FTS 12:30 08-02:  Silence begins ahead of Ecuador election - video Dailymotion

teleSUR English

08/02/2025 FTS 12.30 *Hamas Movement releases three Israelis in latest prisoner exchange. *Berta Caceres murderer confirmed in Honduras. teleSUR  These and many more stories now!

Transcript

00:00In Ecuador, the electoral silence is in force as we are hours away from the presidential

00:15elections this Sunday.

00:19The Palestinian movement Hamas released on Saturday three Israeli hostages in exchange

00:23for 183 Palestinian prisoners in the latest stage of a ceasefire deal aimed at paving

00:28the way for an end to the escalating conflict that began in October 2023.

00:36The Civic Council of Popular Indigenous Organizations of Honduras announces that the Supreme Court

00:41of Justice confirmed the conviction of Sergio Rodríguez Orellana for the murder of Berta

00:46Cáceres.

00:47Hello, welcome to From the South, I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Televisu Studios in Havana,

00:55Cuba.

00:56We begin with the news.

01:13In Ecuador, the electoral silence is in force as we are hours away for Ecuadorians to go

01:17to the polls on Sunday's election.

01:20Near 14 million Ecuadorians are eligible to vote next Sunday, February 9th, so that they

01:24can decide among nominees the best for running the nation's future.

01:29The general elections will be held amid instability triggered by political violence, energy crisis

01:33and the accusations against President Daniel Dubois for not being abided by electoral rules.

01:39The National Electoral Council announced that the voting process initiated Thursday with

01:43the suffrage of those deprived of freedom without a fixed sentence, then it will continue

01:49on Friday with the home voting program for people with physical limitations.

01:55We are now going live to Ecuador with our special envoy, Jorge Gestoso, who is on the

02:05ground and has all the latest details as we are hours away from the polls openings.

02:09Hello, Jorge Gestoso, welcome to From the South.

02:13How are you doing, Luis?

02:19I'm excited to be reporting from our studios here in Quito, where the city is living a

02:27total critical moment, just hours away from the presidential election of tomorrow, Sunday.

02:35The city and the country is quiet, absolutely in order.

02:40In terms of what's going on throughout the day, I will highlight that, for example, Ecuadorians

02:47living abroad are voting, and there are about 400,000 or more eligible to vote, but in reality

02:56it's about 51,000 voters, the one who participates in previous elections in the process.

03:04Also, we have seen that there is absolutely normality in the distribution of the material

03:12to the election.

03:14Also, some streets are going to be cancelled, especially biking lanes are going to be stopped,

03:25so there are some streets also that are going to be already under control of the security.

03:33Security is being worked throughout the day, so there is not going to be any irregularity

03:41in terms of the displacements of the people.

03:44There are already, in a way, Luis, and something that analysts make reference to, is at least

03:54the concern of the possibility of a fraud, and there are certain specialists that mention

04:01that the fraud could be said in three stages.

04:05Previous to the election day, during the election day, and after the election day.

04:11When they're talking about the previous election day, they refer to what they call irregularities

04:18from the campaign of the president-slash-candidate, Daniel Roja, in using the resources of the

04:27government of the states in favor of his campaign.

04:31Another thing that they believe that is part of what they call a fraud that is taking place

04:38before the election tomorrow, is that it has been disqualified at least one candidate

04:45that is being perceived that for President Navarro could be, in a way, a contender on the right

04:53that some votes could be taken.

04:56So, President Navarro may have participated in that process, and the reality is that that

05:06candidate is not participating.

05:08On the other hand, the use of the media is totally in favor of the candidate President Navarro,

05:19and that is being perceived as we are going to reach tomorrow in a field that is not level.

05:28It's absolutely turned in favor of the candidate.

05:32So, that is one of the things that observers are paying attention to, that they say that

05:38everything could be expected because that situation is pretty irregular.

05:44Officially, the authorities of the voting authority says that about 90 minutes away,

05:52after the closing of the polls, we're talking about 5 p.m. tomorrow, we are going to have

05:58at least the first tendency of the results.

06:01So, theoretically, we could have by the end of tomorrow night a clear tendency of what's going on.

06:09But in reality is that we are perceiving a day in total normality, and so far is the

06:18second day of the reflection period that is, by law, executed that after the midnight of Thursday

06:27took place.

06:28So, no polls, no political acts, no political activities are being perceived and authorized,

06:36and also people cannot, for example, be selling and drinking sort of alcoholic beverages.

06:45So, we have to wait and see, but in reality, there are, again, 16 candidates.

06:5216 candidates.

06:53In reality, it is being perceived that there is only one candidate that represents the

06:58progressive movement of late former President Rafael Correa.

07:02We are talking about the Revolución Ciudadana of Luisa González that, according to many

07:08polls, looks like the favorite, but also certain polls show, in first place, president candidate

07:19And just to finalize this, there is almost total agreement that no one is going to reach

07:29the 50% necessary to win in this first round, or get 40% and 10% difference with the second.

07:39So, it's pretty clear that here is going to be a runoff, and the runoff is going to be

07:46in the month of April.

07:48We'll get back to you now.

07:52Thank you, Justuso, for updating information.

07:54We're going to stay in touch in an upcoming news brief to continue talking and analyzing

07:58as Ecuador goes in this important election day tomorrow.

08:04Let's now take a short break.

08:05Remember, you can join us on TikTok at Televisual English, where you'll find news in different

08:09formats, news updates, and much more.

08:13Stay with us.

08:16Stay with us.

08:39Welcome back.

08:40The Palestinian movement Hamas released on Saturday three Israeli hostages in exchange

08:44for 183 Palestinian prisoners in the latest stage of a ceasefire deal, among paving the

08:49way for an end to the escalating conflict that began in October 2023.

08:53Israeli captives Orel Levi, Elie Sharabi, and Ohad Ben-Ami were transferred to a Red

08:59Cross post in Deir el-Balai in the central Gaza Strip to be later picked up by the Israeli

09:03Defense Forces.

09:04According to the agreement, Israel will release more than 180 Palestinian prisoners, 18 of

09:10them sentenced to life imprisonment, 54 prisoners with high sentences, and 111 other Palestinians

09:15detained in the Gaza Strip following the al-Aqsa flood operation carried out by the Palestinian

09:21resistance movement in October 2023.

09:30The International Criminal Court condemned on Friday President Donald Trump's executive

09:34order which imposed punitive sanctions on the world body after it recently issued arrest

09:39warnings against the Israeli Zionist government.

09:41According to the executive order, Washington would impose sanctions on ICC officials working

09:46on investigations that allegedly threaten the national security of the U.S. and its

09:50allies, including Israel.

09:52In this regard, the court condemned the U.S. President's imposition and emphasized that

09:56it compromises the impartial and independent judicial character of the body.

10:00Likewise, it strongly supports its staff and reaffirmed its commitment to continue to bring

10:05justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities around the world.

10:36In Argentina, authorities evacuated at least 10 towns in the city of El Bolson due to a

10:41major forest fire.

10:42Officials from the Municipal Emergency Committee warned that the flames are spreading to the

10:47Rio Azul nature reserve due to adverse weather conditions that make it difficult to control

10:52the fire.

10:53In this sense, the authorities asked residents and visitors in the area to travel with extreme

10:57caution and follow the indications of emergency teams.

11:00On the other hand, local authorities stated that this is the worst catastrophe in the

11:04history of the province of Rio Negro.

11:11We have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on Tiktok at Televisual

11:14English where you'll find news in different formats, news updates, and much more.

11:23Stay with us.

11:24Welcome back.

11:36The Civic Council of Popular Indigenous Organization of Honduras announced that the Supreme Court

11:41of Justice confirmed the conviction of Sergio Rodriguez Orellana for the murder of Berta

11:46Cáceres.

11:47The published document indicated that after more than six years of waiting, the plenary

11:51of the Supreme Court of Justice of Honduras has confirmed the conviction of Sergio Ramón

11:55Rodríguez Orellana, proving that he is guilty of aggravated murder of the crime against

12:00our sister Berta Cáceres in the sentence of 30 years in prison.

12:05The plenary has reclassified his responsibility as perpetrator by inducement.

12:10It also denounces that Sergio Rodriguez is part of the criminal structure that terrorized

12:14the Lenca community of Rio Blanco since 2013 with the intention of imposing the illegal

12:20Agua Zarca hydroelectric project for the economic benefit of the Atala Zabala family.

12:26His role, disguised as environmental and social manager, was to infiltrate, antagonize, and

12:30attack the Lenca community and to monitor and identify the leadership as a target for

12:35attack by the Atala's criminal enterprise.

12:37Finally, the court demands that the State of Honduras comply with its obligations and

12:42prosecute and punish all those responsible for the crime of Berta Cáceres and related

12:47crimes as well as respect to the rights of the Lenca people.

12:55The Kennedy administration imposed the unfair blockade against Cuba on February 7, 1962,

13:0163 years ago.

13:02The then U.S. President enacted the current blockade in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban

13:06Revolution.

13:07Later succeeding U.S. governments have pursued other coercive policies, such as the Helms-Burton

13:12Act and the inclusion of the country in the state's sponsoring terrorism list.

13:16All these modern policies have brought about Cuban economic losses of over $1.49 trillion

13:23since 1962.

13:24In this regard, since November 24, 1992, the United Nations General Assembly has voted

13:29overwhelmingly in favor of removing the blockade against Cuba.

13:47In Mexico, the National Museum of Anthropology will host the photographic exhibition Amazonía

13:56by the renowned Brazilian artist Sebastião Salgado.

13:59It presents 230 photographs that reflect the richness and diversity of the Amazon rainforest,

14:05captured over seven years and 58 expeditions.

14:08Salgado seeks to stress the beauty of the Amazon despite the fact that 18% of the ecosystem

14:13is lost.

14:14The exposition, which will run until May 4, 2025, features an immersive experience that

14:19combines lighting, music, and sounds of the jungle, created by French musician Jean-Michel

14:24Jarret, to accompany the tour.

14:26It also includes an accessible section for the visually impaired called Amazonía Touch,

14:31which presents tactile photographs in relief, an inclusive exhibition that shows the importance

14:37of preserving both natures and indigenous cultures.

14:45And Cuba is getting ready for the International Book Fair in Havana, an event that will welcome

14:49press from more than 40 countries.

14:51The 33rd edition will have South Africa as guest of honor and will pay tribute to Cubans

14:57Virgilio López Lemus and Francisca López-Severa.

15:00The event will be held under the slogan A Whole Country in Books, from February 13 to

15:05the 23rd, and will offer around 2.4 million copies.

15:09The organizing committee announced that 1,300 novelties will be presented in digital and

15:15physical formats, and a new People's Library will be included, as well as various cultural

15:20activities to promote literature in the communities.

15:23Tributes will also be paid to Fidel Castro and José Martí, who affirmed the unity and

15:27resilience of the Cuban people.

15:30In a film series dedicated to Studio Ghibli, the well-known Japanese animation studio began

15:35in Argentina.

15:36The cycle will take place at the Martinelli Municipal Theater in the city of San Fernando

15:41province of Buenos Aires, with three admission and open-air screenings every Friday of this

15:45month.

15:46The exhibition will include four films by the famous Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki,

15:51co-founder of Studio Ghibli, with audio in Latin and Spanish, which will be presented

15:57by Porco Rosso, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, The Wind Rises, and Kiki's Delivery

16:03Service.

16:04The event has the intention of bringing Japanese animation cinema closer to the community of

16:08San Fernando, with proposals created for the whole family.

16:15And in Uruguay, the Island of Flowers is once again the protagonist of the Llamadas Parade,

16:20which for two days will present more than 50 comparsas to the rhythm of the drums.

16:25This exercising and traditional celebration will light up the streets celebrating the

16:29essence of candombe, with more than 50 comparsas, plus 12 invited comparsas and the drums playing.

16:35It is worth mentioning that it is one of the most emblematic and awaited events by the

16:39inhabitants of the country.

16:41It is celebrated annually paying tribute to the Afro-Uruguayan traditions and candombe,

16:45a rhythm and dance that has its roots in the African heritage.

16:51We have come to the end of this newsbrief.

16:54You can find these and many other stories on our website at telestrolinglish.net.

16:58Join us on social media, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok.

17:02For Telestro English, I'm Luis Alberto Matos.

FTS 12:30 08-02: Silence begins ahead of Ecuador election

Category

Transcript

Recommended