- 7 weeks ago
02/09/2026
FTS 08.30
*U.S. Secretary of Energy arrives in Venezuela to address energy binational cooperation.
*Iran's IRGC launches retaliatory strikes against U.S. military sites.
teleSUR
FTS 08.30
*U.S. Secretary of Energy arrives in Venezuela to address energy binational cooperation.
*Iran's IRGC launches retaliatory strikes against U.S. military sites.
teleSUR
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:09Nicaragua approved the constitutional amendment that protects the national
00:13democracy from external factors in an open session titled Pride of my Country.
00:23United States Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright arrived in Venezuela alongside a United
00:29States delegation in the context of the Venezuela-United States Binational Energy Deal.
00:39Iran's Islamic Revolutionary War Cups launched a series of retaliatory strikes against U.S.
00:44military sites in the Middle East region after U.S. attacks killed at least 18 people
00:49in the past few hours.
00:57Hello, welcome to From the South, I am Lorena Fong from the Telesur Studios in Caracas,
01:01Venezuela.
01:02We begin with the news and stay with us.
01:18In an open session titled Pride of my Country, the Nicaraguan Parliament, together with the
01:23people of the city of León, approved the constitutional amendment that protects the national democracy
01:28from external factors.
01:30Gustavo Porras, chairman of the Parliament's Board of Directors, led the discussion on a
01:34partial amendment that modifies more than 15 constitutional articles.
01:38The amendment establishes that international norms will have no validity if they threaten
01:43national sovereignty, peace or independence.
01:46It prohibits those who attempt to undermine the state of running for or holding public office.
01:52It extends the terms of elected officials, appointed officials and senior military officers
01:58to seven years.
01:58And it authorizes electoral authorities to revoke the legal status of parties that receive
02:04foreign funding or violate the constitution.
02:12In that regard, the chairman of the Parliament's Board of Directors, Gustavo Porras, stated that
02:17Nicaragua always responds to foreign aggressions by producing national heroes.
02:25Despite foreign aggression, interference and invasion, and the betrayal of those who have
02:31sold out their country, there are always Nicaraguans who love this land, who resist, who inspire
02:37the people, and who sacrifice their lives so that we may live in independence, sovereignty,
02:44self-determination, security and peace.
02:48Nicaragua always responds to foreign aggression by producing national heroes.
02:56In Argentina, hundreds of patronist activists gathered in Buenos Aires to support former
03:01President Cristina Fernandez de Krishna, four years after surviving an assassination attempt.
03:07Demonstrators marked the anniversary of Sahara residents demanding justice for the intellectual
03:13authors behind the 2022 attack.
03:15Supporters and lawmakers condemned her political prescription and current house arrest, calling
03:21her lifetime disqualification from public office an attack on democracy and popular sovereignty.
03:28Her legal team has appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, a social movement
03:33insists the Argentine people have a fundamental right to vote for her in the upcoming elections.
03:44The Supreme Court of Honduras issued a final dismissal in favor of former President Juan Orlando Hernández,
03:51who was sentenced and punished in the United States to 45 years in prison for drug trafficking.
03:57With the decision, the criminal proceedings against the former President are dismissed.
04:01According to the defense's argument, the evidence presented against Hernández sought to demonstrate
04:08that the decisions under investigation were made while he was serving as Speaker of the National Congress
04:14and not as Head of the Executive Branch.
04:17The pattern recandles the debate of transnational justice and political impunity in Honduras.
04:29In this context, let's take a closer look at the case of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.
04:39Juan Orlando Hernández, former President of Honduras, was convicted in the United States for drug trafficking.
04:44Despite being sentenced to 45 years in prison, he received a presidential pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump and
04:49returned to his country.
04:50His government was designated a narco-state by the courts.
04:53The U.S. Attorney's Office and an Insight crime investigation detailed Hernández's criminal network.
04:58The former president facilitated the shipment of 400 metric tons of cocaine to the United States
05:03and used the Honduran National Police and Army to protect these shipments.
05:06Hernández received millions of dollars in bribes from drug traffickers.
05:10Among the payments, $1 million from Joaquín El Chapo, Guzmán was identified.
05:14This allowed cartels to operate with complete impunity in Honduras.
05:17In addition, he aided the use of military-grade weapons to defend the drug trafficking empire.
05:22This included the use of machine guns and destructive devices.
05:25He granted impunity to criminal networks such as MS-13 to carry out the murder of political rivals.
05:30His brother, Juan Antonio Tony Hernández, is serving a life sentence in the United States for similar crimes.
05:36The Hernández case highlights a complex network of government corruption and drug trafficking in the region.
05:40His pardon has sparked debate about transnational justice and political impunity.
05:44The situation raises questions about the fight against organized crime.
06:03As Cuba begins a new school year, the island is reforming its commitment to protecting every child's right to education,
06:10determined to keep students in the classrooms and education going despite escalating U.S. aggressions.
06:16Belén de los Santos, our correspondent in Havana, with the story.
06:22Red and blue neckerchiefs are out.
06:24It's the start of a new school year in Cuba as the island bows to keep children in the classroom
06:29despite increased U.S. aggressions that have extended blackouts, reduced transportation and hindered production.
06:36I think that is also the biggest challenge. How, under these conditions, and by anticipating the problems that may arise,
06:42we can protect the standards that Cuban education has become known for, both among its people and around the world,
06:47because there is international recognition of this.
06:50According to the minister, the keys to this school year are flexible strategies to achieve a common goal,
06:55identifying issues and drawing up solutions for each community, all to protect the children's right to an education.
07:05I'm happy because this is our last year of primary school, and I won't be able to stay with my
07:09classmates when I move on to secondary school,
07:11because I'm going to hide the sports school.
07:16I'm very happy to learn new things, to be able to study again, and to see my classmates.
07:20Amid foreign aggressions, Cuban teachers are leading a major effort to provide quality education,
07:25even as the violent oil blockade affects daily life across the island.
07:34It really is a challenge. It's an effort that we're going to make, but it's necessary,
07:38because children need to continue their education and continue developing.
07:41This is the work we chose, and we do it with love.
07:44The determination is clear. Education is a top priority, and as U.S. aggressions escalate,
07:51every last effort will go to shielding the kids' future. For them, meanwhile, the excitement and hopes of a new
07:58school year remain.
08:01What excites me most is moving on to ninth grade. I hope to gain new knowledge and have more opportunities
08:08like this.
08:11Study hard, fulfill all your responsibilities, and remember that every day is a new day to learn.
08:16What I want is for this year to go by quickly, because I'm really looking forward to going to the
08:21sports school,
08:21to feel a little older and a little more responsible.
08:24Belen De Los Santos for Tell Us Your English from Havana, Cuba.
08:31And now we have a short break coming up, but first, remember, you can join us on TikTok at Tell
08:36Us Your English.
08:37There you will find news in different formats, news updates, and much more.
08:41We'll be right back. Stay with us.
08:55Welcome back to From the South.
08:57On Tuesday, United States Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright arrived in Venezuela,
09:02alongside a United States delegation in the context of the Venezuela-United States financial energy deal.
09:08Upon arriving at Maikiti International Airport, the ride was welcomed by the Minister of Hydrocarbons, Paula Enau,
09:15and the Charger I of the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela, John Barrett.
09:19The agreement aims to recover and modernize Venezuela's hydrocarbons industry.
09:24In the medium and long term, it will allow the Bolivarian nation to benefit from the wealth of this binational
09:30exchange.
09:30The United States government will contribute capital and technology to bolster the national industry,
09:36while the Venezuelan state will retain ownership of its assets and sovereignty over its oil wealth.
09:45We're going to anticipate that this deal being made will lead to further investment by other American companies outside of
09:53the Chevron.
09:54Absolutely. The American investment in Venezuela is to grow the flow of private capital from a great number of American
10:01businesses.
10:02We want to see a lot of investment coming from the United States into Venezuela to grow opportunity and prosperity
10:09for Venezuelans and for Americans and for energy consumers on the world.
10:13When do you anticipate meaningful increases in Venezuelan oil production and exports?
10:19So the deals that will be announced tomorrow, several deals that will be announced tomorrow,
10:24just those deals will lead to a more than doubling of Venezuelan oil production in the next few years.
10:31Furthermore, the U.S. Secretary of Energy highlighted the opportunities this deal could generate for the Venezuelan people.
10:39Thank you so much for the press in Venezuela.
10:42Believe me, it warms my heart to see an active press here in Venezuela.
10:46I look forward to more Q&A tomorrow.
10:49Do you think it will help reduce poverty in Venezuela?
10:51That what we're here for, these investment deals in Venezuela,
10:55are to create, to bring peace, opportunity, and prosperity to the people of Venezuela and to the people of the
11:02United States.
11:03This is rejoining the partnership between the United States and the people of Venezuela.
11:08I think very good times are coming as large investments flow into this country.
11:13That creates more jobs, which pushes wage pressure up, creates opportunities for Venezuelan prosperity, and it snowballs.
11:21When you get business confidence and get investment, it creates all sorts of opportunities, not just jobs, but opportunities for
11:28entrepreneurs.
11:28The National Assembly of Venezuela approved by a qualified majority the draft resolution in support of the Venezuela-United States
11:36Binational Energy Deal.
11:38The National Assembly determined that the agreement is a strategic instrument that will significantly impact the country's continued economic recovery,
11:46capital investment, and technological development.
11:48In this regard, the deputies stated that the Binational Energy Deal recognizes the Venezuelan state's inalienable ownership of its resources.
11:58In addition, they called relevant state bodies and entities to provide information on the energy agreement's progress in accordance with
12:06the constitutions and laws.
12:13The President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, welcomed the approval of the Binational Energy Deal with the United States.
12:20The National Assembly is agreeing to endorse the announcement of the Binational Deal.
12:30This agreement opens debate and establishes clarifications and explanations among ourselves and with the people of Venezuela.
12:39Once the Binational Deal is signed, we will gladly debate it here in the National Assembly,
12:47so we can share the immense benefits and advantages this agreement represents for all the people of Venezuela, for its
12:55women and men.
13:00In this context, National Assembly Deputy Miguel Pérez Abad described the energy agreement between Venezuela and the United States as
13:08a significant step for the nation,
13:09emphasizing its impact on the economy and society.
13:21Deputies, it is a true responsibility and honor to present this agreement between the government and the United States.
13:27and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
13:34I would describe this energy agreement as the most significant in the country in the last hundred years,
13:40because of its implications, scope and potential to transform the oil production model.
13:49It will allow us to transition from a rentier state of sole oil production and export to becoming a true
13:56energy power, as Venezuela indeed is.
14:04However, this requires investment and new technologies to enhance that finite resource and use it to serve the people and
14:11promote the country's productive transformation.
14:22Let's take a short break now, but before we invite you to visit our Facebook page at Telesur English.
14:28There you'll be able to watch our top stories, especially live coverage and much more.
14:32Follow our page and activate the notification button to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.
14:37Financial break, don't go away.
15:06Welcome back to From the South, speaking to now in the Middle East.
15:08The latest wave of United States attacks against Iran left at least 18 people get in the past 24 hours,
15:15after explosions were reported across several strategic locations along the country's southern coast.
15:21Iran media reported explosions in multiple locations, including Bandar Abbas, Qashem Island, Konarak, Yask Zirik and Minaf.
15:29The cities are significant because they span a large section of Iran's southern maritime infrastructure, extending from the Strait of
15:36Hormuz toward the Gulf of Oman.
15:38Furthermore, a United States bombing of a winning party in Zirik killed five people, including a child, and injured at
15:46least 63.
15:47For his part, Ismail Baguay, the spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the brutal attack hit the residents
15:55in the city of Kuhezestak early on Wednesday,
15:59calling on the international community to stand against the aggressors.
16:08In this context, the Iran's Islamic Revolution War Corps launched a series of retaliatory strikes against U.S. military sites
16:15in the Middle East region,
16:16while warning Arab countries to expel the U.S. forces or face its military response.
16:21The IRGC reported on an attack on the Ali al-Salem airbase of Kuwait, claiming it inflicted casualties to U
16:30.S. forces.
16:31Meanwhile, in Bahrain, constant alerts have been issued as Iranian forces targeted a United States Marine Corps base in Jordan
16:38with ballistic missiles.
16:39The IRGC also said its forces have carried out a combined missile and drone attacks on U.S. facilities in
16:46Erbil Province, northern Iraq,
16:49in retaliation for a U.S. strike on a wedding celebration in the southern coastal city of Zirik.
16:54In this context, senior IRGC officials addressed Arab countries demanding they either expel U.S. forces or face a crushing
17:04military response.
17:11In this context, Iran's Central Military Command Hatam Al-Ambiya vowed to continue responding to the criminal attacks by U
17:19.S. forces against the civilian population.
17:23The terrorist, child-killing U.S. military, following its repeated failures in the imposed war against Islamic Iran and its
17:29defeat at the hands of the ever-present and steadfast people of our beloved country,
17:35carried out savage aerial attacks and bombings against certain military and non-military locations in the southern regions of Iran
17:42and shed the blood of a number of innocent people.
17:48The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, through the brave sons of the nation in the valiant army
17:53and the heroic IRGC, in response to these acts of malice and terrorism,
17:58swiftly and powerfully launched a decisive missile and drone attack against the criminal American bases in the region and crushed
18:04them,
18:06inflicting heavy damage on infrastructure, installations, weapons and equipment, and killing or wounding a considerable number of American commanders and
18:14soldiers.
18:19We warned that the continuation of American mischief in the region will be met with heavier, more extensive, and more
18:24destructive responses,
18:27and any country that cooperates with the aggressor U.S. military must accept the dangerous consequences.
18:35And I want to say Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at Al Itahidiya
18:42Peles in the Egyptian capital as part of an official reception ceremony
18:47in Xi's first visit to the country in just over a decade.
18:51The Chinese President's visit comes within the framework of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries in various political, economic,
18:59and developmental fields,
19:00following up on the implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement concluded between the two countries in 2014.
19:09In this regard, the talks will focus on the war in the Middle East and U.S. sanctions against Iran's
19:14allies.
19:14In addition, the Chinese President also seeks to strengthen the group's role in security, trade, and news technologies.
19:28Tensions between Germany and Russia surged after Berlin ordered the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn
19:35and terminated agreements with the Russian Cultural Center in Berlin.
19:39German authorities formally accused Moscow of orchestrating a foiled drone attack at Leipzig Airport,
19:45an allegation that Russian diplomats rejected as an unfounded and dangerous escalation.
19:50The Russian embassy in Germany denied any involvement in the incident,
19:54asserting that the accusations served to justify further hostility and militarization.
19:59Russian President Vladimir Putin described the diplomatic sanctions as a grave mistake,
20:04while foreign ministry officials confirmed that Moscow will deliver a proportionate response to Berlin's actions.
20:25Russian military helicopters have launched emergency rescue operations following devastating floods and landslides along the border with Tibet.
20:33Nepali Army units mobilized to airlift to stranded residents and tourists after extreme weather triggered massive earth movements along the
20:41northern corridor.
20:42The disaster has claimed over 1,000 lives, with hundreds more reported missing across affected mountain communities.
20:50Emergency response teams and regional disaster units continue surge operations under severe weather conditions,
20:57prioritizing medical evacuations and humanitarian aid delivery.
21:06Following a summer marked worldwide by forest fires, heat waves and flooding,
21:11United Nations Secretary General António Gutiérrez warned about the rising global temperatures
21:16as the world gets closer to surpassing the 1.5 degree Celsius increased limit,
21:22a threshold critical to avoid climate devastation.
21:28Past the limit to avoid climate catastrophe.
21:32Ten years ago in Paris, leaders pledged to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
21:39The threshold scientists say is critical to avoiding the worst climate devastation.
21:44The latest report from the UN Environment Programme delivers a stark warning.
21:49The world is failing to keep that promise.
21:53We are set to breach the 1.5 degree limit within the next few years.
21:58And this summer, scorching heat, raging wildfires and deadly floods are a warning of what lies ahead.
22:05Every fraction of a degree will cost lives, destroy livelihoods, deepen inequality
22:11and push ecosystems closer to irreversible damage.
22:14But we can still bring warming back below 1.5 degrees by the end of the century.
22:20We must make the overshoot as small and short as possible, limiting how high temperatures rise
22:27and how long they remain above 1.5.
22:30Now is the time to raise ambition and accelerate action.
22:35The fight for 1.5 degrees is the fight for humanity and I thank you.
22:41And like this, we have come to the end of this news brief.
22:44Remember, you can find this and many other stories on our website at telesudyenglish.net
22:49and also join us on social media.
22:52We are on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok.
22:56For Telesur English, I am Lorena Fong.