May 18, Thursday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Yuka Matsumoto and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

1. The U.S. Justice Department has appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the investigation of possible investigation between President Donald Turmp’s election campaign team and Russia.
2. Japan has lodged a protest with South Kroea about the operation of a South Korean research ship inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone without consent.
3. Japan’s government officials say the economy has expanded for the 5th straight quarter.