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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, January 8th 2026 - 10:11 UTC

Chile

  • Tuesday, January 7th 2025 - 09:45 UTC

    Fugitive Chilean guerrilla captured in Bolivia

    Muñoz Hoffman was the last fugitive of the four guerrillas who staged the legendary “Flight of Justice” in 1996

    Former Chilean guerrilla fighter Pablo Muñoz Hoffman was arrested Monday in La Paz, Bolivia, after 29 years at large following a movie-style jailbreak using a helicopter. Together with Mauricio Hernández Norambuena, Ricardo Palma Salamanca, and Patricio Ortiz Montenegro, all members of the now-defunct Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front (FPMR), they staged the so-called “Flight of Justice.”

  • Saturday, January 4th 2025 - 10:47 UTC

    Boric reaches South Pole

    “From here everything is north,” Boric said

    Chile's President Gabriel Boric Font Friday became the first Latin American leader and the third worldwide to reach the South Pole, thus consolidating his country's commitment to Antarctica. His feat followed in the footsteps of those authorities from New Zealand in 2007 and Norway in 2011. Boric dubbed his trip “a diplomatic, scientific, environmental and aeronautical milestone.” It also Chile as “the gateway to Antarctica,” he said.

  • Friday, January 3rd 2025 - 10:16 UTC

    Boric South Pole bound after weather problems ruled out

    Boric's journey is supported by the British Antarctic Survey and the UK's Antarctic Program, among other international partners

    Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font's trip to the South Pole was confirmed Thursday by the La Moneda Palace in Santiago after its feasibility had been questioned due to poor weather. The journey between Jan. 2 and 4, will include other officials as well as a scientific team to tour the Union Glacier Joint Scientific Polar Station and the Amundsen-Scott Base.

  • Friday, January 3rd 2025 - 10:10 UTC

    Covid-19 resurfaces abruptly in Bolivian Dept. of Santa Cruz

    Last week 14 Covid-related deaths were reported in Chile

    Health authorities in the Bolivian Department of Santa Cruz Thursday said that an “abrupt” increase in Covid-19 cases had been detected, due to which they encouraged residents to update their vaccination schemes and adopt all biosecurity protocols. A total of 290 infections were reported last week, 11 of which required hospitalization, including three under ventilation in intensive care units, and one death on Dec. 28. All 11 are unvaccinated patients, it was also explained.

  • Tuesday, December 24th 2024 - 10:23 UTC

    Chile apologizes for military helicopter flying into Argentine airspace

    “There was indeed an unauthorized overflight over Argentine airspace,” van Klaveren owned up

    Chilean authorities admitted Monday that a military helicopter had flown into Argentine airspace last Friday in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz. Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren described the incident as “a mistake” and insisted that the case had been handled through the proper diplomatic channels. Argentina sent a consultation note on this matter, to which “a response has been given,” he explained.

  • Saturday, December 21st 2024 - 10:56 UTC

    Boric chooses brotherly approach after derogatory remarks from Argentine gov't

    “I prefer to speak positively,” Boric insisted

    After heavy criticism from the Argentine government of Javier Milei, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font sought to calm down the diplomatic waters because heads of State “come and go but the people remain.” Boric also insisted that Argentina was “a brotherly” country.

  • Thursday, December 19th 2024 - 10:53 UTC

    Chile angry over “inaccurate” words from Argentine Economy Minister

    Chile neglected the cultural battle and is now ruled by a Communist who is about to sink the country, Caputo argued

    The Chilean Government of President Gabriel Boric Font sent a protest note through diplomatic channels to Argentina after Economy Minister Luis Toto Caputo dubbed the leftwing leader a “Communist” who was sinking his country. Santiago said Caputo made “inappropriate and inaccurate statements” during a radio interview with a Buenos Aires broadcaster.

  • Thursday, December 19th 2024 - 10:07 UTC

    Chilean lawmakers want steps taken to protect tourists

    “Australia's report comes to ratify previous warnings from the United States. This is no coincidence,” said Congressman Stephan Schubert of the Republican Party

    Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a report warning travelers to Chile that “muggings, armed robberies, pickpocketing and bag snatching are common” there. Tourists need also be aware of scams targetting them such as staining their clothes to distract them and then stealing their belongings. In response, Chilean lawmakers requested a special session of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Congress.

  • Saturday, December 14th 2024 - 10:56 UTC

    US denounces Hezbollah's presence in Chile to seek funding

    In June this year, Argentina's Security Minister Patricia Bullrich had to apologize to the Chilean government for mentioning Hezbollah's presence with no corroborating evidence

    The US State Department said this week that the Lebanon-based terrorist organization Hezbollah had been operating in Chile and other Latin American countries to obtain funding for its activities in a report that also mentioned Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas, dissidents of the defunct FARC and Peru's Shining Path as the biggest threats in the region.

  • Friday, December 13th 2024 - 10:59 UTC

    Defense minister Lord Coaker visits Chile and Brazil to strengthen defense relations

    UK Defense Minister Lord Vernon Coaker with Brazilian Chief of the Navy Admiral Olsen in Rio

    Defense Minister Lord Coaker's recent visit to Chile and Brazil focused on supporting global security and tackling increasing threats. There, he held talks with his counterparts and industry as the UK strengthens relations with partners around the world.