Pres. Trump reiterates threats against Cuba

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00:12U.S. President Donald Trump has retaliated his threats against Cuba, announcing that once he has finished dealing with Iran,

00:19he will direct his attacks towards the Caribbean island.

00:26Colombian President Gustavo Petrov proposed a nationwide signature drive aimed at convening a constituent assembly to reform the constitution in

00:33order to address social issues and fight against corruption.

00:40Activists detained following an Israeli interception of the Gaza-bound Global Samoflotilla arrived in Turkey on Friday, denouncing torture and

00:49abuses against remaining kidnapped activists.

00:57Hello and welcome to From the South. I'm Sophie Fernandes from the De Los Roos Studios in Caracas, Venezuela. We

01:03begin with the news. Stay with us.

01:18U.S. President Donald Trump has retaliated his threats against Cuba, announcing that once he has finished dealing with Iran,

01:25he will direct his attacks towards the Caribbean island.

01:30No, Cuba's got problems. We'll finish one first. I like to finish a job. On the way back from what

01:40we'll do, on the way back from Iran, we'll have one of our big, maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft

01:47carrier, the biggest in the world, we'll have that come in, stop about 100 yards offshore, and they'll say, thank

01:54you very much. We give up.

01:57And Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel denounced on Friday the imposition of new coercive measures by the Trump administration against

02:04the island.

02:04The Cuban Herrsted said, today, the U.S. government announced new coercive measures that reinforce the brutal blockade, demonstrating its

02:12moral bankruptcy and contempt for the U.S. people and the international community's sensitivities and common sense.

02:18No reasonable person can accept the claim that Cuba poses a threat to the United States.

02:23The blockade and its intensification cause immense harm due to the intimidating and arrogant behavior of the world's greatest military

02:30power. The homeland defends itself.

02:41Moving now to Mexico. The governor of the state of Sinaloa, Ruben Rochamoya, and the mayor of Culiacán, Juan de

02:48Dios Mendivil, has requested temporary leaves of absence amid the ongoing investigation loans by the Attorney General's Office.

02:54The decision comes after both authorities, together with eight other current or former high-ranking officials, were indicted by the

03:01United States Department of Justice on drug trafficking charges.

03:04The accusations, which were prompted and approved by the public persecutor's office, have been denied by Governor Rocha, who assured

03:11that this temporary step-down is intended to avoid any interference with the ongoing investigation.

03:16In the aftermath of Rocha's announcement, the Culiacán City Council unanimously approved Mayor Gomez's similar requests, granting him a leave

03:24of absence onto the same premises.

03:35A lifetime of hard work backs up my words. I say this clearly and unambiguously. The accusations leveled against me

03:45are false and malicious.

03:48I can look my people and my family in the eye because I have not betrayed them, and I never

03:55will.

03:57I will prove this unwaveringly when our country's justice system requires it.

04:05I will not allow myself to be used to harm the movement to which I belong, and which has changed

04:12the lives of millions of Mexicans for the better.

04:16For decades, they were victims of those who believed they had the right to deprive them of even the most

04:22basic necessities.

04:24Mexico will continue to change for the better because we have a strong people.

04:29Mucho Pueblo.

04:30Mucho Pueblo.

04:31Mucho Pueblo.

04:32Mucho Pueblo.

04:34Mucho Pueblo.

04:41Mucho Pueblo.

04:43Antigua and Barbuda enters a new political chapter as Gastron Brown was sworn in for a fourth consecutive term following

04:50a long-slide victory for the ABLP.

04:53Her special envoy Belen de los Santos was there and has the story.

04:59Gaston A. Brown was sworn in for a fourth consecutive mandate in Antigua and Barbuda, opening a new chapter for

05:05the island nation after a landslide victory that gave the ruling Labour Party 15 of the 17 parliamentary seats.

05:12I, Gaston A. Brown, do swear that I will honour, uphold and preserve the constitution of Antigua and Barbuda and

05:23the law, that I will conscientiously, impartially and to the best of my ability discharge my duties as prime minister

05:31and to do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill will.

05:38In his inaugural address, PM Brown stressed the importance of Antiguan's coming together to focus on the development of the

05:45nation while calling for a strong opposition that works constructively alongside the government.

05:50As a Caribbean leader who has been a key actor in regional cooperation, he also stressed the potential impact this

05:57new moment could have on the region.

06:16With increased support and a strong parliamentary majority, the ABLP now looks ahead to fulfil the people's mandate, continuing the

06:24path of economic recovery, driving investment

06:27and creating more opportunities for workers and families across the islands.

06:32I think over the next five years we are going to continue to see more economic activity in Antigua and

06:38Barbuda that will lead to a greater spread of wealth. That is the object.

06:43And like this, with the message of national and international unity, Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party begins the next five

06:50years of a new mandate.

06:52Belen de los Santos, Javier Hernández, Fortella Sur English, from St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda.

06:59Meanwhile, Venezuela's acting president del Cerro Ríos congratulated the re-elected Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Brown, and

07:06re-affirmed her commitment to strengthening Caribbean unity.

07:10The acting president issued the following statement on social media.

07:13On behalf of the people and government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, I would like to congratulate Prime Minister

07:19Gaston Brown and his electoral victory, and the people of Antigua and Barbuda for their participation in the democratic process.

07:25This result reflects renewed confidence in his leadership and the continuation of his government's agenda.

07:31We celebrate this result with Venezuela, with genuine appreciation and reiterated commitment to strengthening the bonds of brotherhood, cooperation and

07:39solidarity that unite our Caribbean peoples, as we move forward together on a shared agenda on development and well-being.

07:53And now we have a short break coming up.

07:55But first, remember to join us on TikTok at Tell us for English, where you will find news in different

07:59formats, news updates and more.

08:02Stay with us.

08:16Welcome back to From the South.

08:18We continue in Colombia, where President Gustavo Pedro proposed a nationwide signature drive, aimed at convening a constituent assembly to

08:25reform the constitution seeking to address social issues and fight corruption.

08:30Speaking to supporters in Medellin during Workers Day, Pedro explained that he wants to add two chapters to the charter

08:36before his term expires on August 7th.

08:39According to the head of state, the first would make a legislative reality the fundamental rights to health, pension, land

08:46and mining that Congress refused to approve.

08:49While the second would redesign the political system to tackle corruption.

08:53Flagged by union and grassroots leaders, the president announced that citizen committees would begin collecting signatures, aiming to gather 2

09:00.5 million endorsements.

09:02Once delivered, the signatures would pressure the next Congress to call a referendum on convening the assembly.

09:15Moving on to Venezuela, the country is making progress in revitalizing the mining sector with the signing of a strategic

09:21partnership, in which the Venezuelan Mining Corporation and the U.S. company Hini Capital have entered into an agreement to

09:27develop projects in the country.

09:28The Minister for Ecological Mining Development, Hector Silva, emphasized that the agreement represents a first step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation

09:37and stress that the partnership will attract investment and technology transfers to the country.

09:43Furthermore, the agreement focuses on two areas for productive sovereignty.

09:46First, the certification of mineral reserves, and second, the start of the extraction and production operations.

09:52This alliance is taking shape amid unilateral sanctions imposed by Washington against Venezuela, and shows the Bolivarian government's willingness to

10:02establish commercial relations with those private sectors who recognize the country's economic potential.

10:14And also in Venezuela, May Day was marked by a cultural and musical program that included a peace festival in

10:20Caracas.

10:22Precisely, La Carlota Air Base became the epicenter of a massive concert in celebration of Labor Day, as the crowd

10:28enjoyed a lineup of national and international artists, among them La Dimension Latina, Jeffrey Rivera, and Natalie Jimenez.

10:35During the event, various sectors of civil society and workers expressed their support for peace and the rejection of economic

10:42sanctions.

10:42The concert also coincided with the conclusion of the first stage of the National Pilgrimage for a Country Free of

10:49Sanctions and in Peace, aimed to promote unity as the foundation for the nation's development.

11:01On Labor Day, thousands of Brazilians took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro under the banner of the Decent

11:07Job slogan to voice their concerns about the growing precariousness of work.

11:11The central demand of the day was the elimination of the so-called 6-for-1 schedule, a work regime

11:18that forced workers to work six consecutive days just for one day off.

11:22The union considers this scheme exhausting and incompatible with a decent life.

11:27At the same time, attendees express their opposition to any attempt to reduce sentences or those convicted of the attempted

11:34coup against President Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva.

11:36For the unions in Rio, the struggle for better wage conditions is inseparable from the city's vigilance to ensure that

11:43attacks against democracy do not go unpunished.

11:55On this year's May Day, it saw thousands of workers take to the streets across Europe, driven largely by soaring

12:02living costs and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

12:04In Germany, riot police repressed demonstrators in the capital Berlin, charging the protesters and detaining several people.

12:12German trade unions organized several hundred May Day rallies across the country with the slogan,

12:17Our jobs first, your profit second.

12:20The unions rallied the government's blunt cuts to healthcare and social security.

12:26In Berlin, riot police collaged with demonstrators standing in tight formation, locking arms and forming a defensive line.

12:34Most of May Day demands from unions included the reservation of the eight-hour work day and secure pensions,

12:42as well as the introduction of higher taxes on the rich.

12:51Meanwhile in France, police rushed back demonstrators during May Day, rallies against rising field costs and broader economic pressures at

13:00the capital Paris.

13:01Around 320 demonstrations were planned across the country, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.

13:07In Paris, union leaders led the main march, while large rallies were also held in Toulouse, Marseille, Nantes and Lille.

13:15Labor days saw thousands of rich workers voicing their frustration over the impact of rising costs on daily life,

13:21and criticizing government's measures as insufficient.

13:24In addition, protesters marched in demand of higher wages and better working conditions.

13:47A vast fire is burning on Italy's Monte Feeta between the provinces of Pisa and Lucca,

13:52where flames continue to spread, fueled by strong winds.

13:55The place has already destroyed around 800 hectares of woodland between Santa Maria del Juidis, Asciano and San Gugliano Terme.

14:04Dozens of forest firefighting teams and the fire brigade work through the night to contain the situation,

14:10although weather conditions remain critical.

14:12The sustained wind continues to fuel the flames and hinder operations, encouraging the re-ignition of new outbreaks.

14:19For safety reasons, about 3,000 people have been evacuated, especially in Anciano and San Gugliano Terme.

14:32Meanwhile, in Kenya, heavy rains and flooding have left transportation paralyzed in Makakos County, southwest of Nairobi.

14:39The Kenya Meteorological Department has issued a severe weather alert of intense rainfall, destructive winds and dangerous ocean waves,

14:48expected to run multiple regions across the country through the first week of May 2026.

14:53Meanwhile, motorists and residents in Siokimau, Makakos County, are facing major disruption as flooding has left roads nearly impossible,

15:02with many vehicles stranded and commuters unable to get to work.

15:06Residents said the situation has brought a daily life to a halt,

15:09with some people forced to stay in their homes merely because it's simply to stay through the flooded roads.

15:16Let's recall that recent floods in Nairobi and other regions have claimed more than 80 lives.

15:28Let's take a short break now, but before we invite you to visit our Facebook page at Telesuit English.

15:33There, you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage and much more.

15:36Follow or press and activate the notification button to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.

15:41Final short break. We'll be right back.

16:09Welcome back. We continue in the Middle East, where on May 2nd Iran commemorates T-shirts Day.

16:14This year, the date is celebrated with a ceremony honoring the 26 teachers mortared during the Minab school attack.

16:21On Saturday, teachers' days honored the 26 selfless teachers of Shah Karata Tayeva school in Minab,

16:28killed on the first day of joint U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran, during which over 150 children were also mortared.

16:35Since the war started, 279 students and 67 teachers have been mortared and 1,200 educational facilities were damaged,

16:44according to Iran's Ministry of Education.

16:47Teacher's Day is celebrated every May 2nd in remembrance of the assassination of Ayatollah Murteza Mutahari on 1979,

16:56a scholar and philosopher whose ideas helped shape the Islamic Revolution.

17:08Also in Iran, 14 members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, died and two were injured,

17:14following an explosion during a mined and unexploded ordnance clearance operation in Sanhang Province.

17:21According to a statement by the IRGC, the incident occurred on Friday while specialized demolition units were conducted a sensitive

17:29mission

17:29to identify and neutralize unexploded munitions left by U.S.-Israeli air strikes against the country.

17:35The statement further emphasized that all of the mortars were experienced, trained and specialized personnel.

17:41During the U.S.-Israeli aggression against Iran, part of the Sanhang Province was contaminated through aerial mining,

17:49including an area of over 1,200 hectares that covered agricultural land.

17:54And in response to this threat, specialized personnel from the IRGC launched operations to identify and clear explosives.

18:08In other news, the U.S. said it will withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany,

18:13and in ongoing tensions with the European allies concerning the U.S. war against Iran.

18:18According to Pentagon authorities, the move to reduce the number of personnel deployed in Germany

18:23came after the country's chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said the U.S. was being humiliated by Iran.

18:29Reports also indicated that the withdrawal was expected to be completed over the next 6 to 12 months.

18:36In the past couple of months, President Donald Trump has slashed out at European allies

18:41for not doing more to assist the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, also threatening Spain and Italy with similar actions.

18:48Meanwhile, criticism in Europe has risen as the worst sense shocks across the global economy

18:53due to serious disruptions to regional energy supply.

19:04Meanwhile, in the United States, a new poll conducted in April by the Washington Post, ABC News and Ipsos Poll

19:10shows that President Donald Trump's war on Iran is very unpopular

19:14and people are concerned about the economic and political consequences of the conflict.

19:19The poll conducted online among 2,560 U.S. adults nationwide.

19:24Indicates that 61% of the survey seen that using military force against Iran was a mistake.

19:30While fewer than two intense citizens believe that the U.S. actions in Iran have been successful,

19:36with 58% thinking the campaign in Iran has been unsuccessful.

19:39The poll also says that 46% believe the military action against Iran is inconsistent with President Trump's 2024 election

19:48campaign,

19:49which repeatedly promised to be an administration of peace.

19:52And in the economic sphere, 60% of the survey said that the U.S. military action has increased the

19:58risk of economic going into a recession.

20:00And 56% said the U.S. actions increased the risk of weakening relationships with U.S. allies,

20:06as Trump has slashed at the European allies for not supporting his military campaign,

20:10and as Persian Gulf allies have suffered from Iranian retaliation.

20:23Meanwhile, Israel has killed at least 12 people in the latest attacks against southern Lebanon,

20:28in violation of the ceasefire between the two countries.

20:31According to local media, Israeli occupation forces carried out a series of airstrikes

20:35targeting multiple areas in Lebanon's southern districts,

20:38as well as ongoing Israeli military activity along Lebanon's southern border,

20:43including repeated incursions, demolitions in border villages,

20:46and continued military presence inside the Lebanese territory.

20:50An attack on the towns of Havush in the Nabatea district left 8 killed and at least 21 wounded, including

20:56children.

20:57Meanwhile, in a separate attack on the town of Zahriyet in the Sidon district,

21:02four people were killed and four others injured.

21:11So far, the Israeli aggression in Lebanon has killed a total of 2,618 people since the latest escalation of

21:18hostilities on March 2.

21:20According to a report issued on May 1 by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health,

21:24at least 8,094 people have been injured during these attacks.

21:29The threshold continues to climb despite the U.S. Booker ceasefire that was announced on April 17th

21:34and has been extended to May 17th.

21:37Israeli military has increased its attacks on southern Lebanon,

21:40which includes air raids and ground operations,

21:42as the Lebanese hospital resistance movement maintains defensive military operations in the region.

21:55In other news, activists detained following an Israeli interception of the gas-bound global semi-flotilla

22:00in the Mediterranean arrived in Turkey on Friday.

22:03A Turkish Airlines flight carrying 59 activists from various countries landed at the Istanbul airport

22:10after departing from the Greek island of Crete.

22:12The flotilla's first ships carrying humanitarian aid left Barcelona on April 12th,

22:17while the main fleet set sail from the Italian island of Sicily on April 26th,

22:23aiming to break Israel's years-long blockade on the Palestinian enclave.

22:27The vessels were attacked on Thursday near Crete, with some 600 nautical miles from its destination.

22:33The Israeli military reportedly seized 21 ships and took over 175 members of the flotilla crew to the Greek island.

22:41Two of its activists still remain in custody with all returned members demanding their release.

22:53And we lost two of our comrades and they're still out there.

22:57We tried our best to stay there.

22:59We were told that if we wanted to stay, we would go to Israel.

23:03And we insisted, because we believed that they were still on that boat.

23:06We were lied to.

23:07We tried and then they removed us violently.

23:10And our friends were not there.

23:11Tiago and Saif need to be released.

23:15That's what our focus has to be.

23:21Precisely, the Global Sum of Flotilla Coalition has denounced the torture and abuses

23:25suffered by activists of the Palestinian regime, Saif Abukesheq,

23:29at the hands of the Israeli military after the seizure of the 8th vessel he was aboard of.

23:34Both Abukesheq and Brazilian activist Tiago Ávila are currently being held captive by

23:40scientists forces allegedly heading to occupy Palestine.

23:43In a committee that released on Friday, the organization called on global leaders to demand

23:48their immediate release, publicly condemn the use of torture and their unlawful detention,

23:53and to intervene immediately to prevent their transfer to Israeli custody.

23:57The flotilla is also demanding an investigation into the role of Greek authorities in enabling

24:02the departure from threat of the vessels carrying the detained civilians.

24:14Like this, we have come to the end of this June's brief.

24:16You can find this and many other stories on the website at www.telesruenglish.net,

24:19and join us on social media.

24:21We're on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok.

24:24For Telesruenglish, I'm Sofia Fernandez.

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