July 13, Thursday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Yuka Matsumoto and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

1. Qatar and 4 other key Arab nations remain apart despite stepped up efforts by the United States to mediate a month-long rift between them.
2. The U.S. government is seeking talks aiming at renegotiations of its free trade agreement with South Korea.
3. Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been found guilty of taking bribes and sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison.