PROGRAM NOTES 02/19/10- This weeks show features stories from China Radio International, Radio Netherlands, Radio Havana Cuba, and the Voice of Russia

From CHINA- China trimmed its holding of US debt, leaving Japan as the largest holder of US Treasury securities. China has surpassed Germany as the global leader in exports. Iran is considering severing relations with Britain. Russia says that the delay in delivering missiles to Iran is a result of technical, not political, reasons. The breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia signed a deal with Russia to build permanent military bases on its territory. Ukraine's contested Presidential election results have been suspended until a court ruling is released. President Obama has announced plans to reestablish an Ambassador to Syria. Israel officially denies that Mossad was involved in an assassination in Dubai last month.

From NETHERLANDS- Radio Netherlands has eliminated SW broadcasts to North America. The decision is based on their surveys that find very few listeners in N America. If you ever listen to RN on shortwave please let them know- by email to letters@rnw.nl or send them a letter to RNW Worldwide, PO Box 222, 1200JG, Hilversum, The Netherlands.

British companies who have been planning to drill oil out of the Falkland Islands have met resistance from Argentina. Spain has offered to take 5 of the prisoners from Guantanamo Bay. It has been reported that Mullah Baradar, the most senior military commander of the Taliban, has been captured by Pakistan- a discussion of how this may or may not affect NATO military operations in Afghanistan.

From CUBA- The civilian death toll in Afghanistan continues to climb. Deadly drone attacks continue in Pakistan. In Honduras, opponents of the new President Lobo are being murdered, tortured, and raped. President Obama announced government financing for 2 new nuclear power plants in the state of Georgia. British police arrested 26 citizens protesting the production of nuclear weapons. France has just released information about using soldiers in the 1960s to test the effects of nuclear weapons. President Obama has authorized the assassinations of dozens of alleged Al-Qaeda leaders in just over a year.

From RUSSIA- A commentary on the US missile conflicts which are delaying the signing of a new Strategic Arms Treaty. There is a growing movement in Russia called "Downshifting," which involves stepping back from career-oriented society to live a simpler life- here in the states it was called "Voluntary Simplicity."

--"How can you have a war on terrorism when war itself is terrorism?"
--Howard Zinn