KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Japan's plan to discharge radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean poses unacceptable risks, according to an observer from the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA).

The release of contaminated water will severely impact various parts of the Pacific, including countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which depend on fisheries, both for domestic consumption and export, MCA International Communication and Diplomacy Bureau Deputy Chairman Neow Choo Seong said.

BUDAPEST, July 3. /TASS/: The Hungarian government is adamant that Ukraine’s NATO membership cannot be discussed as long as an armed conflict continues in the country, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said on Monday.

When asked at a joint press conference with his Slovak counterpart Miroslav Wlachovsky if Ukraine could receive a NATO invitation at the alliance’s Vilnius summit on July 11-12, Szijjarto said that "it is out of the question."

JAKARTA, Jul 3 (NNN-ANTARA) – A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s eastern province of Papua today, but did not trigger a tsunami, an official said.

The country’s meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency, had first released the quake at 6.2 magnitude, before revising it, according to Daryono, head of quake and tsunami mitigation division of the agency.

The earthquake happened at 09:51 a.m. Jakarta time (0251 GMT) today, with its epicentre at 79 km south-west of Keerom district, and a depth of 10 km, the official said.

03 July 2023; MEMO: Israel Police has received a request from the French police to help them deal with the protests that have swept the country since police shot and killed a 17-year-old French-Algerian boy at point blank range last week.

Deputy head of the Operations Division of the Israeli police, Shimon Nahmani, announced the request during a hearing of the National Security Committee in the Israeli Knesset.

Bengaluru, Jul 3 (PTI) Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been formed to reinvestigate the Bitcoin scam.

The Bitcoin scam had surfaced during the previous BJP regime in 2021 and the Congress, which was then in Opposition, had accused the government of trying to cover up the scandal as it involves big names.

July 3 (Reuters) - Russia has brought some 700,000 children from the conflict zones in Ukraine into Russian territory, Grigory Karasin, head of the international committee in the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, said late on Sunday.

"In recent years, 700,000 children have found refuge with us, fleeing the bombing and shelling from the conflict areas in Ukraine," Karasin wrote on his Telegram messaging channel.

ISLAMABAD, July 3 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday said that he held good meetings with Bangladesh President Shahabuddin in Makkah, Mina and Madina.

On his Twitter handle, the president posted twin pictures and informed that in white was his childhood friend Salman Rehman, who is now a Member of Parliament, Minister and Advisor in Bangladesh.

“We met after 60 years (yrs). Blessings of Allah will do wonders for our relationship,” he further added.

The president has been in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

Kathmandu Jul 2 (PTI) China is positive towards providing further development assistance to Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha said on Sunday.

Talking to reporters here, Shrestha said he held extensive discussions with the Chinese leaders focusing on strengthening bilateral relations, promoting trade, investment and economic development.

Shrestha said he found Chinese officials positive towards assisting Nepal in its development endeavours.

Satara, Jul 3 (PTI) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday rejected speculation that his nephew Ajit Pawar's rebellion has his blessings.

Addressing a press conference here, Sharad Pawar also said he has launched a statewide tour to strengthen the NCP and boost the confidence of party workers, unfazed by actions of a few leaders.

On Sunday, Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in the NCP to become the deputy chief minister. Eight other NCP leaders were also sworn in as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-BJP government.

New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) The next meeting of opposition parties will be held in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18, the Congress announced on Monday, and asserted their resolve to defeat the BJP has been strengthened by the "Mumbai operations" of the "BJP washing machine".

Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal made the announcement of Opposition meeting dates on Twitter and said "we are steadfast in our unwavering resolve to defeat the fascist and undemocratic forces".

New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) The government on Monday decided to call off the strategic disinvestment of Pawan Hans as the successful bidding consortium Star9 Mobility Pvt Ltd was disqualified in view of pending legal cases.

Pawan Hans is a 51:49 joint venture of the government and ONGC.

New York, Jul 3 (PTI) A 50-year-old Indian-origin attorney and a former candidate for the US House of Representatives has been arrested in the US for allegedly defrauding an India-based company of more than USD 5 million and using client funds for personal expenses, the Department of Justice said.