Sebastian Pinera

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Chile Ex-President Drowned After Crashing Into Lake

All 3 passengers in Sebastian Pinera's helicopter survived

(Newser) - Chilean prosecutors on Wednesday released more details about the death of former President Sebastian Pinera, saying he drowned after the helicopter he was piloting crashed into a lake, the AP reports. Pinera, 74, died on Tuesday after a flight over Lake Ranco, more than 560 miles south of Santiago. The...

President Turns Himself In After Selfie Without a Mask

Sebastian Pinera is fined $3.5K after photo shows up on social media

(Newser) - Chile isn't kidding about its mask rules during the pandemic. Anyone caught maskless in a public place can face jail time, as well as a fine. And photos on social media have brought Sebastian Pinera trouble before: one at a pizza party as demonstrators protested inequality, and one in...

Chile Cancels Summit Where US, China Hoped to Sign Deal

White House says it wants to sign first phase of deal anyway

(Newser) - The White House says it wants to sign the first phase of a new China trade deal next month even though the summit where it was to have happened has been cancelled. President Trump was to travel to Santiago, Chile, in November to sign the preliminary agreement with China's...

Another Conservative Wins Power in Latin America

Sebastian Pinera gets another turn as president of Chile

(Newser) - Sebastian Pinera's resounding victory in a presidential runoff election swings Chile back to the right and highlights the increasing number of conservative leaders who have won power in Latin America, the AP reports. With nearly all ballots counted, the billionaire former president won 54.6% of the votes Sunday...

Chile Prez Slammed for Summit Sexist Joke

Pinera's CELAC remarks were 'prehistoric,' opposition says

(Newser) - Opposition lawmakers in Chile say President Sebastian Pinera embarrassed the country by telling a sexist joke to the other 32 heads of state at a regional summit over the weekend. "Do you know what the difference between a politician and a lady is?" he asked. "When a politician...

Vaclav Klaus: Pen-Stealing Czech President Might Have Purloined in the Past
Why Mr. President,
'You Have Taken My Gloves!' 
KLEPTO KLAUS?

Why Mr. President, 'You Have Taken My Gloves!'

Pen-swiping might not have been Czech prez's first time

(Newser) - When Czech President Vaclav Klaus got caught not-so-subtly purloining a fancy pen from Sebastian Pinera, it looks like it wasn't an isolated incident. Klaus dismissed the thievery, saying, "All I have to say is, it is not a pen but just a stylus," and added that he swipes...

Czech Prez Pilfers Pen, Becomes YouTube Hit

Crafty Klaus pockets pen on Chilean visit

(Newser) - Guests of the Chilean president are free to take ceremonial pens, a spokesman says, although you wouldn't know it from Czech President Vaclav Klaus' behavior in a video that has become a YouTube sensation. As President Sebastian Pinera speaks, Klaus craftily removes the pen from its case, moves his hands...

Bolivia to Chile: Give Us Sea Access or We'll Sue

Landlocked country aims to regain access after 132 years

(Newser) - After more than a century with no access to the Pacific, Bolivia is threatening to take Chile to international court in a fight for its right to sail. Bolivia lost those rights in a war 132 years ago, and it remains an “open wound,” according to President Evo...

All 33 Miners Reach Surface
 All 33 Miners Reach Surface 

All 33 Miners Reach Surface

Operation goes flawlessly; rescuers still must come up

(Newser) - They're all up. The last of the 33 Chilean miners—foreman Luis Urzua, 54—emerged just before 9pm ET after 69 days underground. (AP has details of the rescue and jubilation here and bios of the men here .) So far, no major medical problems have been reported. The first...

First Miner Reaches Surface
 First Miner Reaches Surface 

First Miner Reaches Surface

Florencio Avalos escapes after 69 days in mine

(Newser) - The first of the Chilean miners who have been trapped underground for a record 69 days has reached the surface safely. Florencio Avalos grinned as he stepped out of the rescue capsule as his wife, father, and two sons looked on. He hugged rescuers and Chile's president before being taken...

7.2 Quake Shakes Chile Inauguration

Largest aftershock of Chile quake rattled buildings, dignitaries

(Newser) - The largest aftershock since Chile's massive earthquake rocked the country today minutes before the inauguration of President Sebastian Pinera. The 7.2-magnitude aftershock was stronger than the Jan. 12 quake that devastated the Haitian capital. It happened along the same fault zone as Chile's magnitude-8.8 quake on Feb. 27,...

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