March 5, Sunday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Hirokazu Sakamaki and Ms. Keiko Kitagawa

1. China has lowered its economic growth target to about 6.5 percent for 2017 from last year’s range of 6.5 to 7 percent.
2. Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry is expelling North Korean ambassador Kang Chol over the killing of Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of the North’s leader Kim Jong Un.
3. Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are flying to Thailand on Sunday to pay tribute to the late Thai king.