Cardiff to host service to mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day
Huw Irranca-Davies, the Deputy First Minister of Wales, said: "Today we honour the Welsh veterans and all those who served in Asia Pacific during the Second World War.
"On this 80th anniversary, we remember not only their service, but also the importance of reconciliation.
"We must ensure their stories and sacrifices are never forgotten, so that future generations can understand the true cost of war and the value of peace."
Mr Irranca-Davies will lay a wreath alongside MP Dame Nia Griffiths and Mr Masaki Ikegami, Deputy Ambassador for the Japanese Embassy in the UK.
He will also host a private reception at the Temple of Peace, where families of VJ veterans will gather to remember their loved ones.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Donald Trump's 'condescending gesture' to Vladimir Putin to gain power advantage
An expert has said the US President veered from his usual plan of action to deliver a 'condescending' early blow to Vladimir Putin, despite a seemingly warm greeting in Alaska Donald Trump made a "condescending gesture" towards Vladimir Putin after the two world leaders met for their crunch summit this evening, an expert has said. Mr Trump, 79, and Russian despot Putin, 72, greeted one another warmly just metres from their respective aircraft today in Anchorage, Alaska, in a red carpet embrace ahead of key talks. They smiled at one another before Putin was ushered into "The Beast", Mr Trump's Presidential limousine, the inside of which non-US officials are not typically allowed to see, with US jets flying overhead in celebration. While the meeting appeared to begin with an all-too warm reception for the Russian premier, who has presided over a brutal invasion of Ukraine and killed tens of thousands, a body language expert has said Mr Trump was "condescending" towards Putin. Body language analyst Darren Stanton told the Mirror Mr Trump appeared to shy away from his usual "bone-crusher handshake", replacing it with a "hand tap". Mr Stanton said the move was a "condescending gesture" despite what appeared to be an otherwise warm greeting. He said: "When they shook hands as they initially met, although Trump didn't do his trademark bone-crusher handshake - where he pulls the other politician towards him - he did tap his hand, and that was also a power gesture." Mr Stanton added that Mr Trump has rolled out the gentler handshake in the past, "some years ago" notably during a meeting with assassinated Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He added it was "kind of a condescending gesture", explaining it is "as if to say, good boy". The expert added that the gesture gave Mr Trump the upper hand immediately out of the gate of negotations. Explaining the meet in football terms, he said the US President seemed "the stronger personality". "So principally, both men have got mutual respect and are genuinely happy to be engaging in these talks.' Russian news outlets appear to have been happiest about Mr Putin's warm reception, with one anchor from state-aligned RIA Novosti saying Mr Trump appeared "extremely friendly towards Putin". It was also quick to point out what it called a "historic handshake" between the two leaders, and the outlet is reporting that the Trump administration has already offered Russia concessions. It ran comment from foreign minister Sergei Lavrov this evening, with the official telling an interviewer that some sanctions placed on the country would "definitely be lifted". He said: "They will definitely be lifted for some, that's for sure."
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Pope Leo XIV prays for peace as US-Russia summit over Ukraine war gets under way
History's first American pope did not mention the meeting on Friday in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But he has constantly called for dialogue and an end to the conflict, including in conversations with Mr Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. On Friday Leo recalled that the August 15 feast day dedicated to the Virgin Mary was declared a dogma by Pope Pius XII at the height of the Second World War. 'He (Pius) hoped that human lives would never again be destroyed by wars,' Leo said. 'How relevant are these words today? Unfortunately, even today, we feel powerless in the face of the spread of increasingly deafening violence, insensitive to any movement of humanity.' The pope prayed for hope for a peaceful future. 'We must not resign ourselves to the prevalence of the logic of armed conflict,' he said. Leo was not the only religious leader offering prayers for peace. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, prayed for a successful outcome of the US-Russia summit during a visit to the Turkish island of Gokceada, home to an ethnic Greek community and his birthplace. 'Enlighten the leaders who will meet tomorrow in Alaska, that they may bring peace to the world, end these murderous wars, stop the shedding of blood, let reason prevail, and let justice and mutual respect reign throughout the world,' he said on Thursday. 'There is room here for everyone. We need not kill one another to make space.' The 85-year-old was visiting the island for the August 15 celebration of the Virgin Mary, which is also an important date in the Orthodox Christian calendar. Leo spoke from the main piazza of Castel Gandolfo, the hill town south of Rome that is home to a papal estate and gardens. He has spent a chunk of the summer at the estate, extending now for the second time his holiday to take advantage of the quiet and relatively cooler calm of the property overlooking Lake Alban. It was here that Leo met with Mr Zelensky for the second time on July 9. Leo had spoken by telephone with Mr Putin on June 4 and, according to the Vatican, 'urged Russia to make a gesture that would promote peace, emphasising the importance of dialogue for establishing positive contacts between the parties and seeking solutions to the conflict'. Upon arrival in Castel Gandolfo earlier this week, Leo told reporters that he hoped the Trump-Putin summit would produce at least a ceasefire, saying the war had gone on for too long with too many dead, and no end in sight. Leo, who marks his 100th day as pope on Saturday, will spend the long weekend here, breaking on Sunday to have lunch with the poor people of the Albano diocese. He is scheduled to return to the Vatican on Tuesday, closing out a six-week holiday period punctuated by spells back at the Vatican, most significantly to preside over the one million-strong Holy Year celebration for young people earlier this month.
South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Pope Leo XIV prays for peace as US-Russia summit over Ukraine war gets under way
History's first American pope did not mention the meeting on Friday in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But he has constantly called for dialogue and an end to the conflict, including in conversations with Mr Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. On Friday Leo recalled that the August 15 feast day dedicated to the Virgin Mary was declared a dogma by Pope Pius XII at the height of the Second World War. 'He (Pius) hoped that human lives would never again be destroyed by wars,' Leo said. 'How relevant are these words today? Unfortunately, even today, we feel powerless in the face of the spread of increasingly deafening violence, insensitive to any movement of humanity.' The pope prayed for hope for a peaceful future. 'We must not resign ourselves to the prevalence of the logic of armed conflict,' he said. Leo was not the only religious leader offering prayers for peace. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, prayed for a successful outcome of the US-Russia summit during a visit to the Turkish island of Gokceada, home to an ethnic Greek community and his birthplace. 'Enlighten the leaders who will meet tomorrow in Alaska, that they may bring peace to the world, end these murderous wars, stop the shedding of blood, let reason prevail, and let justice and mutual respect reign throughout the world,' he said on Thursday. 'There is room here for everyone. We need not kill one another to make space.' The 85-year-old was visiting the island for the August 15 celebration of the Virgin Mary, which is also an important date in the Orthodox Christian calendar. Leo spoke from the main piazza of Castel Gandolfo, the hill town south of Rome that is home to a papal estate and gardens. He has spent a chunk of the summer at the estate, extending now for the second time his holiday to take advantage of the quiet and relatively cooler calm of the property overlooking Lake Alban. It was here that Leo met with Mr Zelensky for the second time on July 9. Leo had spoken by telephone with Mr Putin on June 4 and, according to the Vatican, 'urged Russia to make a gesture that would promote peace, emphasising the importance of dialogue for establishing positive contacts between the parties and seeking solutions to the conflict'. Upon arrival in Castel Gandolfo earlier this week, Leo told reporters that he hoped the Trump-Putin summit would produce at least a ceasefire, saying the war had gone on for too long with too many dead, and no end in sight. Leo, who marks his 100th day as pope on Saturday, will spend the long weekend here, breaking on Sunday to have lunch with the poor people of the Albano diocese. He is scheduled to return to the Vatican on Tuesday, closing out a six-week holiday period punctuated by spells back at the Vatican, most significantly to preside over the one million-strong Holy Year celebration for young people earlier this month.
