- 33 minutes ago
* Savers start strike in Paraguay after bank suspended
* Bolivia’s supreme court president flees into exile
* Bolivia’s supreme court president flees into exile
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00:11Students and workers took to the streets of Paris on Thursday as part of a nationwide strike demanding higher wages
00:18and increased funding for public services.
00:24The second day of the 30th, the American summit is underway in Madrid, Spain, bringing together the 22 nations that
00:31comprise the region.
00:37Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mokhtaba Khamenei has warned that any of the new U.S. attacks against Iran would trigger
00:43a much wider war across the Middle East.
00:52Hello and welcome to From the South. I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Caracas, Venezuela. We begin with the
00:58news, so stay with us.
01:13Students and workers took to the streets of Paris on Thursday as part of a nationwide strike demanding higher wages
01:20and increased funding for public services.
01:22Called by major trade union confederations and joined by student organizations, the mobilization mobilized thousands across 244 planned demonstrations nationwide.
01:33Youth groups demanded better learning conditions, more teachers and end to story uniting with workers to protest rising living costs
01:42and public service cuts.
01:43Despite heavy police deployment and route restrictions in Paris, popular movements pledged to maintain ongoing protests to defend labor rights
01:53and public education.
02:03Hundreds of working class savers and retirees gathered outside Paraguay's National Congress to demand a full return of their funds
02:11following the state intervention of Ueno Bank.
02:14The central bank froze accounts for around 3 million customers after finding the bank's solvency fail far below legal limits,
02:23sparking popular outrage over compromised public funds.
02:27Prosecutors ordered the arrest of eight bank executives for fraud while working families report severe economic distress due to blocked
02:35savings and state pension funds.
02:37Prosecutors, amid ongoing popular mobilizations, the government announced central bank leadership changes and backed emergency legislation to expedite deposit returns
02:47and prosecute financial crimes.
02:53We are not doing anything wrong.
02:56We ask for permission to pass and they deny everything.
02:59And if we carry on, they attack us again and attack the people even more than they have already started
03:04to.
03:04Bloody hell.
03:05They have left us without money, with nothing.
03:07And now they want to kill us as well.
03:09What is their problem?
03:10Bloody hell.
03:12This is a disgrace, a total sham.
03:14The president came out to speak today, after 24 hours, to say that the money will be returned to all
03:20savers, but with state funds.
03:24Where is the money they took?
03:25And on top of that, the funds of the IPS, the and-en of Aitaipu Binational, are again being compromised.
03:30All that money that is deposited, where is it?
03:33Where is the cash?
03:36They manipulated laws.
03:38They plundered the pension funds.
03:41I can assure you there are very many people today who do not have anything to eat,
03:47because they could not withdraw their savings from their accounts.
03:51And we are facing total uncertainty, because it has not yet been determined whether all those savers will be able
03:58to recover all their money.
04:01And Chile commemorated the 56th anniversary of Salvador Allende presidential inauguration, an event that marked the beginning of the popular
04:09unity government in 1970.
04:11As part of the commemoration, representatives and leaders of the Chilean Communist Party laid a floral tribute at the monument
04:19to the former president in Santiago.
04:22The gesture sought to uphold his social legacy, national sovereignty, and the continuing relevance of the profound transformations in the
04:31country.
04:31During the ceremony, the communist leadership called for strengthening social organizations, describing the Popular Unity Project as a cause that
04:40is unfinished but not defeated.
05:09In Argentina, preparations are underway in Buenos Aires as crews build stages near the monument to Spaniards for Pope Leo
05:17XIV's upcoming visit.
05:18Marking the first papal visit to the country since 1987, the four-day tour from November 8th to 11th includes
05:26a central mass, a youth vigil, and stops in Córdoba and Luján.
05:31Residents and working-class families express hope that the pontiff's visit will highlight pressing social crises, including government cuts affecting
05:40pensioners and disabled communities.
05:42The trip forms part of a broader South American tour spanning Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
05:57Precisely in Peru, the custom Pope Mobile that the pontiff will use during his upcoming apostolic visit was unveiled and
06:05blessed in Lima on Wednesday, one week ahead of his arrival.
06:08Blessed by Cardinal Pedro Barreto, the three-ton adapted pickup truck was equipped with specialized security features to allow the
06:17pontiff to greet crowds across Peruvian cities.
06:21Church authorities emphasized that the vehicle acts as a tool for public outreach during the papal tour.
06:26A score of four from November 11th to 16th across six regions.
06:32Two specialized units arrived from Brazil to support the week-long itinerary as state and church authorities finalize security operations
06:41for the pontiff's visit.
06:50And now we have a short break coming up.
06:52First, remember, you can join us on TikTok at www.telesuitEnglish where you'll find news in different formats, news updates,
06:57and much more.
07:00We'll be right back, so stay with us.
07:19Welcome back to From the South.
07:21Spain is hosting the 30th Eva American Summit for the first time in 14 years, a meeting that brings together
07:27the 22 nations of the region.
07:29On this second day, leaders are making progress on key issues on their multilateral agenda with at least nine Latin
07:37American nations participating in this meeting,
07:39including Venezuela, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Cuba, along with Spain, Portugal, and Andorra.
07:45According to the Ibero-American General Secretariat, one of the meeting's priority areas is the development of a regional alliance
07:53on artificial intelligence.
07:54Furthermore, in the field of education, leaders will consider approving the Ibero-American Charter on Academic Mobility, an initiative designed
08:03to streamline the transfer of academic records,
08:07and also promote dual degrees and graduate programs among universities in the region.
08:20In this context, Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco participated on Thursday on behalf of Venezuela at the Ibero-American Summit.
08:27In this regard, Blanco highlighted the efforts made in Venezuela by Acting President Delci Rodriguez regarding the political, institutional, and
08:36economic transformation the country is undergoing,
08:39as well as the passage of the Amnesty Law, which has benefited more than 800 people, as well as the
08:45restoration of access to 38 news sites, with the aim of expanding media diversity and spaces for public debate.
08:53Blanco stated that these initiatives represent a starting point and acknowledge that transformations require continuity, participation, and concrete results, as
09:03well.
09:04The official cited projections from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, noting that they forecast a 6
09:12.5% economic growth for Venezuela this year, with 22 consecutive quarters of expansion.
09:24We want every investment to lead to more jobs, higher incomes, high-quality public services, and new opportunities for Venezuelan
09:32families, because we aspire to economic development that serves the vast majority.
09:37Growth that translates into well-being, opportunities, and shared prosperity.
09:41On this path, we consider it essential to move towards lifting the economic and financial restrictions, affecting Venezuela in order
09:49to expand trade, diversify exports and facilitate productive investment.
09:53Our reintegration into the international community also presents an opportunity for our Ibero-American partners, offering new markets, investment, cooperation,
10:04and greater prospects for shared development.
10:06In this regard, today, within the framework of this meeting, Venezuela will deposit the instrument of ratification of the multilateral
10:14Ibero-American Social Security Convention.
10:20Washington once again extended until December 18th, the protection of CITGO PDVSA's U.S. subsidiary against creditors seeking to collect
10:29Venezuela's foreign debts through legal proceedings.
10:32The Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, issued a new license prohibiting until that date any transactions involving the PDVSA
10:412020 bonds, which are backed by a portion of CITGO's shares.
10:46The measure comes after a U.S. court authorizing December 2025 the sale in shares in CITGO's parent company to
10:53pay Venezuelan debts, which could result in a change of ownership for this strategic refinery operating in the U.S.
11:01In light of this, the extension shows that Washington's blockade and judicial pressure continue to use CITGO as a tool
11:09of coercion against Venezuela, while the company remains trapped in a legal maze that threatens its energy sovereignty.
11:38Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Moshtaba Khamenei has warned that any renewed U.S. attacks against Iran would trigger a much
11:45wider war.
11:47In a reading statement released Wednesday, Khamenei referred to recent limited U.S. strikes on Iran's Qashem Island, warning that
11:57further attacks would have broader consequences.
11:59His remarks come amid growing speculation that Washington could launch a new military campaign against Tehran following Tuesday's midterm elections,
12:09in which President Donald Trump's Republican Party suffered significant losses.
12:14Trump had previously threatened to deliver a devastating blow to Iran, while Khamenei dismissed hopes of a major shift in
12:21Washington's policy toward the Islamic Republic.
12:24Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue to prevent a return to large-scale hostilities as regional U.S. allies urge Washington to
12:31avoid restarting a war that has already lasted more than eight months and severely affected the global economy.
12:49In this place, Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip are building makeshift wind turbines from materials recovered from destroyed homes,
12:57generating electricity to light their tents amid prolonged power arches.
13:02The initiative is taking place in the Almawasi area of Khamenei, where resident Hamal al-Dabari has assembled a wind
13:09-powered generator using discarded metal plastic and small mechanical parts collected from the rubble.
13:17According to reports, the system uses rotating blades connected to a small motor to produce electricity, which is then distributed
13:25to nearby tents.
13:26The initiative reflects how displaced families are turning available materials into alternative energy sources as Gaza continues to face severe
13:35electricity shortages and the destruction of its infrastructure.
13:47Initially, when solar panels were somewhat affordable, we bought one and kept moving it to follow the sun wherever it
13:54went, but it wasn't enough.
13:59Later, when we went to buy another solar panel, they asked for 15,000 shekels, around $5,000 or more,
14:07for a single panel.
14:07Where were we supposed to get that kind of money? We haven't had any work or income for three years.
14:13Only God knows our situation. That's when the idea of a wind turbine came to mind. Why not harness the
14:20wind like others do? So, we gathered parts from the rubble.
14:25In other information, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing its worst cholera outbreak in decades, with over 1
14:32,800 deaths and 6,000 cases reported this year.
14:36World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the new cases along the Congo River Basin risks spreading
14:45the epidemic to the capital, Kinshasa.
14:47The water burn, disease compounds, and ongoing Ebola outbreak in remote conflict-affected regions where limited access to clean water
14:56and sanitation hinders medical response efforts.
14:59Health agencies warned that heavy seasonal rains could fuel further transmission, calling for urgent structural support to protect vulnerable populations
15:09across the country.
15:19In India, midnight fire destroyed around 80 makeshift shelters in Sinagar, Kashmir, leaving dozens of working-class families displaced and
15:28killing two scrap collectors.
15:30The rapid blaze swept through the informal settlement before fire crews arrived, leaving families with nothing, while local volunteers organized
15:39immediate relief and food distribution.
15:42Authorities confirmed the deaths of two scrap workers, originally from Delhi, as regional officials announced financial compensation and ordered emergency
15:51state aid for the victims.
15:53An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway as social movements highlight the extreme housing insecurity facing vulnerable
16:01informal workers across the region.
16:12And now we have a second solve break coming up before we want to invite you to visit our Facebook
16:16page at Telesur English,
16:18that you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage, and much more.
16:22Follow our page, also activate the notification button.
16:25We'll be right back, so don't go away.
16:50Welcome back to From the South.
16:52Following the Democratic Party's sweeping victory in the midterm elections,
16:56millions of its voters are now pinning their hopes on a change in direction for the Trump administration's policies.
17:02But what fueled this blue wave in the midterms, and what can be expected from this Democratic triumph?
17:07Our New Year correspondent Henrik Amelo reports.
17:13The Democratic Party will have the control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
17:20Many hope that this balance of power will improve living conditions in the United States.
17:27What do you think the government is going to be like in the next two years?
17:33It's hard to predict, but I would hope that they try to get things done that's going to be good
17:38for the economy and good for the country.
17:41Yesterday was a huge victory for the Democratic Party.
17:44Yes.
17:45Why do you think it happened?
17:48Because Trump is a ridiculous, corrupt, idiotic jerk.
17:54And people are finally waking up to that.
17:59I believe that what Donald Trump represents, his style and his handling of the economy,
18:06amounts to a political and electoral rebuke by the citizenry.
18:11As we mentioned, people began to mobilize, in part, as a reaction to the difficulties or the failure of his
18:19economic management.
18:21Unemployment and inflation are things that Americans are not accustomed to.
18:26And Donald Trump has demonstrated that he lacks the capacity to manage the economy.
18:33Following the Republican Party's defeat, here's the emerging composition of the Senate.
18:3954 seats for the Democratic Party, 44 for the Republicans, with two seats still undecided.
18:48In the House of Representatives, 231 seats for the Democrats and 141 for the Republican Party.
18:56There are still 63 seats undecided.
18:59And with this new composition of Congress, the political landscape shifts for Donald Trump.
19:05A change that, according to analysts, could finally hold him accountable for actions taken outside of the bounds of the
19:14U.S. Constitution.
19:17I believe Trump will face isolation.
19:21Given the pragmatic nature of American politics, we will likely see, in more than a few instances, Republicans not only
19:30distancing themselves from Trump,
19:32but actively taking the opposite side or opposing him entirely.
19:37The Republican electorate already signaled this in these elections.
19:43The new Congress will be soaring in on January 3rd, 2027.
19:48Only then will it become clear whether the campaign promises that deliver this major victory to the Democrats will actually
19:57be fulfilled.
19:59America is back.
20:02Pablo Daniel Joe and Henry Camelo, Telesur, New York.
20:11In other information, Israel's Central Elections Committee has confirmed the final results of last week's vote,
20:17rejecting claims of widespread fraud and foreign interference promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
20:24The committee said its review found no evidence of irregularities that compromised the election or affected its outcome,
20:33although some allegations remain under investigation.
20:36Meanwhile, Attorney General Ghali Baharab Miara blocked a request by Shin Bet Security Services
20:43to question senior politicians from Palestinian-led parties, citing a lack of evidence of wrongdoing.
20:50Opposition leader Gadhi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of using state security institutions to undermine political opponents and challenge the election results.
21:07In this context, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has begun consultations with political parties to determine who will be tasked with
21:19forming the country's next government.
21:21It's important to highlight that neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadhi Eisenkot secured the 61 seats required to form a government
21:30without support from parties outside their respective political blocs.
21:34On Wednesday evening, Herzog met with representatives of the Religious Zionist Party, Shaz and Yisrael Beyd-Nu,
21:42after receiving the certified election results from the Central Election Committee.
21:47According to Israel Media, Herzog has departed from the usual order of consultations by meeting first with the smaller parties.
21:57Talks with representatives of the main political bloc are scheduled for Thursday and the consultations are expected to conclude in
22:04the evening,
22:06after which Herzog will appoint the lawmaker he considers most likely to secure enough support to form the next government.
22:23And in New Zealand, citizens head to the polls in a tight election dominated by soaring living costs and widespread
22:29economic uncertainty.
22:31Voters across the country will be casting their ballots in this week in a closely contested race when neither main
22:42party holds a decisive majority.
22:44Soaring inflation, rising grocery prices and housing costs have squeezed the working class families, leaving even salaried public workers struggling
22:54to save.
22:55As popular frustration mounts over declining person power, working class communities are demanding structural solutions to the economic pressures facing
23:06everyday citizens.
23:22Now we go live to France. At this hour, unions and also students and workers are taken to the streets
23:30once more in another national strike to demand better working conditions.
23:35This is part of a national wave of protest of discontent toward the government of President Macron that has been
23:47as well brutally repressed by police forces, by the Gendarmerie of France in the face of the circumstances being faced
23:58by students.
23:59This was a protest that erupted weeks ago with students, mostly demanding better educational conditions, better classroom spaces because they
24:11were demanding or were rejecting the overcrowded spaces in which they had to run.
24:19This is part of a protest that is part of a protest that is part of a protest that is
24:23part of a national unrest that is taking place because it has been as well fired up by the reaction
24:29of the national police forces that have been against the protesters that have been using tear gas against them.
24:38But also canisters, tear gas canisters that have been harming the youths.
24:46We are listening to horrendous stories that come from these national confrontations that speak about members of the protest of
24:55very early, very young protesters losing fingers because of the actions of the police.
25:04So this is once more people take into the streets and they are going to remain on the streets while
25:10demanding better working and educational conditions.
25:14With this information, last minute information with live images, we have come to the end of this news brief.
25:20Remember, you can find this and many other stories on our website at TelesurEnglish.net.
25:25Also join us on our website at TelesurEnglish and on our social media.
25:30We are on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and also TikTok.
25:36For TelesurEnglish, I'm Alejandra Garcia. Thank you for watching.
25:49We'll see you next time.