TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan's 1st Nobel laureate in medicine Tonegawa dies at 86
WASHINGTON - Susumu Tonegawa, Japan's first recipient of the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has died, the university said Wednesday. He was 86.
Tonegawa, who died on Saturday, won the prize in 1987 for his discovery of the genetic principle for the generation of antibody diversity. He made "landmark discoveries about how the immune system generates antibody diversity and how the brain forms memories," according to the university.
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Japan's lower house passes ruling bloc-sponsored bill for 2nd capital
TOKYO - Japan's House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill submitted by the ruling parties to set up a "second capital" to serve as a backup for Tokyo's core functions in times of disasters or other emergencies and promote decentralization.
The Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and its junior coalition ally, the Japan Innovation Party, aim to enact the law during the current parliamentary session, which may be extended about a week beyond its end on Friday.
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System failure at major Japanese frozen food company disrupts supply chains
TOKYO - A system failure caused by unauthorized access to major Japanese frozen food maker Nichirei Corp. has begun disrupting supply chains, with some restaurants and retailers telling customers certain items are out of stock as of Wednesday.
"We are continuing our investigation," a Nichirei public relations official said, after the incident began affecting the company's frozen food shipments and inbound and outbound operations at refrigerated warehouses.
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World now views China more positively than U.S.: survey
WASHINGTON - More people in various regions of the world now hold a positive view of China than of the United States, survey results showed Wednesday.
Pew Research Center's study of public views about the United States and China, covering more than 30 countries, found that among the 20 countries polled annually since 2023, a median of 46 percent of adults held a favorable opinion of the Asian power, up from 38 percent in 2025.
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Nvidia's CEO says AI demand strong, investment far from bubble
TOKYO - Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang said Wednesday that investment in artificial intelligence is a long-term business strategy driven by robust demand, dismissing concerns that the spending race could turn the technology boom into a bust.
"We are a long way from AI bubble," the top executive of the U.S. AI chipmaker told reporters in Tokyo, adding that "the demand is incredibly strong."
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Hong Kong national security police arrest 5 over "seditious" book sales
HONG KONG - Hong Kong national security police arrested five people Wednesday in connection with two independent bookstores on suspicion of acts with seditious intent, heightening fears over the "unclear red lines" enforced on the city's freedom of publication.
The arrests of three women and two men, aged 30 to 59, were made after police raided the two shops -- Have A Nice Stay and Greenfield Book Store -- both located in the commercial district of Mong Kok, widely known for its prevalence of indie bookstores, according to local media reports.
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Chito Kosagawa wins Akutagawa literary prize, Kasumi Asakura claims Naoki
TOKYO - Chito Kosagawa won the prestigious Akutagawa literary award on Wednesday, while Kasumi Asakura claimed the companion Naoki Prize, organizers said.
The Akutagawa Prize is awarded for works by up-and-coming writers of literary fiction, while the Naoki Prize is given for popular fiction by emerging or mid-career authors.
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Baseball: Stanford slugger Rintaro Sasaki of Japan to join Marlins: source
NEW YORK - Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki of Japan intends to join the Miami Marlins after being picked in the eighth round of Major League Baseball's amateur draft over the weekend, a source familiar with his thinking said Wednesday.
The 21-year-old infielder was also the top pick of the Fukuoka-based SoftBank Hawks in the 2025 Nippon Professional Baseball draft. All eyes have been on his decision -- whether to join the MLB franchise, start his pro career in Japan, or remain at Stanford for another year of college ball.
