Japan marked the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of its western city of Nagasaki on Friday, with the city mayor calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki delivered a peace declaration during the annual event, Xinhua news agency reported.
A moment of silence was held at 11.02 a.m. local time, as this was the time when a US B-29 bomber dropped a plutonium-core atomic bomb, nicknamed Fat Man, on August 9, 1945, killing around 74,000 people in Nagasaki by the end of that year.
The port city remains the last place in the world to have suffered an atomic bomb attack.
"We also call for your dialogue and diplomatic efforts to explore a path toward peaceful solutions, no matter how difficult the path is, instead of choosing a path toward arms expansion or threats of force," Suzuki added.
Suzuki also demanded that the Japanese government sign and ratify a UN treaty banning nuclear weapons, and called for Japan to lead discussions to ease tensions and advance disarmament in Northeast Asia.
The ceremony at the Nagasaki Peace Park was attended by some 2,300 participants, including representatives from some 100 countries, according to the city government.
The atomic bombing of Nagasaki followed the one dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, with both bombings a means of accelerating the end of World War II and forcing Japan to surrender.
Japan brutally invaded and occupied many parts of Asia before and during World War II, inflicting untold suffering and heavy casualties on millions of innocent victims.
Pro-Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil suspends indefinite hunger strike
Pro-Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Thursday suspended his indefinite hunger strike while giving a warning to the state government to stage a fresh protest in Mumbai if the demands made by him are not met.
Some people politicising Manipur’s ethnic violence, confusing people: CM Biren Singh
Biren Singh said that his government's opposition to the immigrants in the state is because they are engaged in drug-related activities and poppy cultivation and these migrants are also creating serious socio-economic problems for the indigenous people.
India world's go-to launch pad: PM Modi
India is becoming the world's go-to launch pad with a record number of foreign satellites being launched from the country in the last decade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.
Terrorist movement detected along LoC in J&K's Poonch, firing exchange on
Alert troops detected terrorist movement along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Khari Karmara area of J&K’s Poonch district on Thursday after which a firing exchange broke out between the soldiers and the terrorists and is still on, the Army said.
Budget session of Parliament kicks off tomorrow
The Budget Session of Parliament will begin on Friday (January 31) with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman scheduled to table the Economic Survey after President Droupadi Murmu addresses the joint session of both Houses in the morning.
PM Modi shares glimpses of his journey towards Viksit Bharat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a series of captivating pictures highlighting his key engagements throughout January, showcasing India's journey towards a "Viksit Bharat".
No survivors yet of mid-air Washington DC collision
No survivors have yet been found of American Eagle Flight 5342 that collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near the Reagan National Airport in Washington DC Wednesday night.
Will make proposals based on NE’s socio-economic & geographical situations: Arvind Panagariya
The 16th Finance Commission while making its recommendations would keep in mind the socio-economic and geographical situations of the northeastern states, the panel chairman Arvind Panagariya said here on Thursday.