Tokyo, 6 August, /AJMEDIA/
Hiroshima marks 77th anniv. of atomic bombing amid nuclear threat
HIROSHIMA – Hiroshima marked the 77th anniversary of its atomic bombing by the United States on Saturday, amid heightened concerns in Japan and elsewhere over Russia’s repeated suggestions that it may resort to nuclear weapons in its war against Ukraine.
Mayor Kazumi Matsui cautioned in the Peace Declaration at a memorial ceremony in the western city that while civilian lives are being lost in the Russian aggression, dependence on nuclear deterrence is gaining momentum in the world.
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U.N. chief warns hinting at nuke use “unacceptable” when tensions high
HIROSHIMA – U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on the 77th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Saturday that a new arms race is accelerating and it is “totally unacceptable” for countries with nuclear weapons to even “admit the possibility” of using them.
Guterres became the first serving U.N. chief to visit Hiroshima since 2010. While in the western Japan city, he plans to converse with atomic bombing survivors, meet with Mayor Kazumi Matsui and visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
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Japan PM Kishida to reshuffle Cabinet on Wed.: officials
TOKYO – Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to reshuffle his Cabinet lineup next Wednesday ahead of the extraordinary parliamentary session slated for the fall, senior government officials said.
Kishida intends to use the envisioned personnel change to bolster his administration as support for his Cabinet has declined amid dissatisfaction over surging COVID-19 cases and controversy surrounding holding a state funeral for former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was fatally shot last month, the officials said Friday.
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China sanctions Pelosi on Taiwan visit, halts climate talks with U.S.
BEIJING/WASHINGTON – China said Friday it has decided to impose sanctions on U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and suspend exchanges with Washington in a range of areas including climate change and military activities following her visit to Taiwan earlier this week.
The United States criticized Beijing for taking further “irresponsible” action by closing down engagement, with White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby saying a refusal to cooperate toward addressing greenhouse gas emissions can be seen as a punishment not only to the United States but to “the whole world.”
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Chinese foreign minister warns U.S. against fanning bigger crisis
PHNOM PENH – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday warned the United States not to take actions that could result in a flaring up of tensions over the Taiwan issue.
“We have come to know that the United States is planning to beef up its military deployment in this region. It is our hope and we call on all parties to stay on high vigilance against this,” Wang told a small group of journalists after attending events related to the annual meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phnom Penh.
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Biden remains positive for COVID, while cough nearly resolved
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden continues to test positive for the novel coronavirus, although he feels “very well” and his cough has nearly resolved, his physician said Friday.
The 79-year-old initially tested positive on July 21 and has experienced mild symptoms. He received negative test results at one point, but tested positive again last Saturday in what is believed to be a “rebound” case after taking antiviral medication.
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N. Korea again justifies missile, nuclear development as self-defense
PHNOM PENH – North Korea on Friday reiterated at an Indo-Pacific security meeting that its nuclear weapons and missile programs are purely means of self-defense, amid fears that Pyongyang’s first nuclear test in almost five years could occur at any time.
What North Korea is doing is “only to defend” itself and has not threatened any country, North Korean Ambassador to Indonesia An Kwang Il said during the 27-member ASEAN Regional Forum in Phnom Penh, appearing instead of Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, according to a diplomatic source.
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U.S. adds whopping 528,000 jobs in July despite recession fears
WASHINGTON – The U.S. economy created a larger-than-expected 528,000 nonfarm jobs in July, while the unemployment rate edged down by 0.1 percentage point from the previous month to 3.5 percent, the Labor Department said Friday.
The data came despite fears that the world’s largest economy may be nearing a recession as the U.S. Federal Reserve continues to aggressively raise interest rates to tamp down inflation.
