- 17 hours ago
20/02/2026
FTS 8.30
*Argentinian Congress approves Milei-backed Labor Reform amid protests
*Global Flotilla to aid Cuba expands to land, sea and air convoy
FTS 8.30
*Argentinian Congress approves Milei-backed Labor Reform amid protests
*Global Flotilla to aid Cuba expands to land, sea and air convoy
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NewsTranscript
00:11Venezuela's acting president, Delsi RodrĂguez, signed into law the Amnesty View for Democratic Coexistence approved by the National Assembly.
00:21The Argentine Congress approved the controversial labor reform promoted by President Javier Mele, which increases the working day from 8
00:30to 12 hours and substantially modifies the conditions of hiring, dismissals and union protests.
00:39And in Cuba, a broad international coalition of trade unions and social, political and humanitarian movements announced Thursday the expansion
00:48of the Initiative to Aid Cuba, known as Our America, from a maritime flotilla to a land, sea and air
00:57convoy.
01:01Hello and welcome to From the South. I'm Alejandra GarcĂa from Telesub Sirius in Caracas, Venezuela. We begin with a
01:07news. Stay with us.
01:21Venezuela's acting president, Delsi RodrĂguez, enacted the Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence.
01:27The legal instrument promoted by the acting president was unanimously approved by the National Assembly on Thursday.
01:35Likewise, according to the acting head of state, the objective of this law is to pave the way for reconciliation
01:42with all political sectors in the country.
01:46It should be noted that the measure will not apply to citizens with criminal records for murder, drug trafficking, corruption
01:53and other serious human rights violations.
02:02Now, as a legal professional, I say that this activity should not end here.
02:08You, the parliament, have appointed a special commission to monitor the law, and I ask you to act with the
02:16uttermost speed.
02:17Just as you have worked hard for 20 days, I ask you to work as quickly as possible.
02:24I also want to ask the Judicial Revolution Commission, chaired by the Sectoral Vice President, Dio Stato Cabello,
02:34to ask the Venezuelan parliament and the Program for Democratic Coexistence and Peace,
02:41to activate the review of cases not covered by the Amnesty Law, and to make the appropriate recommendations to heal
02:47wounds,
02:50to restore democratic co-existence and justice.
02:56Tackle this fundamental task
03:00as one of the great virtues of our republic, which must be justice,
03:05and I say this before you, the Venezuelan parliament, Venezuelan society,
03:11and the national executive,
03:14that all of Venezuela take action in this arduous task where we must all do our part,
03:20so that this law opens a new stage, and I repeat, that it be done with the greatest speed.
03:27In this context, Rodriguez assured the new amnesty law opens the door to reconciliation,
03:33reunification, and peaceful coexistence in the country.
03:38As you well know, because Venezuela has been able to learn from the Venezuelan
03:45deputies about the contents of an amnesty
03:49for crimes originating from political violence,
03:54but it is a law that has taken us even further.
03:59And that is why I, as a legal professional,
04:03am very pleased that the amnesty law,
04:07which today opens an extraordinary door for Venezuela to rediscover itself,
04:13for Venezuela to learn to live together democratically and peacefully,
04:18so that Venezuela can shed its hatred and intolerance,
04:23so that human rights prevail,
04:26so that love, understanding, and recognition prevail.
04:31I say this from my position as Chavista Acting President.
04:36We must know how to ask for forgiveness,
04:38and we must also know how to accept forgiveness.
04:42And that is the process that is beginning with this amnesty law.
04:50Let's look now at some of the political events
04:53that will be covered by the amnesty law.
04:55The eighth article of the law establishes that a general amnesty
04:59is granted for crimes or myths and menors committed
05:03in the context of the events related to the coup d'etat
05:06of April 11th and 12th, 2002,
05:09and the strike and sabotage by business and oil companies
05:12from December 2002 to February 2003.
05:16Moreover, it refers to the violent protests
05:19during the presidential elections in April 2013
05:22and the politically motivated violent demonstrations in 2014,
05:26as well as the actions of the National Assembly
05:29installed for the 2016-2020 term.
05:33Finally, the law covers the events
05:34related to the politically motivated demonstrations
05:36in the context of the presidential elections held in July 2024
05:41and the regional and National Assembly elections in 2025.
05:49Now let's also go to other informations.
05:53Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Wednesday
05:56that he will decree a new increase in the national minimum wage.
05:59The head of state highlighted the issuance of a decree
06:04to set the minimum wage for 2026.
06:07This new measure responds to the suspension
06:10of the previous rule by the Council of State,
06:14which had ordered the government
06:15to incorporate a new technical criteria.
06:18At the end of his statement,
06:21President Petro ratified the commitment
06:22of the new instrument
06:24to maintain a sustained percentage increase
06:26and decrease the devaluation of the Colombian peso.
06:35Also, in Ecuador,
06:37thousands of people marched
06:38against President Daniel Novoa's first economic reform
06:41and warned that the legislative project
06:43threatens public service and labor rights.
06:47Trade unions argue
06:48that the proposal affects labor rights
06:51and jeopardizes the provision
06:53of essential public services
06:55in the country's municipalities.
06:56In the capital alone,
06:58local authorities warned
06:59that the reform could impact
07:01more than 250,000 beneficiaries
07:04of social programs,
07:05including senior citizens and students.
07:08In this context,
07:09protesters are demanding
07:10that the legislature
07:12immediately dismiss
07:12the government's initiative,
07:14considering that it shifts
07:16the burden
07:17of the economic crisis
07:18to workers.
07:24And in Argentina,
07:26on Thursday night,
07:27the Congress approved
07:28the controversial labor reform
07:30promoted by President Javier Milley,
07:32which increases the working day
07:34from 8 to 12 hours
07:36and substantially modifies
07:38the conditions of hiring,
07:40dismissal,
07:40and union protests.
07:42The bill,
07:42with modifications,
07:44returned to the Senate.
07:45With 135 votes in favor
07:48and 115 against,
07:50this law,
07:51which triggered a 24-hour strike,
07:54now moves on to the Senate
07:55despite the serious implications
07:57it has for the country's workers.
07:58The reform,
08:00defined by the extreme right wing
08:02as modernization,
08:04redefines the calculation of benefits
08:06and restricts the right to strike.
08:08Thursday was a day of full of tension
08:11and also conflict,
08:13both inside and outside Parliament,
08:15building where police forces
08:17repressed those who rejected this law,
08:19which marks a 20-year setback
08:21in labor achievements and rights.
08:24Also, from the start of the session,
08:26there were tensions and disagreements
08:28in the Chamber of Deputies.
08:30The new legislation opens up
08:32a scenario of greater social conflict.
08:37And now we have a short break coming up,
08:39but first remember you can join us
08:41on TikTok at Telestude English,
08:42where you'll find news in different formats,
08:44news updates, and much more.
08:47Stay with us.
09:04Welcome back to From the South
09:06and let's go to Peru,
09:07where heavy rains in Arequipa
09:08on Thursday have resulted
09:10in two fatalities
09:11and multiple emergencies
09:12in various districts of the city.
09:15National authorities confirmed
09:17the death of an elderly woman
09:19swept away by the overflow
09:21of a torrent in Caima
09:23and that of a 42-year-old man
09:26struck by lightning in the Oshomayo area.
09:28Moreover, rainfall caused critical waterways
09:31to overflow, such as the Shuyo Torrent,
09:34seriously affecting homes and businesses.
09:37Also, mud and solid waste floating,
09:40causing massive flooding.
09:41In this scenario,
09:42vehicular traffic was paralyzed
09:44at several strategic points in the city
09:47due to the accumulation of sediment.
09:49Faced with this crisis,
09:51residents of the most affected areas
09:53are demanding immediate intervention
09:56by the authorities and rescue teams.
10:02And in Mexico,
10:04President Claudia Sheinbaum reaffirmed
10:07the sovereign determination
10:09of the government and people.
10:11Sheinbaum said this
10:12during the 113th anniversary of the army,
10:16where she assured
10:17that it will be the Mexican people
10:18who decide their destiny.
10:20The President emphasized
10:21that sovereignty is not an abstract slogan,
10:24but rather the ability of the people
10:27to govern themselves without impositions.
10:29Amid pressures from the United States
10:32on security and relations
10:33with the countries in the region,
10:35President Sheinbaum defended
10:36the right of Mexicans
10:37to decide on their own affairs.
10:39The President also indicated
10:42the popular character
10:43of the country's armed forces
10:44and recognized the growing role
10:46of women in the army.
11:07And in Argentina,
11:08after seven years away
11:10from the big screen,
11:11Juan José Campanella returns
11:13directing with Parque Lesama,
11:15the film version
11:16of the play he directed
11:17for over a decade
11:19in Buenos Aires and Spain.
11:20The film centers on two elderly men
11:22who share a bench
11:24and confidences.
11:25Luis BrandĂłn,
11:26a jubilant and talkative
11:27communist activist,
11:29and Eduardo Blanco,
11:30an employee with a modest
11:32and resigned life.
11:33The characters sustain
11:34the narrative with dialogues
11:36who are humor
11:37and melancholy intertwined
11:39to talk about
11:40the passage of times,
11:42lost utopias,
11:43and the fears of old age.
11:45With his characteristic style,
11:47the director promotes
11:48a view where accumulated
11:49experience is synonymous
11:50with nobility and the past,
11:53and with all its contradictions,
11:55treasures, values,
11:56and that the current world
11:58seems to have set aside.
12:03And in Venezuela,
12:05as part of the celebration
12:06of the 155th anniversary
12:09of the Baile de la Amaca,
12:12regional and municipal authorities
12:13from the state of Carabobo
12:15presented awards
12:17to the popular artists
12:18who keep the art alive.
12:20The artistic expression
12:22which consists
12:22of a symbolic burial
12:24of a diseased person
12:25with music, drums,
12:27and dancers who died
12:28because of the greed
12:29of the women of the town
12:31was declared in 2018
12:33as part of the nation's
12:34cultural heritage.
12:35For this 2026 edition,
12:38the president of the
12:38Festival Foundation,
12:40Germán Otero,
12:41together with the
12:42sole tourism authority
12:43Alba Adrianza
12:44and major Juan Carlos
12:46Betancur,
12:47unveiled a plaque
12:48honoring Hernán Hermán
12:51Villanueva,
12:52leader of the Tambores
12:53de San Millán group,
12:54and highlighted the work
12:56of those who have
12:57ensured the continuity
12:58of this cultural expression
12:59for more than a century
13:01and a half.
13:07And in the United States,
13:08singer and guitarist
13:09Bruce Springsteen
13:10will perform around
13:1120 concerts across the country
13:13as part of his
13:14Land of Hope and Dreams tour
13:16scheduled from March 31st
13:18to May 27th.
13:20The first performances
13:21will begin in the city
13:22of Minneapolis,
13:23the place that inspired
13:24the artists to compose
13:25the song Straits of Minneapolis
13:27after the murder
13:29of citizens René Goode
13:30and Alex Brady
13:30by agents of
13:31Immigration and Customs
13:32Enforcement.
13:34Let's recall,
13:35Springsteen has spoken
13:36out on social media
13:38about the concept
13:39and his decision
13:40to use each of his
13:41performances to defend
13:42the U.S. democracy,
13:44freedom,
13:44immigrant communities
13:45and the values
13:46that the Constitution
13:47of the United States
13:48should defend.
13:53And now we have
13:54a second shower break
13:54coming up.
13:55We invite you first
13:56to visit our Facebook page
13:58at Telesur English
13:59that you'll be able
14:00to watch our top stories,
14:02special live coverage
14:03and much more.
14:04Follow our page,
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14:08on the world's most recent events.
14:10We'll be right back,
14:11stay with us.
14:30Welcome back to
14:32From the South.
14:32A broad international
14:34collision of trade unions
14:35and social,
14:36political and humanitarian
14:38movements announced
14:39on Thursday
14:40the expansion
14:40of the initiative
14:41to aid Cuba
14:42known as Out America
14:44from a maritime flotilla
14:46to a land sea
14:47and air convoy.
14:48The group said
14:49it plans to break
14:50the U.S. blockade
14:51against Cuba
14:52with vital assistance
14:53to the Caribbean islands
14:54on March 21st.
14:55Organizations and delegates
14:57from various countries
14:58have already established
14:59collection points
15:00and are coordinating
15:01the logistics
15:01for the shipment
15:02which will include
15:04the participation
15:04of legislators,
15:06politicians
15:07and human rights activists.
15:09The initiative
15:09has been supported
15:10by notable voices
15:11such as
15:12the Argentinian Nobel
15:13Peace Prize winner
15:14Adolfo PĂ©rez Esquivel,
15:16Swedish activist
15:17Greta Thunberg
15:19and U.S. Congresswoman
15:20Rashida Tlaib.
15:28And in Canada,
15:29the Cuban delegation
15:30to the Council of the
15:31International Civil Aviation
15:33Organization
15:34based in Montreal
15:35denounced on Thursday
15:37the impact
15:37of an executive order
15:39issued on January 29th
15:41by the United States government
15:42relating to the supply
15:44of fuel to the Caribbean nation.
15:46The Cuban representative
15:47to the ICAO
15:49Mercedes Vázquez González
15:51stated
15:52that the measure
15:53has led to limitations
15:54in the availability
15:55of A1 jet fuel
15:57at the country's
15:58international airports.
16:00Vázquez González
16:01indicated
16:01that this situation
16:02has led to flight diversions
16:05and cancellations,
16:06increased operating costs
16:07and impacts
16:08on both passengers
16:09and airlines.
16:10The Cuban delegation
16:11maintained
16:12that these actions
16:13violate the principles
16:14of the Chicago Convention
16:15and the organization's
16:17resolutions
16:17on unilateral measures
16:18with extraterritorial reach.
16:20They also requested
16:22that the Council
16:22follow up on the matter
16:24and assess its impact
16:26on international air transport.
16:35also give us
16:36Minister of Communication
16:38Mayra Arevich
16:39affirmed that
16:40the AI impact summit
16:43in India
16:43that the economic blockade
16:45imposed by the United States
16:46is one of the main obstacles
16:48to the island's
16:48digital and technological development.
16:50The Cuban official
16:51said that
16:52the restrictions
16:53hinder access
16:54to technologies
16:55and platforms
16:56essential for the development
16:57of artificial intelligence
16:58and impacts
17:00the energy sustainability
17:01of the country's
17:03digital infrastructure.
17:04Arevich also mentioned
17:06the recent executive order
17:08issued by U.S. President
17:09Donald Trump
17:09against Cuba
17:10and his intention
17:11to tax countries
17:13that supply oil
17:14to the Caribbean nation.
17:15She also highlighted
17:16that in 2024
17:18Cuba approved
17:19a national strategy
17:20for the development
17:21and use of artificial intelligence
17:23across the nation.
17:29precisely in New Delhi, India
17:31world leaders
17:32participating in the summit
17:33on the impact
17:35of artificial intelligence
17:36continue debating
17:37on regulation,
17:39democratization
17:40and use
17:41for the common good.
17:42Figures
17:43such as
17:43United Nations
17:44Secretary-General
17:45Antonio Guterres,
17:46Brazilian President
17:47Lula da Silva
17:48and Open AI Director
17:51Sam Altman
17:52have agreed
17:53that artificial intelligence
17:54should be a tool
17:55for collective prosperity.
17:57In this context,
17:58countries in the Global South
18:00insist on emphasizing
18:01that it cannot be a privilege
18:02of the great technological powers
18:05but rather a tool
18:06that promotes
18:07social development,
18:08equity
18:09and human well-being
18:10for all regions.
18:33And on the first day
18:35of Ramadan,
18:35Israeli forces
18:36carried out
18:37air, sea
18:37and ground
18:38attacks
18:39that left
18:40at least
18:40three Palestinians
18:41dead
18:42in the Gaza Strip.
18:43According to medical sources,
18:45one Palestinian
18:45was killed
18:46by Israel
18:47fire
18:47in areas
18:48east of Hanjonez
18:49while two more died
18:51in the town
18:51of Bani Suheila.
18:53Likewise,
18:54artillery bombardments,
18:55tank firing
18:56and demolitions
18:57of residential buildings
18:58in Beit Hanon
18:59are taking place
19:00despite the US-mediated
19:02ceasefire
19:03which the Tel Aviv regime
19:04continues to violate
19:05on a daily basis.
19:07The date
19:08since October 7,
19:092023,
19:11the attacks
19:11have left
19:12more than
19:1272,000
19:14Palestinians
19:14killed
19:15and
19:15nearly
19:17172,000
19:18wounded.
19:26And in the United States,
19:27during the first meeting
19:28of President Donald Trump's
19:29Board of Peace
19:30for Gaza,
19:31member nations
19:32pledged billions
19:33of dollars
19:34on the deployment
19:35of troops
19:36to the Palestinian
19:37territory.
19:38Addressing the board
19:38in the first meeting
19:40in Washington,
19:41D.C.
19:42on Thursday,
19:43Trump stated
19:43that the US
19:44will make a contribution
19:46of $10 billion
19:47to the Board of Peace
19:49while other nine
19:50member nations
19:51will give $7 billion.
19:52other countries
19:54agreed to deploy troops
19:55to an international
19:56stabilization forces
19:58and to train
19:59police officers
20:00in Gaza.
20:01But while the funds
20:02pledge are significant,
20:04they represent
20:04a fraction
20:05of the estimated
20:06$70 billion
20:07needed to rebuild
20:08the Palestinian territory
20:10that has been decimated
20:11after more than
20:13two years
20:13of Israel's
20:14genocidal war.
20:15Moreover,
20:16the controversial
20:16board has faced
20:18criticisms
20:18for including
20:19Israeli representatives
20:20but not Palestinians.
20:27And in Washington,
20:28too,
20:29dozens of protesters
20:30gathered in front
20:31of the building
20:31where the Gaza
20:32Peace Council meeting
20:33was being held
20:34in a show of solitivity
20:36with the people of Gaza.
20:37The mobilization
20:38reflects the growing
20:39rejection
20:40by the US society
20:41to the hostilities
20:42of Israel
20:43against the Palestinian people.
20:45In this sense,
20:46human rights organizations
20:47have insisted
20:48that international pressure
20:49is key
20:50to stopping
20:51the humanitarian catastrophe
20:52facing the Gaza Strip.
20:54While these debates
20:55take place
20:56in the US capital,
20:58the Sionist regime
20:58continues its offensive
20:59against the Palestinian people,
21:01which has so far
21:02claimed the lives
21:03of more than
21:0472,000 Palestinians.
21:09This board of peace
21:11is very clearly
21:12a colonial endeavor,
21:14a way for the US
21:15to help Israel
21:16achieve its military
21:17and political objectives
21:18that it failed
21:19to achieve in Gaza
21:20over the past
21:20two years of genocide.
21:22And honestly,
21:23two and a half years
21:23because, you know,
21:24there is a ceasefire,
21:25but Israel is still
21:26bombing Gaza
21:27every single day.
21:29We're here today
21:30because this convening
21:32is an explicit attempt
21:34to deprive
21:34the Palestinian people
21:36of our right
21:36to self-determination
21:37and liberation.
21:38It's an attempt
21:39to achieve
21:40by means of
21:41a so-called
21:41political solution
21:43what they failed
21:44to achieve
21:45militarily
21:46on the ground
21:47by means of genocide
21:48and ethnic cleansing.
21:49It's meant
21:50to cement
21:51the occupation
21:52and colonization
21:52of Palestine
21:53and to line
21:55the pockets
21:57of billionaires
21:58and wealthy elites
21:59while our people
22:00continue to suffer
22:03and remain under occupation.
22:08And like this,
22:09we have come to the end
22:10of this news brief.
22:11Remember,
22:12you can find this
22:13and many other stories
22:14on our website
22:15at telesurenglish.net
22:16and also join us
22:17on social media.
22:18Remember,
22:19we are on Facebook,
22:20X, Instagram,
22:21Telegram,
22:22and TikTok as well.
22:23For Telesur English,
22:24I'm Alejandra Garcia.
22:33We'll see you next time.
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