This week's show features stories from Sputnik Radio, NHK Japan, and Radio Havana Cuba.

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr190823.mp3

From RUSSIA- Afshin Rattansi interviewed legendary journalist John Pilger. They discuss the exclusion of Russia and China from the upcoming G7 meeting- one of the main topics will be protests in Hong Kong but nothing about the Yellow Vests in France which were met with even more police brutality. Hong Kong has lost its role as salesperson for Asian products and there is horrible irony in protestors with British and American flags. The American and Russian return to developing nuclear capable missiles is ominous, as are Democrats supporting Trump's runaway military budget. Pilger points out the media's role in supporting the governments omission of facts and censorship. Pilger visited Julian Assange recently and reports on his condition- he is being treated as a political prisoner in Britain where his only charge is infringing bail.

From JAPAN- Japan has overtaken China as the largest holder of US government bonds. South Korea insists that Japan explain why they are planning to release more radioactive contaminated water from Fukushima into the Pacific ocean. The Trump administration has formally decided to sell 66 F16 fighter jets to Taiwan, greatly irritating Beijing. The Japanese defense ministry is proposing its largest ever budget to boost its space surveillance capabilities and purchase F35 Stealth fighter jets from the US. The US military announced it will launch Space Command on August 29th. High school students from Japan have called for the abolition of nuclear weapons in a visit to the UN in Geneva.

From CUBA- Trump proposed deploying Navy ships along the Venezuelan coast to block deliveries in and out of the country. US congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib have stepped up their criticism of Israel after being banned from traveling there. Israeli forces continue to injure Palestinians while escorting settlers into a shrine in the occupied West Bank. Jeremy Corbyn slammed new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as Britain's Trump.