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* Second round of Chile’s presidential elections to begin for citizens living abroad
* Cuba: New Latin American Film Festival concludes
* Cuba: New Latin American Film Festival concludes
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NewsTranscript
00:00President Nicolás Maduro assured that Venezuela is advancing in the construction of a sovereign
00:16model and a path of its own without interventions or external hegemony.
00:19In Chile, the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs announced the start of citizens' participation
00:27abroad for the second round of the presidential elections this Saturday.
00:35And in Cuba, the 46th Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema came to a close
00:39and event that they screened 336 films from 42 countries.
00:49Hello and welcome to From the South.
00:50I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Dele Sous Studios in Havana, Cuba.
00:54We'll begin with the news.
01:10President Nicolás Maduro assured that Venezuela is advancing in the construction of a sovereign
01:14model and a path of its own without interventions or external hegemony.
01:19The head of state affirmed that the country is consolidating an independent path that is
01:22not a copy of any other model.
01:25Likewise, the president emphasized that the South American nation is not a colony of anyone
01:29and is committed to the struggle for a multi-polar world, following its historical tradition of
01:34resistance.
01:35In this sense, he highlighted the scientific cooperation with allies such as China, Russia,
01:40and Iran to train professionals without needing permission from northern powers.
01:47We are witnessing the emergence of a multi-polar world without colonialism where there is an intense
02:03struggle between models that seek independence, freedom, world harmony, and cooperation, and
02:10those who claim to be the owners, rulers, and emperors of the world.
02:15We, Venezuela, following the historical and mighty tradition begun by the indigenous resistance,
02:22we are in the world of those who want to be independent, free, and oppose all forms of colonialism and
02:29slavery, free forever.
02:44Our brothers and sisters from China, Russia, India, Iran, Mexico, Cuba, and Vietnam who collaborate
03:07well with all of Venezuela's scientific projects.
03:11Each one lives their own process, that's how life is, each one has to live their life,
03:16you can't live the life I lived, it's impossible, I cannot live the life you live, speaking in
03:22individual terms, also in terms of people, every people has a history, with its cool things,
03:29with its good things, with its average things, and we can say with great humility, with great
03:35respect for human diversity, that the history of the people of Venezuela is an admirable
03:41history.
03:42We should be proud to be Venezuelans, and you girls should be proud to be Venezuelan.
03:48Admirable.
03:49Debemos sentirnos orgullosos de ser Venezolano, y ustedes muchachas de ser Venezolana.
03:58Panama's health authorities issued an epidemiological alert on Friday due to the increase in flu cases
04:03in the Northern Hemisphere.
04:05According to the Ministry of Health report, this behavior was recorded at the beginning
04:10of the 2025-2026 season, with type A viruses predominating.
04:16The Ministry bases its findings on a recent report by the Pan American Health Organization
04:20and the World Health Organization describing how subtype H1N1 prevails in the Caribbean and
04:27Central America, while subtype H3N2 predominates in North America, going to health centers to
04:34get vaccinated against the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, especially priority groups,
04:39and ensuring COVID-19 boosters for at-risk populations as some of the Ministry's recommendations.
04:50The Mexican Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers signed an agreement
04:55with Birmex and Biocua Pharma to promote scientific research aimed at the production of medicines.
05:01The agreement was signed during the second regular session of the Institute's Scientific
05:05Council, led by the agency's Director General, Marty Batres, and seeks to advance the production
05:09of vaccines and monoclonal drugs, according to the statement.
05:14The President of the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Group of Cuba, Biocua Pharma, Maida
05:20Mauri, celebrated the signing of this agreement, which will allow the company to share all its
05:24experience in the development of medicines.
05:32And the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs in Chile, Gloria de la Fuente, announced start
05:36of citizens' participation abroad for the second round of the presidential elections this Saturday.
05:41Due to the different time zones, the event will begin in New Zealand when it is 3.30 p.m.
05:46on December 13th in Santiago.
05:48At the time, the La Fuente will declare the polling stations in the cities of Wellington
05:53and Auckland opening a ceremony broadcast digitally from the Ministry's headquarters in the capital.
05:57According to the Electoral Service, a total of 160,935 citizens are eligible to vote abroad.
06:04Unlike the rules in the country, voting abroad is voluntary, although the required documents
06:07are the same, the identity card or passport.
06:15We have our first break coming up.
06:16Remember, you can join us on TikTok at Teresor English.
06:18We will find news in different formats, news updates, and much more.
06:21We will be right back, stay with us.
06:48Welcome back.
06:49In Cuba, the 46th Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema came to a close,
06:54an event that screened 336 films from 42 countries.
06:57Since December 4th, nearly 31,000 viewers were able to enjoy Latin American cinema in theatres
07:03after the color awards ceremony.
07:05The event organizers highlighted the festival's mark of creativity and resilience, where his
07:09part, the president of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry, expressed
07:14his credit for the trust placed in Cuba by filmmakers, producers, and representatives of cinematographic
07:19institutions from around the world.
07:23And during this event, the Glauber Rocha Award was presented to the Argentine film, Berlin,
07:32a story with sociopolitical significance in line with current events in Latin America and
07:36the Caribbean.
07:37The Prensa Latina Agency, together with other media groups from Latin America and around
07:43the world, including Telesur, has awarded the Glauber Rocha Prize.
07:4740 years of the Glauber Rocha Award.
07:49This is the Foreign Press Award in Cuba, at the new Latin American Film Festival.
07:53A prize that we wanted to give to the Argentine film, Berlin, for its production and the sociopolitical
07:58context it describes, for its direction, for its soundtrack, for its aesthetics, but above
08:03all for its content, for the story it tells.
08:05A story full of sensitivity, and one that has a lot to do with the context that Latin America
08:10and the Caribbean are currently experiencing.
08:12On Friday, Starwalk Space Astronomy web portal reported that the Ursida, this 2025's last
08:20meteor rain, will peak on the night of December 21st to the 22nd.
08:24This astronomical phenomenon usually peaks during the December solstice.
08:27Their meteors can appear anywhere in the sky and, at most, occur around 10 meteors per
08:32hour.
08:33The astronomical portal indicates that the event can be observed from December 17th to the
08:3726th in the Northern Hemisphere, and that the conditions for its observation promise
08:40to be favorable.
08:57Conservationists have warned of a worsening threat to wildlife from pushing habitat loss pollution
09:02and climate change.
09:03While there have been conservation successes in 2025, some species are at risk of extinction.
09:08The European Union's Earth Observation Program says Antarctica's sea ice is at a near-record
09:15low.
09:16In March 2025, Copernicus shared details showing that the sea ice volume hit a minimum of 1,030
09:22cubic kilometers on March 5th, a 56 percent drop from the long-term average of 2,390 cubic
09:28kilometers.
09:29This is a bleak prospect for the emperor penguins.
09:32British Antarctic Survey model projections indicate that they could face extinction by the close of the
09:37century if warming trends continue.
09:47Around December 12th, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA claimed
09:52that the hole in the ozone layer was the fifth smallest since 1992.
09:57The Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service coincides with the 2025 Antarctic ozone hole coming to an end on
10:04December 1st, marking the earliest closure since 2019.
10:07During the peak of this year's ozone layer's depletion season, the average extent of its hole was approximately
10:1318.71 million square kilometers, about 30 percent smaller than the largest hole ever observed in 2006.
10:19According to the most recent assessment, which was made in 2022, if current policies are maintained, the ozone layer is
10:26expected to return to the 1980 values, those prior to the appearance of the ozone hole, around 2066, in Antarctica by 2045 in
10:34the Arctic and by 2040 in the rest of the world.
10:38A stone byron has swept across the Gaza Strip, killing at least 14 people and injuring others as harsh winds and
10:49relentless rain affect buildings weakened by Israel bombardment and thousands of displaced families.
10:54According to the Gaza's Ministry of Interior and National Security, at least 13 buildings previously hit by
10:59Israeli strikes collapsed, while emergency teams have received over 4,300 distress calls.
11:05Since the storm began, medical staff in Gaza reported an alarming rise in death linked to exposure, while
11:11Palestinians remained inside, collapsing buildings and makeshift shelters as Israeli authorities continue to
11:17block the entry of essential supplies.
11:19The Ministry also said that police and civil defense teams continue rescue operations despite having almost no
11:25equipment or fuel, and urged international actors to pressure Israel to allow critical aid and shelter materials into the Strip.
11:32We have our second break coming up, before we invite you to visit our Facebook page at
11:39Telestool English, there you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage, and much more.
11:45Follow our page and activate the official button to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.
11:49A final break, don't go away.
12:19Welcome back.
12:22The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the number of people killed by Israeli forces has risen to more
12:27than 70,000 since October 7, 2023.
12:30Health authorities have recorded three new crimes and at least 16 injured in the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours
12:36due to bombing by the Israeli army.
12:38Highlighting that the October 11, 2025 ceasefire agreement is being violated and to date there are more than 386 people
12:45killed and nearly 1,020 injured.
12:47Meanwhile, there are a significant number of bodies under the rubble throughout the territory.
12:52Only 628 bodies have been recovered.
12:54And on Friday, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution urging Israel to cooperate with the United Nations Relief
13:07and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees with support from 139 member states.
13:12The vote took place at the UN headquarters in New York, where 12 member states voted against, including
13:17Bolivia, Israel and the United States, while 19 abstained.
13:21The resolution demands that Israel open unrestricted humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip,
13:26stop attacking UN facilities, and comply with international law.
13:30For his part, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danum,
13:34dismissed the decision accusing UNRWA of supporting terrorism.
13:37Despite these accusations, UNRWA continues to serve millions of Palestinian refugees across the region,
13:42providing education, health care, and humanitarian support.
13:51And on Friday, Israel Security Cabinet signed off on plans to formalize 19 illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank
14:00in a new move aimed at further annexating the Palestinian territories and violation of international law.
14:06The plan was announced by far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich
14:10in a move Palestinian officials said deepens a decades-long project of land theft.
14:15For its part, the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, condemned the continued policy imposition of colonial facts in the West Bank,
14:21stating that these actions constitute a clear violation of international law
14:25and the United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibited in settlement activity.
14:29Hamas called the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to take on the responsibility
14:34of defending Palestine in the face of Israel's colonial behavior.
14:44In other news, the government of Cambodia denounced the continued attacks by Thai military forces
14:49through simultaneous bombardments in different areas of Pursat province.
14:52According to a statement issued by the Cambodian Ministry of Defense,
14:55between 5.50 a.m. and 6.12 a.m. local time,
14:59two F-16 combat planes destroyed strategic targets, including Shai Shumans Bridge
15:04and a hotel building in Timorda area, as well as other locations.
15:09This denounced by the Cambodian Ministry occurred shortly after the President of the United States, Donald Trump,
15:15confirmed a ceasefire agreement,
15:17the results of individual telephone conversations with leaders of both countries.
15:21And in this context, hundreds of displaced people in the shelter centers set up in Thailand
15:30showed the sharpening of the crisis resulting from the conflict.
15:33People fleeing the border areas continued to seek safe haven away from bombardments and clashes,
15:38a situation that has already claimed the life of at least 20 people
15:42and about 500,000 displaced on both sides.
15:45The Thai people called for direct diplomatic solutions,
15:48saying that the situation would result in a much longer war,
15:51while international agencies joined in that calls for a ceasefire.
15:54People on both sides of the border continued to be victims of the fighting.
15:57And in Russia, seven people were injured due to the impact of a Ukrainian drone on a residential building northwest of Moscow.
16:06The attack occurred in the city of Tiver, causing significant material damage.
16:12The effects included the breaking of windows in the affected apartments and the partial collapse of the adjacent roof.
16:30Emergency teams arrived at the site managing to evacuate approximately 20 people while concentrating on controlling the fire and starting the removal of debris.
16:39According to official information, two consecutive explosions caused instability in nearby buildings and huge flames.
16:46Now we are heading to Spain, more specifically to Madrid, where leaked audio recordings of the CEO of the Torrejón de Ardos hospital,
16:58proposing to increase patient waiting lists to make a profit, have shaken up the debate on the privatized healthcare model in the community of Madrid.
17:05The scandal also coincides with a four-day national strike by doctors over the negotiation of the new framework statute.
17:11Our correspondent, Álvaro Fragua, has more information.
17:14The other correspondent of Pablo Gallard, CEO of Rivera Salud, the company that runs the Torrejón hospital.
17:23In them, he discusses adjusting personal expenses and increasing waiting lists as ways to profit.
17:28Just as easy as it has been in the past to increase personal expenses by 4 or 5 million to increase or reduce the waiting list, I cannot imagine that it is just as easy to do the opposite.
17:43I am not just talking about waiting lists. I am sure you have plenty of imagination.
17:50Now it has been confirmed to the CEO's audio recordings. It is something that is boxed properly and has been known in Madrid since the model for this hospital was introduced.
18:01In the face of crisis, neoliberal president Isabel Díaz Ayuso defends the privatized healthcare model and the management of the Torrejón hospital.
18:08I encourage you to compare the waiting lists at the Torrejón hospital with those at other hospitals in other regions,
18:14which have increased their staffing levels, increased their activity and have not received any complaints to date.
18:20And therefore, the entire healthcare system cannot be called into question.
18:23Paramets, the introduction of profit motives into healthcare creates incentives that can influence medical decisions.
18:30When the desire to profit comes into play, whether in the public-private partnership models or in the poorly private sector through insurance companies,
18:39other factors begin to influence the requests for tests and the selection of patients.
18:44They should never take precedence over the autonomy of doctors' decisions.
18:48The Minister of Health has criticized what happened in Torrejón and announced investigations.
18:53In recent years, its budget has increased in an absolutely obscene manner.
18:57And in recent years, Ms Ayuso has given 5 billion to the Kiran Group, which, to give you an idea,
19:03it's half the healthcare budget for an entire year.
19:06In addition, Spanish doctors have held a four-day strike to demand that the Ministry meet their demands in the negotiations in the framework statute.
19:14They are calling for better working hours, their own negotiations and a classification that does not dilute their professional competences.
19:20They continue to treat us badly. They are breaking us. It is not that there are no doctors.
19:25It is that doctors are sleeping because they earn more in the private sector or even worse. Terrifying.
19:31After studying for six years, after the MIR, one or two years in my case, it was two or after the four and five years specialty, the phenomenon of medical resignation.
19:44They are sure that they will continue with this protest and strikes and leave this message to the protest in government.
19:49Healthcare is said not give. It doesn't let you gain power, but it can take away from you. In other words, it doesn't give you votes, but it can take them away from you.
19:58The Madrid healthcare model is once again under scrutiny. Healthcare professionals warn that the conflict is structural and that the defense of universal high-quality healthcare will continue to set the agenda.
20:10Álvaro Fragua, desde Madrid, para Telesur.
20:14At least we are welcome to the end of this news brief. You can find this and many other stories on our website at telesurenglish.net.
20:19So join us on social media, Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok.
20:24For Telesur English, I'm Luis Alberto Matos. Thank you for watching.
20:28I'm Luis Alberto Matos. Thank you.
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