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

http://youthspeaksout.net/swr220603.mp3 (29:00)

From JAPAN- A court in Japan agreed with citizens who want to keep a nuclear power plant from coming back on line. The Chinese Foreign Minister met with 10 Pacific Islands nations on trade and security but no agreements were reached. Russia reacted sharply with new US plans to give Ukraine longer range missiles, saying that it will not improve chances of negotiations to end the conflict. US Secretary of State Blinken said that there are many months of conflict in the future. Canadian PM has proposed new laws to implement a national freeze on handgun ownership. The World Meteorological Organization says that there is a 50 percent chance that the average global temperature will reach a critical threshold by 2026.

From CUBA- The President of Honduras condemned the assassination of the environmental prosecutor Karen Almendares last Friday. In Brazil massive floods and landslides left over 100 people dead. Then a Viewpoint on the significant primary presidential election in Colombia, which will lead to a June 19th runoff between leftist former guerrilla Gustavo Petro and wealthy businessman Rodolfo Hernandez- Colombia has not had a progressive government in 60 years. Tens of thousands of flag waving ultra-nationalist Israelis marched near the al-Aqsa mosque, with some storming the compound- dozens of Palestinians were arrested and 165 were injured.

From GERMANY- Mexican President Obrador banned the sale of e-cigarettes. Voters in Denmark chose to back a referendum to join the EU common defense policy. In Afghanistan the Taliban have begun enforcing a ban on opium poppy cultivation- poverty and drought stricken farmers have not succeeded at establishing other crops to provide an income.