06/03/2025
FTS 8.30
*Panama not to adjust tolls for U.S. vessels
*EU leaders meet to discuss Ukraine
FTS 8.30
*Panama not to adjust tolls for U.S. vessels
*EU leaders meet to discuss Ukraine
Category
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NewsTranscript
00:00In Colombia, the debate on the health care reform moves forward as 88 legislators vote
00:17in favor of 12 more articles of the bill.
00:23The government of Panama has assured that there is no total adjustment for any vessel
00:27arriving from the United States.
00:32And the leaders of the European Union hold an emergency meeting to discuss the situation
00:36in Ukraine and the rift with the United States.
00:47Hello and welcome to From the South, I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Havana, Cuba.
00:51We begin with the news, stay with us.
01:05In Colombia, the debate on the health care reform moves forward.
01:09Close to midnight on Wednesday, 88 legislators voted in favor of 12 more articles of the
01:14bill.
01:1521 dissenting votes were not enough for the extreme right to prevent the approval of key
01:20articles 14 to 20, which are related to the primary health care accounts and the strengthening
01:25of the public hospital network.
01:28The debate, which lasted more than seven hours, was preceded by an attempt to postpone it,
01:33with the progressive parliamentarians prevented.
01:37Eight more articles remain to be debated, starting Thursday at 8 a.m. local time, and
01:41Representative Marta Alfonso highlighted the importance of the achievements obtained.
01:50Being almost 12 o'clock at night the session is adjourned, in which we finally made progress
01:58in the approval and discussion of the health reform.
02:01So far 55 articles of 62 have been approved.
02:05Now we have left a package of new articles endorsed and not endorsed that we will have
02:09to discuss.
02:10But well, this is finally unlocked.
02:15And Venezuelans spread out all over the country to pay tribute to Supreme Leader Commander
02:21Hugo Rafael Chávez FrĂas on the 12th anniversary of his physical departure, amidst nostalgia
02:25and commitment.
02:26Leonardo Urrieta tells us more.
02:32Since early in the morning, the city of Caracas, in the populous parish of 23 de Enero, witnessed
02:38how the Chávezda people visited the mountain barracks, emblematic site of the capital where
02:43the remains of Commander Chávez, who governed Venezuela along with the people between 1999
02:48and 2013, rest.
02:55A tribute called In Your Hands Is Your Flame was held at the place, a meeting in which
03:00honor was paid to the civic-military union promoted by Commander Chávez, and which is
03:05the basis of the fight against the actions of the extreme right, the defense of the sovereignty
03:09and dignity of the Venezuelan people.
03:12He was a man who gave his life for social justice, inclusion, love, the rescue of our
03:20own idiosyncrasy, and above all that the constitution be respected with the full independence of
03:25our Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
03:34Remembering Chávez for me is something very nice.
03:36Every time I remember him I cry, because for us he is the best thing that has happened
03:40to Venezuela, for our children, for our grandchildren.
03:44This is not for us, this is for our grandchildren.
03:50Chávez, besides being a political leader, touched the heart of the Venezuelan people
03:57with the For Now of February 4th, 1992, the genuine love between the people and Commander
04:03Hugo Chávez grew until it became invincible.
04:10Chávez awakened this revolutionary people, this Bolivarian people.
04:14Thanks to him, the boot of the United States will never again tread on us, because we learned,
04:18from our eternal commander, many things, to survive with blockade, without blockade, with
04:23economic war or without economic war, we are surviving, moving forward and taking our country
04:28forward.
04:29It is an honor to have him in our office, to have him in our homes, because he fought
04:37so hard for us and gave his life for the Venezuelan people.
04:44Hugo Chávez was the pioneer in Latin America and the Caribbean in raising the flags in
04:57the defense of women, whose protagonism made women of the world and the continent feel
05:01visible and included in the project for the development of programs that benefit the population.
05:07Because by declaring state policy, Bolivarian feminist socialism, what did it do?
05:22To recognize the human race, that we are the women and men of the world.
05:33Venezuelans are very aware of the importance that Commander Hugo Rafael Chávez Frias gave
05:38shape to in international geopolitics, vital for the creation of integration mechanisms
05:43within the framework of his South-South agenda, in addition to deepening Latin American unity
05:48with instances such as Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and ALBA-TCP.
05:53But we must also remember him as a man who always wanted the union of all the peoples
06:01of the Americas to build and create a great power.
06:09Chávez continues to be a key symbol for the struggles of the peoples of the world.
06:13His geo-strategic vision in favor of safeguarding humanity and love of neighbor is recognized
06:19by national and international popular movements and organizations.
06:25These people will never forget the President who gave back the smile and dignity to Venezuelans.
06:39In other information, in the Dominican Republic, agents of the Directorate General of Customs
06:44discovered a large quantity of machine guns and bullets in a container from the U.S. destined
06:49for Haiti.
06:50In the Haina Port, 36,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, 18 assault rifle magazines,
06:5713 9mm magazines, a .50 caliber rifle magazine, a silencer and 25 firearms were seized.
07:05The list also includes a 50mm Barrett sniper rifle, 17 7.62 caliber rifles, a 9mm rifle,
07:155 9mm Glock pistols and a UCI submachine gun.
07:21This discovery comes in addition to the 37 other Brooklyn firearms that were discovered
07:26and seized at the end of February 2025 in the same port.
07:30It should be noted that most of the weapons and ammunition used by the criminal groups
07:35that murdered the population come from the United States.
07:44Mexican law enforcement has seized a substantial quantity of fentanyl hidden within boxes of
07:49sliced cactus, a traditional Mexican delicacy known as nopales.
07:54The discovery made in the northern state of Sonora included approximately 275,000 fentanyl
08:00pills and 32 kilograms of powdered fentanyl.
08:04The estimated street value of deceased substances is around 6.5 million US dollars.
08:10A 29-year-old individual was arrested in connection with the seizure, which also occurred at a
08:18military checkpoint along the highway linking Sinaloa and Sonora.
08:28The government of Panama assures that there is no total adjustment for any vessel arriving
08:33from the United States.
08:34Canal authorities on Wednesday denied statements by the White House's spokeswoman Caroline
08:39Leavitt claiming that they had eliminated tariffs on US ships.
08:44The spokeswoman's statements arose in response to a journalist's question regarding President
08:49Trump's remarks a day earlier in Congress, where he reiterated that the US will take
08:53over the administration of the canal.
08:55The Panamanian executive also denied these statements.
09:04And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok at
09:08TELUSUDAENGLISH where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and more.
09:12We'll be right back. Stay with us.
09:33Welcome back to From the South.
09:36After a meeting in the United Kingdom, the leaders of the European Union held an emergency
09:40meeting to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the rift with the United States.
09:44The heads of the bloc and the President of Ukraine are meeting again in Brussels to secure
09:49their military defences and to check that Kyiv is properly protected.
09:54Less than 48 hours ago, the United States halted all codes and intelligence exchanges
09:59and afterwards deactivated the guidance systems for the HMAS rocket launchers.
10:05In view of this situation, the Ukrainian head of state has asked Washington for a new opportunity
10:09to talk about peace.
10:10Volunteers in the occupied West Bank are cooking for hundreds of displaced Palestinians
10:38hoping to bring some joy during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
10:42An Israeli incursion that began weeks ago has displaced more than 40,000 people who
10:47are not allowed to return to their homes.
10:50Most of the displaced have no access to kitchens and are separated from their communities as
10:55they struggle to celebrate the end of the day's fast with often big meals.
11:00In this context, the Yasser Arafat Charity Kitchen in the town of Tulkarem has been providing
11:06meals to up to 700 people daily.
11:09Abdullah Kamil, the governor of the Tulkarem region, who this year extended the charity
11:14kitchen to the displaced, said the situation is difficult for a large part of the population.
11:26President Donald Trump has issued a provocative ultimatum to Hamas demanding the immediate
11:31release of all hostages held in Gaza or face intensified military strikes.
11:36His threats, including calls for Hamas leaders to leave Gaza, have been widely criticized
11:41for exacerbating an already fragile ceasefire.
11:45Hamas responded by rejecting what it described as a language of threats, accusing Israel
11:50of violating the truth by blocking humanitarian aid and preventing displaced Palestinians
11:55from returning to their homes.
11:57The ceasefire brokered in January has already seen delays in hostage releases further complicating
12:04negotiations.
12:05Trump's rhetoric has drawn prize from Israel's far-right leaders but has alarmed many who
12:12view his approach as reckless and inflammatory.
12:19On Thursday in South Korea, a fighter jet accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian
12:25area during training, reportedly injuring seven people.
12:29In a communiqué, the air force explained that the MK-82 bombs, dropped abnormally by
12:35the KF-16 fighter, fell outside a firing range, causing unspecified damage to civilians.
12:42Furthermore, it was clarified in the statement that a committee will be established to investigate
12:47the causes of this terrible accident, as well as to examine the extent of the damage caused.
12:52The air force apologized for the damage caused and wished the injured a successful recovery,
12:58to whom compensation and other necessary measures will be actively taken.
13:07The Kenyan Peasants League is once again trying to prevent the introduction of genetically
13:12modified food and seeds into Kenya through the court system.
13:16Oscar Epelde with the details.
13:22They challenged the sudden lifting of the ban on genetically modified food when William
13:27Rudeau became president of Kenya in 2022.
13:30Two years later, they were still waiting for the trial to begin.
13:34After the high court ordered the interim suspension of the lifting of the ban, the government's
13:38lawyers tried to change jurisdiction.
13:40If they eventually succeeded in winning the case, it was when the judge was changed and
13:44replaced by another judge.
13:58The case was closed and the injunction was lifted in November 2024, on the day of this
14:04recording.
14:05The state definitely has a lot of machinery behind it.
14:07The Peasants League appeal highlighted the procedural flaws of the presidential cabinet's
14:25decision, the lack of public participation and of the prior scientific reports required
14:30by law.
14:31Furthermore, it appealed to the principle of precaution in consideration of the risk
14:34to health and life if they lose their agricultural and farming techniques and the original seeds
14:40that are the basis of what they eat and what they are.
14:52If the court of appeal now refuses to suspend the introduction of transgenics as a precautionary
14:57measure, it could mean the beginning of the end of the systems that farmers are putting
15:01in place to protect and promote agroecology.
15:04The data globally says that the world today is producing enough food to feed 14 billion
15:10people.
15:11Kenyan Peasants League rejects arguments about the need for genetically modified seeds as
15:17a weapon to fight hunger.
15:19The issue of hunger is not lack of food, it's poverty, people can't buy the food.
15:24So if I don't have money to buy food, to buy indigenous meals now, and you bring GMOs and
15:29I still don't have money, how will I buy it?
15:32One of the systems they are creating is the Food Cop, where producers and consumers ensure
15:39the production and distribution of healthy food.
15:42This undeveloped urban area of Nairobi had a reputation for heroin addiction and crime.
15:46But they have joined the Food Cop, and thanks to a safe market, they now produce chemical-free
15:51food and are growing.
15:52They produce, care for the environment, and expand a model that seeks social justice first.
16:00This office from where the Konyami Food Cop is coordinated has just been demolished after
16:04this recording last December.
16:06But the system devised is working computerized.
16:09Anyone living in the urban and rural farming communes can place their weekly order and
16:14share shares.
16:15The numbers are still small, but it has the potential to leave the people in charge of
16:18deciding what they want to eat and be, even if the government does not take any notice.
16:26These are two confronted and incompatible models.
16:29Transgenic seeds, accompanied by other legislations that promote mechanized agriculture, cornering
16:34the rights of peasants, versus agroecology, adapted to the climate crisis, in theory able
16:39to feed everyone by cooling the planet.
16:42From Kenya, Oscar Repelde for TELESUR.
16:47And we have a second show break coming up, but before we invite you to visit our Facebook
16:51page at TELESUR English, there you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage
16:57and much more.
16:58Follow our page and activate the notification button to stay up to date on the world's
17:02most recent events.
17:03Final show break.
17:28Welcome back to From the South.
17:38A fast-moving storm led to an EF1 tornado torching down in Union County, North Carolina,
17:45Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
17:48The tornado, which had wind speeds of approximately 145 km per hour, travelled about 3.5 km and
17:56was on the ground for roughly three minutes.
17:59It touched down around 8.30 a.m. in the Porter Ridge area of Union County.
18:04Preliminary reports indicate that the tornado caused damage to trees and buildings, with
18:09aerial footage showing a home under construction affected and metal debris scattered into the
18:14trees.
18:15The storm was part of the abroader weather system that prompted tornado warnings in nearby
18:20areas, including Chester County, South Carolina.
18:24Despite the significant damage, there were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities.
18:34During his 20th day of hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, the Supreme
18:39Pontiff continued on non-invasive mechanical ventilation and started motor physiotherapy.
18:45The Vatican Press Office notified that the Supreme Pontiff rested well during the night
18:51and that he remains in a stable clinical condition 20 days after his arrival at the Gemelli Polyclinic
18:58in Rome.
18:59As planned, the Supreme Pontiff received non-invasive mechanical ventilation with a mask during the
19:04night following that Pope Francis suffered two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency
19:10due to a significant accumulation of mucus in the bronchi, which created spasms for which
19:18he underwent two bronchoscopies.
19:36In Brazil, the Beja Flor Samba School won on Wednesday the Rio de Janeiro Carnival Competition.
19:42The city that hosts the most famous open-air carnival in the world crowned the assemble
19:47as champion after a showcase that paid tribute to late carnival director Laila, who passed
19:53in 2021 after a lifetime of contribution to the festivity.
19:58Like this, Beja Flor became the third biggest winner in Rio Carnival's history with 15
20:03titles.
20:04For the 2025 competition, the second place went to the Grande Rio School, while the third
20:09prize was awarded to the Imperatriz Leopoldinense Ensemble.
20:14The parade was held as is tradition at Rios Markets de SapucaĂ, Sambadrome, in front
20:20of 70,000 people and millions of viewers from all over the world.
20:29In Bolivia, it was announced that the Oruro Carnival in economic terms surpassed initial
20:34expectations by nearing $70 million.
20:37Our correspondent Fredy Morales brings us the details.
20:41The preliminary report on the economic and visitor movement generated by the Oruro Carnival
20:48exceeded the organizers' expectations.
20:50We had estimated in surpassing the 400.000 spectators for the carnival of Oruro, it has
20:59been surpassed.
21:01We have an estimated 500,000 spectators who have participated in this bicentennial carnival,
21:07which has generated an approximate income of 450 million Bolivian pesos.
21:18The report states that the number of visitors and economic movement was 30% higher than
21:23last year.
21:28These data do not include data on the formal economy, which include handicrafts, food,
21:33music, artists' contracts, informal commerce, hairstylists, makeup artists, advertising,
21:40hairdressers, and gastronomy, which are the other services that are generated during the
21:45celebration of the Oruro Carnival.
21:51And a new support from UNESCO was announced in favor of this carnival to consolidate this
21:56folkloric manifestation as a heritage of the Bolivian state.
22:00UNESCO authorized the use of an official logo for the promotion of the carnival.
22:08This would be the third recognition that UNESCO has officially developed.
22:12The first one has been to declare Oruro an Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
22:15The second one in 2003, when it was established as inscribed in the representative list of
22:20the Cultural and Tangible Heritage of Humanity.
22:23And now this recognition granted by UNESCO to consolidate the respect we have for cultural
22:27heritage.
22:31Precisely because of UNESCO's mandate, work is being done to consolidate the safeguarding
22:39of this cultural manifestation.
22:45We have to work hard and we are in that field to safeguard it because the only thing that
22:49safeguarding asks of us is that the cultural protection issue is recreated and transmitted
22:54to the new generations.
22:56If we have the satisfaction of being able to enjoy it, our children can also enjoy it.
23:08The main attraction of the Oruro Carnival is the so-called pilgrimage that takes place
23:12on Carnival Saturday with a parade of 50 folkloric groups made up of more than 50,000 dancers
23:18and 18,000 musicians in devotion to the Virgin of Candelaria, whose image is considered miraculous.
23:24The 20 most popular and traditional dances of this country are performed in this pilgrimage.
23:35And with these festivities, we have come to the end of this news brief, but you can find
23:40this and many other stories on our website at telecineenglish.net and join us on social
23:44media.
23:45We are on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok as well.
23:48For Telecine English, I'm Alejandra Garcia, thank you for watching.
23:54See you next time.