- 13 hours ago
19/01/2026
FTS 12.30
*Ecuador: drug trafficking case linked to pres. Noboa´s family escalate
*Brazilian Landless Workers´ Movement (MTS) hold 14th national meeting
FTS 12.30
*Ecuador: drug trafficking case linked to pres. Noboa´s family escalate
*Brazilian Landless Workers´ Movement (MTS) hold 14th national meeting
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NewsTranscript
00:00Venezuela reaffirmed loyalty, commitment and unity as 17 days passed since the kidnapping of the president Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Silvia Flores by the United States.
00:20In Ecuador, a scandal over containers filled with tons of cocaine linked to the family of Ecuadorian President Daniel Novoa continues to escalate as lawmakers accuse the judicial system of complicity.
00:33And in Brazil, the Landless Rural Workers Movement, MSD, is holding its 14th national meeting between January 19th and the 23rd in Salvador, India.
00:46In Venezuela, the peace of the early hours on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, was shattered by the roar of U.S. aggression.
00:56In Venezuela, the peace of the early hours on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, was shattered by the roar of U.S. aggression.
01:03The homes of hundreds of families ceased to be safe heavens and became the target of a military operation.
01:20Eyewitness accounts reconstruct the chronicle of an attack that the people and the world will not forget.
01:26Our correspondent, Andrea Romero, with the details.
01:31On the night of January 3rd, the bombing that shattered the silence in the Carlos Raúl Villanueva complex in Fortetuna, the residential complex,
01:39located within Caracas military base, is now trying to process the events that took place.
01:44There was a helicopter positioned in this area towards the mountains, where we have the president's house and all our political team.
01:57He says that yes, the helicopter was in this position, and when it moved, it scanned the house with a red light.
02:09Then it repositioned towards the mountains to continue firing.
02:22But the most difficult damage to repair is the one that remains the memory of those who tried to bring calm in the midst of fire.
02:30We didn't sleep, it felt like three days passed as if night never came, or maybe we didn't want night to come.
02:41What I do remember is that after the sounds of the bomb stopped, I called my mom and my other daughter and told them we were okay.
02:49And after that, I don't remember anything else.
02:53For Samaga, it was her instinct to protect that drove her in total darkness.
03:01With the hair racing, her only priority was her son.
03:05I got up, went to turn on the light, but there was no power.
03:11I started waking him up.
03:14In that moment of desperation, I ran, put on my shoes, told him to put on his shoes, and we left.
03:20Honestly, my nerves wouldn't even let me up.
03:23At one point, all I could do was hold him and say, well, son, if they kill us, let them kill us together.
03:29I hugged him, but then I started shouting, Samaga, get out.
03:33That's when we went downstairs.
03:35Amid the chaos, she immediately identified the source of attack.
03:44I heard it and I already knew it was the United States attacking us, because of everything that had been said, all the threats from that man.
03:54But in that moment, I thought it was against everyone, I thought they were going to kill us all.
03:59I ran out, running with my son holding onto me, seeing the helicopters diagonally across from my building, and hearing the detonations.
04:06Now we know they were missiles aimed at a specific location.
04:10I ran praying to God, God protect me, protect my son, Lord, that's all I was asking as I ran.
04:17I ran so much that, amid the neighbors' desperation and confusion, a hole opened up and that's where I got out.
04:23That hole in the walls separating the house complex from the Bale Coach Highway symbolized the violation of sovereignty after Jesus of Peace.
04:35The little ones now hear the world with different ears.
04:40Any loud sound in the street becomes a reminder of their morning of January 3rd.
04:45After that, I feel more or less affected.
04:51Every time I hear a fast motorcycle and it makes noise, I think it's a bomb or a missile.
04:57Or when I hear exhaust pipes, I think it's a gunshot.
05:00Or when a truck hits something, and it makes a noise like a manhole cover being struck, I think it's a bomb too.
05:07Oriana, for her part, recounts how just matters from her widow lies the mountain that that night was the scene of the attack,
05:20causing direct damage to her home and threatening the lives of her children, leaving an open wound.
05:25I feel a little sad, yes, I feel a little sad because our children, our girls, our women, and families who are used to living in peace have been psychologically harmed.
05:38I feel sad because we don't deserve this. We don't deserve to be living like this.
05:44For the lady, a resident of Tower 30, the tag struck with the force of an earthquake, and immediately, her absolute priority was her mother.
05:56We were finishing watching a chapter of the soap opera when the building started shaking terribly, like an earthquake.
06:04My mom went into shock, she thought, as I did, that it was an earthquake.
06:10I grabbed her and carried her because she has a heart condition, and I thought she might have a heart attack.
06:16I kept telling her, calm down, calm down.
06:21From her bedroom window, which wasn't far from us, I looked out and saw the smoke, and I knew they were bombing, that the country was being invaded.
06:29After the attack, 464 people were reported affected. The residents continued their lives, balancing psychological care and moral reconstruction, demonstrating that the strength of these people lies in their ability to move forward together, claiming their sacred right to peace on their own land.
06:51From Caracas, in the camera of Jesus Romero, to Telesur, Andrea Romero.
06:56Also in Venezuela, Acting President Dulce Rodriguez provided a summary of the intense week that culminated 17 days after the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Silvia Flores by the United States.
07:07In this scenario, the Acting President has reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening the hydrocarbon industry and steadily boosting national production established in the plan approved by President Nicolás Maduro.
07:19Reaffirming what she assured during the annual address before the Venezuelan Parliament, Rodriguez announced the creation of two sovereign funds to be managed with criteria of maximum transparency.
07:30The statement from the Acting Head of State was accompanied by a message of unity and loyalty, demanding the return of President Maduro and Congresswoman Celia Flores.
07:40In other topics in Cuba, as part of the program to improve emergency medical services, 15 new ambulances purchased by the Public Health Ministry with state budget funds arrived in the country.
07:57These vehicles will be put into service in the next few days, once the suppliers, specialists and technicians have finished their commissioning work.
08:05These are modern vehicles in accordance with international standards for this type of service, which have basic equipment and features for the installation of other diagnostic and CPR equipment.
08:15The introduction of these health transportation means is another step forward in benefiting the health of the Cuban people in the current complex situation.
08:24We're going to have our first break.
08:31Remember to join us on TikTok at Telesur English, where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and much more.
08:37We'll be right back. Stay with us.
08:39Welcome back.
09:00Welcome back.
09:01In Ecuador, investigations into the 2.6 tons of cocaine seized in March 2025 reveal a logistical structure linking relatives of President Daniel Dobo at drug trafficking.
09:10According to investigations on March 27th and the 28th, 2025, the National Anti-Drug Investigation Directorate seized a container contaminated with illegal substances at the company,
09:21Limited Public Limited, camouflage as bags of coffee for international export.
09:28The executive of the company accused of drug trafficking have ties to the presidential entourage, among them is shareholder Isabel Novoa, aunt of the Ecuadorian president,
09:40and Alvaro Guiberno, who is the husband of the vice president of the National Assembly.
09:44On the other hand, accusations against the head of state and the judiciary are increasing due to the court sessions that have been postponed
09:51on countless occasions to clarify the investigation in which his family is involved.
09:55There is a case that has been named the plastic case.
10:11What does it involve?
10:13The seizure of 2.3 tons of cocaine from a container that was ready to be shipped to Europe from the seaport of Posoria.
10:20Who administered that poor?
10:292.3 tons of cocaine on the international European market.
10:33We are talking about approximately $113 million.
10:37It turns out that in an anti-drug operation, they opened the container and found brown bag containing cocoa.
10:47And 2.3 tons of drugs.
10:52Some people were arrested and they are investigating to see where the container with the drugs and the drug trafficking came from.
10:59And it turns out that it came from the facilities of the company Plastic SA.
11:05Let's see, who is the manager of Plastic SA?
11:08Becker, very close to the Presidation family.
11:23And husband as Mrs. Machero, Vice President of this National Assembly.
11:31An Assembly member by PNA.
11:36In Brazil, the Landless Rural Workers Movement, MSC, is holding its 14th national meeting between January 19th and 23rd in El Salvador, Bahia.
11:44The event brings together more than 3,600 activists from all regions of the country and marks the 42nd anniversary of the movement's founding.
11:52This will be the first national meeting of the MST in 15 years and its main objective is to assess the movement's track record, its achievements and current challenges.
12:01At its opening, the first national meeting demanded the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Celia Flores, who were kidnapped by the U.S. during the invasion of Venezuela.
12:10On Friday the 23rd, an event will be held in solidarity with Venezuela.
12:14Chile has declared a state of catastrophe and reported at least 19 deaths and over 1,500 people affected due to wildfires in the Númbale and Bío Bío Bío.
12:43In this scenario, the Númbale region is on red alert with more than 4,700 hectares affected by the flames.
12:50Meanwhile, in the Bío Bío region, over 2,900 hectares have already burned.
12:55According to the Disaster Prevention and Response Service, a total of 23 fires are currently active and being fought,
13:01seven in Númbale and seven in Bío Bío, five in Araucanía in the south and the rest in various regions across the country.
13:08National authorities have also confirmed 630 people in shelters, 350 homes completely destroyed and 1,000 homes under evaluation.
13:15At 2.30 in the morning, the fire was out of control, there were whirlwinds, the houses in the town below, and then it spread, and there was no way to stay, the smoke was very toxic.
13:34We left with what we were wearing and nothing else. We were able to contact very few of our neighbors and managed to evacuate quickly,
13:43because I believe that if we had stayed 20 minutes longer, we would have died in the fire.
13:49In the U.S., an Arctic cold front covered areas of the Florida Peninsula with snow for the second consecutive year.
13:58The so-called Sunshine State experienced this winter weather phenomenon.
14:02Southeast Alabama and southern Georgia were also affected.
14:05Authorities reported that the snowfall was short-lived, but sufficient to alter the usual landscape of these warm areas.
14:11Recent reports indicate that the frequency of these natural incidents has increased significantly.
14:16Extreme weather continues to affect national transportation and major events, including the NFL playoffs.
14:22In other cities, such as Boston and Chicago, storms continue to affect citizens' lives and mobility.
14:34And on Sunday, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported the death of Victor Manuel Diaz,
14:39a 36-year-old Nicaraguan migrant who was in custody.
14:43The victim was arrested on January 6th in Minneapolis for being in the country without documents,
14:48and was transferred to the East Montana Detention Camp in El Paso, Texas, where his death was reported.
14:54This is the sixth death of a migrant in ICE custody in 2026, and the third to occur at the detention center.
15:00The official cause of death remains under investigation, as do those of other victims.
15:05In this scenario, the American Civil Liberties Union has repeatedly called for the closure of Camp East Montana,
15:11citing an alarming pattern of abuse and death in ICE custody.
15:16The second break is coming up before we invite you to visit our Facebook page at Telesur English,
15:24there you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage, and much more.
15:28Follow our page and activate an official button to stay up-to-date on the world's most recent events.
15:32A final break, don't go away.
15:53Welcome back.
15:54On Sunday, the White House publicly questioned the Nobel Foundation after the organization reiterated that the prize cannot be transferred, even symbolically.
16:02The decision by Venezuelan far-right politician Maria Corina Machado, who unilaterally decided to transfer the Nobel Prize to President Trump,
16:09disregarding the committee's warnings, led to numerous mockery and Norwegian rejection,
16:13as well as to a conflict between the White House and the Oslo Foundation, unprecedented in the history of the awards.
16:19White House Communications Director Steven Schoen said President Donald Trump deserves the award for his role in resolving and de-escalating international conflicts.
16:26This comes after Trump's unprecedented criminal aggression against Venezuela and ongoing threats to annex sovereign territories.
16:39German Chancellor Felix Merz says U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs on countries that oppose his plan to annex Greenland will harm both the U.S. and Europe.
16:48The statements come after Trump imposed 10% tariffs on NATO members that deploy troops to Greenland and reject the U.S. expansionist agenda.
16:57There is a broad consensus among Europeans that further threats of tariffs will weaken rather than strengthen transatlantic relations.
17:08They also carry the race of escalation. Custom duties are usually paid by those in the country where the imports are received, in this case U.S. consumers.
17:20But the tariffs would also, of course, damage our economy, the European economy, and in particular the German economy.
17:29And that is why we want to find a solution here.
17:32And Spain authorities said the death toll from the train accident that occurred on Sunday in Córdoba rose to 39.
17:42In Ademus, two high-speed trains derailed at around 7.39 p.m. local time.
17:47National authorities described the accident as a very rare incident, though it is added that 152 people were injured.
17:54In this context, the Minister of Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, said that the death toll is not final.
17:59Likewise, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez cancelled his participation at Davos Forum in Switzerland because he decided to travel to the scene of the tragedy.
18:07He was killed by Israel Monday after being hit by Israel.
18:35While dozens of Palestinians were injured after being attacked by a drone at the western roundabout of Beit Lahaya, north of the enclave.
18:44These latest events bring the number of fatalities to 464, while the number of injured exceeds 1,269 since the ceasefire came into effect on October 11, 2025.
18:56And the Palestinian Astra Media Office denounces that at least 40 journalists remain detained in Israeli occupation prisons.
19:10In a statement released on Sunday, the office said that two of those journalists, Nidal al-Wahidi and Haitham Abdul Wahid from the Gaza Strip, remain victims of enforced disappearance, with no information available about their whereabouts.
19:22Since October 7, 2023, the number of arrests and detentions targeting journalists and media workers has reached approximately 220 cases.
19:31In this scenario, the group denounces the latest arrests which took place in the village of Deir al-Bur-dehir, east of Jenin, in the occupied West Bank.
19:39In Iran, at least 3,700 people were injured following the recent armed riots in addition to damage to public property and internal security forces.
19:56The head of the Shura Council's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Abraham Assisi, announced to the country that more than 2,221 vehicles and pieces of equipment belonging to the internal security forces were damaged.
20:10In addition, the report detailed that 250 schools, 300 mosques and religious seminars also suffered damage during the protests.
20:17Assisi also reported that the United States government is involved in the destabilizing actions facing the country.
20:31And Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takayashi says she will dissolve parliament on Friday and call a general election to seek voter backing for her spending plans and other policies.
20:40The SNAP election announcement on Monday comes just three months into her tenure as the nation's first female prime minister.
20:47The SNAP vote on February 8th will decide all 465 seats in parliament's lower house and mark Takayashi's first electoral test since becoming prime minister.
20:56The election will test voter appetite for higher spending at a time when the rising cost of living is the public's top concern.
21:03To the people of Japan, as the prime minister today, I have decided to dissolve the House of Representatives on January 23rd.
21:18After dissolving the House of Representatives on January 23rd, the campaign will start on January 27th, followed by the general election which will be held on February 8th.
21:30I plan to hold the election immediately as such.
21:33And the People's Republic of China registers 5% economic growth in 2025 amid international financial instability generated by the United States.
21:42According to the director of the National Bureau of Statistics, Kang Yi, the country met its annual growth target forecast.
21:48The gross domestic product reached a record of almost 141 trillion yuan, which is equivalent to approximately 20 trillion dollars.
21:55According to Kang, the Chinese economy grew by 4.5% in the fourth quarter compared to the previous year.
22:01The country was able to overcome global pressure and made significant progress in high-quality development.
22:07The experts assured that the adoption of more proactive and effective macroeconomic policies helped to offset external threats and currency fluctuations.
22:14Like this, we have come to the end of this news brief.
22:21You can find these and many other stories on our website at www.telesoenglish.net.
22:24So join us on social media, Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok.
22:29This is our English.
22:30I'm Mr. Alberto Matos.
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