00:20International organizations, social movements and people from around the world condemn the
00:25United States' escalation of interventionist policies and economic sanctions against Cuba.
00:30That's one of the main informations of the day.
00:32The second one, in Spain, a meteorological red alert was announced in the province of Castellón
00:38as hurricane-force winds arrived due to Storm Oriana.
00:42And third, several countries across the world kicked off festivities for the 2026 Carnival season.
00:49Hello, welcome to From the South.
00:51I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Caracas, Venezuela.
00:55We begin with this and many more news.
00:57Stay with us.
01:13As we advance, a collision of unions, groups and social movements from around the world
01:18is moving forward with the organization of the Nuestra America Flotilla,
01:22which will set sail for Cuba to break the criminal blockade imposed by the United States against the island.
01:28During this weekend, groups around the world are discussing the organization of the initiative.
01:34One of the general coordinators is David Adler.
01:38He has explained that in addition to delivering food, medicines and essential supplies,
01:43this proposal also seeks to pressure the governments and international organizations
01:48to respect international humanitarian law.
01:50In the face of Washington's aggressive extremist policy groups in Mexico, Brazil, Spain,
01:57the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom and many other countries around the world,
02:02are organizing this flotilla, which will face real risks of war in the face of militarization
02:08deployed by the United States in the Caribbean.
02:11However, they assure that it is necessary to take these risks to defend humanity before it is too late.
02:23And as part of National Defense Day in Cuba,
02:27President Miguel Diaz-Canel led a day of preparation this Friday in an armed defense zone in Havana.
02:33The entire country, in the midst of brutal aggression from the United States,
02:37is conducting this annual exercise.
02:40During the day, the authorities evaluated the organizational structures,
02:43tactical objectives, and security measures in the face of unconventional warfare scenarios.
02:50Friday's operation was attended by the national leader at the Municipal Defense Council of Cerro,
02:56where those responsible explained the actions planned to guarantee the protection
03:01of strategic and economic objectives in all areas.
03:12given the likely nature of the enemy, we are preparing ourselves on the hill,
03:17where there is a high probability that this will be an invasion zone,
03:20of limited attacks, artillery confrontations,
03:23and therefore it is very important that we are able to carry out these preparation exercises
03:28so that the protection and defense brigade, and the people,
03:31because there is a concept that must be clear and is part of our military doctrine,
03:35and for the people to defend themselves.
03:38They must have a weapon to fight with and be able to defend the most sacred thing of all,
03:43the defense of their country.
03:48And we're staying in Cuba.
03:49Despite the U.S. siege culture continues its programming in the country.
03:54In order to offer the population moments of entertainment and education,
03:58the sector highlights a variety of activities in several regions.
04:01Let's see more details in the following material.
04:06Although Cuba has suffered from the United States siege over the years,
04:11the recent intensification of political and economic measures against the island
04:15has also impacted the cultural sector.
04:19However, the authorities in this sector continue to develop an agenda of activities throughout the country,
04:25despite the difficulties.
04:26This continuity is part of a strategy to sustain artistic programming and public access to it,
04:34preserve cultural identity, and continue to support the training of new talent.
04:39For the president of the Casa de las Americas, Abel Prito,
04:43this situation has helped to reaffirm the patriotic stance of the Cuban people.
04:49It seems to me that Trump has a virtue, Luis, that polarizes things and radicalizes people.
04:57This measure against Cuba has radicalized us.
05:01It has radicalized us Cubans.
05:03It has made us more anti-imperialist and more anti-fascist.
05:12Recent activities include a tribute to the late troubadour Eduardo Sosa,
05:17one year after his passing.
05:19The Germano Says Association, the Ministry of Culture,
05:24and the Cuban Institute of Music organized an event in Havana
05:27where troubadours, poets and artists from different artistic fields,
05:31including Silvio Alejandro, Pancho Amat, and Annie Garcés,
05:36as well as National Literature Award winners, Miguel, Barnett, and Nancy Morijón.
05:43The event honored Sosa's defense of his musical roots
05:47and highlighted his legacy within national culture.
05:51Troubadour de las lunas
05:52Troubadour of the moons, Troubadour of the suns,
05:56rocked by the blue of the mountains,
05:58you will never be the lost one.
06:03You will never set out on the most nomadic journey
06:07in search of old days.
06:09I look for a blanket for you fever
06:12while the island lulls its best song.
06:19The cultural program also includes a performance
06:21by the Ballet de Cuba on February 21st and 22
06:25with the staging of the classic Giselle,
06:27which is an essential part of the national ballet's repertoire.
06:32Prima Ballerina Viense Valdez will star in the first performance.
06:36Alongside Dani Hernandez Acosta as Albrecht,
06:39the performances will take place at the National Theatre in Havana.
06:45The center of the country will also be immersed in the Teresita Fernandes Cultural Crusade,
06:50promoted by the El Medinche Cultural Center.
06:54The initiative will bring itinerant activities to communities,
06:57offering coordinated actions with artists,
07:00neighbors, and collaborators in order to maintain cultural life on the island.
07:05This crusade pays tribute to the Santa Clara and a troubadour Teresita Fernandes,
07:10and represents a tradition of cultural work that began in the 1980s.
07:18In the face of increased siege and threats from the United States government,
07:22the Cuban cultural community continues to fight through all these activities,
07:26which seek to strengthen inclusion and social participation.
07:30Each day represents the resilience and resistance of an entire people
07:34who refuse to adopt new forms of culture
07:37that override their roots and national identity.
07:46And now we have a short break coming up.
07:48But first remember, you can join us on TikTok at Telesur English,
07:51where you'll find news in different formats, news updates, and much more.
07:55We'll be right back. Stay with us.
08:23Welcome back to From the South, and we go to Venezuela,
08:26where the government is strengthening public safety in Nueva Esparta State,
08:30with the delivery of new equipment for the peace squadrons.
08:33On Saturday, the Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdaro Cabello,
08:38delivered patrol cars, motorcycles, and communication equipment
08:42to strengthen surveillance in the country's island region.
08:45Cabello assured that the state's 64 peace squadrons
08:48will have the new supplies to protect citizens,
08:51and announced the allocation of additional vehicles to four municipalities
08:55with the aim of optimizing local patrols.
08:58In this context, the authority highlighted
09:00the support of Venezuela's acting president,
09:03Delcy Rodriguez, in strengthening the country's security system.
09:12These patrol cars here belong to the peace squadrons.
09:18These motorcycles here belong to the peace squadrons.
09:22To be used within the peace squadron,
09:27there cannot be one of these patrol vehicles from Maneiro in Marcano.
09:33No, no, because one peace squadron has absolutely nothing to do with the other one.
09:39And who should be the guarantor of that?
09:41The neighbors, those who live there, the organized people.
09:48Also in this space, the Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdaro Cabello,
09:52highlighted Venezuela's progress in the area of security
09:56after reporting a decrease in crime rates compared to other countries in the region.
10:05Today, and I say it with total and absolute responsibility,
10:10there is not a single country in America that has better safety statistics than Venezuela.
10:17There isn't.
10:18There isn't.
10:20Three.
10:21Less than three crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.
10:25Look it up.
10:26And we're not exaggerating here.
10:31Also in Venezuela, the National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez announced Saturday the release
10:36of another 17 people held at the Zone 7 detention facility in the capital, Caracas,
10:42as part of the amnesty bill and the national reconciliation process.
10:46On February 6th, along with other lawmakers, Rodriguez visited this facility
10:51where he committed before a group of mothers to expedite the release of their relatives
10:56which was carried out earlier this Saturday morning.
10:59The new releases come amidst legislative progress on this law
11:03which seeks to expand the scope of detainees being released to other categories.
11:08Meanwhile, a permanent commission of deputies is holding meetings with the families of detainees
11:13and also victims of extremist violence to gather information
11:16that may add to a robust, equitable and just piece of legislation
11:22suited to the reconciliation and peace process underway in Venezuela.
11:32Now we move on to other topics.
11:34In Ecuador, the mayor of Guayaquil, Aquiles Álvarez, filed a petition
11:38with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
11:40denouncing the Ecuadorian states for alleged political persecution.
11:44The action was confirmed by his defense attorney
11:48who indicated that the petition has already been admitted for initial review.
11:53In this regard, the mayor argues that the legal proceedings against him,
11:57including the case known as Goliada, for which he is serving preventive detention,
12:03violated fundamental rights such as personal freedom, due process and judicial protection.
12:10The request also links investigations related to the AAA case
12:15and actions against the family business with an alleged strategy
12:18to affect his management and public image.
12:22The defense also mentions alleged interference in the administration of justice.
12:35In other topics, in Spain, a meteorological red alert was announced in the province of Castellón
12:41as hurricane-force winds arrived due to Storm Oriana.
12:45On Saturday, civil protection teams urged the population not to leave their homes
12:50due to flood warnings and possible damages to infrastructure.
12:54Experts warn that the weather situation is dangerous with the possibility of heavy rain, landslides and power outages.
13:02Let's recall that Europe has faced a series of intense storms in recent weeks,
13:07causing the death of three people in France and Spain.
13:16In Italy, the National Association of Nursing Professionals warned of a shortage of 175,000 nurses for healthcare.
13:26The organization warned that the healthcare needs of the European country are growing exponentially
13:31and the national healthcare system does not have to require staff to address the problem.
13:36According to data provided by the Nursing Association, in the next 10 years,
13:42patients with chronic diseases could exceed 30 million due to the aging population
13:48and increased survival rates for diseases that were previously rapidly fatal.
13:52In this regard, experts warn that the shortage of nursing staff directly affects, as well,
13:59the quality of care, patient safety and the sustainability of services.
14:11Meanwhile, in Germany, social organizations mobilized on Saturday against the Munich Security Conference
14:17and the supply of weapons to Ukraine.
14:20Hundreds of citizens gathered in the center of Munich to demand that the authorities of the Kiev regime
14:25reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict with flags, banners and slogans.
14:32The protesters denounced the policies of Vladimir Zelensky's administration,
14:37which allocates funds for the purchase of lethal weapons and does not help vulnerable communities in Kiev.
14:44Events against the armed conflict are expected to take place throughout the day
14:50under the slogan,
14:52Let's make peace now to the Munich War Conference.
15:08In other topics, let's speak about Palestine.
15:12The Palestine resistance movement, Hamas described the torture in the Israeli prison of Ophir as a war crime.
15:19Hamas condemned the images released by the Israeli army,
15:22documenting the physical abuse of Palestinian prisoners.
15:25In turn, it warned that the international silence in the face of the crimes committed against detainees,
15:32coupled with the passage of a death penalty law in Israel,
15:36encourages the Israeli army to continue its brutal practices as well.
15:39The Palestinian resistance demanded urgent action to protect those who have been kidnapped.
15:51And now we have a second showbreak coming up.
15:53Before we want to invite you to visit our Facebook page at Telesur English,
15:57that you'll be able to watch our top stories,
15:59also special live coverage and much more.
16:02Follow our page, also activate the notification button
16:05to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.
16:08For a showbreak, don't go away.
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