. Counterintelligence is a key tool in the fight against organized crime, as it helps identify security gaps in the country, security expert Pilar Lizana told Chilean broadcaster Radio Bio Bio. Since 2023, Chilean armed forces personnel have been authorized to assist with border control and monitor illegal crossings in the country's north. "The porous borders, the ease of drug transit and the search for alternative routes have made the country a key link in trafficking networks, exposing its institutions to corruption," said Humberto García, president of the Chilean Institute of Public Policy. The incidents have also reignited debate over lifting bank secrecy protections for public officials and military personnel -- a proposal backed by pro-government sectors as a tool against corruption. However, opposition leaders have raised concerns, arguing the change could infringe on individual rights. Authorities and analysts agree that drug cartels and transnational criminal groups, such as Tren de Aragua, pose a growing threat to national security. "The current situation demands a coordinated and forceful response from all branches of government. The credibility of the armed forces -- vital to national security and public trust -- is at stake," Garcia said. "Transparency in investigations, tough sanctions and strong oversight mechanisms will be essential to confronting this growing threat." Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
8 hours ago
- Politics
- UPI
Chilean officials acknowledge organized crime infiltration in military
The discovery of drugs on Chilean military bases and vehicles in early July has raised alarms about possible infiltration of drug trafficking networks into the country's armed forces. File Photo by Elvis Gonzalez/EPA July 16 (UPI) -- The discovery of drugs on Chilean military bases and vehicles in early July has raised alarms about possible infiltration of drug trafficking networks into the country's armed forces. Authorities found a shipment of narcotics hidden at a military base in Colchane, near the Bolivian border, followed days later by a suitcase containing ketamine aboard an Air Force plane. The incidents have prompted closed-door Senate sessions and demands for answers from military leaders. The discoveries followed the June 29 arrest of seven people -- six Army noncommissioned officers and one civilian -- who were charged and placed in pretrial detention. Prosecutors accuse the group of trafficking at least 423 pounds of cocaine and cocaine paste. Security Minister Luis Cordero said there are "serious cases" showing organized crime has infiltrated the armed forces and could threaten public security, though he denied it is a structural or widespread issue. "This wasn't an issue a few years ago, so legislation and measures need to be updated. Organized crime must be confronted early," Defense Minister Adriana Delpiano said. Both ministers participated in a special session of the Senate Constitution Committee to examine ties between organized crime and the armed forces, and to discuss legislative and administrative steps to prevent future infiltration. Lawmakers addressed jurisdictional disputes between military and civilian courts, proposed reforms to the Code of Military Justice and efforts to bolster institutional intelligence and counterintelligence. Counterintelligence is a key tool in the fight against organized crime, as it helps identify security gaps in the country, security expert Pilar Lizana told Chilean broadcaster Radio Bio Bio. Since 2023, Chilean armed forces personnel have been authorized to assist with border control and monitor illegal crossings in the country's north. "The porous borders, the ease of drug transit and the search for alternative routes have made the country a key link in trafficking networks, exposing its institutions to corruption," said Humberto García, president of the Chilean Institute of Public Policy. The incidents have also reignited debate over lifting bank secrecy protections for public officials and military personnel -- a proposal backed by pro-government sectors as a tool against corruption. However, opposition leaders have raised concerns, arguing the change could infringe on individual rights. Authorities and analysts agree that drug cartels and transnational criminal groups, such as Tren de Aragua, pose a growing threat to national security. "The current situation demands a coordinated and forceful response from all branches of government. The credibility of the armed forces -- vital to national security and public trust -- is at stake," Garcia said. "Transparency in investigations, tough sanctions and strong oversight mechanisms will be essential to confronting this growing threat."
ITV News
11 hours ago
- Health
- ITV News
Fourth and final body removed from plane crash wreckage in Southend three days after crash
The fourth and final body has been removed from the wreckage of a plane crash in Southend, as the airport announced that it would be reopening to passengers on Thursday. The medical plane crashed in Southend on Sunday, shortly after taking off from the city's airport. All four people on board the aircraft were killed in the crash. Essex Police said that retrieving the bodies had been a "complex and delicate" operation. Det Ch Supt Morgan Cronin said: "Our work is very much ongoing away from the site, and our investigation in parallel with the AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch) continues. "The aircraft is being carefully dismantled now to move into the next phase of the investigation." The four dead have yet to be officially identified, with experts using forensic methods such as DNA, fingerprints, and tattoos. On Tuesday, a crowd funder was set up for the family of a Chilean nurse Maria Fernanda Rojas Ortiz, 31, who was reportedly on her first day on the job when the plane went down. According to a document that lists passengers, Ms Ortiz was on board along with two Dutch pilots, and a German doctor, believed to be Dr Matthias Eyl, 46. The team had dropped off a patient in Southend for treatment in the UK. They were due to return to base in the Netherlands before the crash at about 3.48pm. Zeusch Aviation, based at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands, said in a statement on Monday: "It is with deep sadness that we confirm there were no survivors among the people on board flight SUZ1. "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time." London Southend Airport had been closed ever since the accident, but on Wednesday partially re-opened to a small number of passengers. It said it would reopen fully on Thursday. A spokesman said: 'Four EasyJet flights will land at London Southend Airport [on Wednesday] evening. Eastern Airways will also operate an empty positioning flight. "Normal airline operations resume from the morning of Thursday. "Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those who tragically lost their lives on Sunday. Throughout the course of this week, we have continued to support the air accident investigation team as they carry out their work."
Zawya
16 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
UK stocks muted as inflation data dims interest rate cut bets
London's main stock indexes were subdued on Wednesday, as a stronger-than-expected rise in domestic inflation slightly cooled bets of interest rate cuts from the Bank of England. The blue-chip FTSE 100 was up 0.2% as of 1035 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 index was flat. Britain's annual rate of consumer price inflation unexpectedly rose to its highest in over a year at 3.6% in June, as higher costs of motor fuel, transport and food pushed up prices. "There is a real threat of stagflation as the rate of inflation moves higher and the economy is stuck in the mud. It puts the Bank of England in a tricky situation with regards to monetary policy decisions," said Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell. The central bank is largely expected to cut interest rates by a quarter-point in August after recent economic data fuelled concerns of weaker domestic growth and labour market, but the chances of such a move dimmed after Wednesday's inflation data. The BoE will closely watch the employment and wages figures due on Thursday. Meanwhile, UK finance minister Rachel Reeves on Tuesday announced measures to boost the finance sector, including reforming requirements for banks to separate retail and investment banking activities, easing regulations and a plan to get more savers investing in stocks. In corporate updates, AstraZeneca fell 1.1% after the drugmaker's experimental therapy, anselamimab, failed to meet the main goal of a late-stage study for the treatment of AL amyloidosis, a rare condition that causes a buildup of protein deposits in the body. Rio Tinto rose 1.3% after the mining giant reported its strongest second-quarter iron ore production since 2018, a day after promoting its iron ore chief Simon Trott to CEO. Antofagasta edged up 0.5% after the Chilean miner said its copper production rose 11% in the first half of 2025, on improved output from its two concentrators. (Reporting by Ankita Yadav in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
