This week's edition begins with a progress report on the UN Treaty to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons, Mexican President Obrador calls on Biden to release Julian Assange, Colombians elect a left-wing president, and BRICS holds its 14th summit. With reports frpm Japan, Cuba, and Germany.

http://youthspeaksout.net/swr220624.mp3 (29:00)

From JAPAN- In Austria the first progress report on the UN treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons was held- the countries possessing nuclear weapons were absent along with those under nuclear umbrellas like NATO and Japan- 30 nations attended as observers. The military junta in Myanmar announced that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to solitary confinement in a prison- so far the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been found guilty of 6 charges with an 11 year sentence- over 2000 civilians have been killed, as fighting continues between the military and pro-democracy forces. The US will limit the use of anti-personnel land mines with the exception of the Korean peninsula. European countries wanting to move away from the use of coal in power generation are reconsidering because of the uncertainty of natural gas from Russia.

From CUBA- Cuban President Diaz-Canel urged the increase in the use of solar energy at the start of a national renewable energy fair. Mexican President Obrador is calling on Joe Biden to drop charges against Julian Assange- the Mexican government previously granted asylum to the founder of Wikileaks. Obrador described Julian as the best journalist of our time in the world, and a prisoner of conscience. The new Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, has rejected calls for him to publicly demand the release of Australian citizen Assange. Colombians elected former rebel Gustavo Petro as president and Francia Marquez as vice-president in a historic vote. The US military has expanded its illegal bases in eastern Syria along with more military convoys in the area.

From GERMANY- BRICS, an acronym for the 5 major emerging economies- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa- held its 14th summit- the goal was to produce a plan for an era of global development- the 5 nations represent 40% of the world population and 25% of the global GDP. The war in Ukraine has strengthened ties between Russia and the other four members, all of whom support Russia with increased trade following US/EU sanctions.

"The sheep will spend its entire life fearing the wolf, only to be eaten by the shepherd."

--African Proverb

Dan Roberts

Shortwave Report-

www.outfarpress.com

YouthSpeaksOut!-

www.youthspeaksout.net