*Russian and U.S. diplomats to meet in Istanbul
*G20 finance ministers meet in South Africa
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*G20 finance ministers meet in South Africa
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NewsTranscript
00:00In Panama, Rio India residents announced rallies against the construction of a dam in the Panama
00:15Canal basin.
00:20Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced diplomats will hold a meeting with their U.S.
00:24counterparts on Thursday in Istanbul.
00:30And this Wednesday, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the G20 Summit of Finance
00:35and Economic Ministers in Cape Town.
00:41Hello and welcome to From the South, I'm Alejandra García from Telesur Studios in Caracas, Venezuela.
00:46To begin with the news, stay with us.
01:01In Panama, Rio India residents and several farmer national movements announced rallies
01:05against the construction of a dam in the Panama Canal basin.
01:09Digna Benitez, former coordinator of LIFE, expressed that the authority of the Panama
01:16Canal disseminated fake news about the alleged acceptance of this project.
01:21She denounced the questionable and intimidating censuses that do not reflect the will of the
01:26people.
01:27Benitez recalled that since 1999, farmers have been waging a struggle in defense of
01:33their territory against the government program that includes the eviction of productive lands
01:38that they have occupied for several generations.
01:41That is the case of Rio India, vital for the agricultural and livestock activities of the
01:46over 12,000 people.
01:53In Venezuela, the head of the state, Nicolás Maduro, emphasized that in 90 days the definitive
01:58proposal for the 2025 constitutional reform must be ready.
02:02During the meeting of the National Commission for Constitutional Reform, the President stated
02:07that once the 60-day debate sessions have been held, the final drafting phase of the
02:12proposal generated by the expanded debate should begin.
02:17He also stressed that he trusted in the commitment of the deputies of the National Assembly to
02:23deliver the 2025 constitutional reform to the National Electoral Council in a reasonable
02:29time and to proceed with the referendum elections in the country.
02:33In this context, he also stressed that members of the failed opposition bench have reappeared
02:39to confuse and sow fear among the Venezuelan people with regard to the 2025 constitutional
02:45reform.
02:51The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, received the Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto
02:56at the Simón Bolívar Hall of the Miraflores Palace.
03:00During the meeting, proposals were discussed to consolidate urban structures in the country's
03:05cities, in addition to advancing towards the self-management of each territory through
03:09the organization of the communes.
03:11It should be noted that this initiative seeks to strengthen sustainable development and
03:16communal self-governance.
03:17In this sense, Yamamoto's collaboration with Venezuela strengthens international ties and
03:23promotes an innovative approach to urban planning in the region.
03:31In this regard, the head of state, Nicolás Maduro, also held a meeting with the great
03:35Muslim-Greek religion authority of Lebanon, Ali Mohamed al-Ghassawi, to strengthen ties
03:40of friendship between Venezuela and Lebanon.
03:43During the meeting, President Maduro reaffirmed Venezuela's intentions for both countries
03:47to continue strengthening the diplomatic relations established since 1946.
03:53Other authorities, such as the representative of the Lebanese embassy in the Venezuelan
03:57territory, were also present.
04:04In Colombia, police arrested a 40-year-old man who tried to smuggle several bags of cocaine
04:10hidden under a carefully placed topi onto a flight to the Netherlands.
04:16According to police, the suspect was arrested on Monday at Cartagena airport as he was about
04:21to board a flight to Amsterdam.
04:23A scan revealed the hidden shipment of 220 grams of cocaine packed in small bags strategically
04:30placed under the narco wig.
04:33Police estimate that the street value of the drug is to be approximately 10,000 euros on
04:39European markets.
04:40In this context, a police video captured the moment when an officer wearing blue gloves
04:45carefully removes the suspect's wig with scissors, revealing approximately a dozen packets of
04:51cocaine.
04:56After scanning this person, we found he had a wig containing more than 220 grams of cocaine,
05:02which he intended to take to the Netherlands.
05:07With this action, we attach the criminal revenue in Europe with an estimated price of more
05:12than 10,000 euros.
05:14This is the second detention at the airport in these checkpoints.
05:17We have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on Tiktok at Tell
05:24Us In English where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and more.
05:28We'll be right back, stay with us.
05:44Welcome back to From the South.
05:53Chile has managed to restore electricity to approximately 90% of the country's homes following
05:59a massive blackout that affected most of its territory.
06:02The blackout, which extended from the Arica region in the north to Lagos in the south,
06:09left millions of people without electricity and paralyzed essential services such as the
06:14subway and mining.
06:16President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency and established a curfew to warranty
06:20public safety.
06:21The National Electricity Coordinator activated a recovery plan to restore service as soon
06:26as possible.
06:27As electricity is restored, authorities continue to work to fully normalize services in the
06:32country.
06:33I made the decision to decree a state of exception due to a catastrophe from Arica and Perinicota
06:42regions to Delos Lagos region.
06:50In addition to a curfew in the same areas from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
06:58Although we know that in some communes and some sectors, the situation has been gradually
07:02declining, it is essential that we all act responsibly because the situation is still
07:07unstable.
07:08The Chilean government confirmed that three patients, depending on electrical devices,
07:15died during the national power outage.
07:18The president of Luz para Ellos Foundation criticized the electric companies for lack
07:23of preventive measures.
07:25Authorities informed that one of the victims passed away due to the lack of backup generator.
07:29Meanwhile, the Interior Minister Carolina Ntoja added two other deaths, noting that
07:35the patients' dismissals will be analyzed thoroughly.
07:43In that context, the Viña del Mar International Song Festival called off its activities as
07:47a result of Chile's power outage nationwide.
07:51After having canceled the production of the festival, it reassigned its activities for
07:55next Saturday, March 1, 2025.
07:59On a press release, the event's organizers stated that the confirmed artist will be present
08:04on the new date, keeping up with the same agenda.
08:07The measure was pursued around 7 p.m. local time, four hours following the national power
08:13outage.
08:28Ecuador increased from six to eight the number of provinces declaring emergency due to the
08:34heavy rain season that has hit its territory, leaving nine dead and almost 1,100 people
08:40affected since January.
08:42This measure was informed by the Secretary of Rescue Management, Jorge Carrillo, in the
08:47face of the prolonged and powerful rainfalls that also affected some 16,500 people and
08:54more than 5,000 houses as well as bridges and roads.
08:58In addition, on Monday, four members of a family died due to a landslide that affected
09:02a house in Manabí as a result of the damp waters.
09:06This situation contrasted with a drought in 2024, the worst in 60 years, that resulted
09:13in forest fires and blackouts of up to 14 hours a day due to the affectations in the
09:18production of hydroelectric power plants.
09:25This is the first year this has happened.
09:27The houses around there didn't used to flood.
09:29I have a sister-in-law and her house flooded.
09:32The bakery motor, the refrigerator, everything was damaged.
09:35Her house filled up with water.
09:42Those who have houses, they're going to lose everything.
09:45Refrigerators, appliances, beds are lost and damaged because the water reaches a point
09:51where you can't fight against nature.
09:54The White House will send permanent residency with a gold card worth $5 million.
10:00U.S. President Donald Trump stated so Tuesday from the Oval Office.
10:04The card will grant the privilege of permanent residency with the option of becoming a citizen.
10:10The U.S. head of state stressed that in addition to providing the funds, applicants must go
10:14through a rigorous vetting process to ensure that they are wonderful, world-class global
10:20citizens.
10:21Notwithstanding, it is remarkable to recall that money laundering is one of the most prevailing
10:26crimes in the country.
10:33From the United States, social organizations reject the aggressiveness of the Secretary
10:37of State Marco Rubio against Cuba, reminding him that the island's cooperation has saved
10:43lives all over the world while Washington exports wars.
10:47The Interreligious Foundation for the Community Organization Pastors for Peace has recalled
10:52the initiative and programs of the island, such as the Latin American School of Medicine,
10:57which has become not only an opportunity to study but also to train sensitive professionals.
11:07We have a second story coming up, but before we invite you to visit our YouTube channel
11:13that you'll be able to rewatch our interviews, top stories, special broadcastings and more.
11:18Hit the subscribe button and activate the notification bell to stay up to date on the
11:22world's most recent events.
11:24Fun and show break, don't go away!
11:43Welcome back to From the South.
11:48In Qatar, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov announced Russian diplomats will hold
11:53a meeting with their U.S. counterparts on Thursday in Istanbul to sort out issues concerning
11:58their embassies.
11:59Lavrov has specified the encounter is aimed at normalizing bilateral relations, grounded
12:04in the fact that both nations had expelled their embassy personnel from the other during
12:09the Biden administration.
12:11As the Kremlin and Washington have been making negotiations regarding the conflict in Ukraine,
12:16tensions have started to diffuse between them.
12:25Our diplomats, high-level experts will meet with U.S. colleagues and consider systemic
12:30problems that have accumulated as a result of the illegal activities of the previous
12:34administration in creating artificial obstacles to the activities of the Russian embassy in
12:40Moscow.
12:41Naturally, we responded by creating uncomfortable conditions for the work of the U.S. embassy
12:47in Moscow.
12:52Such a meeting will take place tomorrow in Istanbul.
12:57I think that its results will show how quickly and effectively we can move forward.
13:03U.S. President Donald Trump confirms he will receive his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr
13:08Zelensky in Washington on Friday as negotiations are underway on a deal to give the United
13:12States access to Ukrainian mineral resources.
13:16We are doing very well with Russia-Ukraine.
13:19President Zelensky is going to be coming on Friday.
13:22It's now confirmed and we're going to be signing an agreement which will be a very
13:26big agreement.
13:28This Wednesday, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the G20 Summit of Finance
13:33and Economic Ministers in Cape Town.
13:37Multilateralism is once again becoming a factor in the opening speeches.
13:40Recalling that the group was founded on the principles of cooperation, the President called
13:45on the development and emerging powers that make up this alliance to deepen multilateral
13:50cooperation.
13:51He referred to the escalation of tensions and the unprecedented global uncertainty to
13:56underline the importance of working together.
13:59The agenda of this conclave focuses on the reform of the financial architecture without
14:05neglecting to analyse the tariff threats from the United States, a country that is not attending
14:10this meeting.
14:14It is vital to ensuring that the rights and interests of the vulnerable are not trampled
14:23beneath the ambitions of the powerful.
14:28Multilateral cooperation is our only hope of overcoming unprecedented challenges, including
14:37slow and uneven growth, rising debt burdens and levels.
14:58In Gaza, the Medical Aid Directorate warned of the aftermath of the cold wave and the
15:04growing shortage of basic supplies.
15:07Health authorities detailed that around 35,000 Gazan families have been facing all kinds
15:12of shortages of basic services due to over 158 months of Israeli genocide against the
15:18Gaza Strip.
15:19Furthermore, they estimated that over 60,000 mobile homes and 200,000 tents are required
15:27to assist the forcibly displaced for safeguarding them against the effects of extreme weather
15:32events.
15:33In this context, the United Nations indicated that close to $53 billion are needed to rebuild
15:38Gaza.
15:44Israeli forces killed four civilians in an airstrike in southern Lebanon in yet another
15:49violation of the ceasefire agreement.
15:51The Lebanese authorities reported that at least two people were wounded in the bombing
15:57and were taken to nearby medical centers.
15:59They also denounced the siege imposed by the troops of the Tel Aviv regime on at least
16:04five key points in the south of the country.
16:07And the violation of the ceasefire agreement signed by Israel with the Islamic Resistance
16:11Movement Hezbollah on November 27, 2024.
16:20The Egyptian government has rejected an Israeli proposal to take over Gaza for eight years
16:26in exchange for Israel cancelling its foreign debt.
16:28The proposal was made at a forum in the United States where the Israeli leader Yair Lapid
16:34suggested that Egypt administer Gaza for eight or possibly 15 years.
16:39The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi rejected this condition, affirming that Egypt
16:45would cancel its own debts and condemn the expulsion of the Palestinians from their land.
16:52The Egyptian leader called for the ceasefire to be maintained, reiterating his support
16:56for Palestine and his commitment to the reconstruction of Gaza as the idea of U.S. control violates
17:02international law and norms.
17:09In Sudan, a military plane crashed into Omdurmand city, bringing about around 46 deaths and
17:1512 others injured.
17:18The plane was secured in the Al-Tawra town in the Karari district, where the aircraft
17:22hit several residential buildings due to a technical failure.
17:26The military plane, which took off from the Wadi Saitna base in Khartoum, was bound for
17:32the port of Sudan City, the seat of the current government and the army command.
17:37Civilians and soldiers, including high-ranking military commanders, were among the fatalities.
17:43In Nigeria, the gross domestic product rose by 3.8% year-on-year.
17:52The National Bureau of Statistics briefed that the driving force behind this breakthrough
17:57was broadening by 5.37% the provision of services.
18:03Nonetheless, the growth did not exceed the 6% target set by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
18:13Information technology, agriculture, industrial output, oil production and e-commerce have
18:20been ramping up, which paved the way for obtaining higher GDP indexes.
18:25Therefore, the International Monetary Fund forecasted Nigerian economy to grow by 3.2%
18:31by 2025.
18:43In India, Shivaratri festival celebrations carry on Wednesday, summoning thousands of
18:48devotees to honour the Hindu god Shiva every year.
18:52Shiva is one of the main deities of Hinduism.
18:55Thus, worshippers gather in temples to pour water or milk over a rock that represents
19:01the god of the sacred trinity Shiva Linga, protector of those seeking enlightenment and trust.
19:09Devotees further perform fast and vigils between chants and religious dances to honour the
19:15holy trinity of Hinduism.
19:17This festivity began on January 13th and up to date reports over 500 billion participants.
19:28And like this, we have come to the end of this news brief, but you can find this and
19:32many other stories on our website at www.telesetenglish.net
19:35and join us on social media as well.
19:38We are on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok as well.
19:41For Teleset English, I am Alejandra Garcia.