1. US President Joe Biden has pardoned 39 people convicted of non-violent crimes, and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 others. Biden announced on Thursday that he was granting pardons to the 39 who have shown successful rehabilitation, as well as 1,499 commutations. The White House says these actions represent the largest single-day grant of clemency in modern history.
2. A high court in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, has ruled that not allowing same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The Fukuoka High Court handed down the decision on Friday on lawsuits filed by three couples in Fukuoka and Kumamoto prefectures. The plaintiffs sued the state, claiming the ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Six similar lawsuits have been filed in five locations in Japan. The Fukuoka High Court became the third high court to rule that the ban is unconstitutional. It dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims for damages. 3. A closely watched survey on business sentiment in Japan shows an improvement among major manufacturers for the first time in two quarters. The Bank of Japan’s “Tankan” survey puts the index at plus 14. The reading released Friday was 1 point better than the previous poll. A positive number indicates that more companies are optimistic about recent business conditions than those feeling pessimistic. Much of the positive sentiment came from the auto sector, which is seeing a recovery in production.
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