July 13, Thursday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Yuka Matsumoto and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

1. Qatar and 4 other key Arab nations remain apart despite stepped up efforts by the United States to mediate a month-long rift between them.
2. The U.S. government is seeking talks aiming at renegotiations of its free trade agreement with South Korea.
3. Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been found guilty of taking bribes and sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison.

July 12, Wednesday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Mariko Kojima and Mr. Mick Corliss

1. The United States has said it successfully carried out an intercept test of its advanced ballistic missile defense system.
2. Senior defense officials from Japan, the United States and South Korea say North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs pose a serious threat to peace and security not only in northeast Asia but other regions beyond.
3. Japanese cyber security experts say malware that wreaked havoc on computer systems around the world in May, is spreading again in a modified form.