March 19, Friday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline read by Ms. Yamamoto Miki

1. Talks between top diplomats from the United States and China have got off to a rocky start with both sides strongly criticizing each other.
2. Russian President Vladimir Putin has hit back after U.S. President Joe Biden indicated earlier this week that he regards the Russian leader as a killer.
3. The Japanese government may consider using a newly-instituted anti-coronavirus framework if it detects signs of a resurgence in infections after the ending of the state of emergence on Sunday.