The Shortwave Report

The Shortwave Report January 21, 2022

This week's show features stories from Radio Deutsche-Welle, NHK Japan, and Sputnik Radio.
http://www.outfarpress.com/swr220121.mp3
From GERMANY- In the UK there is much opposition to the controversial police and crime bill that would give police much greater powers to crack down on protests that are deemed disruptive- a new public nuisance charge could result in a 10 year prison sentence or any unlimited fine. A report on the highs and lows of Joe Biden's first year as President. A series of brief reports on the increasing rates of Covid around the world, and the surprising ways that governments are convincing people to get vaccinated. Boris Johnson is fighting increasing calls for his resignation as Prime Minister of the UK.
From JAPAN-Several reports on the aftermath of the damage from an undersea volcanic eruption in the south Pacific near Tonga which led to tsunami waves up to 45 feet high and and enormous amounts of ash. The World Economic Forum is usually held in Davos Switzerland, but this year because of Covid it is being held online- the Chinese President Xi Jinping led with a call for nations to end their cold war mentality, avoid polarizing cliques, and for global cooperation to tackle the pandemic. A few weeks ago there were hardly any new cases of Covid in Japan but that has drastically changed, leading to new emergency declarations in much of the country including Tokyo. The President of Iran visited Putin in Moscow to strengthen the partnership between the nations. There has been extreme heat in parts of South America and Australia, 40 degrees Celsius is 104 F and 50.7 C is 123 F.
From RUSSIA- On his show called Going Underground Afshin Rattansi spoke with Max Lawson of Oxfam Oxfam released a report saying 99% of humanity’s income fell, 160 million were pushed into poverty, and the top 10 richest men saw their wealth more than double from $700 billion to $1.5 trillion dollars- Oxfam is calling for a one-time wealth tax.

The Shortwave Report January 14, 2022

This week's show features stories from NHK Japan, Radio Deutsche-Welle, and Radio Havana Cuba.
http://www.outfarpress.com/swr220114.mp3
From JAPAN- Covid is spreading rapidly in Japan, while the WHO is warning that more than half the population of Europe, Russia, and Central Asia could be infected within the next 2 months. Following a second missile test by North Korea, the US has frozen the assets of 6 North Koreans and a Russian company. In Myanmar, a court has added to the prison sentence of former leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Troops from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, an eastern bloc version of NATO, are leaving Kazakstan after shutting down protests against rising fuel prices.
From GERMANY-Talks are being held between Russia and NATO over the troop buildup on the border with Ukraine- Russia wants guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO which has set up military bases near the borders with Russia. A German court sentenced a former Syrian military officer to life in prison for crimes against humanity. On the 20th anniversary of the opening of the US detention camp in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, all international broadcasters covered and criticized the history of the infamous jail- most referred to it as an illegal breach of human rights and an ongoing moral failing- 39 detainees remain and 22 have never been charged. After another revelation about UK government members double standards during the Covid crisis and parties at 10 Downing Street, the opposition is calling for Boris Johnson to resign as Prime Minister. Brief Covid updates from Chile, Israel, the winter Olympics, and Ottawa where the unvaccinated will be taxed. In France teachers are on strike over the burden of dealing with Covid in the classroom. The EU Climate Monitoring Agency released a new report on the worsening global weather.
From CUBA- At the inauguration of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua one of the guests was Brian Wilson, a Vietnam veteran who was run over by a train while protesting the Contra wars in 1987. The Supreme Court in El Salvador has reopened an investigation into the 1989 massacre of 6 Jesuit priests and 2 women. The UN has launched an appeal for aid to prevent the starvation of a million children in Afghanistan. A Viewpoint on 500 billionaires who have greatly increased their wealth in 2021 while global poverty rates have soared.

The Shortwave Report January 7, 2022

This week's show features stories from France 24, Radio Havana Cuba, and Radio Deutsche-Welle.
http://www.outfarpress.com/swr220107.mp3
From FRANCE- At the UN the 5 countries with the most nuclear weapons agreed that nuclear war should be avoided, and said they are committed to a full disarmament in the future. The Canadian government agreed to compensate First Nation people who were taken from their families and to repair the child welfare system. The Italian government unanimously approved making vaccines mandatory for everyone over 50. French President Macron said he wanted to piss off the unvaccinated, and that those who act irresponsibly were not citizens.
From CUBA- The Puebla Group is a political forum consisting of 19 Latin American countries and Spain- they support the initiative presented by Mexican President Obrador to offer asylum to Australian journalist and founder of Wikileaks Julian Assange. As of Thursday more than 700,000 people have signed a petition at Change.org to have the knighthood granted to ex-British PM Tony Blair be rescinded, and that he be held for war crimes instead. An uncharged Palestinian prisoner, Hisham Abu Hawwash, who was on a 141 day hunger strike reached a deal with Israel to be released next month. Thousands of protesters defied authorities and gathered in the Dutch capital Amsterdam on Sunday to oppose coronavirus restrictions, leading to clashes and arrests.
From GERMANY- First an interview with American political scientist Ian Bremmer about the current state of American democracy and its credibility to the rest of the world, a year after the January 6th attempted coup. In Eurpoe there is an argument over what forms of energy are green- notably over nuclear power and the substitution of natural gas for its fossil fuel cousin coal.

The Shortwave Report December 31, 2021

This week's show features stories from NHK Japan, Radio Havana Cuba, and Radio Deutsche-Welle.
http://www.outfarpress.com/swr211231.mp3
From JAPAN- Parts of Japan have received snowfall breaking records for 24 hour periods, as has happened here in California. Japan plans to put its own astronauts on the moon by 2030. The Japanese Prime Minister Kishida will attend the upcoming UN non-proliferation conference by video. Japan has compiled a $260 million plan to address reputational damage to industries after they begin releasing radioactively contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. President Biden has signed the $770 billion defense bill which now includes $7 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, and suggests inviting the Taiwan military to take part in a drill called the Rim of the Pacific Exercise. Coal-fired power plants in the US have increased output by 22% in 2021, the first increase since 2014.
From CUBA- Extreme rains have hit the northeast of Brazil, causing two dams to fail, leading to deaths and emergencies in 72 cities. A study found that 37% of low income Brazilians do not have enough food. In El Salvador 3 women were released from 30 year prison sentences for having obstetric emergencies requiring abortions. Israel plans to double the number of settlers living in occupied parts of the Golan Heights in Syria. The US Justice Department fined Taylor Energy $43 million for the oil spill that has been leaking for 17 years 11 miles off the coast of Louisiana.
From GERMANY- DW replayed a few highlights from 2021 including this report on how militaries are exempt from international agreements on cutting greenhouse gas emissions- I was unable to fit this report in when it came out in August. Germany is shutting down most nuclear power plants this week, with the remaining ones going in 2022- 43% of Germany's energy comes from renewable sources. Talks over the Iranian nuclear program and the sanctions it struggles under are underway in Austria. Covid infections are skyrocketing in Europe. New Covid restrictions came into effect in Germany, along with large protests the day before. China is angry over Elon Musk's Starlink satellites nearly colliding with the Chinese space station. The Russian courts shut down two human rights organizations. Anti-Apartheid leader Bishop Desmond Tutu passed away and many tributes were broadcast.

The Shortwave Report December 24, 2021

This week's show features stories from Radio Deutsche-Welle, Sputnik Radio, Radio Havana, and NHK Japan. http://www.outfarpress.com/swr211224.mp3 From GERMANY- The Belgian government has agreed to shut down their nuclear power plants by 2025. German and Chinese leaders discussed deepening bilateral ties. Germany and Russia are at odds over a murder charge, Putin says the west must guarantee no further NATO expansion, and Ukraine is testing new US supplied missiles. Then brief Covid and vaccine news from Europe. From RUSSIA- On his program called Going Underground, Afshin Rattansi interviewed Judge Kevin Sharp, lawyer of Leonard Peltier, the indigenous rights activist who remains the longest serving political prisoner in the US. He discusses the failing health of Peltier and attempts to appeal to presidents to free him, evidence that he is innocent and not responsible for the murder of two FBI agents, and whether on not Cointelpro still exists. From CUBA- Three retired US army generals wrote in the Washington Post about their worries of another insurrection in the US in 2024 if the election results were not accepted by rogue units in the US military. The Palestinian Authority has hailed a UN General Assembly vote recognizing Palestinian sovereignty over their natural resources. Then a Viewpoint on the presidential election in Chile, where Gabriel Boric, a 35 year old leftist defeated a far-right candidate. From JAPAN- An anti-nuclear group in Japan discussed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty with government officials. Islamic countries have agreed to establish an international fund to help the Afghani people acquire food and salaries. Japan has also offered a second aid package to Afghanistan. Covid and vaccine updates from Asian countries and Britain.