June 30, Wednesday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1. Coronavirus variants with the L452R mutation that were first detected in India are spreading at a fast pace n Tokyo. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Wednesday confirmed 55 new cases of variants with the mutation. The daily figure is the second largest for infections by such variants and brings the total number of such cases in Japan’s capital to 349. 2. Recent figures show an alarming increase in suicides among women in Japan. This May, 603 women took their own lives, up 21% from the same month last year. The year-on-year figure has now risen for 12 consecutive months, a troubling trend that reflects the economic despair wrought by the coronavirus pandemic.
3. A human rights group in Myanmar says over 5,000 citizens are in detention as the military continues to suppress protests against the coup that toppled a civilian government. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners says 6,421 people had been arrested as of Tuesday, and 5,224 of them are still in detention.