February 17, Wednesday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline read by Ms. Yamamoto Miki

Sources say the Olympic organizing committee panel is likely to ask Minister for the Tokyo Games Hashimoto Seiko to replace Mori Yoshiro as the committee’s chief. Hashimoto is a seven-time Olympian. The panel of four men and four women had agreed on five qualities required of the new president. There is no word yet from Hashimoto on whether she’ll accept the request.
Health care workers are first in line to receive a coronavirus vaccine in Japan. About 40,000 workers will make up an initial group that will be vaccinated at 100 hospitals across the country. The inoculations have begun and are expected to start at all of the hospitals next week at the latest.
The former finance minister of Nigeria, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been appointed as head of the World Trade Organization.

INTRODUCTION