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☆ Big copper deals to take centerstage in Santiago as demand heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Lundin Mining Corp (LUN.TO) is paying nearly $1 billion for control of Chile's Caserones copper mine despite ongoing political uncertainty in the country. "The green transformation theme remains a strong tailwind for copper, the king of green metals," Saxo Bank strategist Ole Hansen told Reuters. Global copper demand expected to reach 53 million tonnes annually by 2053 - more than double current levels - but supply is still expected to fall short, according an S&P Global (SPGI.N) study. And Hudbay Minerals Inc (HBM.TO) last week said it would pay $439 million for rival Copper Mountain Mining Corp (CMMC.TO). Neighboring Peru, the world's second-largest copper producer, also expects to boost production this year.

[1/2] A train loaded with copper cathodes travels along a rail line inside the Chuquicamata copper mine, which is owned by Chile's state-run copper producer Codelco, near Calama city, Chile, April 1, 2011. Lundin last month agreed to pay $950 million for 51% control of the mine, calling the deal "an endorsement that we believe the mining royalty and taxation discussions are trending in the right direction." In the past 18 months, mining giants have been vocal about concerns in Chile. BHP Group Ltd (BHP.AX) said it might reevaluate its investments depending on new tax plans by the government, while Freeport-McMoRan Inc (FCX.N) has said it would pause expansion plans in Chile, citing political uncertainty. Lundin remains confident in the future of the Caserones project, which began operations in 2014 and has annual output of 100,000 tonnes of copper.

☆ Chile approves bill cutting work week to 40 hours from 45
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/7] Chile's Labor Minister Jeannette Jara celebrates next to others ministers and parliamentarians the approval of a bill reducing the number of weekly working hours from 45 to 40, in congress in Valparaiso, Chile, April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Rodrigo GarridoSANTIAGO, April 11 (Reuters) - Chile's Congress on Tuesday passed a hard-fought bill to gradually cut the work week to 45 hours from 40 hours, a legislative victory for President Gabriel Boric amid faltering popularity. But the work week law - which now awaits Boric's signature - constitutes a small victory for an administration that has been trying to shift the country away from its free-market constitution. The new law mandates one less hour a week of work per year until the work week reaches 40 hours, bringing Chile in line with most industrialized nations. Several companies in Chile have already announced that they will adopt the bill, including state-owned copper giant Codelco, which earlier this year said it would seek to implement the 40- -hour work week by 2026.

☆ Chile enacts laws, allots $1.5 bln to fight crime amid police killings
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SANTIAGO, April 6 (Reuters) - Chile on Thursday signed new laws and allocated $1.5 billion to fight crime amid skyrocketing perceptions of insecurity and a day after the third police officer in less than a month was killed on duty. Boric announced $1.5 billion in added security spending and signed off on four new laws that the government says will help fight organized crime, drug trafficking and crime. Chile's police force has faced human rights abuse accusations following a heavy-handed crackdown of the violent 2019 protests against inequality. Polls show voters largely disapprove of the government's handling of crime and Boric has since hardened his stance. Palma is the third police officer to be killed on duty in less than a month, sparking public backlash.

☆ Chile detects first case of bird flu in a human
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SANTIAGO, March 29 (Reuters) - Chile detected the first case of bird flue in a human, the country's health ministry reported on Wednesday. The case was detected in a 53-year-old man who presented severe influenza symptoms, according to a statement issued by the ministry, but they noted the patient was in stable condition. Chile has reported cases of the H5N1 bird flu since late last year in wild animals. Earlier this year, Ecuador confirmed its first case of human transmission of bid flu in a 9-year-old girl. Global health officials have said risk of transmission between humans is low, but vaccine makers have been preparing bird flu shots for humans "just in case."

☆ Chile culls 40,000 poultry amid industrial bird flu outbreak
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ivan AlvaradoRANCAGUA, Chile, March 15 (Reuters) - Around 40,000 poultry were culled and buried in central Chile on Wednesday after the country detected its first case of bird flu in an industrial setting. "We hope to have this situation contained and that Chile regains its status of being free of highly pathogenic bird flu," he added. Cases of bird flu, mostly in wild animals, have been detected in Chile since late last year. Brazil, the world's largest chicken exporter, still remains free of bird flu but has investigated several suspected cases. South American health authorities created a regional technical committee earlier this month to deal with bird flu outbreaks.

☆ In Peru's Andes, scars of protest deaths cut deep as families seek justice
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( Alexander Villegas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Relatives mourn victims during a mass after the deadliest clashes in anti-government protests against Peru's President Dina Boluarte, in Juliaca, Peru February 9, 2023. Brayan died of his wounds three days later on Jan. 12 in hospital after surgeons tried to clear a blockage in the brain. For Peru I'm willing to fight. Boluarte has said there will be no "impunity" when it comes to protest deaths, but families say they've seen little progress. Our dead aren't worth anything," said Dionisio Aroquipa, whose 17-year old daughter, Jhamlith Nataly, died on Jan 9.

☆ Foiled multimillion dollar airport heist leaves two dead in Chile
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] A security personnel stands guard at an access of Santiago de Chile Airport slab after a valuables truck attempted robbery left two people dead in the midst of an intense firefight, police and local media reported, in Santiago, Chile, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Ivan AlvaradoSANTIAGO, March 8 (Reuters) - A foiled multimillion-dollar heist at Chile's largest airport left two dead on Wednesday morning, highlighting concerns of rising crime in the Andean nation. Authorities said one robber and a DGAC airport security official died during the attempted robbery. Raul Jorquera, general director of the DGAC, told reporters that no passengers were at risk during the encounter, and that the robbers had "high capacity firepower" to steal the money. Organized crime in Chile has spiked in recent years, including elaborate train heists and multimillion dollar robberies at the country's main seaport.

☆ Peruvians march in southern Juliaca to mourn 19 protest dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Alexander Villegas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

JULIACA, Peru, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Thousands of demonstrators marched through Peru's southern city of Juliaca on Thursday to commemorate the one-month anniversary of clashes that left 19 people dead in the city, the worst violence in over two months of anti-government protests. Clashes on Jan. 9 left 18 dead, including one police officer. On Thursday, as families mourned the dead, some protesters in other cities joined calls for a wider national strike. "The Puno region really came out in support, we're not one, we're many," said Ruth Meza, who said her classmate Elmer Solano was killed in the Juliaca clashes. MASS FOR PROTEST DEAD[1/5] Relatives mourn victims one month after the deadliest clashes in anti-government protests against Peru's President Dina Boluarte, in Juliaca, Peru February 9, 2023.

The analysis of power usage data by Reuters at some of the key mines in Peru, the world's no. The South American nation has been gripped by anti-government protests since the Dec. 7 ouster of leftist President Pedro Castillo. The power data from COES, which represents firms in Peru's energy sector, shows that nearly all major mines are drawing normal or near-normal levels of electricity. A combined index of six key mines is near normal. The other firms did not immediately respond to requests for comment about activity at their mines in Peru.

☆ In Peru’s Andes, anger hardens as fast election hopes fade
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Alexander Villegas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Congress has rejected multiple bills for early elections, a key demand by protesters, including shelving a proposal by President Dina Boluarte on Friday. It is the worst violence in Peru in two decades, and threatens to destabilize one of region's most reliable economies. Adelma Quispe, a protestor in the southern town of Ayavire, said protests would have calmed down if there had been an agreement on snap elections. Zamata, Quispe and others say they have collected money to send people to protest in Lima, but are dedicated to maintaining blockades in their towns. Throughout the region, protesters said they can survive on local crops and livestock, and outlast the capital until their demands are met.

LIMA, Feb 4 (Reuters) - As deadly protests rage across Peru, a political battle is unfolding inside the halls of Congress, walled off from the streets by hundreds of police, armored vehicles and a maze of gates. Despite the violence, and despite polls that show the majority of Peruvians want the election brought forward, Congress appears to be in deadlock. Reuters spent the last week inside the 130-seat Congress in capital Lima, talking to lawmakers to ask why Peruvian politics seems to be in such a mess. "There is little agreement within political parties as to what to do," said Peruvian political analyst Andrea Moncada. "If we have elections in a year or by some miracle by the end of this year, the parties registered to participate are the same ones that are in Congress right now."

☆ Peru president unveils new bill for 2023 election amid Congress infighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Alexander Villegas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LIMA, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has put forward a new bill to bring elections forward to 2023 in a bid to calm protests around the country as a fractured Congress has repeatedly failed to come to an agreement after weeks of political infighting. The bill, seen by Reuters, proposes holding congressional and presidential elections in October this year with elected officials taking power in late December. Fast new elections has been a key demand of protesters after former left-wing President Pedro Castillo was ousted in December. Peru Libre, Castillo's party, is scheduled to submit another proposal for early elections and a non-binding referendum later on Thursday, though debate has been delayed. Reporting by Alexander Villegas Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Peru's Congress fails to agree over holding early elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lawmakers will continue debating a different proposal to hold early elections, a key demand of the protesters. But Peru's Congress is deeply fragmented and reaching an agreement is tricky. Jorge Montoya, a congressman and spokesperson for the far right-wing Popular Renovation party, said during Wednesday's debate that early elections were unconstitutional and that members of Congress should be allowed to finish their term. A supermajority of 87 votes is needed to advance the proposal, while 66 votes are needed to trigger a national referendum. Protesters have over past weeks blocked roads, taken over airports and set some buildings on fire, with demands including early elections, Congress' closure, the resignation of Boluarte and Castillo's release from jail.

[1/5] Protesters clash with police officers during an anti-government demonstration following the ouster of Peru's former President Pedro Castillo, in Lima, Peru January 24, 2023. The violence has left 48 people dead with 10 more civilians killed in accidents or other issues related to the blockades. Protesters have pledged to fight on until new elections are held, Boluarte resigns and Congress is shut. The protests, while focused in the south, have spread across the nation, with hundreds of road blockades using trees, rocks and car tires jamming up transport. "I am Inca blood," said Cirilo Yupanqui, wearing a pink gas mask while protesting in capital Lima.

☆ Peru's Boluarte laments Congress' failure to speed up elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Peru's President Dina Boluarte speaks as she meets with foreign press, in Lima, Peru January 24, 2023. REUTERS/Angela Ponce/File PhotoJan 28 (Reuters) - Peruvian President Dina Boluarte expressed regret after Congress refused to speed up the timeline for a presidential election amid widespread social and political unrest, her office said on Saturday. Lawmakers had given an initial green light to moving elections from 2026 to 2024, but late on Friday evening voted down proposals hold the election this year. Boluarte has repeatedly backed moving up elections as she struggles to quell nationwide protests demanding her resignation, which have left dozens dead. Boluarte, who took office after former President Pedro Castillo was impeached and arrested last month, has maintained she will stay on as president until elections are held.

☆ Exclusive: Chile mine delays to slow copper growth; peak seen lower, later -regulator
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Fabian Cambero | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SANTIAGO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Copper production in Chile, the world's largest producer of the red metal, will grow at a slower rate this decade than previously hoped, a government report seen by Reuters showed, with peak output later and lower than estimated a year ago. That is well below the 7.62 million-tonne 2028 peak the regulator had estimated in its decade outlook a year ago. Despite the expected slower growth in Chile, the report forecasts production to grow 17% to 6.58 million tonnes by 2033. Expected output will be 5.345 million tonnes in 2022, 5.467 million tonnes this year and 5.891 million tonnes in 2024. On Wednesday the chief executive of miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc (FCX.N) said Chile expansion projects were on hold until the country's political situation was clearer.

☆ Crime, inflation hammer support for Chile's Boric in tough first year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Natalia A. Ramos Miranda | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"I wanted to give a chance to a young person, without the problems of the older politicians," she said. Recent pardons of 12 protesters convicted for crimes such as looting and robbery during 2019 riots went down badly amid rising crime statistics. The president's spokespeople did not respond to a request for comment, but Boric has repeatedly acknowledged that his administration has made mistakes. During a news conference announcing the justice minister's resignation, Boric said the government was determined to "strengthen political management." "Sometimes it seems that he is ruling just so that the right does not get angry," said 46-year-old designer and Boric voter Gaston Gomez.

☆ Robbers pull off multimillion-dollar copper heist in Chilean port
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SANTIAGO, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Chilean authorities said on Wednesday they were investigating a violent heist in Chile's main seaport where thieves stole several shipping containers filled with copper belonging to state-owned giant Codelco. In a statement to Reuters, Codelco said the copper was scheduled to be exported and was insured. The heist is the largest copper theft since a spate of gangster heists in northern Chile last October forced the government to tighten security on trains carrying copper cathodes. The violent robbery adds pressure over shipment security in the world's largest copper producer. Authorities blamed the train heists on international crime groups while police said Wednesday's heist could be a local group.

☆ Chile, Colombia call for extraordinary OAS meeting after Brazil riots
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SANTIAGO, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Chilean President Gabriel Boric called for an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Monday to address riots in Brazil where supporters of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed top government buildings. Boric, speaking alongside Colombia President Gustavo Petro outside La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago, called Sunday's riots "unacceptable" and also condemned "complicit silence." Petro, a former rebel and Colombia's first leftist president, compared the attack to the 1973 Chilean coup against Salvador Allende. "We just saw it in Brazil, but it's not just in Brazil," Petro said. Reporting by Alexander Villegas in Santiago and Julia Symmes Cobb Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Chile's Boric pardons 12 convicted after 2019 protests
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SANTIAGO, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Chile's President Gabriel Boric on Friday pardoned 12 people connected with widespread protests against inequality in 2019 that left more than 30 dead. Political factions and organizations had called for the release of the people connected to violent protests that shook the South American country. As a candidate, Boric had talked about pardoning some of those convicted for less violent crimes after the protests. The move was celebrated by political allies with senator Fabiola Campillai, who was blinded during the protests before running for office, calling it a "humanitarian act." Boric also pardoned a member of a rebel group on Friday for a total of 13 pardons.

☆ Bolivia to protect big-state economic model, plans‘aggressive’ gas push: minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Monica Machicao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LA PAZ, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Bolivia is committed to protecting its subsidy-reliant, big-state economic model despite deficit risks and is planning an "aggressive" push into gas exploration, the economy minister told Reuters. Economy Minister Marcelo Montenegro said the government has designed "a very aggressive exploration plan" for gas in 2023, but did not go into details. The government is projecting to shrink the 2023 deficit to about 7.5%. "It is not easy, because there are contracts that will last for years, even decades ... We have to push so that more profits remain for Bolivia," Montenegro said. Reporting by Monica Machicao in La Paz Written by Daniel Ramos Edited by Nicolás Misculin, Alexander Villegas and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Caught in the crossfire, Peru protest deaths keep anger burning
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Alexander Villegas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

The protests, the worst in years even in tumultuous Peru, have seen 22 people killed, the youngest just 15. The deaths threaten to keep anger fired up despite a lull in violence over the festive period in the heavily Catholic country. A security camera near the airport shows protesters invading the runway around 2 p.m., some throwing rocks and burning tires while troops gathered. The deaths have become a lightning rod for anger in poor Andean and Amazonian areas, when many feel overlooked despite local oil and copper wealth. She said the deaths would spur more anger as people looked to find someone to hold accountable.

☆ Six battleground states will hold the key to the White House in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

AP Photo/Andrew HarnikGeorgia2012 margin: Romney +7.8%2016 margin: Trump +5.1%2020 margin: Biden +0.2%For decades, Republicans could easily depend on the Peach State's electoral votes falling into their column. Two years later, Biden won the state by roughly 12,000 votes over Trump, followed by the dual 2021 runoff victories of Sens. AP Photo/Matt RourkePennsylvania2012 margin: Obama +5.4%2016 margin: Trump +0.7%2020 margin: Biden +1.2%Biden's hometown of Scranton is dear to his heart so Pennsylvania was always going to be a key state for the party in 2024. AP Photo/Andy Manis, FileWisconsin2012 margin: Obama +6.9%2016 margin: Trump +0.8%2020 margin: Biden +0.6%Wisconsin is one of the most politically-divided states in the country. But Trump flipped Wisconsin to the GOP in 2016, the first time it had supported a Republican presidential nominee since 1984.

☆ Peru ministers visit protest zone as families bury their dead
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Alexander Villegas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The police and armed forces have been accused by rights groups of using deadly firearms and dropping smoke bombs from helicopters. The military says protesters, most in Peru's Andean south, have used homemade weapons and explosives. "In this crisis today where families are mourning and in pain, where basic public infrastructure is destroyed... A recent Ipsos Peru poll showed that 52% of people who live in Peru's south supported Castillo's attempt to shutter Congress, while nationally only 33% approved with 63% against it. Reporting by Alexander Villegas in Ica, Peru; Writing by Marco Aquino; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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