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Hiroshima atomic bombing memorial draws record global attendance in 2025

Hiroshima atomic bombing memorial draws record global attendance in 2025

HIROSHIMA: A record 120 countries and regions, including Belarus, Taiwan, and Palestinian representatives, will attend the 80th anniversary commemoration of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima this week. The United States dropped the first nuclear weapon on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, killing approximately 140,000 people, followed by a second bombing in Nagasaki three days later that claimed 74,000 lives. Hiroshima officials confirmed the unprecedented attendance figures, noting the inclusion of Taiwan and Palestine for the first time. This follows a change in protocol where the city notified all nations and regions about the event rather than issuing selective invitations. “This allowed us to approach economies Japan doesn’t officially recognise as countries,“ a city representative explained. Notably absent are nuclear powers Russia, China, and Pakistan. In Nagasaki, 101 countries and regions have provisionally registered to attend their August 9 memorial, including Russia for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Last year’s Nagasaki ceremony made headlines when Israel’s ambassador was excluded, prompting a boycott by the then-US envoy to Japan. City officials maintained the decision was a safety precaution amid Gaza conflict tensions, stating, “We wanted attendees to witness the catastrophic reality of nuclear weapons.” The dual anniversaries occur days before Japan’s August 15 surrender anniversary in World War II. A Nagasaki official emphasized the ceremonies’ purpose: “These events transcend politics to show what humanity must never repeat.” - AFP

Pelajar Malaysia layak ke peringkat akhir Pertandingan Robotik Dunia

Pelajar Malaysia layak ke peringkat akhir Pertandingan Robotik Dunia

PETALING JAYA: Dua pelajar Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah (SAS) Putrajaya berjaya melayakkan diri ke peringkat akhir Pertandingan Robotik Dunia (WRC) yang bakal berlangsung di Shenzhen, China selepas mengharumkan nama negara pada WRC 2025 di Perth, Australia. Prestasi cemerlang wakil Malaysia dalam acara yang berlangsung bermula 31 Julai hingga 2 Ogos itu menandakan satu lagi pencapaian ... Read more The post Pelajar Malaysia layak ke peringkat akhir Pertandingan Robotik Dunia appeared first on Utusan Malaysia .

Italy fines Shein €1 million for misleading green claims

Italy fines Shein €1 million for misleading green claims

ROME: Italy’s competition authority has imposed a €1 million ($1.15 million) fine on the company managing Shein’s European websites for deceptive environmental claims. The AGCM watchdog found the fast-fashion giant misled consumers about its sustainability efforts. The AGCM stated that Shein’s parent company, Infinite Styles Services Co. Ltd, promoted clothing with “vague, generic, and overly emphatic” green messaging. Claims about product recyclability were deemed false or confusing, as materials and recycling systems did not support the assertions. Consumers were led to believe Shein’s products were entirely sustainable and recyclable, which the watchdog said was inaccurate. The AGCM also criticised Shein’s pledges to cut emissions by 25% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050, noting the company’s emissions actually rose in 2023 and 2024. Environmental groups have long warned about fast fashion’s ecological impact, including excessive water use, chemical pollution, and textile waste clogging landfills. Shein, known for rapid production cycles, has not yet commented on the fine. - AFP

South Korea removes border loudspeakers amid easing tensions with North

South Korea removes border loudspeakers amid easing tensions with North

SEOUL: South Korean authorities started removing loudspeakers that broadcast anti-North Korean messages along the border on Monday, the defence ministry confirmed. The move follows President Lee Jae Myung’s decision in June to suspend propaganda broadcasts as part of efforts to restart stalled talks with Pyongyang. The defence ministry described the dismantling as a “practical measure to help ease tensions between the South and the North.” Soldiers were seen unplugging and taking down the loudspeakers, which were mounted in clusters resembling a wall. North Korea recently rejected Seoul’s diplomatic overtures, stating it has no interest in dialogue. However, since South Korea halted its broadcasts in June, Pyongyang has also stopped its own loudspeaker campaigns, which had disturbed border residents for months. Propaganda broadcasts have long been a tool in inter-Korean relations, with both sides using them during periods of tension. In 2018, former President Moon Jae-in removed the loudspeakers as part of a broader de-escalation agreement. However, his conservative successor, Yoon Suk Yeol, reinstated them last year in response to North Korea sending trash-filled balloons across the border. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, dismissed Seoul’s suspension of broadcasts as “not the work worthy of appreciation.” Despite this, the removal signals Seoul’s continued push for reduced hostilities, even as diplomatic progress remains uncertain. - Reuters

Song Young-kyu meninggal dunia dalam kereta

Song Young-kyu meninggal dunia dalam kereta

SEOUL: Pelakon senior Korea Selatan, Song Young-kyu, 55, dikhabarkan meninggal dunia dalam kereta miliknya awal pagi tadi. Menurut laporan, mendiang Young-kyu ditemui tidak bernyawa di kawasan Cheoin-gu, Yongin, yang terletak di wilayah Gyeonggi-do, Korea Selatan, oleh seorang kenalannya yang turut melaporkan kejadian tersebut kepada pihak polis. Dalam pada itu, jurucakap Balai Polis Yongin Dongbu mengesahkan ... Read more The post Song Young-kyu meninggal dunia dalam kereta appeared first on Utusan Malaysia .