As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the first use of a nuclear weapon on the Japanese city of Hiroshima near the end of World War II, the planet is closer to seeing them used again than it has been in decades,

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.

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.

The defence industry partnership "makes it harder for China to play Japan and Australia off against each other and sends a concerted signal to Beijing that both countries are will

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.