18/12/2024
FTS 20.30
*UN Security Council resumes talks on humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
*In DRC, boat capsizing leaves at least 25 dead and several missing.
teleSUR
These and more stories now!
FTS 20.30
*UN Security Council resumes talks on humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
*In DRC, boat capsizing leaves at least 25 dead and several missing.
teleSUR
These and more stories now!
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00The Mexican government ratified the legal defense strategy for migrants in the face
00:15of the threat of mass deportations expressed by the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
00:23The issue of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip returns to the United Nations Security
00:28Council amidst persistent Israeli attacks against the civilian population.
00:36And in the central region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a boat capsized on
00:41the Fimi River, leaving at least 25 dead and several missing.
00:51Hello and welcome to From the South, I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Havana, Cuba.
00:56We begin with news.
00:57The Mexican government ratified the legal defense strategy for migrants in the face
01:02of the threat of mass deportations expressed by the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
01:07In the framework of International Migrants Day, President Claudia Sheinbaum paid tribute
01:12to the nationals living in the United States.
01:15The head of state assured that her government warranties Mexicans abroad a program to simplify
01:21the necessary procedures to defend their rights.
01:25In this regard, the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Juan Ramón de la Fuente,
01:29highlighted the efforts made by his government to defend the Mexicans who are facing a threat
01:35of massive deportation by Washington.
01:44We are here in El Paso, Texas.
01:47I am meeting with the fellow compatriots as part of the whole process of strengthening
01:51the consular network.
01:53As it has been instructed, the consuls are with us, and not only the Consul General of
02:02the Texas River Crossing, and the Consul General of Nogales, in Arizona and New Mexico.
02:13They are here in a group of leaders of compatriots and organizations with which we are working
02:17as part of a joint effort.
02:20The personal interest that you have in coordinating all these efforts is transmitted, which is
02:28advancing fundamentally in five directions.
02:33The first one is the legal defense strategy for all our compatriots.
02:38They are not alone.
02:41They will not be alone and we have the necessary legal advice so that they can assert their
02:45rights if required.
02:50Cuba's National Assembly addressed the economic plan and budget for 2025 as the main challenge
02:56to be faced in the economic and social model of socialist development.
03:00During the first day of debates of the fourth session of Parliament, Prime Minister Manuel
03:05Marrero explained that although the plan presented in 2023 shows results, there has not been
03:12enough progress.
03:13The Minister pointed out to blockade coercive measures and financial pressures as the main
03:18challenge to be faced in the updating and improvement of the economic model.
03:23Marrero indicated that the government's policy of advancing the de-dollarization of the economy
03:28is ratified, despite the partial dollarization schemes of some exporting sectors.
03:42We are witnesses of the political will and the determination of the leadership of the
03:46revolution, of our understanding, of the people to transform and solve this situation.
03:52Measures are taken, they are analyzed weekly.
03:55Many of them are being analyzed every day.
03:58Every day, different solutions are being analyzed in order to alleviate the situation of our
04:03people.
04:08U.N. Congressman Rolando Gonzalez Patricio demanded the lifting of unilateral sanctions
04:13by the United States and the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
04:20The demand of this National Assembly of People's Power, in representation of the people of
04:24Cuba, is that the United States blockade be lifted once and for all, that the government
04:28of that country cease its persecution of our economic and financial relations with the
04:32rest of the world, that it eliminate the millions of dollars in funds from the federal budget
04:37to subvert the internal order and encourage disinformation operations against Cuba, and
04:41that the country be removed from the arbitrary and unilateral list of state sponsors of terrorism.
04:49In Colombia, the second discussion of the health care reform called by the government
04:53in the House of Representatives takes place.
04:56The government affirmed that a decision is necessary despite criticisms from the opposition
05:01and independent sectors, since the reform has been discussed for months.
05:06These extraordinary sessions will end on Thursday, and 62 articles are expected to
05:10be approved.
05:11Previously, the Legislative Technical Unit of the Congress stated that such reform to
05:16the health system should be managed as a statutory law and not as an ordinary law, due to the
05:23impact it has on the rights and health of Colombians.
05:31The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador approved a budget of 9,663 billion dollars for projects
05:38in 2025, which could lead to a deficit in health and education sectors due to budget
05:43cuts, after voting the legislative-certified President Nayib Bukele's idea.
05:48However, opposition parliamentary members described the initiative as inefficient due
05:54to the recent financial cuts for social programs.
05:57On the other hand, economic experts assured that an increase of 2 million dollars in teacher
06:02salaries does not meet the requests of the sector, since the measure will only represent
06:07an increase of 3.70 dollars per month.
06:10The approval of this amount means more funds for the armed forces and for the official
06:16propaganda of Bukele's government.
06:23In Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro held a meeting with the country's newly elected
06:27criminal justices of peace.
06:29During the meeting, the Bolivarian president highlighted that the current Venezuelan constitution
06:34celebrates its 25th anniversary, in the midst of great challenges and the strong determination
06:40of the Venezuelan people to defend their democracy and their highest constitutional values.
06:45President Maduro emphasized that the electoral process to elect the justices of peace last
06:50Sunday was significant because it marks a milestone in the 25th anniversary of the
06:57Venezuelan constitution.
06:59This electoral process was the greatest proof of an example of Venezuelan participatory
07:03democracy.
07:04First of all, I want to express my happiness because of the historical moment that we lived
07:24on December 15th and as we are living today, and I want to express my congratulations and
07:31blessings to all the judges, the justices of peace elected by the popular vote, direct
07:42and secret, around 28,000 justices of peace and justice.
08:00That will start with their work.
08:05Moreover, the president of Venezuela stated that with the elections of the justices of
08:10the peace, a new era of democracy has begun.
08:15We are opening a new age of democracy in Venezuela, 25 years exactly, to build the basis, the
08:27foundations of a new democratic age, a new political culture, and we have to make it
08:37that way because of historical need, historical conviction, because it is part of the structure
08:50of our Bolivarian being, republican being, to build a republic that is for the people
09:00and that belongs to the people and with the people as the main character.
09:08The draft resolution entitled Human Rights and Unilateral Coercive Measures presented
09:13by Cuba and Russia to the United Nations has been approved on Wednesday by the Third Committee
09:18of the United Nations General Assembly, with 131 votes in favor, 55 against, and zero abstentions.
09:26In this regard, the Foreign Minister of Venezuela, Iván Gil, highlighted the importance of the
09:31document, stressing it emphasizes the rejection of the imposition of coercive economic measures
09:37that hinder the development of peoples and are contrary to international law, the United
09:42Nations charter, as well as the norms and principles governing peaceful and commercial
09:47relations between states. Furthermore, he underscored that the resolution specifically
09:53urges the powers to lift such measures, which have negative extraterritorial effects and
09:58violate the sovereignty of states, as well as the right of peoples to their socio-economic
10:03development.
10:09And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok at
10:13TELUS in English, where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and more.
10:17We'll be right back, stay with us.
10:44Welcome back from the South. The issue of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip
10:48returns to the United Nations Security Council amidst persistent Israeli attacks against
10:53the civilian population. The 15-member body heard humanitarian representatives shortly
10:59after the authorities confirmed that the number of Palestinians killed exceeded 45,000 after
11:05more than 14 months of the Israeli offensive. The representatives of these humanitarian
11:10organizations denounced that the aid missions led by the United Nations to the northern
11:15Gaza province are mostly rejected by Israel, preventing access to vital resources for the
11:21Palestinian population. The call is also to facilitate the work of United Nations and
11:26humanitarian partners who seek to provide food, water, health care and other critical
11:31assistance with the aim of protecting the affected population.
11:39The Israeli army continues its hostilities against the people of Lebanon despite the
11:43ceasefire declared three weeks ago. Zionist army tanks moved from the town of Markaba
11:50towards Bani Hajan in the south of the country, shelling homes in the southern part of the
11:55town. Authorities said that Tel Aviv forces carried out shelling in villages and detonated
12:00bombs on buildings. The major of Nakura reported that at least 70 percent of the village has
12:06been destroyed as a result of hostile Israeli aggressions since the beginning of the truce
12:12on November 27, 2024.
12:31In Mozambique, the death toll rises to 45 and almost 500 people were injured following
12:36the passage of Cyclone Chiro. According to the new report of the National Institute for
12:41Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, the cyclone affected more than 260,000 Mozambicans.
12:48It was also reported that some 35,000 buildings were completely damaged, while some 12,300
12:55others suffered partial damage. The Institute warned that these figures are professional
13:03as the damage is still being assessed.
13:13Rescuers in Manitou are facing to locate survivors from a powerful earthquake that has killed
13:19at least 14 people in the Pacific island nation. The 7.3 magnitude quake that struck the capital
13:25Port Vila on Tuesday reduced buildings to rubble, triggered landslides and knocked out
13:31power and telecommunications. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
13:36Affairs said it estimated that about one-third of the archipelago's population of some
13:41335,000 people had been affected by the worst effects of the quake. In this context, Australia
13:48and New Zealand have announced the deployment of medical and rescue teams from Wednesday
13:53to provide assistance.
13:58We have a second Shower Break coming up, but before we invite you to visit our YouTube
14:02channel at The Lesser English, there you'll be able to re-watch our interviews, top stories,
14:07special broadcastings and more. Hit the subscribe button and activate the notification bell
14:12to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.
14:15Fun and Shower Break, don't go away!
14:29Welcome back to From the South. In the central region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
14:34a boat capsized on the Fimi River, leaving at least 25 dead and several missing. The
14:40overcrowded vessel, which departed from the town of Inongo, northeast of the capital of
14:45Kinshasa, on Tuesday was believed to have more than 100 passengers on board. The incident,
14:51which took place some 100 metres into the journey along the river, was caused by an
14:56overloading at roof level, according to Inongo's river commissioner David Kalemba. The search
15:02is still underway for dozens of missing people. River travel is common in the African country
15:08due to the scarcity of turret roads across its mostly forested region, which gives way
15:14for frequent boat accidents when vessels are loaded beyond their capacity.
15:22Liberia's parliament catches fire for second time in a week amid second consecutive day
15:28of opposition anti-government protests. On Tuesday, the police arrested dozens of demonstrators
15:34and used tear gas to disperse the crowd. In this regard, President Joseph Buakai ordered
15:40an investigation to determine the causes of the fire and those responsible for the incident,
15:45following an inspection to assess the damage. This is the second time in a week that the
15:49parliament building has caught fire, although there is no evidence that the incidents are
15:55related.
16:01The Russian government condemns the support of the Ukrainian regime to various tourist
16:06organisations in the Sahel region. Russian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov
16:12points out that the Ukrainian support to terrorist groups represents a greater risk for the people
16:18of the Sahel region in Africa. Gerasimov said that CAIF is conducting terrorist training
16:23using unmanned aerial vehicles, along with subversive practices against civilians. The
16:29Chief of Staff warns that the West continues to adopt neo-colonialist approaches, considering
16:35the African continent only as a source of strategic rock materials.
16:49In the Netherlands, a museum in Amsterdam exhibits bronze pieces from Asia with pieces
16:58of up to 4,000 years old.
17:03Figures of all sizes and of varying date are on display at the National Museum in the Dutch
17:07capital, bringing together elements made of bronze that celebrate a history full of beauty
17:12and culture. More than 75 works are exhibited as a representation of the imagination and
17:17amazing skill of their creators, each of which explores themes connected throughout
17:21the tradition of bronze art on the Asian continent.
17:48The exhibition presents works from six museums in several Asian countries, including the
17:52National Museum of Bangkok in Thailand, and most of them are presented for the first time
17:57in Europe. Among the figures are statues of the deities Uma, Shiva and Vishnu, as well
18:02as sculptures of Buddha with various designs, some of them made between the 12th and 13th
18:07centuries. Horses, warriors, women and even bronze peacocks are presented to the Dutch
18:11public.
18:19One of the most striking pieces in this exhibition at the National Museum in Amsterdam is a small
18:27bronze depicting a standing woman, which some call a dancing girl, from Pakistan and dating
18:34from between 2500 and 1500 BC. Next to it, another striking artifact is an anthropomorphic
18:56figure, a small flat statue from the Ganges Valley in India, estimated to have been crafted
19:02between 1500 and 1000 BC.
19:09We have come to the end of this news brief, but you can find this and many other stories
19:13on our website at telesuryinglish.net and join us on social media. We are on Facebook,
19:18Instagram, Telegram and TikTok as well. For TELESURY ENGLISH, I'm Alejandra Garcia. Thank
19:23you for watching.