The Shortwave Report

This week's show focuses on the two stories that dominated the international press- a massive leak of classified documents and French President Macron visiting China and saying Europe should not follow the US into a war with China over Taiwan. The stories are in-depth and show the tension that has been growing between the US and parts of Europe. Also why did NPR quit using Twitter and why are Israeli government officials leading a march into evacuated West Bank settlement. With reports from Germany and France.
 
http://youthspeaksout.net/swr230414.mp3 (29:00)
 
       From GERMANY- There were two stories dominating the international press this week- a massive leak of classified documents and French President Macron visiting China and saying Europe should not follow the US into a war with China over Taiwan. The Pentagon is searching for the leaker and attempting damage control. Documents have been posted saying that the US is spying on Israel and South Korea. There have been accusations that some of the information is fake or has been altered. One document claims there have been 90 NATO Special Forces in Ukraine. A professor from John Hopkins University discusses the seriousness of the leak and that only 50 of the documents out of many hundreds have been made public. He also points out that in the US 1 1/4 million people have top secret clearance, and that this is the fifth mega-leak of classified information in 12 years. Then a report on French President Macron saying that Europe should not get involved in a conflict between the US and China, calling for more European sovereignty. He also gave several interviews saying that Europe should not adapt to an American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction. A DW correspondent gives an analysis of  Macron's controversial statements.
 
       From FRANCE-  A press review on the backlash to Macron's  statements. That is followed by an analysis of why there is such a stir over whether Europe is just a chess piece between the US and China. Then a press review several days later on how Europe sees itself. NPR quit using Twitter after being labelled it a state affiliated media. Thousands of Israelis led by 7 government ministers marched on an evacuated West Bank settlement.
 
"I hope this is increasingly apparent now after Snowden's revelations, that we are facing a new Western religion. And that new Western religion is the national security state. It's hurtling towards a dystopia. It is dragging many of us along with it not combatants but all of those who use the internet are sucked up into this system."
--Julian Assange
 
Dan Roberts
Shortwave Report-
 www.outfarpress.com
YouthSpeaksOut!-
 www.youthspeaksout.net

 This week's show begins with newly discovered structural faults in the devastated Fukushima reactors, the US has at least 100 nuclear warheads stationed in Europe, France and the European Commission visit China, and Sumar, a new leftwing political party is formed in Spain. This week's show features stories from NHK Japan, Radio Deutsche-Welle, France 24, and Radio Havana Cuba. 
       From JAPAN-- New inspections at the nuclear reactors at Fukushima reveal that the base has crumbled and become vulnerable to earthquakes. Russia denies the ICC charges of war crimes for deporting children from Ukraine. China is angry that the President of Taiwan met with the speaker of the US congress. Japan has a plan for a regional defense cooperation. The Philippines have designated 4 more military bases for US use. The leaders of France and China agreed that Russia and Ukraine should resume peace talks, and no one should use nuclear weapons.
 
       From GERMANY- Russia is talking about deploying nuclear weapons to Belarus- the US has at least 100 nuclear warheads stationed in Europe.
 
       From FRANCE-  In France at the pension protests and environmental actions the police have been filmed using brutal force leading to a hearing in parliament. Then press reviews about the police violence and double standards. The French President Macron and the European Commission President van der Leyen visited China with multiple agendas including peace in Ukraine and increasing trade.
 
       From RADIO HAVANA CUBA-  Sumar is a new leftwing political party in Spain launched by Yolanda Diaz who hopes to become the first female Prime Minister of the country. The French government is considering a legal framework for euthanasia, or assisted dying. Covid cases are rising at an alarming rate in the UK.
 
"The capacity to combine commitment with skepticism is essential to democracy."
--Mary Catherine Bateson
 
Dan Roberts
Shortwave Report-
 www.outfarpress.com
YouthSpeaksOut!-
 www.youthspeaksout.net

 This week's show begins with press reviews about the continuing large scale protests in France, rules for asylum seekers toughen in the UK, Canada, and the US, and US Secretary of State Blinken rejects China's proposed ceasefire in Ukraine, calling it a "trap."
This week's show features stories from France 24, Radio Havana Cuba, and NHK Japan.
http://youthspeaksout.net/swr230331.mp3 (29:00)
 
       From FRANCE-- The protests against the pension reforms in France have continued, with many days seeing over a million people in the streets. Violence from both the police and some in the crowds has escalated, with several protestors dead or maimed. We will hear some press reviews on these actions and controversial remarks by the police calling environmentalists terrorists.
 
       From CUBA- Human Rights Watch criticized the UK for going forward with its plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Canada and the US have agreed to alter the way they treat asylum seekers, making it more difficult to process claims. Fears of terrorist actions in Northern Ireland have increased. The first Global Water Conference has been held in NY at the UN to address the water crisis and ensure  equitable access to water for all.
 
       From JAPAN-  Taiwan President  Tsai Ing-wen is traveling to the US and Central America, much to Chinas consternation. Chinese President Xi was proud of his role in normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Russia announced it would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Russia shot down a  Ukrainian drone 200 km from Moscow. US Secretary of State Blinken called the Chinese suggestion of a ceasefire in the Ukraine war a trap that must be avoided. US and SK forces are holding large scale  landing drills on the Korean peninsula. The UK is set to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, proposed in 2016 and stumbling since then. "The most strongly enforced of all known taboos is the taboo against knowing who or what you really are behind the mask of your apparently separate, independent, and isolated egos."
--Alan Watts
 
Dan Roberts
Shortwave Report-
 www.outfarpress.com
YouthSpeaksOut!-
 www.youthspeaksout.net

This week's edition begins with Chinese President Xi visiting Putin, is Russia China';s junior partner, the 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, widespread protests continue in Israel, and a Viewpoint on the  Willow Oil Project approved by Biden.
This week's show features stories from NHK Japan, France 24, and Radio Havana Cuba. 
http://youthspeaksout.net/swr230324.mp3 (29:00)
 
       From JAPAN-- Chinese President Xi met with Putin in Moscow, saying that their relations are at their highest level in history. Xi had a peace plan for Ukraine which Putin agreed with, but said that Ukraine shows little desire to end the war. There was no mention of China supplying Russia with weapons. The CEO of TikTok says they do not share data with any government, nor is the company controlled by the government. The UN released the last part of the IPCC report on climate change, saying the point of no return is on our doorstep.
 
       From FRANCE- More analysis on the meeting between Chinese President Xi and Putin, in light of the ICC arrest warrant posted last week for Putin. It appears that Russia is the junior partner in the relationship, needing computer chips and a market for oil and gas. China has not condemned the invasion of Ukraine, seeing NATO expansion as the root cause. A UK lecturer says that the bonding between Russia and China has been developing for 20 years, and the messages to the Global South are important.
 
       From RADIO HAVANA CUBA-  All international broadcasters had extensive special programming on the 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq. Anti-war protests occurred in many countries on the same day. There were large protests in Portugal over the country's cost of living crisis, demanding higher wages and pensions. Widespread protests continue in Israel against the far-right reforms being instituted by Netanyahu. Then a Viewpoint on Joe Biden green lighting the Willow oil project on the North Slope in Alaska.
 
”We are asleep with compasses in our hands."
--W.S. Merwin
 
Dan Roberts
Shortwave Report-
 www.outfarpress.com
YouthSpeaksOut!-
 www.youthspeaksout.net

This weeks show begins with a discussion of nuclear energy in France, a Chinese correspondent talks about TikTok, much militarism in Asian waters, and a Viewpoint on lithium and the Monroe Doctrine. With reports from France, Japan and Cuba.
 
http://youthspeaksout.net/swr230317.mp3 (29:00)
 
       From FRANCE 24-- The top story in the French press on Monday was the nuclear energy future in France. European states are rearming on a big scale, with arms imports doubling last year. A correspondent in China discusses the call for banning TikTok in much of the western world. A live report from London about the multitude of strikes slowing down activity in the UK.
 
       From JAPAN- The US and South Korea are staging continuous large scale drills, called Freedom Shield, on the Korean peninsula. The UK is expanding its presence in asian waters. Australia, the UK and the US  met to discuss the fleet of nuclear submarines to be built for Australia. The US and the Philippines began a series of military exercises. Japanese self defense forces  took part in an exercise with the French navy in the Indian Ocean. In Pakistan police met with stiff resistance while attempting to arrest the former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The inflation rate in Argentina has increased to 100% over the past year. The alleged collision between a US drone and a Russian jet- Russia criticized the US for flying the surveillance drone near Crimea which they declared off-limits.
 
       From RADIO HAVANA CUBA- The US remains the worlds top weapons exporter with a 40 % global share. US forces, operating illegally in Syria, transferred a new group of Daesh fighters to a base in the northeast of the country. Then a Viewpoint on the US continuing to seek Latin American resources, most recently lithium from Bolivia.
 
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Huge protests about pension reform continue in France, Syria condemns an unannounced visit by Mike Milley US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, China responds to US accusations about Taiwan and the Ukraine war, Germany investigates the sabotage of the Nord Stream bombing, and Germany establishes a renewable hydrogen fuel plant in northwest Africa.
 
This week's show features stories from France 24, Radio Havana Cuba, NHK Japan, and Radio Deutsche_Welle.
http://youthspeaksout.net/swr230310.mp3 (29:00)
 
From FRANCE 24-- French citizens continued their sixth day of massive protests against Macron's pension reform. A press review on the UK's proposed anti-immigration law which has led to calls for the firing of a long time BBC broadcaster, who had compared the government action to Germany in the 1930s.
 
From RADIO HAVANA CUBA-- UN Secretary General Guterres condemned rich countries and energy giants for holding back the development of countries living in poverty. Syria is angered over a recent unannounced visit by US Army general Mark Milley to a US military base in the northeast of the country.  Doctors Without Borders is planning to suspend operations in Haiti because of recent gang shootings. The weekend before last saw large anti-war protests in many major European capitals demanding an end to the Ukraine war and supplying weapons to Kiev.
 
From JAPAN- A new survey of Japanese citizens says that more want an expansion of Self Defense Forces. The new Chinese Foreign Minister lashed out at US involvement with Taiwan, calling it containment and suppression- he also said China has no plans to provide weapons to Russia in its war on Ukraine. The head of the IAEA said that Iran has not produced weapons grade enriched uranium. The number of suspected poisonings of Iranian school girls is growing, and it is unclear who is responsible for the acts. Investigators in Germany believe they may be closer to understanding who bombed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline last September.
 
From GERMANY- More details on the German investigation into who bombed the Nord Stream pipeline. Mauritania, on the coast of northwest Africa, agreed to begin producing hydrogen using solar panels and wind energy for Germany, the UAE, and Egypt.
 
"We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn."
--Mary Catherine Bateson
 
 
Dan Roberts
Shortwave Report-
 www.outfarpress.com
YouthSpeaksOut!-
 www.youthspeaksout.net

This week's show features excerpts from an interview with Seymour Hersh about the bombing of the Nord Stream pipeline, Edward Snowden and more, formerly pacifist Japan plans to buy 400 cruise missiles from the US, and the G20 summit was a very divided affair. With reports from Going Underground and NHK Japan.
 
From GOING UNDERGROUND- Afshin just interviewed Seymour Hersh about who blew up the Nord Stream pipeline, cutting off gas supplies to Germany and causing the price of fuel to skyrocket globally. Hersh who revealed the My Lai massacre in 1970, for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. His distinguished career includes articles on Henry Kissinger, and US torture and secret prisons in the Iraq war. In this interview Hersh explains how the US government detonated the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline last September, and the motives behind the attack. He also speaks about the initial rejection of his report on the My Lai massacre, of being accused of being a conspiracy theorist, and Edward Snowden.
 
From JAPAN- Japan announced plans to purchase 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US. As Russia continues its war on Ukraine it claimed the US was planning a false flag operation with toxic materials, which the US says is disinformation. Foreign Ministers of the G20 nations met in India, did not find common ground, and did not conclude with a joint statement. The FBI director told Fox News  that the novel Corona virus was probably leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan China.
 
"I always believe in truth. Sometimes I know truth others don't. That puts me in a little bit of jeopardy sometimes."
--Seymour Hersh
 
Dan Roberts
Shortwave Report-
 www.outfarpress.com
YouthSpeaksOut!-
 www.youthspeaksout.net

This Week's show starts with meetings between Japan and China, China and Russia, and the speeches by Biden and Putin, an interview on how the ultra-wealthy have reshaped the global discussion on climate change, and Mexican President Obrador nationalizes all lithium deposits in his country. This week's show features stories from France 24, NHK Japan, and Radio Havana Cuba.
From JAPAN- Top officials from  Japan and China met to discuss security issues, with both sides making accusations of spying and military build ups. The top Chinese diplomat met in Russia with a close aide of Putin, with the goal of reaffirming the strength of their ties. Putin held talks with China's top diplomat, agreeing that their partnership is not directed against another country. Putin then gave a State of the Nation speech, blaming the West for the war in Ukraine and suspending the START arms treaty.
 
From FRANCE- An analysis and discussion about the dueling speeches delivered by Joe Biden and Putin on the anniversary of the start of the war on Ukraine. Then, from a weekly program called Perspective, an interview with political scientist Edouard Morena on how the ultra-wealthy have reshaped the global discussion on climate change.
 
From CUBA- Brazilian President Lula da Silva visited and offered aid to areas hit by intense rains causing floods and landslides- it rained 24 inches in under 8 hours. Mexican President Obrador signed a decree declaring that lithium is the property of the nation and its exploitation controlled by the government. In Peru, clashes between government forces and citizens demanding the resignation of the appointed President, the closure of Congress, and new elections. Lebanon condemned the latest Israeli bombing in Syria which damaged residences and killed civilians in Damascus.
 
"I say openly that I am an anti-war person, with the point being, show me some reason not to be against this war. You have to be sort of asleep at the switch not to be critical of it. And the parallel between one quagmire we went through in Vietnam and the one we're in now is clear for everybody to see."
--Seymour Hersh
 
Dan Roberts
Shortwave Report-
 www.outfarpress.com
YouthSpeaksOut!-
 www.youthspeaksout.net

This week's show begins with a controversy in Europe over whether charging hydrogen fuel cells from a nuclear power plant is green, the nuclear power industry in Japan is expanding, several reports on Haiti, and large protests in France and Israel continue.
This week's show features stories from Radio Deutsche-Welle, NHK Japan, Radio Havana Cuba, andFrance 24.
 
 
From GERMANY- In Italy, a court has acquitted Silvio Berlusconi of bribing witnesses in a sex-scandal trial from 2013. Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation as the Scottish first minister. There is a controversy in the European Commission over whether to call hydrogen derived from nuclear power plants renewable energy- many electric vehicles will soon run on hydrogen fuel cells.
 
From JAPAN- The nuclear power industry in Japan is hiring with plans to expand in the next 2 years. A report on the balloons attacked in US airspace, including a Chinese government response and a proposed change in Japanese military limitations. The environmental catastrophe in Pakistan continues more than 6 months after flooding caused by a changing climate. Tax officials in India searched the offices of the BBC after a documentary critical of  Prime Minister Modi led to a ban in the country.
 
From CUBA- The UN Human Rights Commissioner recommended a special police force be sent to Haiti to control gangs who are killing, raping and stealing. 4 men in Florida were arrested and charged with conspiracy in the assassination of former Haitian President Moise in 2021. Barcelona has temporarily broken ties with Israel over its policy toward Palestinians. A panel at the UN has called on the international community to take action to stop systematic housing demolition and forced evictions in Palestine. As many as 5 million Syrians are homeless following the earthquake.
 
From FRANCE- In France large protests and strikes continue over government plans to change their pensions. In the face of continuing nationwide protests, the Israeli President Herzog appealed to PM Netanyahu to suspend plans to reform the judiciary. A press review on the work of an organization called Forbidden Stories which reports on attacked journalists.
 
"All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant pressure to make people feel that they are helpless, that the only role they can have is to ratify decisions and to consume."
--Noam Chomsky
 
Dan Roberts
Shortwave Report-
 www.outfarpress.com
YouthSpeaksOut!-
 www.youthspeaksout.net

This week's show begins with huge strikes and protests in France and the UK, imprisoned former president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, gave an interview, parts of Syria, like Turkey, have been demolished by earthquakes, but equipment and aid to the areas have been held up by sanctions and no media focus, and Panasonic is to begin manufacturing supplementary  batteries for EVs that can be used to power households and businesses. This week's show features stories from France 24, Radio Havana Cuba, Radio Deutsche-Welle, and NHK Japan.
From FRANCE- In the UK there are ongoing large walkouts led by nurses for the NHS and ambulance staff, the biggest in the NHS history. In France, 400K citizens took part in a general strike in Paris, mainly over proposed pension reforms. A press review on Ukrainian President Zelensky asked for jet fighters in Paris and London.
 
From CUBA- The imprisoned former president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, gave an interview to a newspaper describing the hatred and threats against him and his family since he was elected.  Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro has applied for a 6 month tourist visa to stay in the US.  11,000 Nigerians have sued Shell Oil for compensation over devastating oil spills.
 
From GERMANY- Oil companies have made record profits stimulated by the war in Ukraine, while investing almost nothing in renewable energy projects. Parts of Syria, like Turkey, have been demolished by earthquakes, but equipment and aid to the areas have been held up by sanctions and no media focus. The Russian defense minister said that western weapons to Ukraine will continue to escalate the war.
 
From JAPAN- China denies that the balloon that crossed the US was a civilian craft for weather research. The US military will use 4 more bases in the Philippine islands. North Korea complained and threatened in response to more US military exercises on the Korean peninsula. On a more optimistic note, Panasonic is to begin manufacturing supplementary  batteries for EVs that can be used to power households and businesses.
 
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¡FurthuR! Dan Roberts
 
"There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people."
--Howard Zinn
 
Dan Roberts
Shortwave Report-
 www.outfarpress.com
YouthSpeaksOut!-
 www.youthspeaksout.net