Chile Headlines: Copa Libertadores, Global Chile, Quinta Normal

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Unión Española take win first leg of Copa Libertadores

The first round of the Copa Libertadores has begun, with Unión Española taking on the Mexican team Tigres from Monterrey at Estadio Santa Laura. Unión Española managed a 1-0 victory against an under strength Mexican lineup. Tigres have opted to focus on the domestic competition in Mexico with their eyes on another premiership, so the squad in Chile was a very inexperienced one.

The lone goal of the match came early in the second half, with Gonzalo Barriga connecting with a cross from Sebastián Jaime. The teams will face each other again in Monterrey on February 2. While not an emphatic win Unión Española will take a slight advantage into their trip north. The winner will join Group C in the second stage which also features Universidad Católica.

Chile is the most globalized economy in Latin America

A new report by the firm Ernst & Young has marked Chile as the most global economy in Latin America, and 25th place in the world. The annual Globalization Index is based on five factors: foreign trade, capital movement, exchange of technology and ideas, labor movement, and cultural integration. Chile scored highest in the arrival of foreign capital, while the report also noted the country had remained stable during recent worldwide economic turmoil.

Chile has remained at the top of the rankings for the Latin American world, with Mexico and Colombia their nearest rivals. Chile’s wide range of free trade agreements, including those with the USA and European Union has seen them lead the way for global investment in the Latin American world.

President Sebastián Piñera opens renovated Parque Quinta Normal

President Sebastián Piñera tests out the renovated lagoon at Quinta Normal. Photo: Alex Ibañez via Foto Presidencia

After two years of renovations, people in Parque Quinta Normal may have been surprised to see the wooden panels come down and reveal a colorful light show near the renovated lagoon. The light show is part of a new fountain, which is aimed to encourage people to cool off on hot days by passing under the fountain, rather than in the lagoon.

Minister of Housing Rodrigo Perez Mackenna said the park currently has approximately 800,000 visitors per year, but with the new renovations, they expect that number will rise above 1 million. The Minister joined President Sebastián Piñera in a ceremony to officially open the new renovations.

Aside from the new water works, the old sandy paths have been replaced with cobblestone pathways and many more seats have been added. The park contains a number of museums and the new renovations have given extra prominence to the Museum of Natural History.