Nagasaki mayor issues chilling warning on 80th anniversary of atomic bombing
Approximately 2,600 people, including representatives from 90 countries, attended the memorial event on Saturday at Nagasaki Peace Park, according to the Associated Press. At 11:02 a.m., the exact time the bomb exploded over the city, the attendees held a moment of silence. Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki, whose parents survived the 1945 attack, addressed the crowd and called for global action against nuclear weapons.
"Conflicts around the world are intensifying in a vicious cycle of confrontation and fragmentation," Suzuki told a crowd on Saturday, according to a translation by The Mainichi. "If we continue on this trajectory, we will end up thrusting ourselves into a nuclear war. This existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth."
Mayors for Peace, which brings together mayors and city leaders from across the globe, is holding its 11th General Conference in Nagasaki this weekend as the city mourns the tragic day. The organization's aim is to abolish nuclear weapons, a point Suzuki emphasized in his remarks.
"In order to make Nagasaki the last atomic bombing site, it is essential to show a specific course of action for achieving the abolition of nuclear weapons. Procrastination can no longer be tolerated," Suzuki said, according to The Mainichi.
The mayor also noted that the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) "will represent a crucial moment capable of swaying the fate of humanity."
Every five years, world leaders meet to review the provisions of the NPT, which was opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force in 1970, 25 years after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan three days apart. The first was dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and the second was dropped on Nagasaki three days later, on Aug. 9. The bombs decimated both cities, leading to Japan's surrender on Aug. 15, 1945, and later the end of World War II.
A bomb nicknamed "Little Boy," weighing approximately 9,000 pounds and producing an explosive force equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT, detonated 1,800 feet over Hiroshima, causing massive devastation. "Fat Man," the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, weighed 10,000 pounds and detonated at approximately the same altitude as "Little Boy."
"I would like to express my deepest condolences for the lives claimed by the atomic bombings, and to all of the victims of war," Suzuki said, according to The Mainichi. "In marking 80 years from the atomic bombing, Nagasaki has resolved to continue our duty to relay, both inside Japan and overseas, the memories of the bombing, which are a common heritage to all humanity and should be passed down for generations throughout the world."
He concluded with a declaration, which was also translated by The Mainichi: "I hereby declare that in order to make Nagasaki the last atomic bombing site now and forever, we will go hand-in-hand with global citizens and devote our utmost efforts towards the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of everlasting world peace."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Apple Still a Smart Investment After Its Surge?
After a sharp 12% rally in just five trading days, the Apple stock is still down nearly 6% year-to-date. The question now is whether Apple's underlying strengths are enough to sustain this momentum and drive its share price higher. Let's take a closer look: From Asia to America: Inside Apple's Shift Amid Tariff Pressure The Trump administration has escalated its push for American technology manufacturing, announcing a plan to impose roughly 100% tariffs on all semiconductor chips imported into the United States. However, tech companies committing to domestic production will be exempt — a significant reprieve for Apple and other electronics manufacturers that have long relied on global supply chains. For years, Apple's assembly lines and component sourcing have been concentrated in China, India, and Vietnam. The administration is unequivocally warning that companies must reshore production or be subjected to steep new trade barriers. The political backdrop is also shifting, with Trump recently increasing tariffs on India — a country where Apple assembles most of the iPhones sold in the U.S. In response, Apple has pledged to dramatically scale up its U.S. presence, committing $600 billion in domestic investment over the next four years. This $100 billion plan builds on an earlier $500 billion commitment made earlier this year. Central to the initiative is a new American Manufacturing Program, aimed at fostering the repatriation of production by Apple's suppliers and partners. Apple anticipates this program will directly result in 20,000 new jobs and indirectly support additional employment throughout its extended supply network. CEO Tim Cook underscored Apple's commitment, stating, 'We're going to keep making investments right here in America, keep hiring in America, and keep building technologies at the heart of our products right here in America because we're a proud American company, and we believe deeply in the promise of this great nation.' Part of Apple's plan is to create a U.S.-based chip supply chain. The company expects to produce more than 19 billion chips in 2025, manufactured across 24 factories in 12 states. This is a strategic move to secure critical components against future trade shocks and aligns with Washington's push for semiconductor independence. Apple plans to expand its U.S. manufacturing effort with companies like Corning, Texas Instruments, and Amkor Technology among others. However, the challenges are considerable. Industry experts warn that large-scale electronics assembly in the U.S. is hindered by higher labor costs, a shortage of skilled manufacturing workers, and the fact that many key suppliers remain in Asia. Fully assembling iPhones in the United States is unlikely in the near term. Instead, Apple will focus on manufacturing high-value components domestically while continuing to assemble final products overseas — a compromise the Trump administration appears to accept for now. Despite the hurdles, Apple's exemption from Trump's reciprocal tariffs — including the newly announced 25% levy on Indian imports — shields the company's most important product line from immediate cost increases. For investors, the shift could mark the beginning of a long-term strategic repositioning, potentially strengthening Apple's political standing in Washington while reshaping its global supply network. Services Shine, iPhones Surge, but Apple's Growth Story Faces New Hurdles Apple's latest quarterly results helped cement the momentum behind its remarkable 12% share price jump over just five trading days, fueled by renewed optimism in the U.S. market. The June quarter showcased a powerful, if complex, performance story. iPhone sales surged more than 13%—their strongest growth in years—as U.S. consumers rushed to buy devices ahead of potential price hikes from looming tariffs. The introduction of a more affordable iPhone earlier this year (the iPhone 16e) added extra fuel to demand. This demand push brought quarterly revenue to $94 billion, up about 10% year-on-year, easily beating Wall Street forecasts. The tariff impact—20% on imports from China—did take a bite out of profitability, but Apple mitigated the hit by accelerating shipments from India. Gross profit margins came in above expectations, and China, a market where sales had been declining, posted a 4% revenue rebound. Beyond hardware, Apple's services segment continued to deliver solid results, growing 13% to $27.4 billion. This arm of the business, covering the App Store, iCloud, paid apps, advertising, and search royalties, has grown fivefold since 2015 and now generates gross margins above 70%, compared to around 30–40% for hardware. Bank of America analysts note that Apple's decision to break out services performance in financial reports helped investors justify paying a higher earnings multiple for the stock. Still, challenges remain. The very factors that bolstered iPhone sales this quarter—tariff fears and aggressive promotions—may not repeat. Growth in services has also moderated after its pandemic-era surge, while regulatory clouds are forming. Apple faces a potential earnings hit if Google's lucrative default-search contract in Safari is altered or removed, as well as pressure to allow alternative payment channels for apps, potentially undercutting App Store revenue. Meanwhile, the company has yet to present a convincing AI strategy that can match rivals like Microsoft and Meta, both of which are already showing tangible AI-driven revenue gains. With a new, slimmer iPhone rumored for September at a higher price point, Apple is clearly looking to support margins and sustain its growth narrative. Whether that is enough to maintain the stock's upward momentum will depend on how well it navigates its regulatory challenges and AI positioning in the months ahead. Sources: Apple, The White House, CNBC, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, ActivTrades This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: Is Apple Still a Smart Investment After Its Surge? Navigating Uncertainty in the Crude Oil Market Eye Outliers Like Synopsys Early with Money Flows EU's Sluggish Economy Faces Moderate Growth Slowdown from US Trade Tensions Identify Winners Like Vistra Early with Money Flows Buy Like Big Money: Toast Sees First Outlier Inflows
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Iran says IAEA official to visit for talks, no access to nuclear sites planned
(Reuters) -A senior official from the U.N. nuclear watchdog will fly to Iran for talks on Monday, but no visit to nuclear sites is planned, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday. Since Israel launched its first military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites during a 12-day war in June, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been unable to access Iran's facilities, despite IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stating that inspections remain his top priority. Iran has accused the agency of effectively paving the way for the bombings by issuing a damning report on May 31, which led the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors to declare Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations. Iran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, said it remained committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). "Negotiations with the IAEA will be held tomorrow to determine a framework for cooperation," Araghchi said on his Telegram account. "A Deputy Director General of Grossi will come to Tehran tomorrow, while there are no plans to visit any nuclear sites until we reach a framework." Last month, Iran enacted a law passed by parliament suspending cooperation with the IAEA. The law stipulates that any future inspection of Iran's nuclear sites by the IAEA needs approval by Tehran's Supreme National Security Council. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bessent says new Fed chair should be someone who can examine organization, Nikkei reports
TOKYO (Reuters) -U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the new Federal Reserve chair should be someone "who can examine the whole organization" as the Fed's mission has included so many things outside of monetary policy and has put its independence at risk, Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported. "It's someone who has to have the confidence of the markets, the ability to analyze complex economic data," Bessent told the Nikkei in an interview, when asked about the qualities the new Fed chair should possess. "And it's also someone who wants to be, I think, very attuned to forward thinking, as opposed to relying on historical data," Bessent was quoted as saying in the interview, which was conducted in Washington on August 7 and published on Monday. A source has told Reuters that Bessent is leading a search for a successor to Fed Chair Jerome Powell, with an expanded list that includes a longtime economic consultant and a past regional Fed president. Sign in to access your portfolio
