Chile Headlines: Copa Libertadores, Bar The Clinic, Codelco Mitsui

Universidad Católica draw with Bolivar in Copa Libertadores

Universidad Católica hosted Bolivian outfit Bolivar in their first match in the Copa Libertadores. The score finished with both teams locked on one goal apiece. This leaves fellow Chileans Unión Española at the top of the group, after they beat Colombians Junior 2-0. Both teams got to start their Copa Libertadores campaign at home, they will travel north to face their opposition next fortnight.

Universidad Católica were disappointed in their Copa Libertadores opening match. Image:nokhoog_buchachon

Universidad de Chile are also involved in the Copa Libertadores. The Copa Sudamericana champions  will be hopeful they can retain the form that saw them undefeated for 36 games in 2011. The loss of a number of players, particularly in the forwards may effect their campaign. Reigning champions Santos, one of six Brazilian teams involved in the competition have managed to keep most of their premiership squad including Neymar, who was being courted by Barcelona.

The Copa Libertadores is the most important club competition in South America. Colo Colo were the last Chilean winners in 1991.

Mass food poisoning forces The Clinic Bar to close temporarily

Twenty people were affected by food poisoning after eating Spanish tortillas with chorizo inside from The Clinic Bar in Bellas Artes. The popular bar has been suspended from resuming activities by the Ministry of Health until the cause of the poisonings is found.

At the moment health officials claim salmonella could have been present in the tortillas. One person was admitted to the Universidad Católica hospital, while other were treated at medical centers or hospital clinics around Santiago.

An audit by health officials showed some problems in the kitchen, particularly that the regular temperature of 25 degrees Celcius was exceeded and a level of 30 degrees was experienced in the kitchen.

The bar hopes to resume operations as soon as possible, though Ministry of Health official Marta Zamudio stated “the bar will not resume trading until we find the cause of the problem.”

Codelco to release Mitsui documents

A new chapter has begun in the ongoing saga between Codelco and Anglo American. With both sides unable to come to an agreement over an Codelco’s claims on an option on the Anglo American Sur project, it is expected they will spend between three and five years in court.

The most recent legal proceeding has seen Codelco, the world’s largest producer of copper, ordered to release the document for their financing from Japan’s Mitsui corporation. It came as a response to a local court ordering Anglo American to make public their deal with Mitsubishi. Codelco claimed the secret documents showed the deal was illegitimate.

The courts have now ordered Codelco to open up their records in regards to their funding from Mitsui. As the fight continues, Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carrol is currently recovering from a horse riding accident.