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Japan marks Hiroshima atomic bombing

Saturday, 06 August 2016 6:01 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 06 August 2016 6:02 AM ]

A detail of an aerial picture taken by the US military in the days after the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. (AFP)

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

Japan marks 71 years since Hiroshima was destroyed by a US atomic bomb in 1945. At the site of the world’s first nuclear bombing more than 140,000 people were killed. The attack was followed by another US atomic bombing on the port city of Nagasaki three days later, killing some 73,000 people.
Italian police have clashed with refugees who were trying to cross the border into France. Clashes broke out at the Italian border town of Ventimiglia after the refugees broke through police barriers. Police say more than 100 asylum-seekers entered France after getting past cordons.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman has condemned comments by some European and US officials as well as the UN human rights chief on the executions of a number of terrorists in Iran. Bahram Qassemi criticized the West’s stance against the punishments without paying due heed to the convicts’ crimes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that some countries are supporting terrorist groups to achieve their political objectives. Putin also denounced what he described as Western double standards in tackling terrorism. The Russian president stressed that terrorists cannot be divided into good and bad.
The lawyer for US-based Turkish opposition figure Fethullah Gulen says Ankara has not provided any evidence to prove that the cleric masterminded the mid-July failed coup. This, after Turkey issued an arrest warrant for Gulen and accused him of ordering the coup attempt. Gulen has denied any role in the abortive putsch.
80 Palestinian prisoners have joined hundreds of other inmates in a hunger strike taking place at Israeli jails. The detainees are protesting against harassment by Israeli jail guards and their detention without trial. Over 400 Palestinians are now on hunger strike at various prisons in Israel.
In the US, the family of unarmed black teenager Paul O’Neal, who was killed by Chicago police, has called for an investigation into the incident. This after police released a video of his killing. The lawyer for the family of O’Neal has also described the police killing as murder.
The opening ceremony of Olympic Games has been held in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The ceremony was held in the Maracana stadium. The Games will feature 28 sports and more than 11,000 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees will take part in the prestigious event.