FTS 08:30 23-04: Body of Pope Francis is already lying in state

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00:00The body of Pope Francis has entered St. Peter's Basilica and is now lying in state after the

00:14liturgy of the war has ended. Donald Trump has now stated that high tariffs on goods

00:24from China would come down substantially, although they won't be zero.

00:31And in Palestine, an NGO denounced that Israel's renewed military offensive on the Gaza Strip

00:36has made the delivery of human RNA impossible, paralyzing any form of assistance.

00:44Hello and welcome to From the South. I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Derezo Studios in Caracas,

00:49Venezuela. We'll begin with the news. Stay with us.

01:05The body of Pope Francis has entered St. Peter's Basilica after being carried across St. Peter's

01:10Square and is now lying in state after the liturgy of the war has ended. The procession, which

01:16lasted just under 40 minutes, saw the transfer of the body of Pope Francis from his residence

01:20in Santa Marta, passing through St. Peter's Square and concluding at St. Peter's Basilica.

01:25Cardinal Camaralango Kevin Farrell has just completed the liturgy of the war. He and others

01:32read from sections of the Bible met with occasional responses from the congregation. Cardinals are

01:38now paying their personal respects to the late Pope as crowds filtered from seats outside

01:43in St. Peter's Square. Pope Francis' body is now inside St. Peter's Basilica where he

01:47will be laying in state until his funeral on Saturday.

01:57Latin America held a special place in Pope Francis' agenda with seven trips that included

02:01ten countries in the region. His first international trip was to Brazil shortly after his election

02:07and his last Latin American visit was to Panama in January 2019.

02:11Francis, the first Pope in history born in Latin America, had in this region some of the

02:19priorities of his pontificate, but he also found enormous challenges and limitations. During

02:25his visit to Cuba, Francis met with Commander Fidel Castro. Although it was a private meeting,

02:31it was an important moment because of his strong condemnation of the U.S. blockade against

02:35the island, the Supreme Pontiff also played a key role in the diplomatic rapprochement between

02:40Havana and Washington. During his visit to Brazil, the Pope criticized the inaction of the clergy,

02:46called for the recovery of the faithful and asked Catholics to go to the favelas of the cities,

02:51one of which he visited on that occasion. With gestures such as his support for peace in the

02:55region, Pope Francis gave the Vatican a leading role in peace negotiations such as the case of

03:01Colombia to seek an end to the armed conflict that plagues the country. Francis toured the

03:06Bolivian cities of El Alto, La Paz, and Santa Cruz. In this country, the Pope spoke of the sea and

03:12asked forgiveness for the oppression against indigenous peoples. In the midst of a serious

03:17political and economic crisis resulting from the U.S. blockade against Venezuela, the Pope took steps to

03:23establish a dialogue between the government of Nicolas Maduro and the opposition. Bergoglio took over the

03:28leadership of a church with great challenges and crises, two of which directly involved Latin America,

03:34the fall in the number of faithful and sexual abuse scandals within the church.

03:42Moving on to the topics, the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement to demand the

03:47release of Venezuelan migrants kidnapped in El Salvador, and further note that the Salvadoran Foreign Ministry

03:51confessed Tuesday an array of unlawful actions labeled as international crimes. The ministry denounced

03:57the violation of its national human rights as they were being arbitrarily deprived of their freedom,

04:02detained without judicial order prior trial in a maximum security prison center, subjected to

04:08degrading and inhumane conditions, which the statement described as very serious crime of human trafficking.

04:15The ministry further denounced the collective criminalization and institutional xenophobia by attributing

04:20without individual evidence the link between the detainees and transnational criminal organizations

04:25already dismantled in Venezuela, in open violation of the principal presumption of innocence.

04:31The authority finally condemned the immoral intentions of trying to impose a prisoner swap in these

04:36conditions, and described the situation as a legal aberration of bilateral relations.

04:41In this context, relatives of migrants kidnapped in El Salvador opposed Najib Bukele's proposal for a swap,

04:54as their relatives are not criminals.

04:56It is unheard of that they are going to exchange people in this case. At least our boys, at least the majority of those boys are innocent.

05:07My son is an innocent person, they cannot exchange him as a criminal. For another person who is in prison somewhere else here in Venezuela,

05:14and they may have some process, but my son does not really have any process, and he does not need to be exchanged for anyone okay.

05:20He needs his freedom because he is not a criminal.

05:34I do not accept it. That is, many mothers will say yes to force Maduro. No, it is not like that,

05:40because at least our children, nor mine, are not delinquents and we are not going to receive them like this.

05:45Take your politicians, and you take your delinquents. No, they are not delinquents.

05:57Likewise, relatives of migrants say that President Najib Bukele's proposal is evidence that he is carrying out a kidnapping.

06:03We, as mothers, could say, or hope that there was a pronouncement, however later on, calmer and calmer,

06:14I understood that this is not the way it should be, because in his letter, he openly explains that he wants to make a change for criminals for people of the Aragua train.

06:24Our relatives are not criminals. They are innocent people.

06:26There, in his proposal, it is evident that it is a kidnapping. He is the person who is executing this kidnapping,

06:37because it is a kidnapping, because there is no official list, there is no name of the people who are there.

06:44We have not had any communication with our relatives.

06:46And the Colombian government formalized on April 22nd the questionnaire of questions that will be part of the popular consultation on labor reform

07:01that will be delivered to the Colombian Senate next May 1st for his caution and voting.

07:05A correspondent ran to bar with the details.

07:07The Colombian government made official the 12 questions that will be part of the popular consultation on the labor reform

07:18that was rejected in the Colombian Congress.

07:20Vindicating workers' rights and recovering the lost legitimacy are some of the elements included in the questions that were read by the Minister of Labor.

07:27Do you agree that the workday should last a maximum of eight hours and should be between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.?

07:41Yes or no?

07:42Secondly, do you agree that a 100% surcharge should be paid for work on a Sunday or holiday rest day?

07:51Yes or no?

07:52Thirdly, do you agree that micro, small and medium productive enterprises, preferably associative,

08:00should receive preferential rates and incentives for their productive projects?

08:05Yes or no?

08:11The Minister of the Interior, who also attended this announcement,

08:18recalled the motivations that drove the first president of Colombia to seek solutions to the legislative blockage

08:24that prevented the advancement and discussion of transcendental reforms

08:27that were part of the political project with which Gustavo Petro was elected.

08:34It all starts because some people who did not have to sign the report signed in denying the debate,

08:39as I had never seen before in the Congress of the Republic.

08:42That day, the President of the Republic decides to go to the people to make a consultation on the labor reform.

08:52There is a sentence.

08:57The number 180 of the year 94 of the Constitutional Court that says that when there is a conflict

09:05between the legislature and the executive, it is settled by a consultation.

09:12Now it will be the legislators composing the Senate who will have to determine in plenary

09:22in a maximum of 30 days their endorsement regarding the questions formulated.

09:26For their approval, 55 votes are required for a total of 108 senators,

09:31and the consultation can be carried out.

09:33We hope that the Senate does not interfere in this popular consultation.

09:42Once the Senate approves within the next four months,

09:44the registry has to set a date to hold the elections

09:46and people have to vote yes or no to each of the 12 questions.

09:52The votes are counted individually question by question.

09:55Today, the popular consultation is a mandate of the people.

10:03Therefore, the Senate of the Republic has to comply with the popular mandate

10:06as it is stated in the political constitution of Colombia.

10:09A referendum is the result of a popular mandate.

10:12Therefore, what it has to do is to give it the necessary procedures

10:15so that these questions are formalized and carried out.

10:17The Colombian president announced that on May 1st,

10:25he himself will submit the questionnaire of the popular consultation

10:28on labor reform to the presidency of the Senate

10:31so that it may begin its discussion and processing.

10:34Hernán Dario Tobarga y Tán Telesur, Bogotá, Colombia.

10:41We have now our first break coming up.

10:43Remember, you can join us on TikTok at Telesur English.

10:46We will find news in different formats, news updates, and much more.

10:50We're going to be right back. Stay with us.

11:08Welcome back.

11:09On another sharp turn of events, Donald Trump has now stated

11:12that high tariffs on goods from China would come down substantially

11:15although they won't be zero.

11:17During a White House news conference,

11:19Trump stated that the final tariffs would not be near the current 145%,

11:24which he described as too high.

11:26The remarks come after Treasury Secretary Scott Besson declared

11:29that the high tariffs were unsustainable

11:31and that he hoped for a trade war de-escalation

11:34as the Asian giant had countered with 125% tariffs on U.S. goods.

11:38With the new possibility of a deal on the table,

11:41the markets have shown positive signs following great uncertainty

11:44as investors worry about a slower economy and inflation.

11:50I'm sure 145% is very high, and it won't be that high.

11:55It's not going to be that high.

11:57It got up to that.

11:58We were talking about fentanyl where, you know,

12:01various elements built it up to 145%.

12:04But no, it won't be anywhere near that high.

12:07What level do you think it'll come down to if you haven't?

12:09It'll come down substantially, but it won't be zero.

12:13It used to be zero.

12:14We would just destroy China.

12:18In this context, the U.S. president also highlighted

12:21that they plan to be very nice to China

12:23and are hoping to reach a deal.

12:26We're going to be very nice.

12:27They're going to be very nice.

12:29And we'll see what happens.

12:31But ultimately, they have to make a deal

12:32because otherwise, they're not going to be able to deal in the United States.

12:37So we want them involved.

12:39But they have to, and other countries have to make a deal.

12:42And if they don't make a deal, we'll set the deal

12:44because we're the ones that set the deal.

12:48Scott and Howard and myself and others,

12:53we're going to be setting the deal.

12:55And it'll be a fair deal for everybody.

12:57And it'll be, I think it's a process that's going to go pretty quickly.

13:01We've spoken to him now.

13:02Meanwhile, U.S. former Vice President Al Gore

13:04sharply criticized President Donald Trump's during a speech in San Francisco,

13:09accusing him of dismantling U.S. efforts to fight climate change

13:12and undermining the country's democracy.

13:14Speaking at the opening of San Francisco Climate Week,

13:16the 77-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner

13:19warned that the Trump administration's rollback of environmental protections

13:23and support for the fossil fuel industry posed an existential threat

13:26to both the planet and democratic institutions.

13:29Al Gore urged citizens to resist what he described as a coordinated effort

13:33to hold progress on clean energy and erode democratic norms.

13:37Drawing a historical parallel, he cautioned against the manipulation of truth

13:41by those in power, emphasizing the importance of defending both climate action

13:46and the foundations of democracy.

13:47We've already seen, by the way, how populist authoritarian leaders have used migrants

13:54as scapegoats and have fanned the fires of xenophobia to fuel their own rise to power.

14:01And power-seeking is what this is all about.

14:04Our Constitution, written by our founders,

14:07is intended to protect us against a threat identical to Donald Trump,

14:12someone who seeks power at all costs to get more power.

14:20We now have our second break coming up.

14:22Before, we invite you to visit our Facebook page at The Street English.

14:25There you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage, and much more.

14:29Follow our page and activate the notification button

14:31to stay up-to-date on world's monsters and events.

14:33A final break, and we're going to be right back with more.

14:35A final break, and we'll be right back with more.

15:05Welcome back.

15:06The organization Oxfam Intermon has denounced that Israel's renewed military offensive on the Gaza Strip

15:11has made the delivery of humanitarian aid impossible, paralyzing any form of assistance.

15:17According to the NGO, this situation has created a nightmare for half a million people

15:21who are trapped in insecure and inaccessible areas,

15:23with more than 70% of the population deprived of water, food, and essential medicines.

15:29Health authorities in Gaza confirm that the lack of resources has led to the death

15:33of 17 children from cold and 52 from starvation,

15:37reflecting the collapse of the health system and critical shortages of medical supplies.

15:41The Israeli blockade has prevented the entry of drugs,

15:44carrying food, drinking water, fuel, and medicine,

15:46while ongoing attacks have destroyed vital infrastructure,

15:49including desalination plants and health centers.

15:52Family members and colleagues of the 15 emergency responders that were killed by Israel in Gaza last month

16:04have spoken out about the attack that sparked international outrage,

16:07calling for an independent investigation.

16:09On March 23rd, an ambulance convoy departed from Han Yunis towards Rafa in southern Gaza

16:14to rescue civilians trapped on the bombardment.

16:17But the convoy never reached its intended destination and disappeared without a trace.

16:21Days later, 15 emergency workers were found murdered and buried in a mass grave,

16:25while Israel has stated there was no cover-up of the scene.

16:29Refusing external probes, the rescue organizations demand a special investigation

16:32and alert about a clear breach of international law.

16:35They shot them in the head, then they buried them with bulldozers.

16:48They didn't even let us see them.

16:53We shared images of all our vehicles and uniforms through the ICRC.

17:00But that didn't spare our teams from being targeted.

17:08We are officially demanding through the UN Security Council

17:11a special investigation into the cold-blooded killings of our medical workers.

17:18The international humanitarian law guarantees the protection of civilians,

17:22including international organization personnel,

17:29as well as workers at the civil society,

17:31as long as they are not part of the conflict.

17:35These all kind of attacks are impeding the ability to continue the humanitarian mission

17:42that is dedicated primarily to alleviate the suffering of the affected population

17:47by armed conflicts and, in many cases, life-saving situations.

17:52And in Cuba, the defense of the Palestinian cause is still present

17:55with messages of hope and resistance.

17:57In Havana, the International Biennial of Graphic Humor,

18:00held under the slogan,

18:01Less Fake and More News, opens the Gaza exhibition.

18:04The fact that these images of solidarity were filmed in Havana is no coincidence.

18:13It happens that this island and Palestine have an enemy in common.

18:17The same enemy that finances the genocide and occupation of the Palestinian people

18:21is the same one that has blockaded Cuba for more than 60 years.

18:25With the participation of design students and workers of our institute,

18:32we are making this mural in a public place as a voice of resistance.

18:39All the people who pass by here will be inspired by this image

18:44to learn more about the Palestinian cause

18:46and to be sensitized with one of the causes that at this moment marks the humanity.

18:50For Cubans, the Palestinian cause is the most urgent one that humanity is experiencing.

19:01Before the eyes of the world, a genocide is taking place,

19:04an ethnic cleansing with total impunity.

19:07They are students of the Higher Institute of Industrial Design,

19:10and they paint another mural in the streets of Havana.

19:12The idea is always to draw people's attention,

19:18and art is always good for that, to make people question themselves,

19:21to ask what is going on, what is this all about because we are talking about Palestine.

19:30We hope this will help to communicate and raise awareness for the cause.

19:38Solidarity is always necessary,

19:40and that the Palestinians can see that the world is with them.

19:43In an international biennial of graphic humor,

19:49such as the one taking place in Cuba these days,

19:52Palestine, Gaza could not be missing.

19:54This collective exhibition,

19:55curated by Fadi Abu Hassan and Aristides Hernandez,

19:59is open to the public at the iconic corner of 23rd and 12th.

20:02My work reflects the loss of the family.

20:09Sometimes the parents are not there because of the war

20:11or the parents lose their children.

20:13Also because the massacre of the children in that territory is horrendous.

20:21And it is our way of denouncing to the world the sadness that is happening in Gaza.

20:25We are hopeful that someday this war,

20:27this massacre will end and there will be peace in the Palestinian territory.

20:30This is a caricature, but it is political satire.

20:43The one who thinks in caricature always thinks in the edge of the comical.

20:47Here is humor.

20:49But the subject is so hard that it is not an exhibition to laugh,

20:58but to reflect on the issue of Gaza.

21:00Palestine violence and the image that is here are some posters

21:03that serve to denounce what is happening with that people.

21:1060 works by 58 artists from 30 countries.

21:16The graphic humorists of the world raise from Havana

21:18a banner of resistance and combat against war,

21:22lies and disinformation.

21:23In Turkey, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake was felt in Istanbul on Wednesday,

21:44with no reports of damage or injuries so far.

21:46The United States Geological Survey said the earthquake had a shallow depth

21:49of 10 kilometers with an epicenter some 40 kilometers southwest of Istanbul

21:53in the Sea of Marmara and was felt in several neighboring regions.

21:57It is worth highlighting that Turkey is crossed by two major fault lines

22:01and earthquakes are frequent.

22:03In this sense, let's recall that a magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook the nation

22:07on February 6, 2023, damaging hundreds of thousands of buildings

22:11and leaving more than 53,000 people dead.

22:13Like this, we have come to the end of this news review.

22:20You can find this and many of the stories on our website

22:22at www.testfulenglish.net

22:23So join us on social media, Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok.

22:28For Testful English, I'm Luis Alberto Matos.

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