World Aids Day 2017 marked by events and public acts around the globe

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended an art fair in Nottingham, Macron took a HIV test, and an artist broke the world record for the longest ribbon

(Reuters)

The annual World Aids Day was marked on Friday by international leaders, local communities and individuals across the globe.

Approximately 36.8 million people are living with HIV/Aids and the 1 December is used as an opportunity to “unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an Aids-related illness”, according to the UK's National Aids Trust.

In Britain, Prince Harry and the actor Meghan Markle lent their support to a World Aids Day charity fair hosted by the Terrence Higgins Trust in Nottingham. Attending their first public event as an engaged couple, they were shown one of 48 UK Aids Memorial Quilts, which showcase different patchwork panels made by friends and lovers paying tribute to those lost to HIV/Aids.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron took an HIV test a visit at the Delafontaine Hospital in Saint-Denis, near Paris.

In Washington, US President Donald Trump issued a statement marking the date. But in a break with tradition which drew some criticism from the LGBT community, and unlike former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, Mr Trump did not mention specific minorities who were disproportionately affected by the epidemic in his proclamation.

Mariah Carey, DJ Khaled and Mario Lopez all performed in the 30th anniversary concert for World Aids Day in Los Angeles.

Mexico City illuminated several iconic monuments, buildings and public spaces in red, including the city Diana La Cazadora to honour the fight against Aids.

In Soweto, Johannesburg, the 21st South African Infantry Battalion marched to mark the day.

At the University of Nairobi in Kenya, free testing booths were provided on campus for students to use.

The two towers of the Global Harbour shopping mall, in Shanghai, were lit to make the images of a giant red ribbon.

And in India, the renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created the world's longest red ribbon on the famed Puri beach to raise awareness about HIV /Aids.