Tag Archives: Chile
Violent clashes in new round of Chile protests
Thousands of protesters clashed with police Friday in Santiago in a fresh round of anti-government demonstrations that erupted more than two months ago in Chile. The rally took place in the Plaza Italia, which has since October 18 become the epicenter of massive citizen protests against President Sebastian Pinera’s right-wing government. Police entered the square in mid-afternoon and dispersed demonstrators with water cannon and tear gas.
Chile: Plane that vanished en route to Antarctica found
Searchers combing Antarctic seas have recovered parts of a military transport plane and human remains belonging to some of the 38 people aboard who vanished en route to the frozen continent, Chilean officials said Thursday. Air Force Gen. Arturo Merino said at a news conference that based on the condition of the remains, he believed it would be “practically impossible” that any survivors would be pulled from the water alive. An international team of searchers continued the hunt, while officials on shore said they would use DNA analysis to identify the crash victims.
Chile says no hope of survivors from missing plane
Chile confirmed Thursday that a military plane with 38 people aboard crashed in the sea, with no hope of finding survivors. “The condition of the plane wreckage that was found makes it practically impossible that there are survivors from this air accident,” Air Force chief Arturo Merino told a news conference in the southern port of Punta Arenas.
Protesters in Chile set fire to university, loot church
Demonstrators in Chile set a university building ablaze and ransacked a church Friday at the close of an otherwise peaceful rally marking three weeks of unprecedented protests against social and economic inequality. Protesters clashed with police who had set up barricades to protect private Pedro de Valdivia University, and shortly thereafter the wooden roof of its 100-year-old administration building began to burn, witnesses said. Nearby, hooded protesters looted the church of La Asuncion, which was built in 1876, dragging furniture outside and setting it alight.
PHOTOS: Chile death toll rises as protests continue
Chile’s death toll has risen to 11, authorities said on Monday, after three days of violent demonstrations and looting that saw President Sebastian Pinera claim the country was “at war.”
Almost 1,500 people were detained in the worst outbreak of social unrest in decades while the capital Santiago was placed under curfew for two nights running.
Chile protests: At least eight people killed during riots in Santiago
Pope accepts abuse resignation of Chile cardinal Ezzati: Vatican
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Chilean Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, who had agreed to step down along with his country’s bishops over sexual abuse cases and their cover-up, the Vatican said Saturday. Ezzati, archbishop of Santiago, is the seventh senior Chilean church official to resign over a scandal which the pope insists must be remedied. To date, Ezzati, the Catholic Church’s highest official in Chile, has maintained his right to silence although he has promised to cooperate with the investigation into his activities — if the authorities first clear him, insisting he is innocent.
Mystery killer whales spotted by scientists off coast of Chile 'likely to be new species'
A killer whale that could be a new species is to be studied by scientists for the first time after it was seen off the coast of southern Chile. A team of international researchers have collected genetic samples from a group of orcas roaming the sub-Antarctic waters off the tip of South America. For decades, fishermen and tourists had returned with tales and even photos of killer whales in the region that look distinctly different from others.