21/03/2025
FTS 12.30
*IOC elects first female president
*Israel Defense Minister threatens to annex parts of Gaza
FTS 12.30
*IOC elects first female president
*Israel Defense Minister threatens to annex parts of Gaza
Category
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NewsTranscript
00:00The Sudanese Armed Forces confirmed Friday the capture of the Presidential Palace in
00:14Khartoum from paramilitary rapid support forces.
00:21International Olympic Committee First Female President Kirsti Coventry faces significant
00:27challenges including protecting women's sports.
00:34On Friday Tel Aviv's Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened the annexation of Gazan territory
00:39spending the release of hostages in a booth that exposes the genocidal intentions of the
00:44Zionist regime.
00:51Hello and welcome to From the South, I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Havana, Cuba.
00:56We begin with the news.
01:10In Venezuela, the head of the Presidential Dialogue Commission, Jorge RodrÃguez, announced
01:15that the United States Department of State is hindering the repatriation flights of his
01:19countrymen.
01:21This is what he said in a meeting with relatives of the 238 Venezuelan citizens kidnapped in
01:27a prison in El Salvador after an illegitimate negotiation between the Secretary of State
01:33Marco Rubio and the Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
01:37The high official reiterated that the country has everything ready to carry out the repatriation
01:42process but the United States Foreign Office persisted in blocking the process.
01:48While the courts continue to question the government's handling of the three flights
01:52of migrants that ended up in El Salvador.
01:59According to US intelligence reports, Donald Trump's government has been unable to prove
02:04any link between the criminal organization Tren de Aragua and the Venezuelan authorities.
02:09A recent investigation published by a national media outlet confirms that the findings of
02:16federal agencies contradict the President's claims, which were instrumental in the invocation
02:22of the alien enemies law from wartimes.
02:25In this regard, a document shared by the intelligence services, dated February 26, 2025, concludes
02:33that the organization Tren de Aragua is not controlled by the government of Nicolás Maduro.
02:44The Guatemalan Migration Institute and the Forensic Anthropology Foundation signed a
02:49cooperation agreement focused on the search and identification of missing Guatemalan migrants.
02:54The agreement aims to implement joint actions that protect human rights and warranty a dignified
03:01treatment for migrants and their families.
03:04It will include the creation of an accurate database that records relevant information
03:10on missing persons, with a real-time information system with international institutions and
03:15direct contact with relatives.
03:17According to data provided by migration authorities, so far in 2025, 33 people have been reported
03:25missing, 15 have been found and 18 are still being sought after.
03:36The Brazilian Federal Police has blamed the social network X for the shortcomings in the
03:41blocking of profiles ordered by the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court.
03:45In a report to the judge, the police stressed that the platform not only allowed live broadcasts
03:51from the blocked sites but also facilitated the dissemination of links that contributed
03:57to the financing of communicators loyal to former President Jair Bolsonaro and far-right
04:03groups.
04:04In response to the report, the authorities have asked the companies Mera and X to provide
04:09data and content related to the publications of blogger Alan dos Santos.
04:15This situation has sparked a debate about the responsibility of digital platforms in
04:20moderating content and complying with court orders in Brazil.
04:30In Chile, NoMoreAFP and other social movements urged citizens to picket on March 30 against
04:36the pension reform.
04:38The organization's name, NoMoreAFP, stands for No More Private Pension Fund Managers.
04:44This one and other social movements will be rallying against the lower wages decreed by
04:49the pension reform.
04:51They further denounced citizens would be giving their money to the state and companies.
04:56Therefore, they summoned people to take to the streets to protest against the pension
05:01reform that only strengthens the private pension fund managers instead of eradicating them.
05:07In this regard, experts ensure that the reform is just a step forward in the short term as
05:13it does not sort out the structural crisis of the pension system.
05:27Argentina closed Thursday with $26.7 billion in reserves, the lowest figure since September
05:362024, having an impact on the dollar exchange rate in the black market.
05:42After having passed the Malays decree for a new indebtedness with the International
05:47Monetary Fund, the dollar was worth 1,300 pesos in the illegal market.
05:53Investors estimated that the dollar exchange rate in the black market had triggered the
05:58reversion of the upward trend somehow.
06:01However, they pointed out that this market couldn't help inflation lately.
06:06In this context, Economy Minister Luis Caputo labeled such inflation as an expected volatility.
06:12Nonetheless, analysts wondered how much more the central bank could uphold without the
06:17entry of fresh funds.
06:24On Thursday, the representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
06:30Organization, UNESCO, Eric Bollivy, denounced that media professionals in Haiti are being
06:36systematically targeted by criminal gangs.
06:39The official also prized the courage of the journalists who continue to work despite the
06:45deplorable conditions in the country.
06:47For this reason, UNESCO has established several mental health support programs for journalists
06:53as violence in the country is rapidly increasing.
06:56In December, two journalists were killed in a shooting in the country's capital, Port-au-Prince,
07:01while they were at the opening ceremony of a hospital.
07:12And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on Tiktok
07:15at TLSR English, where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and more.
07:20We'll be right back, stay with us.
07:23Welcome back to From the South.
07:43The Sudanese Armed Forces confirmed Friday the capture of the last stronghold held by
07:48the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum capital, where the civil war started two years
07:54ago.
07:55The army regained control of the Republican Palace and ministry buildings on the 21st
08:00day of Ramadan.
08:02These advances posed symbolic triumphs of the troops commanded by General Abdel Fattah
08:08al-Burhan.
08:09The information minister Khaled al-Ais further posted annexed that the flag had been raised
08:15on the palace.
08:16Likewise, the army spokesperson Nabil Abdallah informed they had seized large quantities
08:21of equipment and weapons.
08:23He made sure they were paving the way to an everlasting victory.
08:28The Republican fortress had been in the hands of paramilitary RSF troops for almost two
08:34years.
08:46The Russian Ministry of Defence announced the interception of 225 Ukrainian drones and
08:57successful strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure.
09:01Targets included airfields, command posts and drone storage facilities.
09:05Russian forces also repelled Ukrainian attacks in the Kharkiv, Donetsk and Saporozhia regions,
09:11further weakening Ukraine's offensive capabilities.
09:15In the Kursk region, Russian troops destroyed Ukrainian weaponry and drone control points,
09:20showcasing the effectiveness of Russia's air defence systems.
09:24Meanwhile, Ukraine launched a drone attack on the English military airfield in Russia's
09:29Saratov region.
09:37In Belgium, European Union leaders met in Brussels for a summit to discuss the Commission's
09:43proposal to rearm Europe and support Ukraine.
09:46In this sense, the European Union announced a new commitment to break its dependence on
09:51the United States for security, focusing on buying defence equipment in Europe, this after
09:57the Trump administration signalled that US security priorities lay elsewhere.
10:02It is important to remark that in recent years, the 27 European Union nations have placed
10:07about two-thirds of their orders with US defence companies.
10:12On the other hand, as for engagements in Ukraine, for the second time in a month, all
10:16European Union nations are willing to sign a joint statement for support for Ukraine
10:21except Hungary.
10:28French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that a crucial meeting of the Coalition of
10:33the Willing will take place in Paris next Thursday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr
10:37Zelensky attending.
10:39The gathering aims to address Ukraine's security needs and boost defence spending
10:44across Europe.
10:46This move comes after the Trump administration signalled that Europe should take greater
10:50responsibility for its own security.
10:53Macron emphasised the need for Europe to enhance its autonomy in defence capabilities and spending.
11:01This development occurs as France and Europe continue to pursue negotiations with Iran
11:06regarding its rapidly advancing nuclear programme.
11:10Meanwhile, France is pushing a bi-European approach for its defence equipment, working
11:15closely with European suppliers to enhance security capabilities.
11:25The British government has issued a travel alert for its citizens wishing to travel to
11:30the United States, warning them of possible arrest or detention.
11:33The risk of deportation is the main concern following the US government's reform of
11:39immigration policy.
11:40The British Home Office has advised travellers to make sure they have all the right documents
11:45in order when they travel to avoid being subjected to procedures that sometimes border on abuse.
11:52This announcement has caused concern for British travellers as airport searches in the United
11:57States have become more rigorous and at times invasive and violent.
12:03International Olympic Committee IOC first female president Kirstie Coventry faces significant
12:30challenges including protecting women's sport.
12:33In statements to the press, Coventry assured she is ready to deal with difficult men in
12:38high positions such as US President Donald Trump, the weaponisation of sports or the
12:44challenges of steering in IOC through an uncertain decade.
12:48She also mentioned her intentions to preserve solidarity among athletes and ensuring every
12:53one of them has the possibility to attend the Olympic Games in a safe way.
12:58In this context, outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach assured that choosing Coventry was a
13:04very important signal to prove the IOC is a truly global and inclusive organisation.
13:15Diversity and gender equality is one of these pieces of the puzzle but I think it was a
13:25important signal yesterday to demonstrate that we are a truly global organisation.
13:36I was the ninth president of the IOC and eight of them have been from Europe and one from the
13:50United States of America and this is not really reflecting the reality of a global organisation
14:00like the IOC with 206 National Olympic Committees on all five continents and therefore this election
14:09is more than anything else this commitment to globalisation and to be a global organisation.
14:23It's a really powerful signal. It's a signal that we're truly global and that we have evolved into
14:32an organisation that is truly open to diversity and we're going to continue walking that road
14:40in the next eight years. We have a second show break coming up but before we invite you to visit
14:46our Facebook page at Telecid English there you'll be able to watch our top stories,
14:51special live coverage and much more. Follow our page and activate of course the notification
14:55button to stay up to date on the world's most recent events and a show break. We'll be right
15:01back so don't go away.
15:31Welcome back from the south. On Friday, Tel Aviv's Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened
15:36the annexation of Gazan territory spending the release of hostages in a move that exposes
15:42the genocidal intentions of the Siamese regime. Without specifying which territories he was
15:47referring to, Katz assured that he has given orders to the occupied troops to expand security
15:53zones around Gaza with the exception of the Gaza Strip. He also said that he has given orders to
16:00with the excuse of protecting Israeli communities and trying to pressure the resistance to release
16:06hostages. Specifically, Katz threatened to use all military and civilian pressure including
16:11evacuation of the Gazan population south and implementing US President Trump's voluntary
16:18migration plan for Gazan residents. The move happens amid social pressure
16:23from relatives regarding the government's handling of the captives released.
16:31There was a lot of shelling around us and there were people killed.
16:36The children were extremely terrified so we left in a hurry without a clear destination.
16:45Fear gripped us before we left our homes and even here in this camp.
16:53There's still fear. We were displaced from Beit Hanoun and have moved between displacement sites
16:59more than 10 times. In this context, as Israel's military launches a renewed ground invasion of
17:09southern Gaza's Rafah, United Nations Agency warned of the worsening humanitarian crisis
17:15in the Strip. In this regard, UNICEF reported that at least 200 children have been dead in
17:21the past week alone, while United Nations Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, warned
17:27that progress made during ceasefire is being reversed. Palestinians are now facing huge
17:33reductions in the distribution of aid supplies due to the Zionist blockade. Furthermore,
17:39news reports alert that less than half of Palestinian Red Crescent emergency vehicles
17:45are out of operation due to fuel shortages. Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip has
17:50also decimated infrastructure and waste management system.
17:57On Friday, Yemeni forces warned the U.S. and Israeli governments of escalating retaliation
18:03for those who harmed the Palestinian and Yemeni people. Ali Al-Kahom, member of the political
18:09office of the Ansarullah movement, warned the two partners of the Gaza genocide that they should
18:15prepare themselves for the harsh response of his country. After denouncing attacks against his
18:21civilian population, the leader recommended Washington and Tel Aviv to be more attentive
18:26to the movements of the Yemeni forces. Hours earlier, Sayed Al-Houthi, leader of the Ansarullah
18:32movement, had confirmed four operations in less than 72 hours against Israel and the U.S. through
18:38an aircraft carrier.
18:51So many people have been affected by an oil spill in the province of Esmeraldas.
19:08The crude oil has polluted the river Esmeraldas, which supplies the cantons of Rio Verde,
19:14Atacames and Esmeraldas with water to make it drinkable. The families protested to denounce
19:19the lack of this vital liquid. The spill was caused by the rupture of the section of the
19:25Trans-Ecuadorian pipeline system. From this city, crude oil is exported,
19:30which crosses the north of Ecuador through pipelines that start in the Amazon.
19:39The United Nations warned on Thursday that the disappearance of glaciers is accelerating due to
19:50global warming. Authorities affirmed that glaciers will not be able to reach the end of the 21st
19:56century in areas of the European and American continent since their disappearance is becoming
20:02faster and faster. Experts say that since 1975, the glaciers have lost a large mass of ice,
20:10calculating some 9 million tons, equivalent to a block the size of Germany. The United Nations
20:16warned that this situation threatens an avalanche of consequences for economies, ecosystems and
20:22populations. In 2024 alone, more than 450,000 tons of glaciers were melted.
20:32And we have come to the end of this news brief, but you can find this and many other stories on
20:45our website at telesorienglish.net and join us on social media. We are on Facebook,
20:51Instagram, Telegram and TikTok as well. For TELESORIENGLISH, I'm Alejandra GarcÃa.