President Maduro denounces USAID's financing to destabilize Venezuela // Argentina: Chamber of deputies approves Milei's “Clean Record” Project // Israeli army commits 270 violations in Gaza after ceasefire begins
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00:00In Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro reiterated his denunciation of the USA's financing of
00:10the extreme right-wing to destabilize peace in the country.
00:15Argentina's Chamber of Deputies approved a project promoted by the ultra-right-wing
00:22government of Javier Milley to proscribe former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
00:31And the Israeli army committed 270 systematic humanitarian violations in Gaza after ceasefire
00:37began.
00:44Hello and welcome to From the South, I'm Alejandra García from Telesur Studios in Caracas, Venezuela.
00:50To begin with the news, stay with us.
01:05Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reiterated Wednesday his condemnation of USA's financing
01:10of the extreme right to undermine peace in the country.
01:13The president expressed his rejection during the inauguration of the International School
01:17for Youth Leadership, where he noted that the Venezuelan opposition had become a business
01:22with profit-oriented purposes.
01:24During the event, Maduro also welcomed the meeting held by Russian President Vladimir
01:29Putin and his counterpart Donald Trump, where they agreed on strengthening their nation's
01:34bilateral relations.
01:36The Bolivarian president stressed the need to create a multipolar world where the right
01:41of the peoples of the South to access is respected.
02:03How many millions of dollars did they give to Juan Guaidó?
02:07They say that he directly cashed more than 5,000 million.
02:11Do you know what can be done with 5,000 million?
02:15How many schools can be built?
02:18How many hospitals?
02:24And I ask you, not you young people who are patriots, I ask the opponents who made you
02:28believe that Guaidó was the president, did you or your family receive any benefit?
02:35Did even one dollar of those 5,000 million dollars reach the mothers, the doctors, the
02:40nurses, the teachers in Venezuela?
02:43They stole everything.
02:48For them, being in opposition in Venezuela became a lucrative business, and now they
02:53are billionaires living in mansions.
02:57I have been denouncing this for years, but now we can see, and the evidence that everything
03:02we denounced was true is coming out.
03:05In this context, Venezuela repudiated on Thursday the unfounded accusations of the U.S. Southern
03:11Command.
03:12In a communique, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically repudiated the false
03:17and reckless statements made by the commander of the Southern Command, Alvin Holtzly, during
03:22his recent appearance before the U.S. Senate.
03:25These statements are baseless and repeat the same deceitful narrative but by dividing administration
03:32with which the Venezuelan ultra-right has swindled them using millions of dollars from
03:36U.S. citizens' contributions.
03:38The statement also adds that the Venezuelan ultra-right has swindled them out of millions
03:44of dollars in contributions from U.S. citizens.
03:47The accusations of drug trafficking, corruption and destabilization are nothing more than
03:52fake news and dirty war campaigns of the past which have already proven their failure.
03:57They seek to justify their own mistakes as well as the complicity and corruption that
04:02has led them to the situation faced today by extremists in Venezuela, trying in addition
04:08to cover up the real illicit trafficking networks in the region whose roots are widely known
04:14by the Southern Command.
04:15The government concluded by saying,
04:17Venezuela faces drug trafficking with a sovereign and responsible model, firmly combating a
04:23problem whose roots are outside its borders.
04:27Rejected the disqualifications of U.S. military organizations such as the Southern Command,
04:32which have a history of interference and colonialist attitudes, the Bolivarian government reaffirmed
04:37its commitment to a peace, stability and multicentric and pluripolar world.
04:42We call upon the political sectors of the U.S. and other countries of the world to support
04:48the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and at this moment we stay in Venezuela, where the
04:53first Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, rejected
04:58the media matrix generated by the extreme right after referring to the nationals who
05:03arrived in the country as members of the criminal group called Tren de Aragua.
05:08During his program Con el Mazo Dando, Cabello assured that the opposition is full of hate,
05:13referring to the far-right reactions after the arrival of the first two Conviasa flights
05:19from the United States with repatriated Venezuelans.
05:22In this sense, he emphasized that the plan Back to the Homeland has brought, since 2018,
05:28over 913,000 nationals victims of the hate campaign of the fascist far-right wing.
05:35Likewise, Cabello ensured that likely findings of the U.S. aid issue will be the money that
05:40they paid to mount a media campaign against Venezuelans' stability.
05:44Over 913,000 Venezuelans have returned with the Back to the Homeland plan, who were victims
06:04of a huge media campaign, a huge campaign without precedent, a perverse campaign designed
06:11and executed.
06:12Today, I guarantee you that, as soon as the topic of the USAID is gleaned a little, there
06:19will be the money that was paid so that this campaign against Venezuela would be directed
06:24by Ravel.
06:26He stole half of the money, I'm sure, or a little more, but that must be where the money
06:32came from.
06:35The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC reported that Venezuela surpassed the
06:40production of 1 million barrels per day in January.
06:43According to the OPEC report, the nation reached an average of 1,031,000 barrels of crude oil.
06:51In this sense, these figures represent an increase in production of 33,000 barrels per
06:56day, which means an upsurge in hydrocarbons in spite of the blockade and sanctions faced
07:02by the country.
07:03It is worth noting that in December 2024, Venezuela registered a production of 998,000
07:10barrels per day.
07:19In Ecuador, Hitman killed René Zamora, political chief of the municipality of Olmedo, located
07:25in the interior of Manabe province.
07:27Local media detailed that the victim was on his way to San Roque in a car and was surprised
07:33by Hitman, who shot him several times.
07:36Zamora was a political lieutenant of the canton and in 2019 he had been a candidate for major
07:42of Olmedo without obtaining favorable results.
07:46This murder adds to the wave of attacks on majors, municipal officials, prosecutors and
07:50prison officials that is being made by organized crime in Ecuador.
08:01In Haiti, several refugees from the town of Cairns Cove remain sheltered in a school
08:06as criminal groups continue to lay siege.
08:09The population of Cairns Cove, a commune high above the port of Prenz metropolitan area,
08:15continues to suffer the consequences of terrorist attacks that took place 15 days ago, claiming
08:20at least 150 lives.
08:22Local authorities stated that criminal groups have been murdering and setting fires to homes
08:27and schools.
08:28The International Organization for Migration reported in 2024 and so far in 2025 the number
08:35of displaced Haitians has tripled, exceeding 1 million people, more than half of them minors.
08:46The Haitian National Police eliminated several members of the criminal group Crase Bardet
08:51in the capital's community of Petitionville on Tuesday.
08:55In social networks, the Haitian National Police reported that during the shooting, several
09:00members of the group, led by Vithel Hom Innocent, were seriously injured, although the exact
09:05figure of members executed was not specified.
09:09According to data verified by the United Nations, the armed conflict in Haiti has left around
09:135,626 deaths and 2,213 wounded.
09:19For several years, the capital area has been marked by the criminal operations of the Crase
09:25Bardet, who imposed their law by means of intimidation and violence.
09:35And now we have a short break coming up, but don't go away, we'll be right back with more
09:38information from the South.
09:45Welcome back to From the South.
09:47Argentina's Chamber of Deputies gave the Clean Trade Project, promoted by ultra-right-wing
09:52government of Javier Millet, which seeks to proscribe former President Cristina Fernández
09:56de Kirchner.
09:58With 144 affirmative votes, the ruling Freedom Advances Party assured that, together with
10:05a Republican proposal and allied groups, moved forward with a project that stipulates the
10:10prohibition to be a candidate for elections, who have a ratified sentence in second stance
10:16for corruption offences.
10:18The opposition, the Union for the Homeland Party, argued that the law would violate the
10:23principle of innocence.
10:25It still remains to be voted in the Senate, where the ruling party would not have enough
10:29votes to pass this into law.
10:39In other informations, in Paraguay, the Ministry of Health issued an epidemiological alert
10:44due to an increase in cases of pertussis in the first weeks of 2025.
10:49To date, seven confirmed cases and one death have been reported.
10:53On a press release, Bibiana de Ejea, Director of Surveillance of Communicable Diseases,
10:59warned the population of the unusual behaviour of the disease, adding that there are 15 notifications
11:05of Bordetella pertussis as its casual agent.
11:09She also reported that five children had been hospitalised, three of them were kept in intensive
11:14care units and one died.
11:16De Ejea urged the population to complete the vaccination schedule for children and to promptly
11:22vaccinate health care workers and pregnant women.
11:33In Rio de Janeiro, a fire broke out at a carnival costume factory, in which 21 people had been
11:39injured, 12 of them seriously.
11:41The fire started at about 7.30 local time on Wednesday.
11:45Firefighters reported that 21 people had been rescued from the upper floors of the burning
11:51building.
11:52The Secretary of Health informed that the injured were taken to five hospitals, where
11:56most of them were treated for breathing issues due to the inhalation of toxic gases.
12:01Authorities briefed that the fire was under control, but its causes are still unknown,
12:06so an investigation is still underway.
12:11In Argentina, dozens of wildfires remain active in Corrientes province, where over 200,000
12:32hectares have been hit by the blaze.
12:34The Association of Rural Societies of Corrientes argued that fire outbreaks have damaged grasslands,
12:40pine forests and crop fields located in the scarcely populated rural areas.
12:45The National Institute of Agricultural Technology reported that so far in 2025 in Corrientes,
12:51fires have devastated just over 94,000 hectares, which represents 1.1% of the entire surface
12:59area.
13:00The coordinator of the Operational Command of Emergencies of Corrientes, Bruno Lovenson,
13:06described the situation as extreme, but he advances experts' forecast that rainfalls
13:11on the week could bring relief to the damaged departments.
13:20Australia braces for the arrival of Cyclone Celia and announces closure of schools, airports
13:26and mining activity.
13:28The country's meteorological department said that Celia is expected to reach Category 5
13:32and that there could be very heavy rainfall and destructive wind gusts.
13:37It also reported that it is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon between the towns
13:41of Carraza and Port Hetland, registering sustained winds of 175 km per hour and wind gusts of
13:49250.
13:50Australia took timely action by moving vessels to safe areas and suspending all academic
13:56aviation and mining activity in likely areas to be affected by the phenomenon.
14:07We have a second short break coming up, but don't go away, we'll be right back with more
14:11information.
14:18Welcome back to From the South.
14:20The Israeli army committed 270 systematic humanitarian violations in Gaza after ceasefire
14:25began.
14:26Palestinian authorities claimed that Israel was violating humanitarian agreements and
14:31urged mediators to force Tel Aviv to abide by the terms of the pact.
14:35Last week, more than 90 people were killed and 822 others injured by Israeli attacks
14:41since the beginning of the ceasefire.
14:44In addition, two more citizens were killed by bombs buried in rubble and 24 died as a
14:49result of injuries sustained during the aggression.
14:59For its part, the Israeli army has destroyed 85% of the water and sanitation facilities
15:04in the Gaza Strip during the 15 months of its aggression against the territory.
15:08The Palestinian government warned that as a result of this situation, the coastal enclave
15:13is suffering a serious crisis in the sector, which is home to more than 2 million people.
15:19In addition, the paralysis of the sewage treatment plant is exposing the population to numerous
15:24epidemics and diseases.
15:33The Israeli occupation forces have intensified their incursions into the occupied Palestinian
15:38territory of the West Bank, killing more than 70 people in 2025 alone.
15:44The city of Tul Karem and the surrounding refugee camps have been the target of Zionist
15:49attacks for 18 consecutive days, causing extensive material damage and heavy losses.
15:54The United Nations organization revealed that at least 40,000 Palestinians have been forced
16:00to leave their homes since the beginning of 2025 as a result of the Israeli bombardment
16:05and siege.
16:06In this context, the governor of the neighboring city of Jenin, Mohammad Jahar, denounced illegal
16:12detentions and said that the damage caused by the Israeli bulldozers in the last three
16:16years is estimated at more than $3 billion.
16:26The Egyptian and Jordanian governments reaffirmed their position on the immediate start of the
16:31reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the rejection of the displacement of Palestinians.
16:36Both countries reiterated their positions, including the crucial need to fully implement
16:41the ceasefire agreement, continue the release of prisoners and facilitate the delivery of
16:46humanitarian aid to the area.
16:48They also expressed the need to put an end to the genocidal and displacement practices
16:53of the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinians in the West Bank.
16:57They also reaffirmed their willingness to work with the United States to achieve a just
17:02and lasting peace in the Middle East, and stressed that they remain firmly opposed to
17:07the forced transfer of Palestinians.
17:15In France, the explosion of a grenade thrown into a bar in the Grenoble city has injured
17:20at least 12 people, six of them critically.
17:23The Grenoble public prosecutor François-Thaudet de Cousy said he had no clues as to the origin
17:30of the attack or details of the assailant, although he ruled out a priori that it was
17:37a terrorist attack.
17:38For his part, the public prosecutor Christophe Barret announced that the assailant was in
17:43possession of a Kalashnikov assault rifle, which was apparently not used.
17:49In case of emergency, the major of Grenoble, Eric Piol, announced that the hospital had
17:54activated its emergency plan in order to take care of the wounded.
18:03In China, at least four people died and 20 others were injured after an explosion at
18:08a warehouse in the city of Taishung on the island of Taiwan.
18:12According to the city's fire department, the fire broke out in the Xinkong Mitsuki shopping
18:17mall at around 11 a.m. local time.
18:20The agency also stressed that more victims may be found during the inspection of the
18:25site.
18:26Although evidence points to a gas leak, the authorities have ordered an investigation
18:30into the cause of the incident, as it is not yet known whether it is related to renovation
18:35work being carried out at the complex.
18:50China celebrated the Lantern Festival 2025 that is full of cultural expressions and lights.
18:56The event takes place on the 15th day of the first month of the new lunar year, that is
19:02on February 12 this year.
19:04Activities are held in all domestic provinces with dazzling thematic light displays, using
19:10lanterns in the shapes of dragons, snakes and other figures.
19:15People attend folkloric performances, firework shows and a next division of traditional costumes
19:21of different Chinese ethnics.
19:23The festival also includes Jiangxiao, a traditional Chinese dessert made of glutinous rice balls,
19:29which is a round shape, representing integrity and family unity, while its sweet filling
19:35symbolizes the promise of a joyful and prosperous year.
19:46The Chilean artist Rata Virus, alongside the artist Tec Contra la Pared and Casa One groups,
19:52have been carving a mural in Teja neighborhood to pay homage to former president Jose Pepe
19:57Mujica.
19:58They are using the virus' unique technique for the mural, which measures around 25 square
20:04meters containing the image of Mujica, together with his phrase, to stop fighting is to stop
20:10dreaming.
20:11The leftist Tupamaro leader had fought against 1973-1985 dictatorship and he was president
20:19of Uruguay for the 2010-2015 term.
20:23Nowadays, the 89-year-old former guerrilla is suffering from esophageal terminal cancer.
20:29Therefore, the artists were willing to tribute him alive.
20:41Pepe made me realize that it is possible to fight for ideals, to give one's life for
20:46ideals, to give one's life for the neighborhood, to give one's life for the people.
20:53It is a very unique neighborhood.
20:56The people who live here are very rooted.
21:00And Pepe Mujica is an ethical and political reference.
21:07Radio is a medium of entertainment and communication that has been in use since the last decades
21:12of the 19th century and precisely every February 13th is celebrated as World Radio Day.
21:19The day was proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO and adopted in 2012 by the
21:25United Nations General Assembly.
21:27Its main objective is to make of radio an interactive media that encourages debate on
21:33different topics of collective interest.
21:36Every year a theme is chosen for the celebration of World Radio Day and this year's theme
21:40is radio and climate change.
21:49And we have come to the end of this News Brief, but remember you can find this and many other
21:53stories on our website at www.telesurenglish.net.
21:56I'm Alejandra Garcia for Telesur English.
21:59Thank you very much for watching.