The Shortwave Report

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

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr201002.mp3

From JAPAN- The IAEA says it has inspected and collected samples at an Iranian site suspected of storing undeclared nuclear materials. Japan's maritime defense force and the Indian Navy have been conducting joint drills in the northern Arabian Sea. The former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have begun a war over disputed territories, with Turkey being accused of aiding in the fighting.

From GERMANY- Brief reports on the Azerbaijani war and France, protestors demanded abortion rights in Mexico City, Belarus has suspended independent media, and Covid updates. Shock at the US presidential debate was a main topic on all international broadcasters, here is a short critique from Germany. The UN has begun a major Biodiversity Summit to attempt to tackle the unprecedented environmental degradation- none of the previously set targets for 2020 have been met.

From RUSSIA- Afshin Rattansi interviewed the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot. He discusses the Abraham Accords signed by the UAE, Bahrain and Israel which were facilitated by Donald Trump, why normalization of relations by UAE and Bahrain with Israel hinder Palestine's quest for statehood and an end to Israel's occupation, the Trump administration's treatment of Palestinians, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

From CUBA- The US national network on Cuba condemned US reinforcement of sanctions against the island. The Cuban foreign ministry issued a declaration against the US pressure and blackmail against the Pan-American Health Organization. Venezuela intercepted and disabled another US plane in its national airspace.

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

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr200925.mp3

From GERMANY-The UN has been holding an General Assembly this week with prerecorded speeches from world leaders. The President of the US started it off in a most confrontational way, which the rest of the world has found ominous- and little of the content was discussed in American media. Trump emphasized a nationalist approach to Covid, the climate, and most everything else, which is ironic in an address to an organization with a goal of multilateral cooperation. In NYC the UN is hosting a Climate Summit- Dr. Miranda Schreursa professor of climate policy in Germany speaks about the relationship of climate change and the California fires, debunking the notion that poor forest management has created the ongoing devastation. Then brief reports on 500 beached pilot whales in Tasmania, the poisoned Russian opposition leader is out of the hospital in Berlin, and surges in Covid cases across Europe have led to many more restrictions being imposed this week.

From CUBA- The US has broken with all permanent members of the UN Security Council and unilaterally declared the reimposition of all UN sanctions against Iran. At the UN General Assembly Venezuela called for a united front to fight the US hegemony and blockades at a time of global crises. Sudan appears to be preparing to join the UAE and Bahrain in normalizing relations with Israel, in return for over $3 billion in economic aid and being removed from the US State Department's state sponsors of terrorism list.

From JAPAN- In Thailand anti-government protests have continued for 2 months and they now want to amend the constitution to increase democratic rights and limit military powers. Thailand is launching 5G cell service with Huawei. Huawei says that US sanctions will threaten the global semiconductor supply chain. Japan has scrapped an American made multibillion dollar radar defense plan called Aegis. Airbus plans to use hydrogen fuel to power zero-emission passenger planes by 2035.

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

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr200918.mp3

From RUSSIA- Afshin Rattansi spoke with former Brazilian President Lula da Silva on a range of topics. We will hear excerpts on the Covid crisis under president Bolsonaro, the US involvement in the coup that imprisoned Lula for 2 years, the importance of Edward Snowden and Julian Assange, the crisis in the Amazon rainforest, and the current pandemic of ignorance defeating intelligence.

From GERMANY- A series of brief reports including global Covid news. Fighting continued in Palestine while the US hosted Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain signing accords to normalize diplomatic relations. The UN set targets 10 years ago to protect wildlife and stop human influenced extinction- none of the goals were met and many animals and plants are gone or closer to vanishing.

From JAPAN- The summer in the northern hemisphere was the hottest ever recorded, and weather agencies attribute this as responsible for the widespread wildfires on the west coast of the US. Trump briefly visited California to learn about the extent of the devastating fires, and to assure his followers that the science of global warming is completely wrong and that it will start getting cooler soon. I live in an area with lots of fires and evacuations- shock at Trump's attitude was a leading story on every international broadcaster.

From CUBA- Venezuela has accused a recently arrested US citizen of being a CIA agent, spying and planning to sabotage oil refineries and electrical service. A Spanish court convicted a Salvadoran army general for the 1989 murder of 5 Jesuit priests in El Salvador. The Colombian Air Force will conduct a joint military exercise with US troops in the Caribbean with much opposition in Colombia. The Iranian government has warned the US against the threat of a huge attack issued by Trump.

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

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr200911.mp3

From JAPAN- 10% of the survivors evacuated from Fukushima have died away from the area. The Chinese President and Foreign Minister criticized Trump for scapegoating their country for the Covid spread. The Chinese Foreign Minister accused the US of threatening peace in the South China Sea.

From GERMANY- A series of short reports on Boris Johnson and Brexit and the global Covid situation. The Russian opposition figure Navalny has recovered somewhat from what German doctors have claimed was poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok, raising tensions between the EU and Russia and the Nordstream pipeline. A documentary film about Greta Thunberg is a major feature of the Venice film festival underway now.

From CUBA- UN Secretary General Guterres has warned that world powers must pull together and retool their economies for a green future or face doom. The Cuban Foreign Minister says that judicial processes in Bolivia and Ecuador against Evo Morales and Rafael Correa are intended to silence the voices of the people. Fallout about Trump claiming to want to end wars is contradicted by his push to arm the rest of the world.

From SPAIN- Alison Hughes reports on the protests in London outside the court where Julian Assange is appealing an extradition request from the US. A number of prominent citizens were interviewed by a German news team in English.

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

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr200814.mp3

From JAPAN- In the Indian Ocean a large oil spill is creating an environmental disaster on the coast of the island of Mauritius. More countries have ratified the UN treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons- 6 more ratifications are needed to bring the treaty into force.

From RUSSIA- On his program called Going Underground Afshin Rattansi spoke with legendary journalist John Pilger. John talked about the ongoing persecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, new charges against him, efforts to extradite him to the US, and the silence of mainstream journalists on his persecution. They then discuss rising tensions between the US and its allies and China, the hypocrisy of Western foreign policy against Beijing, the Hong Kong National Security Law, the US military encirclement of China, how the country is entering a ‘state of siege,’ and rising tensions with Australia.

From SPAIN- Alison Hughes reports on Bolivia. Self-appointed president Jeanine Anez has sent the military to suppress major labor unions and indigenous associations, peasants and urban workers, who have united in a general strike. They have begun to block highways in protest against a third postponement of elections. Anez and members of her cabinet speak of a potential civil war less than one year after the disputed elections of 2019 resulted in a coup that forced President Evo Morales into exile. Morales is calling on his followers to accept the latest date for elections but also to demand that date be fixed and unchangeable.

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

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From GERMANY- A brief roundup of Covid news from across the globe. A leading German doctor says that a second Covid wave is underway in her country. Meanwhile between 20,000 and 1 million Germans protested Covid restrictions in Berlin last weekend, receiving widespread criticism from politicians and health authorities.

From CUBA- Cuba was shocked to hear reports from Washington attempting to link their free medical assistance to human trafficking. At least 212 land and environmental defenders were murdered last year according to the organization Global Witness. The Supreme Court in Brazil has removed the complaint that prevented Lula da Silva from running in the 2018 election. Thousands of Israelis have been protesting against Netanyahu, demanding he resign. Israeli has launched new bombing raids on Gaza, and the US Congress passed an aid package to helpIsrael develop its surface to air missile systems. Palestine has appealed to the EU prevent Israel from building hundreds of new settler housing units in the occupied West Bank. Last Saturday the President of Lebanon said they would defend their border towns which were recently bombed by Israel. Two days ago much of Beirut was destroyed by a massive explosion, which is as of press time being called an accident.

From RUSSIA- On his show called Going Underground, Afshin Rattansi spoke with Geoffrey Robertson QC famed human rights defender. They discuss Julian Assange who remains in prison without a trial to see if he will be extradited to the US, the fear that is intended to keep journalists from revealing war crimes and other state secrets, and the myth of Assange being a Russian asset.

From JAPAN- Thursday was the 75th anniversary of the US dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The date is always observed in Japan, but attendance was limited because of the pandemic. People spoke of the need to implement a UN plan to abolish all nuclear weapons, though president Abe feels it is a wrong approach, in line with the US and Russia.

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.

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

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr200710.mp3

From SPAIN- Alison Hughes reports that the Director of the WHO critiqued countries that were not taking comprehensive approach to the spread of Covid-19. Spain completed a nationwide antibody study to determine if Covid immunity is long lasting. A report on Spanish weapons sales over the past 15 years was published.

From JAPAN- The past week has seen record rainfall in much of Japan, as a result of global warming. In the US, Covid cases are surging across the sunbelt, stimulated by public gatherings.

From GERMANY- First some brief Covid news from around the globe. In Mexico newly discovered bone fragments cast doubt on the official story of the 43 students who were disappeared by police in 2014.

From CUBA- The Cuban ambassador to the US criticized American news coverage for repeating what the biased State Department says and programs as official leaks. On Sunday Brazilian President Bolsonaro vetoed the mandatory wearing of face masks to prevent the pandemic spread. On Tuesday he tested positive for the corona virus. 320 Latin American leaders have signed a statement calling for the imposition of sanctions against Israel over its plans to annex large parts of Occupied Palestine. A senior Human Rights investigator at the UN says the US assassination of Iranian General Souleimani was a violation of international law.

From RUSSIA- On his program Going Underground Afshin Rattansi spoke with Prof. Clifford Stott, a UK government adviser on group behavior. He discusses the psychology behind recent mass protests and riots, how the coronavirus has amplified inequality in the minds of people, and how different policing responses against different racial groups fosters distrust and discontent.

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

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr200703.mp3

From JAPAN- The new security law in Hong Kong imposed by China came into effect on Wednesday, with demonstrations and arrests following. In Russia an election on constitutional change, which could allow Putin to run for two more terms, won by an overwhelming majority.

From CUBA- A brief summary of Covid cases in the global south. The Lebanese president has censored Washington's direct interference in Lebanese domestic affairs. Iran has issued an arrest warrant for Trump and others who carried out the drone strike on an Iranian general in Iraq, and asked Interpol to assist in their capture.

From GERMANY- The EU announced the opening of its external borders to 14 countries, not the US. A series of short reports on the global spread of the corona virus. As the Israeli cabinet debates the annexation of several Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a report from a Palestinian village. Greenpeace activists are protesting the slow approach in Germany to phasing out coal burning. France held local elections and Green candidate victories showed a national disillusion with President Macron's policies.

From RUSSIA- On his program Going Underground Afshin Rattansi spoke with Shakespearian actor Sir Mark Rylance. They discuss the opportunity to create a national nature service in the UK, like a Green New Deal, which would help the unemployment situation as well as attempt to lessen the impact of the climate crisis.

This week's show begins with record-breaking heat in the arctic region, global covid reports, US prepares to help Israel annex Occupied Palestinian land despite UN and EU condemnation, and the New York Times retracts their lie that the Bolivian election was fraudulent 6 months after it led to a coup. With reports from Germany, Cuba, and Russia.

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From GERMANY- An arctic region in Siberia has recorded a record high temperature of 100 degrees F, which is both a symptom of the climate catastrophe and stimulating more problems. Since the Covid lockdowns manmade pollution has been reduced to 2006 levels, but the atmospheric concentration of carbon is still increasing. A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara is blanketing the Caribbean. A series of brief stories about the Covid pandemic around the world, and then a piece on leaders who lie about the disease for political gain. In 2018 when German pharmaceutical giant Bayer bought Monsanto, producer of the herbicide Roundup, they knew huge lawsuits over cancer were awaiting them in the US - they will pay $11 billion but are not required to say that the product may cause cancer, and can continue producing it.

From CUBA- In Colombia there have been 138 social leaders assassinated by paramilitaries so far this year. Venezuelan President Maduro said he would be willing to meet with Trump after his suggestion that he no longer had faith in Juan Guiado. The Cuban President Diaz-Canal said he doesn't need to read John Bolton's book to attest to the cynical and immoral policies of the US government. The Navajo nation has reinstated its lockdown due to a fresh spike in Covid cases in Arizona. Top Trump officials are holding key meetings ahead of Israeli plans to annex Palestinian lands, which has been condemned by the UN, the EU, and many other countries around the world.

From RUSSIA- On his program George Galloway spoke with journalist Ollie Vargas in Bolivia. He talked about how the New York Times now says that the story they spread around the world that Evo Morales had been fraudulently reelected was in fact not true. That lie led to a coup, the exiling of Morales, and continuing attacks on his supporters and the indigenous population of the country. The coup leader, Jeanine Anez, promised free elections and has not done so.

"The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history."

-- George Orwell