Conservative Wins Chile Presidential Elections With Pinochet Fan

Cast Promises to Crack Down on Illegal Immigration

Conservative Jose Antonio Cast has won the presidential election in Chile with over 58% of the vote. His rival, center-left candidate Jeanette Jara, received about 42%. The New York Times reported on December 14.

According to media reports, Cast built his campaign on promises to crack down on crime and illegal immigration. He said he would deport illegal immigrants, criminalize illegal entry into the country, and tighten controls on Chile's northern border.

At the same time, the figure of the newly elected president remains controversial due to his attitude towards the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Cast has repeatedly expressed respect for Pinochet, who ruled Chile for almost two decades after the 1973 coup. Although he publicly condemned the human rights violations under that regime, Cast has a positive assessment of his economic policies and has previously stated that he would vote for Pinochet under current conditions.

The new president's family ties also attract attention. Cast is the son of German immigrants, and his brother Miguel Cast previously held a ministerial position in the government of Pinochet's military junta, which opponents often use as an argument in criticizing the politician.

Cast's victory marks a sharp turn from the course of incumbent President Gabriel Boric and strengthens right-wing political forces in the Latin American region.

Over the past decade, I have noted that Hyundai and Kia offer excellent electric cars, but do not make enough efforts to mass produce and actively sell them. I am far from alone in this observation. Ever since the release of the Kia Soul EV and Hyundai Ioniq, which had various electrification options, European and American fans of electric cars have been impressed with the development, efficiency and characteristics of these vehicles, but disappointed with the low level of their sales.

The East is coming
At a time when Chinese electric car manufacturers are rapidly increasing production volumes, cutting costs and increasing sales. As an example, BYD sales grew by 207% in October alone. Sales of XPENG, Zeekr, Leapmotor and others are also growing. The biggest surprise is that Chinese manufacturers overtook South Korean competitors in sales in Western Europe, including the UK, back in September.

Unexpected Turn
This is a surprise, given that Hyundai and Kia have a significant presence in the US but a distinctly insufficient presence in Europe. If they had put the same effort into selling electric vehicles that BYD and other Chinese manufacturers are demonstrating, the results might have been different.

German carmaker Volkswagen is preparing to suspend production at its Dresden plant.

The Financial Times reports this.

The shutdown is scheduled to begin on December 16, and the decision is being attributed to financial pressure and weakening demand in key markets.

This is a significant step for the company, as the closure of a production site in Germany could be the first such case in the brand’s 88-year history.

At the same time, Volkswagen emphasizes that the facility will not completely disappear from the company’s map — its role will change.

The reasons for the move lie in the deterioration of sales in several regions at once.

In China and Europe, the results were weaker than analysts expected, and in the US, the situation was complicated by trade tariffs introduced by the administration of Donald Trump, who is the US president.

Against this background, Volkswagen CFO Arnaud Antlitz noted that net cash flow in 2025 may be slightly better than the previous forecast of “almost zero”. However, experts warn that the pressure on the automaker will continue.

A separate challenge for the concern is the need for additional investments in traditional power plants.

Analysts indicate that the possible extension of the “life cycle” of fossil fuel engines will require new costs, in parallel with investments in electrification and digital services.

Because of this, Volkswagen’s problems are described as “large-scale” — the company has to balance between different technological trajectories and market expectations. As a result, the concern is forced to review its production map and cost structure.

Recall that Volkswagen suffered losses of $ 1.5 billion due to the Trump administration’s tariffs.

Volkswagen also introduced a lifetime warranty on popular SUV models.

Blunders in EU bureaucratic decisions have led to a boom in the market for Chinese hybrids and petrol and diesel cars. Sales statistics in Europe show that measures aimed at protecting local manufacturers have backfired. In 2024, the European Union introduced tariffs of up to 35% on imports of Chinese electric cars, intending to support European brands and curb the growth of the Chinese electric car market.

New market conditions and the impact on Chinese brands. The decision was outlined in July 2024 and formally introduced in November of the same year.

Chinese car sales grew by only 13%.

According to analysts at Jefferies, Chinese manufacturers have shifted their focus from electric cars to hybrid and petrol/diesel cars.
Sales of Chinese cars in the UK and EU are expected to reach 700,000 units in 2025, up from 408,000 in 2024.

Fewer than 20,000 of these cars will be assembled in European plants.

Philip Hushua of Jefferies believes that the EU’s decision to focus tariffs on a specific technology has been ineffective. Even imports of hybrid and petrol cars are still subject to a 10% import duty. Some Chinese brands have been able to offset this duty by producing cheaper cars in China, which is 20-30% cheaper than in Europe.

Even electric cars, which are subject to both tariffs, have retained significant market share thanks to their competitiveness and high margins. Instead of establishing new production facilities in Europe, Chinese companies have focused on internal combustion engine cars, hybrids and plug-in hybrids to avoid higher tariffs on electric vehicles.

The Louvre museum in Paris did not open on Monday, December 15, as usual, as staff met to discuss a strike over pay and conditions.

Reuters reports, according to European Truth.

The Louvre normally opens at 8:00 a.m. local time, but that did not happen on Monday, December 15.

Staff at one of the world's most famous museums met to discuss a strike over pay and conditions.

If confirmed, the strike would come at a particularly difficult time for the museum, which is still reeling from the October theft of 88 million euros in valuables and recent infrastructure problems, including a water leak that damaged ancient books.

Visitors arriving at the Louvre on Monday could face partial or full gallery closures, long lines and limited access to some collections, although the full extent of the damage will depend on how many of the museum’s 2,200 employees join the strike.

The Louvre made headlines in October for a scandalous seven-minute robbery of the Apollo gallery, in which thieves stole jewels belonging to Napoleon and Empress Eugenie. The stolen jewels have never been recovered, except for those the thieves lost during their escape.

Four suspects have been charged in the case. The scandal has raised questions about the museum’s security measures.

According to an investigation commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, the attackers who stole jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris fled 30 seconds before the police arrived at the scene of the crime.

The Toyota Land Cruiser is traditionally associated with reliability, endurance and utilitarian character. But even the simplest version of the legendary SUV can unexpectedly get a completely different life. A striking example is the radical luxury reworking of the basic Land Cruiser 70, which raised its cost to $ 145,000, effectively transferring the car to another class.

The project was implemented by specialists from the Middle East, where the Land Cruiser 70 remains a cult model for deserts, business and government agencies. The original car is as simple as possible, with a minimum of comfort, but with the legendary frame structure and proven technology.

Still utilitarian on the outside, but with expensive accents
At first glance, this Land Cruiser does not look glamorous. The square body, simple lines, classic proportions of the 70 series have remained in place. But it is worth looking closer - and it becomes clear that we are in front of a completely different level. The car received an exclusive paint job, refined optics, new wheels and delicate decorative elements that do not scream luxury, but are very expensive.

The main idea of ​​the project is to preserve visual brutality, while adding status. This is not a show car, but a car for those who appreciate discreet luxury and do not require unnecessary attention.

A salon that has nothing to do with the “base”
The biggest transformation took place inside. What used to be hard plastic and simple seats has turned into an interior of the level of a premium sedan. The highest quality leather, contrasting stitching, natural inserts, a completely redesigned front panel and a modern multimedia system radically change the perception of the car.

The back row received individual seats with electric adjustment, ventilation and massage. Space, silence and comfort are more important here than practicality, although the off-road potential has not disappeared.

Unchanged technology, but with a different mood
It is interesting that from the technical side the Land Cruiser has remained almost unchanged. Under the hood there is still a proven atmospheric or turbodiesel engine, combined with a classic transmission and all-wheel drive. This is the philosophy of the project: not to interfere with what already works perfectly, but to change only the feeling of ownership.

Thus, the buyer gets a rare combination - the legendary reliability of the 70 series and comfort, which is usually associated with cars of a completely different price category.

Luxury for those who know the price of simplicity
This Land Cruiser is not trying to compete with the Range Rover or Bentley Bentayga. Its audience is people for whom status is determined not by the emblem, but by the content. $ 145 thousand for the “base” Toyota sounds provocative, but this is precisely the uniqueness of the project.

In the markets of the Middle East and Australia, such alterations are becoming increasingly popular. They prove that even the most utilitarian car can become a luxury item if approached with the right vision and without compromising on quality.