July 14, Friday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Sara Macdonald and Ms. Mariko Kojima

1. Chinese authorities say Noble Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo has died.
2. Japan and Kuwait have agreed on the importance of getting Qatar and other Arab nations to hold direct talks soon and resolve their diplomatic dispute.
3. The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee William Hagerty as the new U.S. ambassador to Japan.