*Panama's workers rally against security fund reform
*Chinese govt. reaffirms its will to hold talks with the U.S.
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*Chinese govt. reaffirms its will to hold talks with the U.S.
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NewsTranscript
00:00The 48th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community,
00:17CARICOM, kicked off Wednesday, which will last through Friday in Bridgetown, Barbados.
00:24The Panama Construction Workers' Union mobilized in rejection of the reforms to the security
00:29fund which affects the benefits of public employees.
00:34And China reaffirmed its readiness to hold talks with the United States amid rising tensions
00:38in bilateral relations on trade and diplomatic issues.
00:47Hello and welcome to From the South, I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Caracas, Venezuela.
00:52We begin with the news, stay with us.
00:59The 48th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community,
01:12CARICOM, kicked off Wednesday, which will last through Friday in Bridgetown, Barbados.
01:17CARICOM leaders and some European guests are attending the session to debate on Caribbean
01:22resilience, inclusive growth and the bloc's unique sustainable development.
01:27Moreover, they are addressing shared regional priorities as food and nutritional security,
01:33climate change and current economic relations.
01:36In addition, an encounter is expected between the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Motley,
01:40and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
01:45Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the focus of this 48th regular meeting of the Conference
01:52on Strength in Unity, Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development,
02:01highlights the need for renewed and expanded partnerships and collaboration as we grapple
02:08with existing and emerging uncertainties.
02:13The simultaneous global crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, crime
02:21and violence, ongoing military and trade wars, and other global shocks, pose real
02:28and present threats to CARICOM countries.
02:32It is times like these that CARICOM's continuous call for international cooperation, multilateralism
02:40and respect for international law takes on special significance.
02:49We live in a world where fake news is now the order of the day, and day-by-day leaders
02:57not just of governments but of churches, of private sector, of households, have to worry
03:05about the fact that someone will post something that probably is not true about them.
03:12We live in a world where the opportunity for facts and shared values in common spaces
03:20is becoming rarer and rarer simply because everyone is into their own echo chamber rather
03:28than in national entities being able to share and to relate so that we have a common perspective
03:37to keep our democracy strong.
03:43The Panama Construction Workers' Union mobilized in rejection of the reforms to the Security
03:47Front which affects the benefits of public employees.
03:51The union announced a series of protests for 24 hours to demand the release of the workers
03:56arrested for demanding the repeal of the law by the legislature.
04:00The workers said that they will take their demonstrations to the National Assembly where
04:05the bill will be debated to express the union's rejection.
04:13Dictator Mulino, the construction workers are not criminals.
04:17We call all Panamanians to the Great March, tomorrow, Thursday 20th at 4 p.m., starting
04:25at Porres Park.
04:26Freedom for the political prisoners.
04:32The Mexican government assured that U.S. drone flights over its territory are part
04:36of a cooperation strategy agreed between the two governments.
04:39Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has reaffirmed her position on security cooperation with
04:44the United States.
04:46The president reiterated that national sovereignty is not at risk and that she is not afraid
04:51of the statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump.
04:54Sheinbaum stressed that any action would be carried out in accordance with the principles
04:58of respect and coordination that govern relations between Mexico and the United States.
05:06These flights are part of the coordinations.
05:08Here with us is the admiral secretary, for a cooperation that has been going on for a
05:13long time between the governments of the United States and Mexico, and many times the request,
05:18or I'd rather say, in all cases the request have come from the Mexican government.
05:22It's a request for cooperation and for information to deal with security issues.
05:35The Brazilian government announced the South American's entry into the Organization of
05:39Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus.
05:41The decision follows the initial announcement made by Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy
05:47Alexandre Silveira during the 36th OPEC Plus ministerial meeting, which took place on November
05:5330th, 2023, as well as following a series of high-level contacts with Saudi Arabia throughout
05:592024.
06:00The move marks Brazil's rise as a major oil power, but puts it under fire, especially
06:07in the context of the country's preparation to host the annual United Nations Climate
06:11Summit COP30, to be held in November, whose focus is usually on reducing the use of fossil
06:17fuels.
06:23The Brazilian former president Jair Bolsonaro is facing charges for attempting a coup to
06:28stay in office after his 2022 election defeat.
06:32Bolsonaro had been indicted in November 2024 through a report filed by the federal police,
06:38which accused him of having full knowledge of the alleged coup plan to prevent President
06:43Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office after his electoral victory.
06:47The charges filed on Tuesday include attempting a coup d'etat, violent removal of the rule
06:52of law, and forming a criminal organization.
07:00Given everything that has already happened and come to light about him, this should have
07:04happened a long time ago.
07:08He placed the military at key points to carry out the coup for his own benefit, but thank
07:13God who still exists it didn't work.
07:18The Cuban government denounced that the United States Agency for International Development
07:22USAID allocated more than $120 million to destabilize the island.
07:27According to Cuba's foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez, the government of the United States
07:31has financially backed multiple initiatives that seek to destroy the Cuban revolution.
07:36The island's top diplomat also rejected the pressures to undermine the nation's economy
07:41promoted by Washington.
07:46And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok at
07:50TELUS City English, where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and more.
07:54We'll be right back, stay with us.
08:06Welcome back to From the South.
08:32In Palestine, the West Bank records destruction of infrastructure and massive displacement
08:37a month after Israeli forces' offensive against cities, villages and refugee camps.
08:43Official data estimates that over 70 civilians have been killed in the latest escalation
08:47of Israeli violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
08:51In addition, these sources gave an account of over 40,000 displaced people since the
08:56onset of Israeli aggressions.
08:59Palestinian forces have made an incursion into the city and the Jenin refugee camp,
09:03pursuing a pattern of massive bulldozer destruction in and around the camp.
09:09These genocidal actions left nearly 3,000 families homeless in the past few weeks.
09:14In all, the violent Israeli escalation comprises bombings, burning down homes, widespread devastation
09:20of infrastructure.
09:25The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health confirmed at least one death and two injured from Israeli
09:30attacks on civilians, one day after its partial withdrawal from the South.
09:35The ministry detailed that Israeli drones hit to death a citizen in Al-Sha'ab village,
09:40while the emergency centre reported two wounded as a result of Chinese military shooting at
09:46a recreational area on the Wasani River bank.
09:50On a statement, the Lebanese government lately reaffirmed the need for Israel to complete
09:54its full withdrawal from the southern border of the nation.
10:02China sends humanitarian aid to Gaza and expresses its wish for continued dialogue and international
10:07cooperation to solve the conflict with Israel.
10:11According to Chinese authorities, the aid includes at least 60,000 emergency packages,
10:1612,000 of which are food, which will be delivered to the World Food Programme, the Palestinian
10:21Red Crescent and other organisations within the region of Gaza.
10:25The spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wu Yanqin, pointed out that Beijing's priority
10:31is to support Gaza in the face of the humanitarian crisis, but also to ensure that the parties
10:36involved reach an agreement.
10:42Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi advocated at the United Nations Security Council the
10:47Palestinians' right to rule their own country and considered it a basic principle to be
10:52upheld in any post-conflict scenario.
10:57The situation in the Middle East remains tense and fragile.
11:00Gaza and the West Bank are the homeland of the Palestinian people, not a bargaining chip
11:04in political trade-offs.
11:06Palestinians governing Palestine is an important principle that must be followed in the post-conflict
11:10governance of Gaza.
11:11It is vital to uphold the two-state solution, press for a comprehensive, just and lasting
11:16settlement of the Palestinian question and bring lasting peace and security to the Middle
11:19East.
11:23The Emir of Qatar arrived in Iran and was welcomed at Tehran's Medabad airport as part of his
11:28official visit to strengthen historical ties.
11:31The Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, held a meeting with Iranian President
11:36Mahmoud Peshachian and other senior Iranian officials to strengthen bilateral relations.
11:42The topics discussed included politics, the economy, regional issues with a focus on Palestine,
11:48as well as the situation in Lebanon, Yemen and Syria.
11:52Qatar had expressed its willingness to mediate between Tehran and Washington following statements
11:57by U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who said that Trump would talk to Iran if
12:03it suspended its nuclear program.
12:09We have a second Shower Break coming up, but before we invite you to visit our YouTube
12:12channel at Tell Us Your English, there you'll be able to re-watch our interviews, top stories,
12:17special broadcastings and more.
12:19Hit the subscribe button and activate the notification bell to stay up to date on the
12:24world's most recent events.
12:25Have fun at Shower Break, don't go away!
12:39Welcome back to From the South.
13:00U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his concern over the lack of presidential elections
13:04in Ukraine and questioned the approval ratings of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky among
13:09the population.
13:10During a statement to the media, Trump stressed the need to hold presidential elections in
13:14Ukraine since the level of acceptance of the current Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky
13:19is at 4%.
13:21The GOP head of state assured that this is not only a personal request but also other
13:27countries that have contributed to Ukraine ask so.
13:30Trump noted that it has nothing to do with Russia's demands.
13:33The U.S. president also criticized the Ukrainian government for not having reached an agreement
13:38to end the conflict in the past three years.
13:58The Russian government expressed Wednesday its interest in creating conditions for negotiating
14:03stable relations with the United States.
14:05According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, his government expects to establish
14:10conditions for talks to address issues of Russian-U.S. security and strategic stability.
14:14Lavrov said that during the dialogue held in Saudi Arabia, the Trump administration
14:19showed interest in removing the obstacles to the restoration of relations and moving
14:23towards normalization of the relationship between both nations.
14:27The Russian top diplomat also praised the U.S. president's statements about NATO
14:32expansions being the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine.
14:40President Trump, when it comes to statements, has mentioned NATO expansion.
14:48He is the first, and so far, in my opinion, the only Western leader who has publicly and
14:54loudly said that one of the root causes of the Ukrainian situation was the previous
14:58administration's pushy line of pulling Ukraine into NATO.
15:03None of the Western leaders has ever said this, and he has made this point several times.
15:07This is already a signal that he understands our position.
15:12China reaffirmed its readiness to hold talks with the United States amid rising tensions
15:16in bilateral relations on trade and diplomatic issues.
15:20Foreign Minister's spokesperson, Woya Qun, reaffirmed that China stresses the importance
15:24of keeping a dialogue with Washington based on mutual respect and cooperation to address
15:29shared concerns.
15:31Likewise, the Chinese government reiterated its commitment to defend its sovereignty,
15:35security and development interests, urging the United States to work together with Beijing
15:40on improving bilateral relations.
15:43Notwithstanding, China has responded to U.S. criticisms and actions, such as tariffs and
15:48shifts on Taiwan, by warning that any attempt to contain the country will be met with a
15:53steadfast confrontation.
15:55French Parliament was scheduled to vote on Wednesday on a sixth motion of no confidence
16:04presented by Socialist Party against Prime Minister François Bayraud.
16:08The motion's approval requires the support of at least 289 of the 577 deputies of the
16:15Assembly.
16:16So far, Bayraud has gone through five motions this year, most of them linked to the state
16:22budget.
16:22The motion involves a scandal for sexual abuse and physical mistreatment at the Catholic
16:28College of Bethlehem, where he was education minister.
16:33However, analysts consider unlikely that the motion can reach the needed majority to be
16:38approved.
16:42Germany witnessed the last debate between the country's four chancellor candidates in
16:47the run-up to the federal election of February 23, 2025.
16:51During the phase-off, the candidates discussed the nation's economic crisis and migration
16:56policy, as well as its relations with Ukraine and Russia, amid public rejection of German
17:01right-wing extremist parties.
17:03According to surveys conducted after the debates, Social Democrat and Conservative candidate
17:09Fyodor Fyodorovich Merz leads the voting intention, followed by the sitting chancellor
17:14and candidate Olaf Scholz.
17:16More than 59 million voters will go to the polls this Sunday to elect the next representatives
17:21of the national parliament, who in turn will select the country's chancellor.
17:31In the United States, at least 17 people died due to the winter storm that hit the central
17:36and eastern regions of the country.
17:38In this regard, authorities indicated that the storms caused flooding, cold winds and
17:43low temperatures, as well as heavier snowfalls.
17:46Furthermore, they informed the state of Kentucky was the most affected, with snow accumulations
17:51ranging from 5 to 17 centimetres.
17:54Rain and snowfall are forecasted to continue until next Friday, February 21, with freezing
18:00temperatures down to minus 51 degrees.
18:03In this context, authorities have urged the population to stay sheltered at home.
18:09And with this information, we have come to the end of this news brief.
18:12But remember, you can find this and many other stories on our website at telecilinglish.net
18:17and join us on social media as well.
18:19We are on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok as well.
18:23For Telecilinglish, I'm Alejandra Garcia.
18:38you