December 9, Thursday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has jolted the Tokara island chain in southwestern Japan. Officials say there is no risk of a tsunami. The area has seen dozens of quakes in only the past week, but this is the largest so far.
2. Both Britain and Canada have announced that they won’t be sending government officials to the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, starting in less than two months.
3. US President Joe Biden is preparing to host the first Summit for Democracy. He has invited leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector for online talks on Thursday and Friday. Hsiao Bi-khim of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States said Taiwan has the right to be represented internationally. And she said Taiwan is an inspiration to all the people in places where they can’t access basic human rights.