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*Colombians demonstrate over senate's rejection of popular consultation
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NewsTranscript
00:00The Russian delegation present in Turkey for the scheduled negotiations with Ukraine held a press conference, rejecting the latest remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
00:21May 15 marked Nagba Day for Palestinians, a day to commemorate the mass dispossession and forced displacement during the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.
00:40Several sectors of Colombia's society held demonstrations following the rejection of the popular consultation initiative by the Senate.
00:51Hello and welcome to From the South. I'm Alejandra Garcia from Telesur Studios in Habana, Cuba. We begin with the news.
00:59The Russian delegation present in Turkey for the scheduled negotiations with Ukraine held a press conference in response to the latest remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
01:09The Russian delegation present in Turkey for the scheduled negotiations with Ukraine held a press conference in response to the latest remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
01:23This way, the head of the delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, reaffirmed the authority of the officials appointed for the talks, stressing they were approved by a presidential decree and possessed all the necessary competences and authority to conduct the negotiations.
01:40Furthermore, Medinsky recall, these talks are a continuation of the 2022 peace process, interrupted by the Ukrainian side while highlighting his delegation's willingness to find a sustainable and long-lasting solution to the conflict.
01:55For his part, after meddling in the Russian delegation upon his arrival in Ankara, the Ukrainian President stated that he will not participate directly in the talks but will send representatives to Istanbul.
02:13We consider these negotiations as a continuation of the peace process in Istanbul, which unfortunately was interrupted by the Ukrainian side three years ago.
02:24Our official delegation has been approved by a presidential decree and possesses all the necessary competencies and authority to conduct negotiations.
02:35The delegation is set on a constructive course, aiming to find possible solutions and points of convergence.
02:48The goal of direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side is, sooner or later, to reach the establishment of a long-term peace by eliminating the fundamental root causes of the conflict.
03:00Delegations of Russia and Ukraine are due to hold direct talks in Istanbul, Turkey, for the first time since April 2022.
03:07Our correspondent, Yunus Suner, brings us all the details in the following report.
03:13Hello.
03:14Hello.
03:15Good evening from Istanbul, Turkey, from the front of the presidential working office here in Dolmabahçe, where today the delegations of Russia and Ukraine were supposed to meet the first time since April 2022 to find the solution out of the conflict.
03:34Now, at this hour, the last meeting that is scheduled to happen here in this building is one between the Russian delegation and the Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan.
03:47The Ukrainian-Russian meeting has not occurred today and is expected to happen tomorrow.
03:52During the day, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who has repeatedly first demanded the attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin to this meeting and then disqualified the Russian delegation as not being representative,
04:08finally agreed to send the delegation to meet its Russian counterpart.
04:14Zelensky said that he did so out of respect for President Trump and President Erdogan.
04:20Still, the Russian delegation is headed by Vladimir Medinsky, who was the head of the delegation back in 2022 as well.
04:31So the claim of Zelensky is hard to understand.
04:35Notwithstanding, this meeting is supposed to happen tomorrow.
04:40For the time being, both sides, the Russian and the Ukrainian side, have confirmed their participation tomorrow in this meeting.
04:48At the same time, there have been a lot of back door diplomacy, remembering, reminding that there is also a NATO summit taking place in the city of Antalya, 700 kilometers away from Istanbul,
05:01where all foreign ministers of NATO countries, including the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are attending.
05:08And we heard from sources of the Turkish Foreign Ministry that there is also a delegation here in town from the United States, which will not attend probably the talks itself,
05:21but which is issuing pressure and trying to force the Ukrainian delegation to attend these talks.
05:31In that sense, Donald Trump has again first said he would come to Istanbul if there is significant progress on Friday.
05:41And then he added later on that he does not expect a solution out of the Ukraine conflict until he meets personally with Russian President Putin.
05:52Now, for the time being, the Turkish Foreign Minister meets the Russian delegation.
05:58He has also during the day met the Ukrainian delegation.
06:02So, Turkey is kind of mediating in this effort of getting the two countries together to sit at one table.
06:10And the results will be more visible by tomorrow.
06:28May 15th marks Nagba Day for Palestinians a day to commemorate the mass dispossession and force displacement during the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.
06:41Palestinians held marches in the occupied West Bank in Ramallah to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Nagba or catastrophe in which an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their lands
06:55after Israel declared itself an independent state in the territory.
07:00Palestinian flags and keys symbolize the lost homes and the permanent desire and struggle for their return.
07:07This year, the commemoration takes place amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza that killed over 50,000.
07:14And Israel continues to force displacement in all the enclave with its aid, blockade and ongoing attacks.
07:21The Venezuelan government expressed solidarity to the Palestinian people on the 77th anniversary of the Nagba.
07:33Through an official statement, the government stated that Venezuela is in firm adherence to the principles of international law, justice and self-determination of peoples.
07:44Israel joins today in deep solidarity with the brotherly people of Palestine as we commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Nagba catastrophe that marked the beginning of the systematic dispossession,
07:56forced exile and continued suffering of millions of Palestinians uprooted from their ancestral land.
08:03The communique follows by recalling how 77 years ago the colonial ambition of Israel Zionism gave way to a massive, planned and violent expulsion of the Palestinian population that historic crime has not ceased.
08:19Its tragic consequences persisted this day, today aggravated by an ongoing genocide brutally executed by the Nazi regime of Israel and its chief perpetrator, the war criminal Benjamin Eranyahu.
08:32It goes on to warn that the Nagba is not a memory of the past.
08:37It is an open wound that bleeds with every act of aggression, with every murdered child, with every destroyed home, with every Palestinian life cut short by the machinery of war, upper hate and occupation of the State of Israel.
08:52In its closing remarks, the statement assured that the people and the government of Venezuela, headed by President Nicolás Maduro Moros, embrace with unwavering brotherhood and commitment to the brave and dignified Palestinian people.
09:06Their cause is our cause. Their heroic resistance is a source of inspiration for the free peoples of the world.
09:13And their legitimate journey for justice, peace and sovereignty is a cry that we make our own, with a conviction that sooner rather than later, freedom and dignity will flourish forever in the sacred land of Palestine.
09:27Long live free and sovereign Palestine.
09:30Palestinian civil defence
09:36Palestinian civil defence recorded 94 deaths as a result of overnight Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip.
09:42The entity further detailed that occupation forces dropped bombs on Cantonese city in southern Gaza, which claimed over 60 lives, including journalist Hassan Samour and his 11 family members.
09:55Marouba reported Ahmad El Alhele was hit to death in a different attack.
10:01So the Gaza Media Office has registered 217 journalists killed since October 2023.
10:08In addition, the Israeli army targeted the Touba complex, comprising a prayer room and a medical clinic in northern Havalia, which led to 15 fatal victims, including 11 children and women.
10:20Meanwhile, the Israeli forces denied accountability, accusing Palestine of inflating death tolls.
10:26Regardless, most media outlets assure the fact-checking massacres.
10:35And now we have a short break coming up.
10:37But first remember, you can join us on TikTok at Telesur English, where you'll find news in different formats, news updates and more.
10:44We'll be right back and stay with us.
10:59Welcome back to From the South.
11:00The Colombian Senate rejected on Wednesday the government's proposed popular consultation, an initiative aimed at promoting labour reform.
11:08With 49 votes against and 47 in favour, the Senate plenary rejected the initiative of Gustavo Pedro's administration.
11:17In response, the Colombian head of state accused the body of committing a fraud and called on the people worker unions to mobilise together with community action boards, youth committees and indigenous movements.
11:29The proposed consultation address issues such as the reduction of the eight-hour working day, leave for health reasons, decent wages for farmers and the end of outsourcing, among others.
11:41In this context, the President of Colombia, Gustavo Pedro, described as a disaster the collapse of a popular consultation in the Senate and blamed Uribismo for the use of political maneuvers to block the initiative.
12:06Through his ex-account, the Colombian head of state highlighted Uribismo sunk the labour reform in the seventh commission and as we revive it as a consultation, now it syncs to the consultation to revive the same labour reform it sunk in the seventh commission.
12:22A party disaster. The biggest disaster was that they had to take away the vote of more than a dozen legislators who were going to vote yes and they had to sink the consultation with the vote of a convicted Uribista.
12:37Never in contemporary history had it happened that a lawmaker was taken out of jail to vote and sink the rights of the working people.
12:47That is a real disaster for the Senate and democracy. The opprobium they have committed must have cost a lot.
12:55Now they would try to sink again the bill I presented two years ago to Congress, but it is the people who must give their answer.
13:03They talk about defeat. The Senate has defeated itself by silencing the people's power, which it is very sourced, and by using a convict for a peric victory that the people will sink into the history of infamy.
13:21In this regard, social organizations, indigenous groups, gender and cultural movements and other sectors of Colombian society demonstrated on Wednesday night following the Senate's rejection of the popular consultation.
13:38Calls spread through social networks with peaceful demonstrations taking place in various communities.
13:44In the capital city of Bogotá, people gathered in parks and in front of the city hall, while in Medellín popular assemblies were held and protests were organized simultaneously.
13:54The actions, which continued until early Thursday morning, denounced fraud in the counting of Senate votes, as several parliamentarians claimed that the order and agenda were altered arbitrarily and the voting process was disorganized.
14:12The strike against the government imposed social security law in Panama has lasted 24 consecutive days, paralyzing key sectors such as education, construction and food production.
14:28Workers and teachers unions have expressed a rejection through road blockades, marches, rallies and work stoppages.
14:35Demonstrators point out that this government measure plunders the social security fund, hands over funds to private banks, rises the retirement age and privatizes services.
14:47Soundtracks accused the Molino government of violating freedom of association and seeking the arrest union leaders.
14:54In other news, the Metallurgical Workers Union in Argentina is carrying out a total indefinite strike in rejection of Javier Millet's government's declaration to eliminate tariffs on cell phone imports.
15:10The Metal Workers of Tierra del Fuego state that the measure is a direct response to the official announcement that negatively impacted the local productive structure.
15:21They also warned that more than 6,000 people could lose their jobs.
15:26The union has called for a mobilization in the center of Rio Grande, where many industrial companies are located.
15:38Funeral ceremonies for former president Jose Pepe Mujica are continuing in the legislative palace in Montevideo, capital of Uruguay.
15:46Thousands of people paid tribute to Mujica accompanying the procession that stopped in front of the headquarters of the National Liberation Movement, the Broad Front, and the Popular Participation Movement.
15:59The procession concluded at the legislative palace.
16:02Authorities reported that more than 40 diplomatic delegates, including President Yaman Duvorsi, paid their respects to the former president.
16:11On Thursday at 9 a.m. local time, access to the palace reopened in anticipation of the arrival of other dignitaries.
16:24And we have a second showbreak coming up, but before we invite you to visit our Facebook page at Telesur English, there you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage and much more.
16:35Follow our page and activate the notification button to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.
16:41Fun and showbreak, we'll be right back.
16:43Welcome back to From the South.
17:00China announced on Thursday the decision to grant a visa-free policy for nationals of five Latin American countries, a measure reportedly aimed at further facilitating international travel.
17:11To further facilitate cross-border travel, China decided to include more countries in its visa waiver program and extend the visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay on a trial basis from 1 June 2025 to May 31, 2026.
17:28Ordinary passport holders from the above-mentioned five countries can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, family and friends visit, exchange and transit purposes.
17:39China remains committed to high-level opening up and will take more steps to make travel easier between China and other countries.
17:46The Mexican government and the National Association of Self-Service and Department Stores have signed a deal to gradually increase the marketing of products with the Made in Mexico brand in an effort to strengthen their domestic economy and reduce imports.
18:02On a private meeting at the National Palace, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum underscored the benefits of fostering goods made in the country.
18:11In turn, Diego Cosillo and that CEO stated that such commitment was aimed at substituting imported products with national options.
18:21The deal is part of the Mexican plan of action, so it comes shortly after the renewal of the Package Against Inflation and High Prices , which seeks to maintain accessible prices in the basic food basket.
18:40With six months to go until COP30, the 19th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change is underway in Recife, Brazil.
18:51Our correspondent, Brian Meir, has more.
18:53In a context of increasing climate change disasters around the world, the 19th Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change Conference is underway in Recife.
19:05Brazil's National Union for People's Housing, or UNMP, is participating in the event to raise awareness of the potential of converting vacant buildings in downtown areas to social housing as a strategy for disaster risk mitigation.
19:19I used to live in a settlement of plastic tarp and club board shacks.
19:26Whenever there were strong winds, the shacks would blow down.
19:32And when it rained a lot, it flooded. This gave us the feeling that we were going to die.
19:39So when everything got back to normal, all we could do is thank God and keep fighting.
19:44An estimated 6.2 million Brazilian families lack access to dignified housing.
19:49But the census shows this deficit could be completely eliminated by converting thousands of abandoned government buildings in towns and cities across the country into social housing.
19:59Although the 1988 constitution requires the government to do this, it usually only happens in cases of well-coordinated occupations putting pressure on local authorities.
20:09Moving families who live on the periphery to downtown areas reduces risks caused by climate change.
20:18Because, first of all, the vacant buildings have already been built.
20:26All they need is a reform.
20:29And most importantly, you are relocating families from risk zones on hillsides, riverbanks and floodplains.
20:37As places like Recife, the world's 18th most vulnerable city to climate change, deal with more frequent and more intense flooding disasters, social movements and housing activists are raising their voices in international spaces like CBA 19 to highlight how enabling the poor to move to downtown areas improves the quality of life.
20:58The police institute conducted a study last year that clearly demonstrates that converting empty buildings in central areas to social housing can promote climate change adaptation and mitigate damage.
21:15Because it moves people closer to their employment, leisure and education.
21:20CBA 19 will continue until May 16th.
21:25Brian Meir, Telesur, Recife.
21:29And like this, we have come to the end of this brief, but you can find these and many other stories on our website at TelesurEnglish.net.
21:37And join us on social media. We are on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok as well.
21:42For TelesurEnglish, I'm Alejandra Garcia. Thank you for watching.