NHK WORLD

Pro-Russia Hungarian prime minister visits Ukraine Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Tuesday, the first time he has traveled to Kyiv since the Russian invasion. He has maintained ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin but has adopted the role of peacemaker. Orban arrived one day after Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the European Union. He told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the war is the continent's "most important issue," and he pushed for a temporary ceasefire. Orban said: "The question of peace is not only paramount for Ukraine but also for Europe. This war that you're suffering from is deeply affecting European security." Orban has frustrated the efforts of other European leaders to deliver assistance to Ukraine. However, Zelenskyy said the visit is a "clear indication" of common priorities and that it is important to all Europeans for support to remain "sufficient" to defend against "Russian terror." Hungary will hold the EU presidency through December, and Orban has claimed he will "make Europe great again." The position brings little real power, however, and Hungarian officials say they will act as "honest brokers." #World,#Europe,#Russia,#War_in_Ukraine⁣ Read Full Article HERE @NHKworld

Philippines, China agree to ease tensions in South China Sea Diplomats from the Philippines and China have agreed to improve a bilateral maritime communication mechanism amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea. The foreign ministries of the two countries held a regular meeting in Manila on Tuesday to discuss matters related to the South China Sea. The Philippine foreign ministry said its Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong attended. The two sides discussed the Second Thomas Shoal, and agreed to deescalate tensions without harming their respective positions. Both sides also signed an agreement to enhance a communication mechanism on the South China Sea between the two countries. They said they plan to continue dialogue to seek mutually acceptable solutions, saying significant differences remain. The Philippines and China have been at odds over the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. The shoal is effectively controlled by Manila and claimed by Beijing. Last month, Philippine military and China Coast Guard ships collided in the area. Chinese personnel boarded the Philippine vessels and took firearms and other items. It was the first time that Chinese authorities conducted such a maritime inspection. #Asia,#China⁣ Read Full Article HERE @NHKworld

Taiwan fishing boat detained by China's coast guard China's coast guard has detained a Taiwanese fishing boat off the coast of southern China. Taiwan's maritime authorities are demanding Beijing immediately release the crew. Taiwan's coast guard officials said the vessel was stopped for a maritime inspection by two Chinese government ships in the waters off Fujian Province on Tuesday night. Taiwan dispatched two patrol vessels to rescue the boat, but they were blocked by a larger number of China Coast Guard ships. The fishing boat was taken to a port in Fujian. Taiwanese officials said the boat was inspected close to the Kinmen Islands, which Taiwan effectively controls. The fishing boat reportedly had six crew members, including migrant workers, onboard and was catching squid. But Chinese authorities are currently suspending squid fishing. Taiwan's coast guard is calling on Beijing to refrain from undermining cross-strait ties through political manipulation. In February, a Chinese fishing boat capsized near the Kinmen Islands while being pursued by Taiwan's maritime authorities for suspected illegal fishing. The incident prompted the China Coast Guard to step up its patrol activities around the area on a regular basis. #Asia,#Taiwan,#China⁣ Read Full Article HERE @NHKworld

Trump seeks to overturn guilty verdict in hush money case Lawyers for former US President Donald Trump have responded to a Supreme Court decision by saying that they will file a motion to challenge the verdict in his hush money trial. On Tuesday, the judge on the case agreed to the request and has postponed sentencing. In May, a jury in New York found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a payment made to an adult film star over an affair. Judge Juan Merchan was scheduled to announce the sentence on July 11. However, the Supreme Court on Monday gave Trump what he called a "big win" against accusations he was involved in efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election, including the riot on the Capitol. The justices said presidents should have "absolute immunity" for official acts and sent that case back to a lower court. Judge Merchan said he will delay sentencing on the hush money trial until at least September so he can weigh the impact of the ruling. Still, overturning the verdict may prove difficult because much of the conduct related to the case happened before Trump took office. #World,#US⁣ Read Full Article HERE @NHKworld

Putin, Xi to meet in Kazakhstan, Russia's presidential office says Russia's presidential office says President Vladimir Putin will meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Kazakhstan on Wednesday. Presidential aide Yury Ushakov announced on Tuesday that the two leaders will meet on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization being held in the Central Asian country. It is believed that Russia hopes to reconfirm its cooperation with China amid the ongoing conflict with Europe and the United States over the situation in Ukraine. The planned meeting between Putin and Xi will follow their talks in May, where they agreed to further strengthen their economic ties and expand the scale of joint military drills. Last month, Putin visited North Korea and met with its leader Kim Jong Un. They signed a new treaty that specifies military support between the two countries in the event of an emergency. Observers are waiting to see what kind of explanations Russia will provide to China, which has long been Pyongyang's main backer. Observers are also watching what kind of discussions member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will have on their stance counter to the framework led by Europe and the US. #World,#China,#Russia⁣ Read Full Article HERE @NHKworld

Death toll from stampede in India religious event rises to 116 Police in India say the death toll from a stampede at a Hindu religious event in northern India has risen to 116. The stampede occurred on Tuesday in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Police say 18 people are being treated at hospitals. Local media outlets reported that about 10,000 people had gathered at an outdoor venue to hear a speech by a religious leader. The report said the accident happened when crowds of people were heading toward the exit. Similar accidents involving large crowds at religious gatherings have occurred frequently in India. In 2013, more than 100 pilgrims died in a crush on a bridge while heading for a temple in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. #Asia,#India,#Crime_Accidents⁣ Read Full Article HERE @NHKworld

Over 50 killed in stampede at religious gathering in India More than 50 people have reportedly been killed in a stampede at a Hindu religious event in northern India. Major Indian media outlets reported that the stampede occurred on Tuesday in the state of Uttar Pradesh. They said more than 10,000 people had gathered at an outdoor venue to hear the speech by a religious leader. British public broadcaster BBC cited local authorities as saying that the accident happened as people were heading toward the exit. #Asia,#Crime_Accidents,#India⁣ Read Full Article HERE @NHKworld

NHK WORLD-JAPAN News Line NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN - English News at 23:00 (JST), July 02 #Podcast #News_line⁣ @NHKworld

More than 40% of temporary house sites in Noto at risk of mudslides, floods NHK has learned that more than 40 percent of temporary housing sites for people affected by a massive quake that hit the Noto Peninsula and nearby areas on New Year's Day are at risk of mudslides and floods. NHK last month asked nine municipalities in the Noto region about the risk of rain-triggered disasters at temporary housing. The rainy season began in the area on June 22. The survey found that of 159 sites for temporary houses, including planned locations, 42 percent are in areas at danger from floods and mudslides. Of them, 48 locations face the risk of flooding and 29 are in danger of mudslides. Some of them are at risk of both flooding and mudslides. Reasons given by the municipalities for choosing those hazardous areas include difficulty in securing land, convenience in living and strong wishes from the evacuees. Asked about measures to protect evacuees from possible disasters, many municipalities said they distribute hazard maps. Some also say they give residents information on evacuation sites and routes before they move in. Others say they cooperate with local community associations to check the safety of residents in case of disasters. #Japan,#Disasters,#Earthquake,#Noto_earthquake⁣ Read Full Article HERE @NHKworld

Australia doubles visa fee for international students The Australian government has more than doubled the fee for international student visas, in its latest move to control the rapid rise of migration. The price hike took effect on Monday. The fee has increased from 710 Australian dollars to 1,600 dollars or a little over 1,000 US dollars. Local media say it is among the highest fee in the world, compared to 490 pounds or about 620 US dollars in the UK and 185 dollars in the US. Australia has seen a surge in the number of migrants, including foreign students. In the year to June 2023, its population grew a record 510,000, most of whom were migrants. This has caused serious housing shortages. The fee increase is part of the government's migration reforms. In a statement, Minister for Home Affairs Clare O'Neil said these changes will help restore integrity to the country's education system, and create a migration system which is fairer, smaller and better able to deliver for Australia. #World,#Education⁣ Read Full Article HERE @NHKworld