- 2 days ago
* Nations demand Israel releases Gaza aid flotilla activists
* Venezuelan govt. hands over medical supplies and refurbished healthcare facilities
* Venezuelan govt. hands over medical supplies and refurbished healthcare facilities
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00:12Israel attacked Lebanon's capital, Beirut, for the first time since the ceasefire came
00:16into effect injuring several people in residential areas.
00:24And a coalition of 13 countries condemned the Israeli military's interception and abduction
00:29of global futile activists and demanded the release of those who remained detained.
00:39And Venezuela's acting president, José Rodríguez, handed over medical supplies and refurbished
00:44health care facilities across the country, also presiding over the evaluation of the
00:48health care sector.
00:57Hello, welcome to From the South, I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Telesu Studios in Caracas,
01:01Venezuela, we begin with the news.
01:21Iran has urged the United Nations to reject a US-backed resolution on the Strait of Hormuz,
01:27arguing that it only serves to legitimize Washington's military pressure.
01:31In a statement issued Wednesday, Iran's mission to the United Nations urged countries to reject
01:37the initiative, asserting that the tensions in the Strait cannot be separated from the
01:41broader war initiated by joint U.S.-Israeli attacks against the Persian nation.
01:45On Tuesday, the United States and its Gulf allies confirmed a proposal submitted to the UN which
01:51calls for halting Iranian operations in the Strait, disclosing alleged mine replacements and
01:57ensuring passage for stranded commercial ships in an attempt to formalize U.S. control over the waterway.
02:03For its part, the Iranian mission accused Washington of advancing a politically motivated
02:07resolution under the pretext of freedom of navigation.
02:17For the first time since the latest ceasefire, Israel has attacked Lebanon's capital, Beirut,
02:22in a new violation that injured several people in a residential area.
02:25The Israeli aggression targeted Beirut's southern suburb on Wednesday evening, hitting a building
02:31in the Haaretz-Rik area, a densely populated district. The Saturday's aggression was described
02:36by Israeli officials as an assassination attempt against a Hezbollah commander. The attack comes
02:41despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 17 that Israel has repeatedly violated across southern
02:48Lebanon and the western Beka region, resulting in hundreds of civilians killed in recent weeks.
02:59A coalition of 13 countries has issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli military's
03:05interception and abduction of activists participating in the global summit flotilla.
03:10The foreign ministers of countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Turkey, Spain and South Africa,
03:16described the April 13th assault on the flotilla vessels and the abduction of activists sailing in
03:21international waters off the coast of Greece as a flagrant violation of international law and maritime
03:26conventions. Furthermore, the group expressed deep concern for the safety of the activists still
03:32in custody and urged Israeli authorities to ensure their immediate and unconditional release. In addition,
03:38the joint communique urged the international community to uphold law, protect civilians,
03:45and ensure accountability for these violations.
03:53In this regard, on Wednesday, an Israeli court rejected the global summit flotilla
03:57activists' appeal against detention, with lawyer Hadil Abu Salih denouncing the illegality of their
04:02resistance. The Saudis Navy has no authority in international waters. Today, the district court of Be'er Sheva
04:13denied our our appeal and basically accepted all of the all of the arguments that the state or the police
04:23have represented before the court and kept the previous decision as itself as it was.
04:33As we said from the first day, we're talking about an illegal arrest that took place in international waters,
04:41where the activists were kidnapped by the Israeli navy without any authority. That's what we also
04:49stressed today. And this arrest must end immediately.
04:58In the Netherlands, students gathered in the capital on Wednesday to protest against institutional ties
05:04between the University of Amsterdam and Israeli institutions. The protest held across central
05:08university areas, saw participants waving Palestinian flags, chanting slogans and carrying banners,
05:14reading Students Against Militarization and No Peace on Stolen Land. Participants said the protest
05:20was aimed at opposing both academic cooperation with Israeli institutions and broader militarization
05:25trends within universities. Moreover, demonstrators condemned plans to expand cooperation between
05:31the university and defense-related industries. The protest was part of a wider wave of pro-policy
05:36and student actions that have continued for more than two years across the country.
05:44There are reports in different faculties that the UBA wants to deepen ties with the military,
05:50that the UBA wants to open the doors for the military and military companies to conduct research,
05:56to maybe even develop weapons components at the UBA. And we will not stand for that. And we will not
06:03stand for
06:03another cent of our tuition to pay for the imperial war machine. Murdering Palestinians in their homes.
06:11Despite the so-called ceasefire in place since October, families continue to pull bodies from the rubble.
06:17The Zionist entity intensifies its attacks in southern Lebanon. And through the incessant violations of the
06:23so-called ceasefire, people on the ground face the choice of death or displacement. Meanwhile,
06:29aggression towards Iran continues to intensify in an attempt to weaken the access of resistance.
06:34These actions do not happen in a vacuum, but through our compliance. Bloodthirsty imperialists
06:40manufacture compliance among us for war and genocide and dig into our pockets to fuel them.
06:49And in Panama, social sectors protested the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who met with President
06:55Molino through the canal and signed a series of bilateral agreements. Our correspondent Rekha Shandira Mani has details.
07:07Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Panama on Wednesday to meet with his Panamanian counterpart,
07:12Jose Raul Molino, at the Palacio de las Garzas. He also visited the Miraflores logs on the Panama Canal.
07:21This marks the first time an Israeli President has visited the Central American Isthmus.
07:25Panama and Israel share fundamental values such as the defense of democracy and a vision of sustainable
07:36and inclusive development. Therefore, we can clearly state today that our relationship is evolving into
07:45a stronger partnership. But in the streets, with several protests taking place at different locations
07:54across the city, social movements condemned Herzog's presence, as his country has been carrying out
07:59a genocide against the Palestinians for several years.
08:05Today, Panama is hosting, for the first time, a president from the illegitimate and genocidal state of Israel.
08:14We cannot take this lightly. It only confirms the current Panamanian government's complicity in the
08:22genocide that has been taking place against the Palestinian people for over 70 years.
08:30We cannot fall for the president's views, which claim that just because his wife is one quarter
08:34Jewish, the Panamanian government must maintain good relations with the state of Israel.
08:38I am not suggesting that we sever ties with Israel or engage in conflict with it.
08:43I am simply demanding that they put an end to the genocide in Palestine, stop attacking
08:46southern Lebanon and respect Iran's sovereignty. Both governments plan to expand and strengthen
08:55the bilateral free trade agreement. They will also sign cooperation and advisory agreements on
09:00cyber security, medicine, agriculture and water treatment. The latter issue is viewed with great
09:08suspicion by the public, which has long opposed efforts to privatize the service, raise rates and allow
09:15transnational corporations to monopolize rivers. What we see is that behind that policy lies a strategy
09:25to monopolize Latin America's water sources, not just Panama's, because they've already signed a
09:32contract with Argentina, where Mille has ceded the water to them. And they're going after Chile's water
09:39and Paraguay's water, which is why they're also coming here to try to monopolize our water.
09:50Molino stated that this assistance will be provided on a government-to-government basis,
09:55without all the red tape and bureaucracy, he said. He also announced the Panamanian doctors will travel to
10:00Israel for training, while the Israeli side is interested in investing in Panama in areas such
10:05as logistics and tourism. The meeting concluded with the Panamanian government completely overlooking
10:12the genocidal actions of the current leadership of the Israeli government, its prime minister and
10:17its armed forces. Let's take our first break. Stay with us.
10:52Welcome back. The Spanish government activated a plan to repatriate 14 nationals affected by a
10:57Hanta virus outbreak on a cruise ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The transport will be conducted in
11:03a medicalized military aircraft from the medical air evacuation unit. Spanish citizens will be transported
11:09from the Canary Islands to the Torrejón de Aertós Air Base in Madrid for admission to a military hospital.
11:15In this regard, Defense Minister Margarita Robles emphasized that the repatriated individuals who
11:19are currently asymptomatic must sign an informed consent form. The minister explained that since
11:25this is a measure that restricts freedom, isolation requires the express authorization of the individual.
11:39The Argentine government sent supplies to Europe to conduct 2,500 diagnostic tests for Hanta virus.
11:48The health alert was triggered after several people contracted the virus transmitted by rodents
11:53on board a cruise ship that sailed from Tierra del Fuego. The Argentine Ministry of Health confirmed
11:58its assistance to the European countries in an official statement. This shipment of supplies
12:03aims to facilitate the early detection of possible new cases among the cruise ship's passengers.
12:14In this context, the port of Uxarilla, a major economic center in the southernmost part of Argentina,
12:20is experiencing low levels of activity following a suspected outbreak of Hanta virus in the city.
12:26Even though the Ministry of Health assures there is no evidence of community transmission,
12:31the ship, which sailed from the Patagonian city on April 1st with 150 people from 23 different countries,
12:37has reported three deaths so far. Authorities have launched an investigation into the possible
12:41presence of the Indian variant, which is capable of spreading from person to person. Meanwhile,
12:46the ship was directed to Tenerife despite concerns from Canary Islands authorities.
12:58In Argentina, the public health system faces imminent collapse due to a lack of funding from
13:03Javier Mille's government. Various health centers across the country have warned that due to the
13:08cutbacks implemented by the presidential administration, they only have enough funding to operate for another
13:1445 days. This crisis is hitting the healthcare system for people with disabilities particularly hard,
13:20as this sector relies on government funding to access therapies, supplies, and specialized care.
13:25Organizations in this sector denounce the fact that current fiscal policies are making public health
13:30an inaccessible right and leaving millions of Argentines vulnerable in the face of an imminent
13:36shutdown of basic services.
13:44And the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved the bill on critical and strategic minerals,
13:50including rare earth to boost its industry. The bill provides for the creation of official bodies
13:56responsible for defining which minerals are critical and strategic for the country. In this regard,
14:01government incentives and priority licensing for projects in the sector are also planned. The text
14:06included a provision requiring consultation with indigenous peoples who are directly or indirectly
14:11affected by the extractive projects, in accordance with International Labour Organization Convention 169.
14:17Let's recall that with approximately 21 million tons, Brazil's rare earth reserves are second largest
14:22ever mapped in the world. However, only about 25 percent of the national territory has been mapped,
14:27indicating enormous untapped potential. Her earth are a group of 17 chemical elements that are essential
14:33for wind turbines, smartphones, electric cars, and defense systems.
14:43And in response to the firm demands of citizens from southern regions, the government of the Dominican
14:47Republic announced the immediate suspension of all activities, studies, or procedures related to the
14:52Romero Mining Project. Under the slogan, Water Yes, Go No, thousands of citizens mobilized in the south
14:58of the country in rejection of the Romero Project, owned by the Canadian multinational Gold Quest,
15:03warning of the irreversible impact that mining activity would have on the region's water sources.
15:08President Luis Abinader addressed the nation to order the immediate hold of any activity, study,
15:13or procedure related to said mining project. This measure, which seeks to protect the natural resources of the
15:18Dominican Southwest, aims to guarantee environmental security and protect the nation's water heritage.
15:39And Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canero has rejected statements by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio,
15:45who denied the existence of the oil blockade Washington maintains on the Caribbean island.
15:49On his social media accounts, he has can emphasize, it is surprising that a senior U.S. government
15:54official would publicly state that his government is not imposing an energy blockade against Cuba,
15:59and that he is unaware of the provisions of his own president's executive order issued on January 29th.
16:05It is surprising that he has not heard his president and the White House spokesperson address the issue.
16:09It is equally surprising that it blames the supposed incompetence of the Cubans for difficulties
16:14facing the economy, which the U.S. government itself has set out to destroy and continues to do so today,
16:19investing in enormous resources and political capital to achieve it.
16:30Cuba is making progress towards energy sovereignty by installing photovoltaic solar parks in the eastern
16:36part of the country. This has resulted in significant fuel savings and reduced the environmental impact on the island.
16:42The country saves 34,000 tons of diesel annually thanks to the installation of 115 megawatts of solar power in
16:49the province of Granma.
16:51This initiative represents savings of $19 million in imports and prevents the emission of more than 117,000 tons of
16:57carbon dioxide.
16:59On days with high solar radiation, renewable energy covers up to 25% of local electricity demand, helping to mitigate
17:05power outages.
17:06The project, which addresses limitations in access to fuels, is supported by photovoltaic parks installed in key municipalities such as
17:13Bayamo, Niquero, and Manzanillo.
17:22And on Thursday, Chinese government spokesperson Li Jiang reiterated China's support for Cuba and condemned the United States' new set
17:30of illegal unilateral sanctions on the island.
17:35According to the recent executive orders issued by the United States, the Chinese side has already stated its position in
17:41recent days.
17:42I would like to reiterate the United States has further intensified its illegal unilateral sanctions against Cuba,
17:47which seriously violate the Cuban people's rights to subsistence and development,
17:51and seriously contravene the basic norms governing international relations.
17:55China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security,
17:59resolutely opposes interference in Cuba's internal affairs,
18:02and urges the United States to immediately end the blockade, sanctions, and any form of coercion and pressure against Cuba.
18:12Let's now take our second break. We're going to be right back.
18:36Welcome back. On Wednesday, Venezuela's acting president de los Rodríguez,
18:40under over medical supplies and refurbished health care facilities across the country,
18:44also presiding over the evaluation of the health care sector.
18:47In this regard, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado offered a positive assessment of the 2026 Health and Life Plan,
18:53which for the moment prioritizes treatment for hemodynamics, pacemakers, and cataracts,
18:58despite the limitations imposed by the blockade and sanctions.
19:01Venezuela's acting president emphasized that ensuring supplies and equipment for the country's hospitals
19:06remains a government priority. In this scenario, de los Rodríguez thanked health care personnel
19:10for their commitment to providing comprehensive care to the population, with a particular focus on the elderly.
19:23In addition, the acting president acknowledged the donation of $2 million worth of medical supplies
19:28made by the United States, but stated that this represents only 4 percent of the government's
19:33monthly total allocation for the entire country.
19:41However, it is important because this donation from the U.S. government to Venezuela represents about
19:464 percent of the monthly allocation made by the government in a major effort to secure supplies
19:52for our hospitals within the framework of the blockade and sanctions.
19:58I hope that, as we work to unblock the Venezuelan economy,
20:02Venezuelan hospitals will be the first to benefit from funding and equipment.
20:12On Wednesday, the Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, addressed the
20:17recently concluded national pilgrimage for a country in peace and free of sanctions.
20:22Hala, and it served as a space for dialogue and to listen to the demands of the people.
20:28The pilgrimage was an extraordinary journey, a journey across all of Venezuela, from Amazonas to Caracas,
20:41Tachira to Caracas, from Zulia to Caracas, and from Tachira to Caracas.
20:46We held assemblies and meetings, gathering input from the discussions to incorporate into a document
20:55for the country. And now we're moving on to the second phase of that pilgrimage.
21:01We're going to start with specific sectors. The productive sector. We'll begin with the productive
21:07sector. The women's sector. Then we're moving on to the women's sector. And other areas we'll be
21:13adding along the way to listen to the people, to listen to our people.
21:20In a total of 161 Venezuelan nationals returned to their country from the United States as part of
21:26a new operation under the Return to the Homeland Plan, which is promoted by the Venezuelan government.
21:31On Wednesday, Flight 141 of the Return to the Homeland Program landed at the Simone
21:35Bolivar International Airport in Maiketia. Of the returning migrants, 110 are men, 32 women,
21:4011 boys and 7 girls. They were received by security authorities and accompanied by a delegation from
21:45the Red Cross. There's a call that the Venezuelan government established this program to support
21:49migrants facing economic difficulties or vulnerable situations abroad. The government has confirmed that
21:54the mission will continue to guarantee its citizens' rights to voluntarily return to their home country.
22:05Venezuela appeared before the International Court of Justice in The Hague in the Netherlands to
22:10reaffirm its historical position on the SQ region. The country's presence at this meeting reaffirms its
22:16long-standing and uncheckable position that the International Court of Justice is not the competent
22:20body to resolve this dispute. In this regard, the Bolivarian delegation is not coming to The Hague to
22:25submit to a process it does not recognize but to exercise its sovereignty with dignity, presenting,
22:30arguing, and defending without resorting to the judicialization of conflicts inherited from
22:36colonialism. In this context, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Hill reiterates that the only viable
22:41solution is direct negotiation between the parties as set out in the Geneva Agreement.
22:50Venezuela has made it clear today to the international community, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and
22:56the court, that through the Geneva Agreement, Venezuela is prepared to work directly, face to face,
23:02as required by this agreement with the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to definitively resolve this
23:07dispute, which has now lasted 126 years. And the Mexican government reaffirmed its national sovereignty
23:19warning that it would not permit any operations by unaccredited foreign agents on national territory.
23:24During her regular morning press conference on Wednesday, Mexico's President Sheinbaum said that
23:30the situation in Chihuahua where two U.S. agents were involved in an operation to dismantle a drug lab
23:35is illegal and announced that the investigation is underway to clarify the facts. In this context,
23:40the Mexican government emphasizes its commitment to defending national sovereignty against foreign interference.
23:52First of all, our sovereignty is not up for negotiation. That is the principle we must all uphold.
24:03There cannot be unaccredited foreign agents in Mexico operating on our territory,
24:10because it is against the law and the constitution. That is the defense of sovereignty.
24:21Defending sovereignty means, above all, defending the constitution and the laws,
24:28the territorial integrity and the decisions of the people. Because in Mexico, sovereignty emanates from
24:36the people, not from a king, not from an emperor, it comes from the people. Defending sovereignty means
24:44defending the people and defending the nation above all else. That is unnegotiable. Therefore, no one is going
24:53to tell Mexicans how we should govern ourselves.
25:14In Mexico, at least 50,000 fans gathered in the capital city, Socalo, to welcome South Korean
25:20K-pop group, BTS. The band met on Wednesday with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace.
25:26From one of the balconies of the presidential headquarters, BTS greeted the crowd who had gathered
25:32in Socalo Square. The group members addressed their fans, known as ARMY, in both Spanish and English,
25:38thanking them for their love and support. The meeting marked the group's official return to the
25:43Central American country after several years of absence having last performed in 2017. The global
25:48phenomenon will kick off its ARMY-RAND world tour with three concerts in Mexico City on May 7th, 9th and
25:5510th.
25:59At this we have come to the end of this news brief. You can find more on our website at
26:02Telesur English and also on our social media. For Telesur English, I'm Luis Alberto Matos.
26:06I'm Luis Alberto Matos. Thank you for watching.
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