- 3 months ago
21/10/2025
FTS 12.30
*Venezuela: 4th Public Consultation to be held in November
*Israeli army controls 58% of Gaza despite ceasefire
FTS 12.30
*Venezuela: 4th Public Consultation to be held in November
*Israeli army controls 58% of Gaza despite ceasefire
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NewsTranscript
00:00In Colombia, President Gustavo Petro met U.S. Representative John McNamara amidst the crisis sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's insults and threats.
00:23Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced that a fourth public consultation will be held on next November 23.
00:30And Southeast Occupation Forces in the Gaza Strip are keeping thousands of families displaced from the eastern part of the territory despite the ceasefire agreement.
00:44Hello, welcome to From the South. I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Dresos Studios in Havana, Cuba. We begin with the news.
01:00On Monday, a meeting was held between the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, and the United States Representative in Bogotá, John McNamara.
01:11The dialogue took place amidst the crisis unleashed by the insults and threats made by U.S. President Donald Trump against his Colombian counterpart.
01:18At the end of the meeting, Hela de Casa de Nariño, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, assured a sincere dialogue will always lead to solutions.
01:27However, no details of the meeting were released. In this context, the White House's threat to impose new tariffs on Colombia did not materialize.
01:34Before entering the meeting with the Washington envoy, President Petro assured that he was going to demand, not concede.
01:46For his part, the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has also publicly blamed U.S. President Donald Trump for the ongoing situation in Venezuela,
01:54citing Washington's economic sanctions as the root cause of mass migration and economic collapse.
02:00In a recent interview, Petro firmly stated that Colombia's military would not participate in any U.S.-led invasion of Venezuela,
02:08distancing his administration from potential regional conflict.
02:12Petro accused Trump of using punitive measures to strengthen Venezuela's economy, leading to widespread displacement and instability across Latin America.
02:20The remarks come amid a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions between Bogotá and Washington.
02:27Petro also denounced what he described as a U.S. policy of domination over Colombia and the region, masked as anti-narcotics operation.
02:35The person primarily responsible is Mr. Trump, and it must be said that Mr. Trump governed before.
02:50So look at what happened there. There is almost a war between Colombia and Venezuela.
02:55Mr. Trump is angry that I don't support the Americans with the Colombian army to invade Venezuela. No, sir.
03:05What kind of stupid Colombian would think of helping to invade where their cousins, their nephews, their Colombian people are,
03:14where there are four million people to be killed like in Gaza?
03:17After the interview, President Petro assured that diplomatic relations with the United States were escalating in tone at the same time that bombs were falling on the Gaza Strip and missiles were being fired into the Caribbean Sea.
03:32And the tone was rising as more bombs fell, and more children were killed in Gaza, as more and more Latin Americans were chained and handcuffed on airplanes and expelled as if they were unwanted dogs in the United States.
03:52And as they began to threaten us to the point that the same missiles that fall on Gaza also fall in the Caribbean Sea near us, we investigated whether it is more territorial or not.
04:05Or not. They did not want to give us the coordinates. So in the face of that, a president, president, keep silent and kneel or a president speaks for the dignity of humanity, not just for his people. That is what I have done.
04:21The Venezuelan president, the president of the United States.
04:22The Venezuelan president of Venezuela reiterated the government's commitment to defending Latin American unity, reaffirming his support for Colombia in the face of U.S. threats.
04:36In our hearts, in our hearts, we are Colombia. The great Colombia that was founded on the Orinoco.
04:49By Liberator Simon Antonio de la Santissima Trinidad, BolĂvar, Palacios y Blanco, our Liberator.
05:01And Colombia, Colombia knows that we are one, twin brothers, and whatever happens to Colombia, happens to Venezuela, and whatever happens in Venezuela, happens to Colombia.
05:14As a military officer from the Colombian Armed Forces wrote to me two weeks ago.
05:19If they attack Venezuela, they attack Colombia. We are one homeland in our hearts. And these are not empty words. I know what I'm saying.
05:26A UN expert denounced on Tuesday the coercive intervention in Venezuela by the United States in special procedures news release of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
05:41According to the release, covert action and threats of using armed forces against the government of Venezuela by the United States violate Venezuela's sovereignty and the UN Charter.
05:52The experts describe these actions as an extremely dangerous escalation with grave implications for peace and security in the Caribbean region.
05:59They stated that the use of lethal force in international waters without proper legal basis violates the international law of the sea and amounts to extrajudicial executions.
06:09Preparations for covert or direct military action against another sovereign state constitute an even graver breach of the UN Charter.
06:17Finally, they underscored that any attempt to impose regime change by external means also infringes upon the right to self-determination.
06:24The long history of external interventions in Latin America must not be repeated.
06:30And on Tuesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that a fourth public consultation will be held on November 23rd.
06:41The main objective of the consultation is to call on the people to prepare and propose the projects they wish to implement in their communities,
06:48to which the president referred as an example of direct democracy.
06:53The first national public consultation was held in April where 4,500 community projects were selected for funding to strengthen the role of people's power.
07:02In this regard, President Nicolas Maduro denounced foreign campaigns against democracy promoted by former President Hugo Chavez Frias
07:09who out demanded respect for the people of Venezuela.
07:12This year we had the first consultation on February 2nd, the second consultation on April 27th, the third consultation on July 27th, and there is one consultation left.
07:37And since I have already the funds, I am calling the fourth communal consultation for the general elections on Sunday, November 23rd.
07:48All neighbors to vote for their communal projects in an exercise of direct democracy.
07:56We now have a first break coming up. First, remember you can join us on TikTok at Test English, where you'll find news in different formats, news updates, and much more.
08:05I'm going to be right back. Stay with us.
08:07Welcome back. On Monday in Cuba, the Vietnam-Cuba Collaboration Project for the Development of Rice Cultivation concluded.
08:18The project was recognized for its significant contributions training more than 40,000 producers and for the development of four new high yield varieties.
08:27The event was attended by Cuban authorities and representatives of the Vietnamese government led by Ambassador Li Kuan Long.
08:33And it was emphasized that cooperation has been essential for strengthening food security in the country.
08:52The project was celebrated in an environment of mutual achievement and contributed to knowledge in crucial areas such as local development, renewable energy, investment, and agricultural extension.
09:07Several achievements have been made, including the consolidation of a rice production strategy for 2025-2030, and efficient planning of irrigation activities, an agricultural extension system with 13 regional centers, and more than 150 trained technicians, the introduction and validation of new high yield varieties from Vietnam, and the implementation of various innovative technologies that have a daily impact on Cuban farms.
09:35In this context, Vietnamese Ambassador Li Kuan Long emphasized the historical solidarity between the two nations.
09:45Vietnam has always accompanied and supported Cuba for a long time, especially in the most difficult times, and a very important goal for us is to help Cuba guarantee food security.
09:56Therefore, the party and government of Vietnam have decided to carry out this project over the course of 23 years.
10:03The impressive results of the project show success with much effort, the commitments of the Vietnamese government party, and the goal of food security.
10:12In the context of the national strike in Ecuador, now on its 30th day, international organizations warned that the government of the Nino Boa is violating the right of indigenous communities to protest.
10:26Human rights violations that breach international standards and national laws have been reported during the protest.
10:31In this regard, international organizations pointed out that the law enforcement forces infringed the law of legitimate use of force and the UN international covenant on civil and political rights, which obliged the state to guarantee the right to peaceful social protest and establish limits on repression.
10:49In this scenario, international bodies demanded impartial investigations, transparency and dialogue to prevent further abuses.
10:56Insecurity in the country has worsened.
11:04We are in the most violent year in our history, with one death every 56 minutes.
11:09Where did that 3% bet go?
11:11It went into the hands of the international monetary fund.
11:14It went into the hands of the big monopolies.
11:16But not to the great needs of the Ecuadorian people.
11:19That is why we students will remain in the streets to protest against anti-popular measures, and also to defend public universities.
11:30Well, first of all, I would like to tell the president that today more than ever.
11:37We are calling on the student body to unite in order to combat these anti-popular neoliberal measures that affect all Ecuadorians measures that we can see such as the increase in VAT, which was intended for security, but we continue to be one of the most dangerous countries in Latin America, and we see a homicide.
11:53Rate that is growing more and more so these measures make it clear to us that the only thing this government wants is to make life precarious.
12:00In Argentina, President Javier Millet enacted emergency laws on patriotic health and university funding, but suspended their implementation and ordered Congress to determine the sources of their funding.
12:14The government followed the same pattern as it did with the disability emergency law.
12:18Congressman Esteban PaulĂłn announced the expansion of the complaint for abuse of authority and breach of public office against Javier Millet, Guillermo Franco, Mario Lugones, and Sandra Petovello.
12:28Although Millet now rejects the allocation of funds just a few days ago, Liberty Advances asked the Electoral Chamber to reprint all the ballots for the October 26 elections.
12:37The request rejected by the judges would have cost the national government millions.
12:41On Tuesday, university unions, workers at Garahan Hospital, and people with disabilities will once more take to the streets to protest against Millet's policies.
12:48In the United States, the Senate failed on Monday for the 11th consecutive time to approve a temporary funding bill to end the government shutdown, which has been ongoing for 20 days, with no visible agreements between Republicans and Democrats.
13:06The legislative session was marked by the absence of seven senators, and the deadlock continues because the Democrats demand the inclusion of an extension of Obamacare subsidies, which the Republicans oppose, claiming without evidence that this program benefits undocumented individuals.
13:27The 20-day government shutdown has affected more than 1.3 million federal employees who are working without pay, while the administration of President Donald Trump has fired more than 4,000 employees from various agencies, and the matter is currently being resolved in the courts.
13:46We now have our second short break coming up, before we invite you to visit our Facebook page at TeleStore English, there you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage, and much more.
13:55Follow our page and activate the notification button to stay up-to-date on the world's most recent fence.
13:59And final break, don't go away.
14:01Welcome back.
14:23Welcome back.
14:24A thick layer of smog blanketed India's capital on Tuesday, a day after millions celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali, with fireworks that sent air pollution levels soaring to hazardous levels across the city.
14:35According to health authorities, the chemical components of fireworks combined with the seasonal pollution and weather conditions raised the air quality index above 350, a level considered severe and dangerous to breathe, according to the World Health Organization.
14:49Last week, the Supreme Court of India eased the general ban on firecrackers in New Delhi during Diwali, allowing the limited use of eco-friendly firecrackers that emit less pollutants.
14:59The court had said they could be used during specific hours from Saturday to Tuesday, but as in previous years, the rule was mostly ignored.
15:14And the Taklimakian Desert in northwest China has undergone a remarkable transformation.
15:19After more than four decades of work, the country has managed to close a greenbelt of more than 2,700 km around the so-called Sea of Death.
15:28Our correspondent Bruno Falsi brings us all the details.
15:31Greetings, colleagues of Telesur.
15:36I am in the Chinese capital to inform you this time that satellite images confirm the success of the project that halted the advance, covering more than 330,000 square kilometers, is now surrounded by an ecological barrier of vegetation capable of resistant erosion and
16:00stabilizing the dunes.
16:03On the northern edge of the desert, the Aishiman Lake area transformed from a source of sandstorms into a verdant ecosystem.
16:15Recycled water was used there to irrigate more than 30,000 hectares of ecological forest, increasing the forest cover from 4% to 45%, and restoring more than 18% of the wetlands.
16:37Simultaneously, in the southeast of the Taklimakian Desert, thousands of trees were planted, previously a desertified land, and in the far south, large solar energy projects and agricultural plantations are now helping to halt the advance of the sands, combining reforestation and energy transition.
17:06With this completion of the Green Belt by the end of 2024, China now managed to contain the expansion of the country's largest deserts, but also turn it into a global symbol of climate adaptation and sustainable resource management.
17:35With the news, we return to La Habana, Cuba.
17:40Yeah, it's La Habana.
17:41Cuba.
17:42In the Gaza Strip, Saronis occupation forces are keeping thousands of families displaced
18:05from the eastern part of the territory despite the ceasefire agreements.
18:08As a result of massive forced displacements, the population is crowded into the central
18:13part of the city towards the western side near Al-Shifa Hospital and other areas of the
18:17Gaza Strip.
18:19This concentration of population exacerbates overcrowding and puts pressure on the remaining
18:23public services including sanitary facilities.
18:26In this scenario, the demarcation known as the Yellow Line, which marks the Israeli army's
18:32withdrawal zone, still leaves around 58% of the Gaza Strip under its control.
18:38Saronis forces said that anyone who crossed the line would be considered a threat.
18:49And US Vice President J.D. Vance arrived in Israel to urge Prime Minister Netanyahu not to abandon
18:54the ceasefire deal amid ongoing Israeli strikes on Gaza in direct violation of the truce.
19:00Monday, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister one day after
19:06the most deadly Israeli attacks on Gaza since the ceasefire began.
19:10Monday, Israel dropped 153 tons of bombs on the enclave, killing at least 45 Palestinians, including
19:15a journalist.
19:17On Tuesday, Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov rejected the call to freeze the fighting
19:36at the current line of combat with Ukraine and insisted Moscow was seeking long-term settlement
19:41to the conflict.
19:48Russia has not changed its position compared to the understandings reached during the extensive
19:53negotiations between Putin and Trump in Alaska.
19:59Russia's understandings are based on the reached agreement, which President Trump aptly expressed
20:09when he said that what is needed is a long-term, sustainable peace, not an immediate ceasefire
20:14that would lead nowhere.
20:22We remain fully committed to this formula.
20:26And I reaffirmed it yesterday in my conversation with Marco Rubio.
20:34Those who are now trying to persuade our US colleagues to change their position and to abandon the pursuit
20:39of a long-term, sustainable settlement, urging instead to simply call for a halt and let history
20:45judge later.
20:46We know who they are.
20:47These are Zelensky's European patrons and sponsors.
20:50We have come to the end of this news brief.
20:57You can find this and many other stories on our website at telestoryenglish.net, so join us
21:02on social media, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok.
21:05For Telestory English, I'm Luis Alberto Matos, thank you for watching.
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