- 2 days ago
01/04/2026
FTS 8.30
*China calls for lifting of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela
*Argentina: orange alert over flooding in Mar del Plata
FTS 8.30
*China calls for lifting of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela
*Argentina: orange alert over flooding in Mar del Plata
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NewsTranscript
00:13Germany Armed Forces launched a joint military operation with Iran and Lebanese
00:17resistant Hezbollah striking Israeli targets in the occupied territories.
00:25And the Chinese government renovated on Wednesday's call for the lifting of U.S.
00:29illegal sanctions against Venezuela And the Argentine Meteorological Service issued
00:38an orange alert following a storm that flooded several neighborhoods in Mar del Plata.
00:47Hello, welcome to From the South. I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Dele Sur Studios in Caracas,
00:52Venezuela. We begin with the news.
01:12The Germany Armed Forces announced on Wednesday they carried out a joint military operation
01:17with Iran and the Lebanese resistance Hezbollah striking sensitive targets belonging to the
01:22Israeli occupation forces in the occupied territories. In a televised statement, Armed Forces spokesman,
01:28General Jaya Sadi, announced the action to launch a barrage of ballistic missiles against key
01:33targets from the Sudanese occupation entity in southern occupied Palestine. In this context,
01:38Sadi assured that the operation successfully achieved its objectives and clarified this
01:43part of the continued support for resistance fronts in the region. The Armed Forces General stated that
01:48any escalation by Israel would lead to a further retaliation on their part until the aggression
01:52is stopped and the siege is lifted.
02:02Our armed forces, with the help of God Almighty, and in reliance upon Him, carried out the third
02:09military operation in the Battle of Sacred Jihad, which targeted, with a salvo of ballistic missiles,
02:15sensitive targets of the Israeli enemy in southern occupied Palestine. The operation came in coordination
02:22with the brotherly Mujahideen in Iran, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and, by the grace of God, achieved its objectives successfully.
02:35And in Iraq, the Islamic resistance carried out 23 military operations against bases of the U.S. occupation
02:41in the country and the region. Camp victory, the site of U.S. troops remains a recurring target of rockets
02:46and drones as part of the response carried out by the Arab country. The operation, which was carried out
02:52using dozens of drones, occurs amid growing instability marked by cross-border military
02:56offensive between various actors in the region.
03:11And the United States Central Command carried out a new airstrikes targeting underground military
03:17infrastructure within Iran. The command released images of precision-guided munitions hidden in high
03:22security underground military targets. According to preliminary reports, projectiles
03:26of the U.S.-Peneter fortified defenses striking Iran's technical infrastructure. The operation
03:31is part of the recent joint offensive by the United States and Israel against Iranian territory.
03:47Iran's UNESCO representative warned of the destructive consequences of the U.S.-Israeli
03:51aggressions on the country's heritage sites, with 132 of those damaged so far. During a press conference
03:57in Tehran, the Secretary General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, Hassan Fartouzzi,
04:03stated that the attacks damaged cultural heritage sites, historical landmarks, and educational
04:07institutions. He noted that some of the affected buildings stayed back hundreds of years and had
04:12never required restoration, saying the attacks harmed an important part of Iran's historical identity.
04:18Moreover, Fartouzzi reported damage to 149 universities, saying that many facilities were destroyed,
04:24and that Western sanctions would make rebuilding difficult.
04:34in this one month and two days since the war began, approximately 132 historical heritage sites have sustained
04:45significant damage, some very severe, some minor.
04:55In one sentence, targeting cultural heritage is targeting human identity.
05:01If we care about humanity, it is necessary to respect cultural heritage.
05:10In Iran, thousands gathered in Tehran's Baliyar Square on Tuesday evening to mark Islamic Republic Day,
05:17as U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran continued. Citizens waved Iranian flags and held portraits of late
05:22supreme leader Ali Khamenei while singing the national anthem and chanting slogans. Similar gatherings took
05:27place in Tehran's Tohid and Inghilab squares, where the national anthem played across the country as events
05:33were also held in Bandar Abbas and Karaj. Islamic Republic Day marks the 1979 referendum that established
05:40the Islamic Republic after the fall of the monarchy. The anniversary is observed each year with official
05:45ceremonies, speeches, and public rallies.
05:57An Iranian president, Masoud Peshashian joined a massive public gathering cell to mark the
06:01anniversary of Islamic Republic Day on Tuesday night as a large crowd of citizens lined the streets of
06:07the capital, Tehran, to see him. Peshashian walked through the crowds and listened to several participants,
06:13despite the U.S.-Israeli aggression it faces and the continuous escalation of political and economic threats and
06:20pressures. This scene reflects the continued popular momentum of support for the country's leaders.
06:32And the Israeli regime continues its offensive against the peoples of Lebanon, launching new attacks on southern
06:38Beirut and killing at least eight people. Israeli combat aircraft attacked the Haaretz Hrik
06:43neighborhood, a densely populated area in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital. The attack
06:48represents a significant escalation as it is a direct bombing of civilian areas within the framework of
06:52border hostilities where the Sionist occupation advances on sovereign Lebanese territories. Local
06:57authorities and emergency teams reported that among the deceased are a pregnant woman and her husband.
07:11And in Syria, thousands of people took to the streets to protest the Israeli parliament's approval of
07:16the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners. This way, demonstrators marched by data in southern Syria to
07:24the province of Quneitra, region areas adjacent to the ceasefire line in the occupied Golan Heights in
07:29society with imprisoned Palestinians. The rally caused the Israeli army to deploy monitoring troops to
07:35the location as drones and military helicopters flew overhead while flares were launched over the border
07:40area. The mobilization evidenced the impact of Israeli policy toward Palestine on the stability of the region.
07:55In North Telfix, South Africa launched a year-long security operation deploying the army for one year to
08:00combat organized crime, armed groups violence and illegal mining. These measures are authorized by
08:05President Sirius Ramaphosa to stabilize critical areas, recover weapons and reduce the homicide rate affecting the
08:12country. The operation, set to begin in April, will cover five of South Africa's nine provinces focusing
08:17on areas struggling with crime. The deployment responds to the increase in insecurity, which according to
08:22the average report at the end of 2025, stands at 71 murders per day. The action reaffirms the government's
08:29efforts to protect citizens from the violent escalation.
08:38Let's now take our first break. We're going to be right back.
09:02Welcome back. The Chinese government urged the United States to lift the unilateral course of measures
09:07imposed on Venezuela and reiterates its commitment to upholding cooperative relations with Caracas.
09:12Furthermore, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Nin states that the general license explicitly excludes
09:18China, Russia, Cuba, Iran and North Korea from maintaining cooperative ties with the South American nation.
09:24She reaffirmed Beijing's opposition to the manipulation and imposition of limits on cooperation between
09:29China and Venezuela by the United States. It therefore calls on the Trump administration to lift
09:35the unilateral and illegal sanctions which allow it to whitewash its actions, harming the legitimate
09:40rights of the parties involved.
09:47China firmly opposes the United States' manipulation of so-called general licenses to impose limits in cooperation
09:53between China and Venezuela. China's legitimate rights in Venezuela must be protected.
09:57The United States should immediately lift its unilateral and illegal sanctions against Venezuela,
10:03instead of manipulating the so-called general licenses to whitewash its actions that harms
10:08legitimate rights of all parties, including Venezuela.
10:12And Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Hill rejected the Organization of American
10:16States' recent comments on Venezuela's internal affairs. Through his social media, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister
10:23stated, the Organization of American States lacks any competence to speak on the internal affairs of
10:28Venezuela, a country that is not part of said organization. It is, therefore, profoundly dissonant for
10:34an official of that body to attempt to comment on processes that correspond exclusively to the Venezuelan
10:40people under constitutional order. It is surprising that the current Secretary General seeks today to invoke the
10:46harmful legacy of its predecessor, Luis Almagro. Venezuela will continue its course of self-determination
10:51and ineligible rights of its people.
11:01And Venezuela's Acting President de los RodrĂguez announced on Tuesday the appointment of
11:04Headman Eduardo Piñate RodrĂguez as Presidential Commissioner for the Labor Constituent Assembly
11:09and Labor Consensus. About Piñate RodrĂguez, who served as Head of the Labor Ministry until March of this year,
11:16the Acting President affirmed,
11:17I have confidence in his commitment to our working class and his ability to promote dialogue,
11:23organization, and proposals that strengthen labor rights.
11:33Also in Venezuela on Tuesday, Acting President de los RodrĂguez visited the Basilica of Santa Teresa in the capital
11:39Caracas ahead of the traditional Nazarene procession, sharing a message of humility and spirituality.
11:45Accompanied by Caracas Mayor Carmen MelĂ©ndez RodrĂguez made a call for national reconciliation
11:51through daily prayer as a fundamental tool for overcoming difficulties. She also urged citizens
11:55to transform their faith into an active force for the common good and call on all bridges of peace.
12:01With the visit, the Bolivarian government reaffirms the values of Christian identity and its commitment
12:05to the spiritual peace of the entire nation during Holy Week. The Nazarene of San Pablo procession is the
12:12most sacred devotion of the people of Caracas during Holy Week.
12:33After a Russian oil tanker arrived on Tuesday carrying 100 tons of fuel despite an ongoing energy
12:39blockade imposed by the U.S., authorities inform the allocation of the cargo towards meeting the needs
12:43of critical facilities.
12:46This field will generate various finished products such as with the fired petroleum gas.
12:51This will primarily be used to meet the needs of our critical facilities such as hospital and
12:58internal educational centers. We will also produce some gasoline which will ease the current temporary
13:04tension in the gasoline supply to some extent. In the case of diesel which is the most complex fuel
13:14and which is currently plugging us into a situation that we might describe as things from an energy
13:20perspective. Well, diesel will be used primarily for distributed generation and for the rest of the
13:27economy activities that are currently underway and have undeniably been affected by the shortage of this fuel.
13:41The Nicaraguan economy grew for the fifth consecutive year in a context of low unemployment following
13:46inflation and coordinated fiscal and monitoring policies. According to the Central Bank of Nicaragua's
13:522025 annual report, the economy grew by 4.9 percent driven by dynamism in sectors such as services,
13:58construction, mining and industry, as well as strong domestic demand. Headline inflation stood at 2.7 percent,
14:04the lowest figure in several years. Central government achieved a surplus of 3.6 percent of GDP,
14:09and public debt fell from 51.7 percent in 2024 to 48.1 percent in 2025. Exports grew by 15
14:17.4 percent
14:17during a current account surplus of 9.5 percent of GDP. This was aided by federal international prices
14:23and strong demand for domestic products.
14:33And Haiti's national police have regained full control of the community of Yantenis following
14:38confrontations with armed groups. Haitian authorities have confirmed the death of at least 70 people
14:44in confrontations with criminal groups that have taken control of a rural area in the north of the country.
14:49The armed forces have confirmed that they are currently conducting operations to dismantle the Grand
14:55Griff armed group, which has been responsible for spreading terror in the region for several years.
15:01The Commission for Dialogue, Reconciliation and Awareness found that criminal groups members
15:05have murdered dozens of people and set fire to several homes as a means of intimidation.
15:17Let's now take our second break. Stay with us.
15:39Welcome back. In general, more than 68,000 people have been affected by the
15:43range of rains and floods that struck the nation in recent days. According to a recent report by the
15:48European Commission's Directorate General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian
15:52Aid operations, since March 27, heavy rains have caused widespread destruction in coastal areas of
15:58Thais Governorate, extending to Aden, Abien, Marib, Lakh and Hodeira. The report confirmed at least 15 deaths
16:06and damage to 9,820 families in more than 68,000 individuals. In addition, the review noticed severe
16:14damage to vital infrastructure such as electricity, water, communications and transport networks,
16:19as well as destruction of crops and livestock. In this context, authorities are delivering
16:23emergency support as access remains a major challenge due to the blocked roads and ongoing heavy rains.
16:35And the Argentine Meteorological Service issued an alert following a storm that flooded several
16:40neighborhoods in Marta del Plata. The storm rapidly flooded various parts of the city with the range of
16:46rain. According to weather authorities, wind velocities would exceed 90 kilometers per hour and rainfall
16:51could exceed 100 millimeters in a short time. The residential areas of GĂĽemes and Garay, as well as
16:57Córdoba and Azcuén Naga, were affected. Although there were no major impacts in the general Pueyrredón area,
17:04more than 120 millimeters of rain fell in the Sierra de la Ventana region. This led to evacuations,
17:09flooded bridges and flooded homes.
17:21And the Chilean government dismissed the leadership of the National Plan for the Search for Truth
17:25and Justice, a program made official in 2023 during the presidency of Gabriel Boric, with the aim of
17:30finding victims of forced disappearance from the dictatorship. The order was signed by the Minister
17:35of Justice, Fernando Rabat, who was part of the legal team responsible for the defense of dictator Augusto
17:42Pinochet. The executive branch justified the decision by arguing that it responds to improvements in
17:48management and the use of public resources. Despite the team's recent progress in identifying
17:53clandestine graves, the measure comes as Congress debates the institutionalization of the plan to
17:58prevent setbacks due to changes in government.
18:08Here there is a decapitation, and we say this as family members who have spent decades present truth
18:13and justice. There has been a government that has advanced alongside the families with repulsors,
18:21struggle and commitment. Today, a right-wing government does something for which we have
18:27long been blamed. This attitude is political and is one of hatred and revenge towards the victims'
18:34families and the victims themselves.
18:38And also in Chile, the new administration of the Pinochet supporter host Antonio Kass halted the
18:43regularization of more than 108,000 migrants and announced increased border control. Kass' government
18:49canceled the decree that sought to regularize the status of 182,000 migrants in Chile, which was promoted
18:55by the previous administration under Gabriel Boric. This decision forms part of the new government's
19:00xenophobic policies which link migration to rising crime. In response, the head of state has promised
19:05to promote the expulsion of the approximately 337,000 migrants currently residing in the country
19:10undocumented. The administration will also send two bills to parliament aimed at curbing migration,
19:15one to penalize those who help migrants enter Chile irregularly, while the other will criminalize
19:20undocumented entry into the country. And in Peru, on Tuesday, the National Jury of Elections held the
19:34fifth session of the presidential debate at the Lima Convention Center featuring 11 candidates presenting
19:40their government plans ahead of the 2026 general elections of April 12. The three-hour session focused
19:46on education, innovation, technology, and employment. Participants including Keiko Fujimori of Fuerza
19:52Popular, Roberto Sánchez of Juntos por el Peru, and Rafael López Aliaga of Renovación Popular.
19:58The final session is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1st. Amid a crisis of legitimacy and a lack of public
20:03trust in state authorities, more than 33 million Peruvians will elect a new president, one of three
20:09members of the Chamber of Deputies, 60 senators, and five Indian parliamentarians. The upcoming polls
20:14represents yet another phase of the prolonged multi-dimensional crisis that has gripped the
20:19nation, which has had nine presidents since 2016.
20:29And on Tuesday, United States President Donald Trump escalated his efforts to reshape the upcoming
20:34midterm elections by signing a new executive order that limits mail-in voting. The order seeks to create
20:40lists of U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote in each state and instructing the U.S. Postal Service
20:45to send mail ballots only to verified voters. The provisions would be a significant change to how
20:51mail ballot programs are currently administered in U.S. elections, which are largely carried out by
20:55state and local officials. The order comes as strong pressures Republicans in Congress to pass the
21:00Safe America Act, an election overhaul that would impose new voter identification and documentation
21:05requirements. Election experts have called the order unconstitutional, with voting rights advocates
21:12and democratic state officials pledging to sue to block it from going into effect.
21:22Like this, we have gone to the end of this news brief. You can find more on our website at
21:25TerezoEnglish.com and also on our social media. For TerezoEnglish, I'm Luis Roberto Matos.
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