This week's show features stories from NHK World Japan, Spanish National Radio, Radio Havana Cuba, and Radio Deutsche-Welle.

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr200731.mp3

From JAPAN- The Australian government has agreed with the US to take an aggressive attitude against Chinese claims in the South China Sea. Meanwhile the Philippines is backing down from escalating territorial issues with China. Japan is experiencing a surge in Covid cases, and to date 1000 Japanese have died from the disease. At the same time the US death toll has surpassed 150,000, and the number of cases is escalating. Then a perspective on the increasingly violent culture war spreading across the US.

From SPAIN- Alison Hughes reports on how the pandemic is present in war zones, notably Yemen which recently was besieged with a cholera outbreak- medical supplies and personnel, as well as food aid, are in short supply or absent. Weapons and mercenaries continue to flow into Libya through proxy nations more interested in oil and gas than humanitarian aid. Turkey is pursuing seabed development despite other claims in the area, resulting in sanctions and warnings from European nations. Israel has stepped up bombing raids in Syria in a shadow war said to be approved by Washington.

From CUBA- Latin America now has 26% of all Covid cases globally. In Puerto Rico a protest caravan has called for the international airport to shut down all non essential travel. In Honduras protests continue demanding a return of kidnapped Garifuna health and land defenders. In Alaska a long disputed copper and gold mine may move forward and there is opposition to federal Covid relief funds going to fossil fuel companies. There is a call out for indefinite strikes in Bolivia against the third postponement of national elections.

From GERMANY- Some news briefs and then a report on the international development of a nuclear fusion reactor in France.