The Shortwave Report

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

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From GERMANY- 10 years ago following the Fukushima catastrophe German Chancellor Merkel announced the closure of all nuclear power plants by 2022- an update on how that energy transition is going. A woman in El Salvador has had her 30 year prison sentence for having an abortion has been released after 10 years. A physical fight broke out in the Bolivian parliament. Germany is disbanding an elite police force for engaging in right-wing chat groups.

From RUSSIA- Afshin Rattansi interviewed Bernice King, daughter of MLK Jr. In this excerpt they discuss the different legacies of King and Malcolm X, whether speaking out against militarism is what got King assassinated at age 39, the Vietnam speech, and the transition of American police forces to military units.

From JAPAN- An update on the slow roll out of Covid vaccines in Japan where the state of emergency remains in effect in 10 prefectures. Japanese military forces are going to work alongside Australian forces against China in the Indo-Pacific region and to protect them at home. An update on the status of Aung Sang Suu Kyi who is facing new corruption charges from the military coup. French anti-trust authorities fined Google a quarter of a billion dollars for creating an advertising monopoly. El Salvador made history by approving Bitcoin as legal currency.

From CUBA- A network of global intellectuals and leaders have united against the US economic blockade against Cuba. Lula da Silva denounced US imperialism and attempts to control the nations of Latin America. Oxfam criticized the G7 agreement on a 15% international corporate tax as inadequate. Leftist Pedro Castillo declared victory in the very close Peruvian presidential election. Syria reports new missile attacks from Israel. Peace advocates in the US are calling on Biden to halt a $735 million sale of missiles to Israel.

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

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From JAPAN- The TPP is welcoming Britain which is looking for trade partners since leaving the EU. Japanese Defense leaders met with the new head of the US Indo-Pacific Command as more pressure is put on China and North Korea.

From GERMANY- It was revealed that Denmark helped the US NSA to spy on Germany and other European leaders in 2013. Opposition parties in Israel agreed to form a coalition government, with Netanyahu being first replaced by right-wing leader Neftali Bennett. Then brief reports on global Covid and vaccine news.

From CUBA- A Viewpoint on Peru which is voting this weekend on a president between diametrically opposed candidates while facing a serious Covid crisis. In Colombia police and military forces are brutally oppressing citizens protesting President Duque.

From SPAIN- Alison Hughes reports on the Belarus action of forcing a passenger jet to land so they could capture a dissident activist- Europe is up in arms over the event, unlike 2013 when the US forced a Bolivian jet to land in Austria thinking that Edward Snowden was on board. Amy describes the Spanish PM's support for pardoning 12 Catalan leaders for organizing a referendum in 2017.

From RUSSIA- Afshin Rattansi spoke with journalist Vijay Prashad. They talk about the Wuhan lab/Covid conspiracy that is being recharged by the CIA and MI6, China's changing foreign policy and defiance, and the US chemical and biological weapons programs.

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

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From RUSSIA- On his program called Going Underground Afshin Rattansi spoke with Prof. Aviva Chomsky, author of 'Central America's Forgotten History: Revolution, Violence and the Roots of Migration', and the daughter of Noam Chomsky. She discusses the US support for right-wing governments in Latin America, how Hugo Chavez's Venezuela provided a different path for Latin American nations to avoid neoliberalism imposed by the US, IMF, and World Bank, the US demand that Latin American policies must be favorable for US corporations, which in turn hurts the working classes of Latin America, the US government's efforts to destroy left-wing politics within trade unions in the United States, Latin America, and around the world, the US-backed overthrow of Manuel Zelaya in Honduras in 2009, and why Biden's foreign policy in Latin America is not likely to diverge from past presidents.

From CUBA- An economic commission for Latin America released a report that the region is experiencing the highest levels of extreme poverty in 20 years. In 2020 the number of people forced to move within their own country because of climate disasters reached at least 30 million, the highest level in a decade. China has donated 12,000 solar electrical systems to Cuba to help combat climate change. Reuters conducted a poll that showed that the majority of Republican voters in the US believe that Biden stole the election from Trump and that the January 6th failed revolution was led by violent left-wing protestors to make Trump look bad. Israeli PM Netanyahu said that any renewed attacks by Hamas would be met with a more powerful response.

From GERMANY- Brief reports on Shell oil being forced to reduce carbon emissions, Germany and Norway are establishing shared renewable energy supplies, Bayer is trying to limit the future legal risk from its acquired product Roundup, updates on Covid across the globe, and the EU is planning sanctions against Belarus.

From JAPAN- The US issued a maximum warning against traveling to Japan. South Korea has had long range missile development restrictions lifted by the US. An update on Myanmar. The Eiffel tower in Paris has been lit up by carbon-free hydrogen fuel cells, charged from renewable sources.

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

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From RUSSIA- On his program called Going Underground Afshin Rattansi spoke with journalist and filmmaker John Pilger. He discusses why Palestine is still an issue in 2021, and the Israeli aerial bombardment of Gaza which has claimed hundreds of lives, including 63 children, and displaced over 50,000. He talks about the EU, US and UK role in the Israeli bombardment, Palestine's legal right to resist, and Hamas as a part of a resistance provoked by Israeli occupation. He addresses the media boycott of Gaza and why the mainstream media's "both sides" assertions are false.

From GERMANY- Weather events in Siberia, intense flooding in the Amazon forest, and the most powerful cyclone in India for decades point to the affects of climate change- it is true here in California as well. John Kerry is the US climate envoy and he spoke about what measures the US would like to see globally to combat climate change- he explains what he said recently about environmental technologies we need to implement to prevent a full scale catastrophe- they have been invented but 42 of the 46 are not yet ready to be brought to scale. A series of brief updates on the global Covid and vaccine situations. US Secretary of State Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. Thousands of French police took to the streets to protest a recent officer who was murdered on duty.

From JAPAN- The US is deepening ties with coast guards in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China or other Asian nations that might disrupt maritime order. Tensions between the US and China continue to heat up, with Congresswoman Pelosi urging a boycott of the upcoming winter Olympics in Beijing. US lawmakers have passed a bill to fight anti-Asian hate crimes which have spiked recently. An update on the fighting in Myanmar, where armed civilians and ethnic forces are battling with the military junta. The US has waived sanctions it imposed on a German company working on the Nord Stream gas pipeline from Russia.

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

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From GERMANY- In a case brought forward by young activists, a German court has ruled that a 2019 climate protection law did not go far enough- in response the government has sped up the target dates for climate neutrality by 5 years. The primary international news topic this week has been the intensifying fighting between Israel and Palestine. Deadly bombing in both directions followed police riots in Jerusalem at the al-Aqsa mosque, which degenerated into nationalist mob violence. DW interviewed Palestinian leader Hanan Ashrawi about the provocations and fighting, which she describes as ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem. A French court dismissed an ecocide case against 14 manufacturers of Agent Orange, ruling that the US government bears responsibility. Then some brief Covid and vaccine updates including a medical workers strike in France.

From JAPAN- The military coup in Myanmar passed 100 days this week and protests continue despite violent oppression and the arrest of many journalists. Some of the protestors are being trained by minority ethnic groups to battle the military. Biden has picked Rahm Emanuel to be the US ambassador to Japan. Toyota Motor and a Japanese energy company are creating a new city that will be completely energized by clean hydrogen power, derived from renewable energy sources.

From CUBA- Brazilian president Bolsonaro congratulated Rio de Janeiro police for an attack on a slum leaving 29 people dead. Then a Viewpoint on the return of widespread poverty in Brazil since the ouster of Dilma Rousseff and the decline of the Workers Party. The Institute for Peace Studies reported 47 Colombians have been killed by riot squads in the demonstrations and work stoppages against President Duque. The Iranian foreign minister criticized the Israeli police who attacked Palestinians worshipping at the al-Aqsa mosque, which triggered the currently escalating war.

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

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From JAPAN- We begin with several reports from this week's G7 Summit in London. In meetings before the summit began Japan and the US made agreements about opposing China in every way possible, from the South China Sea, to Taiwan, to Hong Kong. As reported last week, the UK is sending its new aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific region along with a flotilla of warships called the carrier strike group. France, the Netherlands and Germany are joining in the expedition in response to Chinas growing influence in the region. They will get together for military exercises in the Asian waters this summer. In Myanmar pro-democracy forces say they have created a peoples defense force to protect civilians from the military crackdown on protestors, with 769 said to have been killed. US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is reporting a huge increase in profits from the Covid vaccines.

From CUBA- First a Viewpoint on the 7 million Colombians who protested over President Duques tax overhaul that included Value Added Taxes of 20% on basic food items, when the populous is becoming poorer. On Mayday protests erupted in a number of European countries including France, Spain, and Germany. The combined net worth of the richest 100 Americans has increased by $461 billion since Joe Biden was elected president, largely gained from the stimulus packages. On World Press Freedom Day Edward Snowden criticized Biden for praising independent media while aggressively pursuing the extradition of Julian Assange.

From GERMANY- Monday was World Press Freedom Day and Reporters Without Borders called on the EU to do more to protect journalists in Europe. The German government announced more ambitious plans to cut carbon emissions following a court ruling that the current laws were insufficient. Then brief reports on an important election in Scotland, Britain and France have sent Naval ships to the isle of Jersey over Brexit rules, two reports on the far-right in Europe, and short updates on the global pandemic and vaccine situations.

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

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From GERMANY- Some German politicians were asked to grade Joe Biden on his first 100 days as president. Then brief reports from around the world on Covid and the vaccines.

From CUBA- One billion doses of Covid vaccines have been administered world wide- 1 in 4 people in rich countries, with 1 in 500 in low income nations. Bill Gates again denied that patent rights on Covid vaccines should be suspended to help rein in the pandemic.

From SPAIN- Alison Hughes reports on the ongoing Israeli detention without charges of a Spanish woman working for a healthcare NGO. A fire broke out on an Iranian oil tanker off the shore of Syria following a drone attack, which was unclaimed but presumed to be from Israeli forces who continue bombing raids in Syria. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published its latest report on global arms spending.

From JAPAN- In a claimed effort to build stronger ties in the Indo-Pacific region, Britain is deploying a fleet of warships and a new aircraft carrier next month to the Indian Ocean and then to the Pacific. Then an update on the military coup in Myanmar.

From RUSSIA- On George Galloway's show academic Dr. Deepa Govindarajan Driver discussed why the press has stopped reporting on the incarceration of Julian Assange. He remains in Britain's most notorious maximum security prison without formal charges. She talks about the significance of Wikileaks and what Julian has accomplished.

This week's show features stories from Sputnik Radio, NHK Japan, and Spanish National Radio.

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From RUSSIA- On his program called Going Underground, Afshin Rattansi interviewed Sea Shepherd founder Captain Paul Watson, and David R Boyd the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment. Watson discusses how the oceans are the planet’s life support, why we must issue a moratorium of 50 years on heavy industrial fishing and waste dumping into our oceans to fight climate change, how corporations and capitalism are making profit out of the deaths of entire species of fish and ecosystems, and how the corporate fishing industry has impoverished poor fishermen leading them to piracy. Boyd discusses the class dynamic of the climate change crisis, how poor countries are bearing the brunt of the effects of climate change, and myths about China being the world’s worst polluter.

From JAPAN- Talks in Austria to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear program appear to be showing signs of progress. The Chinese Foreign Minister criticized the latest Japan/US statement describing the country as a real threat to regional peace and stability- he also stressed the importance of not meddling in Chinas domestic affairs. The EU plans to step up its influence in the Indo Pacific region to counter the growing presence of China- the EU says that instability directly affects their interests.

From SPAIN- Alison Hughes reports on EU foreign Ministers meeting with their Ukrainian counterpart to discuss rising tensions with Russia, and threats from US Secretary of State Blinken. A Spanish journalist, Rafael Poch, published an essay on the US increasing the dangers of war in the Ukrainian Russian region, and with China in Taiwan and the South China Sea.

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

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From JAPAN- The Japanese government has decided to release over a million tons of radioactive contaminated waste water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean- officials said the dumping would begin in about 2 years, and South Korea and China were among the first to condemn the plan. Egypt is demanding that the Japanese owner of the cargo ship that blocked the Suez Canal pay compensation of almost a billion dollars. A brief update on the military war in Myanmar. The foreign ministers of Iran and Russia say they will fight together to lift US unilateral sanctions.

From CUBA- At the UN the Venezuelan foreign minister rejected the US freezing financial assets to promote regime change and inhibit sustainable development. A Viewpoint on the Biden plan to finance increased border policing in Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico to slow migration- the so-called dry corridor from Chiapas to Costa Rica where 10 million impoverished people live is described. The lack of Covid vaccines to poor countries through a global initiative is blocked until as late as June.

From GERMANY- Biden announced a new round of sanctions against Russia, and the US will not remove soldiers from Germany as decried by Trump. Then a series of brief global Covid reports- England has eased restrictions while most of the world is witnessing dramatic rises in infections and deaths and the banning of several vaccines.

From SPAIN- Alison Hughes with Amy Egan report on the attack on a uranium enrichment facility in Iran, an Israeli cyberattack which could have caused a nuclear disaster. Israeli PM Netanyahu announced he will not cooperate with the ongoing ICC investigation of war crimes against Palestinians. In Ecuador voters gave banker Guillermo Lasso an unexpected victory in the presidential election, promising free market economics and foreign investment to create jobs.

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

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From SPAIN- Protests grew in Britain over proposed laws to impose harsh prison sentences on demonstrators. The Pope made an Easter message condemning the ongoing wars in Syria, Yemen, and Libya, and the proliferation of weapons while the pandemic creates more struggle.

From JAPAN- An update on Myanmar where more citizens have been murdered by the military junta, and celebrities have been targeted for speaking out. The Japanese government will decide next week whether to discharge vast quantities of radioactively contaminated water from Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean.

From RUSSIA- On George Galloway's program veteran UN journalist Joe Lauria discussed the state of Libya 10 years after the overthrow of Gaddafi. Joe describes it as utter chaos, with mass poverty, migrations, and jihadists. He also explains the disinformation that the US presented to the UN and NATO to justify the war, which was revealed in British courts in 2016.

From CUBA- The US released a report on human rights around the world, and Syria and other nations condemned it as delusional and hypocritical. Venezuela will ask the UN for assistance in removing land mines placed by Colombian groups near their border- after Afghanistan, Colombia has the most land mine victims in the world. The Biden administration lifted sanctions against officials of the ICC, though the US still denies that the organization has any jurisdiction.

From GERMANY- Amnesty International released a report about Covid amplifying massive global inequalities and giving governments the justification to crack down on human rights. Then brief global Covid reports.