- 12 hours ago
23/04/2026
FTS 12.30
*Equatorial Guinea: Pope Leo XIV concludes apostolic journey
*Tehran collects initial revenue from Strait of Hormuz transit fees
FTS 12.30
*Equatorial Guinea: Pope Leo XIV concludes apostolic journey
*Tehran collects initial revenue from Strait of Hormuz transit fees
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00:12In Venezuela, the national pilgrimage for a nation free of sanctions advances throughout
00:17the national territory. Pablo XIV concluded his apostolic journey in Africa, in Equatorial Guinea,
00:28after visiting four countries on the continent over the course of 11 days.
00:36Iran has officially secured the initial payment statement from new levies imposed on vessels
00:41navigating the strategic trade of Hormuzmi, marking a significant victory.
00:51Hello and welcome to From the South, I'm Luis Alberto Matos from the Lesur Studios in Coracas,
00:56Venezuela.
00:56We'll begin with the news.
01:12And in Venezuela on Wednesday, the national pilgrimage for a nation free of sanctions advances on cohetes
01:18states.
01:19Members of various social and political groups gathered to demand the right to live in a country
01:24free from economic blockades and unilateral coercive measures.
01:28The Venezuela's flight-free journey continues its march toward Caracas, demanding an immediate
01:33end to the coercive measures that strangle the country's economic development.
01:37Alongside this effort, the mobilization promotes national unity through a spirit of faith and
01:43resistance, aiming to unite all social sectors regardless of political ideology or religious
01:48belief.
01:48During the event, the country's Minister of Interior Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, reaffirmed
01:53the Venezuelan people's steadfast desire to live in a prosperous nation liberated from imperialist
01:58blockades.
02:04And Guayana Ezequiva also joined the national pilgrimage for a Venezuela without sanctions
02:10and in peace on its fourth day.
02:12In a spirit of unity, people marched to reaffirm their rejection of the U.S. imposed economic
02:18sanctions on Venezuela and to condemn hate speech against Venezuelan women.
02:22During the event, the Minister of Education, Hector Rodriguez, emphasized that the sanctions
02:28and economic blockade are no longer a matter for partisan debate but rather an act of aggression
02:33affecting the entire population.
02:35He also highlighted the efforts of the Venezuelan people to overcome the most critical moments of
02:40the economic siege.
02:46This is not a time for hatred or division.
02:50It is a time for unity and joining forces to build a future of shared prosperity for all
02:58Venezuelans.
02:59That is why from a state of crucial to the future of our country as Guayana Ezequiva, I joined
03:08the call by President Darcy Rodriguez for unity and mobilization to free our country from
03:16sanctions.
03:31In an interview, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that the situation on the island has
03:36been deteriorating since 2019 during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term.
03:43This isn't just the current situation.
03:46It's the result of the years of accumulated issues and it has come increasingly complex.
03:51Remember that at another time we are talking about how Cuba had been under the blockade for over 60 years.
03:58But that the blockade took a different target when at the end of 2019, in the first term of the
04:05Trump administration, it implemented 240 measures and included us on the list of countries
04:12allegedly supporting terrorism.
04:17On Thursday, Cuba's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ronald Rodriguez, denounced the current situation
04:22in Cuba caused by the U.S. blockade on his ex-account stating the following.
04:26The country's difficult situation is a direct consequence of the tightening of the blockade
04:31and the energy blockade imposed by the U.S. government.
04:33Those who blame the Cuba government for these are the same ones who try to hide and manipulate these cool
04:40effects.
04:40Just look at the improvement in the national power system with the arrival of a Russian oil tanker,
04:46a result of that nation's solidarity and our efforts.
04:49So, is the blockade real or not?
04:57An activist from Italy, France, Switzerland, Mexico and the United States arrived in Havana.
05:03This activist brought food, medical supplies and sports equipment destined for educational institutions
05:08in the Caribbean nation which has been affected by the Trump administration's policy
05:12of economic strangulation and energy blockade.
05:15These activists will participate in the International Workers' Day activities on May 1st
05:20at the invitation of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples.
05:23At the welcomed reception held Casa de la Amistad in the capital,
05:28ECAP President Fernando González expressed his quietude on behalf of the Cuban people
05:32for this gesture of solidarity which they are repeating just one month after their previous visit to the island
05:38during difficult times marked by threats and an intensified blockade by the U.S. government.
05:57And in Peru, members of political groups and social movements rejected the right wing's attempt to disregard the results
06:04of the first round of the presidential election and calls for new elections that could change,
06:08which candidates would advance to the runoff.
06:11Protesters gathered outside the National Electoral Board after reports emerged that the body was considered
06:16holding new elections in Lima and its surrounding areas, a move that could benefit right wing factions.
06:23The protesters declared that this act poses the risk of an irreversible breach of the democratic order
06:29ignoring the will of Peru's regions or that of the capital.
06:32In this regard, they denounced that any possible rerun election would lack constitutional basis,
06:38while demanding that electoral authorities not yield to pressure from the right wing,
06:43led by figures such as Keiko Fujimori, Lopez Aliaga and their allies.
06:54The Argentine justice has opened an investigation into Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni for alleged illicit enrichment,
07:00citing discrepancies between his extravagant spending and declared income.
07:05Reports revealed that the official paid nearly $15,000 in cash for a family trip to Aruba in early 2025.
07:12Furthermore, prosecutors are scrutinizing the purchase of multiple properties valued at $350,000 each,
07:19where large cash payments were also registered.
07:21The scandal intensified after his wife was included in President Javier Mele's official visit to New York,
07:27with invoices issued under a company owned by a journalist and close friend of the Cabinet Chief.
07:39We now have a first break coming up.
07:41Stay with us.
08:01Welcome back.
08:02Paul Leo XIV concluded his apostolic journey to Africa in Ecuador, Guinea,
08:07after visiting four countries on the continent over the course of 11 days.
08:10The apostolic journey ended in the capital city of Malabo,
08:13where the Pope celebrated a farewell mass before thousands of faithful who gathered to receive his final blessing on African
08:20soil.
08:21The Holy Father brought messages of peace, reconciliation and hope to a region marked by social and political challenges,
08:29strengthening the bond between the Holy See and African communities.
08:32Following the liturgical ceremony, the Pope boarded a plane at the International Airport to return to the Vatican.
08:46India's first lithium-ion battery recycling plant was inaugurated in the state of Uttar Pradesh,
08:52marking a significant step towards sustainable energy management.
08:55The recycling plant has a capacity of 10,000 tons and aims to strengthen battery waste management and promote our
09:03circular economy.
09:05Authorities indicated that the facility will play a crucial role in the recycling of used lithium-ion batteries,
09:11enabling the recovery of minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel.
09:14They also emphasize that the facility will help reduce waste sent to landfills and mitigate pollution caused by the improper
09:21disposal of batteries.
09:28And in Pakistan, at least nine people have been killed and a foreign contractor has been taken following a violent
09:34incident at a mining site.
09:36The attack took place in the southwestern province of Balochistan, an area known for its rich natural resources and ongoing
09:42security challenges.
09:43According to formal statements, the events unfolded near the premises of the Natural Resources Limited Company within the Chagi District.
09:51Armed agents targeted laborers at the copper and gold deposits, resulting in the death of three security guards and six
09:58workers,
09:58while simultaneously inflicting severe damage on camp infrastructure and vehicles.
10:03Consequently, state security forces have initiated an intensive sweep throughout the territory,
10:09aiming to apprehend those responsible and secure the safe release of the captive individual.
10:15So far, no group has claimed responsibility for this act of violence against the workers.
10:27The Chinese island of Taiwan signed six agreements to purchase $6.6 billion worth of weapons from the United States.
10:35The contracts signed in early April include a high-mobility artillery rocket system,
10:40Paladin howitzers, anti-tank missiles and consulting services.
10:44These agreements come after the Pentagon announced plans to allocate nearly $12 billion in fiscal year 2027
10:51with the goal of deterring China in the Indo-Pacific, including $2 billion in aid to Taiwan.
11:03And the U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hexet fired Navy Secretary John Fallon amid rising tensions surrounding the Strait of
11:10Hormuz.
11:11The Pentagon announced on Wednesday the departure effective immediately of the Navy Secretary being replaced by Navy Undersecretary Hong Kao.
11:19Since entering the Pentagon, Hexet has fired more than a dozen senior military officers,
11:24including the Chief of Naval Operations and the Air Force's Vice Chief of Staff.
11:29John Fallon, civilian businessman who had not previously served in the military,
11:34was sworn in as Secretary of the Navy in March 2025 after being nominated by President Donald Trump the previous
11:39year.
11:40This latest dismissal comes amid a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East,
11:44while the U.S. Navy blocks Iranian ports and Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed.
11:58The European Union warns that energy costs have surged to €500 million daily since the outbreak of the conflict in
12:05the Middle East.
12:06The block revealed that the total bill for fossil fuel imports has skyrocketed beyond €24 billion over the last 50
12:12days.
12:13Given this volatility, officials are now calling for the protection of vulnerable populations,
12:18while urgently promoting renewable energy projects to secure popular sovereignty.
12:23Meanwhile, Brussels plans to convene an investment summit designed to mobilize private capital
12:28and replace expensive foreign imports with local production.
12:39Let's now take our second break. Don't go away.
13:07Welcome back.
13:08Iran's President, Massoud Pashishkin stated that in order to achieve a genuine dialogue with the United States,
13:14the United States must lift the naval blockades and stop the threats that violate the ceasefire agreement.
13:20Via his ex-account, the head of state declared that Iran has always welcomed dialogue and agreements and continues to
13:27do so.
13:28The Iranian leader stated that the Trump administration's failure to keep its promises, its obstruction, and its threats are the
13:35main obstacles to genuine negotiations.
13:38Iran emphasized that the world is witnessing Washington's deceptive rhetoric and the contradiction between its statements and actions.
13:51Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakshi reiterated that the tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are the result of U
13:58.S. aggression.
13:59After speaking with the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tahani, Iran's top diplomat denounced the U.S. attacks on Iran as
14:05a violation of international law.
14:06Abbas Arakshi asserted that Iran has taken measures to protect its national security in the face of U.S.-Israeli aggression.
14:13He also blamed Washington for the repercussions of this action on the global economy.
14:23Iran has officially secured the initial payment stemming from new levies imposed on vessels navigating the Straitic Strait of Hormuz,
14:31marking a significant victory for national sovereignty.
14:34Vice Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Hadi Haqtchenas, verified that the funds have been successfully transferred into the central bank's
14:43reserves.
14:44Although the legislators withheld specific figures and procedural nuances, the move represents a bold step in economic autonomy.
14:51Furthermore, this financial milestone coincides with satellite evidence showing an Iranian supertanker triumphantly entering domestic waters,
14:59the finding illegal and unilateral blockade enforced by Washington.
15:03Consequently, data reveals that at least three ships linked to the Islamic Republic recently crossed the vital waterway without interference,
15:12undermining Western attempts to isolate the nation.
15:20On Thursday, the Iranian Red Crescent Society informed that a commercial vessel seized by U.S. forces near Iran's coastline
15:27in the Sea of Oman
15:28was carrying vital raw materials needed to produce medical supplies for kidney dialysis patients.
15:33The U.S. forces targeted the vessel on Sunday boarding the ship and disabling its navigation systems.
15:39The supplies belonged to Saha Medical Equipment Company, a subsidiary of the Iranian Red Crescent.
15:44The organization said in a statement,
15:46part of the ship's cargo, it said, consisted of raw materials required to produce consumer medical supplies for dialysis patients.
15:53The Red Crescent warned that any disruption in the supply of these critical items could directly threaten the health and
15:58lives of patients in need of dialysis services.
16:07The Iranian citizens continued demonstrating in support of the country's leadership and against the pressure tactics employed by the United
16:14States government.
16:15Thousands of citizens remained on the streets of various cities across the Persian nation,
16:19reaffirming their commitment to the Islamic revolution and the defense of national sovereignty in a climate of unity.
16:25The protesters denounced the sanctions imposed by Washington, describing them as a direct aggression against the people.
16:32These actions, which are part of a growing popular movement,
16:36underline the Iranian society's commitment to its principles in the face of increasing foreign pressure.
16:49Hundreds of Lebanese citizens gathered in Periwood's Martyr Square to condemn Israel's targeting of press workers,
16:55after Saunist forces killed journalist Amal Khalil and injured another attack in South Lebanon.
17:02On Wednesday afternoon, Saunist forces assassinated Al-Aqbar journalist Amal Khalil after an intentional persecution
17:09that also critically wounded her colleague, Zeynab Faraj, in the district of Pinch-Bail.
17:15The occupation forces of Israel persecuted the press workers for almost two hours before striking the house where they were
17:22hiding.
17:22Moreover, the Red Cross ambulance that approached the scene to aid the wounded was also shot by military,
17:31by Saunist military, preventing rescue teams from reaching the site.
17:34A total of five people have been killed by Israel in South Lebanon in the past few hours,
17:46in targeted attacks showing Israel's disregard for international humanitarian law.
18:10April 23rd marks World Book Day, a global celebration of books and reading that highlights the power of literature in
18:16shaping minds and inspiring creativity.
18:26and promoting literacy across generations.
18:29World Book Day was first established by UNESCO in 1995.
18:33The initiative sought to encourage reading habits among young people and support the publishing industry.
18:45The date also has a symbolic importance as it coincides with the death anniversary of legendary literary figures,
18:51William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, both of whom left a lasting legacy in world literature.
18:57Over the years, the date has evolved into a major global event celebrated in schools, libraries, bookstores and cultural institutions.
19:17And in Palestine, displaced citizens are able to enjoy books at Gaza's New Phoenix Library,
19:22a youth-led initiative in the Rimal neighborhood that aims to revive culture and literature despite Israel's war on the
19:29territory.
19:29The library, whose name reflects Gaza's rise from the rubble, houses a diverse collection of literary and scientific books as
19:37well as a children's section.
19:39Library owner Omar Hamad assured the library was the culmination of a long journey of rescuing books in the coastal
19:46enclave.
19:47In this regard, Hamad denounced that libraries were being systematically destroyed by the Zionist forces and the education sector was
19:55being dismantled,
19:57and emphasized how restoring the Palestinian heritage became a duty to carry forward.
20:08The Israeli occupation has destroyed hundreds of rare libraries.
20:12These included books printed long ago in Gaza, some dating back to before 1948,
20:17which were burned and destroyed as part of a systematic policy by the Israeli occupation,
20:23aimed at obliterating education and the educational process in Gaza.
20:31It was abundantly clear during the war that libraries were being systematically destroyed and the education sector was being dismantled.
20:41Therefore, it became our duty to restore, even if only in a small measure, this heritage that we have lost.
20:51Following the devastation caused by the war in Gaza Strip,
20:54Palestinian children are receiving psychological help to overcome traumatic experiences through a project that all teaches them about the importance
21:01of protecting nature.
21:03An art studio in Al-Sawaita, in central Gaza Strip, is the site of this project that brings children together
21:10for animal-assisted psychological support sessions.
21:13For the initiative, owner Rashid Anbar gathered and treated abandoned animals from the streets of Gaza.
21:21Anbar assures that the natural presence of animals and birds absorbs negative energy and fosters an atmosphere of happiness and
21:28positive energy.
21:29Experts have warned of the psychological toll that the Israeli onslaught on Gaza is taking on the population,
21:34particularly children who have lived through severe bombing, displacement and loss of family at early stages of development.
21:46The purpose is to enhance therapy and learning through playing with animals.
21:49It is about fostering a culture of kindness towards animals and cultivating a generation with a sense of compassion for
21:55them.
21:55Furthermore, it aims to help children overcome their fear barriers by engaging in play with animals, touching them,
22:00and acquiring knowledge about them, including the specific species to which they belong, what covers their bodies,
22:05such as fetters or fur, and whether they give birth or lay eggs.
22:11So, like this, we have come to the end of this news clip.
22:13You can find more on our website at www.TelestoryEnglish.net and also on our social media.
22:16With TelestoryEnglish, I'm with Roberto Matos.
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