NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in July: Japan’s Shinkansen Supertrain

2 July 2025

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in July: Japan’s Shinkansen Supertrain

Rail Wonderland: Japan’s Shinkansen Supertrain

Railway Kingdom Japan: The Shinkansen’s Punctual Perfection July 5 Sat. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) The shinkansen: world-renowned for exceptional on-time performance. We explore the highly skilled drivers and equipment that make it possible, through history and into a future of self-driving trains.
Neo-Japonism J-POP: Vocaloid Goes Global July 6 Sun. 0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC) Japan’s Vocaloid culture is currently experiencing a boom in popularity worldwide. We examine why people are drawn to the voice synthesis technology and the artists that emerged from this culture.
EXPO 2025 Part One: Designing the Future July 25 Fri. 14:30/20:30/3:10/9:10 (UTC) Join us as we explore the distinctive works created by several of Japan’s most innovative architects at Osaka’s EXPO 2025 based on the central theme of designing for the future.
RAMEN JAPAN Sundays 5:10/11:10/17:10/22:10 (UTC) Ramen is a savory combination of umami-packed broth and perfectly cooked noodles. This program offers an encyclopedic view of this delectable dish, taking you on a journey across Japan to discover ever-evolving local variations. Join us as we explore a tapestry of local customs and food culture through the lens of ramen.
Trails to Oishii Tokyo Wednesdays 14:30/20:30/3:30/9:30 (UTC) Delicious food from Tokyo’s markets! Learn about the amazing ingredients which are sourced from across Japan and sold at Tokyo’s fresh food markets.

France Médias Monde’s institutional website is now available in English

27 June 2025

France Médias Monde’s institutional website is now available in English

In addition to its French-language version, France Médias Monde has launched an institutional website in English, showcasing the group in all its components and specificities.

The website presents the group’s organisation (governance, locations and global presence, financing, key figures, etc.) and its international public service missions (global information, promotion of the French language, broadcasting in 21 languages, culture and support for talent, education and young audiences, cooperation and training, etc.). It also highlights its CSR commitments.

A large part of France Médias Monde’s institutional website is dedicated to presenting the group’s three media outlets – RFI, France 24, and Monte Carlo Doualiya – as well as its pureplayer offerings, including ENTR and InfoMigrants. Each dedicated page provides information about their editorial programming, languages, modes of reception, audience figures, and the teams that make their success possible. France Médias Monde’s independence, the transparency of its organisation, as well as its ethical framework, are also at the heart of the new institutional website.

Designed to serve as a crossroads to France Médias Monde’s entire digital ecosystem, the new website is linked to the dedicated pages of all three media outlets within the group, as well as to its various other digital platforms (HR site, advertising sales, CFI, Académie France Médias Monde, RFI Instrumental, RFI Musique, public procurement platform, online pressroom, etc.).

In line with France Médias Monde’s commitment to digital sobriety, the institutional website was built with an eco-design approach. An eco mode offers a more restrained browsing experience, while the limited use of colours and the simplicity of functions and content help reduce screen energy consumption.

A SITE DESIGNED FOR ACCESSIBILITY

France Médias Monde is committed to making its corporate website accessible to persons with disabilities. The website has been designed from the beginning with inclusion in mind, to guarantee a fluid, accessible experience for every visitor (easy navigation through a simple arborescence, attention to web accessibility standards). Following an audit carried out last May, which led to a series of technical improvements, France Médias Monde’s corporate website achieved a 94% compliance rate with the criteria of the RGAA (French general guidelines for improving accessibility of websites).

[Source: FMM press release]

e& Egypt and MBC Group Shahid streaming partnership

16 June 2025

e& Egypt and MBC Group Shahid streaming partnership

e& Egypt and Shahid, the flagship streaming platform of MBC Group, have announced an exclusive strategic partnership to deliver Shahid’s content library to e& Egypt customers across the country. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in enriching Egypt’s digital entertainment landscape and strengthening both brands’ presence in the market.

The partnership reflects the shared vision of both companies to offer value-driven, digitally integrated entertainment solutions to a wide segment of Egyptian consumers. It also supports e& Egypt’s digital transformation journey and Shahid’s strategic presence in the Egyptian market.

Under this partnership, e& Egypt customers will enjoy all content on Shahid platform exclusively as part of their bundle with direct integration with various e& Egypt offerings such as Emerald, VDSL, Hekaya, Demagh Tanya, Akwa Coins, and e& Cash.

This collaboration reflects e& Egypt’s direction towards digital transformation, with a strong focus on providing real added value to customers through smart partnerships with leading regional and global brands. It also supports the company’s positioning as a fully integrated technology group offering telecom services alongside the best digital and entertainment provider in the region.

“Through this collaboration, we aim to empower our customers with access to premium Arabic content that aligns with their interests and aspirations, while offering exclusive benefits and a fully integrated entertainment experience,” Samer Mourad, Vice President of Consumer at e& Egypt, said.

He added: “At e& Egypt, we are committed to delivering innovative services that meet the demands of the digital era and reinforce our position as a leading provider of telecommunications and technology solutions in the Egyptian market.”

“We believe that offering real added value to customers through smart partnerships is the optimal way to strengthen our brand. We look forward to continuously developing our services and expanding our offerings to deliver an exceptional digital experience,” he emphasized.

“We’re excited about this strategic partnership which gives us a unique opportunity to reach e& Misr’s Egyptian customers with Shahid’s market-leading streaming entertainment. The Egyptian market remains a strategic area for us, and we look forward to expanding our presence through innovative integration in a wide range of complementary e& telecom and payment services”. Director of Partnerships at Shahid, Scott Weeman said.

It is worth noting that e& Egypt has been a pioneer in telecommunications and IT in Egypt since its establishment in 2006. The company has seen significant growth in the Egyptian market, providing a wide range of services to millions of customers. It remains committed to keeping pace with rapid technological advancements to meet the ever-growing needs of its customers.

Shahid is the first and leading SVOD and AVOD streaming platform in the Arab world by MBC GROUP, offering premium content to Arab families, including binge worthy exclusive Shahid Originals; Shahid Premieres; Arabic movies fresh off the box-office; live TV channels in true HD quality; as well as international offerings, sports, kids offering, Arabic Adaptations, Turkish titles, more than 40 FAST channels, as well as Shahid Shorts – an exclusive hub for trending reels and short videos.

[Source: MBC press release]

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in June: Niigata

2 June 2025

NHK WORLD-JAPAN programme focus in June: Niigata

Niigata: Trove of Golden Delights

EKIBEN JAPAN A Bento Shaped by Layers of Tradition June 8 Sun. 5:10/11:10/17:10/22:10 (UTC) In Nagaoka, there’s an ekiben shaped by layers of tradition, featuring chicken meatballs with local chili, 100-year-old abura-age, thrice-pickled eggplants in miso and more, each with their own story.
CYCLE AROUND JAPAN Sado – Island of Hidden Treasures June 14 Sat. 2:10/10:10/15:10/21:10 (UTC) Historically Japan was famous for gold, much of it mined on Sado. The prosperity this created left the island with unique cultural traditions like its strong Noh theater. We meet an actor teaching a new generation of Noh performers, cycle Sado’s beautiful coastline and spectacular mountains, paddle hangiri shallow-water fishing boats, visit a sake brewery built in an old school, and meet the man who rescued the Japanese crested ibis from extinction to Sado’s current population of 500 birds.
EXPO 2025 Special Edition: Do the Oceans Hold the Key? June 8 Sun. 1:10/7:10/13:10/19:10 (UTC) The World Expo 2025 is underway in Osaka, Japan. Bobby Judo and Professor Oki Taikan, a hydrologist visit pavilions focusing on climate change to find out how the ocean can help us combat this urgent global issue.

US District Court Orders USAGM to Release RFE/RL Funding for May

30 May 2025

US District Court Orders USAGM to Release RFE/RL Funding for May

Today, Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)’s third request for a temporary restraining order in its lawsuit against the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).

In his ruling, the judge ordered USAGM to immediately disburse RFE/RL’s congressionally appropriated funds for the month of May. The judge rejected USAGM’s argument that the agency is not obligated to release the funds because other donors reportedly intend to provide financial support to RFE/RL to prevent its imminent collapse.

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said:

“The will of Congress is clear and now the court, yet again, agrees: RFE/RL is to receive its appropriated funds for May, now a full month past due, to continue operating in alignment with America’s vital national security and foreign policy objectives.

Our dedicated journalists are needlessly paying a steep price because of USAGM’s refusal to release our funds in a timely manner.”

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About RFE/RL

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a private, independent international news organization whose programs — radio, Internet, television, and mobile — reach a weekly audience of nearly 50 million people in 23 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the republics of Central Asia and the Caucasus. It is funded by the U.S. Congress through USAGM. 

[Source: RFE/RL press release]