- 3 hours ago
* Venezuela reports 21 quarters of economic growth
* Trump threatens Oman if it 'interferes' with Iran deal
Category
đź—ž
NewsTranscript
00:11In Colombia, a community works toward assisting earthquake-affected families and what many
00:16labels as a lacking response from the national government of Abelardo del Espriello.
00:24Venezuela has recorded 21 consecutive quarters of economic growth, driving by
00:29a nearly 10% increase in food consumption and booming agroindustrial production.
00:38On Monday, United States President Donald Trump threatened to bomb all Oman if the Arab
00:43country interferes with the dialogue between Washington and Tehran regarding control of
00:47the Strait of Hormuz.
00:54Hello and welcome to From the South, I am Lorena Fon from the Telestudio Studios in Caracas,
00:58Venezuela.
00:59We begin with the news, stay with us.
01:19In Pereira, one of the cities most affected by the earthquake that struck Colombia in August
01:2310, daily life for various neighborhoods has changed.
01:26The crisis triggered by the earthquake is evident in the damage to homes and the lives of the
01:31residents.
01:32Amid this reality, the complaints of volunteer rescue workers who have been excluded from
01:37rescue efforts in certain parts of the city can be heard.
01:43Daily life for residents of the Providencia neighborhood in Pereira has changed dramatically since Monday,
01:49August 10.
01:50Their central park has been transformed into a collection center and community kitchen to
01:55provide assistance to both local residents and disaster victims passing through the area.
02:01Here, we want to receive as much support as possible.
02:04This is the community, the kids, the neighborhood kids, the ones who are giving it their all.
02:08As you can see here, there are older people, mothers, aunts, children.
02:13Everyone has come to help.
02:13We're not affiliated with any government agency, nor are we part of any official institution.
02:18We're simply the community that has done a wonderful job of organizing and managing things.
02:23We want to continue helping the city from here, from Providencia.
02:30The damage in the city is severe.
02:33During our tour, we arrived in the Olaya Herrera neighborhood, where the strong earthquake left
02:37several buildings at risk of imminent collapse.
02:41This situation not only endangers the structures, but also the residents of the area whose homes
02:46could be damaged.
02:48Adding to this situation is the insecurity plaguing the neighborhood.
02:54There's a very tall wall that's about to collapse.
02:57We have already asked various organizations for help, because this is going to cause much
03:02more damage than there already is on this block, both to my house, which is still, let's say,
03:07livable, but we can't really go inside right now, and to my neighbor's house, because the wall
03:12might fall and block her exit, trapping her inside.
03:15The same thing could happen to us.
03:18So what are we asking for?
03:20Help from organizations to at least come and assist us with that wall so we can get into our homes.
03:27Because right now, we're sleeping outside and taking turns patrolling at night.
03:32Security is terrifying.
03:34People are trying to steal from us.
03:36And the police don't come by to patrol.
03:38No one visits us.
03:40So we feel like we've been abandoned.
03:45The downtown area has been hardest hit by the damage to buildings.
03:51Authorities have restricted traffic and closed several roads.
03:54They have also barred volunteer rescue workers from accessing rescue sites where they had previously
03:59been working.
04:00The police's mobile riot squad has even been spotted in the area.
04:04Volunteer rescuers view this measure as an affront that hinders their ability to continue searching
04:09for survivors amid the rubble.
04:18Since Friday at 10 p.m., after we received a sign of life, after we got a sign that someone
04:22was still alive, the firefighters relieved us, brought in the machine, and said they were
04:27going to work that way because there was no longer any hope of finding anyone alive.
04:30That's why they brought in the backhoe.
04:34Since then, they haven't let us in.
04:37We don't really know what's going on because, starting that night, they began bringing in
04:41a lot of police and a lot of military personnel.
04:43Before that, there were patrol cars passing by, but nothing on such a large scale.
04:51We find it very suspicious because it's the only place where they've deployed such a large
04:55force.
04:57Yesterday, news began to go viral that they aren't letting us in and that they're bringing
05:01in heavy machinery there.
05:04Although there has been plenty of evidence of life there at the Lara warehouse, they haven't
05:08let us continue our work.
05:13In light of this emergency and its escalating situation, the Pereira mayor's office confirmed
05:18that the number of missing persons as of Sunday, August the 16th, had dropped from 251 to 140,
05:24and that, as of that same date, 260 people had been rescued and more than 290 had been confirmed
05:30and dead.
05:31With the camera of William Moreno, Hernan Dario Tobar Gaitan, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia.
05:41In Bogotá, Colombia, working-class families, young people and business owners in the outskirts
05:46are transforming their own garage and open spaces into collection centers to send tons
05:51of aid to the hottest-hit areas of ChocĂł and the Pacific coast.
05:55Tatiana Portela brings us the following report.
06:01Relief collection centers in working-class neighborhoods are becoming bastions of hope.
06:05Here, where daily life is marked by long-standing deprivation and inequality, solidarity is not a luxury.
06:12It is a community response driven by young people.
06:19Today, we'd like to invite you to help us in this time of need by donating to relief efforts
06:26for the 7-4 magnitude earthquake that struck the Department of ChocĂł.
06:31People are arriving, and we know that schools are also holding drives, inviting their students
06:35and families to join in, whether by helping a neighbor or coming here to a collection center like La Perlante.
06:41At Corabastos, the country's largest agricultural market, merchants and working families are joining forces.
06:48Without institutional funding, but driven by collective effort, they're turning their daily work into tons of aid for the hardest
06:55-hit areas.
06:56It's a commitment, a responsibility, and a logistical challenge.
07:01And often we lack resources.
07:04But we have to understand that there are many kind-hearted people.
07:08For example, I want to single out and mention the truck owner, Eduard, a potato merchant from Corabastos.
07:15I called him and said, we need a truck to transport eight metric tons.
07:19It was just a phone call.
07:21And he said, I'll be there in an hour.
07:23He arrived at the pickup point, and there was no problem.
07:26The people of Corabastos helped out a lot.
07:28We did it in a single day.
07:30We collected seven or eight metric tons in just one day with the help of all the merchants.
07:35From the town square to the neighborhood, the Cuevedo family opened up the garage of their home in Malenta to
07:41turn it into an operations center.
07:44Many of these donations also come from the whole family, from all our friends, from all our loved ones, from
07:49the entire Malenta neighborhood.
07:51We've truly gathered a lot of things to be able to help them.
07:54They're leaving today because the plan is for the truck to leave for Quibdo tomorrow, right? For Quibdo.
07:58And the truck to Buenaventura leaves on Tuesday, so we'll continue accepting donations over the next few days to fill
08:04it up to Buenaventura.
08:08This support network is joined by international solidarity.
08:12The Venezuelan people, who know firsthand the harsh reality of emergencies, are showing their support through culture.
08:18Through music, Latin American unity transcends geopolitical borders and demonstrates that the Brotherhood of Peoples is the primary force for
08:26reconstruction.
08:27In Venezuela, we went through this just over a month ago, and honestly, it was a terrifying experience.
08:34But it also brought us back together as a nation, as Latin Americans.
08:39It reminded us that together we can build our country, continue to grow and help others.
08:45And that has been part of the concept behind the concert, in addition to raising funds.
08:51It's not just about the money that can be raised, but the intention behind it.
08:55A week after the earthquake, the wounds remain open, but popular solidarity continues unabated.
09:01From the streets of Bogota to Choco and the Deep Pacific, the impoverished neighborhoods demonstrate that true reconstruction cannot wait.
09:09It arises from organization, dignity, and the bond between communities.
09:14Tatiana Portela, Telesur, Bogota, Colombia.
09:19In Colombia, the release of images allegedly showing housing minister Jaime Andres Beltran in Santa Marta sparked criticism from various
09:27political sectors, and some are calling for his resignation.
09:30The lead circulated during the long weekend amid the emergency caused by the earthquake, while the Ministry of Housing should
09:38be taking the lead in assisting the victims.
09:40According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, more than 26,000 homes were destroyed, and another 127,000
09:47were damaged, along with damage to roads, schools, and health centers.
09:52Even in this situation, a position congressman called for the officials' resignation.
09:58The executive branch has not yet confirmed when the footage was filmed, whether the minister was on vacation, or what
10:04his schedule was during those days.
10:11And now we have a short break coming up, but first remember you can join us on TikTok at Telesur
10:15English.
10:16Then you will find news in different formats, news updates, and much more.
10:21We'll be right back. Stay with us.
10:42On Sunday, the acting president of Venezuela, Adelsi Rodriguez, reported that the nation has achieved 21 consecutive quarters of growth,
10:49and one of the most significant statistics related to the achievement is that food consumption has increased by 9.6%.
10:55It was during the inauguration of one of the seven mercales that opened over the weekend throughout the country.
11:02Mercales are establishments that guarantee the supply of food to the population at affordable prices.
11:08This data is not just a macroeconomic figure.
11:11Rather, it translates into the health and well-being of Venezuelans who now consume more protein and enjoy a healthy
11:18balanced diet with guarantees.
11:20The acting president attributed this positive performance to the strengthening of national agroindustrial production,
11:26which, in addition to guaranteeing domestic supply, also positioned in Venezuela as a country with expert potential.
11:32She also acknowledged the challenges still facing the administration and was clear in pointing out that the next major goal
11:39is to improve the income of the Venezuelan workers.
11:55In the first seven months, food consumption increased by 9.6%, protein consumption by 11.80%, grains by 4.78%,
12:03and fats by 6.99%.
12:05What is positive about this?
12:06The fact that our people are consuming more food is part of a gradual recovery process.
12:10We've been on this path for 21 consecutive quarters of growth.
12:13But what do I hope for?
12:15That our workers, both men and women, can increase their income so they can continue to have access to goods,
12:20stimulating the economy as is currently being done,
12:23and together, to have comprehensive policies so that the Venezuelan economy grows,
12:27but grows in a way that directly benefits the people.
12:35The acting president of Venezuela highlights the partnership between various sectors to contribute to national production and ensure a quality
12:42supply.
12:53My call is to maintain national productive unity across all sectors, from agri-industry to the communal economy,
12:59from the entrepreneurial economy, and what we are launching today with seven MERCALs nationwide.
13:04One in La Guayra, by the way.
13:06And the key point is access to products with significant discounts of 30%, 40%, or 70%.
13:10Why?
13:12Because the products that arrive here have no middlemen.
13:15It's direct.
13:16It's a partnership between the producers and the MERCAL and PDVAL distribution system.
13:24In Bolivia, the hydrocarbon crisis is causing shortages in various parts of the country.
13:29There are also reports of price increases in strategic economic sectors such as agriculture and transportation.
13:36The government's recent publication of Supreme Decree 5776 eliminates the diesel subsidy for large buyers
13:43and establishes a fuel price increase of nearly 100%.
13:47Practically all productive and water provinces in the central region and the Llanos are reporting fuel shortages,
13:54with the Department of Santa Cruz being the most affected following the complete collapse of gas stations.
13:59The Minister of Hydrocarbons, Marcelo Blanco, recently acknowledged the seriousness of the situation
14:04without providing an estimated date for resolving the shortage.
14:25King Philippe of Belgium has visited on Monday the Hyphen's initial reserve located in eastern Liche province,
14:31near the German border, with a wildfire who has destroyed around 3,000 hectares of land.
14:36The King was briefed on the current situation at a crisis centre in the municipality of Herstal
14:41and also members of the emergency services at the scene of the fire.
14:45According to a statement from the Belgian Royal Palace,
14:48it is worth noting that on Sunday the fire in the Hyphen's danger reserve
14:52had advanced to within 300 metres of the German border near Monschau.
14:57In the sense, around 33 residents from 17 homes in parts of Monschau
15:01were evacuated late on Sunday as a precaution due to the risk of heavy smoke.
15:13On Monday morning, in South Korea, at least one person is reported dead
15:17and two have been rescued due to floods and landslides.
15:20The landslides occurred in the city of Yeje in southern Yeonshan,
15:24province burying the first floor of an apartment building and killing a man in his 20s.
15:29About 115 local residents were evacuated due to the risk of other landslides.
15:34According to the South Korean Meteorological Agency,
15:37the city of Yeje has received more than 800 millimetres of rain since last Saturday,
15:41a record amount of rainfall for the city which he has also accused caused flooding and property damage.
15:53A 6.7 magnitude aftershock struck Indonesia's eastern island of Flores on Monday,
15:58two days after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the region,
16:03killing 53 people, leaving 137 injured and displacing 13,000 others.
16:08The aftershock struck at 8.46 a.m. local time at a depth of 35.6 kilometres.
16:15Its epicenter was located about 42 kilometres northwest of Ende,
16:19the most populated town on Flores, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
16:23No tsunami warning was issued following the latest tremor.
16:27Meanwhile, thousands of displaced residents were still waiting for aid on Monday,
16:31with many sheltering in camps outside school, police stations and government offices.
16:43The Chinese Water Ministry spokesperson, Lin Yan, on Monday expressed China's condolences
16:48after the earthquake struck water near Indonesia's Flores Island over the weekend,
16:53stating that Beijing was ready to provide assistance based on Indonesia's need.
16:59...is concerned about the earthquake disaster in Indonesia.
17:02We express our deep condolences to the victims
17:05and express our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and the injured.
17:10China is willing to provide active assistance according to the needs of Indonesia.
17:15An immense series of earthquakes that have struck Indonesia in recent days,
17:20the country celebrates its 81st Independence Day on Monday, August 17.
17:24During Indonesia's Independence Day ceremony in the capital, Jakarta,
17:27President Parabobosubianto asked participants to pray
17:30for those affected by the disasters in Nusa Tenggara and other parts of the country,
17:35while leading a nationwide moment of silence in honor of the heroes of independence.
17:40Indonesia declared its independence on August 17 in 1954, bringing an end to Dutch colonization.
17:48Since then, the country has embarked on a path of growth,
17:51a regional integration and active participation in international trade.
18:01Let's take a short break, but before we invite you to visit our Facebook page at Telesuit English,
18:06there you'll be able to watch our top stories, special live coverage and much more.
18:10Follow our page and activate the notification button to stay up to date on the world's most recent events.
18:15Final short break, don't go away.
18:41Welcome back to From the South.
18:42United States President Donald Trump has ordered a substantial reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea,
18:49citing high costs and his personal relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
18:53The decision comes as the annual Ilchi Freedom Shield drills began,
18:57despite military warnings regarding North Korea, evolving tactical capabilities, and the pan-defense cooperation with Russia.
19:04Defense officials emphasized that this year's planned drills were designed to counter emerging meat threats,
19:10including drone tactics and cyber warfare deployed by North Korean forces in regional conflicts.
19:15While South Korean officials stated they are reviewing Washington's stance to maintain regional stability,
19:20security analysts warned that the scaling back maneuvers could undermine joint deterrence on the Korean Peninsula.
19:48On Monday, United States President Donald Trump threatened to bomb a man if the Arab country interferes with the dialogue
19:54between Washington and Tehran
19:55regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz.
19:58Trump's remarks follow Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Bahehyay's announcement that Tehran had reached an agreement with Muscat
20:05to establish safe marine routes throughout the Strait of Hormuz.
20:09Following the resumption of hostilities between Washington and Tehran,
20:12Trump asserted that the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz through a military blockade.
20:17However, Tehran continues to block the Strait.
20:20These key strategic waterways used to transport a significant portion of the world's exported aerocarbons.
20:32Meanwhile, Iran stated on Monday that the new sanctions the U.S. has threatened to impose on the Islamic Republic
20:37will have no effect on its position in the war.
20:41The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Bahehyay, stated that these measures have no effect on Iran's
20:48position
20:48and also accused Washington of being trapped in a vicious cycle of war, discrimination, pressure and sanctions.
20:54On August 9, Trump stated that he intended to de-escalate the military conflict following nearly two weeks of attacks
21:01in July
21:01and that his immediate plan is to ramp up economic pressure on Tehran and wait for it to return to
21:07the negotiating table.
21:08The Islamic Republic has been subjected to the United States and international economic sanctions for decades,
21:15including, for example, a ban on selling its soil on international markets.
21:24In this context, Tehran has assured that it will defeat the United States and Israel and safeguard the nation's interests.
21:30The Persian nation affirmed that it will not renounce its nation's legitimate demands,
21:34emphasizing that the U.S.-Israeli sides will be defeated.
21:37Tehran also emphasized that it has demonstrated its strength and resolved in confronting the intimidation tactics of the Washington-led
21:46system.
21:47The Iranian government stated that it will not accept any agreement that does not meet its legitimate national demands,
21:53which include the ceasefire in the region amid continued aggression by Washington and Tel Aviv in the Middle East.
22:06And moving on to Palestine, United Nations personal have delivered food and water to Palestinian families trapped in Khusra,
22:13south of Nablus, after a week-long siege by Israeli settlers.
22:16United Nations personal reportedly from UNICEF reached the three Palestinian homes in the Ras Al Ain area and delivered food
22:23and water to the residents.
22:25The families, including around 15 people and two children under the age of seven,
22:30have been without water, electricity and basic supplies since August 9,
22:35when settlers surrounded the property and Israeli forces declared the area a closed military zone.
22:40The United Nations and the Palestinian foreign ministry have condemned the siege as criminal and inhumane.
22:54Unfortunately, since last Sunday morning eight days ago, the occupation has been wasting time.
22:59It can evacuate this mountain of settlers.
23:02This mountain is classified as Area B, in which the Palestinian Authority has absolute powers.
23:07In addition, these residents have the legitimate right to be in their homes and houses.
23:12Unfortunately, the settlers have cut off their electricity and water and harassed them all the time.
23:24A group of about 30 settlers attacked us, the entire team, including the water technicians.
23:28I withdrew towards one of the besieged houses and entered it.
23:33Then the army arrived in the area while I continued my work restoring the electricity.
23:40I connected the power to one house and then moved on to the next, where I was surprised to find
23:44the army.
23:45The army arrested me and the men who were with me.
23:51And like this, we have come to the end of this brief.
23:54Remember, you can find this or many other stories on our website at www.telesurenglish.net
23:58and also joins us on social media.
24:00We are on Facebook, X, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok.
24:04For Telesur English, I'm Lorena Fong. Thank you for watching.
Comments