*Israel remains on Lebanon’s southern border as ceasefire deadline expires
*Ecuadorian congress to investigate increase in violence in 2025
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*Ecuadorian congress to investigate increase in violence in 2025
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NewsTranscript
00:00The Vatican has stated that Pope Francis has contracted double pneumonia for their complicated
00:17treatment for the 88-year-old pontiff.
00:23The Israeli occupation forces informed that they will remain in southern Lebanon despite
00:27the expiration of the deadline to withdraw completely from the Arab territory.
00:35And Ecuador's Congress announced the start of investigations into the increasing violence
00:39that has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people since January 2025.
00:49Hello and welcome to From the South, I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Caracas, Venezuela.
00:54To begin with the news, stay with us.
01:08The Vatican has stated that Pope Francis has contracted double pneumonia for their complicated
01:14treatment for the 88-year-old pontiff.
01:18On Tuesday, the Vatican said Francis' respiratory infection also involves asthmatic bronchitis,
01:24which requires the use of cortisone antibiotic treatment.
01:29Francis has been suffering from a respiratory infection for more than a week and was admitted
01:34to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy on February 14.
01:38The Vatican also declared that laboratory tests, chest, x-ray and the Holy Father's
01:44clinical condition continue to present a complex picture.
01:49The Pope, however, is in good spirits.
01:51A Vatican official noted that the pontiff had not been put on a ventilator and was breathing
01:56on his own.
01:58It was also announced that all public events on the Pope's calendar had been cancelled
02:02through Sunday.
02:07In Russia, residents of Kursk who lost their homes will receive a monthly compensation
02:13by order of President Vladimir Putin.
02:16According to authorities, the amount of the subsidy reaches $710, while the border region
02:22is liberated by the Russian forces.
02:25The measure announced on Tuesday will benefit more than 112,000 people, both pensioners
02:31and children, as well as citizens and workers.
02:34The figure equals the average salary in the Kursk region and is intended to compensate
02:40for the material losses that the residents of the area have suffered as a result of the
02:45Ukrainian attacks.
02:50In Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States reached agreements to promote and strengthen
02:54bilateral relations.
02:56The Russian presidential adviser, Dmitry Ushakov, said that both delegations discussed a number
03:02of issues, including strengthening bilateral relations, as both sides are interested in
03:07this.
03:08The Russian spokesman indicated that Moscow and Washington agreed to take into account
03:13the interests of the other party in order to normalise cooperation.
03:18These are the first meetings between the two powers since the beginning of the Russian
03:22special operation in Ukraine.
03:24No specific date has yet been set for Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to meet.
03:33In a press briefing, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that both governments agreed
03:38to send diplomatic personnel to the embassies in Moscow and Washington.
03:43The foreign minister added that both parties also agreed to form a process to settle the
03:48conflict in Ukraine.
03:50Lavrov further said that the renewed talks aimed to create conditions for mutual cooperation
03:56in order to regain previous levels and further develop in different spheres.
04:04Our deputies will meet as soon as possible and consider the need to remove these artificial
04:10barriers to the work of embassies and other Russian institutions in the United States
04:14and that of the United States in Russia.
04:20And without concentrating on any particular manifestation of these obstacles, they will
04:25try to take a systematic approach in order to put an end, once and for all, to these
04:29inconveniences, which really hamper the development of everyday, normal relations.
04:37In statements to the press after the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said
04:42Washington and Moscow showed a great interest in resuming talks on geopolitical issues,
04:47finding a solution to the conflict in Ukraine and strengthening diplomatic relations between
04:52both countries.
04:58There was a great interest, which we share, in resuming consultations on geopolitical
05:03issues, including various conflicts in various parts of the world, where both the United
05:08States and Russia have interests.
05:13And there was a big interest in removing artificial barriers to the development of mutually beneficial
05:18economic cooperation.
05:23We have agreed that a process on the Ukrainian settlement will be formed in the near future.
05:31The American side will inform us who will represent Washington in this task.
05:40And as soon as we know the name and position of the relevant representative, we will, as
05:44President Putin told President Trump, immediately designate our participant in this process.
06:06The Israeli occupation forces informed that they will remain in southern Lebanon despite
06:11the expiration of the deadline to withdraw completely from the Arab territory.
06:16According to Zionist-Lithuanian Colonel Nadav Chouchani, the Israeli troops would remain
06:21temporarily in five strategic vantage points just across the border in Lebanese territory
06:29until the Arab nation's military fully implemented its end of the agreement.
06:33On the other hand, the Lebanese government condemned the prolonged presence of Israeli
06:37soldiers in its territory and described it as an occupation.
06:42This is the second time that Israel violates the terms of the ceasefire deal, since initially
06:47its forces were supposed to have withdrawn from southern Lebanon by the end of last November.
06:56Thousands of Lebanese citizens have returned to their homes in the south of the country
07:01after Israeli troops withdrew from some civilian areas.
07:05At the same time, Lebanese soldiers established themselves in the post occupied by Israel
07:11and began work to clear the territory of possible explosive materials.
07:15During the conflict, more than 4,000 civilians from Lebanon lost their lives, more than one
07:21million were displaced and dozens of houses were destroyed by the Zionist fire.
07:31In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, thousands flee to Burundi as the M23 rebel
07:36group takes over Bukavu, south Kivu.
07:40Over 10,000 displaced people crossed the Roussif river while another group of residents fled
07:46from the Kamangola area, camping in the northwestern Burundian province of Sibitoke.
07:53Burundi authorities briefly closed the border crossing between the two nations as a precaution
07:57to moderate the flow of refugees.
08:00The M23 took Bukavu after capturing the city of Goma, in north Kivu, as well as the town
08:06of Kavumu and its airport.
08:12And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok at
08:16Telecid English where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and more.
08:20We'll be right back, stay with us.
08:30Welcome back to From the South.
08:46The government of Panama is holding in custody more than 299 migrants from different nationalities
08:52who arrived from the United States on February 12 as part of the mass deportation plan carried
08:58out by Trump's administration.
09:00According to local media, the government of José Raúl Molina intends to transfer the
09:04migrants to shelters in the Darien region and then send them to their countries of origin.
09:11In this context, the deported migrants denounced that they were locked in a hotel, stripped
09:16of their passports and cellular phones and forbidden to see their lawyers.
09:21The deportees arrived in the country during a period marked by tensions between Panama
09:25and the United States due to the ongoing threats of President Donald Trump to retake
09:30control of the Panama Canal.
09:35The government of Venezuela rejected on Tuesday through a comunique a false flag operation
09:41carried out by the government of Guyana.
09:44The official statement starts by reinforcing that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
09:49categorically rejects the vile montage promoted by the government of Guyana, which through
09:56its foreign minister, Hugh Hilton, thought intends to spread a hostile and malicious
10:01false narrative about an alleged attack against Guyanese troops.
10:06This is a false flag operation and fake news designed to manipulate public opinion and
10:12divert attention from the violations of international law that Guyana is committing in the Guyana
10:17Ezequiel.
10:19The communique follows by unveiling Venezuela is investigating the facts and the first elements
10:24gathered point to the fact that elements linked to illegal mining, which operate in the Guyana
10:30Ezequiel under the protection of the Guyanese army and police, were attacked and injured.
10:36These citizens are currently receiving medical attention in Venezuelan territory.
10:41We denounce that the government of Guyana, in its eagerness to cover up its illegal actions
10:46in the disputed territory, resorts to disinformation and warmongering propaganda to justify its
10:53increasing militarization supported by the United States Southern Command, which constitutes
10:58a threat to regional peace.
11:00The official communication also states, Venezuela demands that foreign ministers of Guyana cease
11:07his aggressions and lies and that instead of fomenting confrontation, he complies with
11:13his obligations under the Geneva Agreement of 1966, which establishes direct negotiation
11:19between the parties as the only way to resolve the territorial dispute.
11:24In its closing remarks, the communique reads, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reaffirms
11:29its firm commitment to peace and to the restitution of its sovereign rights over Guyana Ezequiel
11:35in strict adherence to international law and historical truth.
11:44Also in Venezuela, the Symposium on Digital Rights and Coexistence moves forward with
11:49the participation of at least 50 peace justices.
11:52Participants address issues related to the impact of new technologies in the Venezuelan society.
11:58Speakers highlighted the role of the Bolivarian revolution to face the technological phenomenon
12:04and allow a fair system of participation and wills.
12:08This space is to reflect on the role of social media and to provide a correct use of the same.
12:19Mexican President Claudia Sheinman announced that all repatriated migrants, including those
12:24who do so voluntarily, will receive support from the government.
12:29We can get them shelter and access to all supportive initiatives.
12:33If they return voluntarily, if they approach one of the shelters, or even if they are at
12:37the border, there are colleagues who are taking care of them, so, of course, even if
12:41they return voluntarily, they are repatriated, therefore, they have access to all the support
12:47provided by the state.
12:48Sheinman further indicated that the Mexican administration has been continuously working
12:52with the US government, noting that the nation's plan aims at surging domestic production of
12:59goods and services.
13:05We have been continuously working with the US government, we think we'll get through it,
13:09we are always positive, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that this process goes well,
13:14of course, without compromising our principles, principles of sovereignty, of non-intervention
13:28and non-interference, that this is our top priority and it is our responsibility as Mexicans,
13:33as women and men, and even more as President of the Republic, but well, this joint work
13:38with the US government is underway, in addition, we have been proposing this project since
13:52much earlier, this program, this plan called Mexico's Plan, which has the goal of soaring
13:58the national production of goods and services.
14:28Welcome back to From the South.
14:51The Confederation of Indigenous Peoples and Farmer Organizations of Ecuador, FEI, reaffirmed
14:57support for candidate Luisa González on April 13th round of election.
15:02On a communiqué, FIE members stressed the importance of uniting all social movements
15:08and popular sectors to achieve a landslide electoral victory.
15:12Likewise, they noted that the Citizens' Revolution Party rose up as a political and social response
15:19to an oligarchic system that neglected the people's needs and favored powerful groups.
15:25Moreover, the Confederation warned of the offensive of traditional elites to stop these
15:30advances through agencies such as USAID and CIA.
15:34Meanwhile, nominee Luisa González posted on social media her gratitude to FEI, underscoring
15:40the historic struggle of indigenous peoples in defense of their land and their dignity.
15:50Ecuador's Congress announced the start of investigations into the increasing violence
15:54that has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people since January 2025.
15:59Precisely, the President of the country's National Assembly, Viviana Veloz, stated that
16:04the current situation demonstrates a resounding failure of both the security policies and
16:10the Phoenix Plan promoted by the government of President Daniel Novoa.
16:14The head of the Parliament regretted that the recent violent events have minors as collateral
16:19victims.
16:20Furthermore, Veloz considered inadmissible and of great concern the appointment of General
16:26Fausto Buanano as new Minister of the Interior since he is presumably linked to acts of corruption.
16:37A new investigative process will be initiated regarding the increase of violence and citizen
16:42insecurity in Ecuador.
16:45So far this year we have had more than 1,050 violent deaths with collateral victims such
16:50as minors, which demonstrates a complete failure of security policies and also of the national
16:55government's Phoenix Plan.
17:00The Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay accepted on Tuesday the resignation of Parliamentarian
17:05Orlando Arevalo, who is currently being investigated for punishable acts related to corruption
17:11and criminal association.
17:13After an extraordinary session debate that started at 10 in the morning, the Paraguayan
17:18lower house unanimously accepted Arevalo's petition.
17:22Precisely, the former deputy had presented his resignation on February 8th after private
17:29conversations between him and the late legislator Eulalio Gomez, who allegedly contacted him
17:35when he acted as representative of the legislative body before the judge's prosecution jury.
17:51Mayan communities in Guatemala celebrate New Solar Year with a spiritual ceremony.
17:56Hundreds of indigenous Mayan people in Guatemala ushered in the new year according to their
18:01calendar with a spiritual ceremony at the sacred Mayan site of Caminal Juhu in Guatemala
18:09City on Tuesday.
18:11According to the Solar Mayan calendar, February 18th marks the start of a new era or cycle.
18:17In this regard, native people in Guatemala have different ways of counting time and use
18:22different calendars, but they recognize the solar show lab as the main calendar and the
18:28one that governs the Mayan year.
18:33On this day of the Mayan calendar, we are celebrating as several municipalities and departments
18:38because today we are starting a new year of 360 days plus five days called Huayep.
18:50There is nothing better than inhaling and exhaling on this day because towards cleansing
18:55And with this information, we have come to the end of this news brief, but you can find
19:05this and many other stories on our website at telecityenglish.net and also join us on
19:09social media.
19:10We are on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok as well.
19:15For Telecity English, I'm Alejandra Garcia, thank you for watching.
19:25We share your feelings, exhale your accomplishments, and show your reality.
19:36Our approach is global and keeps changing.