16/05/2025
FTS 12.30
*Palestine: Israeli strike leave nearly 200 dead
*Panama: indefinite strike against law 426 continues
FTS 12.30
*Palestine: Israeli strike leave nearly 200 dead
*Panama: indefinite strike against law 426 continues
Category
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NewsTranscript
00:00The first direct talks since 2022 between delegations of Russia and Ukraine took place
00:15on Friday in Istanbul. In Palestine, attacks on refugee camps, hospitals and schools leave
00:26nearly 200 people dead. Panamanian collectives continue the indefinite strike in rejection
00:36of Law 462 of the Social Security Fund.
00:46Hello and welcome to From the South. My name is Verena de los Santos. I'm from the Cerezo
00:50Studios in Havana, Cuba. We begin with the news.
00:56We now begin with the information. The first direct talks since 2022 between delegations
01:07of Russia and Ukraine took place on Friday in Istanbul. Chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister
01:13Hakan Fidan, the delegations headed by Presidential Secretary Vladimir Medinsky on the Russian side
01:19and Defense Minister Rustem Umarov, representing Ukraine, gathered at the Dolmabash Palace.
01:25While giving statements to the press after the encounter, Medinsky unfolded that at the
01:31meeting, the delegations discussed a 1,000 for 1,000 prisoner swap and that both sides agreed
01:38on each country to present their path for a future ceasefire. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian side
01:44reportedly requested a direct meeting between the heads of state. In this context, the Russian
01:49delegation assessed to be satisfied with the results and willing to continue the meetings.
01:55In the coming days, a large-scale prisoner exchange will take place, 1,000 for 1,000 people.
02:08Second, the Ukrainian side has requested direct talks between the heads of state. We have taken this
02:16request under advisement. We agreed that each side will present its vision of a possible future ceasefire
02:25and write it down in detail. Once these visions are presented, we believe it is appropriate and this
02:33has also been agreed to continue our negotiations.
02:37Earlier on Friday, an initial round of meetings arising from the Ukrainian disagreement took place in Istanbul.
02:48The gathering between delegations of Turkey, Ukraine and the United States was hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister
02:54Hakan Fidan and included on the U.S. side Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg
03:02and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tomas Barak. Representing Ukraine were Foreign Ministers Andri Siva,
03:09Defense Minister Rustem Umarov and Head of the Presidential Office Andri Yarmak.
03:15The three-way talks happened after Thursday, when the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refused to attend
03:22the scheduled meeting with the Russian delegation.
03:31The European Union has announced that it will impose the 17th package of sanctions against Russia next Tuesday
03:39with immediate effect.
03:40German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that the package was ready and would be adopted in Brussels on Tuesday.
03:48For her part, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU was further limiting Russia's access
03:56to combat technology, adding that the restrictions would impact 189 ships in Russia's fleet.
04:02It is important to note that since the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine
04:08on February 24, 2022, the EU has approved 16 sanctions package with no clear visible effects.
04:17In other news, Romania is preparing for a high-stakes presidential runoff this weekend between two markedly different candidates,
04:32George Simeone, a far-right nationalist, and Nikos Ordan, a pro-Western reformist and mayor of Bucharest.
04:39The tense vote comes as Romania is gripped by a deep political crisis after a top court voided the previous election in which the FAR.
04:51Right outsider Kalin Georgescu topped the first round following allegations of irregularities in the process.
04:56We need to rebuild the country, we need to project hope, and we need, from May 19, a united Romania so that its people will be able to face the challenge inside and outside the country.
05:23Years of endemic corruption and growing anger toward Romania's political establishment has fueled a surge in support for nationalist figures,
05:38reflecting a broader pattern seen across Europe.
05:44George Simeone is here in order for us to go back to Constitutional.
05:53Constitutional order, to normality, to democracy, to the will of the Romanian people.
06:04And if there's one partner who you want to work with well, that partner is represented by economic agents and the state of Romanian economy.
06:10After the polls have closed, almost 9.6 million voters have cast their ballots in the first round of the presidential elections in Romania.
06:29Approximately 53.21% of the total number of voters, it is expected that this weekend the number of voters will be much higher.
06:35Now we have a short break coming up, but first, remember you can join us on TikTok at Salas for English,
06:46where you will find news in different formats, news updates and much more.
06:49We'll be right back, stay with us.
06:50We'll be right back, stay with us.
07:20Welcome back to From the South.
07:26In Palestine, recent attacks on refugee camps, hospitals and schools have killed nearly 200 people
07:33as Zionist forces continue bombarding areas to force the displacement of the population.
07:39At the close of midnight on Thursday, health authorities recorded 143 fatalities.
07:44Rescue groups reported several bombings with dozens of dead that they had not been able to rescue because they were assisting survivors.
07:53In this context, the neighborhood of Al-Sultan in Beit Laya has been one of the hardest hits.
08:00The genocidal massacre this Thursday and Friday also extended to the occupied West Bank,
08:06where five young men were killed in the city of Tamu.
08:09Meanwhile, Palestinian organizations announced the systematic destruction of telecommunications infrastructure
08:22by Israeli scientist forces.
08:25The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Telecommunications
08:29denounced that Gaza is facing unprecedented isolation and digital blackout.
08:35They further stated that the destruction of fundamental structures for the Palestinians by Israel
08:41represents a major challenge for the development of the people in order to survive.
08:46Furthermore, the authorities condemned the destruction of more than 60 percent of the towers of the cellular companies,
08:53which they stressed seeks to destroy businesses and companies that allow the truth about Gaza to be told.
09:00We continue on topic as China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
09:13Geng Shuang, urged all nations to promote the implementation of the two-state solution,
09:19describing it as the only viable resolution to the Middle East conflict.
09:23Speaking at a commemoration held by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
09:30at the UN Headquarters in New York, Geng marked the 77th anniversary of the Nakba.
09:36Geng emphasized that the Nakba remains a profound trauma in Palestinian collective memory
09:41and continues to fuel their struggle for justice and the right of return.
09:46He called for concrete steps towards a comprehensive and lasting solution,
09:50stressing that only through the two-state framework can the Nakba be consigned to history.
10:03On the question of Palestine, China upholding fairness and justice,
10:09remains steadfast in its support for the justice cause of the Palestinian people
10:13to restore their legitimate national rights for the early.
10:15Establishment of the fully sovereign and independent state of Palestine based on the 1,967 borders
10:21with East Jerusalem as its capital,
10:24and for the early admission of the state of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.
10:30In other news, the government of Chad had confirmed
10:34the arrest of former Prime Minister Succes Masra
10:37in connection with violent clashes in the southeast of the country.
10:42Local authorities indicated that the clashes, which left at least 35 people dead,
10:48took place in the village of Mandacao, located in the Lugan Occidental province.
10:54The dispute between ethnic Fulani nomadic herders and local Namubaya farmers
11:00allegedly occurred over the demarcation of grazing and farming areas.
11:05In this context, the government condemned the act of violence
11:08and specified that the necessary measures would be taken
11:12to find the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice.
11:16On Friday, the country's attorney general informed of the arrest of Masra,
11:21who had reportedly called on the population to arm themselves.
11:24We have a second short break coming up,
11:32but before, we invite you to visit our Facebook page at Tell Us Your English.
11:36There you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverages, and much more.
11:40Follow our page and activate the notifications
11:42to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.
11:46Final short break. Don't go away.
11:54Welcome back to From the South.
12:07We continue with more information.
12:09Panamanian collectives continue the indefinite strike
12:12in rejection of Law 462 of the Social Security Fund.
12:16The peaceful protest, which also denounced the government's agreement
12:20with the United States that establishes military bases in the country,
12:24have been violently repressed by the national executive
12:28as President José Raúl Molina rules out dialogue.
12:31In this context, on Thursday, the Construction Workers Union
12:34denounced the arrest of union leaders
12:36and the violation of union freedom by the executive.
12:40In addition, they warned that the police authorities
12:43entered six communities using tear gas
12:45in the presence of children and elderly people.
12:50Through a message published on his ex-account,
12:57the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro,
12:59accused several senators of receiving money
13:01to block the popular consultation
13:03that sought to improve the labor and social conditions
13:06of Colombian citizens.
13:08The president criticized the actions of a group of congressmen
13:12who, according to him, act against the general interest
13:15and violate the principles of the Constitution.
13:18He urged citizens to mobilize to demand labor and health reforms
13:22and warned of possible strikes as a response to this situation.
13:26Furthermore, he emphasized the need for the people
13:29to take an active role in the creation of laws
13:32that promote social welfare, rejecting corruption and paramilitarism.
13:37We continue on topic as there have been several reactions
13:46of rejection to the Senate's refusal to carry out
13:50the popular consultation in Colombia on changes in the labor policy.
13:55The government announces multiple irregularities
13:57during the session held on May 14th.
14:00Let's see the details with our correspondent, Hernán Tobar.
14:05Another blow to the country's workers
14:07was dealt by a sector of the Colombian Senate,
14:10which has generated several complaints
14:12about the irregularities that were presented
14:13against the popular consultation,
14:15which generated actions on the part of legislators
14:17of the government coalition.
14:19I filed a formal request before the Senate's Board of Directors
14:24to repeat the vote of the popular consultation,
14:27since my appeal request was illegally disregarded
14:29due to voting irregularities.
14:30Already in the plenary the agenda was modified,
14:45which delayed the approach of the popular consultation.
14:47A sector of the opposition made possible
14:49the discussion and vote of an appeal
14:51that revived the labor reform discarded some time ago
14:53by some senators present here further delaying
14:56the processing of the consultation in a delaying strategy.
14:58In the late afternoon the vote of the consultation was held,
15:01which was sunk in this corporation by the opposition sectors
15:04and with allegations of several irregularities
15:06and fraud in the procedure.
15:13The board of directors voted the popular consultation
15:16in the blink of an eye as many of you saw.
15:18It did not even last three minutes in the voting
15:20and they closed it when they saw
15:22that they effectively had one or two votes of gain
15:24here we have not really lost the war,
15:25the people have always had to resist.
15:28And of course there will also be a popular reaction
15:36because they believe they are going to fool the people.
15:39The people are going to increase their indignation
15:41with this Congress of the Republic
15:43and with these dark actions headed by EfraÃn Cepeda.
15:46The president of the country described this as fraud
15:55and indicated that he will resubmit to the Senate
15:57the popular consultation.
15:59He requested the mobilization of the people
16:00and their organization in permanent meetings
16:02throughout the country in view of
16:04the affront that a sector of the Senate made
16:06against the participation of the people
16:08in key determinations such as the labor reform,
16:11so the meetings and strategies of the social,
16:12popular and political sectors have already begun.
16:19The president is telling us
16:21there is the people who are the sovereign
16:22if the Congress of the Republic
16:24and a handful of senators are above
16:25more than 30 million Colombians
16:27who make up the social and popular base.
16:29Then the people have to wake up
16:35if the people wake up in a calm and peaceful way.
16:37Not asking for respect for their sovereignty
16:39but demanding and making their sovereignty respected
16:41surely the president can go further.
16:43And we are going to define a course
16:54that will be taken in general
16:55by 1,105 municipalities
16:58that will hold popular councils
17:00and we will effectively mandate that in Colombia.
17:03Popular sovereignty takes precedence
17:05over representative democracy.
17:07Alternatively, the government has already initiated
17:18legal actions in view of the irregularities
17:20denounced in the voting process
17:21including complaints to the control agencies
17:23and the investigation of the president of the Senate.
17:25In Colombia, the director of the National Police
17:33Carlos Fernandos Triana announced the arrest
17:35of one of the accused in the killing
17:37of 13 people inside a mine
17:39in the province of Patas in northern Peru.
17:42Joint work and coordinated actions
17:44to locate the suspect led to the arrest
17:46of Miguel Antonio RodrÃguez DÃaz
17:48who will be charged for the crimes
17:49of criminal organizations,
17:51aggravated kidnapping and aggravated homicide.
17:54According to Peruvian judicial records
17:56RodrÃguez DÃaz entered the mine shaft
17:58with 20 other people
18:00presumably to take material
18:02previously stolen by other miners.
18:05This was allegedly followed
18:07by an armed confrontation
18:08that resulted in 13 fatal victims.
18:12The next few hours could bring
18:14RodrÃguez DÃaz to perpetuation
18:15so that he can face justice in Peru.
18:24And in Peru, the Public Prosecutor's Office
18:26has filed two constitutional complaints
18:28against President Dina Boluarte
18:30in less than 12 hours
18:32adding to the endless list
18:33that she has already accumulated.
18:35The most recent is related
18:37to the National School Feeding Program,
18:39Kali Warma,
18:40and the National Program of Platforms
18:43for Social Inclusion.
18:44The public ministry accused
18:45President Boluarte
18:47of aggravated collusion
18:48for favoring Victor Torres Merino,
18:50a close friend of her brother,
18:52Nicanor Boluarte,
18:53who is also linked to serious crimes.
18:56The facts occurred
18:57when the current president
18:58was Minister of Development
19:00and Social Inclusion
19:01and awarded a contract
19:03of almost 12,000 euros
19:05to Torres Merino.
19:13In other news,
19:14a massive blackout
19:15has been affected in Haiti
19:16since Thursday
19:17after a group of unknown assailants
19:19attacked the Pellegris hydroelectric plant.
19:22According to Haiti's
19:24state-owned electricity company,
19:26the attack,
19:26which has not been claimed
19:28by any group,
19:29is forcing them
19:30to suspend service
19:31to preserve the equipment.
19:33They pointed out
19:34that the chaos in the country
19:35has delayed the restitution
19:36of the service
19:37in the power plant
19:38located in Plateau Central,
19:40an inland basin
19:41shared with the Dominican Republic.
19:43Although the state company
19:45does not specify
19:46the real extent of the failure,
19:48nor the time
19:49it will take to repair it,
19:50they assured
19:51that it is
19:52an atrocious act
19:53and asked the authorities
19:54to guarantee
19:55the security
19:56of these strategic installations.
19:58And like this,
20:04we have come to the end
20:05of this news brief.
20:06You can find this
20:07and many other stories
20:08on our website
20:08at tellesfueenglish.net.
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20:16For Tellesfue English,
20:17my name is Verena de los Santos.
20:19We'll see you next time.