Kyodo News Digest: March 8, 2025
Photo taken on March 7, 2025, shows an exhibition at Signature Pavilion “null2” — produced by Japanese media artist Yoichi Ochiai — at the 2025 World Exhibition in Osaka, western Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
———-
U.N. treaty members reaffirm no nuke policy, to reconvene in 2026
NEW YORK – The states parties of a U.N. nuclear weapons ban treaty on Friday adopted a declaration affirming the existential threat nuclear weapons pose to humanity and pursuing the eradication of such weapons.
The members also agreed to hold in late 2026 their first conference aimed at reviewing the implementation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which took effect in 2021.
———-
Vatican sends letter to Japanese man acquitted of 1966 murders
SHIZUOKA, Japan – The Vatican has sent a letter to a Japanese man acquitted of a 1966 quadruple murder in a retrial, expressing the pope’s joy over the freedom of Iwao Hakamata who spent more than four decades on death row.
“His Holiness Pope Francis was pleased to be informed about your acquittal,” according to the letter written on behalf of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Hakamata, 88, was baptized as a Catholic in 1984 while in detention and attended a Mass held by the pontiff at Tokyo Dome in 2019.
———-
Closer economic ties a priority in diplomacy with U.S.: Japan survey
TOKYO – People in Japan believe closer economic ties should be a top priority in diplomacy with the United States, according to a government poll released Friday.
In the survey conducted last month, 52.1 percent of respondents picked “Economy, trade and finance” as an area in which Japan-U.S. relations should be strengthened, followed by “Security, counter terrorism, nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation” with 49.7 percent, on a question allowing multiple answers.
———-
Dollar briefly sinks to 5-month low in 146 yen range in New York
NEW YORK – The U.S. dollar briefly fell to a five-month low in the 146 yen range on Friday in New York as economic data led investors to seek the Japanese currency on expectations that interest rate gaps between the countries may narrow.
The dollar faced selling after the nonfarm payroll and jobless data released earlier in the day indicated weaker-than-expected conditions surrounding the U.S. labor market in February and sent long-term yields lower.
———-
Japanese university unveils AI program for medical student training
NAGASAKI – Nagasaki University in southwestern Japan and a local systems development company have unveiled an artificial intelligence program that lets medical students practice interviews with virtual patients on a screen.
The development comes as regional universities struggle to secure simulated patients, who require training to accurately reproduce symptoms of real cases, the university said, amid population declines in many of Japan’s local areas.
———-
Kurdish football team apologizes to J-League club over flag incident
SAITAMA, Japan – A Kurdish amateur football club in Japan has apologized to J-League first division team Urawa Reds for raising their team flag during a recent match, an incident that led them to leave the stadium in protest.
Metin Arslanbogan, coach of FC Kurd, acknowledged in a meeting with Urawa Reds that club members were not aware of the J-League side’s rule that required prior permission to raise a flag. But he also noted that the incident has fueled hate speech toward them.
———-
Football: Minamino nets for Monaco in 1-1 draw with Toulouse
LONDON – Takumi Minamino gave Monaco the lead before a late equalizer saw them draw 1-1 away to Toulouse in French Ligue 1 football on Friday.
Minamino tapped home the opener in the 17th minute at Stadium de Toulouse after the visitors forced a turnover and Danish forward Mika Biereth found the Japan international directly in front of goal.
———-
Hawaii lawmakers urging measures to cope with increasing homelessness
LOS ANGELES – State and local lawmakers in Hawaii have urged measures to better cope with an increasing number of homeless people in the Pacific state popular among tourists from East Asia, Europe and the U.S. mainland.
They have been worried that those without fixed residences who enter the state are using resources needed by locals, and the crunch could worsen if Los Angeles displaces homeless people in the lead-up to hosting the 2028 Olympics, resulting in many arriving in Hawaii.
Video: Israeli attacks continue in West Bank
