Independent Senator Karim Bianchi has introduced a bill in the Chilean Congress to penalize advertising for unlicensed offshore betting sites. The move comes just days before the country's presidential runoff election, aiming to address the proliferation of unregulated online gambling and enhance consumer protection amidst ongoing legislative efforts.
Deportes Concepción achieved a historic promotion to Chile's Primera División after 17 years, defeating Cobreloa 3-2 in a thrilling Liguilla de Ascenso final. Nelson Sepúlveda's injury-time goal sealed the 4-3 aggregate victory in Calama, marking a significant milestone for 'El León de Collao' after years of institutional challenges.
Renowned astronomers, including Nobel laureate Reinhard Genzel, are calling on the Chilean government to safeguard the pristine dark skies over the Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert. A proposed industrial megaproject by AES Andes, located just kilometers from the observatory, threatens to significantly increase light pollution, dust, and vibrations, potentially compromising critical astronomical research.
Siemens Mobility has been awarded a contract by EFE Trenes de Chile to deploy the country's inaugural European Train Control System Level 2 (ETCS L2) on the Tren Alameda-Melipilla and Tren Santiago-Batuco lines. This project marks the first implementation of Siemens' advanced 'Signaling X' platform in Latin America, enhancing safety and operational efficiency across 87 kilometers of railway.
The Chilean Chamber of Deputies is currently reviewing bills to ratify air transport and services agreements with Spain, Greece, and the Netherlands. These agreements, signed between 2021 and 2022, aim to enhance international air connectivity and align with Chile's long-standing open skies policy.
A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Coquimbo, Chile, on September 6, 2023, at 8:48 p.m. local time. The tremor, with an epicenter 41 kilometers south-southwest of Coquimbo and a depth of 41 kilometers, prompted a precautionary evacuation order that was later withdrawn. Chilean authorities confirmed no significant damage or injuries, and the navy ruled out a tsunami threat.
Chile's upcoming presidential election on November 16, 2025, is profoundly shaped by public anxieties over rising crime, the influence of organized gangs, and migration. Leading candidates Jeannette Jara and José Antonio Kast are focusing their campaigns on promises to enhance public security and manage immigration, reflecting a significant national shift towards prioritizing law and order.
Chilean criminal organizations are openly distributing sophisticated counterfeit banknotes, dubbed '5G banknotes,' via social media platforms such as Instagram. These high-quality fakes, featuring pirated security elements, are offered with attractive exchange rates, prompting warnings from law enforcement regarding their detection and the legal ramifications of possession.
Chile's joint special budget committee has largely rejected the government's 2026 budget proposal, with approximately 90% of allocations voted down. The decision, primarily driven by the right-wing opposition, has led to calls for technical discussions and introduces uncertainty ahead of further parliamentary debate.
Chile's state-run mining company ENAMI has received an environmental permit for its new $1.7 billion copper smelter project. This modernization of the Hernan Videla Lira facility in the Atacama region aims to significantly boost copper concentrate processing and cathode production, while adhering to stringent environmental standards.
Chile's unemployment rate for the July-September 2025 quarter stands at 8.5%, with a notable gender gap: men at 8.1% and women at 9.1%. This disparity highlights a fractured recovery, exacerbated by high informal employment and the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women.
Casino operator Enjoy will cease operations at its casinos in Viña del Mar, Coquimbo, and Pucón by September 2028, following the official approval of its resignation by Chile's Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego. This decision triggers a 120-business-day bidding window for new operators, signaling significant shifts in the Chilean gaming market.
Australia's men's team pursuit squad claimed a silver medal at the 2025 UCI Track World Championships in Santiago, Chile, ending a six-year podium drought. The team, featuring Blake Agnoletto, Oliver Bleddyn, Conor Leahy, James Moriarty, and Liam Walsh, was defeated by Denmark in the gold medal final.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake, reported by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center, struck Chile's Tarapacá region on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at a depth of 111 kilometers. No immediate reports of damage or casualties have emerged.
Artisanal fishermen across Chile have announced a national day of mobilization to protest the alleged suspicious behavior and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities of a Chinese fishing fleet within Chile's Exclusive Economic Zone, demanding enhanced maritime surveillance and protection of marine resources.
Chile has officially enacted its sectoral permitting reform bill, Ley N° 21.770, published in the official gazette on Monday, September 29, 2025. The new law aims to significantly reduce bureaucratic red tape and streamline administrative processes for investment projects, with an expected reduction in permit processing times by 30% to 70%.
Chile's President Gabriel Boric has officially nominated former president Michelle Bachelet as a candidate for the next UN Secretary-General. The nomination, made on September 23, 2025, during the UN General Assembly, emphasizes Bachelet's two terms as Chile's president and her leadership at UN Women and as High Commissioner for Human Rights. Boric highlighted the call for a leader from Latin America and the appointment of the first woman to the UN's top post, with the selection process for the 2027 term approaching.
Chile's national rugby team, Los Cóndores, played to a dramatic 32-32 draw against Samoa in the first leg of their Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifying series. The high-scoring encounter took place on September 20, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah, setting the stage for a decisive second leg in Chile.
