* Colombian govt. consolidates peace process with 33rd front 'Gentil Duarte'
* Russian army liberates towns in Donetsk and Sumy provinces. teleSUR
* Russian army liberates towns in Donetsk and Sumy provinces. teleSUR
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NewsTranscript
00:00The government of Venezuela updated on Friday on the ongoing investigations of the mandatory
00:15risk groups who sought to undermine Sunday's legislative and regional elections.
00:18And in Colombia, the government announced the consolidation of the peace process with
00:27the 33rd front Hentil Duarte of the FARC dissidents and established a temporary location zone.
00:37The Russian army liberates several towns in Sumy and Donetsk regions amid special military operations.
00:44Hello, welcome from the South.
00:54I'm Luis Alberto Matos from Dersu Studios in Havana, Cuba.
00:58We'll begin with the news.
00:59Venezuela prepares for the legislative and regional elections this coming Sunday, May 25th.
01:16Over 21 million Venezuelans are called to the votes in the election of 569 positions, including
01:2124 governors, 285 national assembly deputies, and 260 legislative council representatives.
01:27Delegations from several countries have also arrived in Venezuela to observe the elections,
01:32including representatives from Turkey, South Africa, Laos, Belarus, Serbia, and Nicaragua.
01:37A total of 54 organizations with political aims are participating in the election, including
01:4236 national organizations, 10 regional organizations, 3 national indigenous organizations, and 3 regional
01:49indigenous organizations.
01:57In this regard, citizens of Tumeremo, the administrative capital of Guayana-Esequiba, are ready to participate
02:03in this democratic event to elect their first governor after establishment as a state following
02:08the consultative referendum held on December 3rd, 2023.
02:21Meanwhile, Tashira enjoys total peace and quiet on the eve of the regional and legislative elections.
02:27In preparation for the polls, the governor has implemented a security plan with the closing
02:31of the borders and allowing citizens who need to carry out procedures to move around.
02:36Let's go over in details what Venezuelans are voting for Sunday, May 25th.
02:49With 100% of the 27,713 polling stations installed, more than 21,300,000 citizens are eligible to
02:56vote for deputies to the National Assembly and 19,500,000 for governors and legislative council
03:01in the 24 states.
03:02For the day, a total of 36 national political parties, 10 regional organizations, and 8 indigenous
03:11organizations were authorized to participate in the regional and legislative elections.
03:16To that end, the National Electoral Council received a total of 36,986 nominations, corresponding
03:23to 6,867 candidates for popularly elected positions.
03:29569 candidates will be elected, of which 285 are for National Assembly members, 20 for governors,
03:38and 260 legislators, in each state.
03:41For this electoral process, the governor of the state of Guayana, Acequiba, and regional
03:46deputies will be elected for the first time, positions created after the approval of the
03:50organic law for the defense of the Acequibo, in dispute with the Cooperative Republic of
03:54Guayana, which usurps the territory, and which Venezuela legally claims.
04:00And in Colombia, on Friday, the government announced it had reached a peace agreement with the 34th
04:10General Duarte Front, a FARC dissident group, which temporarily will be relocated in the north
04:14of Santander Department, northeast of the country.
04:16According to Executive Resolution 161, signed by President Gustavo Petro, a temporary location
04:21zone will be established in rural area of the municipality of Tibú.
04:25The objective of this temporary settlement is to facilitate the peace process and guarantee
04:30that the members of the front transition to civilian life.
04:33This government resolution vacates previous arrest warrants and establishes an initial
04:3845-day term for the relocation areas of the entry into force of the above-mentioned resolution.
04:50And on Friday, in the city of Barranca Bermeja, in the Department of Santander, northeastern
04:54Colombia, President Gustavo Petro led a ceremony to grant ownership over 4,500 hectares of
05:01land to farmer communities affected by the armed conflict.
05:04After the formal ceremony of granting land ownership over lands that were recovered by
05:08the state from usurpation and paramilitary control, President Petro urged people to continue
05:13fighting for their rights, for he said there has been no justice in Colombia.
05:17He also made reference to the referendum promoted by his government, which failed to pass last
05:22March 14th in Congress, and he asked people to mobilize against the fraud in order
05:27towarding the proposed referendum.
05:30In essence, in Magdalena Medio del Sur, a political genocide was carried out against Colombian peasants.
05:47That's where they learned about genocide.
05:51That's where it began, hopefully, the last years of 100 years of solitude.
06:03Because what people went through in Magdalena Medio is like 100 years of solitude.
06:12Justice was not served despite the allegations raised, there was no judicial verification.
06:22The confessions of members of that alliance were disregarded.
06:31Now we have a short break coming up.
06:33First, remember you can join us on TikTok at Telesur English, where you'll find news in
06:36different formats, news updates, and much more.
06:39I'll be right back, stay with us.
07:02Thousands of Panamanians mobilized again this Friday against the repressive policies of President
07:07José Raúl Molino.
07:08The coastal avenue of the country's capital was filled with colors and slogans.
07:12They accused the repressive drift of the government of President Molino, who has already imprisoned
07:17two union leaders and has forced a third to take refuge in the Bolivian embassy.
07:21For more than a month, Panamanians have been demonstrating against the approval of the
07:25Social Security Fund law, against mining for respect to national sovereignty, protection of rivers,
07:30and against censorship, hatred, and the criminalization of protest.
07:34In this context, the government imprisoned Genaro López and Jaime Caballero, historic leaders
07:39of the construction workers' union, one of the most important in the country, and forced
07:44their general secretary, Saul Mendes, to ask for asylum.
07:49And the Bolivian Foreign Ministry announced Friday to be aware of the asylum requests presented
07:58by Saul Mendes, leader of the single national union of construction and similar industry workers,
08:03before its embassy in Panama.
08:05The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the request is already in the corresponding
08:09authority and is being processed in accordance with the deadlines and procedures established
08:13by the regulations in force.
08:15The Ministry also stressed that international relations regarding refuge and asylum remain
08:20fully in force between Bolivia and Panama.
08:23Sontrax leader has been staying at the Bolivian embassy in Panama City since May 22.
08:28And on Friday in Bolivia, in an address on national television, President Luis Arce announced
08:41a few measures and decreases to guarantee a regular supply of fuel and food items across
08:46the country.
08:47In total, he announced 11 measures and 7 decreases aimed at alleviating the situation arising from
08:52a severe fuel shortage.
08:53The President, accompanied by members of his cabinet, announced the militarization of the
08:58border's incentive for production, the import of poultry and he also promised full fuel supply
09:03to the central axis of the country.
09:05He also announced the creation of a national program to boost corn and rice production.
09:10And he said that, as of next Monday, fuel distribution will be back to normal
09:14in departments of La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.
09:23In other news, the U.S. government issued a general license to ease sanctions against
09:30Syria after U.S. President Donald Trump reached an agreement with a former member of Al-Qaeda,
09:34who is currently the de facto leader of the country.
09:37In his regard, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that sanctions relief is crucial for
09:41the country to move forward, increase investments and cash flow.
09:45Likewise, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said they are implementing authorizations to encourage
09:50new investments.
09:51Yet, we must remember that the U.S. started the sanctions amid a serious war against the
09:56estuaries and during the COVID-19 pandemic under the government of Bashar al-Assad.
10:19In China, the Oriental Water City is one of the main tourist destinations of Dalian.
10:23The site allows the confluence of European architectural borrowings to recreate the style of the old
10:28continent and its strong culture in a Chinese space.
10:31From Dalian, our correspondent Evelyn Leyva with the details.
10:38The Oriental Water City, with an area of 46,600 square meters, is today one of the main tourist attractions in Dalian, a city in northern China.
10:49Designed by French architects, it fuses European style with local elements.
10:53References to French architecture, nods to the Belgian city of Bruges, Russian Gothic structures, Roman style buildings and English cottages converge from the outset.
11:02The project includes a marine Venice, inaugurated in 2015, where 41 castles operate as restaurants, educational institutions and photo agencies.
11:13The rivers that run through this aquatic city were built with sea water, have a depth of 1.2 meters, and vary in width and direction, which breaks with the monotony of the artificial canals.
11:25They are the soul of the place.
11:32Step, Mark's Square was inaugurated in 2017 with 57 buildings.
11:37It is the epicenter of music festivals, art exhibitions and cultural activities, a faithful recreation of Venetian richness in the heart of Dalian.
11:45When tourists come here the first thing they think is that it's beautiful.
11:51And then they discover that Dalian is also known as the City of Romanticism.
11:55The City of Oriental Water reflects the quest for style, art and romance that defines Dalian, and does so with an aesthetic that invites you to share the experience, to recommend it and to return.
12:10I like the nature of the space here.
12:12It's very nice, the people are very friendly and welcoming.
12:17We have had a great time.
12:19We have had a great time.
12:20We came here by boat on the river and have been enjoying the scenery which is very beautiful.
12:24And the people are very friendly, which is something we found very nice.
12:28Which is something we found very nice.
12:30In the future, the construction of the World Art Museum and a digital art gallery are planned.
12:38The goal to become an integrated cultural center with an emphasis on aesthetic education.
12:47With the scale of its development, it is expected that this space will offer more services and receive more visitors in the coming years.
12:54Its value goes beyond tourism.
12:56The buildings represent the exchange between the east and the west.
13:00For this reason, it is projected that in 2050, even 100 years, when other structures deteriorate, this place will remain as a historical architectural legacy.
13:08The Oriental Water City is a must-see stop in Dalian.
13:19Its unique design, festive atmosphere and gondola ride are reminiscent of Venice and make this experience a visual fusion of cultures, art and modernity.
13:27From Dalian, China, Evelyn Leiva, Telesur.
13:32Let's now take our second and final short break.
13:35Before, we invite you to tune in this Saturday 8pm Caracas time for a special interview with St. Keats and Navy's Prime Minister Terence Drew.
13:42That's 8pm Caracas time.
13:44It's Saturday, special interview with Prime Minister Terence Drew, only on Telesur English.
13:49We'll be right back after this break.
13:57Or at work.
13:58Or at 7pm, we'll be right back after this break.
14:02We'll be right back after this break.
14:04By the way.
14:07Welcome back.
14:28On Saturday morning, at least eight Palestinians were killed and several wounded following
14:32a new series of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza.
14:35In a mild neighborhood, a family of four, including two children, were killed when a drone hit
14:41their home.
14:42A similar attack on another family home in the new survivor refugee camp left two people
14:46dead and several wounded.
14:48The Gazan Health Ministry issued a statement detailing that the total due to the Israeli
14:52genocide rose to 33,822 Palestinians killed and 122,382 wounded.
15:05And the Palestinian National Authority has condemned the scale of violence carried out
15:10by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
15:14They say Israel is trying to eradicate the presence of Palestinians in that area in favor
15:19of settlers with the support of Netanyahu.
15:22They also recall recent incidents on the town of Rukin, where Zionist troops assaulted civilians
15:29and burned vehicles.
15:30Palestinian Authority points to these actions as a violation of international laws and norms.
15:36Therefore they urge international authorities to take on legal and moral responsibility of
15:41Israel to stop the escalation of aggression.
15:52And several Palestinians and soldiers claimed that Israeli troops systematically forced Palestinians
15:56to act as human shields in the Gaza Strip, sending them inside buildings to check for danger.
16:02Witnesses told the media that the practice has become ubiquitous in Gaza over 19 months of war.
16:08At least seven Palestinians described being used as shields in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
16:13Two Israeli soldiers affirmed the use of human shields, adding that the practice sped up operations,
16:18saved ammunition and prevented combat dogs from being wounded or killed.
16:23Paragogically, the Israeli military claims it forbids the use of civilians as human shields
16:27and blames Hamas militants for the death of civilians in its Gaza offensive, which has killed
16:33tens of thousands of Palestinians.
16:34And hundreds of Israeli citizens gathered near the Gaza Strip border to call for an end to
16:46the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
16:48On Friday, demonstrators denounced Zionist aggressions against Palestinians, warning that the labor of
16:53violence could not continue for another day.
16:56They chanted peace log and such as Palestinian lives matter and called for peace and equity
17:00in the territories.
17:01Following the humanitarian crisis faced by the enclave due to the blockade of basic supplies
17:06entering the Gaza Strip, international organizations condemned the Israeli operation.
17:10The Russian army liberates several towns in Sumy and Donetsk regions amid the spatial military
17:32operation.
17:33Foreign Defense Ministry has announced that the military operation successfully advanced taking
17:36control of the Lakhnyia village in Sumy province in Ukraine.
17:40They also said that the southern and eastern battalions occupied the Stupoknyi and Otradon villages
17:46in Donetsk.
17:47Russian Defense Ministry also reported that the Ukrainian army has lost 1,330 troops in the
17:52central front and 280 in the southern front.
18:03Russian armed forces also launched a coordinated attack on military targets in Kyiv, the capital
18:09of Ukraine.
18:10Early on, Saturday, Ukraine reported that its capital region was under one of the biggest
18:13attacks since 2022.
18:15Hours later, Moscow announced a joint attack on key military sites.
18:19According to the Ministry of Defense, Precision Ground Weapons and Unmanned Air Vehicles hit a
18:24military industrial complex, a radio reconnaissance center, and a position of the Patriot missile system.
18:29Russia has promised a strong response following Kyiv's latest drone strike, the 1,100th, since
18:35the start of the war.
18:37And on Saturday, a plane carrying 307 Russian military personnel who were released on the
18:50second day of a prisoner swap with Russia landed in Moscow, the capital of Russia.
18:54Soldiers were blown from Belarus, where the exchange took place and would undergo treatment
18:59and rehabilitation at the Ministry of Defense Medical Centers.
19:03On one of the released, soldiers expressed his gratitude to the Russian President, Vladimir
19:06Putin, and his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, for helping them through this ordeal.
19:12On May 16, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations resumed direct dialogue in Turkey, with one of the
19:17first agreements being the large-scale prisoner exchange.
19:26At this point, we're up to the end of this news brief.
19:28You can find this and many other stories on our website at TELESOL English, the net, so
19:32join us on social media, Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok.
19:37With TELESOL English, I'm with Alberto Matos.
19:39Thanks for watching.