Hiroshima: Ceremony marks 80th anniversary of atomic bombing

The city of Hiroshima, Japan, commemorated the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing that occurred on August 6, 1945. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who used the occasion to call on all countries to work towards nuclear disarmament. During the ceremony, the names of the 140,000 people killed in the initial blast and the tens of thousands who died later from radiation exposure were read aloud. Survivors, known as "hibakusha," also shared their stories, emphasizing the devastating and long-lasting impact of the nuclear attack. Prime Minister Kishida expressed his commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons, stating that the horrors of Hiroshima must never be repeated. He urged global leaders to take concrete steps towards disarmament and to prioritize the well-being of those affected by the bombing. The ceremony served as a solemn reminder of the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons, and reinforced the importance of international efforts to achieve a nuclear-free world.