Chile

• Tuesday, June 2nd 2015 - 06:18 UTC

  Unemployment in Punta Arenas climbs to 4.4% in February-April period

  

  Unemployment in Magallanes Region, extreme south of Chile climbed to 4.4% in the February-April period, which represents an increase of 2.3 percentage points over the same period a year ago, according to the latest release from the INE stats office.

• Tuesday, June 2nd 2015 - 05:44 UTC

  Teachers take to the streets of Chile to protest education bill in Congress

  

  Several thousand teachers poured into the streets of Santiago and other cities of Chile to express their rejection of an education bill currently being debated in Congress. The Monday march marked the first day of a strike called by the teachers union, which demands changes in key aspects of a bill that includes some of the reforms to the education system being promoted by the Michelle Bachelet government.

• Monday, May 25th 2015 - 06:25 UTC

  Bachelet underlines close economic and political ties of Chile with China

  

  Chile and China have enjoyed a positive and fruitful relationship and bilateral ties will further develop very strongly in the future, anticipated Chilean President Michelle Bachelet during an interview with Xinhua prior to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit

• Monday, May 25th 2015 - 06:20 UTC

  Li Keqiang in Chile pledges to lift strategic partnership to a new height

  

  Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Santiago on Sunday for an official visit to Chile, the first South American country with which China forged diplomatic ties (1970) and also the first Latin American nation with which China signed a free trade agreement.

• Tuesday, May 12th 2015 - 10:41 UTC

  In Chile when in difficulties turn right: former IMF deputy chief Finance minister

  

  In a move which has been interpreted as a right turn, economist Rodrigo Valdes was named as Chile's finance minister on Monday by President Michelle Bachelet, in a sweeping cabinet reshuffle in which four of her closest ministers were sacked or shifted into other roles. On Valdes' immediate to-do list is an upcoming 1.26 billion dollars international debt issue.

• Tuesday, May 12th 2015 - 06:12 UTC

  Chile's renews 'explicit' support for Argentina's Falklands/Malvinas claim

  

  The Chilean government has renewed its 'explicit' support for Argentina's sovereignty claims over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, according to Daniel Filmus, the Argentine official head of the special department for affairs relative to the Malvinas Islands, who is currently in a political tour in Santiago.

• Monday, May 11th 2015 - 10:33 UTC

  Sei whales found dead in southern Chile: red tide or virus suspected death cause

  

  More than 20 whales were found dead and rotting along a rocky coast of southern Chile, maritime officials said, as they tried to determine what killed them and when. The whales, discovered beached north of the Gulf of Penas, measured about 10 meters long, according to officials with Chile's national fisheries service.

• Monday, May 11th 2015 - 09:15 UTC

  A bashed Bachelet expects to announce reshuffled cabinet this Monday

  

  Chilean President Michelle Bachelet plans to announce a reshuffling of her Cabinet this Monday in a bid to restore her public image, which has been badly tarnished by corruption scandals, including one involving her son.

• Wednesday, May 6th 2015 - 06:34 UTC

  Despite devastating rains and floods Chile's economy grew 1.6% in March

  

  Chile's economy grew at a modest pace in March, as a gradual rebound was weighed down by devastating floods and mudslides in its northern region, central bank data showed on Tuesday. The IMACEC economic activity index, which encompasses about 90% of the economy tallied in GDP figures, rose 1.6% in March from the same month a year ago.

• Wednesday, May 6th 2015 - 06:06 UTC

  Punta Arenas cruise visitors this season totaled 56.383 with 100 calls

  

  The results of the 2014/2015 cruise season were considered 'positive' for Punta Arenas, in the extreme south of Chile, which received 100 vessel calls, of which 40 international and 60 domestic, totaling 56.383 visitors, a similar number to the previous season.