FTS 02:30 14-2: People around the world condemn U.S. interventionist actions against Cuba

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FTS 02:30 14-2: People around the world condemn U.S. interventionist actions against Cuba14/2/2026 FTS 02.30 *Prosecutor's office open investigation regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s network. * U.S. govt. shutdown is underway after no approval of budget for department of homeland security.  TeleSUR   These and more stories now!  🌐Join teleSUR's community and be part of a space where your ideas matter.  https://chat.whatsapp.com/KLABTE41aSj3ioYabXQQ6K 🗣 Don't be left behind, join teleSUR's Channel https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va98Z437Noa2tjytCt1N Web💬 https://www.telesurenglish.net/ X🧶 https://twitter.com/telesurenglish Instagram 📸 https://www.instagram.com/telesurenglish/?hl=es Facebook 📱 https://www.facebook.com/teleSUREnglishOfficial Youtube ⏯ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmuTmpLY35O3csvhyA6vrkg Tiktok👌🏼 https://www.tiktok.com/@telesurenglish?_t=8hMLCY0a6z7&_r=1

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00:07International organizations, social movements and people from around the world

00:11condemn the United States escalation of interventionist policies and economic

00:15sanctions against Cuba. The Brazilian public persecutor's office has opened

00:21an investigation into possible links between the pedophile Jeffrey Epstein

00:25and Brazil. A new partial government shutdown in the United States is on

00:32the way as of midnight February 14th after the Senate failed to approve a new

00:36budget for the Department of Homeland Security which includes agencies that

00:40oversee immigration enforcement.

00:47Hello welcome to From the South. I'm Sophie Fernanda from the Telesur Studios in

00:51Havana, Cuba. We'll begin with the news. Stay with us.

01:06Venezuela's acting president El Cis Rodriguez said Thursday that the whole country was

01:09ready for a long-term energy partnership with the United States. During an

01:14interview to the US TV network NBC, the Venezuelan leader reaffirmed her

01:18government's commitment to building a solid economy and a cutting-edge energy

01:23sector setting out a roadmap focused on international cooperation and the

01:28well-being of the Venezuelan people. The president also emphasized that Venezuela is

01:32going through a historic moment of strategic positioning, underlining that

01:36the country is becoming once again an indispensable player in the energy

01:39security of the hemisphere and the world. She also confirmed that she has

01:44received a formal invitation to visit the United States which is planned once the

01:48basis for mutual cooperation is consolidated. She also reiterated that

01:52Nicolas Maduro remains the legitimate president of the country.

02:02Yes, without a doubt, President Nicolas Maduro is the legitimate president of Venezuela.

02:07Both President Maduro and First Lady Celia Flores are innocent.

02:12In other news, Mexico presented a proposal for mediation between Cuba and the United States for a dialogue

02:18on the current situation of the island. President Clyde de Chambon reported that the federal

02:22government submitted the proposal to the US State Department and the US Embassy in Mexico.

02:28The president emphasized that the conditions for this approach would be created on the

02:31basis of respect for Cuba's severity. Chambon stressed that it is necessary to

02:36insist that no country should be sanctioned for sending oil to Cuba and pointed out that Mexico could be an

02:43airbrush for sending humanitarian aid. Meanwhile in Vietnam, social organizations gathered at the Cuban

02:57Embassy in Hanoi to condemn the escalation sanctions imposed by the United States against Cuba.

03:02In this scenario, the Vietnamese people described the measure as aggressive and cruel and demanded the

03:08immediate end to the blockade that affects the daily lives of Cuban families. During the meeting,

03:12representatives of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations reaffirmed the historical support

03:17of Vietnam for the Cuban Revolution. Social organizations also denounced the escalation of

03:23US hostility as a failed attempt to break the will of a sovereign nation.

03:33And the US-based pacifist and anti-war organization CodePIC issued a call to participate in the

03:40Let Cuba Leave Caravan, in solidarity with the Caribbean island and against the US blockade.

03:45The caravan is expected to bring together activists, artists, students, faith leaders and

03:50everyday people committed to building bridges, not blockades. The agenda is to travel to Cuba to

03:56witness firsthand the impacts of US sanctions, engage with Cuban communities and demonstrate that

04:01people in the US want cooperation, not cruelty. The organization stressed that people

04:06the solidarity with Cuba is of utmost importance when the Caribbean island is being suffocated by

04:11the blockade and the US pressured countries around the world to cut off energy and essential resources.

04:17It also warns potential participants that politicians may try to discourage them from traveling,

04:22but assure them that there are legal ways to go to Cuba.

04:31And more than a hundred parliamentaries, trade union leaders, academics and cultural figures in

04:36the United Kingdom have joined the Urgent Appeal for Peace and Sovereignty promoted by the Campaign

04:41for Solidarity with Cuba. The initiative, which has gathered more than 4,000 signatures,

04:47comes amid high intentions following US military actions against Venezuela and explicit threats made by

04:53senior Washington officials against Cuba. The declaration warns that the region faces a growing danger

04:59and denounces decades of US hostility, including a criminal economic blockade which have caused

05:04immense damage to the Cuban people. Meanwhile in Cuba, as part of the National Defense Day,

05:15President Miguel Diaz-Canel led a preparation this Friday in an armed defense zone in Havana. The entire

05:21country in the midst of brutal aggression from the United States is conducting this annual exercise.

05:27During the day, the authorities evaluate the organizational structures, tactical objectives and

05:32security measures in the face of unconventional warfare scenarios. Friday's operation was attended

05:37by the National Leader at the Municipal Defense Council of Sehro, where those responsible explained

05:42the actions planned to guarantee the production of strategic and economic objectives in all areas.

05:53And now we have a short break coming up. But first, remember you can join us on TikTok and

05:57tell us through English, where you will find news in different formats, news updates, and more.

06:01We'll be right back. Stay with us!

06:16Latin America lights up with color as the 2026 Carnival celebrations kick off.

06:21In Venezuela, the Bolivarian government is rolling out Operation Happy and Safe Carnivals 2026,

06:26with the deployment of more than 228,000 police officers to guarantee public safety during the

06:32festivities. Meanwhile, in Brazil, about 8 million tourists are expected to attend the street parades

06:38and theme parades at the San Borromo de Marques de Sepucay in Rio de Janeiro. At a time when Uruguay

06:45is

06:46hosting performances by Murga groups from different parts of the country competing for the title of

06:51First Carnival Performance 2026. Meanwhile, in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Colombia,

06:56among others, they are getting ready to kick off the festivities.

07:05In this regard, the Venezuelan government officially kicked off its 2026 Carnivals for Peace from the

07:12state of La Guayra, one of the country's main tourist destinations. The Acting President Alci Rodriguez

07:17led the ceremony this Friday from the Paseo de Macuto, on the central coast of the country.

07:23Osorreries confirmed the deployment of security for tourists. The Cerreries assured that this year's

07:28program includes cultural and sports activities under the slogan of a safe celebration. In this sense,

07:34Venezuela is immersed in one of its most important traditions, which will continue over the next few

07:39days with activities planned throughout the country.

07:49Tourism is a driving force that not only boosts the economy but also reflects our cultural traditions

07:55and allows us to show the world all the tourist attractions Venezuela has to offer. Here in La Guayra,

08:03there are beaches, but there are also rivers. Here is Mayor Suarez. There are also mountains.

08:09There is a diversity of landscapes for our seasonal visitors, so that we can go and take care of what

08:16brings joy to the people of Venezuela. Defend our cultural traditions. There we were, watching the

08:22Locos de Falc and de Coro, watching the intangible heritage of humanity and with that colorfulness,

08:29that is the colorfulness of the Venezuelan identity, of what we are, what we are doing to defend our peace,

08:36our tranquility. And that these 2026 Carnivals are just one more step in this year for us to show the

08:42world our great spirituality, to show the world that nothing defeats us, that nothing can overcome us,

08:49that our history drives us forward, but the love between Venezuelans unites us to protect peace.

08:55So, all of Venezuela, let's go, all of Venezuela, let's enjoy the 2026 Carnival.

09:05In other news, the Council of State of Colombia suspended President Gustavo Pérez's executive

09:10decree that provided for an increase in the minimum wage for 2026 of more than 20%.

09:16The text of the Council of State details the provisional suspension of the effects

09:20of Decree 1469 of December 29, 2025, issued by the executive. In addition, it gave the government

09:29eight days to issue a new decree that takes into account criteria such as the inflation target,

09:35productivity and gross domestic product roles, among other aspects. In this scenario, President

09:40Petro ordered a 23.7% increase in the salary benefiting more than 2.4 million formal workers in Colombia.

09:54In this regard, Representative of the Chamber for the Historical Park of Colombia, Aldeiro Uribe Muñoz,

10:01warned that the suspension of the wage decree delays improvements in the living condition of workers.

10:07This creates a crisis, an economic crisis too, because this wage was already being paid and the economy

10:13was already being revitalized, thanks to that minimum wage. And obviously, now the improvement

10:18in the living conditions of millions of workers in Colombia would have to be reversed.

10:24Also in Colombia, the government announced a package of economic measures aimed at mitigating

10:29the effects of climate emergency on agricultural production and food prices. The strategy includes

10:35zero interest loans for small farmers to encourage planting in the face of prolonged rains.

10:41Also, President Gustavo Pérez warned that the climate phenomena will affect production cycles,

10:45and asked the Bank of the Republic to review its monetary policy. In addition,

10:51the executive is considering intervening in the high costs of land leases to prevent them from

10:56impacting the end consumer. Moving on to Ecuador, human rights organizations announced state

11:07persecution and authoritarianism in Ecuador to silence critical voices and opposition leaders.

11:13The Standing Committee for the Defense of Human Rights issued an international alert due to the

11:18worrying authoritarian turn by the executive branch. A systematic scheme has been established in which

11:25the state apparatus no longer guarantees rights, but rather functions as a tool for political harassment.

11:32All this because of the demonstrations in support of the media of Guayaquil, Aquiles Alvarez,

11:36who was unjustly sent to prevent detention.

11:43We have a second short break coming up. Before we invite you to visit our Facebook page at

11:47Telesur English. There you'll be able to watch your top stories, special life coverage and much more.

11:52Follow our page and activate the notification button to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.

11:57Find a short break. Don't go away.

12:08Welcome back. The Brazilian Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation into possible links

12:14between the network of late American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and Brazil after receiving a complaint

12:20related to the case. In this regard, several messages revealed that Epstein negotiated the

12:25process of a Brazilian modeling agency with an alleged purpose of gaining access to girls.

12:30In addition, the testimony of at least one Brazilian woman who has claimed to have been a victim of

12:37an existential sex trafficking network in public. The investigation will be conducted by the National

12:43Unit for Combated International Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling, which is being managed under

12:49secrecy in order to protect the victims.

12:57Moving on to the United States, a new partial government shutdown is underway as of midnight February 14th,

13:04after the Senate failed to approve a new budget for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes

13:09agencies that oversee immigration enforcement. This new shutdown comes amid the increasing anti-migrant

13:15operations by the Trump administration, as legislators are calling for a reform of immigration and

13:20customs enforcement after the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis by ICE agents. The demands

13:26included banning ICE agents from wearing masks to conceal their identity, prohibiting racial profiling and

13:33ending immigration rates on sensitive locations like schools and churches. Without these reforms,

13:39Senate Democrats withhold their votes from any funding legislation for DHAs. Let's recall that last year saw the

13:46longest government shutdown in U.S. history, lasting 43 days.

13:55Also in the U.S., four people died when a small prank crashed in northern Colorado, near the steamboat

14:01Springs Key Resort. The aircraft crashed into mountainous terrain under unknown circumstances.

14:07The accident occurred midnight, and the bodies of the victims have already been recovered by the relevant

14:13authorities. The forensic team is working to identify the bodies so their families can be notified.

14:19In this context, as a result of the accident, the National Transportation Safety Board of the United States

14:25has lodged an investigation to determine the causes.

14:34Moving on to Greece, around 80 tractors belonging to the Pan-Hellenic Committee of Blocks arrive in St.

14:41Dagmar Square in downtown Athens to protest against high electricity and fuel costs and the lack of state

14:47support for the agricultural sector. The farmers have announced that they will camp in the square

14:53overnight and live in an ordinary manner on Saturday morning. The protesters argue that the government

14:59has not taken measures to reduce electricity prices or introduce tax-free diesel for the agricultural sector.

15:23In other news, Russia, China and Iran are closing ranks in the face of the nuclear crisis after

15:29Israeli regime bombings against Iranian territory. Delegation from Russia, China and Iran held a new

15:35run of trilateral consultations in Vienna to coordinate their position on the Iranian nuclear program.

15:41This meeting was confirmed by Russian Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov. In addition, on February 6, Washington and

15:47Tehran held the first negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program since the outbreak of the

15:53regional conflict in June 2025. This took place in Moskhat, the capital of Oman, when Israel launched

15:59a bombing campaign on Iran on the pretest that the country was about to acquire a nuclear weapon.

16:05For his part, U.S. President Donald Trump said the negotiation will continue in Moskhat.

16:22Meanwhile, in Indonesia, activists gathered to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people

16:27in the face of attacks by the Israeli regime. A large-scale demonstration in support of Palestine

16:32was held in Jakarta on Friday. Hundreds of protesters from across the Great Jakarta area gathered for

16:39a long march, starting from the Palestinian embassy in Maine-Ting and concluded at the U.S. embassy.

16:45In this scenario, the crowd issued a series of demands directed at Israel and the United States.

16:50This included an urgent call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, an end to the occupation and

16:56colonization of Palestinian territories, and the lifting of the Gaza blockade to allow

17:00unconditional access for humanitarian aid.

17:21Despite the U.S. siege, Cuban culture continues its programming in the country. In order to offer

17:26the population moments of entertainment and education, the sector highlights a variety of

17:31activities in several regions. Let's see more details in the following material.

17:38Although Cuba has suffered from the United States siege over the years,

17:42the recent intensification of political and economic measures against the island has also

17:46impacted the cultural sector. However, the authorities in this sector continue to develop an agenda of

17:54activities throughout the country despite the difficulties. This continuity is part of a strategy to sustain

18:02artistic programming and public access to it, preserve cultural identity, and continue to support the

18:08training of new talent. For the president of the Casa de las Americas, Abel Prieto, this situation has

18:15helped to reaffirm the patriotic stance of the Cuban people.

18:20It seems to me that Trump has a virtue, Luis, that polarizes things and radicalizes people. This

18:28measure against Cuba has radicalized us, it has radicalized us Cubans, it has made us more anti-imperialist

18:36anti-imperialist, anti-imperialist, anti-imperialist, anti-imperialist.

18:43Recent activities include a tribute to the late troubadour Eduardo Sosa, one year after his passing.

18:50The Germano Says Association, the Ministry of Culture, and the Cuban Institute of Music,

18:56organized an event in Havana where troubadours, poets and artists from different artistic fields,

19:02including Silvio Alejandro, Pancho Amat, and Annie Garcia, as well as National Literature Award winners,

19:09Miguel, Barnet, and Nancy Morejon. The event honored Sosa's defense of his musical roots,

19:17and highlighted his legacy within national culture.

19:23Trovador of the moons, trovador of the suns, rocked by the blue of the mountains, you will never be the

19:30lost one.

19:34You will never set out on the most nomadic journey in search of old days. I look for a blanket,

19:42for you fever, while the island lulls its best song.

19:49The cultural program also includes a performance by the Ballet de Cuba on February 21st and 22,

19:55with a staging of the classic Giselle, which is an essential part of the national ballet's repertoire.

20:03Prima Ballerina Viense Valdez will star in the first performance, alongside Dani Hernandez Acosta as Albrecht.

20:10The performances will take place at the National Theater in Havana.

20:16The center of the country will also be immersed in the Teresita Fernandez Cultural Crusade, promoted by the El Medinch

20:22Cultural Center.

20:24The initiative will bring itinerant activities to communities, offering coordinated actions with artists,

20:30neighbors, and collaborators in order to maintain cultural life on the island.

20:36This crusade pays tribute to the Santa Clara and a troubadour Teresita Fernandez, and represents a tradition of cultural work

20:43that began in the 1980s.

20:48In the face of increased siege and threats from the United States government,

20:53the Cuban cultural community continues to fight through all these activities, which seek to strengthen inclusion and social participation.

21:00Each day represents the resilience and resistance of an entire people who refuse to adopt new forms of culture that

21:08override their roots and national identity.

21:17And like this, we have come to the end of this news brief.

21:19You can find this and many other stories on our website at TelesurEnglish.net.

21:23And join us on social media. We're on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok.

21:28For TelesurEnglish, I'm Sophie Fernandez. Thank you for watching.

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