The Shortwave Report

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

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr190405.mp3

From JAPAN- The Japanese government is drawing up long-term strategies to cut greenhouse gas emissions before June. 4 Japanese motorcycle manufacturers are pursuing unified standards for electric models. Japan completed its research whaling program in the Antarctic Ocean having caught 333 whales- they begin commercial whaling in July for the first time in 31 years. The Arab League met in Tunisia and strongly condemned the US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Syrian owned Golan Heights.

From CUBA- One and a half million Puerto Ricans are seeing cuts to their food assistance benefits. In Nicaragua, opposition demands for a presidential election this year have been rejected by the Daniel Ortega government. A Cuban official reported that Venezuela has been hit with a new wave of synchronized attacks on electrical transmission lines. The Venezuelan Supreme Court has requested stripping self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guiado of his immunity from prosecution. UNICEF reported that 2018 was the deadliest year for children in war-torn Syria.

From GERMANY- Sweden is poised to become a cashless society within the next few years, with a new digital currency in the works. NATO marked its 70th anniversary with commemorations in Washington- Trump and others around the world have criticized the alliance, but US media praised it this week while some have suggested that China is a bigger threat to Europe than Russia.

From RUSSIA- Afshin Rattansi presented some history of the changes in NATO activities after the fall of the Berlin Wall, notably NATO bombings in the former Yugoslavia and the destruction of Libya. He then interviewed Michael Stopford, former deputy assistant secretary General of NATO, and former Washington director of the UN. They discuss NATO changing into an independent section of the military-industrial-complex, arguments over funding, and Jeremy Corbyn's opposition to the organization.

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

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr190329.mp3

From GERMANY- Mexican President Obrador has asked the Vatican and Spain to apologize for the conquest of Central America 500 years ago. The EU parliament voted overwhelmingly to ban the sale of single-use plastics from 2021. A rocket fired from Gaza hit a house in Israel and set off intense bombing of the Gaza. Trump reversed decades of policy by officially recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory during a Washington visit by Netanyahu.

From JAPAN- The US was isolated at an emergency UN Security Council meeting as all other countries criticized the new US policy on the Golan Heights. The Chinese President Xi Jinping met with European leaders to address global warming, reforming the WTO, and to promote a fairer, multilateral trade framework. The Taiwanese president has asked the US for arms sales, specifically F-16 fighter jets to counter mainland China. The Islamic State militant group, I.S., has claimed responsibility for an attack in northern Syria.

From CUBA- In Brazil the defense of imprisoned former President Lula da Silva asked the Superior Court of Justice to annul his prison sentence. The Venezuelan government rejects the unilateral sanctions announced by Donald Trump to immobilize the sovereign nation. On Monday a second attack on the electrical system in Venezuela was perpetrated by right-wing forces according to the government.

From RUSSIA- Afshin Rattansi interviewed Wikileaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson. They discuss accusations that Wikileaks disseminated materials from a Russian government hacking operation, the lawsuit by the Democratic National Congress, the current dark period in mainstream media, and the government attacks on Chelsea Manning.

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

http://www.outfarpress.com/swr190201.mp3

From GERMANY- German Chancellor Angela Merkel was awarded the Fulbright prize for international understanding- she spoke about the need to stand up to the rise of nationalism. The EU demanded that Venezuelan President Maduro call for new elections within a week or else they would recognize Juan Guiado as the leader. At the UN many countries expressed their opinions about the US inspired attempted overthrow of the recently elected president.

From RUSSIA- Former British MP George Galloway interviewed Ben Chacko editor of the Morning Star. They discuss the western media coverage of events in Venezuela as wall-to-wall propaganda, begun when Hugo Chavez was president. They talk about the rapid shift back to right-wing politics in many Latin American nations, most notably in Brazil which Guiado fully supports. There is the possibility of a civil war with US intervention, like Syria and Vietnam. Does this conflict serve as a distraction from the investigation of the Trump administration, a new version of wag the dog? Why are the new leaders of the left in the US not questioning what many in the world see as an attempted coup?

From CUBA- First a Viewpoint on the European support for the attempted overthrow of the leader of Venezuela. Historically European nations enslaved the indigenous populations of Latin America, claiming a Divine Right to steal their resources, to enrich the development of Europe. Following centuries of struggle, Latin Americans won their sovereignty back. What right does the EU have to interfere in their politics? Thousands of Hondurans are protesting last years elections. In Belgium and France ten of thousands took to the streets to demand that their governments take action on climate change.

From JAPAN- China has condemned the US for filing criminal charges against Huawei Technology and its CFO. The US has gathered forces from 9 African nations for military exercises in East Africa. Lawyers in NY have reenacted the legal battle of a second generation Japanese American who challenged the constitutionality of the US internment policy during WW2.