January 7, Friday, 2022 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1. A Japanese government senior official says nearly 1,800 cases of coronavirus
infections have been confirmed in US military installations in Japan. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Isozaki Yoshihiko said on Friday that the number of cases stood at 1,784 as of the previous day.
2. North Korea says it will not take part in the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics and
Paralympics, citing the worldwide spread of the coronavirus among other reasons.
3. A Japanese expert on central Asia says the ongoing massive protests in Kazakhstan are an indication of public dissatisfaction with former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who retains a degree of political clout in the country.