Thousands gathered in Nagasaki on Saturday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the city’s atomic bombing, with Mayor Shiro Suzuki warning that ongoing global conflicts risk bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.
On 9 August 1945, the western Japanese city was devastated when the United States dropped a 10,000-pound plutonium-239 bomb, known as “Fat Man”, killing an estimated 27,000 people instantly from a population of about 200,000. By the end of that year, the death toll from acute radiation exposure had risen to around 70,000. The bombing occurred three days after a uranium-235 bomb destroyed Hiroshima, prompting Japan’s surrender on 15 August and the end of World War Two.
At 11:02 a.m., the moment of the blast, participants observed a minute of silence before Suzuki urged world leaders to return to the principles of the United Nations Charter and take tangible steps to abolish nuclear weapons, stressing that further delay was “no longer permissible”. Calling the situation “a crisis of human survival”, he recounted a survivor’s account of horrific injuries and deaths, and appealed for a “global citizen” approach based on mutual understanding and solidarity.
Nagasaki was reportedly chosen by the U.S. military for its strategic importance as an industrial and port hub, with its hilly terrain believed to magnify the destructive force of the explosion.
The ceremony at Nagasaki Peace Memorial Park was attended by representatives from 95 countries and territories, including the United States, Israel, and Russia, the latter holding the world’s largest nuclear arsenal.
Speaking to Reuters, 14-year-old visitor Daiji Kawanaka from Osaka echoed the mayor’s call, saying the anniversary sparked peace discussions even among young people, and that it was important to take personal initiative toward peace.
Japan’s leading A-bomb survivors’ organisation, Nihon Hidankyo- awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for its anti-nuclear campaign continues to highlight the long-term suffering of survivors, or hibakusha, from radiation exposure and discrimination. With the number of survivors now below 100,000, their testimonies remain central to efforts advocating for a nuclear-free world.
Japan maintains its commitment to nuclear disarmament but is not a signatory or observer of the U.N. treaty banning nuclear weapons.
Israel has fired into Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump says talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place "today". He wrote o...
A second U.S.-sanctioned supertanker has entered the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, shipping data showed, despi...
Optimism grew on Thursday that the war in the Middle East may be near an end, with a key Pakistani me...
The U.S. and Iran could resume peace talks over the next couple of days, U.S. President Donald Trump has said. Talks between Israel and Lebanon wer...
Kazakhstan and Türkiye are intensifying efforts to expand economic cooperation, setting a target to increase bilateral trade to $15 billi...
A second U.S.-sanctioned supertanker has entered the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, shipping data showed, despite a U.S. blockade on vessels visiting Iranian ports.
Optimism grew on Thursday that the war in the Middle East may be near an end, with a key Pakistani mediator in Tehran and the administration of President Donald Trump talking up hopes for a deal that would open the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. and Iran could resume peace talks over the next couple of days, U.S. President Donald Trump has said. Talks between Israel and Lebanon were held in Washington yesterday. Fuel prices have dropped below $100 a barrel. U.S. blockade on Iranian ports completes first day.
Kazakhstan and Türkiye are intensifying efforts to expand economic cooperation, setting a target to increase bilateral trade to $15 billion as both countries build on steady growth and broaden investment ties.
A preliminary round of Lebanon-Israel talks has concluded in Washington, marking a tentative diplomatic step as regional tensions rise. The development comes as the United States launches a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Greenland’s prime minister has appointed his predecessor to oversee foreign affairs, as pressure from Washington intensifies over the Arctic island’s future.
Spain’s plan to grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants is facing early resistance, with immigration officers warning they may strike over a lack of preparation and resources.
The U.S. and Iran could resume peace talks over the next couple of days, U.S. President Donald Trump has said. Talks between Israel and Lebanon were held in Washington yesterday. Fuel prices have dropped below $100 a barrel. U.S. blockade on Iranian ports completes first day.
Dubai’s most iconic hotel, the Burj Al Arab, is set to close for the first time since opening in 1999 as it begins an extensive 18-month refurbishment aimed at preserving its status as a global symbol of luxury.
Relations between China and Russia are gaining fresh momentum, with recent developments highlighting closer military and diplomatic cooperation.
France is set to vote on a controversial law targeting what it calls “new forms” of antisemitism, sparking sharp divisions and raising concerns over free speech, criticism of Israel and the protection of Jewish communities.
Hungary’s election winner, Péter Magyar, said on Wednesday his cabinet could be sworn in by mid-May, with Magyar taking office as prime minister, and pledged swift action to unlock billions in suspended European Union funding.
A former NATO chief and senior figure the UK's ruling Labour Party has launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing his government of failing to adequately fund defence.
Russia has signalled it is ready to increase energy supplies to China, underscoring deepening ties between the two powers ahead of an expected visit by President Vladimir Putin.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment