September 17, Friday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline read by Ms. Keiko Kitagawa

1.The race to lead Japan’s main governing Liberal Democratic Party has officially begun. The winner is virtually assured to be prime minister—and lead the party into this fall’s Lower House election. Four candidates have officially thrown their hats into the ring.
2.Japanese weather officials say severe tropical storm Chanthu is poised to make landfall in northern Kyushu on Friday evening or later. The storm is then likely to barrel east over the Shikoku and Kinki regions.
3.The European Union has released its first-ever strategy for the Indo-Pacific region, declaring that it will seek to deepen economic ties with Taiwan and enhance its naval presence in the region.