Venezuelan government dismantles network of internal coyotes // RDC Displaced people and insecurity crisis increase in several localities // Chinese government calls for avoiding geopolitical games in Asia-Pacific
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00The government of Venezuela announced on Friday the dismantling of a network of internal coyotes
00:09that sought to destabilize the country.
00:15In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the displacement crisis is growing and aid workers
00:20are reportedly unable to reach victims due to insecurity.
00:29Even the Chinese government is concerned about the Asia-Pacific confrontation and believes
00:34that unnecessary tensions could harm regional and global security.
00:43Hello and welcome to From the South, I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Caracas, Venezuela.
00:48We begin with the news, stay with us.
00:59The government of Venezuela announced on Friday the dismantling of a network of internal coyotes
01:08that sought to destabilize the country.
01:10This way, during the programme Cintruco ni Mañas, the Minister of Interior, Justice and
01:15Peace, Diosdado Cabello, stated that with a network linked to which three persons were
01:20arrested, the extreme right wing was seeking to sow a campaign of fear and uncertainty
01:26among young people.
01:27In the same programme, Cabello pointed out that part of the resources for this operation
01:32were financed by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID.
01:37Furthermore, he assured that the term Aragua Train is part of a narrative against the country
01:43with the objective of creating a non-state to justify an intervention.
01:53Yesterday we dismantled.
01:55We finished dismantling the network of internal coyotes that has not been informed on before.
02:01But we dismantled the network of internal coyotes, we finished dismantling it.
02:08Who were they?
02:09Well, for example, that group was the one that worked to get Leopoldo Lopez out of Venezuela,
02:16and they were planning to rescue Rocio San Miguel and another detained person from a
02:20clinic when she was taken to be operated on, in order to extract them.
02:29President Gustavo Petro expressed his condemnation of the United States and United Kingdom's
02:33refusal to support a declaration calling for the ethical application of artificial intelligence
02:38in the world.
02:39The President has stressed the importance of establishing a global public regulation
02:43warning that the lack of norms could represent a serious danger for humanity.
02:48The U.S. and U.K. refusal follows a declaration on IA, which was issued during a summit in
02:55Paris earlier this week, in which 60 countries and regional blocs participated.
03:01In this sense, the Colombian head explained that if a small group of billionaires were
03:06to appropriate collective intelligence, it could lead back to structures where both public
03:11and private economies would have to pay for the use of digital knowledge.
03:22President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a set of reciprocal tariffs on his country's
03:26trading partners, what will match the rates applied by each nation to the United States.
03:32After the announcement of the measure, the President signed a memorandum on the matter,
03:37which will allow his administration to execute the review process to implement the initiative.
03:43Trump assured that the equalization of tariffs with other countries will lead to the return
03:49of pharmaceutical, automotive and integrated circuit manufacturers to U.S. soil-boosting
03:55job creation.
03:56However, analysts have said that the tariff policy could backfire on Trump if his agenda
04:02increases inflation and slows economic growth, making it a high-risk gamble for the country.
04:33In addition, we will make a provision for subsidies provided by countries in order to
04:40take economic advantage of the United States, which a lot of countries do, including our allies.
04:47Our allies, in many cases, are worse than our enemies in this having to do with trade.
04:53Lawyers representing the Single National Union of Construction and Similar Industries of
04:58Panama, Centrax, denounced serious violations of political prisoners' right to self-defense,
05:04condemning that they couldn't get access to their clients.
05:07Attorneys asserted that they could communicate with their clients following the mass arrest
05:13of union members who were protesting against Law 163 past Wednesday.
05:18Relatives of the detainees and workers have rallied for demanding transparency and an
05:23end to authorities' repressive actions outside the training and recreation center.
05:28Over 400 individuals had been arrested and taken to the Peace House in Caledonia.
05:34Some of them faced administrative and monetary penalties.
05:43In Haiti, after a confrontation between armed groups, criminals set fire to the hospital
05:48of the country's state university, leaving at least three people dead and several wounded.
05:53The health center, located in the capital Port-au-Prince, was reportedly left in a deplorable condition.
05:59Precisely, the hospital was the only place where Haitians could access medical care, including dialysis.
06:06In the aftermath of the incident, health authorities and the media are on the scene,
06:11working towards reopening the vital institution.
06:15At the same time, thousands of Haitian families have been forced to leave the area
06:20due to the tensions caused by the presence of criminal groups and this insecurity crisis.
06:25Displaced people denounced the government's inaction against the organization
06:30that plagued the Salina neighborhood and other areas of Port-au-Prince.
06:34The Order of Human Rights Defenders warned that violence by criminal groups in Haiti
06:40left at least 6,938 people dead, 1,648 injured and another 1,515 kidnapped in 2024.
06:57And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok
07:01at TeleCity English where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and more.
07:06We'll be right back, stay with us!
07:10A RISE IN HATE CRIMES
07:19Welcome back to From the South.
07:21A rise in hate crimes has led Bahia, the Brazilian state with the highest proportion of black residents,
07:27to inaugurate its first specialized police station for crimes of religious intolerance and racism.
07:33Our correspondent Brian Meir has more.
07:36118 million Brazilians have African heritage.
07:41This influence can be seen in organized religions like Candomblé, which is practiced by millions of people.
07:47With a rise in popularity of evangelical Christian churches, however,
07:51crimes against Afro-Brazilian religious followers are on the rise.
07:56In 2024, Brazil registered 3,853 religious hate crimes, up 80% from 2023.
08:05We've suffered racism and intolerance from the moment we were pulled out of Africa.
08:11It came with slavery, and this didn't change after we arrived in Brazil.
08:16Even though Brazil is a secular nation which has a statute that guarantees racial equality
08:22and the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, IT doesn't happen in practice.
08:27Racism and religious intolerance have been increasing in Bahia and Brazil.
08:32Typical crimes against followers of African-based religions include
08:36evangelical pastors with loudspeakers leading exorcisms in front of Candomblé temples,
08:42harassment of worshippers, death threats, and arson against temples.
08:48In response to this problem, the Bahia civil police have created
08:52its first specialized police station for racism and religious hate crimes.
08:57Bahia is a state with a lot of black people and Salvador is a city with a lot of black people.
09:04Nevertheless we have a lot of crime of racism and religious intolerance in this city.
09:09This is why we had to create a specialized police station to conduct investigations
09:14as quickly and effectively as possible and provide answers to society.
09:18It's hoped that other police departments across Brazil will found similar stations
09:22based on the Bahia civil police model.
09:25Brian Meir, Telassur, Salvador.
09:30In Argentina, social organizations, trade unions, and human rights defenders
09:35participated in the resistance march held in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires.
09:40Every year, the mothers of the Plaza de Mayo rally against the dictatorship
09:44and neoliberalism of the 90s.
09:47Likewise, the demonstrations became a symbol of resistance against the loss of impunity
09:52and repression of democracy.
09:55This time, the mobilization takes place amid a critical economic situation in the country.
10:00According to recent reports, poverty and indigence indexes increased 0.9% in January,
10:07being the majority of the affected people the elderly and families with more than four members.
10:18The Prime Minister of Georgia accused the U.S. Agency for International Development,
10:22known as USAID, of planning color revolutions in the country
10:27as well as interfering in its electoral decisions.
10:30The USAID was involved in the planning and implementation of revolution processes.
10:35There is concrete evidence of this, including video evidence,
10:39said Prime Minister Irakli Kobayeshi.
10:42According to the executive, the organization has also been directly involved
10:46in the political and electoral processes of the country.
10:50In this regard, Kobayeshi expressed his satisfaction that the new U.S. administration
10:55is finally talking about all the irregularities surrounding USAID's activities.
11:05The Vatican informed on Friday that Pope Francis has been admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Hospital
11:11for diagnostic tests and for the treatment of an ongoing bronchitis.
11:15The Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church had met with the President of Slovakia, Roberto Fico,
11:21as part of his scheduled agenda, but was admitted to the health facility soon afterwards.
11:26Due to his health condition, meetings had been held in his residence, Casa Santa Marta,
11:32foregoing the usual Papal Palace.
11:34The hospitalization comes after the Pope had to interrupt the homily of a mass in St. Peter's Square
11:40on Sunday due to breathing difficulties.
11:43Then, on Wednesday, he halted the reading of the Catechesis to the general audience.
11:54Following the displacement and insecurity in North and South Kivu,
11:58the United Nations warned of the increased humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
12:03The United Nations explained that the advances of the rebel group M23 forced the displacement
12:09of 350,000 people after the destruction of 70,000 emergency shelters in Goma and Minova.
12:16In addition, the entity said that half of the humanitarian workers in this area
12:21are unable to reach victims because of insecurity and constant displacement.
12:26The United Nations described as alarming the humanitarian crisis for the large devastation
12:31surging the risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases such as cholera and measles.
12:43In China, the government urged to avoid a scenario of confrontation and political division in the Asia-Pacific region.
12:50Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Yiqin pointed out that nations should establish relations
12:57and cooperation without involving third parties.
13:00The diplomat further spurred not to promote confrontational agendas that raise unnecessary tensions
13:06which could harm regional and global security.
13:09The spokesperson implicitly referred to a recent meeting between US President Donald Trump
13:15and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi where the US announced an increase in the sale of arms to India
13:21including F-35 fighter jets.
13:29We have a second shower break coming up.
13:31But before we invite you to visit our YouTube channel at The Lesser English
13:35that you'll be able to re-watch our interviews, top stories, special broadcastings and more.
13:40Hit the subscribe button and activate the notification bell to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.
13:46Fun and shower break, don't go away.
13:52Welcome back to From the South.
13:54Authorities denounce the resumption of Israeli expansionist plans to occupy the West Bank and expel Palestinians.
14:01Palestinian experts denounce the construction of new settlements and roads by Israel
14:06which exposes the strategic expansion plan.
14:09They point out that the shelters have been carrying out a gradual annexation in the West Bank since 1967
14:16based on the division of the West Bank into corridors with the aim of separating the Palestinian cities
14:21and connecting the settlements by a network of independent roads.
14:25The Commission of Resistance to the Wall and Settlements warned of the confiscation of more land
14:31and denounced the violation of international law to make life difficult for Palestinians
14:36in order to force them to live under the pretext of voluntary migration.
14:45In this context, the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, criticized the offensive of the Israeli occupation forces against the West Bank.
14:53In a communique, UNICEF expressed its deep concern at the high human cost and deterioration of children's lives
14:59caused by the attacks and bombardments of the Palestinian territories.
15:03The agency denounced that in 2025 alone, at least 13 people were killed in the West Bank,
15:09an increase of 200% since the intensification of aggressions on October 7th, 2023.
15:15The officials condemned all acts of violence, especially in the governorates of Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas
15:22and called for a cessation of hostilities in the West Bank for the sake of children and the population.
15:33The government of Greece declared a state of emergency on Anafi island due to the earthquakes that have been shaking the area in recent days.
15:51The civil protection authorities indicated that the measure applied to the island, located in the Cyclades archipelago, will be enforced until March 13th.
16:01Previously, the government established a seismic alert for the islands of Santorini and Amargos.
16:07Up to February 8th, more than 12,800 tremors have been recorded in the area,
16:13the strongest being a magnitude of 5.3 recorded some 20 km south of the Amargos.
16:20Heavy rains in Peru have affected more than 2,800 houses and 14 others have been destroyed.
16:32Infrastructure damage and roads were also affected in the Ica region south of the country.
16:38In a press release, the National Civil Defence Institute reported that the damage includes two educational institutes,
16:45a health centre 6.2 km off communication lines, 200 hectares of crops, drinking water and electricity.
16:52They also indicated that they are still evaluating possible effects on the ajo glyphs of the Ingenio Archaeological Reserve,
17:00where tents were installed in the sport complex by the municipality, as well in other districts of Xanguillo, Santiago, Parcona and Santa Cruz.
17:10Therefore, INDESI urges to keep local emergency centres active.
17:30In the second edition of the Islamic Arts, Biennale is being held in Saudi Arabia,
17:35a meeting that seeks to modernize the Islamic tradition. Let's see.
17:42The city of Jeddah, on the shores of the Red Sea, hosts this event covering 100,000 square metres
17:47with five exhibition halls and numerous open-air spaces, displaying more than 500 pieces, including modern objects and ancient works.
17:55The Biennial, the first and only exhibition in the world dedicated to the arts of the Islamic civilization,
18:01is committed to the juxtaposition of relics with the aim of transforming the ultra-conservative image of this religion.
18:07Islam is a lived system. It is experienced by billions of people from around the world.
18:14Our experiences with Islam shape culture, shape our understanding of ourselves.
18:20In the Biennale, this bringing together of the contemporary past really emphasizes the change that Saudi Arabia is going through.
18:29This Islamic Arts Biennial features the participation of more than 30 artists from all over the country,
18:34as well as guests from the Gulf region and other countries, allowing visitors to view objects and works from various parts of the world.
18:41Included in the exhibitions are displays from sacred sites such as Mecca and Medina, including Islamic holy objects such as the sacred Kiswah.
18:49There are also collections from the cultures of Mali, Qatar and Turkei, and samples from more than 30 of the world's most important institutions,
18:56including the Vatican Apostolic Library in Vatican City, the Louvre Museum in Paris, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
19:03For me, the Islamic arts context, it's definitely given me a lot of thought and research,
19:10and diving deeper into what it means to me and what it means to us regionally.
19:14And again, it's about, I think, recontextualizing, reframing, putting it within the global context, but also historical.
19:25The Biennial seeks to offer a perspective on the way in which diverse cultures interact and endure.
19:32By combining historical objects from Islamic cultures with contemporary art, it allows to explore the beliefs of faith through feeling, thought and creation.
19:41The exhibition will be open until May 25th of this year.
19:48And with this information, we have come to the end of this news brief.
19:51But remember, you can find these and many other stories on our website at telecityenglish.net, and join us as well on social media.
19:58We are on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok.
20:02For Telecity English, I'm Alejandra Garcia. Thank you for watching.