February 17, Thursday, 2022 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline read by Ms. Keiko Kitagawa

1.Japan’s Prime Minister has announced changes to coronavirus measures, as the spread of the Omicron variant appears to slow. The moves will impact businesses in parts of the country, and some of the rules at the Japanese border. Kishida Fumio says the country remains on a gradual path back to normal.
2.Heavy snow falling along the Sea of Japan coast is intensifying. Niigata Prefecture and the Hokuriku region are receiving much more snowfall than normal for this time of year.
3.Japan’s government plans to extend its declaration of a coronavirus quasi-emergency in 17 prefectures to early next month, while lifting it in five others after Sunday.