International News
Japanese Court Acquits Longest-Serving Death Row Prisoner
The world’s longest-serving death row prisoner was acquitted on Thursday, more than half a century after his murder conviction when a Japanese court ruled that evidence had been fabricated.
Ailing health prevented 88-year-old former boxer Iwao Hakamada from being in court to learn the outcome of his retrial, which was granted a decade ago after a long campaign by supporters.
But his 91-year-old sister Hideko, who often speaks for him, bowed deeply to the judge who declared Hakamada innocent.
“Everyone — we won the acquittal, it’s all thanks to your support,” she said outside the Shizuoka District Court, close to tears with her voice cracking.
Hakamada spent 46 years on death row after being convicted in 1968 of robbing and killing his boss, the man’s wife and their two teenage children.
“Investigators tampered with clothes by getting blood on them” which they then hid in a tank of miso, or fermented soybean paste, said Thursday’s ruling.
It slammed the use of “inhumane interrogations meant to force a statement… by imposing mental and physical pain”.
“The prosecution’s records were obtained by effectively infringing on the defendant’s right to remain silent, under circumstances extremely likely to elicit a false confession,” the ruling said.
Hundreds of people queued in the morning to try to secure a seat for the verdict in a murder saga that has gripped the nation and sparked scrutiny of Japan’s justice system.
Hideko told a post-trial news conference that the not guilty verdict had “sounded divine”.
She wore a white jacket and, asked before the verdict if it symbolised her brother’s innocence, said she had deliberately avoided dark colours.
‘A bout every day’
Japan is the only major industrialised democracy other than the United States to retain capital punishment, a policy that has broad public support.
Hakamada is the fifth death row inmate granted a retrial in Japan’s post-war history. All four previous cases also resulted in exonerations.
His lead lawyer Hideyo Ogawa said Hakamada sometimes seems like he “lives in a world of fantasy” after decades of detention, mostly in solitary confinement.
Describing his battle to obtain an acquittal to AFP in 2018, Hakamada said he felt he was “fighting a bout every day”.
“Once you think you can’t win, there is no path to victory,” he said.
Hakamada appeared not to be immediately aware of the decision, after Japanese media reported that supporters had removed the batteries from his TV remote control on Thursday.
Hideko had told reporters she wanted to tell him the news soon after the verdict, but at the right moment.
He was filmed shortly after the decision leaving home to go for a walk, dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and a green hat.
‘Hostage justice’
Hakamada initially denied having robbed and murdered the victims in 1966 but then confessed following what he later described as a brutal police interrogation that included beatings.
Ogawa said after the verdict that 58 years had been “too long” to settle the case but “the fact that the judge found falsification on three major issues was also a very significant milestone”.
The Supreme Court upheld Hakamada’s death sentence in 1980 but his supporters kept up the fight to reopen the case.
A retrial was granted in 2014 and Hakamada was released from prison, although legal wrangling meant the proceedings only began last year.
Supporter Atsushi Zukeran, wearing a T-shirt saying “Free Hakamada Now”, said outside the court that the case was “a painful reminder of how Japan’s criminal justice system must change”.
Given how long the affair dragged on, “part of me wouldn’t be able to celebrate the acquittal entirely”, Zukeran said.
Teppei Kasai, Asia programme officer for Human Rights Watch, told AFP Hakamada’s case was “just one of countless examples of Japan’s so-called ‘hostage justice’ system”.
Amnesty International said Hakamada had endured “almost half a century of wrongful imprisonment and a further 10 years waiting for his retrial”.
Boram Jang, the rights group’s East Asia researcher, said that meant the verdict was “an important recognition of the profound injustice he endured for most of his life”.
AFP
International News
Nottingham Forest Sacks 5th Manager In 10 Months, To Wrap Up Oliver Glasner’s Deal
Oliver Glasner is in advanced talks to replace Vitor Pereira as Nottingham Forest head coach, a move which would see the Austrian become the club’s fifth manager in less than a year.
Pereira announced his departure from the club in a statement on Wednesday, saying that it came as a “complete surprise to me and without any warning”.
Glasner is a free agent after leaving Crystal Palace — where he won the FA Cup in 2024-25 and then the Community Shield and Conference League the following campaign — and is set to stay in the Premier League.
The 51-year-old confirmed in January that he would leave Palace at the end of the season after two years in charge.
On Thursday, Forest confirmed Pereira’s coaching staff Filipe Almeida, Luis Miguel, Bruno Moura, Marco Knoop and Pedro Lopes had all left the club alongside the head coach.
Pereira, 57, was appointed Forest head coach in February on an 18-month contract which runs until 2027.
The Athletic reported in May Forest had been planning to show their faith in Pereira by handing the head coach a new long-term contract, but those talks were subsequently put on hold.
“Today marks the end of my journey as head coach of Nottingham Forest,” he said in his statement.
“I want to say a sincere thank you to everyone connected with this incredible football club. Although this decision came as a complete surprise to me and without any warning, I fully respect the club’s right to make the decisions it believes are best for its future.
“Naturally, I am disappointed and saddened. I truly believed in what we were building together, and I leave with a sense of pride in everything we achieved over the past months.
“Together, we enjoyed a memorable end to the season. We secured the club’s Premier League status, reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, and created moments that will stay with me forever. Most importantly, I saw a group of players grow in confidence, belief and togetherness.
“I leave Nottingham Forest with no bitterness or resentment—only respect, gratitude and wonderful memories. Football is full of unexpected moments, and while this chapter has ended sooner than I expected, I will always look back on my time here with pride and affection.”
The Portuguese succeeded Sean Dyche and was Forest’s fourth permanent boss of the season following the departures of Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou.
Nuno had led Forest to Europa League qualification the previous season but he departed in September, less than three months after signing a new deal. Postecoglou was appointed his replacement but was dismissed just 39 days later. Dyche took charge of the team in October before his dismissal in February.
Forest were three points above the relegation zone when Pereira was appointed and he subsequently steered his side to Premier League safety with two games of the campaign remaining.
His appointment marked his second managerial spell in the Premier League after guiding Wolverhampton Wanderers to safety during the 2024-25 campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo has publicly countered suggestions from his sister, Katia Aveiro, that he intends to retire from international football following the World Cup.
The Portuguese legend recently led his team to the round of 16 following a 2-1 victory over Croatia.
Ronaldo continued to be a pivotal player for his country, having scored the equalising goal from the penalty spot after going one goal down in the second half.
Following his goal, he became the oldest player to score in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup.
Reports from Portuguese media had quoted Aveiro stating that the current tournament would be Ronaldo’s final appearance for the national team.
Before the recent match against Croatia, Aveiro was quoted as saying, “From the information I have, from a reliable source, I believe that this is the last dance, so let’s enjoy it. I strongly believe this is the farewell.”
However, the football icon has made it clear that his focus remains solely on the present, not on his future.
“My future isn’t important right now,” Ronaldo stated. “I’ll have time; after winning or losing, I’ll talk to my family and then make the best decision.”
The legendary forward, who recently secured a trophy in Saudi Arabia, holds the record for both appearances and goals for his national team, with 146 goals in 232 caps.
The UEFA Appeals Body has announced that Czech club Karvina is banned from participating in next season’s Europa League. UEFA made the decision based on competition regulations, ruling that Karvina “directly or indirectly participated in activities aimed at manipulating or influencing the results of domestic matches,” as stated in the official resolution.
As a result of this decision, Karvina’s spot as domestic cup winner will be taken by Viktoria Plzeň, with Viktoria Plzeň’s second qualifying round spot going to Hradec Králové. Jablonec will fill the vacant Conference League spot originally held by Hradec Králové.
In the Europa League, Hradec Králové will face Tromsø. In the Conference League, Jablonec will face Varaždin.
Viktoria Plzeň will learn their opponent in the Europa League playoff draw on Monday, August 3.
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