March 21, Thursday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Yuka Matsumoto and Ms. Hiroko Kitadai

  1. U.S. President Donald Trump says the U.S. may keep tariffs on Chinese good for a substantial period until it confirms that Beijing complies with any trade agreement.
  2. British Prime Minister Theresa May has asked the European Union to delay her country’s departure from the bloc until June 30.
  3. A group of advocates for the abolition of nuclear weapons has delivered to Pope Francis a flame kept alight since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

March 20, Wednesday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Mr. Michael Reese and Ms. Mariko Kojima

  1. Government officials of South Korea say the U.S. intelligence chief is visiting the country to discuss the denuclearization of North Korea.
  2. American media have reported that the U.S. and China will return to the table next week for ministerial-level talks in Beijing aimed at reaching a trade deal.
  3. A Japanese space research team says it has confirmed the presence of water on the asteroid Ryugu, where the Hayabusa 2 probe is operating.

March 19, Tuesday, 2019 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Hiroko Kitadai and Ms. Fumiko Konoe

  1. Japan’s government has approved revision to its child abuse prevention law following a series of high-profile abuse cases in which victims have died.
  2. The president of the Japanese Olympic Committee is expected to announce his intention to resign at a JOC board meeting.
  3. The British government is still without parliamentary approval on a Brexit deal after the Speaker of the House of Commons blocked a third vote on the prime minister’s plan.