International
Fire affects 500 hectares in Curacaví and Padre Hurtado, Chile

December 20 |
Chilean authorities warned Tuesday that they are fighting a fire in the communes of Curacaví and Padre Hurtado, which has already affected 500 hectares.
Under red alert, the fire named as Cuesta Barriga, is “active in the advancing front with high intensity and fast propagation speed, remaining sectors remain active with medium to high intensity,” reported the official statement issued by the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred).
The agency confirmed that a command post, nine technicians, ten brigades, two skidders, eight helicopters, three air tankers, a coordination plane and a heavy air tanker of the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) are working to fight the fire.
Likewise, “the firefighters of Curacaví, Quinta Normal, Maipú, El Monte, Melipilla, San Bernardo, Talagante, San Pedro, Peñaflor and Ñuñoa; Carabineros; provincial presidential delegations of Talagante and Melipilla; and Senapred’s regional team supported by a helicopter managed by the Service” are also participating.
In the meantime, Senapred adds that “the carabineros are carrying out a roadblock at kilometer 21.5 of the Cuesta Barriga. On the other hand, Conaf indicates that smoke has been dispersed from the fire towards the urban area of the Metropolitan Region”.
On the other hand, in relation to air quality, the Ministry of the Environment (MMA), through the National Air Quality Information System, with a report at 18:00 local time, indicated that all stations in the Metropolitan Region are in the good category; however, a rise in concentrations is observed, mainly in the Cerrillos, Parque O’Higgins, El Bosque and Cerro Navia stations.
International
Javier Milei vows to work ‘side by side’ with the U.S. on trade rules

Determined to work “side by side” with the United States, Argentine President Javier Milei announced in Mar-a-Lagothat his government will modify trade regulations to meet the requirements of Donald Trump’s newly imposed tariffs.
Milei arrived in Florida amid the trade war triggered by the latest round of tariff hikes announced by the Republican leader. While many countries are considering retaliation, Milei’s ultraliberal Argentina has opted to adapt instead.
“Argentina will move forward in adjusting its regulations to comply with the reciprocal tariff proposal drafted by President Trump,” Milei stated at the Gala of American Patriots, organized by the Make America Clean Again (MACA) Foundation and the We Fund the Blue NGO, according to his office.
He further explained that Argentina has already met nine out of the 16 necessary requirements and has instructed his administration to comply with the remaining ones in order to resolve trade asymmetries with the U.S. in a short time frame.
International
Paraguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal

Paraguay summoned the Brazilian ambassador in Asunción on Tuesday to demand “explanations” and called its own representative in Brasília for consultations following Brazil’s acknowledgment of an espionage operation. The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attributed the operation to the previous administration.
The surveillance effort aimed to uncover Paraguay’s position in now-suspended negotiations with Brazil regarding the pricing of electricity from the binational Itaipú hydroelectric plant, according to reports in the Brazilian press.
The Brazilian government “categorically denied any involvement in the intelligence operation,” stating in a Foreign Ministry communiqué on Monday that the espionage was carried out under former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration (2019-2023).
“The operation was authorized by the previous government in June 2022 and was annulled by the interim director of the (state intelligence agency) ABIN on March 27, 2023, as soon as the current administration became aware of it,” Brazil’s government asserted.
Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez announced that Brazilian Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho was summoned “to provide detailed explanations” regarding the operation. Additionally, Paraguay recalled its diplomatic representative in Brasília “to report on aspects related to the intelligence activity conducted by Brazil regarding Paraguay’s government affairs.”
International
Elon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders

President Donald Trump has informed his inner circle that Elon Musk will be stepping down from his role as a government advisor, according to a report by Politico today.
Citing three individuals close to Trump, Politico states that the president is pleased with Musk’s leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has implemented significant budget cuts. However, both have agreed that it is time for Musk to return to his businesses and support Trump from a different position outside the government.
A senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely maintain an informal advisory role and continue to be an occasional visitor to the White House. Another source warned that anyone thinking Musk will completely disappear from Trump’s circle is “deluding themselves.”
According to the sources, this transition is expected to coincide with the end of Musk’s tenure as a “special government employee,” a temporary status that exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations. This 130-day period is set to expire in late May or early June.
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