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Chile

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Chile. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Santiago

Head of State

President Gabriel Boric

Head of Government

President Gabriel Boric

Cattle graze on a ranch in Lufkin, Texas, in April 2023. Photo: AP

United States

USDA lowers reported beef export sales by 90% amid growing doubts over data

The original report was widely dismissed as inaccurate, amid concerns over the agency’s big staff cuts under the Trump administration.

10 Jul 2026 - 4:45AM

Venezuela

Venezuela quakes survivor shares ordeal after 8 days buried alive

6 Jul 2026 - 3:40PMvideocam

Singapore

Asian Angle | Singapore’s trade pacts prove small states can shape global rules

4 Jul 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

New ghost shark species may have been found in Costa Rica

Scientists say the latest discovery has a ‘shorter’ snout, a ‘darker coloration pattern’ and a ‘much longer spine on its dorsal fin’.

4 Jul 2026 - 10:30AM

The newly discovered Costa Rican ghost shark (Rhinochimaera costaricana) at the Museum of Zoology of the University of Costa Rica’s Centre for Research in Biodiversity and Tropical Ecology in San Jose on Friday. Photo: AFP

Natural disasters

‘Truly a miracle’: man rescued from Venezuela rubble 8 days after twin quakes

Multinational teams tunnel through collapsed building to extract security guard as the death toll continues to rise.

3 Jul 2026 - 4:15PMvideocam

Venezuela

Why did they pancake? Building failures, soft soil amplify Venezuela quake destruction

Experts point to poor code enforcement, risky geography as factors in collapses in the wake of twin earthquakes.

30 Jun 2026 - 2:40PMvideocam

Venezuela

Venezuela earthquakes draw aid from governments that cut ties with Caracas

Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and other governments that suspended relations with the country offer rescue teams and humanitarian aid.

26 Jun 2026 - 8:52PMvideocam

Neighbours carry a man from the rubble of a collapsed building in La Guaira, Venezuela. Photo: AP

China-India relations

Exclusive | US assures India over AI ‘kill switch’ as ‘Pax Silica’ expands to counter China

New Delhi says Washington pledged AI access would continue after Anthropic restrictions as the US-led initiative adds new members.

26 Jun 2026 - 4:20AMvideocam

Racism and other prejudice

Brazil detains Spanish woman for racism, in latest high-profile arrest

The country has some of the strictest anti-racism laws in Latin America, with penalties ranging from two to five years in prison and a fine.

25 Jun 2026 - 2:35AM

China-Latin America relations

US’ Cuba-China fears, Panama pressure: Latin America relations reads

From Argentina’s shrinking China lifeline to the US’ Cuba worries, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in May 2026.

3 Jun 2026 - 12:38AM

Students from military schools take part in an “anti-imperialist” protest against the American incursion in Venezuela, in front of the US Embassy in Havana in January. Photo: AFP via Getty Images/TNS

India

India seals BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam, eyes Indonesia next

A senior Indian defence ministry official made the announcement at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore.

31 May 2026 - 10:51AM

India’s BrahMos missile system (left) takes part in the country’s Republic Day parade in New Delhi last year. Photo: AFP

China-Africa relations

Will Zimbabwe’s lithium strategy help it break into the value-adding game?

Arcadia starts processing Chinese lithium in hopes of snapping the ‘digging and shipping’ cycle following Harare’s raw mineral export ban.

24 May 2026 - 3:00PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Hormuz crisis tarnishing copper production, raising costs, Chinese analysts say

China Minmetals Economic Research Institute says disruption of sulphur shipments through strait is having ripple effects on copper production.

14 May 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Hantavirus

‘Almost zero’ chance Dutch man got hantavirus in Argentina’s Ushuaia: official

The patient and his wife, both MV Hondius passengers who died of the disease, were in the city only a few days before showing symptoms.

9 May 2026 - 5:38AM

A scientist from the Malbran Institute holds a container used to diagnose the Andes hantavirus in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday. Photo: Argentine Health Ministry via AFP

Science

Do artificial sweeteners cause inheritable biological changes?

New study suggests alterations in gut microbiota, gene expression and metabolism, with some effects persisting in offspring.

7 May 2026 - 9:00AMvideocam

Stevia is among the world’s most widely used non-nutritive sweeteners. Photo: Shutterstock

China-Latin America relations

Beijing backs Cuba, Chile reveals smuggling ring: Latin America relations reads

From a smuggling ring in Chile to rare earth wrangling in Brazil, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in April 2026.

30 May 2026 - 5:09AM

China exports

How China’s reported sulphuric acid export ban could have global buyers reeling

Foreign firms fear more halts following reports of a ban on the export of the chemical, crucial for fertiliser and battery production.

29 Apr 2026 - 6:07AMvideocam

Zimbabwe

Tianqi Lithium favours China’s salt lakes over Africa amid resource nationalism

In response to Zimbabwe’s export ban, two Chinese companies have promised to build a domestic lithium sulphate plant.

26 Apr 2026 - 7:30AM

Mining trucks load lithium sulphate in Atacama Salt Flat, Chile, on July 29, 2024. Photo: Anadolu via Getty Images

China energy security

Why China is spending billions on a robot army to run its power grid

China’s grid operators plan to purchase thousands of robots in 2026 alone, including devices to inspect and maintain vital infrastructure.

24 Apr 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

China exports

China, the Iran war and the chemical suddenly stoking global supply fears

Food security is one of Beijing’s top policy goals – and that could spell trouble for countries dependent on Chinese sulphuric acid.

13 Apr 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Peru presidential run-off looms as Fujimori leads troubled vote

Daughter of former strongman is ahead in the race, but logistical issues have forced a one-day voting extension for tens of thousands.

13 Apr 2026 - 6:18PMvideocam

Keiko Fujimori after voting on Sunday. Photo: AP

China-Latin America relations

Chile exposes smuggling ring that shipped US$917m in stolen copper to China

Chilean investigators dismantled cross-border networks after one of largest organised crime operations in South American country’s history.

9 Apr 2026 - 6:04AMvideocam

Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast, who took office in March, has made organised crime a central focus of his government’s first months. Photo: AFP

China-Latin America relations

US threats for Chile, China tariffs Mexico: 7 Latin America relations reads

From Panama Canal woes to an undersea cable scandal in Chile, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in March 2026.

1 Apr 2026 - 11:00PM

China consumption

How ‘salmon’ raised in landlocked Xinjiang is netting fans in China

Aquaculture in the far-western region is expected to grow even more rapidly after a dependence on imported eggs is diminished or ended.

25 Mar 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

Science

China and Chile wrap up Atacama Trench mission as US pressure mounts

Scientists on Chinese research ship aimed to uncover mysteries of the trench in ‘most ambitious’ deep-sea expedition in the eastern Pacific.

17 Mar 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Scientists (from left) Du Mengran, Deng Yuqing and Osvaldo Ulloa in the manned submersible at Atacama Trench. Photo: Handout

Americas and the Caribbean

Channeling Trump, Chile’s new president launches work on border barrier

Arch-conservative leader Kast has vowed to crack down on immigration from Peru and Bolivia with his ‘Border Shield’ plan.

17 Mar 2026 - 10:33AM

A machine digs along a section of Chile’s northern border. Photo: AP

China-Latin America relations

Amid China cable fallout, Chile’s president ends term, calls for unity

Undersea fibre-optic cable project linking Chile to Hong Kong enraged US, causing dispute that defined Gabriel Boric’s final weeks in office.

12 Mar 2026 - 5:08AMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

US threats and a Chinese cable scandal mark first day for Chile’s new president

The US forced Chile to cancel a Chinese undersea cable. Now the region is asking who gets to decide what infrastructure Latin America builds.

12 Mar 2026 - 12:54AMvideocam

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Chile

USDA lowers reported beef export sales by 90% amid growing doubts over data

The original report was widely dismissed as inaccurate, amid concerns over the agency’s big staff cuts under the Trump administration.

Venezuela quakes survivor shares ordeal after 8 days buried alive

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Asian Angle | Singapore’s trade pacts prove small states can shape global rules

New ghost shark species may have been found in Costa Rica

Scientists say the latest discovery has a ‘shorter’ snout, a ‘darker coloration pattern’ and a ‘much longer spine on its dorsal fin’.

‘Truly a miracle’: man rescued from Venezuela rubble 8 days after twin quakes

Multinational teams tunnel through collapsed building to extract security guard as the death toll continues to rise.

Why did they pancake? Building failures, soft soil amplify Venezuela quake destruction

Experts point to poor code enforcement, risky geography as factors in collapses in the wake of twin earthquakes.

Venezuela earthquakes draw aid from governments that cut ties with Caracas

Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and other governments that suspended relations with the country offer rescue teams and humanitarian aid.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | US assures India over AI ‘kill switch’ as ‘Pax Silica’ expands to counter China

New Delhi says Washington pledged AI access would continue after Anthropic restrictions as the US-led initiative adds new members.

Brazil detains Spanish woman for racism, in latest high-profile arrest

The country has some of the strictest anti-racism laws in Latin America, with penalties ranging from two to five years in prison and a fine.

US’ Cuba-China fears, Panama pressure: Latin America relations reads

From Argentina’s shrinking China lifeline to the US’ Cuba worries, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in May 2026.

India seals BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam, eyes Indonesia next

A senior Indian defence ministry official made the announcement at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore.

Will Zimbabwe’s lithium strategy help it break into the value-adding game?

Arcadia starts processing Chinese lithium in hopes of snapping the ‘digging and shipping’ cycle following Harare’s raw mineral export ban.

Hormuz crisis tarnishing copper production, raising costs, Chinese analysts say

China Minmetals Economic Research Institute says disruption of sulphur shipments through strait is having ripple effects on copper production.

‘Almost zero’ chance Dutch man got hantavirus in Argentina’s Ushuaia: official

The patient and his wife, both MV Hondius passengers who died of the disease, were in the city only a few days before showing symptoms.

Do artificial sweeteners cause inheritable biological changes?

New study suggests alterations in gut microbiota, gene expression and metabolism, with some effects persisting in offspring.

Beijing backs Cuba, Chile reveals smuggling ring: Latin America relations reads

From a smuggling ring in Chile to rare earth wrangling in Brazil, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in April 2026.

How China’s reported sulphuric acid export ban could have global buyers reeling

Foreign firms fear more halts following reports of a ban on the export of the chemical, crucial for fertiliser and battery production.

Tianqi Lithium favours China’s salt lakes over Africa amid resource nationalism

In response to Zimbabwe’s export ban, two Chinese companies have promised to build a domestic lithium sulphate plant.

Why China is spending billions on a robot army to run its power grid

China’s grid operators plan to purchase thousands of robots in 2026 alone, including devices to inspect and maintain vital infrastructure.

China, the Iran war and the chemical suddenly stoking global supply fears

Food security is one of Beijing’s top policy goals – and that could spell trouble for countries dependent on Chinese sulphuric acid.

Peru presidential run-off looms as Fujimori leads troubled vote

Daughter of former strongman is ahead in the race, but logistical issues have forced a one-day voting extension for tens of thousands.

Chile exposes smuggling ring that shipped US$917m in stolen copper to China

Chilean investigators dismantled cross-border networks after one of largest organised crime operations in South American country’s history.

US threats for Chile, China tariffs Mexico: 7 Latin America relations reads

From Panama Canal woes to an undersea cable scandal in Chile, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in March 2026.

How ‘salmon’ raised in landlocked Xinjiang is netting fans in China

Aquaculture in the far-western region is expected to grow even more rapidly after a dependence on imported eggs is diminished or ended.

China and Chile wrap up Atacama Trench mission as US pressure mounts

Scientists on Chinese research ship aimed to uncover mysteries of the trench in ‘most ambitious’ deep-sea expedition in the eastern Pacific.

Channeling Trump, Chile’s new president launches work on border barrier

Arch-conservative leader Kast has vowed to crack down on immigration from Peru and Bolivia with his ‘Border Shield’ plan.

Amid China cable fallout, Chile’s president ends term, calls for unity

Undersea fibre-optic cable project linking Chile to Hong Kong enraged US, causing dispute that defined Gabriel Boric’s final weeks in office.

US threats and a Chinese cable scandal mark first day for Chile’s new president

The US forced Chile to cancel a Chinese undersea cable. Now the region is asking who gets to decide what infrastructure Latin America builds.

Asian Angle | Singapore’s trade pacts prove small states can shape global rules

Exclusive | US assures India over AI ‘kill switch’ as ‘Pax Silica’ expands to counter China