- 1 hour ago
30/01/2026
FTS 12.30
*Venezuela: National Assembly approves on 2nd discussion partial reform to hydrocarbon law
*U.S. social organizations call for national shutdown over immigration policies
FTS 12.30
*Venezuela: National Assembly approves on 2nd discussion partial reform to hydrocarbon law
*U.S. social organizations call for national shutdown over immigration policies
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NewsTranscript
00:00Cuba denounced the intensification of the United States blockade announced by Donald Trump.
00:17Condemning it seeks to suffocate the island under the rhetoric of protecting U.S. national security.
00:24Venezuela's National Assembly approved on second discussion Thursday the partial reform to the hydrocarbons organic law.
00:38And U.S. social organizations called for a national shutdown this Friday in rejection of the Trump administration's anti-immigrant policies.
00:47Hello and welcome to From the South. My name is Belen de los Santos and from the Tercer Studios in Havana, Cuba, we'll begin with the news.
00:57On Thursday, the White House declared a national emergency due to the alleged threat posed by Cuba to the U.S. and the rest of the region.
01:18This is yet another attempt to hide the U.S. true intention of unilaterally suffocating the island under a rhetoric of national security.
01:26U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order which provides a pretext for intensifying the criminal economic blocate against the Caribbean island.
01:36The unilateral measure authorizes Washington to impose additional tariffs on imports from any nation that directly or indirectly supplies oil to Cuba.
01:46The order allows the Secretaries of State and Commerce to implement the tariff system and related measures, including issuing rules and guidelines.
01:56Another reaction on this topics in this context, the president of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, denounced the measure taken by U.S. President Donald Trump to incentivize the blocate against the island through his social media accounts.
02:14The president of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that under a false pretext and without any arguments sold by those who engage in politics and enrich themselves at the expense of our people's suffering,
02:26President Trump is attempting to suffocate the Cuban economy by imposing tariffs on countries that sovereignly trade oil with Cuba.
02:34He goes on to say that didn't the Secretary of State and his herlicans say that the blocate didn't exist?
02:40Where are those who bore us with their false stories that it is simply an embargo on bilateral trade?
02:48The president concluded this new measure demonstrates the fascist, criminal and genocidal nature of a clique that has hijacked the interests of the U.S. people for purely personal gain.
03:00For his part, Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, also denounced the new escalation by the United States against the country through his official account on the social network X.
03:18Rodriguez stated,
03:18We condemn in the strongest terms the new escalation by the U.S. against Cuba. Now it proposes to impose a total blocate on fuel supplies to the country.
03:29To justify this, it relies on a long list of lies that seek to portray Cuba as a threat that it is not.
03:36Every day, new evidence emerges that the U.S. government is the only threat to peace, security and stability in the region and the only malign influence in our Americas.
03:46It tries to subject the nations and peoples of our America to its dictates, strip them of their resources, mutilate their sovereignty and deprive them of their independence.
03:57The U.S. also resorts to blackmail and coercion to try to get other countries to join its universally condemned policy of blocate against Cuba,
04:07threatening those that refuse with the imposition of arbitrary and abusive tariffs in violation of all free trade rules.
04:14We denounce this brutal act of aggression against Cuba and its people who have been subjected to the longest and cruelest economic blocate ever imposed against an entire nation for more than 65 years
04:26and who are now promised to be subjected to extreme living conditions.
04:30Also in this scenario, on the intensified blocate, Cuban intellectual and president of the Casa de las Americas,
04:44Abel Prieto denounced the unilateral measure announced by the U.S. president.
04:49Through his social account, he emphasized that the counter-revolution is euphoric about Trump's executive order.
04:56They believe, or want to believe, that this marks the beginning of the end for the Cuban revolution.
05:02Once again, they are underestimating our people, our party and our government.
05:07In addition, the Cuban intellectual stated that we are also convinced that many decent people around the world,
05:13including in the U.S. itself, will support the small and brave David in his resistance against the lying and cowardly Goliath,
05:20who is sick with pride and greed, through all means at their disposal.
05:26We will win.
05:33And the Young Communist League of Cuba also condemned the recent U.S. action as another measure to economically suffocate the Caribbean nation.
05:41Through an official statement, the organization stated,
05:44The decree declaring a national emergency due to the alleged threat that Cuba poses to his country and the rest of the region is completely unfounded and a blatant lie.
05:54Moreover, the Cuban youth denounced the action flagrantly violates the norms, purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law,
06:04assuring that Cuba is not a threat to the United States or any other country and has the right to develop its economic and trade relations without conditions of any kind.
06:15In its closing remarks, the organization stressed among young Cubans,
06:19there will never be a hint of defeat or surrender and vowed to defend our homeland, whatever the cost.
06:26The recent announcement has sparked international condemnation.
06:35The Chinese government reaffirmed its support for Cuba, expressing a strong rejection to foreign actions that threaten the Caribbean island.
06:44China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security and opposing external interference.
06:49We also resolutely oppose any action that deprive the Cuban people of their right of survival and development, as well as inhuman acts.
06:58Meanwhile, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador, Guillaume Long, also condemned the measure.
07:06In his ex-account, Long stressed that Cuba is not an unusual or extraordinary threat to the United States.
07:12This total suffocation of the Cuban people through the imposition of a blockade on the sale of fuel is not only cruel and imperial,
07:20but also, according to international law, an act of war.
07:24Blockades are only legal in cases of self-defense.
07:27They are always illegal when they seek to collectively punish the civilian population.
07:33In such cases, they may constitute a war crime and even a crime against humanity.
07:38All states must unequivocally reject this new crime of aggression and act to counteract its effects.
07:50For her part, Spanish Member of Parliament Irene Montero also took to her socials to denounce the U.S.
07:56is besieging Cuba with a total oil embargo,
08:00adding to the criminal blockade of food, medicine and all kinds of products that have been in place for 65 years.
08:07This is pure state terrorism aimed at taking over Cuba as well.
08:13What are we waiting for to stop them if they are already destroying everything?
08:21Now we have a short break coming up, but first, remember you can join us on TikTok at Tell Us Our English,
08:26where you will find news in different formats, news updates and much more.
08:30We'll be right back. Stay with us.
08:31We're continuing from the south.
08:53In Venezuela, thousands of petroleum sector workers demonstrated on Thursday
08:58in support of the approval of the partial reform of the hydrocarbons law.
09:03From Caracas, our correspondent Brian Meir with the details.
09:06Thousands of petroleum sector workers marched through downtown Caracas to the National Assembly
09:13to show their support for partial reform of the National Hydrocarbon Law,
09:18which was designed to open up more space for foreign companies to operate in Venezuela
09:22while maintaining both the National Petroleum Company, PDVSA,
09:27and 100% of Venezuela's oil reserves under sovereign control.
09:32We, oil workers, are here to support the partial reform of the hydrocarbon law,
09:41because through this law, we have the opportunity to protect our sovereignty.
09:49PDVSA has been a bulwark in all the struggles we had with the empire.
09:53As workers, we have the power to remain firm and stand our ground for whatever may come.
09:58We are not afraid of anything that comes our way.
10:01In 2020, President Nicolas Maduro enacted reforms as part of his anti-blockade law,
10:07opening space for more foreign participation in the management of Venezuela's petroleum resources.
10:14The new reforms solidify those changes and guarantee that profits from the partnerships
10:18with foreign companies will remain under state control
10:21while earmarking profits for social spending and infrastructure.
10:25With the approval of the partial reform of the Organic Hydrocarbon Law,
10:34that just took place in the National Assembly,
10:40the building of the people, a new stage begins.
10:45After Congressional President Georgie Rodriguez announced the bill's passage in the National Assembly,
10:50the march continued to Mira Flores Palace, where Acting President Delcey Rodriguez signed it into law.
10:57I am truly thrilled that this law carries the imprint of Commander Chavez,
11:09and reaffirms sovereignty over our energy resources.
11:16This law expresses President Nicolas Maduro's visions for the future.
11:23There are those who think we dropped this law suddenly,
11:27but we were already planning this law and its reforms together with President Nicolas Maduro.
11:34I feel excited to be able to tell you from Caracas, in your native land, President Maduro,
11:39that we are fulfilling our commitment to you,
11:42we are fulfilling our commitment to the First Lady,
11:45and we are fulfilling our commitment to the people of Venezuela.
11:49Acting President Rodriguez emphasized that Venezuela will do business with companies from Asia and Europe,
11:54as well as the United States.
11:56Brian Mayer, DELESIR, Caracas.
11:59Meanwhile, in other news, U.S. social organizations called for a national shutdown to begin this Friday.
12:08This to demonstrate the rejection of the Trump administration's anti-immigrant policies
12:13and to denounce the deployment of ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis and other cities.
12:19Following deadly shootings and raids carried out by ICE,
12:22organizers are urging citizens to stop working, attending school and spending money.
12:28This to protest the agency crackdown surging across the country.
12:33In this scenario, they are also calling on Congress to cut funding to the Department of Homeland Security,
12:39which oversees ICE when it votes on the current funding package ahead of a possible federal government shutdown.
12:46On Friday, student groups at the University of Minnesota will lead a walkout on campus,
12:51joined by unions and immigrant rights organizations.
12:54They are also planning additional ICE out-of-everywhere protests on Saturday at ICE detention centers and offices,
13:02as well as at airports to target airlines that transport ICE detainees.
13:07In this context, citizens and representatives in Minnesota, including Ilan Omar,
13:16are protesting outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building,
13:21the first stop for immigrants detained in the recent enforcement search,
13:25and the site where dozens of bystanders and observers have been held after arrest.
13:32Let's not forget that these protests were sparked by the death of a second U.S. citizen
13:38in less than a month during immigration raids in Minneapolis.
13:46During the first year of Donald Trump's second term as president of the United States,
13:51the number of migrants who died in the custody of immigration and customs enforcement have tripled.
13:57According to ICE reports, medical complications such as heart failure, strokes, seizures, and even suicide
14:02are some of the reasons the agency has attributed to these deaths of people under their supervision.
14:09According to the figures, in Trump's first year from January to December of 2025,
14:15at least 32 migrants died due to poor conditions while in custody of ICE agents.
14:27Also in this scenario, the American Civil Liberties Union warned that ICE's current oversight
14:35and accountability mechanisms regarding death in custody are inadequate and insufficient to prevent future deaths.
14:43The organization has identified problems with the agency related to medical services for detained migrants,
14:50such as incomplete treatment and medication, lack of timely emergency care,
14:55and insufficient certified medical staff.
14:57The union also asserted that at least 95% of the deaths that occurred under ICE care
15:03could have been prevented if adequate medical care had been provided.
15:13And while this is going on, another partial shutdown of the United States government is imminent
15:19following the decision by the Democrat Senators to oppose the budget package
15:24that includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security, the DHS.
15:29This decision adds pressure on President Donald Trump, who already faces opposition to his immigration policies,
15:35and another government shutdown could further complicate the economy.
15:39The final straw was the controversy surrounding the killing last Saturday of U.S. citizen Alex Freddie
15:45by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.
15:48In this scenario, the Senate's Democrat Minority Leader Chuck Schumer confirmed that his caucus
15:56will not provide the 60 votes needed to pass the six appropriation bills unless the section on the DHS is removed.
16:05If an agreement is not reached before midnight on January 30th,
16:09the partial shutdown would halt operations in departments such as Defense, Health, Education, Transportation, Treasury and State,
16:17as well as other federal agencies.
16:19We have a second short break coming up now, but before we invite you to visit our Facebook page
16:27at Tell Us Your English, there you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverages and much more.
16:33Follow the page and activate notifications to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.
16:38Final short break, don't go away.
16:49Welcome back to From the South.
17:06The Gaza Ministry of Health announced that 15 bodies were released by the Israeli occupation
17:12and delivered to the Alshifo Medical Complex through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
17:20More information on this with the delivery, the ministry confirmed received of a total of 360 bodies.
17:27Medical teams handled the remains in accordance with approved medical protocols
17:31and in coordination with the relevant authorities and committees.
17:34This work included forensic examinations, corresponding documentation and subsequent delivery of the bodies to their families.
17:50And on Thursday, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres,
17:55who made a statement reiterating that the Security Council is the only body with the power
18:01to make binding decisions on international peace and security for all member states.
18:07His statements reinforce the principle of multilateral legitimacy over parallel conflict resolution mechanisms.
18:14Guterres told reporters in New York that the UN and the Security Council are responsible for global peace and security.
18:23Only the Security Council can legally obligate all members to implement peace and security resolutions.
18:29The UN leader also said that only the Security Council can approve the use of force,
18:35reinforcing the Council's central role in the international system,
18:39despite acknowledging the need for structural changes.
18:47Dear members of the press, happy new year.
18:50We are living in a world where actions, especially reckless ones, are provoking dangerous reactions.
19:00And unlike in physics, these reactions are not symmetrical or predictable.
19:06They are being multiplied by geopolitical divisions and magnified by an epidemic of impunity.
19:13The law of power is prevailing over the power of law.
19:20International law is trampled.
19:24Cooperation is eroding.
19:26And multilateral institutions are under assault on many fronts.
19:31Global problems will not be solved by one power calling the shots.
19:37Nor will they be solved by two powers carving the world into rival spheres of influence.
19:42It is important to accelerate deliberately and with determination, multipolarity.
19:49When that is networked, inclusive by design, and capable of creating balance through partnerships.
19:58Partnerships in trade, in technology, and in international cooperation.
20:02But multipolarity by itself does not guarantee stability or peace.
20:08And in other news, in Iraq, protests continue near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad,
20:14denouncing President Donald Trump's threats.
20:17More information on this.
20:18The protests, which have been ongoing for two days,
20:22are in response to Trump's statement suggesting that he will withdraw
20:25all economic and military support if political leader Nuri al-Maliki returns to the position of prime minister.
20:33The demonstrators gathered near the green zone,
20:35chanted slogans against U.S. intervention in domestic affairs.
20:39In this context, the participants emphasize that the election of their leaders
20:43is a decision belonging exclusively to the will of the people and Iraqi constitutional institutions.
20:50Also on Friday, the Russian government agreed to implement a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine until February 1st.
21:07Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin accepted
21:12the request from his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump to cease attacks
21:16in order to create favorable conditions for negotiations to end the conflict.
21:21However, the Peskov did not provide details on the suspension of military activities.
21:28In this scenario, the Russian Ministry of Defense reiterated that the airstrikes are being launched
21:34against military targets, plants and energy facilities that supply Kiev's military industrial sector
21:41and are in response to Ukrainians' attacks on Russia's civilian infrastructure.
22:02We stay in Russia because Moscow had the snow in January since 2023
22:07with 203 years of records confirmed by the Meteorological Observatory at the Lomasov State University.
22:16The exceptional snowfalls transformed the routine of 13 million inhabitants
22:20who faced massive delays in commuter trains and prolonged traffic jams.
22:26Mikhail Logoshenko, the observatory's director and geography professor,
22:31explained that extensive cyclones and atmospheric fronts passing through the Moscow region
22:35caused this phenomenon.
22:37He added that temperatures in the capital were 1.5 degrees Celsius below the January climate norm
22:43of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius, which helped maintain the thick layer of snow without prolonged thaws.
22:51And like this, we have come to the end of this news brief.
23:00You can find this and many other stories on our website at tellusourenglish.net.
23:03Also join us on social media.
23:05We are on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok as well.
23:09For Tell Us Your English, my name is Verena de los Santos.
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