- 2 months ago
18/09/2026
FTS 8.30
*South Korea rejects U.S. request for troops in Iran
*Venezuela begins 2nd cycle of political dialogue with former opposition deputies
FTS 8.30
*South Korea rejects U.S. request for troops in Iran
*Venezuela begins 2nd cycle of political dialogue with former opposition deputies
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:13Voting is underway across Russia for three days of parliamentary elections to the state Tuma.
00:22South Korean President Lee Jae-myung rejected U.S. pressure to deploy troops against Iran,
00:27citing strong domestic opposition to military involvement in foreign conflicts.
00:35The Venezuelan government and the former opposition deputies of the 2015 National Assembly
00:40initiated the second cycle of political dialogue.
00:48Hello, welcome from the South. I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Adelesto Studios in Caracas, Venezuela.
00:54We begin with the news.
01:08In Russia polling stations opened their doors on Friday. This voting period is set to last three days.
01:14Voting to fill the 450 seats in the Tuma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, is scheduled to continue
01:20through Sunday.
01:21The first results are expected to be announced immediately afterward.
01:24This is the first parliamentary election in Russia since the conflict with Ukraine.
01:29This regard, the Russian President Biden put in a call on citizens to go to the polls and make sure
01:33to exercise their constitutional right.
01:35Furthermore, the leader described participation in the state Tuma elections as a contribution to strengthening the country.
01:48Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev cast his ballot in the state Tuma elections in Moscow on Friday.
01:55After voting, he addressed the press and urged people to go to the polls, saying,
01:58everyone who takes part in the election brings us closer to victory over our enemy.
02:04Russia is electing the ninth state Tuma, the lower house of parliament, with voting running from September 18th to the
02:1020th.
02:11Medvedev is a member of the ruling United Russia Party, which has the largest number of representatives, with 389,
02:16and is again poised to dominate the polls on the current election.
02:40The United Nations General Assembly has approved a resolution, a resolution allowing parliament in Paris and Muhammad
02:49Abbas to participate in this year's general debate by video after the United States denied him a visa.
02:55The resolution passed with 152 votes in favor, three against, and four abstentions.
02:59Under the measure, Palestine can submit a pre-recorded statement by Abbas, which will be played in the General Assembly
03:05Hall
03:05after being introduced by a Palestinian representative who is physically present.
03:09The resolution also allows Palestinian officials to participate by video or through pre-recorded statements
03:14at other high-level UN meetings and conferences.
03:17The United States extended visa restrictions on Palestinian officials, including Abbas, on Wednesday,
03:22preventing him from attending the UN General Assembly's high-level week in person for the second consecutive year.
03:34European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denounced that the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran
03:40cost the European Union an additional €90 billion in fossil fuel imports.
03:44Before the European Parliament, von der Leyen linked the increase to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz
03:49and Europe's dependence on imported oil and gas. Von der Leyen added that this situation
03:53underscores the energy vulnerability of EU countries in the face of supply route interruptions
03:58and market price fluctuations. In this context, she called for progress toward clean, affordable,
04:03domestically produced energy.
04:13Since the start of the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, imported fossil fuels cost us an additional
04:2090 billion euros without a single molecule of energy in addition.
04:28So we need to double down on our affordable and homegrown clean energy, be it renewables or nuclear,
04:36be it biomethane or others, technologically neutral. But these energies must give us independence and
04:44drive down energy prices. For this independence, we need to electrify Europe.
04:54And South Korean President Lee Jae-yoon rejected pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to send
04:59troops to support military operations against Iran. Facing widespread domestic discontent and public
05:05opposition to foreign involvement, Seoul affirmed that its armed forces would not participate in
05:10any conflict in the Middle East. The decision comes amid strong popular backlash within South Korea
05:15against executive proposals to deploy naval assets to the Strait of Hormuz, while the administration
05:20considers minimal security measures exclusively focused on protecting commercial shipping lanes.
05:24Public outrage over U.S. pressure has forced the government to draw a firm line against military
05:30intervention while simultaneously navigating intense trade negotiations and defense disputes with
05:35Washington.
05:42Kim Jo-yoon, Deputy Department Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea,
05:47accused on Friday the United States of escalating tensions in the Asia-Pacific region through the
05:52multinational military exercises they lead. The official emphasized that these exercises,
05:57including the recent Pacific Vanguard 2026 in Guam, are part of the U.S. hegemonic strategy and
06:03strengthen the trilateral military cooperation between the United States, Japan, and the Republic of South
06:08Korea, whose primary target is the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea. Kim warned that the
06:15escalation of military exercises such as Cobra Gold, Pitch Black, Green Pack, and Super Garuda shield,
06:21constitute a vicious cycle of provocations that forces North Korea to strengthen its national defense
06:27capabilities and its nuclear deterrent.
06:35We now have a first break coming up. Remember, you can join us on TikTok at Telespringlish.
06:39There you'll be able to watch our top stories, special work, cast, and more.
06:44We're going to be right back. Stay with us.
07:06Welcome back.
07:07Welcome back.
07:08On Thursday, South African police have found the body of a ninth woman near Johannesburg following
07:12the discovery of eight other female corpses in the same area over the past two months.
07:17The bodies were found in various locations across Egerukuleni in the Gauteng Province. Police are
07:22investigating whether the killings are linked, though they have not ruled out multiple suspects.
07:27Gauteng Province Police Commissioner Fred Kekana said a high-level multidisciplinary team is
07:32considering all possibilities. In this scenario, authorities have warned women to avoid walking alone,
07:37particularly in isolated areas. These murders have drawn attention to South Africa's
07:42high femicide rate, which the United Nations says is among the highest in the world.
07:55And in this context, on Thursday, several protesters took to the streets of Campton Park,
07:59east of Johannesburg, to protest against gender-based violence, after the bodies of nine women were
08:05found at various locations in Egerukuleni over the past two months. The activists urged communities to
08:11report any suspicious activity and to help the police identify those responsible. Also, President
08:16Sirujura Macfosa has ordered that these cases be given priority and has promised to bring those
08:21responsible to justice.
08:27We are tired. In English, we want to know what have we done as women? What have our children have
08:37done?
08:45We need help from our brothers. We need help from churches. We need help from government. Please help us see
08:53what is done.
08:59We demand strengthening of investigations, ensuring that murders, disappearances, rape, domestic violence,
09:07and other GBVF-related cases are investigated thoroughly, promptly, and professionally,
09:14with appropriate communication to victims, families, and survivors within the limits of the law.
09:21It does not matter where you are. It does not matter what you do. You are still going to subject
09:29yourself
09:30in the hands of criminality because you could be taking someone in the streets where they might have
09:36been most likely to be safer. You take them to a home only to be killed inside their own bedroom.
09:43Nigeria is investigating a suspected alcohol poisoning outbreak in the southern state of Ondo that has left a
09:49least 49 people dead and around 100 others receiving treatment. Health officials say 182 people are
09:55believed to have been affected in the Odigbo and in the local government areas, although these are
10:01investigating a locally made herbal alcoholic drink known as Monkey Tail as a possible source of the
10:06outbreak. Residents say several versions of the drink are sold in the area, including one considered
10:11unsafe, but officials have not yet confirmed the drink as the source of the poisoning. Local media reports
10:17say the first death was recorded nearly two weeks ago as authorities continue investigating what caused
10:21the outbreak. Meanwhile, the country's food and drug regulator is enforcing a nationwide ban on alcohol
10:27sold in satchels and small plastic containers, citing concerns over access among children and young people.
10:39Those people that are really affected are the young age, invariably from 30 years to 40 years,
10:49and we discover that whenever they come around, when we investigate them, they have one or two comorbidities.
10:55What I mean is that they have, like some of them have hepatitis B reactive in them, some
11:02have some have some organ dysfunction before they invariably take this, I mean this substance abuse,
11:12which is a methanol poisoning. The first hour when they take this monkey tail, they begin to have
11:22hypoglycemia. They have hypoglycemia, they have hypoxia, and some of them vomit, they are vomiting, and after the
11:32vomiting, if probably they pass through that stage, if it gets to another stage, which is another hour of that
11:42thing in their, I mean their brain, they are confused, agitating, and they have shuffling gates.
11:51But if that stage is passed without any intervention by the doctor or by anybody, it can go straight to
11:59the
11:59essential nervous system and cause loss of their sight. It can cause blurry vision and total blindness.
12:09Ankara cases in South Kibo in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have exceeded 11,800
12:16since the
12:16beginning of 2026, and health authorities are warning of a new outbreak as treatment centers in Bukapu are receiving
12:22dozens of new patients every day. The South Kibo Provincial Health Division reported that more than 11,800 cases had
12:29been
12:30reported throughout the eastern province of the DRC, representing a large increase from the 4,607 cases
12:36and 67 deaths reported during the first 14 weeks of the year. During the epidemiological week 37 alone,
12:42South Kibo recorded more than 600 cases and 13 deaths, according to figures from the Provincial Health Division.
12:48At the start of the outbreak, Fiza, Uvira, and Bukapu were among the hardest hit areas.
13:12Governments across Asia are racing to prepare for what could become the most severe El Nino event on
13:17record as extreme heat, heavy rain, and worsening water and food shortages threaten hundreds of millions
13:22of people.
13:27In Hong Kong, preparations are already changing the workplace. After the city recorded its hottest day
13:32ever on August 9, companies are expected to reschedule work, provide cooling equipment, and give
13:38employees rest breaks during extreme heat. Employers could even face prosecution if they fail to protect
13:44their staff.
13:46In China, a 100-day campaign is underway to protect harvest from both drought and intense
13:52rainfall, while Beijing works to strengthen early warning systems and identify areas most vulnerable
13:58to flooding and extreme heat.
14:02In Taiwan, hundreds of people recently took part in an emergency exercise simulating three consecutive
14:09days above 40 degrees Celsius, including power and water outages, transportation problems, and mass heat
14:15stroke. In India, rainfall in some areas was nearly 50 percent below normal in September, putting crops
14:24including rice, pulses, cotton, and maize at risk. And in Sri Lanka, more than 160,000 people are facing
14:31drinking water shortages as reservoirs run dry. These are the early signs of a much broader threat.
14:39El Nino is fueled by exceptionally warm waters in the tropical Pacific and can disrupt weather patterns
14:44far beyond the ocean itself. The World Food Program estimates that around 50 million people could be
14:50pushed into acute hunger as drought, flooding, and extreme heat hit food production and water supplies across the region.
14:59Let's now take our second break. Before we invite you to visit our Facebook page at Telesto English,
15:03there you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage, and much more. Follow our page
15:07at the event of Jumbo to stay up to date on the world's most recent events. Final break, don't go
15:11away.
15:31Welcome back. The Venezuelan government and the former opposition deputies of the 2015 National
15:36Assembly initiated the second cycle of political dialogue. The first phase of meetings took place
15:41from August 6th to the 12th. Two commitments resulted from the dialogue renewing the Supreme Court of Justice
15:46and recovering funds held abroad to assist those affected by June 24th earthquakes. In this context,
15:51progress has been made on judicial reform in the Venezuelan parliament. A series of changes to the
15:56law regulating the Supreme Court and the mechanisms for selecting magistrates were approved. Regarding
16:01the nation's economic resources, both parties agreed to focus their efforts on recovering international
16:06reserve assets deposited in the Bank of England through transparent auditable mechanisms. Through this
16:13new session, the delegations aim to solidify existing agreements and work toward tangible solutions for
16:18the country.
16:24And this Thursday in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, Acting President de los Rodríguez hosts
16:28senior representatives of the non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch at a working
16:33session aimed at strengthening peace, democracy, social coexistence, and human rights. At the meeting
16:39were the Acting President of Exchange Views with the organization's Global Deputy Director Federico
16:43Borrello. Also present were Foreign Minister Felix Basencia, Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe and
16:49North America Oliver Blanco, and the Executive Secretary of the Programme for Peace and Democratic
16:54Coexistence Ana Maria San Juan. This strategic meeting reaffirms Venezuela's ongoing commitment to
16:59international cooperation in the defense of universal values and the building of an environment of
17:04greater democratic coexistence, a gesture aimed at consolidating peace and multilateral
17:08understanding. The Bolivarian executive branch has historically maintained that peace is not
17:13merely the absence of conflict but rather the political system's ability to manage conflicting views
17:18and differences based on this premise. They have defined state policy designed to foster dialogue,
17:23respect for political diversity, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
17:47The Venezuela Rises mission is moving forward providing housing solutions to families affected by the
17:53June 24th twin earthquakes. From Caracas our colleague Michelle Ramirez with more details.
18:02The Arboleda residential building in San Bernardino, Caracas was rebuilt by the Venezuela Rises mission after it was damaged by
18:10the June 24th twin earthquake.
18:15All the walls were rebuilt on floors, one, two and three, which were the most affected. From the fourth floor
18:21upward, there was minor damage. It's important to highlight that. From the tenth floor up, all the painting and stairway
18:28lighting has been completed. A wonderful job has been done.
18:31I believe that our national government and acting president are addressing the needs of our people in the wake of
18:37this overwhelming tragedy.
18:41The rehabilitation work on this residence with a yellow tag centered on repairing the masonry and façade.
18:53We can conclude that the restructuring consisted mainly of masonry work
19:00with walls that were completely demolished and rebuilt.
19:05Work was carried out on the area by the elevator, the area by the parking lot, and the rear part
19:10facing the parking lot.
19:14All of those walls were demolished, including the one at the front, which was rebuilt and repaired.
19:21We used a lot of construction materials to rebuild all the spaces that were truly damaged.
19:28We are currently finishing the details.
19:37The Venezuelan government designed this plan to address the housing needs of Venezuelans and restore joy and tranquility to affected
19:44families.
19:50Our wall collapsed and our rooms were badly cracked.
19:57Thank God and thank our colleague and friend, the mayor, her sister Yolida,
20:04Mrs. Wendy and all the staff for supporting us from that moment on.
20:11I am very grateful.
20:13I thank them and I am very grateful.
20:16I am very emotional and have no words.
20:20I am grateful.
20:24I am grateful.
20:26I am grateful.
20:28You can see how my apartment is.
20:30The Venezuela Rises mission has rehabilitated and delivered over 1,470 homes.
20:36Nearly 17,000 households in seven states affected by earthquakes are undergoing repairs.
20:41With Gustavo Flores on camera,
20:43Michelle Ramirez from Caracas, Venezuela, to TELESUR.
20:49This Thursday in Colombia, the government of Averaldo de la Spera decided to withdraw from the Equal Rights Coalition and
20:55International Alliance of 43 countries working to promote the protection of LGBTIQ rights.
21:01The foreign ministry announced the withdrawal while the country was serving alongside Spain as co-chair of the organization's position
21:10it was supposed to hold until 2027.
21:13The government did not specify the reasons for the decision.
21:16However, sources cited by national media linked it to a shift in priorities and an intention to distance itself from
21:21initiatives linked to the administration of former President Gustavo Petro.
21:25This follows the patterns set by other conservative governments in their opposition to the human rights of sexually diverse people.
21:37And Francisco Javier, also known as El Trumpas, the alleged feminicidal murder of Spanish student Claudia Tacoronte,
21:46was arrested this Thursday in a coordinated operation in the city of Cautla, located in central Mexico, according to Federal
21:52Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch.
21:54The arrest of the suspect, who already had a criminal record and an active arrest warrant, was achieved through the
22:00efforts of the National Intelligence Center and the participation of federal and state forces across the country.
22:05The head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection extended his condolences to the victims' families who arrived in
22:11the country to try to repatriate their daughter's remains.
22:13Garcia Harfuch also reiterated President Claudia Sheinbaum's commitment to combat impunity while the detainee was placed at the disposal of
22:21the central region's public persecutor's office to determine his legal status.
22:32For this information, we have come to the end of this news brief.
22:35Remember, you can find these and many other stories on our website at telesfreeenglish.net.
22:38So join us on social media, we're on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok.
22:43For Tales for English, I'm Mr. Beto Maddoz.
22:45Thanks for watching.