FTS 20:30 21-01: Venezuela confirms dialogue underway with U.S.

5 hours ago

21/01/2026
FTS 20.30
*Trump issues ultimatum to European leaders over Greenland.
*Israeli forces kill 3 journalists in Central Gaza.
teleSUR

These and many more stories now!

Transcript

00:00During the first Federal Government Council, Acting President Delce Rodríguez confirmed

00:13the existence of a dialogue process with the United States.

00:16US President Donald Trump issued a darted ultimatum to European leaders at the World

00:22Economic Forum in Davos amid growing tensions with Europe over Greenland.

00:27And on Wednesday, the Palestinian Civil Defense has denounced the death of three journalists

00:35working for the Egyptian Committee for Gaza Relief due to an Israeli attack in central

00:40Gaza.

00:44Hello and welcome to From the South, I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Havana, Cuba.

00:49We begin with the news.

01:02During the first Federal Government Council, Acting President Delce Rodríguez confirmed

01:07the existence of a dialogue process with the United States to address differences through

01:11diplomatic channels.

01:13Rodríguez stated that the government is willing to address the most sensitive differences

01:17through diplomatic channels without hatred or violence.

01:21Rodríguez framed this action within the legacy of liberalism of Bolívar, contrasting his

01:27doctrine with that of US monroism.

01:31In this context, the senior official announced that in the coming hours, the executive branch

01:35will issue announcements regarding policies of coexistence and tolerance.

01:47You know, as we have said, that we are in a process of dialogue of work with the United

01:55States without any kind of fear to face the differences, the difficulties, the most sensible and the less

02:06sensible as well, to face them in the way of diplomacy.

02:13That makes us the sons and daughters of Simon Bolívar who conceived it in that way, also facing

02:21the ideologists of the Monroe Doctrine.

02:26They lived in the same homes, Monroe and Simon Bolívar.

02:32Today, we have through diplomacy to raise those flags.

02:37Also, the Acting President Delce Rodríguez expressed her gratitude to the Cuban President,

02:42Miguel Diaz-Canel, for extending his condolences to the Venezuelan people, as well to the families

02:47and friends of the heroes who fell in combat on January 3rd.

02:51I want to use this opportunity to thank yesterday I talked with the President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel,

02:59and the first thing that he transmitted to me was the condolences for the Venezuelan people,

03:04for the family members and the friends of our heroes that died in combat on January 3rd.

03:12The first thing that he transmitted was the condolences.

03:15He felt condolences that I also returned to him because 32 Cuban heroes died in that

03:24combat.

03:25But that they died for Venezuela and they died for the concept and for the being of a unity

03:33to feel ourselves sons and daughters of the big homeland.

03:37In addition, the Acting President Delce Rodríguez emphasized that the unity of the people's

03:42of Latin America and the Caribbean constitutes a powerful force capable of setting an example

03:47for those who hold these base on expansionism.

03:52I thank for the call of President Diaz-Canel because to be united in the just causes of Latin

04:00America animates us.

04:03And it also brings joy to our esteem as Venezuelan men and women.

04:09And it gives us decisions to continue together in this process that cannot be avoided, which

04:17is the unity of our peoples, the unity of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean,

04:25with a powerful force as it was thought by Bolívar, as a great power, our United Nations.

04:32And we say in Venezuela, where the Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace, Yostado

04:37Cabello, stated that they will fight for the return of President Nicolás Maduro and First

04:41Lady Celia Flores and that this will be the primary task of the country.

04:46During his program Con el Mazo Dando, the Minister rejected the acts of joy by some Venezuelans who

04:52celebrated the attack perpetrated by the United States that resulted in the death of around

04:57100 people, including 32 Cubans who lost their lives defending President Nicolás Maduro and

05:04the First Lady Celia Flores.

05:06In this sense, Cabello stated that the Bolivarian revolution is what governs the country and

05:11is making its own efforts to move forward without depending on anyone.

05:15The Minister also assured that peace has been consolidated in the country despite external

05:20attempts to create destabilization.

05:27Let's review some of the information provided by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez in her recent

05:32message to the nation.

05:34Rodríguez revealed that in 2025 the energy sector registered a 12.9% increase in oil production.

05:42She also noted that Venezuela reported 0% fuel imports in the same year.

05:51In her annual message, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez assured that 77.8% of the national

05:58budget will be allocated to social investment.

06:01In her report, she highlighted that more than US$277 million had been allocated to over 35,000

06:08community projects, approving the six popular consultations of 2024 and 2025.

06:19Also amidst the economic recovery experienced by Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez reported that

06:24formal employment reached a growth of 58.1%.

06:34Also in Venezuela, the accumulation of false news is denounced as a disinformation campaign

06:39against Acting President Delcy Rodríguez through a post and ex the Miraflores Palace

06:44account shared.

06:46We categorically denounce the accumulation of false and malicious news against Acting President

06:52Delcy Rodríguez to pave the way for justifying aggression against her physical and moral integrity.

07:04In Venezuela, the Sign for Peace event took place in the city of Caracas on Wednesday,

07:08with young people and seniors coming together to demand the immediate release of President

07:13Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Celia Flores.

07:16This gathering is one of the actions that the people of Venezuela have taken to denounce the

07:22US imperialist aggression against Bolivarian territory and the illegal kidnapping of the presidential

07:28couple.

07:29It was established as a space for resistance and popular exchange, using art as a means

07:33of denouncing interference and threats.

07:37In this context, Venezuela reaffirms their commitment to defending national sovereignty and peace.

07:47Now we go to China, where in an exclusive interview for Telesu, John Chu, professor at the School

07:54of Journalism at Minsu University, questioned the international community's inaction in the

07:59face of the military aggression perpetrated by the United States against Venezuela.

08:05So from all angles, I mean, from the legal basis, it's basically invasion.

08:09It's basically, you know, a violation infringement on the sovereign rights of an independent big

08:16nation.

08:18And we still don't understand why it can happen, why the whole international community cannot

08:23allow that to happen.

08:25And I think it's illegal to do so.

08:28On Tuesday as well, Cuba received its first shipment of aspirin as part of its cooperation

08:33with China.

08:34The shipment intended to meet the demand for medicines is the result of joint work between

08:40Cuban laboratories and the Chinese company Hubei CNC.

08:43This collaboration is expected to meet the demand for aspirin required by the island's Ministry

08:48of Public Health for 2026.

08:51Likewise, the action reinforces the efforts of the Biocuba Pharma Business Group and its

08:57companies to ensure the supply of viral medicines for the people.

09:01And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok at

09:08Telesur English, where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and much more.

09:13We'll be right back and stay with us.

09:35Welcome back to From the South.

09:37The Mexican government extradited 37 prisoners to the United States as part of its cooperation

09:42agreements on security with Washington.

09:45During her morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum affirmed that the extradition

09:49was a sovereign decision and was part of the agreements on security between both nations

09:55after evaluating a request by the U.S. Department of Justice.

09:58Sheinbaum reiterated that her government takes sovereign decisions which are part of public

10:04policies based on the protection of the national sovereignty.

10:08The Mexican leader also informed that the agreements include the training of Mexican soldiers in

10:13the United States on issues of security.

10:15Well, it was the decision of the National Security Council.

10:26They have their reasons to send people to the United States for training.

10:35We have made the decision, or rather, I have made the decision, let's put it that way,

10:40that when the training takes place, it's very important.

10:45The trainings are approved by the National Security Council.

10:53It is not just an institution that makes individual decisions.

10:58It's better to use a Mexican plane to take our trainees than having a U.S. plane come to

11:02pick them up.

11:05On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a direct ultimatum to European leaders at the

11:11World Economic Forum in Davos amid growing tensions with Europe over Greenland.

11:16During his speech, Trump said Europe has a choice.

11:19Either they can say yes, and the U.S. will be very grateful, or they can say no, and the

11:24U.S. will remember it.

11:25Last week, Trump announced the imposition of a 10% tariff on all products from eight European

11:30countries, all of which are NATO members and which sent military forces to Greenland amidst

11:36sanctions over U.S. imperial aspirations on the island.

11:40The tax would take effect on February 1st, with a planned increase to 25% as of June 1st.

11:47The eight nations denounced their decision and announced the preparation of a joint response

11:52to the tariffs.

11:58And at the World Economic Forum in Davos, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant admits that

12:03sanctions on Iran are causing protests in the country.

12:08President Trump ordered Treasury and our OFAC division, Office of Foreign Asset Control,

12:13to put maximum pressure on Iran, and it's worked, because in December, their economy collapsed.

12:20We saw a major bank go under, the central bank has started to print money, there is a dollar

12:26shortage, they are not able to get imports, and this is why the people took to the street.

12:31So this is economic statecraft, no shots fired, and things are moving in a very positive way

12:41here.

12:45Also Chinese Deputy Prime Minister He Le Feng, during his speech at the 2026 Annual Meeting

12:51of the World Economic Forum, stated that there are no winners in tariffs or trade wars.

12:56For the Deputy Prime Minister, tariffs and trade wars harm the global economy and undermine

13:01share growth.

13:03He added that economic globalization, driven by the international division of labor, cooperation,

13:08and complementarity continues to be a historical trend that has generated tangible benefits

13:13for many countries, including China, and also insisted that all countries should defend

13:18free trade and work together to promote a more inclusive and beneficial economic globalization

13:23for all.

13:24The event, under the slogan, Spirit of Dialogue, brings together approximately 3,000 leaders and

13:29experts from around the world to discuss five urgent global challenges, including strengthening

13:34cooperation, driving new sources of growth, and implementing large-scale innovation in a responsible

13:40manner.

13:45In this context, Chinese Deputy Prime Minister He Le Feng emphasized the importance of supporting

13:50free trade and jointly promoting economic globalization.

13:54We must strongly support free trade and jointly promote economic globalization that is universally

14:03beneficial and inclusive.

14:06Economic globalization driven by international specialization, collaboration, complementary strengths,

14:12and the pursuit of win-win outcomes is a predominant trend in history that has benefited many

14:21countries, including China, and has enabled them to achieve rapid development.

14:25On the contrary, tariff and trade wars have no winners.

14:29Beyond increasing production and trade costs, they fragment the global economy and disrupt the

14:33global allocation of resources.

14:37In other news, on Wednesday, in Russia, members of the Communist Party gather in Moscow's Red Square to lay flowers in honor of

14:45revolutionary leader Vladimir Ilyich Lenin in commemoration of the 102nd anniversary of his death.

14:52The General Secretary of the Russian Communist Party, Yenady Suganov, presided over the ceremony at the

14:58mausoleum dedicated to the founder of the Bolshevik Party.

15:02Members present, remember the ideas of the fighter for the rights of the working class, whose theory and

15:07practice explore the possibility of building a society without exploiters or exploited.

15:14In this scenario, Suganov referred to the relevance of Vladimir Lenin's thought in the current geopolitical

15:19context, marked by the rise of imperialism.

15:23Now everyone should read Lenin's work on the development of imperialism, and understand what

15:35would inevitably lead a new major conflict and war.

15:38You can see another imperialist in action.

15:41Just a year ago, you wouldn't have imagined that Trump would say, the Western Hemisphere is mine,

15:46Greenland is ours, Canada will also have to obey, and Mexico, and so on, and they would

15:50kidnap the leader of a sovereign country, a member of the United Nations, Venezuela, and

15:54lock up Nicolás Maduro and his wife in their prison.

16:00And now we go to Spain, where the 46th edition of the most important international tourism fair

16:05fee tour began in Madrid, marked by the moaning of the fatal victims of Sunday's train accident

16:11in Córdoba. The event opened its doors on Wednesday to government institutions, tourism-related companies and global

16:19organizations to present sign agreements and set guidelines in the tourism sector.

16:25More than 250,000 visitors are expected to attend, including more than 150,000 professionals

16:31of the tourism industry. And this year, the fair will have 9% more international exhibitors

16:38than last year.

16:43And now we have a second show break coming up. Before we invite you to visit our Facebook

16:47page at Telesur English, then you'll be able to watch our top stories, especially live coverage,

16:52and much more. Follow our page and also activate the notification button to stay up to date on the

16:58world's most recent events. I'm Sjobrik, we'll be right back.

17:21Welcome back to From the South, and we go to Brazil. An alert has been issued for exceptional

17:27risk in the state of Espirito Santo and other states in the region due to heavy rains. Authorities

17:32report a 10-year-old victim from the collapse of a house, and so far, Civil Defence has warned

17:38of the risk of flooding and landslides in Río Bananal and Linjarres. They are also preparing

17:44for the possibility of disruptions caused by water accumulation, so they urge the population

17:50to find safe places and contact the competent authorities.

17:58Heavy rains hit several regions of Tunisia, leaving at least four dead after severe flooding.

18:03Civil Defence and Rescue Teams informed that four people died in Moorkeen in the Governorate

18:08of Monastir on Tuesday. Local authorities also reported that as long as the rains continue,

18:14schools and businesses will remain closed and transportation will be disrupted in several

18:19areas. Rescue teams carry out rescue operations in those affected areas. Also in this scenario,

18:25the National Institute of Meteorology stated that some regions of Tunisia had not recorded

18:31such heavy rains since 1950. In South Africa, at least 38 people died following recent floods

18:43in the provinces of Limpopo and Pumalanga in the far northeast of the country. In recent weeks,

18:50heavy rains caused severe flooding that affected local infrastructure and the daily lives of residents.

18:55In response, the authorities activated measures to address the climate emergency, declaring a

19:01state of national disaster as the rains have resulted in 1,942 damaged houses in Limpopo and 1,808

19:11in Pumalanga. In this scenario, South Africa's Minister of Human Settlements, Tembi Similane,

19:18emphasized that support measures for the most affected communities had been increased.

19:31Let's talk about Palestine. The Israeli army once again violated the ceasefire agreement with attacks

19:51in several areas of the north and south, south of the Gaza Strip. Zionist forces carried out airstrikes

19:57against residential buildings in northern Gaza, while bombing east of Hanjunis and the Butrish refugee

20:04camp in the center of the enclave, killing a child and injuring three Palestinians. In this regard,

20:09the Gazan Ministry of Health stated that since the ceasefire came into effect in October 2025,

20:16at least 1,820 Palestinians have been killed, while 1,300 have been injured,

20:23a figure that adds to the more than 71,551 killed and 171,371 injured since October 2023.

20:39On Wednesday, also the Palestinian civil defense denounced the death of three journalists working

20:44for the Egyptian Committee for Gaza Relief due to an Israeli attack in central Gaza. According to local

20:50authorities, the occupation forces deliberately targeted a vehicle belonging to the Committee

20:56under the excuse that they were gathering information and intelligence from Israel forces.

21:02Reports indicate that journalists who have tried to use drones to document the destruction caused by

21:08the Israeli occupation in Gaza have been killed or seriously injured. In this regard,

21:13Zionist forces keep preventing to film Gaza's destruction from the air and have considered

21:19journalists filming with drones to be legitimate targets.

21:29Israeli warplanes attacked a jeep belonging to the Egyptian Committee, killing three martyrs.

21:35They were on a humanitarian mission in camps run by the Egyptian Committee to shelter the space people.

21:41Israeli warplanes, and we hope that Israeli army is responsible.

21:57At lunch time, a vehicle belonging to the Egyptian Committee was targeted on this Nezarin street near the Turkish hospital.

22:07They say that this is considered a safe and humanitarian zone.

22:15In other news, Lebanese authorities denounced new attacks by the Israeli regime against homes in the south of the country.

22:22Authorities reported that two people were killed and others were injured after continuous bombing by Israeli forces against several areas in the region,

22:30causing damage to the infrastructure. Authorities warned that Israel issued a statement threatening to attack more buildings within the Lebanese territory.