Chile's Lithium Protests End with Promised Visit

Protesters in Chile's Atacama salt flat, home to the world's largest lithium deposit, have ended demonstrations after President Gabriel Boric's promise to visit the area. The protests were sparked by an agreement between domestic producer SQM and U.S. firm Albemarle, which drew criticism from indigenous leaders who claimed the agreement sidestepped local communities. The Atacama Indigenous Council demanded a dialogue table to discuss lithium mining in the region, highlighting Chile's challenge in asserting state control over lithium crucial for electric vehicle batteries.