Remembrances in Japan, the United States and elsewhere this week mark the only use of atomic weapons in military conflict and against civilian populations.

The number of survivors of the U.S. atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is dwindling 80 years later, but they are increasingly speaking out against nuclear weapons.

Preparations were underway in Japan’s Hiroshima on Tuesday (August 5), just one day of ahead of a major memorial ceremony marking 80 years since the atomic bombing of the city. Workers made final touches to the venue at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park where the ceremony is scheduled to be held on Wednesday (August 6).

Japan has secured a landmark AU$10 billion (£4.9bn) agreement to build Australia's next generation of warships. It marks Tokyo 's most significant defence sale since ending a military export ban in 2014 and signalling a notable shift from its post-war pacifism.

Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries won a multi-billion dollar deal to build a fleet of advanced naval frigates for Australia, boosting Tokyo’s ambitions to become a major exporter of military equipment and develop its defense sector.

The Australian government aims to sign binding, commercial contracts with Mitsubishi Heavy and the Japanese government in 2026.

Two boats launching fireworks caught fire in Japan on Monday during a summer festival in Yokohama, located south of Tokyo.

Two boats launching fireworks caught fire in Japan on Monday during a summer festival in Yokohama, located south of Tokyo. Roughly 20 minutes in the event, the music stopped and the officials announced the event was cancelled "due to safety concerns.

Japan's top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said he would leave for Washington on Tuesday, seeking to press for President Donald Trump's signing of an executive order that would bring an agreed cut to tariffs on Japanese auto imports into effect.

Japan’s top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, is heading to Washington to push for the timely enforcement of Trump’s 15% tariffs on Japanese goods, according to Bloomberg. Akazawa said Japan will keep urging the U.