- 11 hours ago
20/02/2026
FTS 14.30
*Ecuadorian opposition to reject reform of legislation on territorial organization
*U.S. Supreme Court rules against Trump´s global tariffs
FTS 14.30
*Ecuadorian opposition to reject reform of legislation on territorial organization
*U.S. Supreme Court rules against Trump´s global tariffs
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NewsTranscript
00:00www.feyyaz.tv
00:11Venezuela's active president, Delsi Rodriguez, signed into law the Amnesty Bill for Democratic Coexistence after its approval by the National
00:19Assembly.
00:22In Ecuador, the opposition is preparing to reject the reform of the Organic Code of Territorial Organization, Autonomy and Decentralization
00:31promoted by Daniel Novoa's government.
00:36And on Friday, the US Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority by imposing most of his
00:44staff tariffs on global imports.
00:49Hello and welcome to From the South. I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Caracas, Venezuela. We begin with the
00:56news. Stay with us.
01:10Venezuela's active president, Delsi Rodriguez, enacted the Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence.
01:16The legal instrument promoted by the acting president was unanimously approved by the National Assembly on Thursday.
01:23Likewise, according to the acting head of state, the objective of this law is to pave the way for reconciliation
01:30with all political sectors in the country.
01:32It should be noted that the measure will not apply to citizens with criminal records for murder, drug trafficking, corruption
01:38and other serious human rights violations.
01:47Now, as a legal professional, I say that this activity should not end here.
01:53You, the parliament, have appointed a special commission to monitor the law, and I ask you to act with the
02:01uttermost speed.
02:02Just as you have worked hard for 20 days, I ask you to work as quickly as possible.
02:10I also want to ask the Judicial Revolution Commission, chaired by the Sectoral Vice President, Dio Stato Cabello, to ask
02:20the Venezuelan parliament and the Programme for Democratic Coexistence and Peace to activate the review of cases not covered by
02:29the Amnesty Law and to make the appropriate recommendations to heal wounds.
02:35To restore democratic coexistence and justice.
02:39To restore democratic coexistence and justice.
02:41To tackle this fundamental task as one of the great virtues of our republic, which must be justice, and I
02:51say this before you, the Venezuelan parliament, Venezuelan society, and the national executive,
03:00that all of Venezuela take action in this arduous task where we must all do our part, so that this
03:06law opens a new stage, and I repeat, that it be done with the greatest speed.
03:13In this context, on Thursday evening, Venezuela's acting president received parliamentarians and commissioners at Mira Flores Palace after the historic
03:22signing of the Amnesty Law.
03:23Delcy Rodriguez welcomed a group of legislators from the National Assembly who participated in the drafting, socialization, and discussion of
03:31the law, and the members of the Democratic Coexistence and Peace Programme.
03:35In this scenario, the acting president highlighted the collective work to facilitate national reconciliation, promoting dialogue, citizen participation, and the
03:45resolution of political conflicts in the country.
03:54And also in this context, Venezuela has a history of implementing amnesties.
03:59These legal instruments have been part of dialogue processes in recent decades as a path towards social peace and political
04:06coexistence.
04:07For example, in 2000, a general political amnesty was implemented for various crimes considered to be related.
04:14Seven years later, in 2007, a new decree covered those involved in the April 2002 coup and the oil strike
04:22that affected the country between 2002 and 2003.
04:26More recently, dialogue between Venezuelan political sectors has facilitated similar processes.
04:32Then in 2020, President Nicolás Maduro extended a partner that benefited 110 citizens from the extremist sector of the opposition.
04:42The status precedent occurred between 2023 and 2024 after a new round of national dialogue with revisions of judicial measures
04:52and releases from prison were finalized, consolidating this approach as a mechanism for conflict resolution in the country.
05:00Currently, the general amnesty law promoted by the acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, will cover the entire period of political violence
05:09from 1999 to the present.
05:16In the context of the enactment of the amnesty law, the Venezuelan defense minister issued a statement in support of
05:22the National Assembly's decision.
05:24In this regard, General Vladimir Padrino López stated that the Bolivarian National Armed Forces are in their historic pacifist character
05:33and remaining faithful guarantors of the sacred interests of the Venezuelan people, such as the preservation of peace, unreversely supported
05:43the legitimate and sovereign decision of the National Assembly to approve the amnesty law for democratic coexistence.
05:49Also in this context, the defense minister noted that the defense minister noted that these legal instruments developed through national
05:59dialogue and unanimously approved by parliament should be seen as a sign of political maturity and strength.
06:05It represents a significant step towards achieving stability in the nation.
06:10Vladimir Padrino also emphasized that respect and sincere consensus in politics are the most powerful tools for consolidating democracy.
06:18For this reason, we celebrate with hope and optimism the real possibility of embarking on new paths of understanding that
06:26will help us overcome adversity.
06:34And we state Venezuela as the Celia Flores Women's Movement for Peace met with International Solidarity Brigades to demand the
06:41release of First Lady and Congresswoman Celia Flores and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
06:46During the meeting, participants recalled the achievements of First Lady and Congresswoman Celia Flores in her political career.
06:52They also highlighted the participation of women and their importance in revolutionary movements and struggles around the world.
07:01The participants reaffirmed that Venezuelan women will continue to resist and defend their rights and contribute to national stability.
07:09They also expressed their support for acting president Delce Rodriguez, who is an example of struggle and leads the country
07:15with dignity.
07:20Venezuela moves forward with the development of participatory democracy by updating the Concrete Action Agenda ACA in the country's communities.
07:30Led by Venezuela's Minister of Planning, Ricardo Menéndez, the Bolivarian government began deploying the ACA in the Montesano Victorioso commune
07:41in La Huayra State, focusing on the people's priorities.
07:44According to the Minister, this state initiative seeks to study social projects as well as update the government registration platform
07:54and strengthen territorial sovereignty.
07:56During the day, assemblies were held to debate and propose plans from the commune consuls, continuing the executive's agenda.
08:07And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok at Telesur
08:12English, where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and much more.
08:16We'll be right back, stay with us.
08:36Welcome back to From the South and we go to Ecuador.
08:38The opposition is preparing to reject the reform of the Organic Code of Territorial Organization, Autonomy and Decentralization promoted by
08:47Daniel Novoa's government.
08:49The initiative is rejected by the Citizens Revolution Movement and other opposition parties who question the mandatory redistribution of expenditure
08:57in decentralized autonomous governments and warn of possible impacts on the autonomy of municipalities and prefectures.
09:04The measure, promoted under the Novoa's administration, would seek to establish a rigid fiscal ruling which municipalities and prefectures must
09:12allocate at least 70% of their annual project to investment and public works.
09:18The reform will also limit current expenditure to 30%, which is why local governments are saying that they would lose
09:26autonomy and that it would put several social projects and programs at risk.
09:37In Ecuador, media outlets that criticize the policies of Daniel Novoa's government are being intervened.
09:43The superintendency of companies of Ecuador intervened in the company Graphicos Nacionales, publisher of the Expresso and Extra newspapers.
09:52Both media outlets claim that the measure is retaliation for the critical editorial line towards the executive power administered by
10:02Novoa.
10:03The request for intervention came from the Technical Secretariat for Real Estate Management, which is attached to the presidency.
10:10The intervention was carried out under the requirements to detail its legal advice between 2022 and 2025.
10:23On Thursday night, the Argentine Congress approved the controversial labor reform promoted by President Javier Millet, which increases the working
10:32day from 8 to 12 hours and substantially modifies the conditions of hiring, dismissals and union protests.
10:39The bill with modifications now returns to the Senate, with 135 votes in favor and 115 against.
10:48This law, which triggered a 24-hour strike, now moves on to the Senate despite the serious implications it has
10:55for the country's workers.
10:57The reform defined by the extreme right wing as modernization redefines the calculation of benefits and restricts the right to
11:05strike.
11:05On Thursday was a day full of tension and conflict both inside and outside the Parliament building, but these forces
11:14repressed those who rejected this law, which marks a 20-year setback in labor achievements and rights.
11:22Also, from the start of the session, there were tensions and disagreements in the Chamber of Deputies.
11:28The new legislation opens up a scenario of greater social conflict.
11:42And now let's go over some of the most significant changes introduced by Millet's labor reform.
11:48Unjustified termination will be followed by a reduced severance pay, as its base calculation will exclude the legal service salary,
11:57along with any bonuses or extras.
12:00The reform also introduces an hour bank, meaning workers could exchange overtime for future time of up to 12 hours
12:08a day without extra payments.
12:10The reform describes as dynamic salary the fact that wages may be further tied to productivity, performance or results instead
12:18of a monthly wage.
12:20The power of collective bargaining is also affected as company level pacts will prevail over sector national ones, diminishing the
12:30protection of sector arrangements.
12:33Finally, the reform affects the right to worker organizations, as assemblies will need employer approval and blocking non-strikers' work,
12:42and will be considered a serious offense.
13:06And the Cuban government issued on Thursday a resolution that updates and extends tax benefits
13:12to those who use and import technologies associated with renewable energy sources.
13:18The resolution maintains tariff exemptions for the importation of solar photovoltaic systems, solar heaters, wind turbines and other equipment,
13:28in a context marked by Washington's escalating aggression against Humana.
13:32Among the most relevant measures is the exemption from income tax and personal income tax for up to eight years,
13:39and for the amount of investment for those who install renewable systems for self-consumption or deliver energy to the
13:48national power grid.
13:56Individuals engaged in economic activity, such as self-employed workers, farmers, artists and intellectuals,
14:03who are currently taxpayers because they are subject to income tax,
14:07are exempt from the application of personal income tax when they make investments in renewable energy sources.
14:20not only those associated with these imports.
14:23In other words, the scope of the resolution goes to those people mentioned who may be subject to exemption from
14:29paying personal income tax,
14:31whether they use the energy source for self-consumption or for that of the national electric system when they have
14:45a capacity to do so.
14:46That was established since 2023 in the resolution 268 of the Ministry of Finance and Prices.
14:56Also in this context, in Canada, the Cuban delegation to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO,
15:04based in Montreal, denounced on Thursday the impact of an executive order issued on January 29th by the United States
15:11Government
15:12relating to the supply of fuel to the Caribbean nation.
15:16The Cuban representative to the ICAO, Mercedes Vázquez González, stated that the measure has led to limitations in the availability
15:25of A1 jet fuel at the country's international airports.
15:30Vázquez González indicated that this situation has led to flight diversions and cancellations, increased operating costs and also impacts on
15:38both passengers and airlines.
15:40The Cuban delegation maintained that these actions violate the principles of the Chicago Convention and the organization's resolutions on unilateral
15:48measures with extraterritorial reach.
15:51They also requested that the Council follow up on the matter and assess its impact on international air transport.
16:03The Cuban's Minister of Communication, Maida Revis, affirmed at the AI Impact Summit in India that the economic blockade imposed
16:13by the United States is one of the main obstacles to the island's digital and technological development.
16:18The Cuban officials said that the restrictions hinder access to technologies and platforms essential for the development of artificial intelligence
16:26and impact the energy sustainability of the country's digital infrastructure.
16:30Revis also mentioned the recent executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump against Cuba and his intention to
16:39tax countries that supply oil to the Caribbean nation.
16:42She also highlighted that Cuba in 2024, the country approved the national strategy for the development and use of artificial
16:50intelligence across the nation.
16:57To stay on topic, a broad international collision of trade unions and social, political and also humanitarian movements announced on
17:04Thursday the expansion of the initiative to aid Cuba, known as Our America, from a maritime flotilla to a land,
17:12sea and air convoy.
17:13The group said it plans to break the U.S. blockade against Cuba with vital assistance to the Caribbean islands
17:19on March 21st.
17:22Organizations and delegates from various countries have already established collection points and are coordinating the logistics for the shipment, which
17:29will include the participation of legislators, politicians and human rights activists.
17:35The initiative has been supported by notable voices such as the Argentinian Nobel Peace Prize winner, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Swedish
17:44activist Greta Thunberg and U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.
17:51And now we have a second survey coming up. Before we want to invite you to visit our Facebook page
17:56and tell us in English that you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage and much more.
18:02Follow our page. Also activate the notification button to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.
18:08We'll be right back with more from the South. Don't go away.
18:30Welcome back to From the South and we go to the U.S. where on Friday the Supreme Court ruled
18:36that President Donald Trump overstabbed his authority by imposing most of his step-direction.
18:41Tariffs on global imports. Tariffs typically need to be approved by Congress, which has sold authority under the Constitution to
18:50levite taxes.
18:51However, Trump argued that he had the right to impose tariffs on trading partners under the International Emergency Economic Powers
18:59Act, which in some circumstances grants the President authority to regulate or prohibit international transactions during a national emergency.
19:08The Supreme Court reached its conclusion in a legal challenge by businesses affected by the tariffs and 12 U.S.
19:15states and most of them democratically governed against Trump's use of these laws to unilaterally impose the import taxes.
19:23The Court ruled 6-3 that a 1977 law designed to address national emergencies did not provide legal justification for
19:32most of the President's tariffs on countries across the world.
19:39Also on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he will promote the release of official files related to
19:46unidentified flying objects and possible records of extraterritorial life.
19:51President Trump explained on social media that the decision responds to the wide public interest in this issue.
19:57He will instruct the relevant agencies to review and make public documents, including information that has not been released until
20:05now.
20:05The announcement followed criticisms of former President Barack Obama, who stated that unidentified flying objects accessed.
20:13In response, President Trump accused his predecessor of leaking classified information.
20:18Let's recall that this announcement comes while the U.S. President is embroiled in the Epstein files, the world's largest
20:26pedophilia scandal.
20:33Meanwhile, in Washington, dozens of protesters gathered in front of the building where the Gaza Peace Council meeting was being
20:39held in a show of solidarity with the people of Gaza.
20:42This mobilization reflects the growing rejection by the U.S. society to the hostilities of Israel against the Palestinian people.
20:50In this sense, human rights organizations have insisted that international pressure is key to stopping the humanitarian catastrophe facing the
20:58Gaza Strip.
20:59While these debates take place in the U.S. Capitol, the Zionist regime continues its offensive against the Palestinian people,
21:06which has so far claimed the lives of more than 72,000 Palestinians.
21:13So this Board of Peace is very clearly a colonial endeavor, a way for the U.S. to help Israel
21:20achieve its military and political objectives that it failed to achieve in Gaza over the past two years of genocide.
21:26And honestly, two and a half years because, you know, there is a ceasefire, but Israel is still bombing Gaza
21:31every single day.
21:32We're here today because this convening is an explicit attempt to deprive the Palestinian people of our right to self
21:40-determination and liberation.
21:42It's an attempt to achieve by means of a so-called political solution what they failed to achieve militarily on
21:50the ground by means of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
21:53It's meant to cement the occupation and colonization of Palestine and to line the pockets of billionaires and wealthy elites
22:03while our people continue to suffer and remain under occupation.
22:29Let's talk about Palestine.
22:31Israeli occupation forces imposed strict restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshippers from the West Bank into occupied Jerusalem on
22:39Friday for the first Friday prayer of the Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
22:45Despite heightened military measures, thousands of Palestinians arrived since the early morning hours at the Kalandia checkpoint,
22:52where Israeli forces reinforced their presence, checked IDs and buried men under 55 and women under 50, even those holding
23:02special permits from entering the city.
23:05Witnesses said Israeli forces turned back dozens of elderly worshippers, citing lack of the required permits to access.
23:13Furthermore, sources added that four paramedics were briefly detained and that journalists and medical crews faced obstruction at Kalandia checkpoint.
23:22In this regard, the Jerusalem government warned that the tidal measures on access limitations
23:28aimed to reduce the number of worshippers during the holy days.
23:37And in other topics, Russia's Federal Security Service announced Friday that it neutralized an individual in the city of Stropovol
23:44who was allegedly organizing a terrorist attack under the orders of the Ukrainian regime.
23:50According to a report issued by the government entity, the individual is a Russian citizen linked to a Ukrainian organization
23:57declared as terrorist by Moscow.
23:59The federal body informed that the individual was preparing an act of sabotage and terrorism for the upcoming day of
24:06the Defender of the Homeland, scheduled for February 23rd.
24:11The report said that Russian authorities tried to arrest him on February 19th while he was attempting to obtain components
24:18to assemble an improvised explosive device.
24:22During his arrest, the suspect put up armed resistance and was neutralized by return fire.
24:28No injuries were reported among law enforcement officers or civilians.
24:36And like this, we have come to the end of this news brief.
24:40Remember, you can find these and many other stories on our website at www.telesurenglish.net.
24:45Also, join us on social media. We are on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok as well.
24:50For Telesurenglish, I'm Alejandra García. Thank you for watching.
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