SUVA -- Fiji is grappling with a rise in HIV cases, but is experiencing a shortage of viral load and infant diagnostic test kits.
The country's Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa said Fiji must be strategic now in how testing was conducted, according to Fiji Times on Sunday. (Fiji-HIV test kits-Shortage)
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NEW DELHI -- At least two people were killed and three were injured in a firecracker factory blast in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, confirmed a local policeman.
The blast occurred in Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow. The factory was being operated from a residential house, added the police. (India-Blast-Deaths)
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KABUL -- The Afghan Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development has said that 160 development projects, designed to bolster agricultural and rural infrastructure, have been completed in the southern Kandahar province.
The projects, at a cost of over 275 million afghani (approximately 3.96 million U.S. dollars), were carried out on the outskirts of Maiwand district, the ministry said. (Afghanistan-Projects)
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KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia marked the 68th anniversary of independence on Sunday, with national leaders joining a huge public turnout at the administration center of Putrajaya to witness a parade celebrating the National Day.
Over 14,000 people were forming 81 contingents representing various segments of Malaysian society, according to the Malaysian national news agency Bernama. (Malaysia-Independence Day) ■



