- 2 hours ago
* China reaffirms its support for Cuba despite pressure from the US
* Iran announces the opening of the Strait of Hormuz
* Iran announces the opening of the Strait of Hormuz
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00:10Venezuela is normalizing its status in the global financial system as the IMF and World Bank
00:15resume full operations with the country. China reaffirms its full support for Cuba in the face
00:24of external pressure and the energy crisis exacerbated by the US blockade.
00:33Iran announces that the Strait of Hormuz has been open to commercial vessels following a
00:37ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
00:45Hello, welcome to From the South, I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Dele Sur Studios in Caracas,
00:49Venezuela, to begin with the news.
01:04This Thursday the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank announced the formal resumption
01:08of operations with Venezuela.
01:11IMF Director Cristalina Georgieva confirmed the organization would work with Venezuela's
01:17acting president, Dele Sur Rodriguez, who welcomed the normalization of relations.
01:21A few minutes later, a similar announcement was made by the World Bank.
01:25Caracas' ties with the fund were severed after this multilateral organization decided to recognize
01:31an illegitimate organization as the government.
01:33The World Bank for his part when making public the announcement marking the restoration of
01:38Venezuela's representation noted that the country has been a member since 1946.
01:43The acting president expressed gratitude for the organization's correction and welcomed the
01:48fact that the Bolivar nation is normalizing processes with these organizations which involve
01:52rights and responsibilities.
01:59Likewise, the acting president of Venezuela's Rodriguez thanked the International Monetary Fund for
02:04the resumed participation of Venezuela in the organization.
02:22On Thursday, Venezuela's acting president, Dele Sur Rodriguez, enacted the Organic Mining Law,
02:27which aims to attract investment under a framework that prioritizes environmental sustainability and labor safety.
02:34At the Manuel Carlos P.R. leasing plant in Bolivar State, Minister for Ecological Mining Development,
02:42Hector Silva, and the national authorities emphasized that the law will transform the mining sector by promoting
02:47production, exploration, and national and international investment.
02:51The authorities were joined by miners who participated in the consultation process leading up to the law's enactment.
02:57In this scenario, the miners thanked the National Assembly for establishing legal certainty through the legislation.
03:03Additionally, the minister distributed production and social protection materials within the mining sector.
03:15And in this regard, the Vice President of Economic Affairs, Calixto Ortega, referred to the continued growth in the oil
03:22and mining sectors.
03:23Well, it's important to note that economic growth is widespread, but the oil and mining sectors are definitely among the
03:34main sectors driving economic activity and growth.
03:38In the case of the mining sector, it is not just growing, it is growing vigorously, at a double-digit
03:46rate, closing out 2025 with over 20% growth across all minerals,
03:52and with preliminary figures that also showed at the first quarter, despite the extraordinary situation we are currently facing, is
04:02also showing a quarter of growth and positive activity.
04:06This is obviously the result of the efforts of the authorities, workers, the private sector, and the public sector, and
04:16we have high hopes that all these investors who have been assisted over the last 100 days, will see with
04:23their own eyes, the sector's potential, and finally decide to proceed with the investments they are currently considering.
04:36As the President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodriguez held a meeting with a delegation from the European
04:42Union to advance mutual cooperation, the President of the Venezuelan legislature noted that the European delegation included the diplomats Pelavo
04:50Castro, Adriana Vásquez, and Maria Antonieta Calvo-Puerto.
04:55Likewise, Rodriguez emphasized that in line with the policy of permanent dialogue, was established a work agenda focused on productive
05:02development.
05:03One of the highlights of the meeting was the ratification of the diplomatic commitment under the principles of sovereignty.
05:09Within the framework of permanent dialogue, both parties defined a work agenda oriented toward productive development, reaffirming their will to
05:16advance mutual cooperation based on respect.
05:37In Peru, more than 93% of the voting records have been counted following the recent election on April 12th.
05:44The National Electoral Processors Office continues to update the official results of the 2026 general election in all regions of
05:52the country.
05:53Preliminary results indicate that right-wing presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori remains in first place with 17%, followed by left-wing
06:00candidate Roberto Sánchez with 11.98%, after surpassing Renovación Popular candidate Rafael López Aliaga with 11.92%.
06:09Electoral authorities note that a small percentage of votes remain to be counted, including votes from abroad and hard-to
06:16-reach areas.
06:23And the presidential candidate of the Together for Peru party Roberto Sánchez called on the people to defend democracy and
06:30the popular will in the face of alleged illegal actions that may be taking place in the country during the
06:36electoral process.
06:36At a press conference, Sánchez regretted that candidates from Renovación Popular, instead of presenting evidence and vote tally sheets, are
06:44engaging in actions that go against a healthy democratic spirit.
06:48He said he laments that other parties are focused on creating chaos, and he challenged his opponents to act responsibly
06:54and not to hinder the Peruvian electoral process.
06:57The call comes amid growing political tension due to allegations of irregularities in the elections.
07:16In other topics, in Honduras, deputies from the Liberty and Reef Foundation party reported that Marlon David Oshola, a member
07:22of the National Electoral Council, left the country and is reportedly seeking political asylum in an undisclosed nation.
07:28Oshola has reported in previous months receiving death threats against himself and his family in the context of an impeachment
07:35process against electoral officials linked to that party.
07:39Three of those summoned to appear before the full National Congress, including two alternate judges of the electoral justice tribunal,
07:45and Oshola himself did not show up.
07:47Only Judge Mario Morazán attended in a process that critical sectors describe as lacking rigor, where artificial intelligence was even
07:55used to formulate questions.
08:01The political situation in Honduras is becoming more tense after serious allegations were made by Marlon Oshola, leader of the
08:08Liberal Party and member of the electoral party.
08:10On Wednesday, Oshola claimed to be the target of judicial and political persecution.
08:14Through his account on X, the leader stated, not content with carrying out the fraud, they now eliminate the witness
08:22of Honduran people.
08:23Today, they have initiated and paid for my certifications. As I warned, there was no trial, there was persecution and
08:29revenge in the style of the Holy Inquisition.
08:31Under the direction of Thomas Zambrano, they executed my sentence under the guise of legality, confirming the criminal nature of
08:38my executioners.
08:40The same ones who had announced their verdict in the media and bought votes from positions of power.
08:46To this infamy was added a smear campaign against me and against honorable members of the Liberal Party.
08:55Let's now take our first break. We're going to be right back.
09:18Welcome back.
09:19China reaffirms its full support for Cuba in the face of external pressure on the energy crisis exacerbated by the
09:25U.S. blockade.
09:26Beijing reiterated its support for the Cuban people and once again rejected the use of force against the sovereignty and
09:31security of any country.
09:33Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun made these statements amid international support for Cuba,
09:39following the latest threats from the United States.
09:41The diplomat urged an immediate end to all sanctions and the blockade against Cuba
09:46and also reiterated Beijing's willingness to work together with the international community in support of the island.
09:57China firmly opposed the use of force against the sovereignty and security of any country and resolutely supports Cuba in
10:03defending its national sovereignty,
10:05as well as in rejecting all forms of external interference.
10:11China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun also reiterated his country's support for Venezuela,
10:16pointing out that their relations are protected by international law.
10:21China has consistently rejected unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law
10:26and are not authorized by the United Nations Security Council.
10:29Furthermore, it opposes any form of extraterrestrial jurisdiction that infringes upon the principles of sovereignty.
10:35Cooperation between China and Venezuela is fully protected by international law and the domestic laws of both countries.
10:41Therefore, China's legitimate rights and interests must be safeguarded unconditionally.
10:48And also in Cuba, the Patriarch Colloquium continues this Friday on its second day.
10:52Participants from various countries gather to discuss communication not only as a technology,
10:56but also as a political, cultural and ethical field in the global debate from the Global South.
11:01For that, let's go live with our correspondent in Havana, Valen de los Santos, who has all the details coming
11:06from the ground.
11:06Welcome Valen to From the South.
11:11Hello Luis, exactly. Such a pleasure to greet you from here, from Havana.
11:16We continue sharing and talking to different experiences of everyone who has come down here for this fifth edition of
11:23the Patriarch Colloquium.
11:24I'm actually right here in the Telesur set and what you see behind me is the wall dedicated to Fidel.
11:30We were saying that this Patriarch Colloquium on the year of the centenary is also dedicated to Fidel Castro.
11:38And here is a wall in which people have been writing down their messages, their conversations with Fidel.
11:44And also joining us now is international analyst Arnold August, really a friend of Telesur.
11:50Thank you so much for being here with us once again.
11:53Thank you for having me once again, Valen. It's always a pleasure to collaborate with Telesur, whether it's in English
11:59or Spanish.
12:00It's our pleasure, really. And I wanted to ask you, why is it important to be here at this Patriarch
12:07Colloquium, specifically in this context for Cuba?
12:10That's an interesting question. The last time I was here was in March 2025 at the last edition of Patria.
12:19And this April, 2026, arriving in Havana, getting off the airplane and driving into the city in the context of
12:29all the false publicity that Cuba is a failed state waiting to be saved by Donald Trump.
12:36And watching myself going through city streets, watching the people in the streets, I said, what failed state is this?
12:45People are going above their lives normally, even under very difficult conditions.
12:50And I think one of the most important things is the next day, the first event of this activity in
12:56the morning to commemorate the declaration by Fidel Castro of the Cuban revolution, having its biggest social characteristics, what failed
13:08state within the morning.
13:09There were so many people participating on their own, you know, no security, everything was calm and all that.
13:16And it was a very good speech by President Miguel Diaz-Canel. He left no doubt. And I have photographs
13:24of that. I think you saw it.
13:26If the United States dares to intervene militarily, watch out. We are ready to defend ourselves.
13:33He said he's ready to give his life for the sovereignty and the independence of the Cuban people.
13:39That's very important. And that's what I did. I took a film of that and I put it on social
13:43media every year.
13:43Yankees, watch out. You better think twice before you invade Cuba.
13:48That was my first impression in the first event in the morning of this very historical edition of Patria 2026.
13:59Exactly. And such an important position when in the same corner in which in 1961 Fidel said the same thing,
14:06this revolution would be defended by their own people.
14:10And Arnold, you are here also presenting a book, a book that we have right now here, Fidel Castro, The
14:17Vision of a Canadian Man.
14:19How can you tell us about what is it like writing about Fidel from a Canadian perspective?
14:24Thank you very much. Yes, I was invited amongst others by Patria to make a presentation of my book.
14:30I was honored to be sitting next to René Gonzalez Barrios, who is the director of the Centre Fidel Castro.
14:38And in fact, the writing of this book goes back several years ago, about four or five years ago, when
14:44I discussed with him about the necessity to writing about Fidel Castro.
14:48I said, I wanted to write my fifth book about Cuba, but for the first time on Fidel Castro.
14:54And he was the one who suggested, why not write about the visit of Fidel Castro in April 1959, just
15:02four months after the revolution, visit of Fidel Castro in Montreal, my city.
15:07I'm a proud Montreal, a proud Quebecois. So we just agreed together. That would be the basis of the book.
15:14So of course, I studied and investigated that whole visit. And the entire chapter one is dedicated to that visit.
15:23But there are seven chapters in the books. So I developed the whole issue of Canada-Cuba relationship that also
15:29includes the pressures of the United States against countries such as Canada and also countries such as Mexico to join
15:38the United States.
15:39The forum is being organized by Canada, like Mexico, did not follow the American plan of action and they maintain
15:48peaceful diplomatic relations for all of these 80 years, uninterrupted.
15:54The only other country in the hemisphere to do that was Mexico.
15:59That is so important to bring to the table. And also, this is a year about learning more about Fidel
16:05for everyone to continue reading and thinking what Fidel teaches us in this context.
16:12Thank you so much, Arnold, as usual, for joining us.
16:14Thank you very much for having me.
16:15That is a little bit of what is happening here. We've been trying to share with you the discussions, the
16:22ideas, everything that's being part of this Patriarch Colloquium.
16:27That was Arnold August, international analyst, and we'll continue with more. For now, Luis, I go back to you.
16:33Thank you. Thank you, Belen, for the latest updates and for Arnold, as always, to share his input here in
16:38From the South.
16:38We're going to stay tuned, of course, in Cuba to everything that is happening as the fifth edition of the
16:43Patriarch Colloquium continues to unfold.
16:44Let's now return to From the South. We continue with our topics and we go to Bolivia, where the nation
16:49is currently confronting a decline in foreign currency reserve after allocating over $500 million to external debt repayments last month,
16:57even as the nation faces an additional $2.3 billion in obligations for the reminder of the year.
17:03This financial strain has heightened the urgency for the government to secure an agreement with the International Monetary Fund,
17:10which could provide up to $3.3 billion through an extended fund facility.
17:15Meanwhile, a delegation led by Finance Minister Jose Guerrero Espinoza is attending the spring meetings in Washington
17:20to advance these negotiations despite these complex scenarios.
17:23Agencies such as S&P Global Ratings and Moody's have recently upgraded Bolivia's credit rating.
17:29Nevertheless, deep-seated structural holders regarding external revenue and sustainable financing persist as the primary focus of the national economic
17:39agenda.
17:47And on Friday, the fifth edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum kicked off in Turkey, bringing together world leaders and
17:55senior officials to address growing global uncertainty.
17:58The three-day forum takes place in the southern Mediterranean city of Antalya under the theme Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties.
18:07More than 150 countries are represented at the event, including over 20 heads of states and government and nearly 15
18:14deputy leaders.
18:15The forum also brings together more than 50 ministers, over 40 of them foreign ministers as well as representatives from
18:2275 international organizations.
18:23The forum features more than 40 panels and events, including leadership-level discussions addressing political, economic, environmental and technological challenges,
18:33with a particular focus on the evolving global landscape.
18:43And in this context, we have our correspondent in Turkey, Yunus Oner, who has more details on this important gathering
18:50taking place in Antalya.
18:53Hello from Turkey, from the city of Antalya, where the Antalya Diplomacy Forum has started on this Friday.
19:01The forum is being organized by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
19:05Therefore, the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has held the inaugural speech of this Convention of International Dimensions.
19:14In his speech, Hakan Fidan emphasized that the chaos on the global affairs is surging from Israel's expansionism, which started
19:26in the genocide against Gaza,
19:29then continued with attacks on Syria, and then with Lebanon, and now these days with the attack on Iran.
19:36He was followed by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who emphasized in his speech that this aggression, which has
19:45been ignored by the so-called rules-based order,
19:49is putting the international system itself in danger.
19:53According to the Turkish President, the global system itself is being questioned more and more due to its lack of
20:02defending the most vulnerable on the planet,
20:05which are the Palestinians that are subjected to genocide.
20:09The International Diplomacy Forum of Antalya Diplomacy Forum is an annual event.
20:17This year is the fifth time it is being held, and 155 countries are being represented here at this forum
20:25in the city of Antalya.
20:2621 heads of state or heads of government are here, also more than 60 ministers of them, 52 foreign affairs
20:36ministers are being present in this forum,
20:39which will continue three days on with different panels and forums touching on different issues.
20:47But, of course, the war in West Asia is at the core of the discussions.
20:52So, there is a lot of talk on this forum already about the security architecture, which is needed to be
21:00built in West Asia after the war.
21:02This is an idea that is being discussed between Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
21:09And it's noteworthy that the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, is also here at the forum,
21:15remembered that Pakistan has facilitated the talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad recently.
21:22Besides that security architecture, there will be also forums that will be dedicated to the discussion about energy security after
21:31the war.
21:31There are different ideas being discussed here with participation also from leaders from Arab countries regarding new lines of connectivity
21:41in West Asia
21:43and securing energy supplies from the region to the rest of the world.
21:50But the war in West Asia and the West Asian situation is not what this forum is limited to.
21:58It will also discuss topics such as global reform of the multilateral system.
22:05Here, a number of African countries which are being represented here at the forum will raise their voice also regarding
22:13the reform of the international economic system.
22:16Forums will be held regarding strengthening regional integration instead of the global system.
22:23Also, another issue will be gender equality where panels will be held upon.
22:30So, there is a lot of discussion going on during these three days which will happen in the panels, in
22:37the forums,
22:38but also with delegations having bilateral talks to advance their bilateral relations while here at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum,
22:48which we will follow here for Telesur on the spot.
22:53Thank you, Junos. Let's now continue with other topics.
23:15In a recent post on the social media platform, ex-Saranian foreign minister Abbas Arakshi announced that the Strait of
23:21Hormuz is now completely open for all commercial vessels following the ceasefire.
23:25On his ex-account, the Iranian foreign minister stated,
23:30in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared
23:35completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire.
23:38On the coordinated route, as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
23:50Like this, we have come to the end of this news clip. You can find more on our website at
23:53www.telesurenglish.net and also on our social media.
23:55For Telesur English, I'm with Roberto Matos. Thank you for watching.
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