December 8, Wednesday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1. The United States has marked the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Relatives of those who died joined with veterans for a memorial ceremony at the scene in Hawaii. A moment of silence was observed at 7:55 a.m., the time the attack began on December 7, 1941. The Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the naval base and the arm’s multiple airfields. More than 2,400 Americans died. The attack prompted the US to immediately enter World War II.
2. Australia says it will not send a government delegation to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics. It’s the second country after the United States to announce a “diplomatic boycott” of the 2022 Games. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison cited China’s human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and other issues.
3. Japan’s top government spokesperson says the Kishida administration is trying to decide whether to sent officials to next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics by considering various points of view.