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Scotsman
3 days ago
- Science
- Scotsman
Hiroshima anniversary: How The Scotsman reported the atomic bomb dropping in Japan 80 years ago
First reports of the bomb that changed the world were triumphant in tone - and short of detail of destruction caused given the 'impenetrable cloud' which covered Hiroshima. Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It was a bomb that 'harnessed the basic power of the universe' - and changed the world of warfare forever. On August 7, 1945, The Scotsman's front page delivered news of the detonation of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima the day before in an article which projected the absolute triumph of President Truman over the US strike on the army base on the island of Honshu. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ruins of central Hiroshima pictured on September 1,1945 in the aftermath of the atomic strike on August 6. Picture:| Getty Images The bomb, one of the devastating final manoeuvres of the Second World War, was hailed as both a conquest of Allied scientists and a 'story of great discovery'. 'Stating that even more powerful bombs are in development, the President revealed that British and US scientists have been working on it for years in America, out of range of German long-range weapons,' The Scotsman article said. The article added: ''Hitler's V1 and V2' were the forerunners of the atomic bomb, but Germany lost the war before her scientists attained this goal.' President Truman described the bomb as 'harnessing of the basic power of the Universe'. He said: 'The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosened against those who brought war to the Far East. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We have spent $2,000,000,000 [about £500,000,000 on the greatest scientific gamble in history, and we have won.' READ MORE: Why those who wish we stopped remembering the war are plain wrong The night before publication, Prime Minister Clement Atlee issued a statement that had been prepared by Winston Churchill before the Conservatives were crushed by Labour in the General Election of July 1945. The statement revealed the part played by British scientists in this 'revolutionary discovery' of atomic warfare. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Truman's statement, meanwhile, was issued to White House correspondents who had been told to 'expect a good story'. The Scotsman reported the statement 'built up to an announcement of the most amazing advance in warfare since the discovery of gunpowder', with Truman adding the bomb had more power than 20,000 tonnes of TNT. President Truman said two great plants and many lesser factories in the United States were devoted to the production of atomic power, with scientists working on the project for more than two-and-a-half years. More than 125,000 people helped to design and build the bomb, he said. He also said Mr Churchill and the late President Roosevelt 'agreed on the wisdom' of producing atomic power in the United States out of reach of enemy bombing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad President Truman went on to say the Potsdam Declaration, the ultimatum issued by the US, Great Britain and China on July 26, 1945 calling for the ultimate surrender of Japan, was designed to save Japan from 'ultimate destruction'. Its terms had been quickly rejected. Mr Truman added: 'If they don't now accept our terms, they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the likes of which has never been seen on this earth.' On the first day of coverage, little information was given about the impact of the bomb and the scale of death that it caused. The War Office, the night before publication, said that an 'impenetrable cloud' had covered the target area, making 'accurate reports of the damage impossible in the present'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The article explained that Hiroshima was a fortified port and chief supply depot of the Japanese army on West Honshu, with a population of 244,000. By Thursday, August 9, 1945, the front page of The Scotsman reported 'tremendous havoc' caused by the atomic bomb. Reporting on a radio broadcast by religious leaders in Tokyo, the article said all things, human and animal, were 'literally scared to death' by the bomb. 'Those outdoors died as a result of being burned and those indoors were killed by the indescribable pressure and heat,' the article said. 'The dead are simply unaccountable.'
Mint
30-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
V2 Retail reports sharp jump in revenue and profit, powered by store expansion
Bengaluru: Value apparel retailer V2 Retail Ltd's net profit jumped in the April-June quarter, driven by sales growth and continued store expansion, even as consumption in India's small towns remained uneven amid weak demand. The company's net profit surged 51% from a year earlier to ₹ 24.7 crore in the three months through June, as expenses rose at a slower pace of 21%, it said in an exchange filing on Wednesday. The higher profit was attributed to revenue growth significantly outpacing costs, helping the company expand margins. The company reported a consolidated revenue of ₹ 632 crore for the April-June period, up 52% year-on-year, marking its highest quarterly revenue since being set up as Vishal Megamart Ltd in 2001. The company sold the 'Vishal' brand in 2011 and rebranded as V2 Retail Ltd. The performance slightly exceeded a Bloomberg analysts' estimate of ₹ 628 crore, as per projections tracked on the terminal. Shares of V2 Retail settled 1.2% higher at ₹ 1,959.55 apiece on the BSE on Wednesday. In a separate filing, V2 Retail said its board has approved a plan to raise up to ₹ 400 crore through the issuance of equity shares or other eligible securities. The funds may be raised via qualified institutional placement (QIP), preferential allotment, or other permissible modes, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. Chief executive Akash Agarwal had indicated in a July interview with Mint that the company was exploring fundraising options to support its ongoing store expansion and strengthen its supply chain and backend infrastructure. The company did not disclose growth from existing stores for the quarter. However, it added 26 new outlets during the period across 215 cities in the country, indicating that overall revenue growth was driven largely by network expansion rather than same-store performance. V2 Retail's expansion comes amid intensifying competition in the value fashion segment, particularly across tier-2 and 3 towns. The company is evaluating an upward revision to its FY26 expansion target of 100 stores. It has a strong presence in eastern India, especially in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha where rivals like V-Mart are also expanding aggressively. This simultaneous push by major players underscores the rising battle for wallet share among price-sensitive consumers in India's smaller cities. 'Store expansion has clearly driven a large part of V2's topline growth, this quarter around 35% of it is from new stores alone,' said Pratik Prajapati, equity research analyst at Ambit Capital. 'Compared to peers like V-Mart, which added 15 stores and DMart, which added 12, V2 has significantly outpaced them. You'll likely see the full impact of this expansion reflected in the coming quarters, with V2 potentially outperforming its competitors.' Founded by Ram Chandra Agarwal, V2 Retail is one of India's oldest value fashion retailers, catering primarily to middle- and lower-income households in India's small towns. With a strong footprint in North and East India, the company operates a chain of affordable fashion and lifestyle stores offering apparel, footwear, and accessories for the entire family. Over the years, V2 has built a loyal customer base in small towns by focusing on deep discounting, festival-driven promotions, and a wide range of private-label offerings tailored to regional preferences. In an earlier interview with Mint in early July, Akash Agarwal, chief executive officer (CEO) of V2 Retail, had said the company may revise its FY26 expansion guidance upwards from the initial target of 100 stores. 'We are well on track and we've already opened 26 stores this first quarter,' he said, adding that the company is evaluating whether to increase that number based on ongoing performance. Despite the rapid rollout, Agarwal emphasized in the interview that profitability remains central to the company's growth strategy. He said all V2 stores are Ebitda positive. The company has also tightened inventory controls over the past two years, reducing the share of unsold stock older than 12 months from 25% to below 5%. Same-store sales have grown nearly 30% annually over the last two years, said Agarwal, and the company is now targeting annual revenue growth of 40-50%, supported by better throughput and backend improvements. V2 has also been scaling its in-house manufacturing arm, V2 Smart Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd, which contributed ₹ 13.6 crore in revenue during the June quarter. However, the unit posted a net loss of ₹ 1.9 crore due to initial set-up costs.
Daily Mirror
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans 'can't think straight' after binge-watching 'incredible' drama
The series dropped on Netflix yesterday, and fans have been staying up until the early hours to finish it, with some admitting they 'cried a lot'. Netflix enthusiasts have been burning the midnight oil to binge-watch the second part of The Sandman season 2, which made its debut on the streaming service just yesterday. The concluding volume of the show's latest season has left viewers "in tears", with some fans confessing they "won't be able to think straight for a long time". Adapted from Neil Gaiman's acclaimed comic book series, The Sandman chronicles the journey of Morpheus, the Master of Dreams, as he endeavours to reclaim his kingdom's former splendour. The Netflix series' blurb states: "When the Sandman, aka Dream, the cosmic being who controls all dreams, is captured and held prisoner for more than a century, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused." Tom Sturridge's portrayal of the eponymous character has garnered applause, and the series boasts a glittering cast including Game of Thrones alumni Gwendoline Christie and Charles Dance, alongside Doctor Who alumna Jenna Coleman. Fans took to X, the platform previously known as Twitter, to express their feelings about the latest instalment of The Sandman season 2. One fan exclaimed: "Whoa! Whoa! #TheSandmanSeason2 was incredible, and I am so excited for the bonus episode coming out July 31." Another viewer posted: "So I finished watching season 2. It was a long journey that I will never forget. It's an amazing show, and amazing people working on it. I will never be the same after this, and I cried a lot of tears. I don't think I will be able to think straight for a long time." Another fan gushed: "Finished all V2 episodes in one sitting... It's almost 7am. It was so good. Tom Sturridge did an amazing job as Dream. The entire cast and team are REALLY some of the best, I cannot remember the last time a show left such an impact on me." An emotional viewer shared: "The last few episodes of Sandman were incredibly emotional. Even though I knew how the story would end, I still couldn't hold back my tears. A huge thank you to Tom Sturridge for being the best Morpheus imaginable." Get Netflix free with Sky This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £15 Sky Get the deal here Product Description Despite receiving critical acclaim upon its debut on Netflix in 2022, The Sandman has been embroiled in controversy following allegations of sexual misconduct against creator Gaiman by several women, which he has denied. Rumours swirled that Netflix cancelled The Sandman after two seasons due to the scandal, but showrunner Allan Heinberg has clarified that the decision for a two-season arc was made prior to filming the second series, reports the Express. "The Sandman series has always been focused exclusively on Dream's story, and back in 2022, when we looked at the remaining Dream material from the comics, we knew we only had enough story for one more season," he explained on X. Heinberg expressed gratitude towards Netflix for reuniting the team and providing the necessary support to create a faithful adaptation that aims to both surprise and satisfy the comic's dedicated fans and new viewers alike. The Sandman is now exclusively available for streaming on Netflix.
North Wales Live
15-07-2025
- General
- North Wales Live
Explosion on Welsh beach near where 'top secret' military base was sited
A controlled explosion was carried out on a beach close to a former "top secret" military base. Ynyslas in Ceredigion was selected by the Air Ministry as a missile-testing site for solid fuel rocket systems towards the end of World War Two. The German army and Luftwaffe were developing long-range rockets with guidance systems – the V1 and the V2 - and this provided the impetus for a new Guided Projectile Project. The Ynyslas Range - next to the Dyfi Estuary that separates Ceredigion and Gwynedd - was nominated to provide special test facilities for the testing of rockets propelled by liquid fuels (such as liquid oxygen and petrol). It saw a secret research base set up with workshops, assembly shops, accommodation huts and ancilliary buildings. As the threat of invasion had passed, the pillboxes and barbed wire entanglements installed in 1941 were pressed into service as perimeter defences, keeping the public and prying eyes away. The range was to be called Ministry of Supply Experimental Establishment Anti-Aircraft and was pressed into action - with test firings from concrete bases still located close to the shore car park. Despite the additional facilities installed at the Ynyslas, the long term stumbling block was the limits of the space available for testing, particularly as the technology rapidly developed. This saw Ynyslas dropped in 1946. Equipment was moved to Aberporth in south west Wales, while for testing military chiefs also looked at the potential of the far larger ranges on offer in the giant expanses of Canada and Australia. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox While its life was short lived, the legacy of the site continues due to the unexploded ordnance left behind. The latest drama started on Sunday afternoon with an initial callout for Borth Coastguard to two people potentially in trouble while swimming in the sea despite this being a red flag beach, mainly due to the tidal currents rather than ordnance. They were then told that witnesses had seen them exit the water safely. But before the team could leave they were called to a potential ordnance a short distance down the beach near the Borth and Ynyslas golf club. The team said: "When we find potential ordnance we place a (switched off) radio close by to provide scale and take photos to send to EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit) to assess. It was initially deemed safe but after a further look, EOD made the decision to come and dispose of the item. "Due to the tides, the team were tasked again this afternoon (Monday) when it would be uncovered again to meet with EOD and provide a safety cordon for detonation. As you can see from the photograph, the burning afterwards confirmed that there was still propellant in an item that has clearly been underwater for many years. "Thank you to the members of the public who were patient and respected the cordon we created. We are not there to inconvenience you, just to keep you safe." The team noted this is certainly not the first time they've dealt with these issues and very likely won't be the last. They offered this advice: "There are many items of ordnance washed up on the beaches locally. If you see anything you suspect to be ordnance DO NOT pick up or move it. Call 999, ask for coastguard and give as exact a location as you are able and if you see anyone in difficulty on the cliffs, shoreline or out to sea call and ask for the Coastguard."
Business Upturn
03-07-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
V2 Retail shares jump 3% after company reports 51% YoY revenue growth in Q1 FY26
By Aman Shukla Published on July 3, 2025, 09:15 IST Shares of V2 Retail rose over 3% in morning trade on July 3 after the company reported a robust business performance for Q1 FY26, signalling a strong start to the financial year. As of 9:15 AM, the shares were trading 3.08% higher at Rs 1,880.00. The company posted a 51% year-on-year rise in standalone revenue to ₹628 crore in Q1 FY26, up from ₹415 crore in Q1 FY25. This sharp growth reflects the success of V2's product-first strategy, better sell-through, and wider market reach. Same-store sales growth (SSSG) normalised at 10%, with strong double-digit growth seen in May and June, despite an early Eid impact in April. Sales per square foot stood at ₹957, underscoring improved store-level productivity. V2 Retail added 28 new stores during the quarter and closed one underperforming outlet, taking the total store count to 216. The company's retail footprint now spans 23.48 lakh sq. ft, with a continued focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Efficient merchandising, quick stock replenishment, and tighter inventory control helped boost margins and operational efficiency. Management reaffirmed confidence in sustaining momentum through FY26, citing innovation, data-led planning, and strong customer loyalty as key growth drivers. Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Stock market investments are subject to market risks. Always conduct your own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. Author or Business Upturn is not liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
