Capital and largest city of Chile, a political and economic hub in the Andes foothills.
Bank of America data show US host cities are seeing on-the-ground economic impact from the World Cup, with restaurants and bars leading spending gains and hotel revenues rising in several markets, though results vary by city and broader inflation weighs on sentiment.
Chilean police have arrested retired colonel Nelson Haase Mazzei, who fled justice in 2023 after being sentenced for kidnapping and the murder of Víctor Jara and a prison director. The move marks the latest step in Chile’s long pursuit of accountability for crimes during Pinochet’s dictatorship, with Haase Mazzei awaiting immediate imprisonment.
A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake has devastated western Colombia, with thousands displaced, hundreds dead or missing. Officials warn that reconstruction will require a coordinated push from government, private sector, and humanitarian groups as hospitals, schools, and roads are damaged. Rescue efforts are ongoing amid challenging conditions.
Venezuela has released more than 130 political prisoners under the Programme for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, with dozens of detainees reunited with families outside El Rodeo I. The move follows US-brokered talks and a pledge to reform the judiciary, while protesters urge full freedom for all political prisoners.
Argentina's president Javier Milei has reasserted Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands, said he will punish companies drilling near the islands and ordered investigations into 45 entities linked to hydrocarbon exploration. The UK and Falkland Islanders have reiterated their support for self‑determination, while companies involved in the Sea Lion oil project have said development will continue.
A blaze at a single-storey nursing home in Pitrufquén, Chile, has killed 16 elderly residents and left 10 hurt. The fire, in the Araucanía region about 640km south of Santiago, was extinguished overnight. Investigators are probing the cause amid regulatory questions about the facility.
El Niño is strengthening, triggering floods, heat, and rising seas. Authorities warn of a potentially historic winter as infrastructure is strained and communities prep for extreme weather and food impacts.