NEWS and REPORTS
Edited by Tony Rogers
This is an ongoing compilation of news and reports that will support the various DX guides as they are updated.
Updated: 18 July 2025
News items may be reproduced, but please credit the original contributor (and any other sources mentioned), as well as dxguides.info. Many thanks!
Shortwave news
For the latest shortwave news, it is recommended that you subscribe to the World of Radio IO Group at https://groups.io/g/WOR
George Jacobs P.E. 17 July 1924 - 2 July 2025 R.I.P. Alan Holder posted the following to the World of Radio IO Group on 18 July 2025. Alan wrote: Yesterday, quite by chance, I came across a posting on the WRTH Facebook page. It was from well-known Sri-Lankan DX-er Victor Goonetilleke. Victor was hired as one of the select band of VoA official monitors beginning in 1972. He reported the very sad news of the passing of George Jacobs, one of the most well-known names in the world of HF radio communications. George was a former Chief of the VoA Frequency Division and amateur radio operator W3ASK. He was involved in the design of many short wave transmitting stations, both in the U.S. and in other places around the world, through his consultancy firm, George Jacobs & Associates. George was a good friend of mine and we kept in regular monthly contact by telephone and by e-mail over 33 years. We also had a shared interest in philately. It was a pleasure to meet up with him and his wife Bea, on their visit to the U.K. in the summer of 1997. I was first introduced to George following my reception report to the "World Service of the Christian Science Monitor" which was established in 1987 from the site in Scott's Corners ME. (George was responsible for the design, regulatory application and frequency management for WCSN). The station selected me as one of their technical monitors, following whch I had regular 'phone calls from George enquiring about any propagation or interference difficulties with their frequencies. Following the inauguration of WEWN in Birmingham AL, I was given the task of monitoring their frequencies and made some recommendations. George was also involved in the start up of High Adventure Ministries relays from Tbilisi Georgia and I was asked to come up with some clear out-of-band frequencies for these broadcasts. George's two colleagues Anne Case (ex-VoA) and Bob German (ex Radio Austria International Moosbrunn) were also regular callers. Sadly, I lost all contact with George after December 2021. I can only assume that the reason was a sharp decline in his health. It is possible that he may have gone into a care home, but I was unable to find out any more. George had a special interest on the influence of solar activity on HF radio propagation and has co-authored an excellent book on the subject, a copy of which he kindly sent to me. During World War II he served as navigator on a B17 "Flying fortress" with the 8th AF in England and has appeared in a TV documentary about his experiences. (Alan Holder, G4ZBH, Isle of Wight, U.K, World of Radio IO Group, 18 July 2025)
BBC World Service
to South Asia Revised schedule from 12 July 2025: 0000-0200
on 9750-Tashkent (ex-9670) and 12095-A'Seela; 1200-1300 on 15295-A'Seela and
17825-A'Seela; 1300-1400 on 11830-A'Seela and 15295-A'Seela. (HFCC
registrations with thanks to Zenon Teles and Rob Wagner)
KTWR Guam to close The TWR Asia website on 4 June 2025 announced the following: "TWR’s global leadership unanimously decided to wind down operations and end broadcasts on Guam by Oct. 31, 2025. It's important to emphasize two vital points regarding this tough but necessary course of action. The decision to end TWR’s shortwave broadcasting from Guam was made to maintain operational sustainability, not to change ministry objectives in any way. TWR is not abandoning its listeners in Asia, many of whom depend on the biblical programming for evangelism, encouragement and discipling. We have initiated processes to transition 100% of shortwave programming to other outlets in the region, such as ministry friends Reach Beyond Australia and Far East Broadcasting Co. (FEBC) as well as commercial providers. We’ll also explore other platforms, including FM and AM broadcasting and digital streaming. Listeners will be advised about where they’ll be able to find our programs well before the transition takes place". The full report can be read at https://twr.org/story/transition-for-twrs-guam-station
Radio Farda back on shortwave Radio Farda resumed shortwave broadcasts to Iran on 20 June 2025. These are the frequencies registered by Encompass with the HFCC effective from 20/21 June 2025, either via Dhabbaya, UAE, or Woofferton, UK (all 250 kW): 0400-0700 on 12035-Dhabbaya, 0700-1000 on 13710-Dhabbaya, 1000-1300 on 15720-Dhabbaya, 1300-1700 on 12035-Dhabbaya, 1700-1900 on 9450-Dhabbaya, 1900-2300 on 12035-Woofferton and 2300-0400 on 9620-Woofferton.
Radio Ashna back on shortwave Radio Ashna also resumed a weekday service in Dari and Pashto in June 2025. It is currently aired at 1630-1645 in Dari and 1645-1700 in Pashto on 11575 kHz, presumably via Kuwait. It is also on mediumwave 972 kHz, presumably from Tajikistan. (thanks to Alex Miatlikov for details)
Radio Martí back on shortwave Radio Martí has resumed shortwave broadcasts from Greenville NC to Cuba. Times, days and frequencies will be established shortly but 11860 and 13605 kHz are the two initial ones heard, registered with HFCC for A25 at 1400-2200 and 1300-2100 respectively.
The Overcomer Ministry to end its radio broadcasts Jose Jacob comments that as per the Wavescan DX programme, The Overcomer Ministry (Brother Stair) says it's ending its radio broadcasts. More details in Wavescan programme of next week. (posted to World of Radio IO Group by Jose on 10 June 2025); Update: According to Jeff White on Wavescan, the Overcomer Ministry says it will stop radio broadcasting on AM, FM and SW at the end of June. Can no longer be sustained as contributions have been dropping. It will continue on internet, and on a low-power FM under construction in Walterboro. (via Glenn Hauser, World of Radio IO Group, 13 June 2025); since 1 July 2025, TOM broadcasts have continued on shortwave over WTWW and Spaceline-Bulgaria.
Mediumwave news
For the latest mediumwave news, please see Ydun's Medium Wave Info at https://mediumwave.info/
Publications
Programmes on Shortwave Various shortwave listening guides for the current A25 season produced by Alan Roe are available to download from Alan's Box page at https://app.box.com/s/kbdxb4c5lwpju0kpoi27aiwc35br2g2a. These include Music on Shortwave, as well as English language programme schedules for BBC World Service, CGTN Radio, Radio Romania International, Radio Taiwan International and Voice of Türkiye.