Chile Security and Search Operationsactive

During the morning of this Monday, a new police committee was held, during which the Undersecretary of Public Security, María del Pilar Giannini, detailed that the irregular entries detected at the border have decreased by 86.7% compared to last year. "The irregular entries detected at the border have fallen 86.7% compared to last year, and voluntary departures from the country have increased almost four times. And of the adults detected, three out of four were redirected, immediately returned through the entry point," she stated. In this regard, Giannini maintained that "the border is the country's first line. If the State does not control it, it is difficult to control the rest of the country." Therefore, she highlighted one of the proposals contemplated in the Agenda against Organized Crime and Terrorism (ACOT), which seeks for the Carabineros and the Investigative Police (PDI) to be able to operate throughout the primary zone of border crossings without having to request prior authorization. Security overview Regarding the events in the Southern Macrozone, the undersecretary detailed that these decreased by 19.1% compared to the previous year. "This result is the constant effort of our Armed Forces and is the result of maintaining firm State leadership against terrorism and strict respect for individuals," she affirmed. Additionally, Giannini also highlighted that the drugs seized in the country have increased by 60%. "We will also go against the machine of aza…

The Minister of Security, Martín Arrau, defended the Anti-Organized Crime and Terrorism Agenda (ACOT), promoted by the Government, during the morning of this Monday, while ruling out that it is a "mega constitutional reform." After the project was signed by President José Antonio Kast at La Moneda, Arrau responded to the statements of former Interior Minister Carolina Tohá, who questioned the emphasis that the government is placing on legislative processing, "Of course, there needs to be emphasis on the legislative aspect, but what we have done first is management," Arrau pointed out, adding that "the first thing we presented is an operational plan, two months ago in Congress, which we are implementing with good results thanks to the efforts of Carabineros, Investigations Police, and Gendarmerie, with a reduction in homicides, reduction in violent robberies, 15, 20% depending on the figures." Furthermore, the minister stated that "we are doing management, cross-referencing databases, intelligence, we are working on that. Also with a lot of political support, something that was not present before, towards our uniformed personnel, towards the law enforcement and security forces, so that they already feel supported." "Perhaps there is a lack of information, they haven't been well informed about everything we are doing, the figures, and the objectives we have day by day in our country," he added. Ruling out that it is a mega constitutional reform...

On the morning of this Monday, President José Antonio Kast signed the constitutional reform project within the framework of the Agenda against Organized Crime and Terrorism (ACOT), which seeks to explicitly enshrine public security as a duty of the State in the Constitution. It also establishes the creation of a new state of emergency, a registry of criminal organizations, differentiated penitentiary regimes, and easier seizure of assets from these organizations. In this context, from La Moneda and prior to signing the project, the President delivered a speech to those present. "Thank you very much for all the legal initiatives, parliamentary motions that have been presented, because from there also a large part of what we are presenting to the National Congress for that broad debate is gathered, but we also respectfully request that it be quick, because we have to advance in this agenda," the President began. "Thanks to the various state institutions that are with us today. The Public Ministry has a fundamental role in this. It will surely also be consulted by Parliament on which matters to delve into, on how to modernize our legislation to face this new phenomenon, which was not part of our tradition," he continued. In the same vein, he thanked the work of the police forces and the collaboration of the different branches of the Armed Forces. "Thanks for taking care of C…

The requirement presented by a group of senators before the Constitutional Court (TC) regarding the tax invariability regime contained in the Reconstruction project recently approved by Congress introduces a factor of uncertainty that could diminish the impact of the reduction in the corporate tax rate from 27 to 23 percent. Certainly, this reduction, although to be implemented gradually, is a fundamental step toward beginning to recover the tax competitiveness that the country has been losing since 1990. But since investment decisions are made considering a long-term horizon, as important as lowering the rate in the short term is providing legal certainty that the new conditions will remain unchanged for at least a certain number of years, which in the newly approved law was established based on the size of the investment. In the senators' presentation before the TC, it is stated that if invariability is approved, it would tie the hands of future authorities who might want to modify the corporate tax rate or even repeal the newly approved invariability norm, thus attacking the essence of democracy. But this argument is fallacious: at any time, a future government, with the approval of Congress, could alter the general application tax laws. The only thing it could not do is alter the c…

Six days have passed since the disappearance of Jonnatan Hio Hio in the mountainous area of La Florida. During this Sunday, specialized teams reinforced aerial efforts due to the adverse terrain conditions and conducted a new flyover to review points of interest identified during the investigation. Major Jennifer Muñoz, from the Carabineros, explained that the search continues, but "with a different type of methodology, different search methods, and more focused on aerial search because the weather conditions are adverse, and the terrain is extremely complex." During the day, a second flyover was carried out, involving specialists from GOPE and the Andean Rescue Corps, who reviewed from the air sectors previously identified as relevant for the search. According to Muñoz, one of these points was specifically identified during the investigation and later verified through the aerial operation. Additionally, the teams are working on an operation that includes the use of satellite images to locate points of interest and to take photographic surveys of the area. Risk of avalanches and two landslides The conditions present in the mountain range continue to be one of the main obstacles for the operation. The search is taking place in sectors approximately 3,300 meters above sea level, with significant snow accumulation, temperature…

With the Organized Crime and Terrorism Agenda (ACOT) moving toward legislative discussion, the Minister of Public Security, Martín Arrau, assured in an interview with Mesa Central of T13 that the Government sees a favorable scenario to garner support beyond the ruling party and projected that the initiatives could advance with modifications during their processing in Congress. Unlike the discussion that accompanied the mega economic reform, Arrau argued that security would have a greater capacity to generate agreements among different political sectors. "Yes, this is quite different from the economic issue. This is a topic that tends to unite," stated the Secretary of State, who assured that the agenda has already been discussed "a lot with parliamentarians from both the ruling party and some from the opposition." According to his assessment, "support is more or less broad for most of the initiative." The statements come as the Executive begins to project the processing of one of its main legislative axes for the coming months. The agenda includes about 20 projects that are already in Congress, along with new initiatives that the Ministry of Security intends to introduce over the next two months and a constitutional reform focused on new tools to confront organized crime and terrorism. When directly asked whether he expected support from opposition parliamentarians, Arrau ev…

The Moneda sought a clear and abrupt change of course with the announcement of its Agenda against Organized Crime and Terrorism (ACOT), which was announced on Wednesday by President José Antonio Kast through a national broadcast. It was made in relation to the passage of the Reconstruction Law, which after four months of processing was approved by the Senate. Undoubtedly, a victory for the government that - in its main aspects - only had the votes in favor from the ruling party. Despite this, it constitutes a key step for Kast's program, and it remains to be seen if it will have the expected effects on the ailing national economy. For now, there is still an important step pending: the ruling of the Constitutional Court on the challenges filed by the opposition regarding two aspects of the law. The most relevant, the tax invariability. For now, the TC has already admitted the appeals for processing, and all indications suggest that its decision will be divided. With the president's announcement, it is Minister Martín Arrau - a Republican - who takes a step forward. One issue to watch will be the style he shows in legislative discussion, whether he will aim for broad agreements or not, unlike what happened with his Finance counterpart, Jorge Quiroz. Because it is expected that the agenda presented by Kast - which includes 30 projects - will provoke a strong debate. Especially because of the announcement that he will seek to reform the Constitution to enshrine as a duty of the State to protect…

Almost a week since the disappearance of Jonnatan Hio Hio on Cerro Panul in the La Florida commune, specialized teams will focus their work on the air route to advance in his location this Sunday. The 32-year-old Colombian has been missing since Monday, August 3, after a trek through different peaks of the Metropolitan Region where he sustained an injury during the descent. The hiker managed to inform his situation through an audio message to one of his relatives, providing details about the area where he was. This led to a report of presumed disappearance, which initiated the search operation. The procedures to locate him have involved Senapred, Socorro Andino, the Municipality of La Florida, SAR Chile, the Army, and Carabineros. During this Sunday, on the sixth day of the search, triangulation for the operations continues, but some points have already been ruled out. Resources will be redistributed due to the risk posed by the terrestrial route at certain points of interest, according to a technical meeting held by the specialized teams. “We are talking about 3,300 meters above sea level, so there is a significant amount of snow, between 3 to 4 meters, with very low temperatures, below zero, so it’s dangerous,” explained Major Jennifer Muñoz of Carabineros. Thus, the officer stated that “it is extremely risky for rescue teams to reach …

MR. DIRECTOR: The decision of the Senate Board to refer the confrontation between Senators Fabiola Campillai and Camila Flores to the Ethics Committee raises a recurring question: what do children and young people learn when they observe those who represent the country's main institutions? Democratic life involves differences. No one expects those involved in politics to think alike. But when the Senate becomes a stage for insults, the message is concerning. Civic education does not only happen in the classroom. These episodes should be an opportunity for family conversations. Explaining to children and young people that respect does not depend on sharing an opinion, but on recognizing the dignity of those who think differently. When public debate loses its decorum, not only does politics suffer; trust in institutions and the civic education of those who will lead the country tomorrow also weaken. María José Domínguez Director Faro Escolar UDD

During the course of this Saturday, it was reported that the search for the young Colombian Jonnatan Hio Hio, 32 years old, who has been missing since last Monday after suffering an injury on Cerro Panul, in the La Florida commune, will continue on Sunday. The young man has been sought by specialized teams for almost a week. The events date back to last Monday, when the Colombian citizen started a route through different peaks of the Metropolitan Region. In that context, and for unknown reasons, he would have suffered an injury while descending. The young man managed to send an audio message to one of his close contacts, informing about his situation and providing details about the sector where he was. After this, a report of presumed misfortune was filed and a large search operation was initiated, involving Senapred, the Municipality of La Florida, Socorro Andino, SAR Chile, the Army, and Carabineros, with both aerial and ground deployment. Resource redistribution Major Jennifer Muñoz, from Carabineros, explained that the teams will need to redistribute resources and reinforce aerial search efforts due to the risk involved in accessing some of the points of interest by land. "We are talking about 3,300 meters above sea level, so there is a significant amount of snow, between three and four meters of snow (...) there may be some risk of avalanches, rockfalls, so the scenario is complicated,"…

After the approval of the mega reform, the government of José Antonio Kast moved on to a second stage that aims to address the Agenda against Organized Crime and Terrorism (ACOT) announced last Wednesday, which quickly generated reactions within Congress. This new phase, led by the Minister of Security Martín Arrau (Republican), is ambitious: there are already 19 bills in process, another nine projects, and a constitutional reform focused on public security, which aims to be dispatched before Christmas. Specifically, the regulation presented by the government, which seeks the constitutional-level criminal gang registry to be prepared by the Executive with Senate control, was questioned by members of the Security Committee of the Upper House. Senator Karim Bianchi, who is the president of the Security Committee, stated that "if entering this registry could mean, for example, seizure of assets, affecting rights, or even criminal consequences, then we are talking not about a simple list." "I have a fundamental doubt, does it correspond that the Executive decides who enters and that the Senate ends up being a tribunal? In my opinion, the Senate is not here to replace judges. I want to see the text first because we must be relentless against organized crime, but also rigorous in how we are going to build these tools," Bianchi added. For his part, Senator Juan Luis Castro (PS), who also…

During the course of this Saturday, the search operation for the hiker who disappeared last Monday, August 3, on Cerro Panul in the La Florida commune continued. The young man, identified as Jonnatan Hio Hio, 32 years old and of Colombian nationality, disappeared last Monday after suffering an accident while trekking in the area. According to Major Jennifer Muñoz of the GOPE of Carabineros, a technical meeting was held during the day with the various institutions called to participate in the search. In this regard, she explained that the operation is based on an emergency plan that involves the participation of Senapred, the Municipality of La Florida, Socorro Andino, the Army, and Carabineros, among other specialized agencies. Regarding the audio that the hiker may have sent, the major detailed that "there is an investigation being carried out by SEP, they have specific instructions which, obviously, due to the complexity of this, I cannot provide further details, but there is indeed a specialized technical agency, SEP, in charge of that triangulation." Regarding the deployment, the official explained that the efforts will be carried out both on land and by air. In this regard, she noted that "thank God, the weather conditions favor us a bit; although we expected different weather, we will take advantage of today to..."

A traffic accident between a van and a bus carrying juvenile football players from Deportes Temuco caused the death of two adults in the La Araucanía Region. The collision occurred in the northern sector of the municipality of Temuco. The vehicle transporting the athletes was traveling along Rudecindo Ortega, and the smaller car was moving from Unión Norte. Two adults lost their lives after the crash and "a third person, apparently a minor, who has not yet been identified, was taken to the Regional Hospital," explained Colonel Ximena Valle, Carabineros prefect in Cautín, on Radio Biobío. The officer detailed that the dynamics of the events are currently unknown, "since there is a traffic light at that intersection regulating vehicle passage, but it is under investigation by personnel from the Traffic Accident Investigation Section (SIAT), who are about to begin their inquiries at the scene." Traffic will be suspended while the Legal Medical Service (SML) removes the bodies and the necessary investigations are carried out. NEWS IN DEVELOPMENT...

The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Jorge Alessandri (UDI), believes that the deadlines desired by the Executive for the approval of the so-called Agenda against Organized Crime and Terrorism (ACOT) can be met. And it is that the announcement made by President José Antonio Kast in a national broadcast considers a package of 30 bills, including those already debated in Congress and some new ones to be introduced by the Executive, which seek to address the country's security crisis in recent years. The government hopes that the majority of the ACOT initiatives can be approved before Christmas. And although it is true that in the Chamber of Deputies the government has an official majority, the project also includes a constitutional reform that requires a broader majority than the one it currently has. This proposal aims to modify the Magna Carta to explicitly establish that public security is the responsibility of the State. In this regard, Alessandri stated in a conversation with Radio 13c that they expect Congress to present improvements to the security agenda. "I'm not just staying with the laws that the Executive sends. I believe we will improve them in the Senate and the Chamber, and with Paulina Núñez, President of the Senate, we spoke yesterday and made ourselves available to hold extra sessions to pass it very quickly. I mean, before Christmas, as the President said in his speech. I would say that the Chamber of Deputies, end of..."

Repercussions continue for Senator Fidel Espinoza (PS) after the Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation against him for possible acts of domestic violence (DV). This time, the National Steering Committee of the Socialist Party decided to present the case details to the Supreme Tribunal of the party, with the aim that the body initiate an investigation. "After becoming aware of publicly known information related to an alleged assault involving Senator Fidel Espinoza, it has decided to bring these details to the attention of the Supreme Tribunal of our party," the party stated through a public declaration. According to them, the idea is that "this body initiates the corresponding investigation and takes the measures it deems appropriate, in accordance with our statutes and the protocol against sexual harassment and gender violence." They also emphasized that the party rejects "all forms of violence against women." The investigation The incident reportedly occurred on the night of Wednesday, August 5, in an apartment in the Nueva Aurora sector, in Viña del Mar. The Public Prosecutor's Office reported that a person had asked the building's concierge to call the police, accusing an assault. Prosecutor Mauricio Díaz stated that "upon entering the apartment, police observed disorder, damages in various objects..."

Senator Fidel Espinoza (PS) made a public statement regarding the case of alleged domestic violence being investigated by the Prosecutor's Office, in which he and another adult are involved. The incident reportedly occurred on the night of Wednesday, August 5, in an apartment in the Nueva Aurora sector, in Viña del Mar, and according to the Public Prosecutor's Office, one of the persons involved asked the concierge to call the Carabineros (police) reporting an assault. In the statement, the legislator says: "In light of the publications by some media outlets, I would like to clarify that the events mentioned relate to a personal situation that occurred in the context of an argument between two adults, in a private and personal setting, where no physical or verbal violence was committed by anyone." "Carabineros personnel verified the incident and left without receiving any complaints," he adds. He also emphasizes that: "There is no complaint against me nor have I been formally charged with any crime." "For respect to the privacy of those involved and the actions of the institutions, I will not make further statements on this matter," the statement concludes.

On Wednesday, senators and deputies from the Security and Defense commissions of the respective chambers arrived at room No. 4 of the Upper House. The goal? To establish the joint commission responsible for resolving disagreements that arose between the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate regarding the bill, initiated in a message from the government of former President Gabriel Boric, on the rules for the use of force for personnel of the Police and Public Security Forces. Once the session began, Senator Juan Luis Castro (PS) proposed Francisco Huenchumilla (DC) as president. However, Deputy Luis Sánchez (Repub) elevated Karim Bianchi (Ind.) as the head of the joint commission. With those names on the table, Bianchi ended up prevailing over the experienced senator. This body will focus on resolving issues such as certain ambiguities that restrict police or Armed Forces actions in public order tasks or states of emergency. Additionally, it will need to resolve disagreements over the jurisdiction of ordinary or military justice in procedures involving members of the Armed Forces and adjust the norms to the reality of criminal fighting and current public security demands, ensuring the full respect for fundamental rights. When asked, Senator Bianchi assured that “this is a highly relevant discussion that has been delayed for more than three years and that cannot be s…

The Senate Board announced this Tuesday that the Ethics Committee will be responsible for commenting on the confrontation between Senators Fabiola Campillai (Ind.) and Camila Flores (RN), following the exchange of personal insults they had at the National Congress premises. The decision was made by agreement of the parliamentary committees. In a statement signed by the Senate president, Paulina Núñez (RN), and the vice president of the corporation, Iván Moreira (UDI), the Board stated that although "opinions and the exercise of freedom of expression are fundamental pillars of parliamentary activity," these principles "must be accompanied by respectful treatment that helps strengthen citizens' trust in democratic institutions." In the same statement, the corporation called for political differences to be channeled through parliamentary debate. "We call on all senators to prioritize dialogue, argumentation, and institutional respect, especially in debates involving sensitive issues for the country and regarding which there are legitimately divergent views," the declaration states. The Board added that, "by agreement of the Committees," it was decided that the Ethics Committee would be the body responsible for commenting on what happened. The origin of the conflict The confrontation between Campillai and F…

The Senate table, headed by the president of the Upper House, Paulina Nuñez (RN), and a cross-party group of senators, presented a legislative initiative to pressure the Executive to improve the health conditions of Armed Forces (FF. AA.), police, and Gendarmerie personnel. It is a consensus project submitted by senators Paulina Núñez (RN), Andrea Balladares (RN), Camila Flores (RN), Ximena Órdenes (Ind.), and Paulina Vodanovic (PS), and senators Pedro Araya (PPD), Miguel Becker (RN), Karim Bianchi (Ind.), Miguel Ángel Calisto (Ind.), Juan Luis Castro (PS), Rojo Edwards (Ind.), Iván Flores (DC), Sergio Gahona (UDI), Francisco Huenchumilla (DC), Alejandro Kusanovic (Ind.), Enrique Lee (Ind.), Andrés Longton (RN), Javier Macaya (UDI), Iván Moreira (UDI), Manuel José Ossandón (RN), Gastón Saavedra (PS), Gustavo Sanhueza (UDI), Renzo Trisotti (Republican), Ignacio Urrutia (Republican), Cristián Vial (Ind.), and Matías Walker (DC). In the consensus project, the parliamentarians request the presentation of a bill that creates and regulates the health system for the Order and Public Security Forces. "This initiative must establish a modern and comprehensive legal framework that regulates its principles, beneficiaries, benefits, financing, care network, referral mechanisms, continuity of treatments, and procedures aimed at guaranteeing the effective protection of the rights of its users," states the proposal...

During the morning of this Wednesday, the 7th Criminal Oral Court sentenced José Pablo Peñafiel Ossandón for the crimes of rape and sexual abuse against members of the deaf community. José Pablo Peñafiel Ossandón was accused of 13 acts of assault that occurred between 2009 and 2022. Among his victims are 11 women and 2 adolescents from the deaf community, who reported crimes of rape and sexual abuse. In its verdict, the court sentenced the defendant for eight of the acts and acquitted him in five cases. Regarding the acquittals, the court determined that in some cases there was not enough factual context to establish the crimes, while in others the evidence was insufficient, mainly due to the absence of the victims. The court also rejected the defense's request to declare the crimes prescribed and accepted the aggravating factor of treachery in certain acts. The Metropolitan East Gender Prosecutor's Office is requesting a sentence of life imprisonment without parole due to the severity of the crimes, the repetition of the acts, and the impact they had on the lives of the victims. It is worth remembering that Peñafiel was formalized on February 13, 2024, at which time a precautionary measure of preventive detention was decreed.

A group of senators will present this Wednesday the so-called General Amnesty Block, an initiative that aims to promote the processing of the bill that grants a general amnesty to members of the Armed Forces, Carabineros, Investigative Police (PDI), Gendarmerie, and certain civilians for events that occurred since October 18, 2019. The presentation is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. and - according to its promoters - will aim to coordinate legislative, political, and communication actions to accelerate the progress of the project and promote active participation of President José Antonio Kast's government in the discussion of the initiative. So far, the confirmed members of the block are Senators Alejandro Kusanovic (independent), Camila Flores (RN), Cristián Vial (Republican Party), Rodolfo Carter (Ind. P. Rep.), Ignacio Urrutia (Republican Party), Vanessa Kaiser (PNL), and Carlos Kuschel (RN). The main focus of the new initiative will be to support the processing of Bill No. 18,423-07, a parliamentary motion that proposes granting the benefit to active and retired officials of the aforementioned institutions who have participated in procedures related to restoring public order during the social outbreak. The amnesty would also extend to civilians who, according to the text, collaborated in protecting public or private infrastructure or acted in legitimate defense of...

The Biobío Region marked the official start of the sports journey towards the World Games of the Special Olympics Santiago 2027 with the holding of the first Zonal Swimming Qualifier, held at the Andrés Bello University Sports Center, Concepción campus. The event brought together 35 athletes from the Maule, Biobío, La Araucanía, and Los Lagos regions, who began the process that will determine the athletes who will represent Chile at the highest sports event for people with intellectual disabilities. The competition is the first stage of a journey that will culminate with the National Swimming Championship, scheduled for November 2026 in Santiago, where the members of the Chile Special Olympics Team who will compete in the World Games Santiago 2027 will be selected. The inaugural ceremony was attended by national and regional authorities, who highlighted the importance of starting this sports process in the regions and the impact that the development of the World Games will have in moving towards a more inclusive society. “These qualifiers are the beginning of the road to the World Games Santiago 2027. With this event, we aim to propel a three-decade leap towards a more inclusive society,” said Rodrigo Gardella, executive director of Santiago 2027. This qualifier is part of a national calendar consisting of 30 competitions…

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's charitable organization, Archewell Philanthropies, is urging lawmakers to act on legislation involving AI deepfakes as it calls out Big Tech for what it describes as retaliation "against basic safety measures to keep children safe." A statement recently posted on the couple's website titled, "Can we all…

The Minister of Public Security, Martín Arrau, led a control operation at the access points to Temucuicui, in the La Araucanía Region, this Friday. According to the ministry, this was aimed at strengthening state control and further weakening the capacity of criminal and terrorist organizations. The deployment of the Secretary of State took place specifically in Malleco Province, as part of his tour of the La Araucanía Region, at the Púa Toll. There, Minister Arrau was accompanied by Carabineros, the Investigations Police (PDI), the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), the Internal Revenue Service (SII), the National Forest Corporation (CONAF), and other government agencies. Later, the authorities moved to the Ercilla and Pidima intersection to oversee rural inspections carried out by Public Order Control (COP) personnel at the main access points to Temucuicui. “We are at the Chamichaco intersection, in the Ercilla commune, accompanying all law enforcement and security forces, the Chilean Army, which are bringing peace through controls at various points in the Southern Macrozone, in the La Araucanía Region and the Arauco province,” said Minister Arrau. Immediately afterward, the Public Security head stated that “this year, we have managed to reduce violent robberies by 17%, homicides by 43%, and in figures m…

The ruling of the Constitutional Court, of last July 6, on the bill known as "Protected Schools," which aimed to introduce a series of preventive measures in schools to address possible future acts of violence, posed a false dilemma between freedom and security, which deserves reflection. The task seems to have been undertaken by the government, which, as announced, is preparing a constitutional reform on security. It is worth recalling that the security guaranteed by the Constitution is individual security closely linked to personal or mobility freedom. The bill on which the Constitutional Court ruled sought to guarantee public security, which is not explicitly assured by the Constitution, although the final paragraph of its article 1 imposes on the State the duty to protect the population and the family. The issue is inherently relevant because without security, rights cannot be fully exercised. The problem, in our view, lies in the fact that until security is configured as a right in the Constitution, the generic duty imposed on the State by article 1 of the Constitution does not seem to be sufficient. Indeed, the actions of State organs are limited in respecting and protecting rights, but not in social aspirations such as living in a society where drug trafficking, organized crime, and the trafficking of...

The Supreme Court revoked the preventive detention imposed on Jhoylan Luis García Navarro, one of those accused of the murder of merchant José Felipe Reyes, known as the "King of Meiggs," after accepting a habeas corpus petition filed in his favor. García Navarro had been in preventive detention since August 2025, after being formalized along with Ecuadorian citizen Ricardo Vladimir Villón Pérez, known as "Tío Lukas." Both were detained for their alleged involvement in the criminal organization "Los Ñaños," which operated from a building in the commune of Independencia, and the Metropolitan Prosecutor's Office accuses them of providing the weapons used in the crime. At that time, the Venezuelan was charged with criminal association and qualified homicide, while the Prosecutor's Office argued that, along with Villón Pérez, he was linked to the delivery and subsequent withdrawal of the weapons used in the murder of the "King of Meiggs," which occurred on June 19, 2025. However, the Second Chamber of the highest court concluded that the precautionary measure was improperly decreed. In its ruling, the Supreme Court stated that the so-called anticipatory preventive detention only applies when the accused is effectively serving a custodial sentence, a situation that - it affirms - was not verified in this case. The ruling adds that García Navarro "was not found...

The Supreme Court ruled that the Public Prosecutor's Office assumes the investigation into the death of Carlos Palacios Muñoz, a second corporal of the Army whose death occurred shortly before 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, in the La Laguna sector of the 4th Armored Brigade Chorrillos of the institution in Punta Arenas. Corporal Palacios, 25 years old, died from asphyxiation by drowning after performing an unapproved swimming exercise, as preparation to apply for a combat course. Personnel from the Special Police Operations Group (GOPE) of Carabineros rescued his body from the water. Captain Felipe Oliva and Sergeant Second Leonardo Vallejos were detained following the events as part of investigative proceedings carried out by the Military Prosecutor's Office of Punta Arenas. In a divided ruling issued this Tuesday, the country's highest court addressed the jurisdiction dispute raised between the Guarantee Court of Punta Arenas and the 5th Military Court of that city. The resolution states that since the facts under investigation involve common crimes, whether understood as a quasi-homicide as maintained by the Public Prosecutor's Office, or as illegitimate coercion or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishments, as claimed by the National Institute of Human Rights as a complainant, their knowledge and resolution are entrusted to the ordinary civil judiciary. “N…

Six fossilized jaws allowed the identification in Australia of Miyumba chrisdickmani, a new genus and species of carnivorous marsupial from 23 million years ago. The team from the University of New South Wales located it as the oldest and most primitive known member of the Dasyuridae family. Until now, the fossil record of dasyurids dated back to the beginning of the Pliocene, about 5.3 million years ago, while genetic studies suggested an older origin. This discrepancy between molecular data and the fossil record created an "evolutionary ghost line": a period of millions of years without confirmed fossils. The discovery of Miyumba chrisdickmani shortens that gap and provides an image of the group's origins, which today includes nearly 80 species, among them the Tasmanian devil, quolls, and antechinus. The work was published in the journal Australian Zoologist. The discovery is based on six partial lower jaws recovered from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area in northwest Queensland. The remains date to the early Miocene, a geological period approximately between 23 and 5 million years ago. What the animal was like and what its teeth reveal Miyumba chrisdickmani was a tiny predator: it weighed about 30 grams, comparable to a modern antechinus or a large dunnart. It probably fed on insects and small invertebrates. The information…

By August 18, it was scheduled for the investigation into the triple homicide in La Reina to be concluded. This, without prejudice to either party requesting a new deadline if an ongoing procedure remains incomplete. For Jorge Ugalde's defense, the main accused of the murders of his brother-in-law Eduardo Cruz-Coke and his two minor children, the investigation being conducted by the Metropolitan East Prosecutor's Office still does not answer all the questions left by the case. It was on October 18, 2025, when the cameraman was found dead in the yard of his house located in La Reina. He had been attacked with multiple stab wounds to the neck by an unknown individual. In a bedroom, his two children were found lifeless. For the prosecution, Ugalde, who has been in preventive detention at Santiago 1 prison for nearly nine months, is responsible for these deaths, allegedly driven by economic issues. However, the results of a new expert report conducted by the PDI could be key for the defense in challenging the prosecution's thesis. The report The Central Criminalistics Laboratory of the Investigations Police inspected a cream-colored bedspread found in Ugalde's room. This carpet showed clear reddish-brown stains. The samples were documented in the biochemical expert report prepared by expert Camila Quiroz. To analyze the carpet, the expert examined the footprints...

The president of the Communist Party (PC), Lautaro Carmona, questioned this Sunday the response deployed by the government of José Antonio Kast to the effects of the frontal system affecting much of the national territory and assured that the Executive "was not up to the emergency." The leader stated that Chile is permanently exposed to natural disasters, so, in his opinion, the State should have an institutional framework prepared to react preventively and not only once the damages have occurred. "Authority of the State to act and mitigate the effect and damage is lost. I believe we are all witnesses to how much time before the catastrophe we started talking about an emergency," said the PC leader in dialogue with Radio Nuevo Mundo. Carmona added that "by commenting so much, preventive measures were not taken that would have made the damage less" in the areas affected by the storm. Likewise, the communist leader pointed against the government and questioned the speed of responses of the public apparatus. "This was the first test that the government, which called itself an emergency government and gave the hour, was not up to the task," he criticized. In this scenario, Carmona proposed to initiate a parliamentary discussion to review the institutional framework responsible for facing emergencies and to grant greater powers and resources to municipalities. In his view, the local governments should...

The Guarantee Court of Iquique ordered preventive detention this Sunday for a suspect accused of homicide and attempted homicide for stabbing two individuals in the city of the Tarapacá Region on June 29. According to Prosecutor Juan Zepeda, the arrest of the 18-year-old suspect was carried out on July 23 as part of an investigation led by the Local Prosecutor's Office and the Investigations Police (PDI) of the northern city. The stabbing occurred on June 29 in the Jorge Inostroza neighborhood of the commune, where the defendant, along with two other individuals, attacked two brothers with stabbing weapons, resulting in the death of one due to traumatic acute hypovolemia, while the other sustained serious injuries. Following the report made on the same day of the incident, the Prosecutor's Office instructed the initial investigations to the Homicide Brigade (BH) of the PDI, who collected forensic evidence—one of the stabbing weapons used in the attack—statements from witnesses, and security camera footage analysis. With the collected evidence, the investigation identified one of the alleged perpetrators, who was brought before a detention hearing on Friday. The precautionary measure requested by the Public Ministry was granted by the court, considering that his release poses a danger to society's safety. In this regard…

Agents from the Anti-Drug Brigade (Briant) of the PDI, using their free time, prevented an attempted carjacking in Talca, Maule Region. Subsequently, the Robbery Investigation Brigade (Biro) went to the scene to clarify the reported events. The victim explained that she was driving her vehicle along 2 Norte street with Las Rastras Road, accompanied by her minor daughters, when she heard a loud noise and glass shattering near her face. One of the suspects had gotten into the car on the driver's side and the other from the back. Since the detectives thwarted the robbery, the offenders did not manage to steal any items or take the vehicle. "At the scene, plainclothes detectives from the Investigations Police (PDI) were present, who, upon witnessing the incident, proceeded to act and arrest two individuals. During a search of their clothing, it was noted that one of the involved persons was carrying 6.24 grams of dosed cocaine hydrochloride," reported Subprefect Claudio Reyes, head of Biro in Talca. The apprehended individuals, aged 15 and 18, have no prior records. This Saturday, they appeared before a detention hearing, where the Prosecutor's Office formalized charges against them for attempted robbery with intimidation and microtrafficking. As a result, the older one was placed in preventive detention, and the minor was placed in provisional detention. The court set a period of…

A fire destroyed one of the houses of the Ricardo Espinosa Children's City Foundation during the early hours of this Saturday, located on Arteaga Alemparte Avenue, in the commune of Hualpén, Biobío Region. Captain Víctor Hugo Cerda González, deputy commissioner of the Fourth Police Station of Hualpén, reported that police personnel arrived at the scene after receiving an alert about the emergency. Once there, officers confirmed that volunteers from the First Fire Company of Hualpén were working to extinguish the flames. "No persons were injured or hurt as a result of this fire," said Captain Cerda. According to initial reports, the facility has six houses, and one of them was completely destroyed. About 24 young people and teenagers would reside in the premises. Carabineros received the complaint and provided the information to the Public Prosecutor's Office, which will determine the procedures to clarify how the fire started. The origin and cause of the incident have not been disclosed. Firefighters and Carabineros forwarded the information to the Prosecutor's Office to advance in its clarification.

After the arrest of three Mapuche community members allegedly involved in a murder and arson attacks became known, the Minister of Security, Martín Arrau, stated that the promise was fulfilled by finding those responsible for these attacks. In a social media post, Arrau referred to the capture by the PDI of Juan Millanao Hueiquillán and Jorge Huenchullán Millanao in Victoria, and José Llanquileo Painemil in Cañete, "all accused of arson attacks, armed assaults, and homicides linked to terrorism that affects La Araucanía and the Arauco Province," he detailed. He then highlighted that "among these crimes is the homicide of Moisés Orellana, a young Conaf ranger murdered in 2020." Similarly, in his X post, the Secretary of State pointed out that "there is no context or cause that justifies setting fires, shooting, and killing." "Terrorism does not defend any rights: it only sows fear, pain, and destruction in the families of southern Chile," he affirmed. We said that those responsible for these attacks would be found, and we fulfilled the promise. The PDI arrested Juan Millanao Hueiquillán and Jorge Huenchullán Millanao in Victoria, and José Llanquileo Painemil in Cañete, all accused of arson attacks, assaults... pic.twitter.com/HKXZbLtCje — Martín Arrau GH. (@martinarrau) July 24, 2026 He then congratulated the Arauco Task Force and every official of the...

Three Mapuche community members were detained this Tuesday in two operations carried out by the Investigative Police (PDI) in the regions of Biobío and La Araucanía. Among them is a defendant who was a fugitive for his alleged involvement in the murder of Moisés Orellana Pavez, which occurred in 2020, as well as two others investigated for incendiary attacks and land usurpation. One of the operations took place in the commune of Cañete, where detectives from the Arauco Task Force detained José Llanquileo Painemil in the Ponotro sector, after investigative work that established his location and obtained a search and entry warrant for the property where he was found. The head of BIPE Cañete, Subprefect Carlos Henríquez, stated that the defendant was captured after a “methodical work” that allowed his location to be determined and his subsequent detention. Llanquileo Painemil is investigated for his alleged connection with the organization Resistencia Mapuche Lafkenche (RML) and for crimes of homicide, incendiary attack, robbery with violence, and violation of the Arms Control Law, in a case related to the murder of Moisés Orellana Pavez, 21 years old. According to the investigation, the crime occurred on September 8, 2020, when an armed group broke into a cabin area in the Lloncao sector, in the commune of Cañete, set fire to three houses, and stole various vehicles. Detentions in Vic…

From December 2019 to May 2026, the health insurance companies have lost more than 900,000 members, about half of whom are contributors and the other half are dependents. This has been marked by a period where the country's unemployment rate has averaged 9%. Additionally, the insurance companies have applied price increases to their health plans, which caused members who could not continue paying to switch to the public system represented by Fonasa. All of this also occurred amid the crisis faced by the industry, until in 2024 the short law was approved, allowing them to return to financial balance. The above led the insurance companies to drastically reduce their sales force, reaching, at the peak of their crisis, fewer than 2,300 salespeople between December 2022 and 2023. Due to rulings by the Supreme Court, they did not know if an agreement would be reached to keep the industry afloat, which paralyzed the sector: they stopped investing; they no longer sought new members; they did not make new hires, but rather layoffs; and they focused all their efforts on trying to keep operations afloat until a solution eventually arrived. But this scenario changed after the implementation of the short law for insurance companies, and the industry applied an extraordinary premium increase to members' plans to make their operation viable and to pay refunds...

During the night of Wednesday the 22nd, a new frontal system would arrive, which some meteorologists have classified as the strongest of the week. Its effects will be felt across much of the country from the early hours of Thursday the 23rd, according to the forecast. Although there will be no rain in the Metropolitan Region on Wednesday itself, it would be a brief pause, as precipitation would return on Thursday, due to the front affecting from the south to the north-central part of Chile. Meteored meteorologist Viviana Urbina warned on the platform that this front "must be one of the most powerful of the week, both because of its winds and the intensity and extent of its rains and snowfalls." Which regions will feel the storm this week, according to the weather? According to the forecast from the Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC), these are the regions that will experience atmospheric instability next Thursday the 23rd due to the frontal system: Valparaíso Region: isolated showers in La Ligua, Papudo, Zapallar, San Felipe, Los Andes, La Calera, Quillota, Viña del Mar, Valparaíso, Villa Alemana, Quilpué, Casablanca, Algarrobo, San Antonio, Cartagena, San Antonio interior. Metropolitan Region: showers and isolated showers in Colina, central Santiago, north Santiago, east Santiago, south Santiago, west Santiago, Curacaví, Melipilla, San José de Maipo (with somewhat more intensity than the rest of the RM). O’Higgins Region: shower…

An Australian woman has given birth to identical quadruplet girls after a pregnancy doctors described as incredibly rare. Jenitar Sau Na’amoana, who is 34 years old and already had four children, delivered the babies last week at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Queensland state. “We are very excited to be able to care for this amazing little family, a big family now,” Dr. Alexa Bendall, a maternal fetal medicine specialist who cared for Na’amoana, said in an interview released by the...

The Universidad Católica Sports Club (CDUC) announced that registration is officially open for the Itaú IRONMAN 70.3 Pucón 2027, which will take place on Sunday, January 10, 2027. The 1,900 meters of swimming will be held in Lake Villarrica, with the imposing image of the volcano as a backdrop. Subsequently, the 90 kilometers of cycling will take place along the international road towards the stunning landscapes of Curarrehue, and finally, the 21 kilometers of running will be developed along the Pucón peninsula and a sector of the city. "The prestige of this competition is the result of many years of work and a permanent commitment to sporting and organizational excellence. That is the standard we want to continue maintaining, in a coordinated effort with the Municipality of Pucón and its mayor, Sebastián Álvarez, to offer an internationally competitive event and continue positioning the commune as a reference in sports and tourism," said Francisco Urrejola, president of CDUC. Official information about the registration process, categories, regulations, and event schedule will be available at www.lacatolica.cl, where the organization will publish news, updates, and related information about the competition.

The Chamber of Deputies approved new extensions this Monday for the state of constitutional emergency in effect in the La Araucanía Region, and the provinces of Arauco and Biobío, in the Biobío Region, and also supported a new extension of the deployment of the Armed Forces in the Northern Macrozone. In the case of the current constitutional exceptional state in the south, it was approved by 104 votes in favor, 14 against, and 12 abstentions. With this result, the exceptional measure is extended for another 30 days. Meanwhile, in the northern zone, regarding border security, critical infrastructure, and police support, the government's request was supported by 126 votes in favor, 2 against, and 2 abstentions. The new extension of decree number 78, in effect since February 24, 2023, will be valid for 90 days and covers the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, and Antofagasta. Government defends deployment of the Armed Forces in the north After the deputies' intervention, the Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency (Segpres), José García Ruminot, defended the trip of the Minister of Defense, Fernando Barros, to Hawaii, United States, during the emergency caused by the frontal system, in response to questions from parliamentarians. "(Minister Barros) was on a mission entrusted by the government, typical of his position. He was never on vacation, he was working, and I want to explicitly clarify that..."

Recently, the report that the Supreme Court issued on the constitutional reform project that modifies the judicial government and creates the Judicial Appointments Council was made known, currently in the second constitutional process in the Senate. The report covers the multiple aspects of the project but pays special attention to the proposed disciplinary regime. The reform transfers the disciplinary authority and the power of removal—currently held by the courts of appeals and the Supreme Court—to two new bodies: a Judicial Prosecutor's Office, which would be authorized to investigate and prosecute disciplinary and integrity violations of all judges in the nation; and a Judicial Conduct Tribunal, which would judge these accusations, constituted on a case-by-case basis through a lottery. The demand to separate the correctional superintendency from the judicial function of the Courts is not new in our environment and is based on the need for internal judicial independence. When the same hierarchy that evaluates promotions also sanctions conduct, there is a risk that discipline is used as a tool of pressure on judges. On the other hand, separating the accuser from the one who fails allows for impartiality in judgment. The problem, according to the highest court, would lie in the design of the proposed institutions. The first is the absence of a stable holder in the disciplinary role. In the opinion of the Supreme Court, a permanent institution is not contemplated...

A police officer from the Investigations Police managed to thwart a robbery affecting a bank customer in San Miguel on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred at the intersection of Lazo Street and Gran Avenue, on a block where there are branches of four banking institutions and near a PDI station. The Metropolitan South Prosecutor's Office is investigating the incident with the support of specialized personnel from the Metropolitan South Homicide Brigade of the PDI. Prosecutor José Manuel Mac-Namara explained that the PDI officer intervened to prevent the crime and was run over by the suspects, at which point she drew her service weapon and fired from the hood, injuring three of the four robbers.

The Minister of Finance, Jorge Quiroz, referred this Monday morning to the three requirements announced by the opposition that will be presented before the Constitutional Court against the mega-reform. "The opposition can make all the requirements they can or want, they have the right to do so, and we will respond to each of them in a timely manner," he said. Likewise, the minister avoided naming who will defend the project, stating that "we are, of course, always anticipating situations and will announce in due course who will be able to defend this project and these articles." Quiroz also defended the validity of the questioned articles, assuring that "we consider them absolutely coherent and consistent with our constitutional order." On the other hand, he dismissed the idea that the discussion of the mega-reform will be postponed due to the frontal system affecting much of the country. "We do not have it contemplated to be postponed. We know we are experiencing an emergency. The emergency must be fundamentally addressed by all means," he mentioned, adding that "the Government is deployed in all the affected regions, and that does not prevent, consequently, the parliamentarians from attending tomorrow to vote on the Reconstruction Law, which we hope will be its final process."

MR. DIRECTOR: I share the thought cited by Sebastián Kaufmann Salinas in his letter yesterday under this same title: "only when the unconstitutionality is clear beyond any reasonable doubt can the judge override the will of the legislator." Unfortunately, although Article 483 of the Criminal Procedure Code meets such requirements, because by allowing the coexistence of two criminal procedural systems — the old one that does not respect the rules of due process and the new one that does — it blatantly and absolutely violates the constitutional guarantees of equality before the law and the human right to due process, the Constitutional Court rejected two requests for unconstitutionality of said article (Dockets 3015-16 and 3083-16). Adolfo Paul Latorre Lawyer

One person died and a firefighter was injured in a house fire in the commune of Iquique, in the Tarapacá Region, during the morning of this Sunday. Around 07:04 hours, Chilean firefighters responded to the intersection of Sargento Aldea and Óscar Bonilla streets in that city to fight the fire in the house. Specifically, 10 emergency units and about 60 firefighters, as well as police officers, municipal personnel, and the General Electricity Company (CGE) were mobilized. Despite the efforts of the emergency teams, one person died at the scene. Meanwhile, the Fire Investigation Department of the Iquique Fire Department carried out the necessary procedures to determine the origin and cause of the fire. Thus, by order of the Public Prosecutor's Office, the investigation was entrusted to the Criminalistics Laboratory (Labocar) of the Carabineros.

The president of the Communist Party, Lautaro Carmona, harshly criticized the so-called mega-reform promoted by the Government and accused that its main benefits target higher-income sectors. He also confirmed that opposition parties are working on a presentation before the Constitutional Court to challenge aspects of the reform. In an interview with Nuevo Mundo, the leader stated that the project involves a reduction in fiscal revenues and that its effects would ultimately be paid by workers and middle sectors. "All the measures taken were in their favor," Carmona affirmed, referring to "big capital." The communist leader specifically pointed to the tax cuts contemplated in the debate and questioned whether there is evidence that greater corporate profitability necessarily leads to more investment. "It is not proven anywhere in the world that this will be the case," he said. He then added that "the speed at which you take income from the treasury by reducing tax payments is much faster than trying to match it with other income that is not taxes." According to him, despite the nuances that exist among the different opposition forces, there was a common position to reject the idea of legislating, and now a legal strategy is being prepared in response to the project's progress. The PC president indicated, "the opposition parties have an agreement, we are..."

Car chase began in Queensland after report of armed man on Gold Coast late on Saturday, police say Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast New South Wales police have declared a “critical incident” after a man died following a police pursuit in the northern rivers area, hours after the same man allegedly evaded Queensland police while armed with a gun. The 25-year-old from Queensland was found unconscious at the wheel of a vehicle, which had driven down an embankment south of Murwillumbah, about 2am on Sunday, NSW police said. Continue reading...

Follow the latest updates live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast It was a remarkably warm day in the Australian alps yesterday, with several ski fields reaching temperatures that look set to be record-breaking (the records are yet to be confirmed by the Bureau of Meteorology’s climate team). Mount Hotham reached 11.1C. That’s 2.4C higher than the previous July record of 8.7C set in 1994. Big slow moving high pressure systems creating large areas of descending & warming air hitting a radiation inversion = warm air trapped above the ground. Plus climate change… Continue reading...

Shoes are always left at the entrance, next to backpacks and cell phones. The floor is covered with tatamis, the music is calming, and the room is filled with blocks, kitchen playsets, colorful balls, stories, and baskets full of toys waiting for girls and boys, and their caregivers. In the initial moment, the little ones explore the room freely. The adults, mostly women – moms, aunts, grandmothers who care for them – just follow them. Among them is Evelyn Peña (42), attentive to every step of Jeremías (one and a half years old). He has Down syndrome, and at six months he was not doing the same as other babies his age. It was that concern for his development that brought her here: the referral came from CESFAM Bicentenario, in the Renca commune, and she assures she did not hesitate to register. "I saw it as an opportunity to learn, socialize, and share experiences," she says today. The place she arrived at is Crecer Jugando, a program of the Fundación Infancia Primero – part of the Pacto Niñez network – which brings together each week girls and boys from 0 to 4 years old along with those who care for them. Through play, for an hour, it aims to strengthen child development, the bond between them, and the support networks among participating families. Not all families come to Crecer Jugando for the same reason. While Evelyn arrived worried about her son's development, Fabiola Soto (36) was looking for something else: companionship for raising. Before meeting...

The regulatory agency confirmed that the civil works will be completed in 2027, but the paralysis in the technological installation will delay the delivery.

On March 11, the same day President José Antonio Kast assumed office, a police report caused concern within the political sphere. Former constituent Rodrigo Rojas Vade was found beaten in a vacant lot alongside Route 78, which featured graffiti referencing the new President and opposing the left. Some were quick to condemn the alleged "attack," claiming it was planned and carried out by "far-right groups." However, none of that occurred. The Environmental Crimes Prosecutor's Office (Fiscalía Ecoh) and the Investigative Police (PDI) conducted several investigations that led to the conclusion that no third parties were involved. In short, the case of Rojas Vade—who in 2021 publicly confessed to *La Tercera* that he had lied about having cancer and subsequently resigned from his position as a constituent—involved self-inflicted injuries and false kidnapping. According to the results of the police forensics, the former constituent's actions took place under the influence of heavy synthetic drug use. Four months after the incident, as this media outlet has learned, the PDI concluded its investigations. No one attacked Rojas Vade. Among those investigative steps was taking three separate statements from Rojas Vade himself, one of which required him to appear at the prosecutor's office. In all instances, he told investigators that he could not remember what had happened. According to him, that night he was driving his sister's blue Citroën C3, which he used while working as a driver for...

A coordinated operation executed in just a few minutes allowed a group of at least eight criminals to carry out a multi-million dollar robbery at a BCI Bank branch, located on José Joaquín Pérez Street, in the heart of downtown La Calera, Valparaíso Region. The gang managed to steal more than $800 million from the facility's vault and, as of the time of this report, no arrests have been made. The assault occurred around 1:50 p.m., just minutes before the branch was scheduled to close while the bank was still serving customers. According to witnesses, the action was swift and demonstrated a high degree of planning. According to preliminary information provided by Carabineros, the criminals may have had inside information regarding the branch's internal operations and knew that the vault was open at that hour, a circumstance that was reportedly key to executing the robbery. The assailants acted wearing orange overalls and balaclavas to conceal their identities. Additionally, they implemented a series of maneuvers intended to delay the police response and facilitate their escape. Regarding the incident, Colonel Alex Oporto, prefect of the Marga Marga Prefecture, explained that “it was a completed and duly planned operation,” detailing that before arriving at the bank, the criminals overturned a truck one block away from the premises to prevent rapid access by police units. Careful escape Added to this was the blocking of a vehicle...

This Monday, the Criminal Court of Temuco announced its sentence against Pelantaro Llaitul Pezoa and four other members of the Arauco Malleco Coordinator (CAM), convicted for their responsibility in two arson attacks that occurred during 2022 in La Araucanía. According to the ruling, the youngest son of CAM leader Héctor Llaitul must serve nearly 16 years in prison. César Schibar, head of the Criminal Analysis System of the La Araucanía Prosecutor's Office, explained that “regarding the five defendants, a sentence of more than 14 years of deprivation of liberty was imposed. And regarding the co-defendants, Pelantaro Llaitul and Juan Carlos Mardones, sentences of more than 16 years of effective imprisonment were established.” The events took place on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. In the early hours of that morning, a group of armed individuals stormed the San Luis de Lautaro farm to intimidate workers and set fire to three trucks and forestry machinery. While holding one victim captive in a pickup truck, they proceeded to a forestry camp to set buildings on fire before fleeing the scene. Llaitul Pezoa was arrested that same day in Galvarino. He was 18 years old at the time. He was formally charged alongside Luis Guillermo Menares Chañilao, Luis Darío Fuenzalida Eneros, Jorge Andrés Caniupil Coña, and Juan Carlos Mardones Sáez, all members of the CAM, and has remained in pretrial detention since then. In May 2024, the La Araucanía Prosecutor's Office…

The panel discussion, titled “Let’s Talk About AI: Are We Legislating for the Future with Tools from the Past?”, took place last Wednesday, July 8, in the Pedro Montt Room. Its central objective was to foster an informed debate regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on the country's development and the regulatory challenges facing Congress as it strives to keep pace with innovation. This initiative is part of AiT’s ongoing work to create spaces for engagement between the public sector and the technological ecosystem. **The AI Debate Reaches Congress** The keynote presentation was delivered by Edmundo Casas, an Artificial Intelligence communicator and CEO of the company Kauel. Casas provided a diagnosis of the current state of the field and its various concrete applications. During his presentation, he emphasized the need for the law-making process to advance at the same speed as technological innovation. “Artificial intelligence is not a technology that has appeared recently; it is a discipline that has been developing for decades, but today it is advancing at an unprecedented speed. That is why it is fundamental to legislate with a focus on both the present and the future, rather than with policies designed for a reality of the past,” Casas noted. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of allowing these tools to develop while safeguarding transparency, ethical principles, and individual rights. The exper...

Marcela Ruiz's relationship with nature began in her childhood. She grew up in Valdivia, a city surrounded by rivers, forests, and immense natural wealth, where she learned to observe the world with curiosity. “Since I was a little girl, I always wanted to understand how things worked. I had that scientific itch, like an explorer,” she recalls. That way of looking at the world led her to dedicate her life to one of the most unknown territories on the planet: the ocean. Although it covers much of the Earth, much of what happens beneath its waters remains a mystery. It is precisely this vastness waiting to be discovered that has guided her career. A marine biologist from the Universidad Austral de Chile, Marcela Ruiz is the director of Acústica Marina, a scientific-technological company founded in Valdivia in 2020. The company develops acoustic measurement, control, and surveillance systems to detect what is happening beneath the surface. “We create hardware and software using artificial intelligence to capture these sounds in the sea and to understand what lies down there,” she explains. Her work makes it possible to identify the presence of fauna, vessels, seismic activity, and other events that cannot always be observed via cameras or satellites. Saving whales “The sea is an extremely dark medium. Just a few meters down, light is lost; therefore, everything happening on the seabed can be captured through sound,” she explains. Following this logic, the company develops buoys that...

DEAR DIRECTOR: With the entry into force of Law No. 21,772, the supervisory function of notaries, registrars, and judicial archivists has been transferred from the ministers of the Courts of Appeals and the judges of letters, as applicable, to the judicial prosecutors of the respective Courts of Appeals. The supervisory powers conferred upon the latter are expressly determined by law, with a precise objective. However, it has come to our attention that some judicial prosecutors, exceeding the scope of their competence, have issued instructions for notaries, registrars, and judicial archivists—which constitutes the system subject to the highest level of oversight—to register on Sernac's Provider Portal, despite the fact that these officers of faith do not hold such a status, and furthermore, when such registration is not even an obligation for those who do. This requirement appears to lack legal basis, and other actions of a similar nature are currently taking place. The principle of legality requires that every authority exercise its powers within the framework conferred upon it by law. In this sense, just as the Comptroller General of the Republic has challenged the actions of authorities that have exceeded their scope of competence, it would be appropriate for the Supreme Court, in its capacity as the superior supervisory body, to examine and, where appropriate, correct situations that could...

President José Antonio Kast has instructed that support be reinforced for the communes of Valdivia and Corral, which have been affected by the current frontal system in the area. Through X, the President announced that he spoke with the Undersecretary of the Interior, Máximo Pavez, who provided an update on the emergency situation in the Los Ríos Region. According to Kast, "accumulated rainfall has exceeded that of last year, causing greater impact from overflows, primarily in Corral." For this reason, the government continues to monitor the evolution of the frontal system, with special attention to the three regions under yellow alert, in coordination with SENAPRED and regional teams. Additionally, the President instructed to "reinforce support for the affected municipalities and provide the necessary machinery to respond promptly to this emergency."

The dual Minister of the Interior and of the SEGEGOB, Claudio Alvarado, challenged the opposition following their announcement that they will appeal to the Constitutional Court regarding the mega-reform, accusing them of seeking to "obstruct" the initiative. In an interview with Radio Infinita, Alvarado stated, “What I would like is for the opposition—who are within their legitimate rights to go to the Constitutional Court—to also reach an agreement to try to help build a better project, rather than remaining stuck in these petty disputes that seem more related to how to obstruct and prevent the Government from advancing on an important reform.” Along the same lines, the minister addressed the possibility of discussing tax stability, noting that “we have always expressed our willingness and desire for dialogue on the issues that the opposition wishes to improve or is interested in contributing to in one way or another.” “We have the disposition—if 25 years is uncomfortable, perhaps moving to 20 years, which was also a proposal from the DC caucus in the Chamber of Deputies,” he mentioned, adding that “everyone knows we have that willingness” to discuss these issues. “Regulatory Stability” At the same time, Alvarado addressed the proposal for “regulatory stability” made by the PPD deputies' caucus, stating, “Today, I feel that this is more about making a political point than reflecting a reality.” “If it were truly at stake or...”

The Los Ríos Regional Ministerial Secretariat (Seremi) of Education has announced the total suspension of classes for this Wednesday, July 8, in all educational establishments throughout the region, due to the effects of the weather front affecting the southern part of the country. In a statement addressed to educational communities, the authority explained that the decision was made following an evaluation by the competent technical agencies and considering the ongoing meteorological conditions in the region. “We inform you that, as a result of the current weather front and based on the evaluation by the relevant technical bodies, classes are suspended for the workday of Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in the Los Ríos Region,” it stated. The measure aims to ensure the safety of students, teachers, educational assistants, and families, within a context marked by heavy rain, strong winds, and the risk of emergencies associated with the storm. **More than 100 millimeters of rain in Valdivia** The weather front has left significant accumulations of water in various parts of the region over the last 24 hours. According to meteorological records, the Pichoy station in Valdivia reported 94.6 millimeters of rainfall in the last 24 hours, while the Isla Teja station, belonging to the Austral University of Chile, recorded 112.2 millimeters. Meanwhile, 76.8 millimeters of precipitation were recorded in the commune of Panguipulli. The con...

Senator Iván Flores of the Christian Democracy (DC) party and representative for the Los Ríos Region, has called on the government to declare a state of catastrophe for Corral and other coastal municipalities in the area, due to the consequences caused by intense rainfall. It should be noted that throughout this day, damage to homes has been reported in the municipality of Corral, as well as landslides and even mudslides, which led to the closure of Route T-450, the road providing connectivity between the municipality and Valdivia. The Mayor of Corral, Claudio González, stated that the center of the municipality was “practically flooded.” In response to this, Senator Flores affirmed that he contacted the biminister of the Interior and the Presidency (Segegob), Claudio Alvarado, to request the decree of a measure that would allow for the mobilization of resources. “I have spoken with Biminister Alvarado, and I have told him that thinking a red alert is not enough. A red alert allows for the mobilization of some resources and provides administrative ease,” Flores stated regarding his telephone conversation with the Secretary of State. Senator Flores argued that “a state of catastrophe—which is what should be done in the coastal municipalities of the Los Ríos Region—is what allows for the mobilization of resources, but also places the priority of the State's response within those municipalities.” Along these lines, he stated that the situation could worsen as the hours pass. “What is...”

The National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred) reported that the system of intense rainfall affecting the southern part of the country continues to cause various emergencies across the Maule and Los Lagos regions, including landslides, flooding, mudslides, road closures, and nearly 10,000 customers without electricity, primarily in La Araucanía and Los Lagos. According to the agency's latest report, there are no significant updates for the Maule, Ñuble, and Biobío regions, while the main impacts are concentrated in La Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos. In La Araucanía, the only extraordinary measure applies to the commune of Pucón, where classes remain suspended this Tuesday in all municipal educational institutions due to the weather conditions. The most complex situation is being recorded in the Los Ríos Region, especially in the commune of Corral, where heavy rains caused multiple mass movements and a mudslide in the Yerbas Buenas ravine, leaving four homes with minor damage, a fifth under evaluation, and four vehicles affected. Additionally, a landslide is still in progress in the Palo Muerto sector, another in Los Alerces, and a stream has overflowed in Colún, although the latter does not pose a risk to homes. In Valdivia, the rainfall caused street flooding in various urban areas, while…

The seven active Isapres in the system recorded profits of $31.274 billion in the first quarter of this year. This compares to the $868 million loss recorded during the same period in 2025 by the group of Isapres comprising Colmena, Cruz Blanca, Vida Tres, Nueva Masvida, Banmédica, Consalud, and Esencial. “It is important to clarify that these profits do not translate into available resources for the institutions. In fact, according to the provisions of the 'short law' for Isapres, insurers are prohibited from withdrawing profits or distributing dividends until they have fully paid the debt owed to their affiliates due to excess charges made through risk factor tables, as determined by the Supreme Court. The institutions have up to 13 years to settle this liability,” the Superintendency of Health stated in a press release. The regulator also explained that “the main element explaining the positive results for the period is the 23% reduction in the cost allocated to the payment of” the Sickness Benefit (SIL), namely, disbursements for medical leave. In the case of the active Isapres, this decreased from the $188,532 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2025 to $144,634 billion in the first three months of this year. This translates to a 23% drop, equivalent to a reduction of $43 billion. Furthermore, spending on SIL went from representing 18.4% of revenues q...

The National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred) provided a monitoring report on the frontal system affecting the southern part of the country, which is centered on three regions: La Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos. The meteorological phenomenon has brought intense rainfall and wind, causing road closures and landslides. In some municipalities, rainfall has even exceeded 50 mm. According to details from the agency, in La Araucanía—specifically in Pucón—classes remain suspended in the municipality's public schools. In Los Ríos, in the municipality of Valdivia, street flooding has been recorded at various points, which is being addressed by municipal personnel. In Mariquina, one flooded home was reported (firefighters are on-site). Additionally, fallen trees were reported on Route T-230 and one flooded health clinic in the Ciruelos sector; both situations have since been resolved. Meanwhile, in Panguipulli, there is a landslide at kilometer 107 of Route CH-203, which affects only the bike path and not the main road. In Los Lagos, in Futaleufú, ice was recorded on the roadway at kilometer 20 of Route CH-231, causing multiple vehicles to skid off the road, with no injuries reported. For its part, in Puerto Varas, there are landslides on Route CH-225 (La Ventana/La Máquina sector), with traffic restricted for tourists but open for residents and emergency vehicles. From the same...

The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has initiated the environmental permitting process for one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects for the Biobío Region: the construction of the so-called South Bank Biobío Waterfront, which would require an investment of nearly US$400 million. This Monday, the MOP submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to the Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA) for the initiative. The project aims to develop a seven-kilometer highway along the south bank of the Biobío River, connecting the Bicentenario and Industrial bridges, and crossing the Llacolén and Juan Pablo II bridges, as well as the two railway bridges, located in the commune of San Pedro de la Paz. The project will include dual carriageways for opposing directions, overpasses, river defenses, drainage works, road safety features, lighting, landscaping, urban planning, and parks. The goal is to improve road connectivity in San Pedro de la Paz, a locality that has been plagued by permanent traffic congestion. "To design and construct the new Waterfront Avenue on the south bank of the Biobío River to comprehensively improve the internal connectivity of the streets and avenues of San Pedro de la Paz, and to create a key alternative route that optimizes traffic flow and reduces travel times toward Greater Concepción, thereby contributing to the reduction of vehicle congestion and raising road safety standards for all users," the submission states as its objective.

The National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred) has declared a yellow alert for the regions of La Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos, due to the forecast of heavy rainfall that will affect the southern part of the country over the coming hours. This measure replaces the preventive early warning that was in effect across the three regions and was adopted following the meteorological alarm issued by the Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC) regarding the projection of concentrated rainfall within a short period of time. The alert will remain in effect as long as conditions warrant. **La Araucanía Region** In La Araucanya, rainfall is expected to reach up to 110 millimeters in foothills and mountain sectors, while up to 80 millimeters are projected for the coast and coastal range, and between 60 and 65 millimeters in the valley. In this regard, the regional director of Senapred, Ian Gorayeb, explained that “we have declared a yellow alert due to rainfall that will arrive from early Tuesday morning until Wednesday, July 8.” Furthermore, he warned that “this involves rainfall occurring within a short period of time,” adding that wind gusts of up to 70 kilometers per hour are also expected during Tuesday. The official added that the high freezing level (zero isotherm) predicted for this event increases the risk of mass movements, especially in foothill and mountain sectors. **Los Ríos Region** In the Region...

The Chilean Meteorological Directorate (DMC) has issued a weather alert for the La Araucanía and Los Ríos regions due to a frontal system whose intensity could lead to serious consequences in both areas. From the early hours of Tuesday, July 7, until the early hours of Wednesday, July 8, significant amounts of rainfall are expected to fall in a short period. Additionally, the freezing level will be high. This increases the risk of disasters; therefore, the call is "to stay informed, follow instructions from authorities, and be prepared for extraordinary measures." The affected areas in La Araucanía will include the foothills and the mountains, while in Los Ríos, it will include the coast, coastal range, foothills, and mountains. "Weather phenomena with a high degree of severity are forecasted," warned Meteochile. There is "a very high potential for generating risks to property and human life." **Weather Alert in La Araucanía and Los Ríos** According to the DMC alert, these are the expected amounts for each affected sector, and the freezing level between the early hours of July 7 and 8: **La Araucanía Region** Foothills: 70-110 mm of rainfall. Mountains: 70-110 mm of rainfall. Freezing level: 2700-3200-3000. **Los Ríos Region** Coast: 80-100 mm of rainfall. Coastal range: 80-110 mm of rainfall. Foothills: 80-120 mm of rainfall. Mountains: 80-120 mm of rainfall. Freezing level: 2600-3000.

The Temuco Guarantee Court granted the Prosecutor's Office's request and extended the detention of the individual accused of the femicide that occurred in the town of Labranza, in the commune of Temuco, La Araucanía Region, until Monday, June 29. According to an explanation by Jorge Mandiola, deputy prosecutor of the La Araucanía Regional Prosecutor's Office, the decision was made during the detention review held this Saturday due to "the lack of a piece of evidence as important as the autopsy protocol," the prosecutor noted. Mandiola explained that the Prosecutor's Office expects to have all available evidence in hand before formally charging the accused and requesting the corresponding precautionary measures. Regarding the preliminary dynamics of the crime, the prosecutor detailed that the accused allegedly entered the victim's home through a window on Friday morning. This situation reportedly triggered a home alarm, which alerted the Carabineros (national police) to a possible crime occurring inside the residence. According to Mandiola, police personnel arrived at the scene and requested that the doors be opened, but received no response from within. Faced with what he described as a situation of imminent risk, the Carabineros entered the home. Once inside, according to the prosecutor's account, the accused allegedly shouted from one of the bedrooms that he was holding a firearm. In response to this warning, police officers retreated to avoid an eventual shootout and request...

A father and son associated with the kidnapping and murder of a 17-year-old boy in the Putaendo commune, located in the Valparaíso Region, have been placed in pretrial detention. This was decreed by the San Felipe Guarantee Court as part of an investigation following a report of a suspected tragedy regarding the disappearance of the victim on June 23 in the Santa María commune. While heading to his home, the young man was forced into a car, according to initial findings from the San Felipe Police Investigation Section (SIP). “Through field investigations, we were able to establish a direct link to two adults who share a direct family bond and were linked to the kidnapping and murder of the victim,” explained Lieutenant Fabián Lagos of the Carabineros' Vehicle Service and Search Department (SEBV). According to Benjamín Santibañez, the prosecutor for Valparaíso’s Organized Crime and Homicide Team (ECOH), “police personnel managed to identify the license plate of the vehicle into which this person was allegedly forced. Subsequently, investigations continued, and information was received from the Municipality of Putaendo, which provided images of the same vehicle that reportedly traveled to the Alicahue sector (La Ligua), where a charred body was allegedly left.” In fact, the eldest of those detained, aged 55, arrived volun...

The parliamentary group of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) expressed regret this Tuesday night regarding the Constitutional Court's (TC) decision to declare four articles of the "Protected Schools" bill unconstitutional, including the one that restricted access to free higher education for up to five years for convicted students. During the final hours of the same day, the TC issued a statement announcing its ruling on the challenges presented by opposition deputies and senators against the initiative proposed by the government of José Antonio Kast. The TC declared aspects of Articles 1, 2, 5, and 6 unconstitutional. These related to the possibility of requesting the presence of the Carabineros or the PDI (Investigative Police) when a student refuses a search of their belongings and their parents do not arrive at the school, as well as the measure authorizing police to conduct such searches without a prosecutor's order. The other provisions declared unconstitutional targeted the prohibition on using accessories or clothing that promote or glorify violence or other criminal behaviors, and finally, the provision prohibiting students who commit serious crimes from accessing free education. In response to this, the leader of the UDI parliamentary group, Flor Weisse, along with the chairman of the Education Committee, Sergio Bobadilla, and committee member Ricardo Neumann, expressed regret over the decision made...

In a unanimous decision on June 4, the ethics tribunal of the Bar Association decided to sanction attorney Luis Hermosilla following the revelation of his involvement in the "Caso Audio." The professional association announced this in a public statement. "On April 10, 2024, and January 27, 2025, acting ex officio under the instruction of the president at that time, disciplinary investigations were initiated regarding public and notorious facts that could be subject to sanctions under the Professional Code of Ethics of the Bar Association, in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Disciplinary Regulations, all against the registered attorney Mr. Luis Edgardo Hermosilla Osorio," the beginning of the statement reads. The association, chaired by Ramiro Mendoza, added the following: "Based on the analysis of the facts and the investigations conducted, on June 4, 2026, the Ethics Tribunal issued a ruling, unanimously resolving to sanction the aforementioned professional with the measure of expulsion from the Bar Association, pursuant to Articles 7 and 10 of the Bylaws." Despite the sanction, Hermosilla challenged this decision by the association before the courts: "On June 17, 2026, and by virtue of the provisions in Article 28 of the Disciplinary Regulations and in accordance with the provisions of Article 19, No. 16 of the Political Constitution, the respondent has filed an appeal regarding the aforementioned ruling, which shall be..."

The largest trial on record regarding medical leave fraud has entered its final stretch. However, a new chapter was added to the story this week, featuring one of the three judges that make up the tribunal. It concerns Alejandra García, who opted to recuse herself and step down from the trial. The reason? She is one of 56 judges risking expulsion from the Judiciary for traveling abroad while on medical leave. In other words, Magistrate García is included in the list of 56 case files that the Supreme Court's plenary session ordered to be opened on Monday. Thus, through a resolution accessed by *La Tercera*, the magistrate confirms that the Supreme Court has opened a removal proceeding against her following an administrative investigation into an overseas trip taken during medical leave. However, said disciplinary investigation concluded with her definitive dismissal, without any formal charges or determination of administrative liability—a resolution that is also final and binding according to the Santiago Court. The magistrate decided to step away from the trial to avoid any questioning regarding the verdict and to safeguard public trust in the administration of justice. "Without this implying an admission of any legal grounds for implication or recusal, nor admitting any impact on the independence or impartiality of this m..."

This Tuesday, the Senate unanimously approved a bill seeking to amend the Traffic Law to protect the registration information of vehicles used by law enforcement and public security forces in investigative and intelligence operations. The motion was supported by 39 senators, with no opposing votes or abstentions recorded, and will now proceed to the Chamber of Deputies for further processing. According to the bill's proposal, the objective is to safeguard the link between these vehicles and their respective law enforcement institutions by allowing the use of fictitious identities, registration data, and histories for such vehicles, preventing them from being identified through public inquiries to the National Registry of Motor Vehicles. The Chair of the Senate Transport Committee, Camila Flores (RN), presented the bill to the chamber, emphasizing that the initiative addresses a vulnerability currently exploited by organized crime to identify vehicles used in police operations. Flores explained that one of the central aspects of the project is to guarantee “the safety and integrity of police personnel and the success of undercover operations,” in response to the increasing use of technological tools by organized crime to identify vehicles used by specialized units such as OS-7, OS-9, and other investigative brigades. The initiative incorporates an amendment presented by the E...

ARN Media settlement of dispute with sacked radio host includes $12.09m cash payment and $1.5m worth of advertising Kyle Sandilands has settled his dispute with ARN Media for a $12m cash payout and a promise they will help him launch a new media venture. The money is a fraction of the $85m the former radio host had been seeking after his abrupt sacking from the network in February, but avoids what threatened to be a costly and potentially damaging trial in the federal court. Continue reading...

On Saturday afternoon, the Senate approved a new extension of the constitutional state of exception currently in effect for the Araucanía region and the provinces of Arauco and Biobío, in the Biobío region. The request reached the Upper House with a majority approval: 118 votes in favor, 17 against, and 11 abstentions. The measure has been applied in these territories since May 2022. From the chamber, Minister of the Interior Claudio Alvarado justified the request for the extension by citing the effectiveness the measure has had regarding violence figures compared to those prior to 2022, the year the measure began to be implemented. “If we compare 2021, which was the peak of rural acts of violence, these have fallen by 79% to date; this marks the difference created when a territory is captured by violence versus a territory that is step by step returning to being under State control,” the Secretary of State explained. As such, the Senate approved the extension of this measure with a vote of 39 in favor and 2 against. The opposing votes came from legislators Diego Ibáñez and Beatriz Sánchez, both from the Broad Front (Frente Amplio). The senators who spoke during the session justified the decision by citing the need to control the situation of violence that the area has faced in recent times. Senator Enrique van Rysselbergue (UDI) for Biobío supported the measure and requested from the Executive a...

José Morgado does not remember the first time he saw the tents and shacks set up in Plaza Colombia, next to the Casino of Viña del Mar, but he is certain that they have multiplied over the last two years. Now, they have become part of the coastal landscape. That was a place filled with memories for him, as it was for many other residents of Viña. He used to stroll there with his parents and later did the same with his six children. A plaza full of families and children—that is the image he holds from his 72 years as a resident of the "Garden City." But that area is no longer the same. Now, neighbors must coexist with shacks—which increase every day—and street vendors. “It’s not that we want them to be evicted, because they are people without homes, but they need comprehensive help and shelter: they cannot be out on the streets,” Morgado comments. The spokesperson for the Coastal Defense Committee, María Adela Baeza, recounts that most of the instances of incivility occur at night and on weekends. “They set up hot dog stands, sell mojitos, all kinds of alcohol. You walk by and they are taking off their clothes to try on garments being sold on the street,” the leader points out. The deterioration of public spaces extends to other parts of downtown Viña del Mar. In the Poniente neighborhood, residents say they have found people inside trash bins using drugs or engaging in sexual acts. Local business owners have been the primary victims...

NSW police say two men and a woman will face court on Thursday over alleged involvement in large-scale drug supply scheme Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Mohammed Skaf, a notorious gang rapist, has been arrested in Sydney and charged with nearly two dozen alleged drug offences. New South Wales police said two men and a woman will face court on Thursday over their alleged involvement in a large-scale drug supply scheme after search warrants were executed in Sydney’s southwest overnight. Continue reading...

Finally, this Tuesday, the Public Prosecutor's Office closed the investigation and filed charges against the former mayor of Vitacura, Raúl Torrealba (formerly of the RN party). In its filing, the Central North Metropolitan Prosecutor's Office details the offenses for which it is seeking a 28-year prison sentence for the former official. In the 1,533-page document submitted to the Fourth Guarantee Court of Santiago, Regional Prosecutor Francisco Jacir accuses the former mayor of Vitacura of 29 counts of fraud against the Treasury, six counts of maliciously incomplete tax declarations, one count of undue tax refund, and another offense of... In detail, the Public Prosecutor's indictment seeks 12 years in prison for the crimes of fraud against the Treasury, six years for money laundering, an additional six years for the falsification of tax returns, and four more for the undue obtaining of tax refunds. According to sources familiar with the case, the court has set July 13 as the date for the opening hearing of the oral trial, which is expected to last four days. Following that, a date will be set to proceed with the oral trial against the former mayor of Vitacura. *La Tercera* had reported a few days ago that the Central North Prosecutor's Office was close to closing the investigation and presenting this indictment.

Isabel Correa, the magistrate of Santiago's 7th Guarantee Court, denied the pretrial detention requested by the Public Prosecutor's Office for Verónica Sabaj, a former judge of the Santiago Court of Appeals. Sabaj was formally charged today with offenses stemming from her irregular contacts with attorney Luis Hermosilla, in a new development within the so-called "Audio Case." The former magistrate was charged with repeated bribery, judicial malfeasance, and breach of confidentiality, while Hermosilla was formally charged with bribery. According to Correa's ruling, former minister Sabaj must serve full house arrest, while the once-influential criminal lawyer will serve nighttime house arrest, the same measure he was already undergoing following previous formal charges. **Development in the Audio Case** WhatsApp conversations between the defendants, recorded on the phone seized from Hermosilla during the investigation into Factop, triggered this inquiry. Hermosilla was already serving full house arrest due to the case that opened a "Pandora's box" regarding the backroom dealings of appointments within the Judiciary. Meanwhile, Sabaj was expelled from the Judiciary on September 10, 2025, because she "engaged in behavior that undermines the principles of independence, probity, integrity, and transparency that govern members of the magistracy." According to the arguments presented during the formal charging hearing by prosecutors Claudio Rebe...

The magistrate of the 7th Guarantee Court of Santiago, Isabel Margarita Correa Haeussler, denied the pretrial detention requested by the Public Prosecutor's Office for former Santiago Court of Appeals judge Verónica Cecilia Sabaj Escudero. Sabaj and attorney Luis Edgardo Hermosilla Osorio were formally charged this Monday by the Anti-Corruption Regional Unit (URAC) of the Valparaíso Prosecutor's Office in a new development of the so-called "Audio Case." **Development in the Audio Case** WhatsApp conversations between the defendants, recorded on the phone seized from Hermosilla during the investigation into Factop, triggered this inquiry. Hermosilla was already serving full house arrest due to the case that opened a "Pandora's box" regarding the backroom dealings of judicial appointments within the Judiciary. Meanwhile, Sabaj was expelled from the Judiciary on September 10, 2025, because she "engaged in behavior that undermines the principles of independence, probity, integrity, and transparency that govern members of the magistracy." According to the arguments presented during the formal charging hearing by prosecutors Claudio Rebeco and Paola Castiglione, Hermosilla's efforts before Sebastián Piñera's government to promote Sabaj's appointment to the appellate court led to the actions that resulted in the former judge's sanction. According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, in gratitude, Sabaj allegedly provided Hermosilla with information regarding rulings and resolutions, and advised the criminal lawyer...

The National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred) reported that it is maintaining monitoring of the activity of the Villarrica volcano, located between the communes of Villarrica, Pucón, Curarrehue, and Panguipulli, in the La Araucanía and Los Ríos regions. According to information provided by Sernageomin's Southern Andes Volcanological Observatory (Ovdas), the Villarrica volcano remains at a green technical alert level. According to the special volcanic activity report, during the early hours of this Sunday, June 7, fixed cameras and acoustic sensors installed near the massif recorded activity associated with impact exhalations restricted to the level of the crater. Images captured by the cameras allowed for an estimated maximum height of 4 460 meters from the base of the crater, in addition to a degassing column that disperses preferentially in an east-northeast direction. Despite the observed increase in some parameters, Sernageomin noted that no signals associated with an increase in explosive activity have been recorded. The agency also indicated that the seismic signal does not show significant variations in magnitude. Meanwhile, the energy evaluated from the RSAM parameter shows a subtle increase, although continuous tremor remains low. Additionally, long-period seismicity was reported during the period of highest activity, which could suggest greater fluid dynamics and...

Strange creatures walked across the esplanade of the old Cerrillos airport. They resembled the skeletons of fantastic animals: large structures made of tubes and plastic that moved slowly, propelled by the wind. Between April and July 2018, thousands of families, students, and neighbors flocked to the National Center for Contemporary Art to behold the living machines of Dutch artist Theo Jansen. The exhibition drew more than 47,000 visitors and became one of the greatest milestones in the center's history. For several months, the CNAC seemed to fulfill the mission for which it had been created: to become a gateway to contemporary art for broad audiences and to expand Santiago's cultural map beyond its traditional circuits. But the momentum faded. While consolidating one of the most important public collections of contemporary art in the country, the center began to disappear from the broader cultural conversation. For many citizens, the building erected on the grounds of the former Cerrillos airport is an unknown place. Ten years after its inauguration, the challenge remains: how to transform a space dedicated to the conservation, research, and exhibition of Chilean contemporary art into a place capable of once again bringing the public together. That is the task now undertaken by Felipe Coddou, the center's new director and former head of the photography department at the Minis...

The Mayor of Santiago, Mario Desbordes, announced that the municipality will present evidence to the Carabineros (national police) to initiate an investigation into the confrontation between municipal security officers and Carabineros personnel that took place on June 3rd. During a monitoring operation in the Santo Domingo sector of the commune, Carabineros attempted to perform an identity check on a municipal security officer after a street vendor reported threats made by the guard. At that moment, the officer refused to hand over his ID, which led to a physical struggle between the security authorities. “We always work with the Carabineros de Chile as allies, as friends, and as partners (...) That is why what happened this week is a completely isolated incident that does not affect the relationship between the municipality and the Carabineros,” Desbordes emphasized this Saturday. However, the mayor stressed that “we have our own point of view regarding this procedure, and we are going to bring all the evidence to the attention of the General Director to request that an investigation be conducted.” According to the mayor, the municipality possesses images and information confirming that the Carabineros sergeant involved “interrupted” a street vending enforcement procedure, which prevented the municipal operation from continuing—information that, according to the mayor's complaint, was provided in a “partial” manner to the media. Desbord...

Prosecutor José Manuel Mac-Namara obtained pretrial detention for two new defendants regarding their alleged involvement in the attempted robbery-homicide that occurred on May 21 at the home of former Constitutional Court (TC) Minister Iván Aróstica, in the commune of San Miguel. According to the prosecutor's explanation, regarding one of the detainees—who was formally charged today—it was proven that he entered the residence and subsequently fled to a neighboring house, leaving a trail of blood. This evidence was later cross-referenced and yielded a positive DNA match, which scientifically established his presence at the crime scene. Meanwhile, the Prosecution managed to prove that the second defendant entered a nearby medical center approximately half an hour after the incident, near where the gang's vehicle had been abandoned. Bloodstained clothing was found in that car, and the defendant presented a wound on his left side. “Officers from the PDI’s Robbery Brigade conducted a census of local medical centers, managing to determine that the second defendant had entered the facility with this same injury. His identity was then obtained. Ultimately, he was the last member of this gang to be detained,” stated prosecutor Mac-Namara. Additionally, it was reported that at least six of the defendants may have previously participated in a residential robbery in the commune of Las Condes...

Webcams showed snow blanketing the ground in some areas. In others, it was patchy or nonexistent Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Australia’s snow season has officially begun, with resorts predicting a good season despite climactic threats and the cost-of-living crisis. Between 20cm and 40cm of snow fell across the Victorian and New South Wales alps before the long weekend, with the falls bolstered by snowmakers. Continue reading...

On La Tercera's streaming program, *Desde la Redacción*, the rector of the Metropolitan Technological University, Marisol Durán Santis, stated that the possibility of losing university benefits "is not in line with the correct discussion" because "free education is a right." Watch the video to review her perspective, as well as the adjustments the government seeks to implement in education.

Liberal Party Senator Vlado Mirosevic addressed today the special session that the Committee on Extreme Zones and Special Territories—of which he is a member—will hold in Arica, where they expect to discuss various issues related to the border. Regarding this, the senator highlighted that there are high expectations, as several ministers will attend, including the Minister of Defense, Fernando Barros. “This is an important session because, first of all, the issue of the border—migration control and security—is a topic where there are high expectations here in the north, as would be expected,” he noted in an interview with Radio Agricultura. Regarding the presence of Minister Barros, he indicated that “we hope he comes with news, with announcements regarding the north, and how we are going to reinforce the border.” On the other hand, when asked about how the construction of the trench in the territory has been progressing since President Kast visited the area, Senator Mirosevic noted that they must wait to be able to evaluate it, but that no major innovations have taken place. “The truth is that aside from the trench, I had much higher expectations for what could happen, because up to this point, what we have seen as an innovation, one might say, is only the trench, which, well, is not yet finished and will also only be a few kilometers long.” At least on the border with Peru, at Chacalluta, he pointed out, “it has been announced that it could be 19 kilometers, in ci...”

This Wednesday, a march was held, organized by the Confederation of Students of Chile (Confech), protesting against tax cuts, the National Reconstruction Plan, and the "Protected Schools" initiative. The march began and ended with clashes between participants and the Chilean police (Carabineros). The Confech had called for the gathering to be held in Plaza Baquedano, but the Metropolitan Presidential Delegation authorized the protest to take place from Los Héroes to the Ecuador metro station. The students, however, disregarded this instruction and gathered in Baquedano. Following the footage that was shared on social media and by news outlets, political figures expressed their reactions to the incidents and the images of the arrests. One of the most notable reactions came from the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who shared a video showing the clashes between protesters and the police, accompanied by the caption: "They elected Kast, and once again, there is violent conflict against the youth in Chile." He continued to post recordings from the march. Furthermore, members of the Chilean parliament also expressed their opinions on the events. Emilia Schneider (FA) stated that "for a protest to be peaceful and controlled, authorities must provide assurances and engage in dialogue, in addition to taking necessary preventative measures. Unfortunately, the Kast government understands this as a confrontation and is working to create a hostile environment." Añad…

Carla Serón was so nervous that she preferred to keep it a secret: only she knew that she was auditioning as a cellist to potentially join Ricardo Arjona's new tour, "Lo que el seco no dijo." Despite having already performed with major artists like Luis Miguel or Ricky Martin, even her family and closest friends were unaware of her potential artistic venture with the Guatemalan artist. "For many years, I have been involved in the music industry, accompanying various renowned artists, which has allowed me to gain experience and also to be on the radar of producers responsible for putting together this type of show. Thanks to this, one day I received an email from Ricardo Arjona's production team inviting me to audition because they were in the process of recruiting musicians to form the band that would accompany him on his new tour. Of course, this opportunity meant something very important and valuable to me, something that I, as a musician, had desired for a long time; and, as they say, opportunities don't come until you're ready, so I felt that, in a way, this was no exception," Serón describes in an interview with Culto. Indeed, the artist, who was born and trained as an instrumentalist in Valdivia, prepared at a rapid pace for the audition and rehearsed compositions by the Guatemalan artist, adapting them to the more solemn tone of her instrument. "Although I was always nervous, I went to the audition and presented myself knowing that all the work I had done..."

CCTV cameras caught the carnivorous marsupial skulking around deserted grounds at 4am Tuesday morning Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A search is under way on Queensland’s Gold Coast for a missing Tasmanian devil who escaped her enclosure in a daring early morning dash caught on camera. The devil, named Mary, did a Houdini from the Paradise Country theme park, escaping from quarantine in the early hours of Tuesday. Continue reading...

BoM and other agencies expect transition to the first El Niño since spring 2023 sometime during winter Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here Australia should prepare for an imminent El Niño, with the Bureau of Meteorology and other agencies forecasting that the weather phenomenon is likely to develop in the coming months. “The models are really aligning now,” Felicity Gamble, a senior BoM climatologist, said. “We are expecting a transition to El Niño sometime during winter.” Continue reading...

A body was found on Monday afternoon near Route 5 North, in the municipality of Lampa, Metropolitan Region. According to preliminary information from the police, the discovery was reported around 5:00 PM through a call to the emergency number 133, where a body was reported near kilometer 31.7 of Route 5 North, on the local access road. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers confirmed the presence of a deceased body inside a ditch located next to the road. According to initial reports, the victim was bound and wrapped in a sheet. Police are conducting initial investigations at the scene while awaiting instructions from the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Following a massive nationwide immigration control operation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Police (PDI) on Monday night, the institution released the results of the operation on Tuesday. "This deployment strengthened security at various points in the country through identity and immigration checks, and the detection of individuals with outstanding arrest warrants," the PDI stated through its social media channels. According to the civil police, during the enforcement period, which took place between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM on Monday, a total of 513 PDI officers collaborated on various tasks. During the period, a total of 1,582 individuals were checked nationwide. Of this group, a total of 334 individuals were found to have committed various types of offenses in the country. Of the total number of individuals checked, 191 had entered the country through unauthorized points, while 163 had committed other offenses. In addition to the above, the PDI reported a total of 36 deportations. Furthermore, two deportations were reportedly ready to be carried out. The vast majority of the 334 offenders are Venezuelan: 195 out of the total. Following them are Colombians, with 51 involved, and Peruvians, with a total of 21. The remaining 67 individuals are from other nationalities.

The president of Renovación Nacional and senator, Andrea Balladares, discussed the National Reconstruction Plan and the Economic and Social Development plan, and stated that during the 2026 budget presentation, President José Antonio Kast adopted a "positive tone" that "opens up space for dialogue." In the online program "Desde la Redacción" from La Tercera, the parliamentarian addressed statements made by the Minister of Finance, Jorge Quiroz, asserting that he is the one who defines the foundations and "the core" of the project, but that there are opportunities for discussion on various aspects. In this regard, she indicated that the deadlines for processing the project are crucial and will be determined by the Senate's Finance Committee. "The willingness of the Finance Committee to hold sessions is essential. They could hold three or four sessions per week, which would allow them to meet with many people and provide ample time for discussion until the end of this month, before the legislative recess, so that the project can be reviewed in the committee room, hopefully, and then we can delve into it in more detail next month. It all depends on the attitude of that committee," the senator explained. In addition, Balladares pointed out that during the budget presentation, President Kast called for unity and cooperation, and that "it was a positive tone that opens up the space for dialogue." "This is part of...

It was during his first State of the Nation address that President José Antonio Kast announced the creation of a Unified Registry of Vandals and Acts of Incivility. Hours later, at the Cerro Castillo Presidential Palace in Viña del Mar, the President signed the draft law to initiate its processing. In this context, the Secretary General of the Presidency, José García Ruminot, in a conversation with Tele13 Radio, elaborated on the matter and assured that this initiative "is not an arbitrary decision by the authorities." "This cannot be arbitrary; it must be properly supported by the law. It must be judicial resolutions, so that the fundamental rights of individuals, even those who have committed crimes, are also adequately protected, and the principles of due process are upheld," he stated. In detail, this project aims to establish a national registry of individuals convicted or sanctioned for acts that affect civic harmony, public infrastructure, or national heritage. Along these lines, García pointed out that "if a person attacks police officers or assaults a healthcare worker, they will receive the corresponding sanction for that crime, but in addition, as determined by the courts, they may also be sanctioned with the loss of certain benefits they are receiving from the state." Ultimately, he clarified that this is "an additional punishment that seeks to dissuade people from committing these types of crimes..."

The Minister of the Interior, Claudio Alvarado, defended the major reform proposed by the government of José Antonio Kast, criticizing the opposition and their rejection of the idea of legislating on the project. In an interview with Radio Agricultura, the Secretary of State stated that the executive branch hopes that the opposition will participate in the parliamentary debate and contribute proposals during the discussion of the initiative. "I believe that a serious and responsible opposition, one that wants to build a dialogue, cannot refuse the idea of legislating. The idea of legislating is simply to say, 'I want to open this debate, I want to start this conversation, I want to explore the possibilities of contributing.'" "The logical thing is to approve the idea of legislating, and then, during the discussion of the specific articles, to present all their points of view, verify if there is an agreement, or to express their disagreements with justification and vote against," he added. Furthermore, he recalled that the project involves resources for reconstruction, mentioning that "by refusing the idea of legislating, I am saying, 'I don't want those resources to reach those families.'" Regarding whether this means holding families "hostage," the minister stated that "one can give it whatever qualification they deem appropriate, but if I want to contribute to the well-being of those people, to solve a problem for them, at the very least I must express my willingness to talk and to dialogue about the issue." Finally, he assured that the government...

During his first public address to the National Congress, and specifically during the section on Public Safety, President José Antonio Kast announced the upcoming introduction of a bill to create a Unified Registry of Vandals and Incivilities (RUV). This measure, intended to be a deterrent, aims to prevent individuals convicted of such offenses from receiving social benefits, as well as from renewing or obtaining driver's licenses, passports, or transferring vehicles and properties. "This registry will allow those who have committed crimes such as attacking police officers, healthcare personnel, disrupting public transportation, trafficking in narcotics, damaging national monuments, among others, to be held accountable for their actions. Those who commit any of these offenses will lose social benefits such as free education, a guaranteed universal pension, or rental subsidies," the President stated in his address. In a conversation with the news outlet Estado Nacional de 24H, the Minister of the Interior and government spokesperson, Claudio Alvarado, explained some of the details of the initiative. When asked about how it will work, the Secretary of State stated that "once a sentence is issued by a court, the individual's information will be entered into a registry, which will be accessible to all citizens, so that everyone knows what crimes have been committed." The statement was then cut off.

A significant immigration control operation was carried out nationwide by the Criminal Investigation Police (PDI) this Monday. In the Metropolitan Region, the operation was concentrated in the municipality of Estación Central, resulting in the identification of 53 foreign nationals who violated immigration laws. Legal proceedings will be initiated against them for illegal entry into the country. With a contingent of 80 detectives from the civil police, the operation began in the area of Toro Mazote Street, popularly known as "Little Caracas," a known hub for immigrants. The objective of the police operation was to reinforce security through identity and immigration checks, to identify individuals with outstanding arrest warrants, and to seize illegal substances. Pablo Garay, Prefect of the Metropolitan Migration and International Police Department, explained that "we are conducting checks on foreign nationals, primarily looking for individuals with criminal profiles that also violate immigration laws." Regarding the legal status of the individuals checked, Garay clarified that they will not be detained, but rather "they will be processed as part of the immigration complaint proceedings." Furthermore, the detective added that "these individuals are foreign nationals who are in the country illegally and are in violation of immigration laws, therefore, a report will be filed with the immigration authorities."

President José Antonio Kast presided over the signing of two bills and a decree related to security, migration, and the fiscal situation on Monday at the Cerro Castillo Presidential Palace in Viña del Mar. These initiatives had been announced just hours earlier during his first address to the National Congress. The event was attended by ministers, authorities from the police and armed forces, and members of parliament, reflecting the emphasis the executive branch has placed on combating organized crime, controlling migration, and adjusting fiscal accounts. Prior to the signing of the initiatives, Kast stated that they had just concluded "a political committee meeting and a security committee meeting," which included the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces, the director general of the Carabineros (national police), the director general of the PDI (criminal investigation agency), and the national director of the Penitentiary Service. "It was a very good meeting where we were able to discuss the challenges we face in terms of security, both internal and border security, which are currently affecting our citizens," he said. Unified Registry of Vandals and Incivilities One of the bills signed by the executive branch concerns the creation of a Unified Registry of Vandals and Incivilities, an initiative that aims to establish a national registry of individuals convicted or sanctioned for acts that affect civic harmony, public infrastructure, or cultural heritage.

During his first public address, on Monday in Valparaíso, President José Antonio Kast announced a series of draft bills that he will present on issues such as security, economy, education, and government administration. Furthermore, the legislative agenda outlined by the President in his speech to the Congress includes prioritizing certain bills currently under consideration, particularly in the area of security. Kast stated that they plan to urgently discuss extending the period for flagrante delicto (caught in the act) offenses from 12 to 24 hours. "We will also prioritize the bill that punishes masked individuals, and we will declare a total war on organized crime, proposing to drastically increase the penalties for criminal association and other crimes," he said. Register of Vandals and Uncivil Behavior The President also announced that, "in the coming days," a bill will be introduced to create a Register of Vandals and Uncivil Behavior, a proposal he unveiled last October during the campaign that led him to the presidential palace. "This will allow those who have committed crimes such as attacking police officers, healthcare personnel, disrupting public transportation, trafficking drugs, damaging national monuments, among others, to be held accountable for their actions. Those who commit some of these offenses will lose social benefits," he explained. In the area of security, the President announced that they will introduce a bill "to...

"Fellow citizens of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies," General Joaquín Prieto began his speech. "It is with great pleasure that I meet with you at the opening of the legislative period, marking the first year of my administration, and I congratulate you on the continued internal stability and the clear signs of consolidation within our political system." Prieto's words reflected optimism. Having already been sworn in as President of Chile, he attended the opening of the regular session of Congress on June 1, 1832, to deliver a speech to the legislative bodies. The country was beginning to emerge from a decade of turbulent political experiments and civil conflicts. This address by General Prieto is considered the first official report in the history of the country's republican era. From that point on, the tradition continued, with some variations in the dates. However, there are certain nuances. "The historical origin of the tradition of delivering a Presidential Annual Report, on a yearly and systematic basis, dates back to the Constitution of 1833, although the first recorded instance was in the previous year. During the first year of the administration of José Joaquín Prieto Vial, the report was indeed delivered on June 1, 1832, coinciding with the opening of the regular session of Congress. This practice continued until 1924, fulfilling the obligation of the President to inform the..."