April 2, Friday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1. The Japanese government has announced that Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide will hold a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington on April 16. Suga will be the first foreign leader to meet in person with the new president.
2. A U.S. State Department spokesperson has condemned the latest convictions of seven democracy advocates in Hong Kong, saying they erode freedoms there. Ned Price spoke to reporters on Thursday after a Hong Kong court found seven people guilty of unauthorized assembly charges involving anti-government protests in August 2019. They have been involved in the pro-democracy movement for many years.
3. Media in Myanmar say Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged with breaking the country’s official secrets law. It was the fifth charge filed against her since she was detained during the February 1 coup. Media reports on Thursday quoted her lawyer. The other four charges include illegally importing handheld radios and using them without permission.