- 4 hours ago
25/02/2026
FTS 8.30
*Mexican nation ratify support for Cuba amid U.S. threats
*China consolidates economic recovery with milestones prosperity index
FTS 8.30
*Mexican nation ratify support for Cuba amid U.S. threats
*China consolidates economic recovery with milestones prosperity index
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NewsTranscript
00:07Venezuela Foreign Minister Ivan Hill called for an end to international sanctions against
00:12his country and urged respect for the sovereignty of states at the United Nations Conference of
00:18Undisarmament. Countries around the world reformed their support for Cuba amid Washington's
00:28aggressive policies. China celebrates an unprecedented milestone of President Xi Jinping
00:37economic recovery program by achieving the highest common prosperity index on the planet.
00:48Hello, welcome to From the South. I am Lorena Fong from Telesur Studios in Havana, Cuba.
00:53We begin with the news. Stay with us.
01:08On Tuesday, during the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, Venezuelan Foreign Minister
01:13Ivan Hill called for an end to international sanctions against his country and urged respect
01:19for the sovereignty of states. The Foreign Minister declared that Venezuela, as a signatory to the
01:25Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, who affirms that collective security must be based on cooperation,
01:32not coercive mechanism. In this context, Ivan Hill demanded that the United States immediately release
01:38Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores, who were kidnapped on January 3 in flagrant
01:44violation of international law. The Foreign Minister emphasized that the Venezuelan authorities opened a diplomatic
01:52channel with the United States to resolve differences in a dialogue that respects sovereignty and soft determination.
02:05In his address before the United Nations, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Ivan Hill denounced the United States' military
02:12attack carried out against the Bolivarian nation on January 3.
02:18Unilateral coercive measures against Venezuela have been applied as a form of economic aggression that violates national
02:25sovereignty and international law. The aim is to suffocate the state and force political changes, directly impacting
02:34the human rights and well-being of the civilian population. This methodology of destabilization, coordinated
02:42with various actors within and outside the region, is a well-known practice in contemporary history with profoundly
02:48disruptive consequences for international stability. The bombing of January 3, 2026 against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
02:58constituted an act of armed aggression in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 33, 14. The world witnessed the
03:09murder of more than 100 people, both military personnel and civilians, in violation of international law and
03:18international humanitarian law.
03:24The Venezuelan government denounced the events that took place in Panama, where the
03:29Diplomatic Bank of Venezuela was forcibly opened at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. In a statement, the
03:36government declared, this act constitutes a direct and flagrant violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on
03:44Diplomatic Relations, whose Article 27 clearly establishes the inviolability of diplomatic banks, which cannot be opened
03:53or retained under any circumstances. In addition, the Venezuelan government asserted that the
03:59immunity of diplomatic communication is an essential principle for coexistence among nations. Its
04:06violations sets dangerous precedent that affects the legal security of our missions and undermines the
04:14right to identity of the Venezuelan community residing in Panama. The communication specified that the
04:22Bolivarian government demands full guarantees of non-repetition and urges the Panamanian authorities to
04:28strictly comply with the rules governing diplomatic and cultural activity, considering the will expressed by both
04:36governments to reactivate the consular services.
04:45On Tuesday, Acting President, Elsie Rodriguez visited the Economic and Tourist Area of Falcone State, which
04:52emphasized the importance of environmental care. For Morocco National Park, the Acting President referred to the
04:59government's policies for the preservation of the ecological zone and the need for their implementation.
05:06In this regard, Elsie Rodriguez emphasized the importance of working on measures for environmental preservation and the
05:12development of sustainable tourism. The Acting President also held a meeting with fishermen, thanking them for providing
05:20food for people of Venezuela and caring for nature throughout plastic management initiatives.
05:33First of all, Minister Loyal, thank our fishermen and fisherwomen once again. They are the guardians of our seas, of
05:42our
05:42Caribbean Sea. And they also have a responsibility to provide food for the people of Venezuela. We must thank them.
05:51But also, since 2023, they have had this very important plastic fishing program, Fisher Plastic. There are some shocking statistics.
06:03There are 1.5 billion tons of plastic in the oceans and seas. And this is causing several imbalances.
06:12On Tuesday in Peru, Denise Miralles, former Minister of Economy and Finance, was appointed of President of the Council of
06:21Ministers in the Government of the Interim President,
06:24José María Balcazar. Although economist Hernando de Soto had confirmed his willingness to accept the position hours earlier, disagreements between
06:34him, the Interim President and several political parties led to this decision.
06:39Miralles' appointment presents a new chapter in the current administration, which seeks to implement policies aligned with the progressive version.
06:48Hours later, the Interim President of the South American country swore in the new Ministerial Cabinet.
07:10In other topics, this Tuesday, the National Government of Colombia announced an economic emergency decree implementing a wealth tax on
07:19legal entities in order to raise the funds needed to deal with the devastating
07:24effects of recent flooding in the Caribbean region.
07:27During the Council of Ministers in Cartagena, President Gustavo Petro emphasized that the measure seeks to finance the recovery of
07:35housing and infrastructure and to provide support to affected families.
07:39In this regard, the Minister of Finance, Germán Ávila, indicated that the tax will be paid in two instalments, the
07:46first on April 1 and the second on May 4.
07:49It is worth emphasizing that the situation in the country is critical, with 65 emergency reports in 61 municipalities in
07:58eight departments affecting more than 69,000 families and causing severe damage to homes, infrastructure and basic services due to
08:08climate change.
08:14And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok at Tells
08:19in English, where you will find news in different formats, news updates and more.
08:23We'll be right back, stay with us.
08:41Welcome back to From the South, we continue with more information in the context of support from sister nations.
08:48Cuba's President Miguel Díaz Canel denounced the United States' blockade as the cause of the country's complex situation.
09:00We work together in good times and bad times.
09:03We live in a complex national context marked by economic difficulties in a turbulent global scenario.
09:10There is accumulated pain in our neighborhoods, legitimate discontent, impatience.
09:17These are exacerbated by the weight of the criminal blockade, the inclusion in a manipulated list of countries that support
09:24terrorism,
09:25maximum economic pressure to suffocate us, the application of coercive, unilateral measures,
09:32the aggressive pressure of hatred as a fundamental component of the incessant media warfare,
09:39which seeks to discredit and divide us, the dictate of a genocidal executive order that seeks to deprive the country
09:46of important, vital energy supplies,
09:50and, along with that, a long list of attacks and threats, also with our own mistakes.
09:57We are obliged to recognize and make amends without excuses, because only what it is first face on, and without
10:05total honesty, can be transformed.
10:07We will struggle, we will fight, we will resist, we will transform, and above all adversities and imperial threats, we
10:16will grow, and we will prevail.
10:22In this context, on Tuesday, the Mexican government sent a shipment of 193 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba
10:30in response to Washington's criminal policy of global isolation and economic blockade of the island.
10:36According to a statement issued by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Papalopan and Haustego ships of the Navy
10:44would sail from the port of Veracruz,
10:46in accordance with the sanctions issued by President Claude Sheinbaum.
10:50The entity declared that the shipments contained basic foodstuff, such as beans, powder, milk, and various foods,
10:57and emphasized that part of the shipment was donated by various social organizations in support of the Mexico City government.
11:05The shipment is being sent amidst increasing threats from the White House against the largest of the Antilles,
11:12and ratifies the Mexican government's self-determination to send aid to brotherly countries in need.
11:24Also, the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, at the 16th extraordinary meeting of the Community Council of Minasur in St. Kitts and
11:32Neves, called for collective action for Cuba.
11:35The contracts of the organization ratified the support for the Cuban people in the face of the strategy of isolation
11:42and economic suffocation that the United States is illegally imposing on the island.
11:47The acting president of the alliance, Terence Rue, called for the design of concrete support mechanisms to turn CARICOM into
11:55an active forum.
11:56In this regard, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, warned that a prolonged crisis in Cuba will affect migration,
12:04security, and regional economic stability,
12:07and called for courageous action in the face of a situation that goes beyond the bilateral level and threatens the
12:15Caribbean as a whole.
12:22In Honduras, on Thursday, the delegation of Cuban doctors who worked at the Free Ophthalmological Clinic in Colinas, in the
12:31Santa Barbara Municipality,
12:33says goodbye amidst applause and tears from the patients after the closure of their operations.
12:39The clinic was part of the miracle program mission, which has provided free eye care in four cities of the
12:47country, benefiting more than 44,000 patients since its opening.
12:53Although the government of Nasser Rias Fura has expressed its intention to seek alternatives to maintain the service without Cuban
13:01assistance,
13:02critics warn that the quality of care could be compromised due to the lack of Honduran specialists in ophthalmology.
13:10The closure of the clinic has caused concerns among patients who depend on these free services to improve their visual
13:18health.
13:24And also, solidarity with Cuba marked a meeting on Monday in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon,
13:31where Arab-laden American organizations condemned the United States' blockade and reaffirmed their support for the people of the island.
13:39Under the premise that international solidarity is the tenderness of the people,
13:44José Martí, Arab-laden American Solidarity Association and the Friends of Cuba in Lebanon organized the event which was attended
13:52by political representatives, diplomats and social movements.
13:56In this context, participants described Cuba as an example of anti-imperialist liberation in Latin America.
14:03Moreover, progressive forces, both Lebanese and Palestinian, raised their voices in support of the island and in rejection of the
14:11United States' blockade.
14:18The Mexican Congress approved Tuesday a constitutional reform to reduce the work week from 48 to 40 hours, a longstanding
14:27debt to the country's working class.
14:29The bill was passed with a total of 469 votes in favor in the 500-member lower house after it
14:38was unanimously approved by the Senate.
14:41The proposal was first revealed by President Claudia Sheinbaum in December 2025,
14:46but lobbying and pushback from business leaders delayed the discussion for weeks.
14:52The rollout begins in 2027, reducing working time by two hours each year until 2030.
14:59The policy seeks to raise productivity, lift consumer spending and improve quality of life instead of relying on longer hours.
15:08About 13.4 million workers, particularly in manufacturing, retail, hospitality and construction, will face shorter hours and higher wages.
15:22We have a second short break coming up before we invite you to visit our Facebook page at Telesur English.
15:28There you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage and much more.
15:32Follow our page and activate the notification button to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.
15:38Final short break, don't go away.
15:56Welcome back to From the South.
15:58The United States President Donald Trump concluded his States of the Union address on Tuesday night,
16:03emphasizing the issue of the economy and security, and without mentioning the social crisis affecting millions of people in the
16:11country.
16:12The speech, strongly marked by the neoliberal and imperialist rhetoric of the Trump administration,
16:17provided details of the President's actions in the current term of the United States legislature.
16:22In this context, the President continues his offensive against the migrant community in the country, blaming them for the nation's
16:30problems,
16:31in addition to announcing, in the midst of a fentanyl crisis, easier access and lower prices for the purchase of
16:38prescription medications.
16:47Without any evidence, Trump made claims such as the border is completely closed.
16:53These data, and others related to health and inflation, were disproved in real time by lawmakers and specialists.
17:01In addition to boasting about inflated economic figures, he promised further tax cuts, ignoring what the polls say,
17:10which show a very high level of discontent with the cost of living.
17:16During the speech, Democratic Congressmen reminded him from the gallery that he was living in
17:22and that he had ordered the assassination of United States citizens in reference to those killed in Minnesota.
17:29On foreign policies and despite illegal and on Congress authorized operations against Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, Palestine, Lebanon, Iran and the
17:41Caribbean,
17:41as well as the imposition of coercive measures, he assured that he leads a government of peace.
17:48On the criminal operation against Venezuela, he contradicted the January 4th invasion, according to which there were no injuries or
17:56resistance,
17:57and acknowledged that it was a difficult mission with injuries that was on the verge of failure.
18:09The official Democratic rebuttal to the presidential address was offered by Virginia Governor Abigail Spranzberger,
18:17who focused her speech on Trump's failure to deliver codes, safety and humanity to the United States people during his
18:25term in office.
18:26Because since this president took office last year, his reckless trade policies have forced American families to pay more than
18:35$1,700 each in tariff costs.
18:39Small businesses have suffered, farmers have suffered, some losing entire markets.
18:45Every day Americans are paying the price.
18:48And even though the Supreme Court struck these tariffs down four days ago, the damage to us, the American people,
18:56has already been done.
18:58Our president told us tonight that we are safer.
19:01Because these agents arrest mothers and detain children?
19:06Think about that.
19:07Our broken immigration system is something to be fixed, not an excuse for unaccountable agents to terrorize our communities.
19:22We're going out to China because the country celebrates an unprecedented milestone today.
19:27Five years ago, President Xi Jinping declared the total eradication of extreme poverty in the country, and now they have
19:35the highest common prosperity index on the planet.
19:38On February 25, 2021, the Chinese leader asserted that 815 million people had been lifted out of extreme poverty.
19:49The announcement also came amidst an economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
19:54The offensive against poverty has been a fundamental pillar of the Communist Party since 1949 and the basis of its
20:03political legitimacy.
20:04Five years after declaring this victory, the country continues to build on its achievements.
20:15The Chinese government announced on Tuesday the celebration of the Songwankun 2026 Forum, which will take place from March 25
20:26to 29, with the team of Integrating Scientific and Industrial Innovation.
20:31According to the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Asian Giant, the event will be organized by several institutions
20:39and the Beijing Municipal Government.
20:41The agenda for the meeting will have five key moments, foreign sessions, achievements of comparable results, trade and dissemination of
20:50technology, cutting-edge competition and complementary activities.
20:54The essential purpose of the Forum is to promote international exchange in science and technological advances while facilitating dialogue and
21:03the exchange of key ideas for development process in the Global South.
21:16China tightens its export control on Japan amidst rising tension over Japan's military build-up and the risk of conflict
21:24in the region.
21:25From Beijing, our correspondent Bruno Falci brings us more details.
21:30Greetings, comrades.
21:32From here, Beijing, I bring you the details on the recent decision by the Chinese government to add 20 Japanese
21:40companies to its export control list.
21:44The measure aims to protect national security and halt what Beijing considers Japan's attempts to rearm and develop nuclear weapons.
21:57Export operators will be prohibited from sending dual-use goods to these entities.
22:05And overseas organizations or individuals must suspend any transfers of Chinese products to its companies.
22:15Mao Ning, the spokesperson for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated the following.
22:21To safeguard national security and our interests and to comply with international obligations such as nuclear and proliferation, China has
22:28taken measures in accordance with our laws and regulations.
22:30The purpose is to stop Japan's attempts to rearm and possess nuclear weapons.
22:33These measures are completely legitimate, justified and legal.
22:36These measures reflect Beijing's determination to protect regional stability against strategic moves that it considers risky.
22:47Meanwhile, Japan maintains its policy of military build-up, spending nearly 48 billion dollars annually to modernize its naval and
23:01air force,
23:02and expand its missile capability, which China interprets as a direct threat to the regional security.
23:12With these news, from here, the capital of China, we go back with you in the studios.
23:24Like this, we have come to the end of this news brief.
23:27You can find this and many other stories on our website at TelesurEnglish.net.
23:31And join us on social media, we are on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok.
23:36For Telesur English, I am Lorena Fong. Thank you for watching.
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