02/02/2025
FTS 20.30
*Criminal groups kill some 50 people in Kenscoff Commune, Haiti.
*Israel has killed 25 civilians in the occupied West Bank.
teleSUR
These and more stories now!
FTS 20.30
*Criminal groups kill some 50 people in Kenscoff Commune, Haiti.
*Israel has killed 25 civilians in the occupied West Bank.
teleSUR
These and more stories now!
Category
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NewsTranscript
00:00The Venezuelan citizens goes to the pools on the first national public consultation
00:12of 2025, a democratic process that's threatening criminal power.
00:20In Haiti, criminal groups attack the Kenkoff community in the hills of Port-au-Prince,
00:25the country's capital, killing at least 50 people.
00:31In Palestine, the Israeli army killed at least 25 Palestinians during operations against
00:37the West Bank in the last 13 days.
00:47Hello and welcome to From the South, I'm Ana Marrero from the Telesur headquarters in Caracas,
00:52Venezuela.
00:53Now we will begin with the news to stay with us.
01:09This Sunday, February the 2nd, Venezuela hold a referendum on several communal projects.
01:15All Venezuelan citizens above 15 years of age have been summoned to the pools to decide
01:21on over 36-thousand projects, put forward by the 5-thousand-300 answering for communes
01:27in the country.
01:28The idea will be decided among projects that propose solutions or initiatives regarding
01:34health, sport, education, roads, habitats and public services.
01:39Authorities said voting centers will remain open until all those in line have exercised
01:44the right to vote.
01:45In this context, official highlight consultation, the first one to be held this year, has already
01:51had the largest turnout to date, specifically in the state of Zulia, Merida, the capital
01:57Caracas, and Zua, Egui, Facan and Varinas.
02:10In this hour, as voting continues in Venezuela for the first national public consultation
02:16of 2025, where neighbors choose the projects to be funded through the state's public budget,
02:21specifically giving more voice to the people's powers, we have our correspondent Melinda
02:25Losantos from La Candelaria in the capital Caracas with more on this.
03:43Melinda, thank you so much for joining us today and for joining the democratic exercise
04:04of voting, as you were just saying, on which projects for the communities they want to
04:10be funded first for this year.
04:13We've been talking to different neighbors, we've been hearing from different projects,
04:18all of them very specific to each one of the communities.
04:22So for example, work to repair specific buildings in more urban communities, also work to do
04:31a better water access and facilitate that supply in different communities as well.
04:37For example, one of the communities with a lot of elderly population had last year voted
04:45on the building of a new drug store, the recovery of a space to have an accessible drug store
04:51in the community.
04:52So as you can see, projects that are very different in nature sometimes, but the key
04:58element is that they all tackle the most important things that each community needs.
05:04Also that this public consultation is not only about finding those solutions, although
05:09that is the key step, but more significantly about how that problem that the community
05:16faces is actually an opportunity for the people to come together, to gather in assembly and
05:22to take action, to see and think that the way to solve that problem has to do with coming
05:30together, has to do with popular power.
05:33And that is what is happening here.
05:35One of the things that we have been saying a lot is about this being just a new test
05:41of a new type of democracy, of participative democracy.
05:45And isn't that so?
05:47If you're standing here, just full of people, the kids are still running around.
05:52It's very calm, but a lot of action this night here in Caracas.
05:57I assume that's the case also in Venezuela.
06:00So we continue to talk to the neighbors.
06:03We continue to bring you all the information.
06:05This has just begun for this year in Venezuela.
06:09Let's recall that the country has also five more public consultations to come just this
06:17year.
06:17Also, the constitutional reform is on the table with the president calling for that
06:23to happen this year as well.
06:25These are all initiatives that are proposed to bring, to strengthen the popular power
06:32in the country, to strengthen the call for all the community to come together and take
06:39action, to participate, to really govern this country as the mandate states.
06:45So that is what is happening here.
06:46We will continue to bring you information.
06:48That is all for you.
06:49I go back to you now, Ana.
06:55Thank you, Valen, very much for all the updates that you gave us.
07:00This is our, the very data of the popular consultation 2025.
07:07And with this, young people from all over Brazil are gathered in Recife this weekend
07:13for the annual Congress of the National Students Union.
07:17Our correspondent Brad Mir has the details.
07:20Thousands of students traveled in bus convoys from across Brazil to Recife this week for
07:26the biannual Congress of the National University Students Union, or UNI.
07:32After a series of debates on the political conjecture and cultural exchange activities,
07:37they held an assembly where they voted on their priorities for the next two years.
07:42In addition to school reforms, they agreed to fight for a tax on large families and to
07:47fight for a tax on large fortunes and an end to the six-day work week.
07:56This year is important for social mobilization.
08:00The social movements have a task to do, and the National Students Union is rising to the
08:05challenge, which is to block the right-wing extremist agenda that punishes the working
08:10class and the Brazilian people.
08:12Founded in 1937, the UNI is one of Brazil's largest and oldest social movements.
08:21Historically connected to the Communist Party, it was a key player in the fight against Brazil's
08:26military dictatorship.
08:28During the Bolsonaro administration, UNI mobilized over a million people to the streets
08:33on two occasions, triggering the resignation of four education ministers and blocking the
08:38government from charging tuition in public universities.
08:42Students from across Brazil came here and spent five days discussing the future of our
08:48nation.
08:50We spoke about ideas for new public policies, including how to reform our universities so
08:55we could decide what steps we need to take to create a country that is better and fairer.
09:00The story of the National Students Union is intertwined with the story of Brazil.
09:04Our struggle continues to defeat the far right and move forward so the people can have the
09:09dignity of the quality education needed to defend Brazil.
09:14The size and success of the event shows that 88 years after its founding, Latin America's
09:19largest student movement remains an influential force in Brazilian politics.
09:25Brian Muir, TELUSUR, Recife.
09:31Let's take a very short break, but remember you can join us on our TikTok account at
09:35TELUSUR English, where you'll be able to see news in different formats, news updates and
09:39more.
09:39Stay tuned for more news.
09:55Welcome back to From the South.
09:57In Haiti, criminal troops attacked the Kinkaf community in the hills of Port Prince, killing
10:03at least 15 people.
10:04Local authorities say the criminal gangs came from the Carrefour community and advanced
10:10to try to take control of the entire country.
10:13Some of the victims were killed in their homes and blasted during the attack, while others
10:19were killed while working in the file.
10:21There are also multiple reports of injured and displaced people.
10:25In view of the situation, the government has declared a reinforcement of security operations
10:30in order to quell the outbreak of violence.
10:35Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum issued a response on Sunday to the recent tariff
10:41on domestic products announced by the U.S.
10:43head of state Donald Trump.
10:45This way, Sheinbaum called on the Republicans to work together to address the fentanyl problem
10:50while underscoring the needs for the U.S. to respect Mexico's sovereignty.
10:56Let's listen.
11:05Good afternoon, everyone.
11:07As you are probably aware, yesterday, the United States government imposed 25% tariffs
11:13on products that we export to their country.
11:16Look, this has not existed for 30 years because we have a free trade agreement.
11:22The last free trade agreement was signed by President López Obrador with President Trump
11:27himself.
11:29This 25% tariff measure has effects for both countries, but it has very serious effects
11:35on the United States economy, since it will greatly increase the cost of all products
11:41exported from Mexico to the United States.
11:45It will have a 25% higher cost.
11:49According to these measures approved by the United States government, there are documents
11:54that support it.
11:56And according to this, one of the reasons for putting this tariff is because of the
12:01fentanyl that enters the United States from Mexico and that makes people sick and causes
12:05deaths from overdoses.
12:08But even more irresponsible, terribly irresponsible, is that the White House issues a document
12:14where it says that there are links between the Mexican government and organized crime.
12:20I want to tell you about the statement that I published through my social network.
12:25There I explain who are the ones who really have ties to these criminal groups, the reason
12:32for the overdose deaths of people in the US.
12:35And I also said that if they want to act to tackle it, they should not set their sights
12:40on Mexico, but on the United States.
12:43And I also said that if they want to act to tackle it, they should not set their sights
12:47on Mexico, but on the United States.
12:50If they want to act to tackle it, they should not set their sights on Mexico, but on their
12:55own country, where they have done nothing to stop the illegal sale of this and other
13:00drugs.
13:02First of all, as I said yesterday, we categorically reject the slander that the White House makes
13:08against the Mexican government of having alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any
13:14intention of intervention in our territory.
13:17Sovereignty is non-negotiable.
13:20If such an alliance exists anywhere, it is in the armories of the United States, which
13:25sell high-powered weapons, yes, high-powered weapons, which are for the exclusive use of
13:32the army, of them, to these criminal groups.
13:36This was demonstrated, note well, by the United States Department of Justice itself on January
13:428th of this year.
13:44Here I have the document that was published on that date, where the Bureau of Alcohol,
13:49Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which depends on the Department of Justice, note carefully,
13:55recognized that 74% of these weapons used by organized crime in Mexico come illegally
14:01from the military industry of their country.
14:13Our government has seized more than 40 tons of drugs in four months, including 20 million
14:19doses of fentanyl.
14:21It has also arrested more than 10,000 people linked to these groups.
14:26We have a strategy.
14:27We address the causes and fight impunity.
14:30We work every day for the country's security.
14:34Now if the United States government and its agencies wanted to address the serious consumption
14:40of fentanyl in their country, why don't they start by fighting the sale of narcotics on
14:46the streets of their main cities?
14:48Or how do people with addictions buy this drug?
14:53Why have we never heard of arrests in the United States of local criminal groups?
14:59How come money laundering by criminal groups there is not investigated?
15:05Why don't they put all their intelligence to work to detect criminal groups that sell
15:09fentanyl in their territory or other drugs?
15:13Well, they could also start a massive campaign to prevent the consumption of these drugs
15:18and take care of their young people, as we do here in Mexico.
15:34Drug use and distribution is in your country, and that is also a public health problem that
15:40you have never addressed.
15:42Why don't you ask yourself what is the underlying reason for so much drug use that has been
15:48going on for so long in the United States?
15:52Besides, and I also mentioned it yesterday, look, the synthetic opioid epidemic in the
15:58United States has its origin in the indiscriminate prescription of this type of medication,
16:04which was authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, the so-called FDA, as demonstrated
16:11by a lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company.
16:14There are television series that explain it.
16:17What's more, the drug that caused the synthetic opioid consumption crisis is still being sold
16:22in pharmacies with official authorization.
16:25I want to tell you, and this is very important, Mexico does not want confrontation.
16:31We start from collaboration between neighboring countries.
16:34Mexico not only does not want fentanyl to reach the United States, but we do not want
16:39it to reach anywhere.
16:40Therefore, if the United States wants to combat criminal groups and wants us to do so together,
16:47we must work in an integrated manner, but always on their principles, the principles
16:52of shared responsibility, mutual trust, collaboration, and, above all, respect for sovereignty.
17:10Sovereignty is non-negotiable.
17:11Coordination, yes.
17:12Subordination, no.
17:13To this end, yesterday, in my statement, I proposed to President Trump that we establish
17:20a working group with our best teams, those in security and also those in public health.
17:27Problems are not resolved by imposing tariffs, but by talking and dialoguing, as we did.
17:33But I want to tell you this.
17:35We did it this way in recent weeks with the State Department to address the phenomenon
17:40of immigration, in our case, always with respect for human rights.
17:45The graph that President Trump has been posting on his social media about the decrease in
17:49immigration was created by none other than our team, which has been in constant communication
17:55with his.
18:06To our Mexican brothers and sisters in the United States, I want to tell you that your
18:11president and an entire people are here to defend you.
18:15If you wish to return to Mexico, we will embrace you here.
18:19The people of Mexico are brave and have a lot of dignity.
18:23They are the most wonderful people on earth.
18:25I tell you that your president is here.
18:28We have courage and firmness, but always, as I have said on other occasions, we must
18:34act with a cool head and love for the people.
18:37Nothing we will do will affect the dignity and interest of the people of Mexico.
18:42I propose that we wait for President Trump's response to our proposal.
18:47During tomorrow's morning press conference, in the morning press conference for the people,
18:51I will be informing you of the first measures of what we call Plan B. As Juarez said, nothing
18:58by force, everything by reason and law, and between individuals, as between nations, respect
19:04for the rights of others is peace.
19:34Welcome back.
20:01The occupation forces bombed numerous buildings at the Yanomami camp in the occupied West
20:07Bank in the latest hours.
20:09Palestinian authorities announced that Israeli armies simultaneously blew up some 20 buildings
20:14on the eastern side of the camp after placing explosives in them.
20:19Four more data briefed that near 25 Palestinians had been hit to death of these attacks, in
20:25addition to countless injuries and arrests.
20:28Currently, Tel Aviv regime troops shot down a young Palestinian in the northern refugee
20:33camp of Hebron.
20:40The Israeli army killed in 13 days at least 25 Palestinians during operations against
20:46the West Bank.
20:47Health authorities reported that a military shot a 73-year-old Palestinian in Yenin whose
20:52body was taken to hospital by Red Crescent ambulances.
20:56They also report that occupation forces continue to enforce the reformed control of the region
21:02by sending soldiers and armored vehicles.
21:09On Sunday, Pope Francis renewed his call for increased efforts to put an end to the war.
21:16After the prayers, the Angelus, the Supreme Pontiff addressed the pilgrims and the faithful
21:21gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, appealing once again to world leaders to take
21:27every effort to negotiate an end to all the ongoing conflicts around the world, which
21:31kill many innocent people.
21:34I reiterate my objection to war, for it means destruction, it destroys life, it leads to
21:41a disregard for life, let's not forget, war is always a defeat, let us pray for martyred
21:46Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan.
21:51In India, the government has announced an income tax break as an initiative to suspend
21:57and foster rapid economic growth.
21:59India's Finance Minister Narmada Shinshara said that people earning the equivalent to
22:05up to $14,100 a year will have to pay the income tax.
22:11The announcement came as part of the new federal budget introduced by the government for the
22:16coming fiscal year, starting on April 1st.
22:19Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a tax break will benefit the people and act as a multiplying
22:24force that will lead to increased investment.
22:27We have come to the end of this brief, but you can find this and many other stories on
22:35our website at TELESURINGLISH.NET.
22:37You can also join us on our socials from Facebook, Annex, and on Instagram as well.
22:41For TELESURINGLISH, I'm from the south, I'm Manuela Marrero, thank you for watching.