- 2 hours ago
12/05/2026
FTS 14.30
*Ecuador: govt. implements new fuel prices rise amid supply issues
*Israeli parliament approves death penalty for Palestinians
FTS 14.30
*Ecuador: govt. implements new fuel prices rise amid supply issues
*Israeli parliament approves death penalty for Palestinians
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NewsTranscript
00:09The Argentine educational community takes to the streets once again to reject the
00:14budget cuts imposed by Javier Malay's government. Fuel price increase takes
00:22effect in Ecuador amid a scenario marked by long lines and reports of shortages
00:26in the country's major cities. And the Israeli parliament passed a law establishing the death
00:34penalty on public trials as a default sentence for Palestinians involved in the actions carried
00:39out by Hamas on October 7th, 2023.
00:49Hello, welcome from the South. I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Telesur Studios in Caracas, Venezuela.
00:54We'll begin with the news.
01:10With the fourth federal university march, the Argentine educational community takes to the
01:14streets once again to reject the budget cuts imposed by Javier Malay's government. Under
01:19the slogan, the university defends itself, teachers, students and unions will march on Tuesday toward
01:24the Casa Rosada to demand a salary recomposition and compliance with the university funding
01:29law passed by Congress. During a new protest, which will feature a main rally in Plaza de Mayo,
01:35the participation of several universities across the country is expected.
01:39It also is a budget cut that the National Inter-University Council estimates at 45.6% between 2023 and
01:462026.
01:47The universities argue that government defunding threatens basic operations, research activities
01:53and the scholarship system, as well as the purchasing power of staff.
02:04Some of the budget cuts promoted by Javier Malay in education are reductions in the national
02:08literacy plan and university infrastructure, defunding of educational administration including
02:14direct hits to scholarships and assessment. Furthermore, he blocked funding for construction projects
02:20affecting key national institutions such as the University of La Plata, National University
02:25of San Martin and the University of Avellaneda.
02:33The Argentine university sector faces a critical budget crisis in 2026. Among the unions, main demands
02:40an end to wage-free and fair collective bargaining. Also, they defend public, free and high-quality
02:46universities in the face of defunding. On the other hand, the educational sector demands
02:51respect for university autonomy and resources to maintain student dining halls, scholarships and
02:57basic infrastructure.
03:04Fuel price increase takes effect in Ecuador amid a scenario marked by long lines and reports
03:10of shortages in the country's major cities. The increase is due to the monthly adjustment
03:14under the price ban system, which is influenced by fluctuations in international crude oil prices
03:20recently affected by conflicts in the Middle East. Despite the announcement of the new prices,
03:25supply issues were reported forcing citizens to visit several gas stations to find fuel.
03:30In this context, transportation workers complained about the lack of supply, which prevents them
03:34from working, including delays in the payment of promised government compensation.
03:44In this regard, a statistical report from the PetroEcuador for the first quarter of 2026 revealed
03:50that the country is currently facing a crisis due to a fuel shortage at gas stations across the country.
03:57Operational accidents at the Esmeralda's refinery are cited as the main factor behind the plunge
04:02in imports, the shortage of supplies and the high demand for premium gasoline. Furthermore,
04:08the report warned of growing pressure on demand and a 4.9% increase in national consumption,
04:14driven mainly by the electricity and industrial sectors.
04:23Let's take a look at some reactions from Ecuadorian citizens on social media platform X.
04:29Sasha Salazar said, life in Ecuador is getting more and more expensive. If it's not the electricity
04:36bill, it's food, which now has vat. The taxes they keep inventing because of those Colombian tariffs,
04:44medicines and other items have gone up in price and now gasoline, which just keeps going up.
04:52Tania Villavicencio, in the face of the chaos in the country, said,
04:55In Ecuador there is no health care, no education, no security and no jobs. Now there is not even gasoline.
05:02What are we waiting for to rise up against the Neandopoa's indolent government?
05:08Meanwhile, Esteban Villamar commented, good morning, Ecuador. It seems the country is waking up once again
05:13to long lines and guzzling shortages, but also to higher prices. This is undoubtedly another hard
05:19blow to the government's already difficult situation ahead of the year-end elections.
05:31And the National Assembly of the People's Power of Venezuela stated in a press release that the
05:35Public Prosecutor's Office had begun investigating the case of Victor Quero. In the statement,
05:40the National Assembly explained that in exercise of its powers of oversight and supervision enshrined
05:46in the constitution, expresses to the nation its absolute and unconditional support for the launch
05:51of the exhaustive investigations announced by the Public Prosecutor's Office of May 7,
05:562026, as well as the actions undertaken by the institutions of the Venezuelan state regarding
06:02this case of citizen Victor Quero Navas, and expresses its heartfelt condolences to his family,
06:08especially to his mother, Ms. Carmen Navas. The declaration adds that the investigations are
06:14expected to help clarify what happened to the Venezuelan citizen. The National Assembly believes that
06:19the criminal investigation will shed light on the circumstances and facts surrounding Victor Quero's
06:26health condition and subsequent death while in custody. They concluded by expressing the National
06:32Assembly will closely monitor the progress of this case within the framework of cooperation among the
06:36branches of government, as enshrined in Article 136 of the Constitution of the Bolivar Republic of Venezuela,
06:43to ensure that the democratic and social rule of law and justice prevail.
06:53Let's now take our first break. Stay with us.
07:17Welcome back. In Belize, the curfew remains in effect to mitigate the rise and violence plaguing the nation.
07:22The government stated that the measure was taken in response to the growing wave of shootings and
07:27murders in the capital over the past few weeks. It specifies that the measures are under the decree
07:32of Law 50 of 2026, which grants greater powers to police and military forces, as well as the ban on
07:38public gatherings. The state of emergency allows authorities to search any home without a court order,
07:43inspect and search vehicles and confiscate items considered a threat to public safety and order.
07:54New York in Haiti, the governance crisis has once again reached a tipping point, leading to the forced
08:01displacement of hundreds of people. An offensive by armed guns over the weekend forced hundreds of families to
08:07flee their homes in Port-au-Prince. The scale of the conflict forced the evacuation of a hospital after it
08:12was caught in the clashes, which left more than 40 injured in less than half an hour, half a day.
08:17Without a precedent since 2021, and with criminal guns now controlling 90 percent of the capital,
08:23the civilian population faces a scenario of total desolation, where the asphalt of the highways becomes
08:28their only possible refuge. And the Cuban Ministry of Tourism announced that direct flights between Rome
08:41and the province of Olguin will begin on June 29th. Flights will be available every Tuesday to this
08:47tourist destination, which has established itself as one of the main destinations for the international
08:53market in the Caribbean nation. The new connection will facilitate access to sites of high
08:58natural value, such as the Alejandro Humboldt National Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
09:05Olguin offers attractions that complement the sun and beach experience, with sites of historical
09:10significance. Experts emphasize that the route boosts market diversification, which has a direct
09:15impact on the growth of the local economy and ecotourism at the regional level.
09:26And Mexico will present the results of the security strategy implemented by the federal government.
09:32Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum indicated that the Security Cabinet will present an update on local
09:37security operations. The government is implementing a security strategy based on four areas of action,
09:42addressing the roots of the problem, consolidating the National Guard, strengthening
09:46intelligence and investigation and coordination with state governments. According to recent data,
09:52police forces made nearly 49,530 arrests for high-impact crimes and seized approximately 25,700 firearms
10:00and almost 500 tons of drugs from October 2024 through mid-April 2026.
10:13U.S. President Donald Trump announced that during his visit to China, he will address the issue of
10:17Washington's arms sales to Taiwan. The U.S. President emphasized that he will discuss the matter with
10:23Chinese President Xi Jinping and take his arguments into account in order to finalize the arms sales to
10:28Taiwan. Trump emphasized during the same appearance that he has a great relationship with Xi Jinping,
10:33with whom he said he is doing a lot of business. For his part, Beijing reiterates that Taiwan is an
10:39inseparable part of Chinese territory and therefore does not rule out the use of force to take control of it.
10:52Also in the United States, an explosion and an oil rig caused a fire on the evacuation of 26 workers,
10:57two of whom were injured of the Southern California coast. The incident occurred on the Habitat
11:03platform located about 15 kilometers of the coast of Carpinteria in Santa Barbara County. According to
11:10a Coast Guard spokesperson, all personnel were evacuated and only two people suffered minor injuries.
11:15The incident occurred amid legal tensions after the state of California sued the Donald Trump
11:21administration for ordering the reopening of two oil pipelines in the area. These infrastructures
11:27had been under monitoring following the 2015 oil spill.
11:39And over 8,000 hectares were destroyed in the United States by a wildfire in the Florida aeroplates that
11:45has not yet been brought 100% under control. The wildfire spreading through the largest subtropical
11:52wilderness area in the United States is occurring at the same time as a second fire broke out in Miami
11:58-Dade
11:58County in southern Florida. Police and firefighters were deployed to the area to contain the spread
12:04of the flames toward nearby communities. At this time, there is no imminent spread to the community,
12:10according to the Pembroke Pines Fire and Rescue Department.
12:23And in France, rising fuel prices sparked protests by farmers who used structures to dump manure around
12:29the total energy refinery. The protest against rising fuel prices and agricultural production costs is
12:35intended to pressure the French government to implement additional support measures for the
12:40agricultural sector. Protesters pointed out that production costs have doubled in recent months,
12:45while the selling prices of agricultural products have not improved, putting the sector in an economic crisis.
12:59Meanwhile, fishermen in the Mediterranean Sea are facing pressures due to rising fuel prices.
13:04They say that diesel accounts for approximately 60% of their operating budget,
13:09furthering the continuity of their maritime activities. Therefore, they are calling for urgent
13:14support for the sector in order to reduce dependence on excessive diesel consumption.
13:26And the United Kingdom government imposed sanctions on 12 individuals and entities linked to Iran
13:32for their alleged involvement in wholesale activities aimed at destabilizing the nation and other countries.
13:37The measure includes asset freezes, travel bans and orders barring nine individuals and two currency
13:43exchange houses from holding executive positions. While in a statement from the US Treasury Department,
13:49the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was accused of relying on front companies with economic fronting to
13:56hide oil sales and funnel revenues to the Iranian government, freezing all assets of the entities
14:01of the U.S. territory. This action coincides with a new round of U.S. sanctions against the Iranian
14:07financial network, intensifying international pressure on Tehran.
14:19We now have our second break. Don't go away.
14:42Welcome back. Latvian Defense Minister Andriy Sprouts resigned following the bombing of oil storage facilities by Ukrainian drones last Thursday.
14:51Welcome back. Latvian Defense Minister Andriy Sprouts resigned following the bombing of oil storage facilities by Ukrainian drones last Thursday.
14:51The decision came after Prime Minister Evika Selina demanded his resignation, arguing that the anti-drone defense systems did not
14:58respond with the necessary speed.
15:00In his place, Army Colonel Ravis Milnes has been appointed as a new Minister of Defense.
15:06Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sprouts stated that the drone incursion into Latvian airspace was a result of Ukrainian drones
15:16being diverted from targets in Russia.
15:39The Israeli parliament passed a law establishing the death penalty and public trials as a default sentence for Palestinians involved
15:46in the actions carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
15:50Following the vote, the Neset Deputy Speaker stated that the law was unanimously approved by a vote of 93 in
15:56favor and non-against, becoming part of the legal system of the State of Israel.
16:01The law establishes a special court that will conduct public trials of approximately 400 Palestinians suspected of being involved in
16:08the Al-Aqsa flood operation carried out by Hamas, with limited opportunities for appeal.
16:13Palestinian authorities denounced the law as an attempt to legitimize extrajudicial executions.
16:19The United Nations, the European Union and human rights organizations around the world have also condemned the legislation.
16:32The Iranian Islamic Revolution Guard Corps announced a change in its maritime security doctrine stating that the Strait of Hormuz
16:39is no longer a limited geographical passage, but has become a broad strategic operation.
16:45Brigadier General Mohammad Akbar Sadeh warned that the Islamic Republic will not tolerate any kind of aggression against its territorial
16:54waters, citing as an example recent incidents where U.S. patrol boats were forced to change course after warning shots
17:00were fired.
17:00Under this new paradigm, Iran has implemented a digital control mechanism that requires all international vessels to apply for transit
17:08permits and comply with strict regulations before crossing one of the world's most critical oil choke points.
17:20An Iran expressed its opposition to the resolution proposed by the United States at the United Nations regarding the Strait
17:26of Hormuz.
17:27Deputy Foreign Minister Qasem's Hadesv害 있기についてубarkable preocupphones.
17:29Deputy Foreign Minister Qasem Hahrifuba tight said that the Draft resolution is a blatant attempt to distort facts and protect
17:34the true aggressors.
17:36He recalled the measures imposed by the United States against the region, including the use of force, the enabling blockade,
17:41and threats…
17:42Actions that cannot be ignored when implemented any initiative on maritime security.
17:47Furthermore, he emphasized that the Iranian offensive is a response to years of provocation by Washington including sanctions and attempts
17:54to militarizing the Persian Gulf.
18:03The South Sudanese government ordered the immediate suspension of operations at the
18:07Egyptian military base located in the town of Yuteh over Nile State.
18:12This base, strategically located near the border with Ethiopia, was one of the counter-stones
18:16of Cairo's influence in the region.
18:19Analysts believe the decision could be a result of new political and military agreements within
18:24the country or reflect a shift in regional understandings among the countries of the
18:29Nile Basin.
18:30However, it also introduces uncertainty as these agreements could alter the balance of power
18:36in the conflict over the Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam.
18:45Russian authorities claim that the European Union is hindering a solution to the Ukrainian
18:50conflict.
18:51Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated that the European Union is making
18:56efforts to prolong the conflict so that Russia remains focused on Ukraine, reducing the possibility
19:00of attacking European Union countries.
19:03He also emphasized that this action is dictated by Brussels and excludes any constructive participation
19:08by the European Union in resolving the conflict through diplomatic means.
19:12In this context, the Deputy Foreign Minister said that Moscow is moving forward guided by
19:16the understandings and agreements reached by President Vladimir Putin and his counterpart Donald Trump.
19:30Like this, we have come to the end of this news brief.
19:31You can find more on our website at telestuneenglish.net and also on our social media.
19:35For Telestune English, I'm Luis Alberto Matos.
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