- 7 weeks ago
24/12/2025
FTS 16.30
*Argentina’s Weather Service issues alerts due to heavy rains.
*Countries celebrate Christmas Eve.
teleSUR
These and many more stories now!
FTS 16.30
*Argentina’s Weather Service issues alerts due to heavy rains.
*Countries celebrate Christmas Eve.
teleSUR
These and many more stories now!
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00United Nations experts condemned the blockade, aggression and piracy on the
00:13high seas by the United States against Venezuela. The National Weather Service in
00:20Argentina issued an orange and yellow alert after heavy rains hit 19 provinces
00:25of the country. And countries around the world celebrate Christmas Eve with cold
00:33dishes, roasted meats and traditional sweets from each region.
00:42Hello and welcome to From the South. I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in
00:46Havana, Cuba. We begin with an ease.
00:55The United Nations experts condemned the blockade, aggression and piracy on the high seas by
01:05the United States against Venezuela. United Nations members denounced that the partial
01:10maritime blockade imposed by Washington and Venezuela violates fundamental norms of international
01:15law. They also affirmed that the use of force is also recognized as an illegal armed aggression,
01:22as defined by the General Assembly, because it endangers the right to life in the face of
01:26threats in the region. They also recalled that the killings in Caribbean and Pacific waters
01:31must be investigated and prosecuted. In the meantime, the United States Congress must intervene
01:36to prevent further attacks in the Caribbean Sea and lift the blockade.
01:40In this context, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iguan Hill stated on his social media, independent
01:52United Nations experts have just strongly condemned the blockade, aggression and piracy on the high
01:57seas by the United States against Venezuela, describing them as serious violations of international
02:02law and the United Nations Charter. The truth about Venezuela is making its way around the world,
02:08and the policy of threats, forests and colonial plundering has been legally and morally exposed.
02:19And now, in other news, surveys revealed that the employment rate in Ecuador did not show real
02:24growth during the last quarter of 2025. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses,
02:31the employment rate for November 2025 stood at 36.3%, slightly above the 2024 figure of 33.7%.
02:42More than 53% of workers in Ecuador are employed in the informal sector and lack stability and
02:48sufficient income amid the economic crisis affecting the country. In addition, the report warns that the main
02:55challenge for the sector is not only the lack of employment, but also the absence of decent and
03:01sustainable jobs for the majority of the population.
03:07The National Weather Service in Argentina issued an orange and yellow alert after heavy rains hit 19
03:24provinces of the country. The Meteorological Agency emphasized that the orange alert corresponds to
03:29short-term rain and gusty winds in at least four departments. The yellow alert could be due to
03:35electrical activity, occasional hail and torrential rains in the city of Buenos Aires and seven other adjacent
03:42provinces. In this scenario, authorities urge residents to remain calm and not go out unless necessary,
03:49as well as to unplug appliances and cut off the power supply if water enters their homes.
03:55Now, in other topics, Argentinians protested in the city of Mendoza against the approval of mining projects that put
04:07the province's water and ecosystems at risk. On Tuesday, hundreds of activists and social organizations
04:13took to the streets of the town to demand that the regional government repel the laws of proving mining in the
04:19province. With banners and slogans such as water is not for sale, Argentinians condemned the mining
04:26initiative. For his part, the governor of the entity, Alfredo Cornejo, minimized the impact of the project
04:33and affirmed that the greatest consumption of water comes from the agricultural sector and residential use.
04:41And also French farmers continued their protests in France in rejection to the European Union
04:54regulations against the sector. The agriculture workers' demonstration began early December against
05:01a free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur, due to be signed
05:08on Saturday. The farmers denounced that their South American counterparts do not comply with the same
05:14European health regulations for the protection of the environment. French Prime Minister Sébastien Le
05:19Cornejo announced that a new statement on the initiative will be made in January 2026.
05:29And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok at
05:33Telesur English, where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and much more. We'll be right back. Stay with us.
05:53Welcome back to From the South. Palestinian health authorities denounced the blockade on the entry of
05:59medicines and vital supplies imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the Gaza Strip. In this context,
06:04the government media office condemned the restrictions imposed on raw materials and emergency supplies
06:10as part of the Zionist policy of aggression against the coastal enclave. Since the ceasefire came into
06:16effect on October 10, 2025, Israel has only allowed 30 percent of the agreed supplies to enter. As a result,
06:23half a million patients are waiting for treatment and surgery due to the lack of medical equipment.
06:29In this regard, the Gazan Health Ministry warned that the health situation is critical, urging the
06:34United Nations and the international community to demand that Israel lift the restrictions.
06:39To stay on topic on Wednesday, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations FAO warned of
06:53the critical agricultural situation affecting more than 72,000 Palestinian families in the West Bank
06:59due to attacks perpetrated by Israeli settlers. The statement released by the Press Office of the
07:04Global Institution revealed that 90 percent of farming families in the region are experiencing a
07:09significant decrease in crop and livestock production due to the Israeli aggressions. FAO also specifies
07:17that approximately 115,000 families in the West Bank depend on agriculture for their livelihoods,
07:23making this sector fundamental to food security and income. The agriculture is facing challenges due to
07:29limited access and limited access to water and land, restrictions on movement, a lack of agricultural resources,
07:35and high fuel and transportation costs.
07:43In Palestine, thousands of displaced people who lost their homes under the Israeli siege lasting more than two years
07:50are now resisting in improvised tents in the face of a climate that gives no relief to their vulnerability.
07:57After the destruction of their homes, people in the Gaza Strip are facing harsh winter conditions with
08:03minimal resources, exposed to extreme cold and insecurity, and in this context, heavy rains have caused flooding,
08:10leaving them without clothes and belongings to protect them from the winter and making it even more difficult
08:17to obtain food. This situation has forced them to seek new shelter, as the storm has left them
08:24without tents and a dry place to live.
08:31Also on Tuesday, senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad reaffirmed the movement's commitment to the Gaza ceasefire agreement
08:38and emphasized their readiness to enter the second phase. Hamad warned that ongoing Israeli violations are
08:44undermining trust and casting serious doubts on Tel Aviv's willingness to honor the deal. He said Hamas complied with the agreement,
08:52but Israel violated it almost 900 times. Hamad said that Hamas would only move on to the second phase
09:00if all parties agreed on its framework. He added that the violations endangered the long-term viability
09:06of the ceasefire. And also Hamad said the idea of an international stabilization force in Gaza was positive,
09:13but its mandate should be narrowly defined to preserve the ceasefire and prevent provocations.
09:25In other informations, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Office for the
09:30Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recorded 576 attacks against humanitarian workers between January and
09:37the end of November. According to the latest report published last November, there were 37 violent
09:44incidents in the eastern part of the country, which is a decrease from the 55 incidents that occurred in
09:50October of the same year. In this context, the most frequent incidents are theft, robberies and break-ins,
09:58as well as the interruption and restriction of traffic. Moreover, confrontations between armed groups
10:04forced residents to this place themselves. However, humanitarian workers are trying to
10:09access the affected areas to provide emergency medical care and food aid.
10:27And now we move on to the topics as well. Russia's air defense system intercepted and shut down more than
10:32170 Ukrainian drones in several provinces of the country. According to reports, 110 unmanned aerial vehicles
10:40were destroyed in the Bryansk region, 20 in the Belgorod region, 14 in the Kaluga region as well,
10:47and also 12 in the Tula region, 6 in the Oriol region, 3 in the Leptesk and 1-ish in the Belgorod,
10:55Korks and Smolensk regions as well. Meanwhile, 4 were over the province of Moscow,
11:01of which two were heading towards the center of the capital city. The 172 drones were detected
11:08and shut down in time in all of the provinces. Also, to stay on topic, on Wednesday, the Russian
11:17Ministry of Defense reported that fires started accompanying the province of Tula caused by
11:22Ukrainian drone attacks. As I did this report, that while repelling the attack, one of the aircraft
11:28fell on the territory of the company. However, the fire was localized with no fatalities or injured
11:33people. In addition, damage was reported to the fast aid of a house, where emergency services are
11:40currently working. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Forces reported new attacks in other regions in the
11:45southwest of the country, which were also combated by the Air Defense Forces.
11:50And now we have a second showbreak coming up. Before we invite you to visit our Facebook page
11:58at Telesur English, then you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage and much more.
12:04Follow our page and also activate the notification button to stay up to date on the world's most recent
12:09events. Final showbreak, we'll be right back.
12:21Welcome back to From the South and let's go right away to Venezuela. President Nicolás Maduro
12:26and first combatant Cecilia Flores celebrated the start of the Christmas season on Tuesday by sharing
12:31the first Ayacaso for Peace and Happiness 2025 in the community of San Agustín del Sur in Caracas.
12:38Surrounded by the people of Afinque de Marín Square, the president emphasized that this gathering
12:43symbolizes the Venezuelan people's right to happiness, to live in peace and also to enjoy this
12:49time of unity. For her part, the first combatant highlighted the combative and cultural character
12:55of the Caracas Parish. The event is part of the El Guajuanco de Colores program, a tourism and cultural
13:01initiative that has welcomed more than 4,000 visitors, promoting Venezuelan traditions
13:07in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and also with music, dancing and Ayacas.
13:13The community officially kicked off the Christmas season in Venezuela.
13:21Meanwhile, countries around the world are also celebrating Christmas Eve with cold dishes,
13:26roasted meats and traditional sweets from each region. Throughout the day, celebrations are held in
13:32different localities to celebrate Christmas with tours of the city, to see the lights and fireworks,
13:37and even Christmas dinners. Families take advantage of the date to reunite as part of an act of unity,
13:43hope and gratitude.
13:44Now we go to Brazil. Every Christmas in Recife, local artists and musicians commemorate centuries-old
13:55Brazilian Christmas traditions with the Ball of the Infant Jesus. Our correspondent is there,
14:00Brian Mir, and has much more.
14:01Brazil's largest annual Christmas celebration is underway in Recife, the Ball of the Infant Jesus.
14:15It's a public theater performance which draws thousands of people to Old Recife Island every year to
14:21celebrate traditional Christmas folklore from the rural Brazilian Northeast with some songs tracing
14:27no roots back to the 1500s. The Ball of the Infant Jesus was created 41 years ago to bring Brazilian
14:40Christmas back to its rightful place. It places Joseph and Maria in the center of the celebration and
14:46expels what was imposed by capitalism, which are sleds, reindeer and snow, things that we don't have in the
14:54tropics. It's a ball that celebrates the people who formed our society, who were Iberian, Indigenous and African.
15:03During the 1970s, the military dictatorship encouraged local officials to theme Gramado
15:09in southern Brazil as a Bavarian city, despite the fact that it had no significant history of Bavarian
15:15immigration. It was part of an imperialist strategy to promote whiteness and Gramado's annual Christmas
15:21parade with fake snow, based on Northern European pagan traditions and Coca-Cola's image of Santa Claus,
15:28became a national tourist attraction. The Ball of the Infant Jesus was founded to fight back.
15:34It's a Maria that reveals Brazility, that reveals a racial racial identity.
15:40I play a Maria who exudes Brazilianness, with a biracial identity who inhabits this hot and festive
15:52Brazilian Christmas, which is traditional here in the Northeast. I try to project the feeling that Maria
15:59is a great mother. For us Brazilians, there's nothing more secret than our mothers.
16:03In a nation where the far right worships everything from the United States,
16:12events like the Ball of the Infant Jesus are important for maintaining a sovereign cultural
16:17identity. Merry Christmas, from Brian Muir to the Sir Hesifi.
16:25And now we go to China. Tianjin is a historic city in this country known for its architecture,
16:30cultural heritage, and vibrant art scene. Among its treasures is Ancient Culture Street,
16:36space where the traditional art of clay figurines, one of the country's most iconic cultural expressions,
16:42is preserved. Let's see.
16:46Cated in Northern China, near Beijing, at the mouth of the Haihe River. Founded over 600 years ago,
16:54ancient culture street, preserved Tianjin traditional architecture, with historical buildings that reflect
17:03its past and artisanal heritage. Here you find the Zeng family workshop, famous for its clay figurines,
17:12a tradition passed down through generations for over two centuries.
17:17So in this space, my family has 199 years of artistic history, and I am in the sixth generation. From the
17:27beginning, our works were adorned Chinese homes, inspired by literature, history, and traditional aesthetics.
17:33Each clay figure represents classic tales or historical figures, seeking to capture the essence of our culture.
17:39The ancient culture street also offers vibrant expressions of folk art. Among them are local
18:09artists who perform Cuiaban, a rhythmic recitation using bamboo tablets, also offers vibrant expressions of folk art. Among them are local artists who perform Cuiaban, a rhythmic recitation using bamboo tablets, keeping alive centuries old technique.
18:39These traditions are part of China's rich and tangible cultural heritage. But that's not all that draws you to the street. Its historical building invites you to explore its space,
19:07enjoy the local cuisine, and admire the displays of local crafts.
19:17I was born and raised here in Tianjin, and I have a deep affection for this place. My city boasts many beautiful landscapes, including the Haihe River and its distinctive architecture. One of my favorite places is ancient cultural streets. This area is
19:29steeped in history based on Tianjin's traditional heritage and also reflects elements of Masu culture, the goddess of the sea in Chinese folklore. The streets offer a strong connection to the city's past, in addition to a wide variety of traditional foods. Here, visitors can also experience traditional Chinese crafts and artistic expressions.
19:47This historical and cultural space. This historical and cultural space reaffirms Tianjin's artistic value and allows visitors and residents to connect with centuries of creativity and heritage.
20:01And with this report, we have come to the end of this news.
20:13If you remember, you can find this and many other stories on our website at TelesurEnglish.net.
20:17Also join us on social media. We are on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok as well.
20:23For TelesurEnglish, I'm Alejandra García. Thank you for watching.
Comments