- 2 days ago
31/03/2026
FTS 8.30
*3 Chinese ships transit through Hormuz amid closure
*International Solidarity for Cuba defies U.S. blockade
FTS 8.30
*3 Chinese ships transit through Hormuz amid closure
*International Solidarity for Cuba defies U.S. blockade
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NewsTranscript
00:11The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran launched wave 88th of the
00:15military operation True Promise War against U.S. and Israeli targets in the Middle East.
00:24The Chinese government confirmed Tuesday the successful transit of three ships through the
00:28Strait of Hormuz, close by Iran to the United States and its allies.
00:36Demonstrations of solidarity for Cuba continued to pour in amid the ongoing U.S. economic and energy blockade.
00:49Hello, welcome from the South. I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Telesu Studios in Caracas,
00:53Venezuela. We begin with the news.
01:14The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that over 105,000 civilian buildings have been damaged by
01:20joint U.S.-Israeli attacks in the last five weeks. According to the organization,
01:25the destruction has affected 83,351 residential buildings, 21,059 commercial establishments,
01:32600 educational centers and 300 healthcare centers, evidence of the constant violence targeting the
01:38nation's basic infrastructure. Moreover, almost 40,000 of our residential buildings and business
01:43units that have been hit were in the capital, Tehran. Furthermore, the report highlights the
01:47unprecedented humanitarian crisis Iranians are suffering amid constant bombardments.
02:00In Iran, funeral ceremonies are underway for rear-armed Alireza Tancidri, commander of
02:05Russian Guard Naval Forces, who was killed during a recent Israeli-U.S. aggression.
02:09According to local media, over 1,000 people carrying Iranian flags and portraits of Tancidri
02:14gathered for the ceremony in the port city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.
02:18Previously on early Monday, the IRGC officially confirmed his death days after the occupation army
02:24claimed responsibility for his assassination, elevating the naval commander to the status of
02:28national martyr. For its part, the naval force combatants assured that even in the physical absence
02:33of their commander, operational management in the strategic strait of Hormuz remains firm to the
02:38delivery of decisive blows against foreign forces.
02:47And the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran launched on Tuesday, Wave 88th of Operation True
02:52Promise 4, which included targeted strikes against U.S. and Israeli targets in the Middle East.
02:58According to an official statement issued by the IRGC, the military action hit a Zionist container
03:03ship with ballistic missiles in the waters of the Persian Gulf. In addition, the military
03:07response reportedly destroyed air defense systems linked to the U.S. 5th Fleet near Manama Airport
03:13and early warning raiders at the Jabir al-Hammar base. Furthermore, the statement confirmed that the
03:18Iranian Revolutionary Guard totaled control of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any enemy movement
03:22would be met with missiles and drones.
03:32As the Iranian response to the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks continue, the country's Army Public
03:38Relations Office announced that an enemy MQ-9 Reaper drone, described as belonging to U.S. and
03:43Israeli forces, was intercepted and destroyed early on Tuesday. The drone was targeted and downed by
03:49the Army's air defense system in the general area of Isfahan. The MQ-9 Reaper drone, widely used for
03:54surveillance and strikes, costs roughly $30 million per unit. With this latest incident,
03:59Iranian officials say the total number of drones intercepted and destroyed by the country's
04:02integrated air defense network has reached 146.
04:16The Islamic resistance in Iraq announced multiple coordinated operations using unmanned
04:21aerial vehicles against occupation military bases in the region. In a statement, the organization
04:26detailed an offensive comprising 19 operations designed to weaken the presence of foreign occupation
04:31forces. The militia described these actions as a direct retaliation for the bombings against civilian
04:36infrastructures in Iran and Lebanon. The attack occurred after five weeks of hostilities between
04:41the U.S.-Israeli axis and Iran, and as the Islamic resistance renewed its call on the Iraqi government
04:47on Monday to work towards the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Baghdad in order to protect the life,
04:52security and stability of civilians.
05:00And the U.S. government is threatening to bomb Iranian energy facilities that have not yet been
05:04attacked if they fail to reach an agreement. The President Donald Trump stated on his true social
05:10account that they would conclude their operation in Iran with attacks on power plants, oil wells,
05:15the island of Kark, and desalination plants if no agreement is reached with Iran. Washington
05:20stressed that if Iran fails to open the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, they will proceed with
05:25the new offensive. However, officials from the Trump administration reportedly affirmed that the
05:29President might be ready to end the war without opening the Watergate amid tensions over the rising price of oil.
05:42Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bakir Khalibaf, has denounced U.S. President Trump's aggressive threats
05:47against the Persian nation, pointing that any act of aggression will be met with a crushing response.
05:52In remarks posted on Exo Monday directly addressing Trump's repeated ultimatums targeting Iran's energy
05:58infrastructure, Khalibaf stated, the enemy promotes its desires as news while threatening our nation at the
06:04same time. Big mistake. If they hit one, they'll take several back. God willing, the people of Iran
06:10under the leadership of the Supreme Leader will make the enemy regret the aggression and reclaim their rights.
06:22And the Chinese government confirmed on Tuesday the successful transit of three ships through the
06:26Strait of Hormuz close by Iran to the United States and its allies amid the ongoing war in the Middle
06:31East.
06:32Following coordination with relevant parties, three Chinese vessels recently transited the Strait of
06:37Hormuz. We express our gratitude to the relevant parties for the assistance provided. The Strait of
06:42Hormuz and its adjacent waters constitute a vital corridor for international trade in goods and
06:47energy. China calls for the immediate ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities and for the
06:51restoration of peace and stability in the Persian Gulf.
06:56And the Israeli parliament approved on Monday a law allowing death penalty for Palestinian
07:01prisoners. The bill, supported by the far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Vir,
07:06passed in its second and third readings with 62 members voting in favor, 48 against and one
07:11abstention. During deliberations, the committee dismissed more than 2,000 objections against the
07:16legislation which mandates the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of carrying out attacks that
07:21result in the killing of Israelis, in a move reflecting an accelerated process despite widespread
07:26controversy. The law introduces a mandatory death sentence without requiring unanimous judicial approval
07:31with executions to be carried out by hanging by the Israeli prison service within a specified period.
07:37It also stipulates that no pardon may be granted thus preventing any political or legal intervention to
07:42alter the ruling.
07:51And in this context, the Palestinian presidency strongly condemned the law's approval describing it as a
07:56blatant violation of international humanitarian law. Through a statement issued on Monday, the presidency
08:01said the law constitutes a clear breach of the fourth Geneva Convention, particularly the protections it
08:07guarantees for individuals and the safeguards for fair trials, as well as a violation of the international
08:12covenant on civil and political rights, amounts to a war crime against the Palestinian people.
08:17Moreover, the presidency emphasized that such laws and measures would not break the will of the
08:22Palestinian people or undermine their steadfastness, nor will they deter them from continuing their
08:27legitimate struggle for freedom, independence and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
08:33In this regard, the authority called on the international community to assume its legal and humanitarian
08:38responsibilities by taking serious action to hold these violations, hold Israel accountable and impose sanctions
08:44over its ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people.
08:54Let's now take our first break. We're going to be right back.
09:17Welcome back. In China, President Xi Jinping participated in a tree planting event as the country consolidates its position
09:23as a world leader in reforestation, with more than 770 million hectares restored over decades.
09:29Our correspondent Bruno Fossey with the details.
09:32Greetings, comrades. Here in Beijing, in the district of Xi Jinping, the President Xi Jinping participated in a tree planted
09:42journey with students and residents,
09:45reinforcing the call for the Communist Party of China to the entire society to actively engage in environmental protection.
09:55This is in line with the principles of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
10:02The activity formed part of a national campaign that has lasted at least 45 years.
10:11And thanks to the reforestation policies and the active participation of the society,
10:17China has planted around 4.5 million hectares of forest,
10:23increased, increasing its forest coverage to more than 25 percent of the territory.
10:30Projects such as the Great Green Wall have stopped the expansion of deserts in the north of the country,
10:38and transformed degraded lands into productive zones that directly benefit the population.
10:46This year, the initiative takes on special significance as part of the 15 five-year plan that goes to 2026
10:58to 2030,
10:59and coincides with the adoption of a new environment code which strengthens the legal basis for advancing a more sustainable
11:09development model.
11:11With these actions, China on the ground expands and improves its green areas,
11:18boosting sustainability industry and generates concrete benefits for all the population, consolidating its ecological strategy,
11:30and strengthening the environmental education for the new generations.
11:35With this news from here, Beijing, we go back with you in the studios.
11:43Thank you, Bruno. Let's now continue with other important news.
11:59In Bolivia, heavy rains have claimed over 30 lives and affected thousands of families.
12:04Director General of Emergency and Relief for the Vice Ministry of Civil Defense, René Alcides Vázquez,
12:08reported that the heavy rains in the country have resulted in 37 deaths and 14 people missing since the start
12:14of the rainy season in December of 2025.
12:17In this context, Vázquez informed that over the past week, at least 1,500 families have been affected by the
12:22deluge,
12:23mainly in the departments of Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Beni and La Paz.
12:27Civil Defense is coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid while maintaining a red alert
12:31due to flood risk in several municipalities across the country.
12:40Heavy rains cause flooding also in several areas of Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.
12:45In a short period, some areas recorded between 90 and 120 mm of rain, which represents approximately 10% of
12:52the average annual precipitation.
12:54The Montevideo city government reported that this weekend's rainfall was unusual in terms of its intensity and speed,
13:00causing significant problems with urban drainage.
13:02The mayor of Montevideo, Mario Vergara, highlighted the situation,
13:06emphasizing that although these emergencies occur occasionally, they reflect the need for a coordinated response.
13:12Regarding future steps, he mentioned a program already underway to relocate vulnerable settlements led by the Ministry of Housing.
13:26And the culmination of six years of political organizing work in urban peripheries,
13:31Brazil's Landless Rural Workers Movement's first National Solidarity Hands program has come to a close.
13:37A correspondent, Ramir, has more.
13:41In Recife, Pernambuco, around a thousand delegates from the Landless Rural Workers Movement, or MST,
13:48from across Brazil met to debate and plan their urban political organizing work through a national project,
13:53which started in 2020, called Solidarity Hands.
13:59During the COVID-19 pandemic, we organized Solidarity Kittens,
14:04and this turned into a movement called Solidarity Hands,
14:08hands that welcomed and hands of fed people during the pandemic.
14:13The act of solidarity food donations from small farmers to workers on the urban peripheries opened up
14:19lines of communications that continue to this day and have led people from these segments to work together
14:25ever since, fighting for rights and developing projects together to improve their way of life.
14:30I am going to follow the advice of the great educator, Paulo Freire.
14:35Work together to organize the people.
14:38If this is the only advice you take, this is enough for you to live these three days and
14:46encounter successfully.
14:47Throughout the three days of debates and planning activities, political music and theater pieces
14:52inspired by liberation theology, which the MST refers to as mystics, were interspersed in the program,
15:00and cultural activities were held at night for people to have space to socialize with their new friends and allies.
15:07We will, in fact, solve fascist problems through lots of struggle, lots of problem organizing,
15:14with several project events by people acting as protagonists who are conscious of their story.
15:20The MST's first-ever National Solidarity Hands Assembly ended on March 30th,
15:26as hundreds of people said goodbye to each other and boarded buses,
15:29some of which would take up to three days to get them back to their homes.
15:34Brian Mir, tell us, sir.
15:37Recife.
15:39The name of Brazil, a critical engine failure in a Delta Airlines plane,
15:44forced an emergency landing at the Guadalupe Airport in Sao Paulo,
15:47prompting a response from law enforcement agencies.
15:50The air force bound for the U.S. city of Atlanta,
15:52suffered a failure in its left engine that led to an explosion visible from the ground.
15:57The incident caused debris to fall on the terminal green areas,
16:00sparking fire outbreaks in the vegetation.
16:02The plane managed to return to the runway and landed safely,
16:05with its 272 passengers and 14 crew members aboard unharmed.
16:09The incident disrupted operations at the airport, prompting airlines to cancel 28 flights.
16:13In the aftermath of Brazil, an air force agency has launched a probe into the incident,
16:17as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration also stated that to be investigating.
16:28We now have our second break.
16:29We're going to be right back.
16:53Welcome back.
16:54Russian oil tanker Anatoly Kolodkin arrived in Cuba on Monday,
16:58where it remains waiting to be unloaded at the port of Matanzas,
17:01according to the Russian Ministry of Transport.
17:03The vessel is carrying approximately 100,000 tons of oil, classified as a solidity aid,
17:09amid severe energy crises affecting the Caribbean island.
17:12The cargo set sail to the island on March 9th under the Russian flag,
17:15and without a military escort.
17:17In addition, the tanker was initially accompanied by a Russian Navy warship through the English Channel.
17:22However, after entering the Atlantic, the ship continued its journey on its own,
17:25until its arrival in Cuba.
17:27This operation represents, according to reports, the first arrival of a tanker on the island in three months.
17:32The move comes after the United States pressured Venezuela and Mexico to hold energy supplies to Cuba.
17:37As a result, the island has not received oil since January 9th,
17:40which has led to a sustained deterioration of the energy system and hardships for the population,
17:45which depends on fuel, for essential services and the functioning of the economy.
17:55And the Cuban Groban Express is gratitude for the donation of 15,600 tons of rice sent by the People's
18:01Republic of China.
18:03The rice is intended to mitigate the effects of the escalation of the U.S. economic blockade.
18:07This shipment is part of a 30,000-ton aid package that the Asian giant is sending to support the
18:14island
18:15amid a food shortage exacerbated by Washington's pressure measure.
18:18In its regard, Cuba's Minister of Domestic Trade, Betsy Diaz, emphasized that the shipment arrived at a timely moment
18:23and will be distributed immediately in 11 provinces.
18:26For his part, the Chinese ambassador to the Caribbean island, Hua Xin,
18:29said that his country would not abandon the Cuban people
18:32and will maintain the historic relations of brotherhood and solidarity between the two nations.
18:44In the context of the timing of the economically blockade Washington imposes on Cuba,
18:48international analyst Danny Shaw exposed on an exclusive interview with Telesur from Havana
18:54the goals the Trump administration chases in the Caribbean island.
18:59The Trump administration does not want to see the Cuban state, the Cuban government, the CCP as an arbiter
19:07of Cuba's future. They want to get rid of anything that serves as an obstacle to their complete control
19:16over the Cuban economy. The Cuban GDP in the thriving years of tourism was very, very strong.
19:25Then it got hit by COVID, but there was a recovery. And now the GDP projected for this year is
19:32much less
19:32than $100 billion, whereas the GDP of the United States is some $30 trillion. So this is truly a David
19:40versus Goliath struggle. But when we talk about the colonial imperial Goliath that is the U.S. system,
19:47whether it's with its Fox Democrat expression or the Republican Wolf iteration,
19:53they seek to dominate the entire world. That's why we saw the kidnapping of Nicolas Maduro.
19:58That's why we've seen now for just about a month the relentless pummeling of Tehran, of Iran,
20:06the ongoing genocidal suffocation of the Palestinian people. They want to control Cuba. They want to roll
20:12back the clock. They want to bring back their casinos and their mafiosos like it was 1958.
20:21An internationalist Danny Shaw highlighted the work of all the young internationalists that,
20:26despite U.S. threats and repression, traveled to the island to bring solidarity aid.
20:32Shout out to all of our young people who surely their families were very nervous when they traveled
20:38here to Cuba, not because they were coming to Cuba, but nervous because of all of the repression,
20:43all of the lack of freedom of speech that we're experiencing in the belly of the beast in New York
20:48and across the U.S. Shout out to all those young people and all the organizations that came here as
20:54part of these internationalist flotillas. It's an incredible expression of internationalism in the
21:0021st century when they want to scare us and intimidate us. And how shameful that the FBI
21:06and Homeland Security and ICE detained me, stole my phone, and have done the same to how many young
21:14people who have selflessly and courageously come here to Cuba. Why? To participate with the Cuban
21:20people to contribute, to bring rice and beans and fuel and medical supplies and Tylenol, so many
21:26things that we take for granted in the bloated, indulgent West. It was a beautiful expression of
21:32solidarity. And the fact that the U.S. government then castigates and punishes and intimidates and even
21:39detains and steals the phones of these young people is an indication of just how decadent our system is.
21:48And the United Nations Human Rights Council, at its 61st session, adopted two resolutions submitted by
21:54Cuba in support of food security and access to culture. During the presentation, the Cuban delegation
22:00denounced the inhumane impact of the U.S. blockade on the right to food on the island. In response,
22:07the council condemned the use of basic inputs as a weapon of political coercion and demanded an end to
22:11the unilateral measures. Also, it was unanimously approved to reaffirm culture as an essential pillar of
22:16development and an indispensable reach for dialogue among nations.
22:26Another topic, some Monday protesters in Boston, Massachusetts called for FIFA to move the World
22:31Cup matches of the United States arguing Washington commits human rights violations and war crimes in
22:36Palestine, Venezuela, Cuba and Iran. In this context, organizers from the Boston Coalition for
22:41Palestine and the Black Alliance for Peace urged for the U.S. and Israel to be banned from international
22:47sporting events. Demonstrators claim these nations continue to commit atrocities with impunity while
22:53rejecting international cooperation. This controversy deepened after FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded
23:00Trump the new FIFA Peace Prize, distancing the organization from its alleged political neutrality.
23:06Meanwhile, Massachusetts governor welcomed the economic boost the event provides as protesters vowed to keep
23:11the pressure on, insisting that human rights must take precedence over sports.
23:21Well, at this we have found the end of this news brief. You can find more on our website at
23:25telestreetenglish.net and you can also join us on our social media. For Telestreet English,
23:29I'm Robert Tomatoes. Thanks for watching.
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