And a gunman opens fire at a military academy in afghanistan, killing a highranking american officer. Every year people from all walks of life gathered in hiroshima to remember and reflect. They attend a memorial marking the day an atomic bomb left the city in ruin. More than 290,000 people died either in 1945 or the years since. Nhk worlds takafumi terui shows us how their legacy are being honored. Reporter rain poured down on hiroshima Peace Memorial park. Still, people came. The survivors were among them. Translator when i look back at what happened, i just cant hold back my tears. I keep thinking, why, why . Translator i came here to pass on the horrors of war and memories of the bombing to my childrens generation. Reporter and thats why many others gathered here too. By the time the ceremony started, about 45,000 people had packed into the park. U. S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy was among the representatives from 68 countries. At 8 15 a. M. , participants observed a moment of silence to mark the time the bomb was dropped. [ gong sounding ] the ceremony comes weeks after the japanese government changed its security policy. Cabinet members reinterpreted the constitution to allow japan to exercise its right to collective selfdefense so it could help a closerelated country under attack. Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui alluded to the change in his speech. Translator the japanese government should accept the full weight of the fact that we have avoided war for 69 years thanks to the noble pacifism of the japanese constitution. Reporter matsui called on leaders around the world not to use what he labeled the inhumane threat of the absolute evil to defend their countries. And Prime Minister shinzo abe echoed his words. Translator we have the responsibility to ensure that we rid the world of nuclear arms. Reporter every year people from abroad travel to hiroshima to take part in the ceremony and to better understand the true impact of the bombing. This is history, but its also present. So its important to see and to transmit to the future. Im so thankful that i was able to make this trip. Im more serious than ever of working for peace. Reporter the Memorial Ceremony concluded as it has since the late 1940s with local choirs performing the hiroshima peace song. People in hiroshima also mark this day with seminars and rallies. Its part of the efforts to keep the memories of august 1945 alive and as part of a decadelong campaign to make sure what happened here never happens again. Takafumi terui, nhk world, hiroshima. System of the survivors of the atomic bombings have dedicated their lives to sharing their experiences. They tell people of the destructive power and lingering legacy of Nuclear Weapons. One survivor wanted her stories to reach a wider audience, so 77yearold keiko ogura taught herself english. Nhk worlds chie yamagishi has more. Reporter the stories keiko ogura recounts about the atomic bombing of hiroshima dont make for easy listening. And then i thought, what are they hiding down . I was wondering. Reporter ogura has been telling foreign visitors about that dark day in 1945 for more than three decades. She was 8 years old when the bomb was dropped. She was near her house about two kilometers from ground zero. Years later, ogura married a man who became the director of the hiroshima Peace Memorial museum. He was committed to informing people around the world about the tragedy. After he died, a foreign journalist suggested ogura follow in his footsteps. She taught herself english. Then she started working as an interpreter and coordinator for the journalist and other foreign media. Later, she began speaking of her personal atomic bomb experience. She realized the value of having exchanges with people from overseas. To speak in english directly to foreign people is very important because that means i can hear what they think about and what they found here. Reporter ogura set up a group of volunteer interpreters and guides to respond to increasing requests from overseas visitors. One day ogura met High School Students from hawaii. She told them about what she calls invisible scars from the time of the bombing. She described what happened after she gave water to people who were suffering in the aftermath. To my surprise, a couple people vomited after Drinking Water and died, stopped to move. I was shocked. Reporter ogura blamed herself for the deaths. So i kept secret for so many years. Like 20 years or 30 years. I saw many people become victims, especially children, you know. Reporter ogura wrapped up her talk by asking the students to act. Please tell, convey our survivo survivo survivors feeling and the prayer to your friends, to your family. I would like to share her story and share the feelings that she expressed today to many people in hawaii. Nuclear weapons, that shouldnt be something that should be used in humankind. I never really realized what they actually do to people and what they do what they can do to a city as a whole. I am only the person pushing their back and giving starting motivation with such kind of thing. I cant just stop because the world still has Nuclear Weapons. Reporter ogura hopes younger generations around the world will keep her message alive and Work Together to foster peace. Chie yamagishi, nhk world, hiroshima. Were joined now in the studio to get perspective on todays event. She was nhks correspondent at the United Nations. Miki, tell us about the role hiroshima has played in the Global Movement for nuclear disarmament. The city of hiroshima and people of hiroshima have played quite a significant role, i think. First, as a reminder of the horrific damage one nuclear bomb could cause. Also as a symbol for the Disarmament Movement across the world. Many survivors from hiroshima and nagasaki have been actively sharing their stories. Some have become activists, lobbying the government to push toward a World WithoutNuclear Weapons. All these activists and lobbying, it has been 70 years since that fatal day. Has the message of peace from hiroshima been effective . Whenever survivors speak about their own experiences, their stories are very, very strong. So their pleas touch the hearts of people who listen to them, but some experts of nuclear disarmament, including a professor of the hiroshima peace institute, feel thats not we tell them the war was wrong and we learned lessons. But we think the atomic bombings were also terrible. Similarly, some people in our neighboring countries say the atomic bombings ended the war and saved them. Wed better tell them we reflect sincerely about the colonization and military invasions. But at the same time, we should tell them we want the world to understand the inhumanity of Nuclear Weapons. Only when the people of hiroshima and nagasaki convey that they understand the results of the war and of colonialism will their message be accepted. So i think what he means is that japanese must look at both sides. One, how inhumane main a nuclear bomb can be, but also what damage the japanese side inflicted on people during the wartime, especially in asia. And that if we say, oh, thats a thing of the past weve dealt with, the people who remember those events, sad events, wouldnt be convinced. So thats what he means. The United Nations conference on disarmament happens next year, coincidentally with the 70year anniversary since the atomic bomb was dropped in hiroshima and nagasaki. What role do you think japan will play . I think it could play a very important role. As you say, starting next april, the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty review conference will be held in new york. Its purpose is to strengthen the nonproliferation regime, which helps prevent the spread of Nuclear Weapons and technologies outside the five recognized Nuclear Weapon states. As Prime Minister abe said in his speech today, japan must take the initiative to lead the world in this conference as well as the comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty, which is not in effect yet. Though, there are many challenges that lie ahead. U. S. President obamas agenda to seek a World WithoutNuclear Weapons remains valid. Japan must make more effort to work with the International Community to keep up the fight that the survivors have carried on so far. Miki, thanks very much for your insight today. The people in charge of Fukushima Daiichi have learned some of their challenges may be more difficult than they thought. Theyre looking into unresolved problems at the nuclear plant. What they found has changed their understanding of whats happening inside. Two years ago, members of a Government Panel released their final report on the accident. It said a worker manually stopped the emergency cooling system of reactor three early on march 13th, two days after the disaster. But the latest findings from Tokyo Electric Power company show the cooling system had already stopped functioning more than six hours before. The findings suggest fuel rods started melting earlier than officials believed, and more melted fuel would have dropped to the bottom of the containment vessel. That makes the removal of the fuel more difficult than expected. Tepco officials also found more problems. After the accident, crews used fire engines to inject water into reactor two, but the water may have reacted with the fuel inside to produce hydrogen, raising the temperature significantly. That sped up the meltdown. Editors of the japanese newspaper have retracted stories they ran decades ago on the socalled comfort women issue. They now say those stories were based on a false account. The daily reported the accounts in the 1980s and 1990s. He said he forcibly gathered women on the south korean island and sent them to work in wartime brothels. The paper says it interviewed about 40 people on the island in april and made to confirm his story but could not find any evidence to support it. It also says historians have pointed out inconsistencies in his claims. The paper retracted its articles based on the comments. It also said it confused comfort women with those who worked at factories voluntarily during the war due to lack of research. They say the main point is those who worked as comfort women were stripped of their freedom. It says it will continue to cover the subject based on this stance. Ruling liberal Democratic Party secretary general said the papers reports help foreign public opinion. He said it may be necessary for the diet to look into why it made its mistakes. The chief cabinet secretary suggested on wednesday the decision should be left to lawmakers. Translator the government is not in a position to comment on what the diet should do on this issue. Suga said he wants historical perceptions to be based on objective facts. He said the government has already made clear its stance on socalled comfort women. U. S. Military Officials Say a man wearing an afghan army uniform has opened fire on International Officers in kabul. He shot and killed an american general. Major general harold green was part of a group of officers visiting a military academy. Hes the highest ranking u. S. Officer to be killed in action since American Forces went into afghanistan 13 years ago. More than ten others were wounded, including a german brigadier general. The gunman was killed at the scene. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. International soldiers are Training Afghan forces to take over security. The natoled mission is set to conclude at the end of the year. Russian president Vladimir Putin has made it clear he plans to hit back at those who impose sanctions over moscows role in the ukraine crisis. Hes told members of his government to prepare retaliatory measures. Putin met with russian state officials and took aim at leaders in europe and the united states. Translator political tools for pressuring a countrys economy are unacceptable and contradict all international rules. He didnt say what the measures might be, but he said they must be carefully designed to avoid hurting domestic producers or consumers. Russian media are reporting the government may block European Airlines from flying over siberia. Japans key index on the current state of the economy fell in june, marking the first drop in two months. Officials at the Cabinet Office said the index stood at 109. 4 against 100 for the base year of 2010. The figure is down 1. 8 points from the previous month. Junes decline is mainly due to a drop in the production of vehicles and auto parts. This is because consumers scramble to make purchases before a hike in the consumption tax in april. The index is one of several that economists at the office draw up by weighing a variety of data, including employment, production, and personal spending. Meanwhile, another index which predicts the future state of the economy ticked up for the first time in five months. The rise in the socalled leading index reflects an upswing in consumer appetite. The Cabinet Office says sentiment is improving among not only consumers but also small and midsized enterprises. Executives at Japanese Telecom giant softbank are taking a step back from their ambitions to expand in the united states. Sources say its american subsidiary sprint has decided to end talks to buy out rival tmobile u. S. Sprint is americas third biggest wireless carrier and is controlled by softbank. Tmobile u. S. Is the fourth largest. Sources say sprint and softbank executives decided to pull the plug over worries that u. S. Regulators would block the deal. The sources say u. S. Authorities were increasingly concerned that letting sprint take over tmobile u. S. Would reduce competition. Executives at softbank were planning to up being up sprint to compete more effectivively against bigger rivals. The top mobile operators in the u. S. Are verizon and at t. For now, softbank managers only have sprint in the u. S. Now the Parent Company will likely be reviewing its expansion plans there. The worlds two Largest Technology giants have called a truce in their global legal battles. Samsung and apple have agreed to drop all patent suits outside the united states. The companies had been accusing each other of violating patents on the technology and designs of smartphones and tablet computers. In a statement wednesday, samsung announced an end to disputes in nine countries, including japan, south korea, and germany. The statement adds the agreement does not involve any licensing agreements, and the two sides are continuing to pursue existing cases in u. S. Courts. Both companies are remaining quiet on the details, including what prompted them to agree on the deal. But observers believe the costs of the global legal wrangling have taken a heavy toll on the firms. Their First Court Case was launched in the u. S. In 2011. The companies have since sued each other worldwide. In may of this year, a Court Ordered samsung to pay massive damages to apple. The two are also locked in other legal disputes, including huge damages claims. It remains to be seen whether both sides can reach a final settlement. Investors in softbank and samsung were not all that impressed by the latest developments and sold the stocks. That, plus renewed jitters over the situation in ukraine drove down markets across asia. Softbank was among the biggest decliners on the nikkei and dragged down the benchmark index 1. 05 . It was the fifth straight day of decline with the index hitting a threeweek low. Investors in seoul sold shares in Samsung Electronics despite that deal with apple. The benchmark kospi ended lower. The Hong Kong Market also fell. The hang seng slipped 0. 26 . China plans to punish some global car makers for what it says are monopolistic practices. Local media in china say the companies are suspected of illegally setting high prices for Auto Accessories and servicing. Translator we found chrysler and audi clearly engaged in monopolistic acts. In a few days they will be subject to punishment accordingly. Li is a spokesperson of the National Development and reform commission, chinas top economic planning agency. He add the commission will also punish 12 japanese Automotive Companies for competitive pricing. But he did not identify the businesses or elaborate on punishments. Li said authorities are also investigating dealers that handle mercedesbenz dealers. He said the move is to maintain competition in the chinese auto market and protect consumer interests. Recordsetting rainfall in western japan caused a dangerous landslide wednesday, but a stubborn front and approaching typhoon are expected to cause even more problems. Our meteorologist jonathan oh is here with the forecast. Jonathan . Hello, gene. Yes, we are definitely monitoring the situation in western japan because of the amount of rainfall thats been falling over the area. Any of the loose ground has really given way. We have some video to show you coming out of yamaguchi prefecture. Lets take a look at it. This is a very difficult scene to watch because of the heavy rains, those unprecedented, have been battered japan. About 120 millimeters of rainfall fell in just one hour. This landslide on wednesday morning destroyed several homes, and a person, a man is missing. The rest of japan also struggling with flooding and landslides. One person was engulfed by flooding waters in hiroshima. Even more rainfall is expected. This is the stationary front where were seeing the moisture really pushing up against it, coming in from the south. That means even more rainfall for thursday and friday. Then as we go into the weekend, we have to look out for typhoon halong. Here it is moving toward the northnortheast at 15 kilometers per hour. Okinawa, youll be dealing with these effects thursday into friday. Western japan, youll feel the effects coming up by the weekend. Lots of rainfall expected with this particular system. Also, even though the stationary front is going to be over the area, thats going to continue to pump some more moisture into the northern portions of japan as well. So heres a look at the forecast. Central japan dealing with very warm weather. Low to mid30s in that area. Seoul, 30 degrees with a chance for some rain and also down toward the south in the philippines monsoonal rains will be bringing rainfall into your area. Some people wading through chestdeep water in manila because of the heavy rainfall. Lets turn our attention to the eastern pacific. We have two tropical systems setting its sights toward hawaii. First, were talking about azel. You notice the characteristic eye has all but disappeared. The reason is because it is weakening. It is hitting colder waters. So its taking away some of the gas it needs to stay strong. The good news is, it is going to continue to weaken. However, its still going to bring lots of rainfall and also some strong winds as we go into thursday and then into friday. Tropical storm watches are posted all along the coastlines here. Please make sure youre taking precautions with this. As we go into the weekend, hurricane julio will now be following behind this system. Right now the track is turning slightly toward the north. So it looks like thats not going to make a direct landfall over hawaii. However, because of the size of the system, it will likely cause some very rough surf as we go into the weekend. A quick look at the americas. North america looking relatively dry for the eastern half of the u. S. Well be dealing with some rain in the upper midwest because of a dropping front. And then behind it, were going to see sunnier conditions. Winnipeg at 29. Chicago at 22 degrees with partly cloudy skies. Rain and thunderstorms in new york and d. C. Wrapping up in europe, we are watching out for a couple of systems. One in the scandinavian peninsula, one down into the balkans. Both bringing muchneeded rainfall. The Stormy Weather down toward the south, not a good situation for the balkan peninsula. So please make sure youre taking precautions with that. 23 in warsaw. 23 in vienna. Also, a chance for rain and thunderstorms into athens. Slightly cooler temperatures over into kiev and moscow. But still, a little bit above average for this time of year. Hope you have a good day wherever you are. Heres your extended outlook. Thats newsline for this hour. Im gene otani in tokyo. Welcome back to the newsroom here on france 24. Thanks for joining us. The fragile ceasefire in the middle east has made it to a second day. Loading talks in cairo to try to extend the truce beyond the end talks inow holding cairo to try to extend the truce beyond the end of tomorrow. Summit toasted with one of the biggest state dinners in white house history. For a probe, one giant step in space history. 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