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Part of news bulletin (in Spanish) of Radio Carve (Uruguay) about the funeral of former President Pepe Mujica, which was attended by his friend, Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva. Listened in Porto Alegre on a Xhdata d808 receiver.
…”En el Palacio Legislativo se realizó hoy la despedida de José Mujica con honores de estado. El presidente Orsi, otros jerarcas del gobierno y el público en general dieron el adiós al expresidente. El cuerpo de Mujica es cremado y sus cenizas son esparcidas en su Chacra del Cerro. El presidente de Brasil, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, llegó en la tarde al Palacio Legislativo para despedir a su amigo Mujica, a quien catalogó como una persona excepcional y un ser humano superior.
También estuvo presente el presidente de Chile, Gabriel Boric…”
(José Mujica’s state farewell ceremony was held today at the Legislative Palace. President Orsi, other government officials, and the general public bid farewell to the former president. Mujica’s body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at his Chacra del Cerro. Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva arrived at the Legislative Palace this afternoon to bid farewell to his friend Mujica, whom he described as an exceptional person and a superior human being.Chilean President Gabriel Boric was also present.)
Part of Paraguay’s Radio ZP-30 news bulletin (in Spanish) about Brazilian President Lula at CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Summit in China. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on a Xhdata D-808 receiver.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes:
Many years ago, I used to enjoy listening to distant stations that broadcast a regular English language program to Eastern North America (where I live). They would generally have a newscast and commentary, which was often followed by a daily feature that would help a listener better understand what life was like in other parts of the world.
This type of programming is harder to find these days, but I was recently pleasantly surprised to find that the Tibet Autonomous Region of China (or Xizang in Chinese) has had a couple of daily broadcasts in English for some time. The programs are called “Hello Xizang”. According to their website, Hello Xizang “covers everything from social issues to traditional culture. It brings you news, stories and in-depth reports happening in Xizang. Check it out to gain an insight into modern Xizang and feel the pulse of contemporary Xizang.”
Hello Xizang is an hour long program in English between 0700 and 0800 UTC, and again from 1600 to 1700 UTC (most convenient time for me). A few frequencies to try are 4905, 4920, 6200 and 7255 kHz.
This schedule may not work too well for listeners in North America but quality reception can be had through the use of various SDR’s located closer to the transmitter site. I often use the Kiwi SDR of VE3HLS (Ken) who has retired in northern Thailand, from which I made the attached recording of their switch over from Tibetan to English programming:
Radio ZP-30: (Russia) Drone attack repelled; 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany defeat:
Part of Paraguay’s Radio ZP-30 news bulletin (in German) about a Ukrainian drone attack repelled by Russian army, and the preparations for the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany defeat by Soviet Union. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on a Xhdata d-808 receiver.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a special Radio Nacional de España broadcast. Note that the Spanish version of this post follows the English version:
This illustrated radio listening report was particularly special to me. It’s a radio station’s acknowledge of the importance of a battery-powered radio in emergency situations.
Spain went through a massive blackout, which left the population used to mobiles without knowing what to do. But then along comes the simple battery-powered AM-FM radio, a device that in developed countries ends up being despised and overlooked, since with a cell phone you can have access to news from all over the world.
However, there’s one *tiny* detail.
No matter how modern (and expensive) a mobile is, it can only work with electricity and, of course, a cell phone signal. And, in a massive blackout like the one Spain, Portugal and parts of Europe were facing, with no cell phone signal or Internet, mobile is useless.
Well, I can speak about this subject with authority, since last year in Porto Alegre, where I live, a flood left me without electricity, telephone and Internet for 6 days.
But back to Radio Nacional de España. They broadcasted today a compilation of audios from news aired by the station during the blackout, and what draws attention is the fact that it highlights the importance of radio in critical situations. One of the phrases in this compilation is pithy:
“Es el dia de los transistores, los viejos, los de pila.”
(It’s the day of radio receivers, the old ones, the ones with batteries).
And there are testimonies from people who said they gathered their neighbors to listen to the news on the radio, or even put a radio on their balcony connected to a speaker so that the neighbors could hear the news from Radio Nacional de España. I believe this was the first time I heard a major broadcaster making such a clear recognition of the importance of the radio.
The younger generations will have to learn that they cannot depend solely and exclusively on the Internet.
Informe Ilustrado de Escucha de Radio y Grabación de Radio Nacional de España de Carlos (29 de abril de 2025)
Muchas gracias al colaborador de SWLing Post y reconocido caricaturista político, Carlos Latuff, quien comparte el siguiente informe ilustrado de escucha de una emisión especial de Radio Nacional de España:
Este reportaje ilustrado sobre la escucha de radio fue especial para mí.
Es el reconocimiento de una emisora ??a la importancia de una radio de pilas en situaciones de emergencia.
España sufrió un apagón masivo que dejó a la población acostumbrada a los móviles sin saber qué hacer. Pero entonces apareció la sencilla radio AM-FM de pilas, un dispositivo que en los países desarrollados acaba siendo despreciado e ignorado, ya que con un móvil se puede acceder a noticias de todo el mundo.
Sin embargo, hay un *pequeño* detalle.
Por muy moderno (y caro) que sea un móvil, solo funciona con electricidad y, por supuesto, con señal. Y, en un apagón masivo como el que sufrieron España, Portugal y partes de Europa, sin señal ni internet, el móvil es inútil.
Bueno, puedo hablar de este tema con total autoridad, ya que el año pasado en Porto Alegre, donde vivo, una inundación me dejó sin electricidad, teléfono ni internet durante seis días.
Pero volvamos a Radio Nacional de España. Hoy han emitido una recopilación de audios de noticias emitidas por la emisora ??durante el apagón, y lo que llama la atención es que resalta la importancia de la radio en situaciones críticas. Una de las frases de esta recopilación es concisa:
“Es el día de los transistores, los viejos, los de pila”.
Y hay testimonios de personas que dijeron haber reunido a sus vecinos para escuchar las noticias por la radio, o incluso haber puesto una radio en su balcón conectada a un altavoz para que los vecinos pudieran escuchar las noticias de Radio Nacional de España. Creo que fue la primera vez que escuché a una gran emisora ??reconocer tan claramente la importancia de la radio.
Las generaciones más jóvenes tendrán que aprender que no pueden depender única y exclusivamente de internet.
Rádio Exterior de España returns to shortwave one day after the massive blackout that affected Spain and other regions of Europe. Porto Alegre, April 29, 18h13 UTC.
RNE Addendum
Carlos also originally confirmed that Radio Nacional de España was operational again on April 29, 2025. He noted:
Rádio Exterior de España returns to shortwave one day after the massive blackout that affected Spain and other regions of Europe. Porto Alegre, April 29, 18h13 UTC.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares illustrated radio listening report covering the funeral of Pope Francis from several international and local broadcasters.
Carlos notes:
Funeral of Pope Francis: BBC, Vatican Radio, NHK and Radio Mitre:
Part of news bulletins from four radio stations (BBC, Vatican Radio, NHK and Radio Mitre) about Pope Francis funeral. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on a Xhdata D-808 receiver.
