News Headlines - 19 February 2021

▽Ministry admits dinners involving Suga’s son had talk of business : The Asahi Shimbun

The telecommunications ministry backpedaled and admitted that satellite broadcasting was discussed at dinners involving ministry officials and employees of a visual media production company that included the eldest son of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga... the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun disclosed a taped conversation between the ministry officials and Suga’s eldest son, who works for the Tokyo-based satellite broadcast-related company, and other executives.
After that, Kuniaki Hara, director-general of the Minister’s Secretariat, said at a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Feb. 19 that the ministry asked two executives of the company, including Suga’s son, and they replied voices on the recording were theirs.

▽New Tokyo Games Chief Hashimoto to Leave LDP - JIJI PRESS

Seiko Hashimoto, new president of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee, offered on Friday to leave Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Hashimoto, 56, tendered a letter of resignation to the LDP leadership due to concerns that party membership may give rise to doubt about her compliance with the political neutrality called for in the Olympic Charter.
She will not relinquish her seat in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, however.

▽MI6 chief Richard Moore apologises for ‘unjust’ ban on LGBT staff | Evening Standard

Britain’s top spy today issued a landmark apology for the ban until 1991 on gay and lesbian people working for MI6.
Richard Moore, the new Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, said the employment restriction was “wrong, unjust and discriminatory”.
The spy boss, known as “C”, stressed that the policy had meant “loyal and patriotic people had their dreams of serving their country in MI6 shattered” because of a “misguided” view that LGBT individuals would be more susceptible to blackmail.

▽Myanmar protester shot in head dies, first fatality since coup began - The Straits Times

A 20-year-old student struck by a bullet last week in the Myanmar capital of Naypyitaw while protesting against the military coup has died, according to a friend of the family, marking the first casualty since nationwide demonstrations began.
Ms Mya Thwate Thwate Kaing was one of two people left in critical condition on Feb 9 after Myanmar's police fired gunshots, tear gas and water cannons to quell demonstrations throughout the country, leaving at least 20 protesters injured.

▽Yoshitaka Amano Illustration to be Displayed in Chiba - Siliconera

A special Yoshitaka Amano illustration will be displayed at the Tanjoji Temple in Chiba to commemorate the 800th anniversary celebration of Nichiren Shonin’s birth. Admission is entirely for free. However, this Yoshitaka Amano illustration will only be available to view for a limited time. Those who are interested and in the area can check out the illustration from February 16 to February 17, 2021.
However, a scanned version of the illustration was published online. You can take a look at the Yoshitaka Amano Nichiren Lotus Sutra illustration below.