March 3, Wednesday, 2021(1:30 p.m.) Newsline read by Ms. Yamamoto Miki

  1. The Japanese government plans to carefully consider until the last moment whether a coronavirus state of emergency can be lifted in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures. It believes the infection situation has not improved enough.
  2. The organizing committee of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games has added 12 more women to its board, pushing the ratio of female members to over 40 percent.
  3. The United States and the European Union have announced sanctions on top Russian officials over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his subsequent detention.

March 2, Tuesday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline read by Ms. Yamamoto Miki

  1. The United States is seeking “intense” U.N. Security Council discussions on the situation in Myanmar, as the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations grows more violent.
  2. China’s top official in charge of Hong Kong affairs strongly criticized three prominent pro-democracy activities in the territory by name in a speech he delivered last month. He said they should be severely punished.
  3. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to three years in prison, two of them suspended, for trying to bribe a judge.

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

  1. A senior public relations official for Japan’s Cabinet has resigned. Yamada Makiko was treated to an expensive dinner by a satellite broadcasting firm while she held a high post in the communications ministry. Yamada handed in her resignation as Cabinet Public Relations secretary, and the Cabinet approved it on Monday.
  2. Demonstrations are continuing across Myanmar one month after the coup on February 1, despite the use of force by authorities. Myanmar’s state-run and independent media report that at least 14 people were killed on Sunday, the largest single-day death toll since the coup.  At least 18 people have been killed in one month.
  3. Monday marks one year since the U.S. government and the Taliban signed an agreement to bring peace to Afghanistan.  But prospects for success remain unclear.