- 2 days ago
08/01/2026
FTS 12.30
*UN: experts condemn U.S. aggression against Venezuela
*Israeli blockade on medical supplies worsens healthcare conditions in Gaza Strip
FTS 12.30
*UN: experts condemn U.S. aggression against Venezuela
*Israeli blockade on medical supplies worsens healthcare conditions in Gaza Strip
Category
đź—ž
NewsTranscript
00:00Venezuela's acting president, Delsi Rodriguez, called for national unity and economic diversification to defend the country's sovereignty against external aggression.
00:21The United Nations experts through esteem and strongly condemn the large-scale military action carried out by the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the bombardment of Caracas and other cities, and the forcible abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
00:42And the Palestinian Ministry of Health warned about the supply crisis in hospitals and laboratories in the Gaza Strip due to the blockade imposed by the Israeli government.
00:55Hello and welcome to From the South. I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Habana, Cuba. We begin with the news.
01:06Venezuela's acting president, Delsi Rodriguez, called for national unity and economic diversification to defend the country's sovereignty against external aggression, while receiving Wednesday the formal notification by the country's national assembly of the beginning of the new six-year legislative term.
01:35In the two-year legislative term, 2026-2031, Rodriguez called on all political sectors, including the opposition, to move forward in unity and heal the wounds caused by extremism.
01:46On economic matters, she emphasized that although the United States is the destination for 27% of exports, the country will continue to diversify its markets with the public and private sectors throughout the world.
02:00Finally, the acting head of state underscored that sovereignty and independent are supreme values for the Republic and highlighted the importance of moving forward with new legal frameworks for the country's development.
02:13I want to emphasize something because there is currently a lot of manichaeism surrounding Venezuela-United States relations.
02:28The first thing I must say is that there is a stain on our relations that has never occurred in our history, but it should also be noted that it is not extraordinary or irregular.
02:45For example, 71% of Venezuela's exports are concentrated in eight countries, and of that 71%, 27% are destined for the United States.
03:04In this context, the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, assured that in the midst of difficult times, the main commitment is to defend independence and the right of the people to live in peace.
03:15In this difficult, turbulent, painful times that our republic is experiencing, we are determined to defend the most sacred things we have, our independence, to defend our sacred territory.
03:32Defending our people's right to live freely, to live in peace, to live with the greatest treasure bequeathed to us by the Liberator of America, SimĂłn BolĂvar, which is freedom and independence.
03:53Rodrigues also informed about the six major areas that the legislative power will be focused on during the near term, highlighting the defense of the Venezuelan people as a fundamental one.
04:12I don't want to go on too long, but we are going to focus the efforts of the legislative branch on six major areas.
04:20The achievement and implementation of peace, the pursuit and achievement of economic growth and prosperity for the republic, the consolidation of the people's power plans that had already been proposed at the time and had already been rapidly developed by President Nicolás Maduro.
04:39The strengthening of new modalities of economic actions, specifically the efforts that has been put into the new enterprises, and how the National Assembly has accompanied that effort.
04:57Developing innovative legislative instruments to collaborate on a fundamental element, the defense of Venezuelans, the defense of peace, and the defense of the lives of our compatriots.
05:09The Venezuelan Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, informed on Wednesday that at least 100 people were killed in the United States military attack of January 3rd.
05:24In this regard, Diosdado Cabello strongly condemned the military attack by the U.S. government on the South American country and emphasized that these actions had repercussions on the civilian population.
05:36He also denounced that the United States violated all the rules of international coexistence and pointed out that the whole world knows that Nicolás Maduro is a prisoner of war.
05:46The voices of experts from the United Nations have joined as well the callings and the condemnation by heads of states, governments, and peoples of the world to condemn the United States of America.
06:15The attack on Venezuela. They assert that the United States is a threat to world peace. It is the technical opinion of the organizations specialist in international law and human rights.
06:27They assert that the attack that caused the death of 100 people, as revealed by the Venezuelan government, represents a serious manifest and deliberate violation of the most fundamental principles of international law,
06:40and sets up a dangerous precedent and risk destabilizing the region and the world.
06:45They also warned those who participated in this action that it could constitute an international crime of aggression attributable to the political leaders and military personnel involved.
06:56Through a statement, the United Nations experts express these actions represent a grave manifest and deliberate violation of the most fundamental principles of international law,
07:03set a dangerous precedent and risk destabilizing the entire region and the world.
07:08United Nations experts express these actions represent a grave manifest and deliberate violation of the most fundamental principles of international law,
07:20set a dangerous precedent and risk destabilizing the entire region and the world.
07:25United Nations experts also express Venezuela's vast and natural resources, including the largest proven oil reserves in the world,
07:32must not be cynically exploited through thinly veiled predicts to legitimize military aggression, foreign occupation or regime change strategies.
07:43The statement emphasizes the future of Venezuela must be determined by the Venezuelan people alone,
07:50in full sovereignty, through dialogue and accountability, ensuring the meaningful and equal participation of women in all decision-making processes.
08:00Also, the communique concludes, we urge United Nations member states to condemn the aggression by the United States
08:07and act decisively to halt all actions contrary to international law.
08:19Also in this context, the results of a survey conducted by the International Market Research and Data Analytics firm,
08:27Zhukov revealed a growing public opposition in the United States to its recent military intervention in Venezuela.
08:34According to the survey, 46% of respondents disapproved of the U.S. operation against the South American nation,
08:42while 39% was in favor.
08:45The results contrasted dramatically with the support registered during the invasion of Panama in 1989,
08:52when an overwhelming 82% of U.S. citizens supported the arrest of then-ruler Manuel Antonio Noriega following a military intervention.
09:02The gap between the two polls shows a significant change in public perception
09:08and suggests a greater questioning of Washington's interventionist policies in Latin America compared to previous decades.
09:14Also on Thursday, in South Africa, people gathered in front of the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria in solidarity with Venezuela,
09:27demanding the release of President Nicolas Maduro and first combatant Celia Flores.
09:32A broad coalition of South African trade unions, political parties, civil society organizations and solidarity movements led the protests,
09:41condemning U.S. interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.
09:46In this scenario, protesters chanted free Maduro and hands off Venezuela in response to the U.S. military attack on Venezuela
09:53and the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and first combatant Celia Flores.
09:57The protesters denounced the illegal actions orchestrated by President Donald Trump
10:02and rejected the violation of these positions of international law.
10:11And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok at Telesur English,
10:16where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and much more.
10:20We'll be right back, stay with us.
10:43Welcome back to From the South.
10:45The Swiss government has expressed concern about the situation in Venezuela and states
10:50that the action taken by the United States against the Bolivarian nation is a violation of international law.
10:56On Wednesday, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs announced that the decision of President Nicolas Maduro
11:01and First Lady Celia Flores was in violation of the principle that prohibits the use of force
11:07and guarantees the territorial integrity of states.
11:10Barron emphasized that there is no justification for the decision and reported that the freezing of Venezuelan assets
11:17is intended to facilitate judicial cooperation processes, but that these do not affect members of the Venezuelan government.
11:25The Foreign Ministry also advised that the more than 900 Swiss citizens registered in the Bolivarian nation
11:31to follow the instructions of the Venezuelan authorities.
11:43Also on Wednesday, United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order that formalizes the withdrawal of the country
11:50from 66 international organizations, including 31 entities of the United Nations.
11:57The measure orders all federal agencies to immediately cease participation and funding of these organizations,
12:05considering that their operations are contrary to the sovereignty, security and economic interests of the country.
12:13Among the entities affected are the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Population Fund,
12:20as well as various global forums on migration and energy.
12:25According to the official document shared by the White House, these institutions promote globalist agendas
12:32that are not in line with Washington's priorities, so the government has decided to redirect taxpayers' money
12:39towards policies that favor national independence and domestic needs.
12:43In this context, on Thursday, the Chinese government criticized the US government's decision to withdraw from several global organizations,
12:59undermining global cooperation.
13:06And now join us as we go live to Venezuela, the National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez's offering statements.
13:19For sovereignty and Venezuelan peace, the Bolivarian government,
13:26as a unilateral gesture to deepen our unwavering decision to consolidate peace in the Republic and the Pacific living among all,
13:44without any distinctions, political or religious distinctions, social or economical.
13:51All of us are under the same beautiful sky of this Republic and we embrace the same flag and we sing the same national anthem.
14:08And in order to give and collaborate in the effort that we all should do for the national union and living in peace,
14:23the Bolivarian government, together with all institutions from the state, has decided to free an important amount of Venezuelan persons,
14:37and foreign persons, and foreign persons to, and all this process of freeing these people are happening from the same moment.
14:49Consider this gesture, this action from the Bolivarian government, to widen the intention of looking for peace,
15:00for peace as something that we all can do so that our Republic keep on in a Pacific way and looking for prosperity.
15:11If there is any question.
15:13In the next hours, some people from Venezuela and from abroad, I would like to ask, to make use of your question,
15:32to greet you all people that have been by South Venezuela to defend our right to self-determination, the independence and peace.
15:43葉?
15:44As a finalist jeg는 parihan lación.
15:45I really appreciate President JosĂ© Luis RodrĂguez Zapatero, who since 10 years ago has been adding all of his capacities to work together for the national living.
15:58We really appreciate President Luis Lula da Silva, and also the government of Qatar,
16:07and also to institutions from the state that have the prompt call to the acting president
16:18Desi Rodriguez.
16:19Is there any kind of commitment of the right wing to contribute to peace of the country?
16:27What these parties have done, we are not speaking with any far wing sector.
16:37We are speaking with political parties and with organizations that have, that will come
16:47and are accomplishing with the constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
16:55This is a new unilateral decision of the government.
17:03Is there any information?
17:05The information that we would like to share with you is precisely this one.
17:14In the next minutes, you are going to know the name of people that are having this benefit
17:24of incarceration.
17:32Are you going to support these decisions according to the selling oil?
17:36I don't know what you're talking about.
17:38What energetic agreement?
17:41It is a simple selling.
17:43It is a trade commercial transaction between two independent governments.
17:49This is something new.
17:51Venezuela has been more than 100 years selling oil to the United States.
17:57We are listening at this hour to press the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodriguez,
18:05as he announced the release of a group of national and international inmates in a unilateral decision
18:12of the Bolivarian government, he said, an action taken to preserve peace and unity regardless
18:19of political beliefs.
18:21We are all Venezuelans, he said.
18:23We have, after this information, a second showbreak coming up.
18:27Before we invite you to visit our Facebook page at Telesur English, there you will be able
18:32to watch our top stories, special live coverage and much more.
18:35Follow our page, also activate the notification button to stay up to date on the world's most
18:40recent events.
18:41Final showbreak, but we will be right back.
18:57Welcome back to From the South.
19:04On Wednesday in Panama, the Ministry of Health reported that the nation ended 2025 with a total
19:10of 27 deaths due to dengue fever representing a 51% decrease compared to the previous year
19:172024.
19:18However, from December 21st to 27th, there were 1,588 hospitalizations and 111 severe cases.
19:29Most of the infections are concentrated in the metropolitan area and San Miguelito, with
19:35a total of 7,633 cases.
19:39The national incidence rate stood at 352 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, mainly affecting
19:48people between the ages of 25 and 49, although the most vulnerable group was those aged 10
19:55to 14.
19:56In this context, the Ministry attributes the severity of the cases to the co-circulation
20:02of the four serotypes of the dengue virus, with the EN3 and the ENV four serotypes being
20:11the most prominent.
20:18Also, the government of Nicaragua announced the establishment of Cardinal Miguel Ovando
20:23y Bravo University, formerly known as the Catholic University Redemptorism Matter, a center for
20:31higher education located in Managua, the capital of the country.
20:36This decision, which came about as a result of a request from the academic authorities themselves,
20:42is part of the celebrations for the 19th anniversary of the people as president, honoring the legacy
20:48of peace and reconciliation of his eminence, Cardinal Miguel Ovando y Bravo.
20:54In this regard, co-president Rosario Murillo emphasized that this change symbolizes the progress
21:00towards the future of a people who learn and entrepreneurship from peace, considered the nation's most valuable heritage.
21:12Since Wednesday, a large forest fire in Argentina has kept the Patagonian region on alert, especially
21:30the province of Shubut, in the south of the country.
21:34The flames have already consumed more than 1,800 hectares, destroyed at least a dozen homes,
21:41and forced the preventive evacuation of nearly 3,000 people, including residents and tourists.
21:48The most critical situation is in Puerto Patriada area, in the town of El Hoyo, although active fire hotspots
21:55have also been reported in El Bolson and San Carlos de Bariloche.
22:00The provincial prosecutor's office confirmed that the fire was intentionally set and that the presence
22:06of accelerated material was detected.
22:09In light of this situation, Governor Ignacio Torres announced a reward for information leading
22:16leading to the arrest of those responsible.
22:23The Palestinian Ministry of Health warned about the supply crisis in hospitals and laboratories
22:30in the Gaza Strip due to the blockade imposed by the Israeli government.
22:45Health authorities in the Gaza Strip have suspended essential medical exams due to the lack of supplies
23:01facing the enclave.
23:02In this regard, the ministry reported a 65% deficit in chemical testing materials and a 90% shortfall
23:09in supplies needed for the blood bank as a result of Zionist aggression policies.
23:15The crisis in the healthcare system particularly affects the cancer patients, people who need
23:20kidney transplants and those who require complex blood tests.
23:30On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova referred to the plans by the
23:36United Kingdom and France to continue the militarization of Ukraine.
23:40The Russian spokeswoman stressed that on January 6th, in Paris, participants of the so-called
23:46coalition of the willing, led by the UK and France, signed a declaration titled
23:51Robust Security Guarantees for a solid and lasting peace in Ukraine.
23:55The trilateral statement declared that London and Paris plan to establish their own military bases in Ukraine
24:02post-cease-fire and build weapon and military equipment storage facilities.
24:07According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the development and deployment of military units
24:12and the setting up of military facilities, storages and other Western infrastructure on Ukrainian territory
24:18will be qualified as foreign intervention that directly threatens the security of Russia
24:24and other European countries.
24:29And like this, we have come to the end of this news brief.
24:33Remember, you can find this and many of the stories on our website at telasurenglish.net.
24:37Also join us on social media.
24:39We are on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok as well.
24:44For Telasur English, I'm Alejandra Garcia.
Be the first to comment