01/01/2025
FTS 8.30
*In Afghanistan Taliban’s escalate repression against women
*Cuba commemorates 66th anniversary of Revolution
FTS 8.30
*In Afghanistan Taliban’s escalate repression against women
*Cuba commemorates 66th anniversary of Revolution
Category
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NewsTranscript
00:00In Palestine, a total of 45 patients from Hand Unit Hospital in Gaza were evacuated
00:14outside the strip in order to receive medical treatment in the United Arab Emirates.
00:22In Afghanistan, the Taliban have taken a further step in their offensive against women's rights
00:26by announcing the closure of all non-governmental organizations employing women.
00:34And January 1st marks the 66th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, a milestone in the
00:39relentless struggle and resilience of the Cuban people.
00:44Hello, welcome to From the South, I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Televisual Studios in Havana,
00:52Cuba.
00:53We begin with the news.
01:12In Palestine, a total of 45 patients from Hand Unit Hospital in Gaza were evacuated
01:17outside the strip in order to receive medical treatment in the United Arab Emirates.
01:21The Palestinian Ministry of Health currently claims that several thousand people in Gaza
01:26are in need of medical treatment abroad as the health crisis in the region continues
01:29to worsen.
01:30The United Nations asserts that the situation has reached this point due to the constant
01:34and permanent attacks by the Israeli government on Palestinian territory, which have severely
01:39weakened the country's infrastructure in various spheres, such as medicine and public
01:43health care, and have forced the country to close most of its hospitals, while those that
01:48remain in operation are only partially functioning and facing a myriad of shortcomings.
01:59In Afghanistan, the Taliban have taken a further step in their offensive against women's rights
02:04by announcing the closure of all non-governmental organizations employing women.
02:09The move, which comes on top of a previous ban on hiring Afghan women workers for alleged
02:13hijab violations, reflects a systematic pattern of repression since the regime took power
02:18in August 2021.
02:20The regime's Ministry of Economy has warned that any NGO that fails to comply with this
02:25new order will face revocation of its license to operate in the country.
02:29The UN has expressed its deep concern, stressing that these restrictions not only affect women
02:34but also exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where millions are dependent
02:39on humanitarian assistance.
02:44And chess plays a key role in the lives of people in Russia, and especially in the whole
02:50of the Yugra region in western Siberia, being a popular sport among people of all ages.
02:55Let's see.
02:58Yugra has become famous as a world chess center.
03:02Important international competitions are held here, such as the World Cup, the World Chess
03:07Olympic, Grand Prix tournaments, and the World Rapid Chess Championship.
03:11The Yugra Chess Academy was opened in 2010 and serves as a venue for numerous tournaments.
03:22Chess is one of the most accessible sports for everyone.
03:25During the cold months when you just want to stay at home, chess is one of those sports
03:30that you can practice and play quietly without leaving your home.
03:34You can also do it online.
03:36We have a rich history of chess tournaments.
03:39Young masters have come and, of course, this also somehow energizes the younger generation,
03:45and they come with pleasure to watch them and try to follow in their footsteps.
03:54Yugra's significant influence on the world chess scene has been achieved in a relatively
03:59short period of time.
04:01Today, there is probably not a single chess fan in the world who has not heard of its
04:05capital city, Konamansiysk, as the Russian Chess Federation and the region's leadership
04:11have organized hundreds of chess competitions at the Russian and world level.
04:21Even if a person does not show sports results, they are certainly important as a tool to
04:26improve his professional qualities and competences.
04:29And furthermore, we are now considering the possibility of integrating neural networks
04:33and computer technologies at the preliminary stage from the point of view of the selection
04:38of talented and gifted children, precisely without involving professional coaches at
04:45the broad funnel stage.
04:46That is to reach as widely as possible the children who have potential.
04:57In Yugra and its capital city, many measures are taken to develop chess, which contributes
05:03to the formation of a strong chess culture in the region.
05:07Comfortable conditions have been created for the practice, since the region has an excellent
05:11sports infrastructure with professional staff, adequate programs and sufficient funding.
05:17This sport is also included in the main educational program of the schools and extracurricular
05:22activities and as part of additional educational programs.
05:34More than 200,000 children play chess in Yugra.
05:38This is no longer a school curriculum.
05:41For Russia this is a new stage, because not all regions have chess in school.
05:46Although there is a lot of talk about this, it is not easy to do.
05:50The school curriculum is quite conservative.
05:56It is very difficult to add a new subject, but we did it and we continue to do it.
06:04Chess is a fairly well popularized sport throughout Russia and a favorite of many Russian cosmonauts,
06:11including Yuri Gagarin.
06:13Chess fosters critical skills such as strategic thinking, problem-solving and concentration.
06:19Thus, chess is not only a recreational activity, but also a valuable tool in the integral formation
06:26of the future citizens of the world.
06:29We now have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok at Telesur English
06:33where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and much more.
06:37We'll be right back, stay with us.
06:58Welcome back.
07:07January 4th marks the 66th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution,
07:11a milestone in the relentless struggle and resilience of the Cuban people.
07:15This new anniversary symbolizes the enduring spirit of socialism, solidarity and resistance
07:20to external pressures such as the decades-long criminal blockade imposed by the United States.
07:25Despite the harsh conditions, Cuba has steadfastly maintained its sovereignty.
07:29This year, Cuba's forthcoming membership as partner in the BRICS Group
07:32represents a significant step towards deeper economic and political integration.
07:36As Cuba celebrates this historical occasion, many nations including China, Vietnam, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico
07:43have sent their warmest congratulations recognizing the resilience and achievements of the Cuban people.
07:49Mexico lost the dispute panel with the United States and Canada in 2023
07:54over a decree issued by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador
07:58which prohibits the commercialization of genetically modified corn for human consumption.
08:03Antonio Aranda has the details.
08:07President Claudia Sheinbaum informed that Mexico will continue to defend native corn
08:14after losing the dispute panel with the United States and Canada
08:19over the ban on the importation of transgenic corn for human consumption.
08:26Mexico is intrinsically linked culturally by our origin,
08:30by what our native peoples of yesterday and today are,
08:33and the resistance with corn.
08:35Corn is Mexico.
08:36That is why it is said that without corn there is no country.
08:39So protecting Mexico from planting transgenic corn is fundamental.
08:46There are already decrees, but now we want to take it to the Constitution
08:50and make it very clear that in Mexico it is forbidden to plant transgenic corn.
09:01Claudia Sheinbaum explained that one of her government's objectives
09:04is to guarantee self-sufficiency in corn for human consumption.
09:08Taking care of corn biodiversity.
09:13We are impressed by what is most important for Mexico.
09:22Even though we evidently believe that it has health effects
09:25and that this must be decreased,
09:27but the part that is fundamental to protect is the seeding of corn in Mexico.
09:31Mexico is the cradle of corn domestication,
09:34which is why it is important to take care of the original genetic biodiversity,
09:38says this specialist.
09:43The Creole corn that is grown mainly in southeastern Mexico
09:46only has yields of one to five tons per hectare.
09:51That is why Mexico defends from 2020,
09:54when the decree published by Congress
09:56That is why Mexico defends from 2020,
09:59when the decree published by President López Obrador came out,
10:03that the decree was more to prohibit glyphosate,
10:06but there was also a section that did not allow
10:09the importation of genetically modified corn.
10:16One consequence of banning the importation and planting of transgenic corn
10:21for human consumption could be the implementation
10:23of countervailing duties against Mexico.
10:26However, with the constitutional reform for the protection of white corn,
10:30Mexico can avoid the sanction.
10:35The government has established through President Scheinbaum
10:38and the Secretary of Agriculture that in February
10:41a constitutional law initiative will be in the Chamber of Deputies
10:44where the planting of genetically modified corn is prohibited,
10:49which does not contravene the treaty with the United States and Canada,
10:54but is a power of Mexico.
11:01In addition to the constitutional reform to protect native corn,
11:05Scheinbaum's government will promote agricultural production programs,
11:08provide free fertilizers and increase the creation of small and medium corn,
11:13bean and tomato producers, among other products.
11:18This also seeks to advance self-sufficiency in white corn,
11:22of which each Mexican consumes an average of 196 kilograms per year.
11:32Different opinions have been generated
11:34of the minimum wage readjustment agreement in Colombia.
11:36What do the workers say about it?
11:38Let's see the details in the report by our colleague Hernando Barr.
11:42The Colombian president, Gustavo Petro,
11:45decreed an increase in the minimum wage for workers
11:49after failing to reach an agreement between the business sector,
11:52trade union sectors, government representatives and workers.
11:55The proposals were far apart,
11:57with the workers proposing 12% and some business sectors 5%.
12:01Finally, the government opted for the figure of 9.54%.
12:06If the minimum wage grows, it makes the economy grow.
12:09Not the contrary.
12:19It is not with slave workers that the economy of a country grows.
12:23It is with workers who earn and have dignity in their lives
12:26that the economy of a country grows.
12:30This mentality of believing that workers have to be slaves in Colombia
12:34has been preventing the approval of the labor reform.
12:37This does not serve Colombia.
12:44It has condemned it to misery
12:46and to be the most unequal society in the world.
12:50After this figure was made public,
12:52trade union and business sectors assured that this increase
12:55could not only raise the levels of informality,
12:58but also increase the inflation rate,
13:00which so far this year has been 4.72%.
13:02For analysts, there are other costs
13:04that profoundly affect small and medium-sized businesses.
13:07For example, the increase in the minimum wage
13:09for workers in Colombia is not just an increase in the minimum wage,
13:12but an increase in the minimum wage for workers in Colombia.
13:15For analysts, there are other costs
13:17that profoundly affect small and medium-sized companies,
13:20thus ignoring other perspectives of the analysis and impact on the economy,
13:24much more than the minimum wage.
13:33There is a lot of criticism about this salary readjustment,
13:36but there is no criticism in terms of how much the banks
13:39are taking from the small and medium business sectors.
13:42The interventions of different unions have indicated
13:44that small and medium-sized entrepreneurs
13:46are going to have to lay off people because of this wage increase.
13:59But in no case has it been said that the financial costs,
14:03that is to say, what the banks keep in interest rates,
14:06also affects and affects in a much more important way
14:09the existence of micro, small and medium-sized companies.
14:15Unionized workers welcome this salary adjustment for 2025.
14:23A wage increase in the minimum wage of 9.54%,
14:26plus 200,000 pesos in the transportation allowance
14:29means that on average we have an increase of 11% over last year.
14:34This is a really important and significant figure
14:37for the increase in the minimum wage.
14:39This is a way to reduce the sum of the minimum wage
14:42This is a way to reduce the serious wage gap
14:44that the neoliberal and pro-business governments left us in the past.
14:52But what do other sectors of Colombia's workers think about it?
14:57What they should do is to control prices
14:59and even if they have increased 9.54%,
15:02they should not let everybody increase 10% or more
15:05because then nothing was done.
15:08It would seem that the salary is the same standard
15:11it does not go up and down, it is the same.
15:18Workers will go from receiving $1.333 to approximately $369.
15:23Despite this adjustment, the salary lags for workers
15:26earning the minimum wage in the country
15:28are notorious in comparison with other South American countries,
15:31ranking fifth according to the Static Statistics portal.
15:34Uruguay ranks first with an income of $556.
15:41Bogotá, Colombia.
15:45We now have a second short break coming up
15:47but before we invite you to visit our YouTube channel
15:49Ateles for English
15:50there you'll be able to rewatch our interviews,
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15:59Find your break, don't go away.
16:12Welcome back.
16:13The Peruvian Congress is preparing regulations
16:15to prevent large companies from paying taxes.
16:18According to some estimates, it is calculated
16:20that the state would stop collecting
16:22about $7 billion in taxes that could be used
16:25to benefit education and public health of the majority.
16:28Let's see more.
16:31Peru is one of the countries that collects
16:33the least taxes in life.
16:35In fact, it is one of the countries
16:37Peru is one of the countries that collects
16:39the least taxes in Latin America.
16:42However, the Congress is preparing a series of measures
16:45to exempt large companies from paying taxes.
16:54All these incentives and privileges that are being granted
16:57will affect even more the collection.
16:59It will be difficult for Peru to reduce its fiscal deficit.
17:08Next year there will only be a temporary reduction,
17:12but from 2026 we will resume increasing deficit rates
17:16and that will undoubtedly affect the credit risk rating
17:19that our country has.
17:26The beneficiaries would be the agro-exporters,
17:29hotels and restaurants.
17:31And according to the Ministry of Economy,
17:33it is estimated that in 10 years
17:35Peru would stop paying the state 26 billion soles,
17:38that is about $7 billion.
17:48In Peru more than 70% do not have property titles
17:52and this does not allow small agriculture to develop
17:55so this is also a shortcoming of the government
17:58and the regional governments that have to give them
18:00their property titles so that they can be subject to credit
18:04and there are many issues that the state has abandoned this sector.
18:08There are many gaps to close,
18:16for example the issue of communication,
18:18both the opening of roads, basic services.
18:22In the jungle and in the Andean zone it suffers a lot,
18:26unlike the coast that has greater benefits
18:29because there is the agro-export.
18:35In this context,
18:37the most discredited Congress in Peruvian history
18:40has quintupled its budget for 2025,
18:43increasing it from 282 million soles
18:46to 14-12 million soles,
18:48an approximate of $380 million.
18:58Who are the ones who benefit?
19:00The companies, the Gloria Group,
19:02the Romero Group and other economic groups
19:04who are the ones who benefit and have the land again
19:07and the agrarian reform of the 1960s
19:09has simply ceased to exist in our country
19:11because the land is once again in the hands of a few
19:14and they are benefiting at the expense of the exploitation
19:17of the agricultural workers.
19:24Peru ends the year with a fiscal deficit
19:27of 4% of gross domestic product.
19:30Failing for the second consecutive year
19:32to meet the fiscal target of 2.8% of GDP,
19:36spending more than it collects
19:38and giving tax advantages to those who have the most.
19:45Certain sectors have been growing significantly
19:48and instead of charging them more,
19:50they are being charged less.
19:52Therefore, a tax reform is key
19:54and it is not about spending less,
19:56but about spending well
19:58and having more resources to spend as a country.
20:01The tax pressure in the country is very low, 14%.
20:04It has dropped two percentage points in the last two years
20:07and is below the Latin American standard,
20:09let alone the standard of the developed world
20:11such as the OECD countries
20:13where the tax pressure is around 30% of GDP.
20:16We are below half of that.
20:22For the specialists consulted,
20:24there is little hope that the government
20:26will comply with these norms in case they are approved,
20:29since the executive has been acting
20:31in complicity with the Congress
20:33in favor of the power groups
20:35and to the detriment of the great majorities.
20:42In Argentina, among the many attacks
20:44by President Jairo Millán
20:46on everything related to art and culture,
20:48cinema is perhaps the most damaged.
20:50Our correspondent Fabián Crestivo with the details.
20:53There is a fierce attack.
20:57This is Argentine film director Adrián Jaime.
21:00Telesur spoke to him to find out
21:02how things are going in the audiovisual world,
21:04one of the sectors under attack
21:06by the government of Javier Millé.
21:10It becomes difficult to counter everything
21:12because you are not on equal footing for the fight.
21:17His films recover, among other things,
21:20the memories of the popular struggles in Argentina,
21:22which makes Adrián Jaime
21:24one of the government's main targets.
21:29Adorni accuses us of having received
21:31US$15,000 to make a documentary film,
21:33which is not true.
21:35Our film is called Born on Them.
21:37It is about the Cordobazo.
21:39We reconstruct those two historic days
21:41with the pure archive material.
21:43We did all the sound.
21:45We were working on the sound during the whole pandemic.
21:47Less and less is being filmed.
21:50This year, five films were filmed
21:52via the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisuals,
21:54out of the usual 200.
22:02The Argentinean government has also established
22:04a series of prohibitions for filming.
22:06You can't talk about Perón,
22:08nor about the achievements of Kirchnerism,
22:10nor film with, for example,
22:12the popular singer Lali.
22:15There is a cultural battle,
22:17a battle that is not lost,
22:19but is never settled.
22:21I don't believe that the 600,000 jobs
22:23that this industry generates,
22:25600,000 direct jobs,
22:27plus another 400,000 indirect jobs,
22:29an important portion of the GDP,
22:31where jobs are generated
22:33not only for those
22:35who are in front of the cameras,
22:37such as actors or directors,
22:39but for everything that is part
22:41of the audiovisual ecosystems.
22:45Hotels, logistics, carpenters, electricians,
22:47all of that at some point,
22:49due to the systematic attacks
22:51that have been taking place,
22:53is surely going to emerge
22:55as a second criticism.
22:58The director's concern
23:00is not only cinema, of course.
23:08Argentina's film industry
23:10is going to be diminished.
23:12Today, we are in a process
23:14of resistance and of seeing
23:16that the industry is going
23:18to be diminished.
23:20I would say that
23:22the film industry is going
23:24to be a part of the future.
23:26and of seeing how it can be sustained.
23:32We are trying to leverage what they are trying to destroy or what they have broken.
23:36International entities, the most diverse in Latin America, Europe and Asia,
23:41have declared themselves in favor of sustaining, as Leonardo Sparagli said,
23:46not only Argentina's cinema, but sustaining Argentina.
23:49From Buenos Aires, for Telesur, Fabián Restivo.
24:19For more UN videos visit www.un.org