The sailor pictured kissing a woman in Times Square as people celebrated <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-world-war-ii-era-dakota-finally-home-bound-to-india-132589">the end of World War II</a> has died at age 95, his daughter told The Providence Journal.

George Mendonsa had a seizure Sunday after falling at an assisted living facility in Middletown, Rhode Island, his daughter Sharon Molleur said.

In the famous image, one of four taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt for Life magazine, Mendonsa is seen ecstatically bending over and kissing a woman in a white nurse's uniform.

The picture was published by Life as "V-J Day in Times Square."

Mendonsa, who served in the Pacific during World War II, was on home leave when the picture was taken.

He had long claimed to be the sailor in the picture, but it wasn't confirmed until recently with the use of facial recognition technology.

Greta Zimmer Friedman, the woman in the picture, died in 2016 at the age of age 92.

Eisenstaedt did not get the names of the kissing strangers.&nbsp;

He later described watching the sailor running along the street, and grabbing any girl in sight.

"I was running ahead of him with my Leica looking back over my shoulder but none of the pictures that were possible pleased me," he wrote in "Eisenstaedt on Eisenstaedt."

"Then suddenly, in a flash, I saw something white being grabbed. I turned around and clicked the moment the sailor kissed the nurse. If she had been dressed in a dark dress I would never have taken the picture."

The sailor pictured kissing a woman in Times Square as people celebrated the end of World War II has died at age 95, his daughter told The Providence Journal. George Mendonsa had a seizure Sunday after falling at an assisted living facility in Middletown, Rhode Island, his daughter Sharon Molleur said.

The sailor pictured kissing a woman in Times Square as people celebrated the end of World War II has died at age 95, his daughter told The Providence Journal. George Mendonsa had a seizure Sunday after falling at an assisted living facility in Middletown, Rhode Island, his daughter Sharon Molleur said. In the famous image, one of four taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt for Life magazine, Mendonsa is seen ecstatically bending over and kissing a woman in a white nurse's uniform. The picture was published by Life as "V-J Day in Times Square." Mendonsa, who served in the Pacific during World War II, was on home leave when the picture was taken. He had long claimed to be the sailor in the picture, but it wasn't confirmed until recently with the use of facial recognition technology. Greta Zimmer Friedman, the woman in the picture, died in 2016 at the age of age 92. Eisenstaedt did not get the names of the kissing strangers. He later described watching the sailor running along the street, and grabbing any girl in sight. "I was running ahead of him with my Leica looking back over my shoulder but none of the pictures that were possible pleased me," he wrote in "Eisenstaedt on Eisenstaedt." "Then suddenly, in a flash, I saw something white being grabbed. I turned around and clicked the moment the sailor kissed the nurse. If she had been dressed in a dark dress I would never have taken the picture."

'Kissing sailor' in iconic New York picture dies at 95

The leaders of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/any-deal-to-end-island-row-with-japan-needs-public-support-putin-after-meeting-japan-pm-192083">Russia and Japan fell short of </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/any-deal-to-end-island-row-with-japan-needs-public-support-putin-after-meeting-japan-pm-192083">agreement</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/any-deal-to-end-island-row-with-japan-needs-public-support-putin-after-meeting-japan-pm-192083"> </a>Tuesday over a disputed island chain that has long prevented a peace treaty to formally end World War II.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Moscow marked the 25th time he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met since 2013, a reflection of their efforts to build cooperation despite the territorial disagreement.

The Soviet army seized the four Kuril islands, between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, in the last days of World War II.

Tokyo's refusal to recognise Moscow's sovereignty there has been a barrier to peace for more than seven decades.

Putin told journalists following the talks there that "detailed work" remained ahead of the two parties before any agreement, but hailed the summit as "useful and substantial."&nbsp;

He confirmed Moscow is still interested in building the negotiating process on a 1956 Soviet-Japanese declaration "which stipulates first and foremost the signing of a peace accord," Putin said.

The declaration mooted giving Japan two of the smaller islands after a peace deal, which fell through due to Tokyo's claim over all four and its eventual military alliance with Washington.

Abe said at the joint briefing that the leaders "discussed the peace agreement without hiding anything from one another" and "agreed to continue energetic work," in comments translated from Japanese.

Earlier this month Moscow responded furiously to a New Year's message from Abe in which the Japanese leader said Russians living on the islands should be helped to accept that the "sovereignty of their homes will change".

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tokyo needed to recognise Russia's sovereignty over the Kurils.

"Why is Japan the only country in the world that cannot accept the results of World War II in their entirety?" he asked.

Moscow has also lamented Japan's hesitance to invest in Russian projects, including on the Kuril islands themselves.

On Tuesday, Putin said that no "qualitative shift" has happened in the realm of economic cooperation, hoping that bilateral trade would grow to USD 30 billion from about USD 18 billion in 2017.

His spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated after the summit that Moscow would be keen to see some investment to get the peace talks rolling. "Trade and economic ties must be developed, and that will allow other issues to be resolved."&nbsp;

Abe's Moscow visit is the first leg of a trip to Europe, which will also include a speech at the Davos forum in Switzerland on Wednesday.

Recent reports indicated that Abe may be leaning toward a framework that would see Japan claiming two of the smaller islands, Shikotan and Habomai, which is actually a group of uninhabited islets.

But it is not clear whether the Kremlin would be willing to transfer sovereignty over any territory.

The chain ensures Russia's strategic control of the Sea of Okhotsk, and some southern islands in the chain are less than 10 kilometres (six miles) from Japan's Hokkaido island.

Giving away even uninhabited islands would be poorly received in Russia, where World War II is hugely symbolic and post-war territorial gains are seen as non-negotiable.

On Tuesday morning, a small group of protesters holding leftist red flags gathered near the Japanese embassy in Moscow. Leftist politician Sergei Udaltsov wrote on Facebook that 11 people were detained by police.

An opinion poll by independent Russian pollster Levada Centre last month suggested that 74 per cent of Russians would not support exchanging some of the islands for a peace deal, while only 17 per cent said they would.

To make a deal work "a vast majority of the public in Russia and Japan must support the agreement," Dmitry Trenin, who heads the Carnegie Moscow Centre, wrote in the Vedomosti newspaper.

Russian state television has been unenthusiastic about the summit. Top news presenter Dmitry Kiselyov disputed the very notion that Japan could be a "friend" of Russia as long as it opposed Moscow's policies and had US military "occupying" its territory.

As for the Kurils, Kiselyov said on his popular "News of the Week" show that 90 per cent of Russians were against giving any of them back to Tokyo. "Would Putin want to ignore this powerful public opinion?" he asked. "Impossible."&nbsp;

The leaders of Russia and Japan fell short of agreement Tuesday over a disputed island chain that has long prevented a peace treaty to formally end World War II.

The leaders of Russia and Japan fell short of agreement Tuesday over a disputed island chain that has long prevented a peace treaty to formally end World War II. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Moscow marked the 25th time he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met since 2013, a reflection of their efforts to build cooperation despite the territorial disagreement. The Soviet army seized the four Kuril islands, between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, in the last days of World War II. Tokyo's refusal to recognise Moscow's sovereignty there has been a barrier to peace for more than seven decades. Putin told journalists following the talks there that "detailed work" remained ahead of the two parties before any agreement, but hailed the summit as "useful and substantial." He confirmed Moscow is still interested in building the negotiating process on a 1956 Soviet-Japanese declaration "which stipulates first and foremost the signing of a peace accord," Putin said. The declaration mooted giving Japan two of the smaller islands after a peace deal, which fell through due to Tokyo's claim over all four and its eventual military alliance with Washington. Abe said at the joint briefing that the leaders "discussed the peace agreement without hiding anything from one another" and "agreed to continue energetic work," in comments translated from Japanese. Earlier this month Moscow responded furiously to a New Year's message from Abe in which the Japanese leader said Russians living on the islands should be helped to accept that the "sovereignty of their homes will change". Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tokyo needed to recognise Russia's sovereignty over the Kurils. "Why is Japan the only country in the world that cannot accept the results of World War II in their entirety?" he asked. Moscow has also lamented Japan's hesitance to invest in Russian projects, including on the Kuril islands themselves. On Tuesday, Putin said that no "qualitative shift" has happened in the realm of economic cooperation, hoping that bilateral trade would grow to USD 30 billion from about USD 18 billion in 2017. His spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated after the summit that Moscow would be keen to see some investment to get the peace talks rolling. "Trade and economic ties must be developed, and that will allow other issues to be resolved." Abe's Moscow visit is the first leg of a trip to Europe, which will also include a speech at the Davos forum in Switzerland on Wednesday. Recent reports indicated that Abe may be leaning toward a framework that would see Japan claiming two of the smaller islands, Shikotan and Habomai, which is actually a group of uninhabited islets. But it is not clear whether the Kremlin would be willing to transfer sovereignty over any territory. The chain ensures Russia's strategic control of the Sea of Okhotsk, and some southern islands in the chain are less than 10 kilometres (six miles) from Japan's Hokkaido island. Giving away even uninhabited islands would be poorly received in Russia, where World War II is hugely symbolic and post-war territorial gains are seen as non-negotiable. On Tuesday morning, a small group of protesters holding leftist red flags gathered near the Japanese embassy in Moscow. Leftist politician Sergei Udaltsov wrote on Facebook that 11 people were detained by police. An opinion poll by independent Russian pollster Levada Centre last month suggested that 74 per cent of Russians would not support exchanging some of the islands for a peace deal, while only 17 per cent said they would. To make a deal work "a vast majority of the public in Russia and Japan must support the agreement," Dmitry Trenin, who heads the Carnegie Moscow Centre, wrote in the Vedomosti newspaper. Russian state television has been unenthusiastic about the summit. Top news presenter Dmitry Kiselyov disputed the very notion that Japan could be a "friend" of Russia as long as it opposed Moscow's policies and had US military "occupying" its territory. As for the Kurils, Kiselyov said on his popular "News of the Week" show that 90 per cent of Russians were against giving any of them back to Tokyo. "Would Putin want to ignore this powerful public opinion?" he asked. "Impossible."

Putin, Abe talks fail to break island impasse

The leaders of Russia and Japan were meeting in Moscow Tuesday for talks over a disputed island chain that has long prevented agreement on a peace treaty to formally end World War II.&nbsp;

But recent rhetoric has dampened hopes of a breakthrough.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit marks the 25th time he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met since 2013, a reflection of their efforts to build cooperation despite their territorial disagreement.

The Soviet army seized the four Kuril islands, between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, in the last days of World War II.

Tokyo's refusal to recognise Moscow's sovereignty there has been a barrier to peace for more than seven decades.

Ahead of closed-door talks, Putin told Abe that diplomats on both sides have "worked a lot... on the issues surrounding the peace agreement," while Abe responded that he is interested in developing ties.

But despite their good personal rapport and a flurry of diplomacy since November, when the two leaders agreed to accelerate peace talks, recent statements from both capitals suggest a compromise is still far off.

'Drawn out' process

Moscow responded furiously to a New Year's message from Abe in which he said Russians living on the islands should be helped to accept that the "sovereignty of their homes will change".

Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Japan should stop referring to the islands as its "Northern Territories" in legislation and described Tokyo's military alliance with Washington as problematic.

Tokyo needed to recognise Russia's sovereignty over the Kurils, said Lavrov.

"Why is Japan the only country in the world that cannot accept the results of World War II in their entirety?" he asked.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the negotiations would likely be a "drawn out" process -- further cooling hopes for a quick resolution.

Abe's Moscow visit is the first leg of a trip to Europe, which will also include a speech at the Davos forum in Switzerland on Wednesday.

'Powerful public opinion'

Kremlin spokesman Peskov said on Monday that Japan had not so far made any official proposals based on claiming just two of the islands in the chain. This possibility was mooted by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, prior to Tokyo's alliance with the United States.

Japan's Kyodo news agency, citing government sources, said Abe was leaning toward accepting this framework for a peace deal.

But it is not clear whether the Kremlin would be keen to transfer sovereignty even for the two smaller islands, Shikotan and Habomai, which is actually a group of uninhabited islets.

The chain ensures Russia's strategic control of the Sea of Okhotsk, and some southern islands in the chain are less than 10 kilometres (six miles) from Japan's Hokkaido island.

Giving away even uninhabited islands would be poorly received in Russia, where World War II is hugely symbolic and post-war territorial gains are seen as non-negotiable.

On Tuesday, a small group of protesters holding leftist red flags gathered near the Japanese embassy in Moscow. Leftist politician Sergei Udaltsov wrote on Facebook that 11 people were detained by police.

An opinion poll by independent Russian pollster Levada Centre last month suggested that 74 per cent of Russians would not support exchanging some of the islands for a peace deal, while only 17 per cent said they would.

To make a deal work "a vast majority of the public in Russia and Japan must support the agreement," so the Kremlin has tot either convince Russians the decision is for the public good or miss a rare opportunity to improve ties with its Asian neighbour, Dmitry Trenin, who heads the Carnegie Moscow Centre, wrote in the Vedomosti newspaper.

Russian state television has been unenthusiastic about the summit.

Top news presenter Dmitry Kiselyov disputed the very notion that Japan could be a "friend" of Russia as long as it opposed Moscow's policies and had US military "occupying" its territory.

As for the Kurils, Kiselyov said on his popular "News of the Week" show that 90 per cent of Russians were against giving any of them back to Tokyo.

"Would Putin want to ignore this powerful public opinion?" he asked.&nbsp;

"Impossible," he said.&nbsp;

The leaders of Russia and Japan were meeting in Moscow Tuesday for talks over a disputed island chain that has long prevented agreement on a peace treaty to formally end World War II.

The leaders of Russia and Japan were meeting in Moscow Tuesday for talks over a disputed island chain that has long prevented agreement on a peace treaty to formally end World War II. But recent rhetoric has dampened hopes of a breakthrough. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit marks the 25th time he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met since 2013, a reflection of their efforts to build cooperation despite their territorial disagreement. The Soviet army seized the four Kuril islands, between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, in the last days of World War II. Tokyo's refusal to recognise Moscow's sovereignty there has been a barrier to peace for more than seven decades. Ahead of closed-door talks, Putin told Abe that diplomats on both sides have "worked a lot... on the issues surrounding the peace agreement," while Abe responded that he is interested in developing ties. But despite their good personal rapport and a flurry of diplomacy since November, when the two leaders agreed to accelerate peace talks, recent statements from both capitals suggest a compromise is still far off. 'Drawn out' process Moscow responded furiously to a New Year's message from Abe in which he said Russians living on the islands should be helped to accept that the "sovereignty of their homes will change". Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Japan should stop referring to the islands as its "Northern Territories" in legislation and described Tokyo's military alliance with Washington as problematic. Tokyo needed to recognise Russia's sovereignty over the Kurils, said Lavrov. "Why is Japan the only country in the world that cannot accept the results of World War II in their entirety?" he asked. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the negotiations would likely be a "drawn out" process -- further cooling hopes for a quick resolution. Abe's Moscow visit is the first leg of a trip to Europe, which will also include a speech at the Davos forum in Switzerland on Wednesday. 'Powerful public opinion' Kremlin spokesman Peskov said on Monday that Japan had not so far made any official proposals based on claiming just two of the islands in the chain. This possibility was mooted by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, prior to Tokyo's alliance with the United States. Japan's Kyodo news agency, citing government sources, said Abe was leaning toward accepting this framework for a peace deal. But it is not clear whether the Kremlin would be keen to transfer sovereignty even for the two smaller islands, Shikotan and Habomai, which is actually a group of uninhabited islets. The chain ensures Russia's strategic control of the Sea of Okhotsk, and some southern islands in the chain are less than 10 kilometres (six miles) from Japan's Hokkaido island. Giving away even uninhabited islands would be poorly received in Russia, where World War II is hugely symbolic and post-war territorial gains are seen as non-negotiable. On Tuesday, a small group of protesters holding leftist red flags gathered near the Japanese embassy in Moscow. Leftist politician Sergei Udaltsov wrote on Facebook that 11 people were detained by police. An opinion poll by independent Russian pollster Levada Centre last month suggested that 74 per cent of Russians would not support exchanging some of the islands for a peace deal, while only 17 per cent said they would. To make a deal work "a vast majority of the public in Russia and Japan must support the agreement," so the Kremlin has tot either convince Russians the decision is for the public good or miss a rare opportunity to improve ties with its Asian neighbour, Dmitry Trenin, who heads the Carnegie Moscow Centre, wrote in the Vedomosti newspaper. Russian state television has been unenthusiastic about the summit. Top news presenter Dmitry Kiselyov disputed the very notion that Japan could be a "friend" of Russia as long as it opposed Moscow's policies and had US military "occupying" its territory. As for the Kurils, Kiselyov said on his popular "News of the Week" show that 90 per cent of Russians were against giving any of them back to Tokyo. "Would Putin want to ignore this powerful public opinion?" he asked. "Impossible," he said.

Russian President Putin, Japan PM Shinzo Abe hold summit to break island impasse

The European Union imposed chemical weapons sanctions on nine Russian and Syrian officials on Monday, including the chief of the powerful GRU military intelligence agency.

The EU blamed the Russians -- two agents and the head and the deputy head of the GRU -- for the "possession, transport and use" of the nerve agent used in the attack in Salisbury, England last March.

In addition to an assets freeze and travel ban for the Russian officials, the bloc announced sanctions on an alleged Syrian chemical weapons agency and five Syrians, EU states said in a statement.

"This decision contributes to the EU's efforts to counter the proliferation and use of chemical weapons which poses a serious threat to international security," the statement said, after a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Full details of those targeted were to be placed in the EU Official Journal later Monday.

Russian agents have been blamed for the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city in March last year using the Soviet-developed nerve agent Novichok.

The Salisbury attack, the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, caused an international outcry and prompted a mass expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western nations.

The Skripals survived the attack but a woman died in June after her partner picked up a discarded perfume bottle that British investigators believe was used to carry the Novichok.

Moscow denies involvement in the poisoning and has offered numerous and varied alternative explanations and counter-accusations.

The European Union imposed chemical weapons sanctions on nine Russian and Syrian officials on Monday, including the chief of the powerful GRU military intelligence agency.

The European Union imposed chemical weapons sanctions on nine Russian and Syrian officials on Monday, including the chief of the powerful GRU military intelligence agency. The EU blamed the Russians -- two agents and the head and the deputy head of the GRU -- for the "possession, transport and use" of the nerve agent used in the attack in Salisbury, England last March. In addition to an assets freeze and travel ban for the Russian officials, the bloc announced sanctions on an alleged Syrian chemical weapons agency and five Syrians, EU states said in a statement. "This decision contributes to the EU's efforts to counter the proliferation and use of chemical weapons which poses a serious threat to international security," the statement said, after a meeting of EU foreign ministers. Full details of those targeted were to be placed in the EU Official Journal later Monday. Russian agents have been blamed for the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city in March last year using the Soviet-developed nerve agent Novichok. The Salisbury attack, the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, caused an international outcry and prompted a mass expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western nations. The Skripals survived the attack but a woman died in June after her partner picked up a discarded perfume bottle that British investigators believe was used to carry the Novichok. Moscow denies involvement in the poisoning and has offered numerous and varied alternative explanations and counter-accusations.

European Union sanctions Russia military intel chief, Syrian officials over Skripal

Germany "takes total responsibility for crimes committed" by the Nazis in Greece, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday on a visit to Athens.

Tensions linger over wartime reparations for the Nazis' World War II occupation of Greece with Berlin arguing the issue was settled in 1960 in a deal with several European governments.&nbsp;

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Greece amid tight security on Thursday, as she looks to turn the page on the biting austerity measures that sparked major protests during her last official visit to Athens in 2014.

Nearly 2,000 police personnel were deployed to supervise Merkel's visit and authorities have banned demonstrations around the home of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, where the two leaders are set to meet.

Relations between Greece and Germany have calmed since her previous visits in 2012 and 2014, which were overshadowed by angry anti-austerity rallies.&nbsp;

But small protests by leftist parties and neo-Nazi groups were expected outside the no-go zone, while a police source said the authorities had opened an inquiry into five envelopes containing "a powder of unknown origin", which were sent to regional universities this week.

Merkel's visit is seen as a chance to leave behind a fraught period caused by tough German demands for Greek austerity accompanying EU bailouts for the country during the eurozone sovereign debt crisis.

Greece, which left eight years of bailout programmes behind last year, has also been deeply affected by the European migrant crisis in recent years. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Ahead of the trip, Merkel's spokeswoman Martina Fietz said she and far-left leader Tsipras would discuss "European and international" issues.

Germany "takes total responsibility for crimes committed" by the Nazis in Greece, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday on a visit to Athens. Tensions linger over wartime reparations for the Nazis' World War II occupation of Greece with Berlin arguing the issue was settled in 1960 in a deal with several European governments.

Germany "takes total responsibility for crimes committed" by the Nazis in Greece, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday on a visit to Athens. Tensions linger over wartime reparations for the Nazis' World War II occupation of Greece with Berlin arguing the issue was settled in 1960 in a deal with several European governments. German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Greece amid tight security on Thursday, as she looks to turn the page on the biting austerity measures that sparked major protests during her last official visit to Athens in 2014. Nearly 2,000 police personnel were deployed to supervise Merkel's visit and authorities have banned demonstrations around the home of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, where the two leaders are set to meet. Relations between Greece and Germany have calmed since her previous visits in 2012 and 2014, which were overshadowed by angry anti-austerity rallies. But small protests by leftist parties and neo-Nazi groups were expected outside the no-go zone, while a police source said the authorities had opened an inquiry into five envelopes containing "a powder of unknown origin", which were sent to regional universities this week. Merkel's visit is seen as a chance to leave behind a fraught period caused by tough German demands for Greek austerity accompanying EU bailouts for the country during the eurozone sovereign debt crisis. Greece, which left eight years of bailout programmes behind last year, has also been deeply affected by the European migrant crisis in recent years. Ahead of the trip, Merkel's spokeswoman Martina Fietz said she and far-left leader Tsipras would discuss "European and international" issues.

Merkel says Germany takes responsibility for Nazi crimes in Greece

In a rare emotional address ahead of his abdication next year, Japanese Emperor Akihito said he took "deep comfort" that his long reign had been one of peace as he remembered the "countless lives" lost in World War II.

Akihito, in a pre-recorded speech to mark his 85th birthday Sunday, also paid tribute to the Japanese people and Empress Michiko, the first commoner to join the tradition-bound imperial family who has been at his side for 60 years.

His voice trembling as he discussed the legacy of World War II, the emperor pointed to the "countless lives" lost in the conflict, which was fought under the name of his father Hirohito, who died in 1989.

Akihito also reiterated the importance of "accurately" teaching history to young people.

"I have believed it is important not to forget that countless lives were lost in World War II and that the peace and prosperity of post-war Japan was built upon the numerous sacrifices and tireless efforts made by the Japanese people, and to pass on this history accurately to those born after the war," he said.

"It gives me deep comfort that the Heisei Era (his reign) is coming to an end, free of war in Japan," he said.

During his reign, the soft-spoken Akihito has used his speeches and travels to express his strong pacifist views, which are sharply at odds with the aggressive expansionism Japan pursued under his father's rule.

His insistence on remembering history is in sharp contrast with conservative ideologues who have attempted to gloss over Japan's wartime record.

The widely adored emperor will next year become the first Japanese royal to abdicate in more than two centuries.

His eldest son Crown Prince Naruhito will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne on May 1.

Akihito said his reign had been a quest to determine the role of the emperor as a "symbol of the state" under Japan's pacifist post-war constitution, in contrast to his father Hirohito who was regarded as semi-divine.

And he thanked Empress Michiko for standing by his side.

"As I come to the end of my journey as emperor, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the many people who accepted and continued to support me as the symbol of the state," he said, his voice quavering.

"I am also truly grateful to the empress, who herself was once one of the people, but who chose to walk this path with me, and over 60 long years continued to serve with great devotion both the imperial family and the people of Japan."

Akihito has worked to bring the royal household closer to the people and frequently visited the disadvantaged and families hit by natural disasters.

In a rare emotional address ahead of his abdication next year, Japanese Emperor Akihito said he took "deep comfort" that his long reign had been one of peace as he remembered the "countless lives" lost in World War II.

In a rare emotional address ahead of his abdication next year, Japanese Emperor Akihito said he took "deep comfort" that his long reign had been one of peace as he remembered the "countless lives" lost in World War II. Akihito, in a pre-recorded speech to mark his 85th birthday Sunday, also paid tribute to the Japanese people and Empress Michiko, the first commoner to join the tradition-bound imperial family who has been at his side for 60 years. His voice trembling as he discussed the legacy of World War II, the emperor pointed to the "countless lives" lost in the conflict, which was fought under the name of his father Hirohito, who died in 1989. Akihito also reiterated the importance of "accurately" teaching history to young people. "I have believed it is important not to forget that countless lives were lost in World War II and that the peace and prosperity of post-war Japan was built upon the numerous sacrifices and tireless efforts made by the Japanese people, and to pass on this history accurately to those born after the war," he said. "It gives me deep comfort that the Heisei Era (his reign) is coming to an end, free of war in Japan," he said. During his reign, the soft-spoken Akihito has used his speeches and travels to express his strong pacifist views, which are sharply at odds with the aggressive expansionism Japan pursued under his father's rule. His insistence on remembering history is in sharp contrast with conservative ideologues who have attempted to gloss over Japan's wartime record. The widely adored emperor will next year become the first Japanese royal to abdicate in more than two centuries. His eldest son Crown Prince Naruhito will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne on May 1. Akihito said his reign had been a quest to determine the role of the emperor as a "symbol of the state" under Japan's pacifist post-war constitution, in contrast to his father Hirohito who was regarded as semi-divine. And he thanked Empress Michiko for standing by his side. "As I come to the end of my journey as emperor, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the many people who accepted and continued to support me as the symbol of the state," he said, his voice quavering. "I am also truly grateful to the empress, who herself was once one of the people, but who chose to walk this path with me, and over 60 long years continued to serve with great devotion both the imperial family and the people of Japan." Akihito has worked to bring the royal household closer to the people and frequently visited the disadvantaged and families hit by natural disasters.

Japanese emperor stresses his peaceful reign ahead of abdication

President Emmanuel Macron of France Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on Saturday unveiled a plaque to their countries' reconciliation in the forest clearing in France where the armistice ending World War I was signed.

In a highly symbolic ceremony, Macron and Merkel met at the site near Compiegne in eastern France where Germany officially surrendered at dawn on November 11, 1918, bringing to a close more than four years of slaughter on the Western front.

It was the first time a German leader had visited the site since World War II.

The visit underscored the close ties between two countries that fought three wars between 1870 and 1945 but are now seen as the lynchpins of peace in Western Europe.

Macron, sporting a cornflower in his lapel -- the French equivalent to Britain's remembrance poppy -- and Merkel reviewed grey-clad soldiers from the Franco-German brigade, part of the Eurocorps, before standing elbow-to-elbow at the centre of the clearing for the ceremony.

"On the centenary of the November 11, 1918 armistice, Mr Emmanuel Macron, president of the French Republic, and Mrs Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the federal Republic of Germany, here reaffirmed the value of Franco-German reconciliation in the service of Europe and peace," read the plaque.

It was laid next to another plaque dating back to World War 1, which reads: "The criminal pride of the German empire died here on November 11, 1918, vanquished by the free people it had sought to enslave."

The open-air site at Rhetondes is doubly symbolic as Adolf Hitler chose the same spot to sign the surrender of the French on June 22, 1940 at the start of World War II.

Germany insisted that the railway carriage in which the WWI armistice was signed be brought out of a museum and returned to Rhetondes for the ceremony. It was destroyed during the war and a replica now stands at the site.

Macron and Merkel are due to travel to Paris where some 70 world leaders will gather Sunday to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the war at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe.

President Emmanuel Macron of France Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on Saturday unveiled a plaque to their countries' reconciliation in the forest clearing in France where the armistice ending World War I was signed.

President Emmanuel Macron of France Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on Saturday unveiled a plaque to their countries' reconciliation in the forest clearing in France where the armistice ending World War I was signed. In a highly symbolic ceremony, Macron and Merkel met at the site near Compiegne in eastern France where Germany officially surrendered at dawn on November 11, 1918, bringing to a close more than four years of slaughter on the Western front. It was the first time a German leader had visited the site since World War II. The visit underscored the close ties between two countries that fought three wars between 1870 and 1945 but are now seen as the lynchpins of peace in Western Europe. Macron, sporting a cornflower in his lapel -- the French equivalent to Britain's remembrance poppy -- and Merkel reviewed grey-clad soldiers from the Franco-German brigade, part of the Eurocorps, before standing elbow-to-elbow at the centre of the clearing for the ceremony. "On the centenary of the November 11, 1918 armistice, Mr Emmanuel Macron, president of the French Republic, and Mrs Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the federal Republic of Germany, here reaffirmed the value of Franco-German reconciliation in the service of Europe and peace," read the plaque. It was laid next to another plaque dating back to World War 1, which reads: "The criminal pride of the German empire died here on November 11, 1918, vanquished by the free people it had sought to enslave." The open-air site at Rhetondes is doubly symbolic as Adolf Hitler chose the same spot to sign the surrender of the French on June 22, 1940 at the start of World War II. Germany insisted that the railway carriage in which the WWI armistice was signed be brought out of a museum and returned to Rhetondes for the ceremony. It was destroyed during the war and a replica now stands at the site. Macron and Merkel are due to travel to Paris where some 70 world leaders will gather Sunday to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the war at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe.

Macron and Merkel mark World War I armistice centenary

Italy has appealed to NATO for greater help in tackling illegal immigration from North Africa, especially Libya, with its new government saying the country was "under attack" from the south.

EU rules mean migrants must apply for asylum in the European country where they first arrive, putting pressure on Italy and Greece, the entry points for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia since 2015.

"We cannot have closer cooperation between NATO and the European Union in the Mediterranean and elsewhere," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said after meeting NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

Italy's new government formed by the anti-establishment M5S and anti-immigration League parties considers the Mediterranean the EU's "southern flank" and has sounded the alarm on immigration saying terrorists could sneak into Europe and wreak havoc.

On Sunday, Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi had underscored "the importance for Italy for the NATO Brussels summit to reaffirm the approach of a 360-degree security policy without neglecting the southern flank from where serious challenges emerge for the alliance, starting with terrorism."

"NATO's engagement in the south constitutes an important component of its strategy shift," he said, after meeting with Stoltenberg.

The first to lead the charge was Interior Minister and League chief Matteo Salvini who has continued with his anti-migrant rhetoric since taking charge.

"We are under attack and we are asking NATO for a defensive alliance to protect us," he had said. "Italy is under attack from the south and not from the east."

The summer of 2016 saw a surge in mass drownings in the Mediterranean as Europe's worst migration crisis since World War II peaked with hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere.

The first to lead the charge was Interior Minister and League chief Matteo Salvini who has continued with his anti-migrant rhetoric since taking charge

Italy has appealed to NATO for greater help in tackling illegal immigration from North Africa, especially Libya, with its new government saying the country was "under attack" from the south. EU rules mean migrants must apply for asylum in the European country where they first arrive, putting pressure on Italy and Greece, the entry points for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia since 2015. "We cannot have closer cooperation between NATO and the European Union in the Mediterranean and elsewhere," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said after meeting NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. Italy's new government formed by the anti-establishment M5S and anti-immigration League parties considers the Mediterranean the EU's "southern flank" and has sounded the alarm on immigration saying terrorists could sneak into Europe and wreak havoc. On Sunday, Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi had underscored "the importance for Italy for the NATO Brussels summit to reaffirm the approach of a 360-degree security policy without neglecting the southern flank from where serious challenges emerge for the alliance, starting with terrorism." "NATO's engagement in the south constitutes an important component of its strategy shift," he said, after meeting with Stoltenberg. The first to lead the charge was Interior Minister and League chief Matteo Salvini who has continued with his anti-migrant rhetoric since taking charge. "We are under attack and we are asking NATO for a defensive alliance to protect us," he had said. "Italy is under attack from the south and not from the east." The summer of 2016 saw a surge in mass drownings in the Mediterranean as Europe's worst migration crisis since World War II peaked with hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Italy seeks NATO help in tackling migrant crisis

It's a World War-II era aircraft. It's a plane which was a game-changer while transporting Indian troops into Srinagar during the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan in 1947 just after India's independence. It's a plane which has risen from the ashes like a phoenix. And it's a plane which is finally home-bound.

Having started its flight from the United Kingdom on April 17, the Dakota DC-3 - named Parashuram -&nbsp; will land on Indian soil on April 25.

It will bear the tail number VP 905, the same one which the first such Dakota which transported troops of the 1st Sikh Regiment to Srinagar on October 27, 1947, during the Kashmir conflict.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DakotaHomebound?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DakotaHomebound</a> :&nbsp;A Dakota DC-3 aircraft of 1940’s vintage would be inducted shortly into the Vintage Aircraft Flight of the IAF. The aircraft was obtained from scrap in 2011 & restored to flying condition in UK by Hon’ble Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar for gifting it to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IAF?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IAF</a>. <a href="https://t.co/xq8LHza53V">pic.twitter.com/xq8LHza53V</a>
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/988465747583094784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Procured from scrap and restored to its flying glory with the intervention of Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, this aircraft - regarded as one of the most versatile transport aircraft of its time - will land in Jamnagar in Gujarat on April 25 and is all set to be inducted in the Vintage Aircraft Flight of the Indian Air Force on May 4 at the Hindan Air Force Station.

The Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B.S Dhanoa had ceremonially accepted the aircraft into the IAF from Rajeev Chandrasekhar in February this year.

The IAF had signed a contract with M/s Reflight Airworks Ltd London for upgrading its navigational systems. Once the restoration was completed, it was subject to test flights and once it successfully completed those, it began its journey to India.

The Dakota is being flown to India by a joint crew of the Indian Air Force and M/s Reflight Airworks Ltd. Ever since it started its journey on April 17, the aircraft has made scheduled halts at in France, Italy, Greece, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. It'll now undertake the last leg of its journey from Muscat to Jamnagar.

On April 22, the&nbsp;Dakota flew the longest leg of its homebound journey. It flew 1,598.47 kilometres from Aqaba Royal Jordanian Air Force Base to Bahrain International Airport & carried out its first night landing as well.

A large fleet of Dakota DC-3 served in the IAF till 1988. Built in 1944, the aircraft served in the military with the Royal Air Force and was also operated by various civil airlines.

Regarded as the main workhorses of the then Royal Indian Air Force, the Dakotas are credited as being the game-changers in the 1947 India-Pakistan war by saving the Kashmir valley for India. They are also credited with hastening Dhaka's fall and the liberation of Bangladesh.

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Update on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DakotaHomebound?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DakotaHomebound</a> : On 22Apr18, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VP905?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VP905</a> flew the longest leg (1598.47 Kms) of the ferry from Aqaba Royal Jordanian Air Force Base to Bahrain International Airport & carried out its first Night Landing. The homebound lap from Muscat to Jamnagar, India is planned on 25Apr18 <a href="https://t.co/RpwhaFdPbk">pic.twitter.com/RpwhaFdPbk</a>
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/988622633456435201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The Dakota is being flown to India by a joint crew of the Indian Air Force and M/s Reflight Airworks Ltd.

It's a World War-II era aircraft. It's a plane which was a game-changer while transporting Indian troops into Srinagar during the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan in 1947 just after India's independence. It's a plane which has risen from the ashes like a phoenix. And it's a plane which is finally home-bound. Having started its flight from the United Kingdom on April 17, the Dakota DC-3 - named Parashuram - will land on Indian soil on April 25. It will bear the tail number VP 905, the same one which the first such Dakota which transported troops of the 1st Sikh Regiment to Srinagar on October 27, 1947, during the Kashmir conflict. #DakotaHomebound : A Dakota DC-3 aircraft of 1940’s vintage would be inducted shortly into the Vintage Aircraft Flight of the IAF. The aircraft was obtained from scrap in 2011 & restored to flying condition in UK by Hon’ble Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar for gifting it to the #IAF. pic.twitter.com/xq8LHza53V — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 23, 2018 × Procured from scrap and restored to its flying glory with the intervention of Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, this aircraft - regarded as one of the most versatile transport aircraft of its time - will land in Jamnagar in Gujarat on April 25 and is all set to be inducted in the Vintage Aircraft Flight of the Indian Air Force on May 4 at the Hindan Air Force Station. The Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B.S Dhanoa had ceremonially accepted the aircraft into the IAF from Rajeev Chandrasekhar in February this year. The IAF had signed a contract with M/s Reflight Airworks Ltd London for upgrading its navigational systems. Once the restoration was completed, it was subject to test flights and once it successfully completed those, it began its journey to India. The Dakota is being flown to India by a joint crew of the Indian Air Force and M/s Reflight Airworks Ltd. Ever since it started its journey on April 17, the aircraft has made scheduled halts at in France, Italy, Greece, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. It'll now undertake the last leg of its journey from Muscat to Jamnagar. On April 22, the Dakota flew the longest leg of its homebound journey. It flew 1,598.47 kilometres from Aqaba Royal Jordanian Air Force Base to Bahrain International Airport & carried out its first night landing as well. A large fleet of Dakota DC-3 served in the IAF till 1988. Built in 1944, the aircraft served in the military with the Royal Air Force and was also operated by various civil airlines. Regarded as the main workhorses of the then Royal Indian Air Force, the Dakotas are credited as being the game-changers in the 1947 India-Pakistan war by saving the Kashmir valley for India. They are also credited with hastening Dhaka's fall and the liberation of Bangladesh. Update on #DakotaHomebound : On 22Apr18, #VP905 flew the longest leg (1598.47 Kms) of the ferry from Aqaba Royal Jordanian Air Force Base to Bahrain International Airport & carried out its first Night Landing. The homebound lap from Muscat to Jamnagar, India is planned on 25Apr18 pic.twitter.com/RpwhaFdPbk — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 24, 2018 ×

Watch: World War II-era Dakota finally home-bound to India

Japan on Saturday activated its first marine unit since World War Two trained to counter invaders occupying Japanese islands along the edge of the East China Sea that Tokyo fears are vulnerable to attack by China.

In a ceremony held at a military base near Sasebo on the southwest island of Kyushu, about 1,500 members of the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) wearing camouflage lined up outside amid cold, windy weather.

“Given the increasingly difficult defence and security situation surrounding Japan, defence of our islands has become a critical mandate,” Tomohiro Yamamoto, vice defence minister, said in a speech.

The troops conducted a 20-minute mock public exercise recapturing a remote island from invaders.

The formation of the Japanese marine brigade is controversial because amphibious units can project military force and could, critics warn, be used to threaten Japan’s neighbours. In its post, World War Two constitution Japan renounced the right to wage war.

The brigade is the latest component of a growing marine force that includes helicopter carriers, amphibious ships, Osprey tilt-rotor troop carriers and amphibious assault vehicles, meant to deter China as it pushes for easier access to the Western Pacific.

China, which dominates the South China Sea, is outpacing Japan in defence spending. In 2018, Beijing which claims a group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea controlled by Tokyo, will spend 1.11 trillion yuan ($176.56 billion) on its armed forces, more than three times as much as Japan.

The activation of the 2,100 strong ARDB takes Japan a step closer to creating a force similar to a US Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) able to plan and execute operations at sea far from its home base.

“They’ve already demonstrated the ability to put together an ad hoc MEU. But to have a solid, standing MEU capability requires a concerted effort,” Grant Newsham, a research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies.

“If Japan put its mind to it, within a year or year and a half it could have a reasonable capability.”

Newsham, who helped train Japan’s first amphibious troops as a US Marine Corps colonel liaison officer assigned to the Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF), said Japan still needs a joint navy-army amphibious headquarters to coordinate operations as well as more amphibious ships to carry troops and equipment.

Japanese military planners are already mulling some of those additions. Its Air Self Defense Force (ASDF) wants to acquire F-35Bs to operate from its Izumo and Ise helicopter carriers, or from islands along the East China Sea, sources have told Reuters.

The United States last month deployed its F-35Bs for their first at-sea operations aboard the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship, which is based in Sasebo. The Kyushu port is also home to Japan’s Ise and close to the ARDB’s base.

Separately the GSDF may acquire small amphibious ships up to a 100 meters (328.08 ft) long to transport troops and equipment between islands and from ship to shore, two sources familiar with the discussion said. Japanese ground forces have not operated their own ships since World War Two.

“The idea is to bring forces and gear on large ships to the main Okinawa island and then disperse them to other islands on smaller vessels,” said one of the sources, who asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

The activation of the 2,100 strong ARDB takes Japan a step closer to creating a force similar to a US Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) able to plan and execute operations at sea far from its home base.

Japan on Saturday activated its first marine unit since World War Two trained to counter invaders occupying Japanese islands along the edge of the East China Sea that Tokyo fears are vulnerable to attack by China. In a ceremony held at a military base near Sasebo on the southwest island of Kyushu, about 1,500 members of the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) wearing camouflage lined up outside amid cold, windy weather. “Given the increasingly difficult defence and security situation surrounding Japan, defence of our islands has become a critical mandate,” Tomohiro Yamamoto, vice defence minister, said in a speech. The troops conducted a 20-minute mock public exercise recapturing a remote island from invaders. The formation of the Japanese marine brigade is controversial because amphibious units can project military force and could, critics warn, be used to threaten Japan’s neighbours. In its post, World War Two constitution Japan renounced the right to wage war. The brigade is the latest component of a growing marine force that includes helicopter carriers, amphibious ships, Osprey tilt-rotor troop carriers and amphibious assault vehicles, meant to deter China as it pushes for easier access to the Western Pacific. China, which dominates the South China Sea, is outpacing Japan in defence spending. In 2018, Beijing which claims a group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea controlled by Tokyo, will spend 1.11 trillion yuan ($176.56 billion) on its armed forces, more than three times as much as Japan. The activation of the 2,100 strong ARDB takes Japan a step closer to creating a force similar to a US Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) able to plan and execute operations at sea far from its home base. “They’ve already demonstrated the ability to put together an ad hoc MEU. But to have a solid, standing MEU capability requires a concerted effort,” Grant Newsham, a research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies. “If Japan put its mind to it, within a year or year and a half it could have a reasonable capability.” Newsham, who helped train Japan’s first amphibious troops as a US Marine Corps colonel liaison officer assigned to the Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF), said Japan still needs a joint navy-army amphibious headquarters to coordinate operations as well as more amphibious ships to carry troops and equipment. Japanese military planners are already mulling some of those additions. Its Air Self Defense Force (ASDF) wants to acquire F-35Bs to operate from its Izumo and Ise helicopter carriers, or from islands along the East China Sea, sources have told Reuters. The United States last month deployed its F-35Bs for their first at-sea operations aboard the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship, which is based in Sasebo. The Kyushu port is also home to Japan’s Ise and close to the ARDB’s base. Separately the GSDF may acquire small amphibious ships up to a 100 meters (328.08 ft) long to transport troops and equipment between islands and from ship to shore, two sources familiar with the discussion said. Japanese ground forces have not operated their own ships since World War Two. “The idea is to bring forces and gear on large ships to the main Okinawa island and then disperse them to other islands on smaller vessels,” said one of the sources, who asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

Japan activates first marines since World War II to bolster defences against China

London City Airport was due to reopen on Tuesday after the removal of a World War II bomb which had been discovered close to the runway.

The 500-kilogramme (1,100-pound) German bomb was found early on Sunday morning in King George V Dock, during planned works close to London`s most central airport.

As bomb disposal experts from the police and Royal Navy worked to move the unexploded ordnance, the airport was shut down and two successive exclusion zones imposed.

London City Airport chief executive Robert Sinclair announced flights would resume on Tuesday after the bomb was successfully removed from the dock.&nbsp;

&quot;The exclusion zone has now been lifted and the airport will be open as normal on Tuesday,&quot; he said in a midnight (0000 GMT) statement.

&quot;To everyone who has been affected -- whether you were due to fly on Monday, were evacuated from your home or had your commute to work disrupted by the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) closure -- thank you for your patience and understanding,&quot; Sinclair added.

Monday`s shutdown affected up to 16,000 passengers who were due to fly from London`s fifth-biggest airport, although some airlines switched their flights to the city`s other hubs.

London City Airport opened in 1987 in the disused docklands. It handled 4.5 million passengers in 2017 and is mainly used by business travellers.

The bomb disposal operation initially saw the evacuation of up to 500 residents, who were allowed to return to their homes on Monday evening while others were evacuated from another area after the 1.5-metre (five-foot) shell was moved within the dock.&nbsp;

The Newham Council local authority established a rest centre and asked residents to stay with family or friends if possible.&nbsp;

Removal of the fused device had depended on the tides, which left authorities waiting until around midnight before they could transport the bomb further along the River Thames to be safely dealt with.

Jonny Campbell, the naval officer in charge of the bomb disposal divers, said the ordnance would be towed along the river after being removed from the sea bed.

&quot;We will then attach high-grade military explosives before carrying out a controlled explosion,&quot; he added.

London was heavily bombed during the &quot;Blitz&quot;, the Nazi German air attacks of September 1940 to May 1941.

The 500-kilogramme (1,100-pound) German bomb was found early on Sunday morning in King George V Dock

London City Airport was due to reopen on Tuesday after the removal of a World War II bomb which had been discovered close to the runway. The 500-kilogramme (1,100-pound) German bomb was found early on Sunday morning in King George V Dock, during planned works close to London`s most central airport. As bomb disposal experts from the police and Royal Navy worked to move the unexploded ordnance, the airport was shut down and two successive exclusion zones imposed. London City Airport chief executive Robert Sinclair announced flights would resume on Tuesday after the bomb was successfully removed from the dock. "The exclusion zone has now been lifted and the airport will be open as normal on Tuesday," he said in a midnight (0000 GMT) statement. "To everyone who has been affected -- whether you were due to fly on Monday, were evacuated from your home or had your commute to work disrupted by the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) closure -- thank you for your patience and understanding," Sinclair added. Monday`s shutdown affected up to 16,000 passengers who were due to fly from London`s fifth-biggest airport, although some airlines switched their flights to the city`s other hubs. London City Airport opened in 1987 in the disused docklands. It handled 4.5 million passengers in 2017 and is mainly used by business travellers. The bomb disposal operation initially saw the evacuation of up to 500 residents, who were allowed to return to their homes on Monday evening while others were evacuated from another area after the 1.5-metre (five-foot) shell was moved within the dock. The Newham Council local authority established a rest centre and asked residents to stay with family or friends if possible. Removal of the fused device had depended on the tides, which left authorities waiting until around midnight before they could transport the bomb further along the River Thames to be safely dealt with. Jonny Campbell, the naval officer in charge of the bomb disposal divers, said the ordnance would be towed along the river after being removed from the sea bed. "We will then attach high-grade military explosives before carrying out a controlled explosion," he added. London was heavily bombed during the "Blitz", the Nazi German air attacks of September 1940 to May 1941.

London airport to reopen after WWII bomb removed

London City Airport announced its closure on Sunday after a World War Two bomb was discovered in the nearby River Thames.

 
The ordnance was discovered in King George V Dock, close to the runway of London`s most central airport, during planned works.

 
&quot;A 214m (234-yard) exclusion zone has been implemented as a precaution by the Met Police. As a result, London City Airport is currently closed,&quot; the airport said in a statement.

 
Travellers were told to avoid the airport: &quot;All passengers due to travel from London City on Monday are advised to contact their airline for further information.&quot;

 
City Airport operates short-haul flights and is located in east London, close to the Canary Wharf business district.

 
The Metropolitan Police said the discovery was reported before dawn on Sunday, at around 0500 GMT, and the exclusion zone was put in place at 2200 GMT.

 
The decision was taken &quot;to ensure that the ordnance can be safely dealt with whilst limiting any risk to the public,&quot; police said in a statement.

 
The unexploded ordnance is being dealt with by specialist police officers working alongside the Royal Navy.&nbsp;

 
Thousands of bombs were dropped on London during the &quot;Blitz&quot; by German Air Forces between September 1940 and May 1941.

City Airport operates short-haul flights and is located in east London, close to the Canary Wharf business district.

London City Airport announced its closure on Sunday after a World War Two bomb was discovered in the nearby River Thames. The ordnance was discovered in King George V Dock, close to the runway of London`s most central airport, during planned works. "A 214m (234-yard) exclusion zone has been implemented as a precaution by the Met Police. As a result, London City Airport is currently closed," the airport said in a statement. Travellers were told to avoid the airport: "All passengers due to travel from London City on Monday are advised to contact their airline for further information." City Airport operates short-haul flights and is located in east London, close to the Canary Wharf business district. The Metropolitan Police said the discovery was reported before dawn on Sunday, at around 0500 GMT, and the exclusion zone was put in place at 2200 GMT. The decision was taken "to ensure that the ordnance can be safely dealt with whilst limiting any risk to the public," police said in a statement. The unexploded ordnance is being dealt with by specialist police officers working alongside the Royal Navy. Thousands of bombs were dropped on London during the "Blitz" by German Air Forces between September 1940 and May 1941.

London city airport closed after World War II bomb found

George Clooney will be making his comeback to television after almost two decades.&nbsp;

Marking his return to TV, Clooney recently signed to direct and film a six-episode&nbsp;series titled &quot;Catch-22&quot;.&nbsp;

According to a popular US-based celebrity news website, Clooney will&nbsp;direct, star in and executive produce the series, which is an adaptation of the book by Joseph Heller.

The original book of the same name, Catch-22, is a satirical novel set in World War II which follows the life of Captain John Yossarian, who is trying to fulfil his duties so he can leave the US Air Force.

In the television series, Clooney will play Colonel Cathcart, the story&rsquo;s main antagonist.&nbsp;

The series&nbsp;will be available to stream on Hulu, a US streaming service responsible for award-winning &quot;The Handmaid&rsquo;s Tale&quot;.

The handsome actor was last seen on TV playing a fictional character&nbsp;Dr Douglas Ross in &quot;ER&quot;, a TV series that first aired in 1994.&nbsp;

George Clooney recently made news when he and wife Amal Clooney welcomed<a href="http://www.wionews.com/life-fun/george-and-amal-clooney-welcome-twins-16502" target="_blank"> twins</a>, Ella and Alexander in summer 2017.&nbsp;

This will be Clooney’s first television role in nearly two decades

George Clooney will be making his comeback to television after almost two decades. Marking his return to TV, Clooney recently signed to direct and film a six-episode series titled "Catch-22". According to a popular US-based celebrity news website, Clooney will direct, star in and executive produce the series, which is an adaptation of the book by Joseph Heller. The original book of the same name, Catch-22, is a satirical novel set in World War II which follows the life of Captain John Yossarian, who is trying to fulfil his duties so he can leave the US Air Force. In the television series, Clooney will play Colonel Cathcart, the story’s main antagonist. The series will be available to stream on Hulu, a US streaming service responsible for award-winning "The Handmaid’s Tale". The handsome actor was last seen on TV playing a fictional character Dr Douglas Ross in "ER", a TV series that first aired in 1994. George Clooney recently made news when he and wife Amal Clooney welcomed twins, Ella and Alexander in summer 2017.

George Clooney is returning to television with series titled 'Catch-22'

South Korea&#39;s 2015 deal with Japan over Tokyo&#39;s wartime sex slavery was &quot;seriously flawed&quot;, President Moon Jae-In said on Thursday, telling officials to re-examine the controversial agreement.

The issue of women forced into sexual slavery for Tokyo troops during the World War II is a hugely emotional subject that has marred ties between the South and its former colonial ruler, Japan.

Moon&#39;s comments came a day after Seoul&#39;s foreign ministry said the deal -- which was pushed and endorsed by his predecessor, Park Geun-Hye -- was faulty and had &quot;failed to reflect the victims&#39; views&quot;.

The unpopular agreement was meant to end the decades-long dispute with a Japanese apology and a total of 1 billion yen ($8.8 million) payment of money to survivors.

But it sparked anger among some survivors seeking an explicit apology from the Japanese government for the wartime abuses.&nbsp;

Following Moon&#39;s decision to order a review of the deal after being elected to office this year, a task force published a report Wednesday saying the agreement was rushed and did not do enough to seek out the opinions of the victims, often known by the euphemism &quot;comfort women&quot;.

&quot;It has been confirmed that the 2015 deal...was seriously flawed,&quot; Moon said in a statement released on Thursday.&nbsp;

&quot;Although the 2015 deal was an official agreement endorsed by the leaders of both countries, I&#39;d like to make it clear that the deal cannot solve this issue of &#39;comfort women,&#39;&quot; he said.

The latest revelation by the task force is &quot;regrettable but unavoidable,&quot; Moon said, telling officials to &quot;come up with follow-up measures at the earliest date&quot; without elaborating further.&nbsp;

It is unclear whether Seoul will call for renegotiations or walk away from the deal.&nbsp;

Tokyo has urged Seoul to stick with the 2015 agreement.&nbsp;

Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women -- mostly from Korea but also other parts of Asia including China -- were forced to become sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during the war.&nbsp;

The Japanese government denies it is directly responsible for the abuses, insisting that &quot;comfort women&quot; were recruited by civilians and that the army brothels were commercially operated.&nbsp;

Despite the 2015 agreement, ties between the two neighbours remain tense over statues which South Korean activists positioned outside Japanese diplomatic missions in memory of victims.&nbsp;

The issue of women forced into sexual slavery for Tokyo troops during the World War II is a hugely emotional subject that has marred ties between the South and its former colonial ruler, Japan

South Korea's 2015 deal with Japan over Tokyo's wartime sex slavery was "seriously flawed", President Moon Jae-In said on Thursday, telling officials to re-examine the controversial agreement. The issue of women forced into sexual slavery for Tokyo troops during the World War II is a hugely emotional subject that has marred ties between the South and its former colonial ruler, Japan. Moon's comments came a day after Seoul's foreign ministry said the deal -- which was pushed and endorsed by his predecessor, Park Geun-Hye -- was faulty and had "failed to reflect the victims' views". The unpopular agreement was meant to end the decades-long dispute with a Japanese apology and a total of 1 billion yen ($8.8 million) payment of money to survivors. But it sparked anger among some survivors seeking an explicit apology from the Japanese government for the wartime abuses. Following Moon's decision to order a review of the deal after being elected to office this year, a task force published a report Wednesday saying the agreement was rushed and did not do enough to seek out the opinions of the victims, often known by the euphemism "comfort women". "It has been confirmed that the 2015 deal...was seriously flawed," Moon said in a statement released on Thursday. "Although the 2015 deal was an official agreement endorsed by the leaders of both countries, I'd like to make it clear that the deal cannot solve this issue of 'comfort women,'" he said. The latest revelation by the task force is "regrettable but unavoidable," Moon said, telling officials to "come up with follow-up measures at the earliest date" without elaborating further. It is unclear whether Seoul will call for renegotiations or walk away from the deal. Tokyo has urged Seoul to stick with the 2015 agreement. Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women -- mostly from Korea but also other parts of Asia including China -- were forced to become sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during the war. The Japanese government denies it is directly responsible for the abuses, insisting that "comfort women" were recruited by civilians and that the army brothels were commercially operated. Despite the 2015 agreement, ties between the two neighbours remain tense over statues which South Korean activists positioned outside Japanese diplomatic missions in memory of victims.

South Korea's Moon says 'comfort women' deal seriously flawed

Trump&nbsp;called a Democratic rival &quot;Pocahantas&quot; while hosting Native Americans veterans at the White House Monday.&nbsp;

The Native Americans had been &quot;wind talkers&quot; -- Navajo Indians who helped keep Allied operations secret during World War II.&nbsp;

&quot;You were here long before any of us were here,&quot; Trump said to one of them.

&quot;Although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas,&quot; he added.

Trump has continuously referred to Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren as &quot;Pocahontas&quot;.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders disagreed that Trump&#39;s remark was a racial slur and said that Warren&#39;s lies about her ancestry were the offensive part.

Warren has spoken about her mother&#39;s Native American ancestry and has been a political thorn in Trump&#39;s side.

&quot;I think what most people find offensive is Senator Warren lying about her heritage to advance her career,&quot; Sanders told reporters.

Trump and the veterans, as they spoke, had been standing beneath a portrait of controversial President Andrew Jackson -- who ordered the forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands, causing thousands to die.

Trump has continuously referred to Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren, who has spoken about her mother's Native American ancestry, as 'Pocahontas'

Trump called a Democratic rival "Pocahantas" while hosting Native Americans veterans at the White House Monday. The Native Americans had been "wind talkers" -- Navajo Indians who helped keep Allied operations secret during World War II. "You were here long before any of us were here," Trump said to one of them. "Although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas," he added. Trump has continuously referred to Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren as "Pocahontas". White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders disagreed that Trump's remark was a racial slur and said that Warren's lies about her ancestry were the offensive part. Warren has spoken about her mother's Native American ancestry and has been a political thorn in Trump's side. "I think what most people find offensive is Senator Warren lying about her heritage to advance her career," Sanders told reporters. Trump and the veterans, as they spoke, had been standing beneath a portrait of controversial President Andrew Jackson -- who ordered the forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands, causing thousands to die.

Trump cracks Pocahontas 'joke' while hosting Native American veterans

Veteran British war correspondent Clare Hollingworth, who broke the news that the Second World War had started, died in Hong Kong&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;aged 105.

Hollingworth later reported from many of the 20th century&#39;s troublespots, witnessing the horrors of war in Vietnam, Algeria, the Middle East, India and Pakistan, as well as the Cultural Revolution in China.

But she is best remembered for her scoop on World War II in 1939, when she was just a rookie reporter.

Aged 27 she broke the story of Germany&#39;s invasion of Poland during her first week working as a journalist there for The Daily Telegraph, covering the worsening security situation in Europe.

Using a borrowed car from a British diplomat to drive across the Poland-Germany border, she spotted hundreds of German tanks, armoured cars and field guns, all facing Poland and ready for action, when a hessian screen blocking the view blew to one side.

Three days later, on&nbsp;September 1, Hollingworth called the British Embassy in Warsaw to tell officials that the war had started, after she was awoken by the roar of Nazi aircraft and tanks in Katowice, a Polish city near the German border.

When they did not believe her, she said she held the telephone out of her bedroom window to capture the sounds of German forces.

&quot;If there is a war, and if the world wants, I would like to cover it,&quot; the journalist, still proud of her scoop, told AFP in a 2009 interview.

Hollingworth also unearthed British double agent Kim Philby&#39;s defection to the Soviet Union in 1963.

&quot;I enjoy action, I enjoy being in a plane that&#39;s bombing something, or being on the ground in the desert when they&#39;re advancing,&quot; Hollingworth once said.

In 1946 Hollingworth and her late husband Geoffrey Hoare narrowly escaped death when terrorists blew up the King David hotel in Jerusalem, where they were staying, killing 91 people.

&#39;Magnificent&#39;&nbsp;

Born in 1911, the idea for her future career was implanted early in life during World War I. She dated her interest from a trip in a trap, drawn by her pony Polly, to inspect the effects of German bombing close to her home in Loughborough, central England.

As a young woman Hollingworth travelled Europe as an activist, playing a little-reported humanitarian role before she became a journalist.

Her great nephew Patrick Garrett recently published a memoir about her, which sought to shed light on her less well-publicised achievements.

&quot;Of Fortunes and War&quot; highlights Hollingworth&#39;s work with refugees ahead of the Second World War.

Garrett&#39;s book recounts how she worked for the British Red Cross to help thousands of refugees who had fled to Poland from Czechoslovakia after the Sudetenland was annexed by the Nazis in 1938.

Of her fateful Telegraph assignment to Poland, Garrett wrote: &quot;This was certainly not the kind of assignment that normally went to female correspondents... Clare Hollingworth was however an extreme exception. Watching wars would become her life.&quot;

She was held up as a formidable role model by foreign correspondents who followed in her footsteps.&nbsp;

BBC correspondent John Simpson described her as &quot;magnificent&quot;.

In October Hollingworth celebrated her 105th birthday at the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents&#39; Club (FCC), where she was a regular for more than three decades after moving to the city in 1981. She had worked from Beijing in the 1970s.

Although her health had deteriorated and she was looked after at home by helpers, she still marked her birthday each year at the club.&nbsp;

Hollingworth was married twice and did not have any children.

Her family have yet to release further details about her death.

(AFP)

The celebrated war journalist also covered wars in Vietnam, Algeria, the Middle East, India and Pakistan

Veteran British war correspondent Clare Hollingworth, who broke the news that the Second World War had started, died in Hong Kong on Tuesday aged 105. Hollingworth later reported from many of the 20th century's troublespots, witnessing the horrors of war in Vietnam, Algeria, the Middle East, India and Pakistan, as well as the Cultural Revolution in China. But she is best remembered for her scoop on World War II in 1939, when she was just a rookie reporter. Aged 27 she broke the story of Germany's invasion of Poland during her first week working as a journalist there for The Daily Telegraph, covering the worsening security situation in Europe. Using a borrowed car from a British diplomat to drive across the Poland-Germany border, she spotted hundreds of German tanks, armoured cars and field guns, all facing Poland and ready for action, when a hessian screen blocking the view blew to one side. Three days later, on September 1, Hollingworth called the British Embassy in Warsaw to tell officials that the war had started, after she was awoken by the roar of Nazi aircraft and tanks in Katowice, a Polish city near the German border. When they did not believe her, she said she held the telephone out of her bedroom window to capture the sounds of German forces. "If there is a war, and if the world wants, I would like to cover it," the journalist, still proud of her scoop, told AFP in a 2009 interview. Hollingworth also unearthed British double agent Kim Philby's defection to the Soviet Union in 1963. "I enjoy action, I enjoy being in a plane that's bombing something, or being on the ground in the desert when they're advancing," Hollingworth once said. In 1946 Hollingworth and her late husband Geoffrey Hoare narrowly escaped death when terrorists blew up the King David hotel in Jerusalem, where they were staying, killing 91 people. 'Magnificent' Born in 1911, the idea for her future career was implanted early in life during World War I. She dated her interest from a trip in a trap, drawn by her pony Polly, to inspect the effects of German bombing close to her home in Loughborough, central England. As a young woman Hollingworth travelled Europe as an activist, playing a little-reported humanitarian role before she became a journalist. Her great nephew Patrick Garrett recently published a memoir about her, which sought to shed light on her less well-publicised achievements. "Of Fortunes and War" highlights Hollingworth's work with refugees ahead of the Second World War. Garrett's book recounts how she worked for the British Red Cross to help thousands of refugees who had fled to Poland from Czechoslovakia after the Sudetenland was annexed by the Nazis in 1938. Of her fateful Telegraph assignment to Poland, Garrett wrote: "This was certainly not the kind of assignment that normally went to female correspondents... Clare Hollingworth was however an extreme exception. Watching wars would become her life." She was held up as a formidable role model by foreign correspondents who followed in her footsteps. BBC correspondent John Simpson described her as "magnificent". In October Hollingworth celebrated her 105th birthday at the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC), where she was a regular for more than three decades after moving to the city in 1981. She had worked from Beijing in the 1970s. Although her health had deteriorated and she was looked after at home by helpers, she still marked her birthday each year at the club. Hollingworth was married twice and did not have any children. Her family have yet to release further details about her death. (AFP)

Clare Hollingworth, who broke World War II story, passes away at 105

Japan recalled its ambassador to South Korea on Friday to protest the placing of a statue symbolising victims of Japanese wartime sex slavery outside its consulate in the city of Busan last month.

In a move likely to reignite a feud over the so-called &quot;comfort women&quot;, Japan&#39;s chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga also announced that Japan is ordering home its consul-general in Busan and suspending discussions over a Japan-South Korea currency swap.

&quot;Japan and South Korea are neighbours,&quot; Suga said. &quot;It&#39;s a very important country. It&#39;s extremely regrettable we had to take this action.&quot;

&quot;The Japanese government will continue to strongly urge the South Korean government as well as municipalities concerned to quickly remove the statue of the girl,&quot; he added.

Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea but also other parts of Asia including China, were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II.

The plight of the women is a hugely emotional issue that has marred relations between the two Asian neighbours for decades and which, for many South Koreans, symbolises the abuses of Japan&#39;s 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.

The statue is a copy of one that sits across the road from the Japanese embassy in Seoul and that for more than five years has been a rallying point for supporters of the few surviving South Korean former sex slaves.

The statue in Busan was initially removed by local authorities after South Korean activists placed it in front of the Japanese consulate in the southern port city last week. But they did not stop it being put back after Japan&#39;s hawkish defence minister Tomomi Inada offered prayers at a controversial war shrine in Tokyo the next day.

Suga, however, made no mention of Inada&#39;s visit to the shrine, which honours millions of mostly Japanese war dead -- but also senior military and political figures convicted of war crimes. Her visit drew harsh criticism in South Korea as well as China.

&#39;Very regrettable&#39;

South Korean foreign ministry Spokesman Cho June-Hyuck lamented Japan&#39;s actions as &quot;very regrettable&quot;, but struck a conciliatory note.

&quot;Even if there exist difficult issues, the government emphasises again that it will continue developing South Korea-Japan relations based on trust between the two governments,&quot; he said.

However, later in the day South Korean foreign minister Yun Byung-Se summoned the Japanese ambassador.

Jiji Press said they spoke for about an hour and that Yun expressed &quot;regret&quot; over Japan&#39;s actions.

Activists had first placed the new statue outside the consulate to mark their opposition to a South Korea-Japan agreement reached a year ago to finally resolve the &quot;comfort women&quot; issue.

Under that accord, which both countries described as &quot;final and irreversible,&quot; Japan offered an apology and a one-billion yen ($8.6 million) payment to surviving Korean comfort women.

But critics said the deal did not go far enough in holding Japan responsible for wartime abuses.

The statue in Seoul &mdash; a bronze of a young woman seated with a small bird on her shoulder &mdash; has proved a popular symbol.

Japan says it should have been removed after the comfort-women accord was signed, but Seoul argued it had only agreed to look into the possibility of moving it.

(AFP)

The plight of the women is a hugely emotional issue that has marred relations between the two Asian neighbours for decades

Japan recalled its ambassador to South Korea on Friday to protest the placing of a statue symbolising victims of Japanese wartime sex slavery outside its consulate in the city of Busan last month. In a move likely to reignite a feud over the so-called "comfort women", Japan's chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga also announced that Japan is ordering home its consul-general in Busan and suspending discussions over a Japan-South Korea currency swap. "Japan and South Korea are neighbours," Suga said. "It's a very important country. It's extremely regrettable we had to take this action." "The Japanese government will continue to strongly urge the South Korean government as well as municipalities concerned to quickly remove the statue of the girl," he added. Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea but also other parts of Asia including China, were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II. The plight of the women is a hugely emotional issue that has marred relations between the two Asian neighbours for decades and which, for many South Koreans, symbolises the abuses of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean peninsula. The statue is a copy of one that sits across the road from the Japanese embassy in Seoul and that for more than five years has been a rallying point for supporters of the few surviving South Korean former sex slaves. The statue in Busan was initially removed by local authorities after South Korean activists placed it in front of the Japanese consulate in the southern port city last week. But they did not stop it being put back after Japan's hawkish defence minister Tomomi Inada offered prayers at a controversial war shrine in Tokyo the next day. Suga, however, made no mention of Inada's visit to the shrine, which honours millions of mostly Japanese war dead -- but also senior military and political figures convicted of war crimes. Her visit drew harsh criticism in South Korea as well as China. 'Very regrettable' South Korean foreign ministry Spokesman Cho June-Hyuck lamented Japan's actions as "very regrettable", but struck a conciliatory note. "Even if there exist difficult issues, the government emphasises again that it will continue developing South Korea-Japan relations based on trust between the two governments," he said. However, later in the day South Korean foreign minister Yun Byung-Se summoned the Japanese ambassador. Jiji Press said they spoke for about an hour and that Yun expressed "regret" over Japan's actions. Activists had first placed the new statue outside the consulate to mark their opposition to a South Korea-Japan agreement reached a year ago to finally resolve the "comfort women" issue. Under that accord, which both countries described as "final and irreversible," Japan offered an apology and a one-billion yen ($8.6 million) payment to surviving Korean comfort women. But critics said the deal did not go far enough in holding Japan responsible for wartime abuses. The statue in Seoul — a bronze of a young woman seated with a small bird on her shoulder — has proved a popular symbol. Japan says it should have been removed after the comfort-women accord was signed, but Seoul argued it had only agreed to look into the possibility of moving it. (AFP)

Japan recalls S Korea envoy over wartime sex slave statue

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet at a hot spring resort on Thursday seeking progress on a territorial row that has prevented their countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending World War Two.

The two sides are likely to clinch some agreements on economic cooperation in areas from medical technology to energy. But both have sought to dampen expectations of a breakthrough in the feud over the windswept islands in the western Pacific seized by Soviet forces at the end of the war, forcing some 17,000 Japanese residents to flee.

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The two leaders will meet on Thursday at a mountainside inn at the hot spring resort of Nagato in Abe&#39;s home constituency in south-west Japan, and again in Tokyo on Friday.

Police wearing riot gear dotted the streets in Nagato, where one welcome banner showing a drawing of Putin and Abe shaking hands said &quot;A new start, from Nagato&quot;.&nbsp;

Abe has pledged to resolve the territorial dispute, in hopes of leaving a diplomatic legacy that eluded his foreign minister father, and of building better ties with Russia to counter a rising China.

&quot;I want to negotiate as the representative of Japan with the keen feelings of the former residents of the islands engraved in my heart,&quot; Abe told reporters before leaving Tokyo.

But a deal to end the dispute over the islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kuriles, carries risks for Putin, who does not want to tarnish his image at home of a staunch defender of Russian sovereignty.

&quot;The hurdles that remain to be cleared are still quite high,&quot; Yasutoshi Nishimura, an advisor to Abe, told Reuters. &quot;On the other hand, they are two strong leaders, so I hope that some broad path forward and direction will emerge.&quot;

Russia hopes to clinch deals with Japanese companies as part of an Asian pivot in response to a decision by Western governments, including Japan, to impose sanctions in 2014 over Russia`s role in the Ukraine conflict.&nbsp;

Putin told the Yomiuri newspaper this week that the goal of a peace treaty would be harder to achieve if Russia remained subject to Japanese sanctions.&nbsp;

But Japan`s trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, has ruled out any economic cooperation with Russia that would undermine Group of Seven unity on the sanctions.

Japan has long insisted its sovereignty over all four of the disputed islands off Japan`s northern island of Hokkaido be confirmed before a peace treaty is signed.

But there have been signs it has been rethinking its stance, perhaps by reviving a formula called &quot;two-plus-alpha&quot;, based partly on a 1956 joint declaration in which the Soviet Union agreed it would hand over the two smaller islands after a peace treaty was signed.&nbsp;

Over the decades, the two sides have at times floated the idea of joint economic activity on the islands, but how to do that without undercutting either side`s claim to sovereignty has never been resolved.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

They meet today. A territorial row between the two countries has prevented them from signing a treaty formally ending the war

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet at a hot spring resort on Thursday seeking progress on a territorial row that has prevented their countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending World War Two. The two sides are likely to clinch some agreements on economic cooperation in areas from medical technology to energy. But both have sought to dampen expectations of a breakthrough in the feud over the windswept islands in the western Pacific seized by Soviet forces at the end of the war, forcing some 17,000 Japanese residents to flee. Both have sought to dampen expectations of a breakthrough in the feud over the windswept islands in the western Pacific seized by Soviet forces at the end of the war, forcing some 17,000 Japanese residents to flee × The two leaders will meet on Thursday at a mountainside inn at the hot spring resort of Nagato in Abe's home constituency in south-west Japan, and again in Tokyo on Friday. Police wearing riot gear dotted the streets in Nagato, where one welcome banner showing a drawing of Putin and Abe shaking hands said "A new start, from Nagato". Abe has pledged to resolve the territorial dispute, in hopes of leaving a diplomatic legacy that eluded his foreign minister father, and of building better ties with Russia to counter a rising China. "I want to negotiate as the representative of Japan with the keen feelings of the former residents of the islands engraved in my heart," Abe told reporters before leaving Tokyo. But a deal to end the dispute over the islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kuriles, carries risks for Putin, who does not want to tarnish his image at home of a staunch defender of Russian sovereignty. "The hurdles that remain to be cleared are still quite high," Yasutoshi Nishimura, an advisor to Abe, told Reuters. "On the other hand, they are two strong leaders, so I hope that some broad path forward and direction will emerge." Russia hopes to clinch deals with Japanese companies as part of an Asian pivot in response to a decision by Western governments, including Japan, to impose sanctions in 2014 over Russia`s role in the Ukraine conflict. Putin told the Yomiuri newspaper this week that the goal of a peace treaty would be harder to achieve if Russia remained subject to Japanese sanctions. But Japan`s trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, has ruled out any economic cooperation with Russia that would undermine Group of Seven unity on the sanctions. Japan has long insisted its sovereignty over all four of the disputed islands off Japan`s northern island of Hokkaido be confirmed before a peace treaty is signed. But there have been signs it has been rethinking its stance, perhaps by reviving a formula called "two-plus-alpha", based partly on a 1956 joint declaration in which the Soviet Union agreed it would hand over the two smaller islands after a peace treaty was signed. Over the decades, the two sides have at times floated the idea of joint economic activity on the islands, but how to do that without undercutting either side`s claim to sovereignty has never been resolved. (Reuters)

Soaking in hot spring, Putin & Abe could end World War II today

Treasure hunters yesterday relaunched their search for a lost Nazi gold train allegedly loaded with loot and buried in southwestern Poland, despite there being no scientific evidence it exists. 
 
&quot;The train isn&#39;t a needle in a haystack, if it&#39;s there, we&#39;ll find it,&quot; project spokesman Andrzej Gaik told AFP. 
 
The story sparked a global media frenzy last August when two men claimed to have discovered an armoured Nazi-era train using ground-penetrating radar near the city of Walbrzych. 
 
At the time, Piotr Koper, a Pole, and German national Andreas Richter said they had discovered several train carriages measuring a total of 98 metres which were buried some eight to nine metres underground. 
 
They said they believed the contents were mostly weapon prototypes, though local legend spoke of artwork, jewels and gold stolen by the Nazis. 
 
The Nazis made prisoners of war dig a network of tunnels in the area, and some locals have claimed the Germans tried to spirit the gold away as Russia&#39;s Red Army closed in. 
 
But so far there has been little to back up the claims, with geologists from Krakow&#39;s prestigious AGH University of Science and Technology finding no evidence for the train&#39;s existence during tests run in December. 
 
Professor Janusz Madej said at the time he was &quot;100 per cent sure there is no train... maybe a tunnel&quot; based on magnetic, gravimetric and geo-radar studies. 
 
Digging starts Tuesday 
 
It has done little to dampen the treasure hunters&#39; enthusiasm. 
 
&quot;Even if we find a tunnel, that&#39;ll also be a success. The train could be hidden in it,&quot; Gaik said yesterday. 
 
As the search began, Koper said he hoped to have answers within a week. 
 
&quot;It should all be clear by Thursday&quot; next week, he told Poland&#39;s TVP public news channel as his team began clearing the area of vegetation. 
 
He said they would sweep the area with geo-radar on Monday before diggers move in on Tuesday. 
 
&quot;We&#39;ll dig down six metres in three areas along a 100-metre stretch of the old railway tracks,&quot; Gaik said. 
 
News about the alleged discovery of the gold train made headlines around the globe last year, triggering an influx of treasure hunters to the site. 
 
The intrigue has been further fuelled by the site&#39;s proximity to a massive network of secret underground tunnels built by the Nazis, some of which are around the massive Ksiaz Castle where legend has it the Third Reich stashed looted valuables. 
 
(AFP)

Last August, two men claimed to discover an armoured Nazi-era train near the city of Walbrzych. The story sparked global media frenzy

Treasure hunters yesterday relaunched their search for a lost Nazi gold train allegedly loaded with loot and buried in southwestern Poland, despite there being no scientific evidence it exists. "The train isn't a needle in a haystack, if it's there, we'll find it," project spokesman Andrzej Gaik told AFP. The story sparked a global media frenzy last August when two men claimed to have discovered an armoured Nazi-era train using ground-penetrating radar near the city of Walbrzych. At the time, Piotr Koper, a Pole, and German national Andreas Richter said they had discovered several train carriages measuring a total of 98 metres which were buried some eight to nine metres underground. They said they believed the contents were mostly weapon prototypes, though local legend spoke of artwork, jewels and gold stolen by the Nazis. The Nazis made prisoners of war dig a network of tunnels in the area, and some locals have claimed the Germans tried to spirit the gold away as Russia's Red Army closed in. But so far there has been little to back up the claims, with geologists from Krakow's prestigious AGH University of Science and Technology finding no evidence for the train's existence during tests run in December. Professor Janusz Madej said at the time he was "100 per cent sure there is no train... maybe a tunnel" based on magnetic, gravimetric and geo-radar studies. Digging starts Tuesday It has done little to dampen the treasure hunters' enthusiasm. "Even if we find a tunnel, that'll also be a success. The train could be hidden in it," Gaik said yesterday. As the search began, Koper said he hoped to have answers within a week. "It should all be clear by Thursday" next week, he told Poland's TVP public news channel as his team began clearing the area of vegetation. He said they would sweep the area with geo-radar on Monday before diggers move in on Tuesday. "We'll dig down six metres in three areas along a 100-metre stretch of the old railway tracks," Gaik said. News about the alleged discovery of the gold train made headlines around the globe last year, triggering an influx of treasure hunters to the site. The intrigue has been further fuelled by the site's proximity to a massive network of secret underground tunnels built by the Nazis, some of which are around the massive Ksiaz Castle where legend has it the Third Reich stashed looted valuables. (AFP)

Treasure hunters relaunch search for Nazi 'gold train' in Poland

Japan today marked 71 years since the city of Hiroshima was destroyed by a US atomic bomb, as its mayor urged the world to unite in abolishing nuclear weapons. 
 
The annual ceremony came just months after Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit the western Japanese city, paying moving tribute to victims of the devastating bomb. 
 
American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped its deadly payload, dubbed &quot;Little Boy&quot;, on Hiroshima at 8:15 am local time on August 6, 1945.&nbsp; 
 
Much of the city was incinerated by a wall of heat up to 4,000 C (7,232 F) -- hot enough to melt steel -- killing tens of thousands. 
 
About 50,000 participants, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and representatives of more than 90 countries and regions, observed a minute`s silence at the exact time the atrocity occurred some seven decades ago. 
 
During the solemn ceremony, Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui recalled the visit by Obama in his peace declaration, citing the president&#39;s historic speech. 
 
&quot;(His visit) was the proof that Hiroshima`s strong wish not to tolerate the &#39;absolute evil&#39; was shared by President Obama,&quot; he said. 
 
The mayor urged the world to take action towards the abolition of &quot;the ultimate form of inhumanity, united and with passion&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Obama in May embraced survivors as he made his visit to the city and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. 
 
&quot;Seventy-one years ago, death fell from the sky and the world was changed,&quot; he said of the bomb, adding it &quot;demonstrated that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself&quot;. 
 
Obama offered no apology for the bombings, having insisted he would not revisit decisions made by then president Harry Truman. 
 
But his moving tribute and brief conversations with elderly survivors, which included an unexpected embrace with one of them, profoundly impressed most Japanese. 
 
Abe, after lying a wreath of flowers, reiterated Saturday that Tokyo will continue working to rid the world of nuclear weapons. 
 
&quot;I am convinced (Obama`s visit) brought a great hope for people in Japan, in the world and in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who believe in a world without nuclear arms,&quot; he said. 
 
The bombing claimed the lives of 140,000 people. Some died immediately while others succumbed to injuries or radiation-related illnesses weeks, months and years later. 
 
A second bomb destroyed the city of Nagasaki three days later. Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15. 
 
Many in Japan feel the attacks amount to war crimes and atrocities because they targeted civilians and due to the unprecedented destructive nature of the weapons. 
 
But many Americans believe they hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately saved lives, thus justifying the bombings. 
 
Since Obama went to Hiroshima, the park and accompanying memorial museum have witnessed an increase in visitors. 
 
But an association of atomic bomb survivors has criticised his speech, saying he failed to explicitly mention US responsibility for the bombing. 
 
Abe last year faced harsh criticism, especially from A-bomb survivors, for his policy of expanding the role of Japan`s military and opening the door to possibly sending troops into combat for the first time since the war. 
 
In his latest cabinet reshuffle, Abe appointed nationalist confidante Tomomi Inada as defence minister. 
 
(AFP)

American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped deadly payload, 'Little Boy', on Hiroshima at 8.15 am on August 6, 1945 that killed 140,000

Japan today marked 71 years since the city of Hiroshima was destroyed by a US atomic bomb, as its mayor urged the world to unite in abolishing nuclear weapons. The annual ceremony came just months after Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit the western Japanese city, paying moving tribute to victims of the devastating bomb. American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped its deadly payload, dubbed "Little Boy", on Hiroshima at 8:15 am local time on August 6, 1945. Much of the city was incinerated by a wall of heat up to 4,000 C (7,232 F) -- hot enough to melt steel -- killing tens of thousands. About 50,000 participants, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and representatives of more than 90 countries and regions, observed a minute`s silence at the exact time the atrocity occurred some seven decades ago. During the solemn ceremony, Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui recalled the visit by Obama in his peace declaration, citing the president's historic speech. "(His visit) was the proof that Hiroshima`s strong wish not to tolerate the 'absolute evil' was shared by President Obama," he said. The mayor urged the world to take action towards the abolition of "the ultimate form of inhumanity, united and with passion". Obama in May embraced survivors as he made his visit to the city and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. "Seventy-one years ago, death fell from the sky and the world was changed," he said of the bomb, adding it "demonstrated that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself". Obama offered no apology for the bombings, having insisted he would not revisit decisions made by then president Harry Truman. But his moving tribute and brief conversations with elderly survivors, which included an unexpected embrace with one of them, profoundly impressed most Japanese. Abe, after lying a wreath of flowers, reiterated Saturday that Tokyo will continue working to rid the world of nuclear weapons. "I am convinced (Obama`s visit) brought a great hope for people in Japan, in the world and in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who believe in a world without nuclear arms," he said. The bombing claimed the lives of 140,000 people. Some died immediately while others succumbed to injuries or radiation-related illnesses weeks, months and years later. A second bomb destroyed the city of Nagasaki three days later. Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15. Many in Japan feel the attacks amount to war crimes and atrocities because they targeted civilians and due to the unprecedented destructive nature of the weapons. But many Americans believe they hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately saved lives, thus justifying the bombings. Since Obama went to Hiroshima, the park and accompanying memorial museum have witnessed an increase in visitors. But an association of atomic bomb survivors has criticised his speech, saying he failed to explicitly mention US responsibility for the bombing. Abe last year faced harsh criticism, especially from A-bomb survivors, for his policy of expanding the role of Japan`s military and opening the door to possibly sending troops into combat for the first time since the war. In his latest cabinet reshuffle, Abe appointed nationalist confidante Tomomi Inada as defence minister. (AFP)

Japan marks 71 years of Hiroshima bombing

They survived the Holocaust, and held on to their love of life despite their childhood ordeal and in their twilight years, now living in the United States, they started a band. 
 
This week, the two grandfathers returned to their homeland Poland to pay their respects to the victims of the Nazi German genocide&nbsp;and to perform at the site of Warsaw&#39;s wartime Jewish ghetto. 
 
Peering at the crowd from behind his drum set on Wednesday night in the capital, 91-year-old Saul Dreier yelled into the mic: &quot;Is everybody happy?&quot; The crowd cheered. 
 
The dynamic duo came to &quot;play for the people that perished and to play for the peace of the world. As simple as that&quot;, the retired building contractor said. 
 
Dreier, who welcomed his first great-grandchild last week, survived three concentration camps and lost most of his family in World War II. 
 
&quot;My parents were burned in Treblinka. Either Treblinka, Majdanek or Belzec. I don&#39;t know which one,&quot; he said, referring to death camps set up by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland. 
 
&quot;And the rest was burnt in Auschwitz&quot;, the largest Nazi German death camp where 1.1 million people, mostly European Jews, lost their lives. 
 
While Dreier sometimes joins in, the lead singer in the band is Reuwen &quot;Ruby&quot; Sosnowicz, who also plays accordion and keyboard. 
 
Together, they mainly perform klezmer music, traditional Jewish songs from Eastern Europe. 
 
Sosnowicz, 88, was back in his native Warsaw for the first time since he escaped the ghetto and hid in a barn for three years thanks to a kind Polish farmer. 
 
&quot;Some people were nice people. They helped, you know. The farmer did a big thing. If they would find out that he did it, they would kill him,&quot; said Sosnowicz, who is more low-key than his fast-talking bandmate. 
 
&#39;Miracles in our music&#39; : 
 
Non-Jews who stood up to the Nazis have been honoured as &quot;Righteous Among the Nations&quot; by Israel&#39;s Yad Vashem Holocaust remembrance centre. 
 
Some of them attended the packed concert, sharing in the joy of the evening as hundreds of music lovers danced, sang along and drank beer. 
 
The band was joined on stage for part of the gig by the youthful and folksy Warsaw Sentimental Orchestra, plus popular 52-year-old Polish rocker Muniek Staszczyk, who said: &quot;It&#39;s a great honour to be with the boys.&quot; 
 
&quot;Their optimism is contagious. They&#39;re full of life,&quot; audience member Justyna Tarnacka said of the Holocaust Survivor Band. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s phenomenal. I admire these people. They have so much energy. We might not have as much at 90&nbsp;if we even live that long,&quot; the 32-year-old television journalist said. 
 
Dreier attributes their good health and vigour to &quot;God and miracles&quot;. 
 
&quot;We had miracles in concentration camps, we had miracles in hiding, now we&#39;ve got miracles in our music,&quot; he said. 
 
He was inspired to start the band two years ago&nbsp;when he read an obituary for 110-year-old Alice Herz-Sommer. 
 
She survived Terezin concentration camp by playing the piano. 
 
&quot;When I saw this, it hit my heart,&quot; Dreier said, saying he immediately went to his wife with the Holocaust Survivor Band idea. 
 
&quot;What? You crazy?&quot; was the response. His rabbi later told him, &quot;What you need this for?&quot; 
 
&quot;And because those people tell me no, I said yes!&quot; Dreier exclaimed, adding: &quot;I went out the following day and bought a set of drums. Brand new.&quot; 
 
His search for a bandmate led him to Sosnowicz, a hairdresser and lifelong musician, or as Dreier put it: &quot;Not only he&#39;s a musician, he&#39;s a master musician. He&#39;s number one.&quot; 
 
&#39;The best healer&#39; : 
 
The idea came at a good time, according to Sosnowicz&#39;s daughter Chana Rose, who had moved back in with her parents to help them out. 
 
She later went on to become the band manager and a fellow musician, doing backing vocals and percussion for the Holocaust Survivor Band. 
 
&quot;My mom got very sick, she had a massive stroke. And, you know, dad went into a depression... My first inkling was, &#39;Wow this would be great for dad,&#39; &quot; she said. 
 
They have since played nursing homes, synagogues and other local Florida venues, even The Venetian casino in Las Vegas. In Poland, they also brought their instruments to Auschwitz and Treblinka. 
 
&quot;Music makes you alive. Even during the war, we played music. We didn&#39;t have what to eat but enjoyed music,&quot; Sosnowicz said. 
 
&quot;Music is the best healer in life.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

The duo, Saul Dreier and Reuwen Sosnowicz, mainly perform klezmer music, traditional Jewish songs from eastern Europe

They survived the Holocaust, and held on to their love of life despite their childhood ordeal and in their twilight years, now living in the United States, they started a band. This week, the two grandfathers returned to their homeland Poland to pay their respects to the victims of the Nazi German genocide and to perform at the site of Warsaw's wartime Jewish ghetto. Peering at the crowd from behind his drum set on Wednesday night in the capital, 91-year-old Saul Dreier yelled into the mic: "Is everybody happy?" The crowd cheered. The dynamic duo came to "play for the people that perished and to play for the peace of the world. As simple as that", the retired building contractor said. Dreier, who welcomed his first great-grandchild last week, survived three concentration camps and lost most of his family in World War II. "My parents were burned in Treblinka. Either Treblinka, Majdanek or Belzec. I don't know which one," he said, referring to death camps set up by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland. "And the rest was burnt in Auschwitz", the largest Nazi German death camp where 1.1 million people, mostly European Jews, lost their lives. While Dreier sometimes joins in, the lead singer in the band is Reuwen "Ruby" Sosnowicz, who also plays accordion and keyboard. Together, they mainly perform klezmer music, traditional Jewish songs from Eastern Europe. Sosnowicz, 88, was back in his native Warsaw for the first time since he escaped the ghetto and hid in a barn for three years thanks to a kind Polish farmer. "Some people were nice people. They helped, you know. The farmer did a big thing. If they would find out that he did it, they would kill him," said Sosnowicz, who is more low-key than his fast-talking bandmate. 'Miracles in our music' : Non-Jews who stood up to the Nazis have been honoured as "Righteous Among the Nations" by Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust remembrance centre. Some of them attended the packed concert, sharing in the joy of the evening as hundreds of music lovers danced, sang along and drank beer. The band was joined on stage for part of the gig by the youthful and folksy Warsaw Sentimental Orchestra, plus popular 52-year-old Polish rocker Muniek Staszczyk, who said: "It's a great honour to be with the boys." "Their optimism is contagious. They're full of life," audience member Justyna Tarnacka said of the Holocaust Survivor Band. "It's phenomenal. I admire these people. They have so much energy. We might not have as much at 90 if we even live that long," the 32-year-old television journalist said. Dreier attributes their good health and vigour to "God and miracles". "We had miracles in concentration camps, we had miracles in hiding, now we've got miracles in our music," he said. He was inspired to start the band two years ago when he read an obituary for 110-year-old Alice Herz-Sommer. She survived Terezin concentration camp by playing the piano. "When I saw this, it hit my heart," Dreier said, saying he immediately went to his wife with the Holocaust Survivor Band idea. "What? You crazy?" was the response. His rabbi later told him, "What you need this for?" "And because those people tell me no, I said yes!" Dreier exclaimed, adding: "I went out the following day and bought a set of drums. Brand new." His search for a bandmate led him to Sosnowicz, a hairdresser and lifelong musician, or as Dreier put it: "Not only he's a musician, he's a master musician. He's number one." 'The best healer' : The idea came at a good time, according to Sosnowicz's daughter Chana Rose, who had moved back in with her parents to help them out. She later went on to become the band manager and a fellow musician, doing backing vocals and percussion for the Holocaust Survivor Band. "My mom got very sick, she had a massive stroke. And, you know, dad went into a depression... My first inkling was, 'Wow this would be great for dad,' " she said. They have since played nursing homes, synagogues and other local Florida venues, even The Venetian casino in Las Vegas. In Poland, they also brought their instruments to Auschwitz and Treblinka. "Music makes you alive. Even during the war, we played music. We didn't have what to eat but enjoyed music," Sosnowicz said. "Music is the best healer in life." (AFP)

Two grandads return home to Poland as the 'Holocaust Survivor Band'

Activist and writer Elie Wiesel, the World War II death camp survivor who won a Nobel Peace Prize for becoming the life-long voice of millions of Holocaust victims, has died, Israel&#39;s Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem said on Saturday. 
 
Wiesel, a philosopher, speaker, playwright and professor who also campaigned for the tyrannised and forgotten around the world, was 87. 
 
The Romanian-born Wiesel lived by the credo expressed in &quot;Night,&quot; his landmark story of the Holocaust - &quot;to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time&quot;. 
 
In awarding the Peace Prize in 1986, the Nobel Committee praised Wiesel as a &quot;messenger to mankind&quot; and &quot;one of the most important spiritual leaders and guides in an age when violence, repression and racism continue to characterise the world.&quot; 
 
Wiesel was 16-years-old when he emerged from the newly liberated Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945. He had been orphaned by the Nazis and their identification number, A-7713, was tattooed on his arm as a physical manifestation of his broken faith and the nightmares that would haunt him throughout his life. 
 
Wiesel and his family had first been taken by the Nazis from the village of Sighetu Marmatiei in the Transylvania region of Romania to Auschwitz, where his mother and one of his sisters died. Wiesel and his father, Shlomo, ended up in Buchenwald, where Shlomo died. 
 
A few years after winning the peace prize, he established the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, which, in addition to Israeli and Jewish causes, campaigned for Miskito Indians in Nicaragua, Cambodian refugees, victims of South African apartheid and of famine and genocide in Africa. 
 
Wiesel became close to US President Barack Obama but the friendship did not deter him from criticising US policy on Israel. He spoke out in favour of Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and pushed the United States and other world powers to take a harder stance against Iran over its nuclear programme. Wiesel attended the joint session of the US Congress in 2015 when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the dangers of Iran&#39;s programme. 
 
Wiesel and wife, Marion, married in 1969 and their son, Elisha, was born in 1972 
 
(Reuters)

In awarding the Peace Prize in 1986, the Nobel Committee praised Wiesel as a 'messenger to mankind'

Activist and writer Elie Wiesel, the World War II death camp survivor who won a Nobel Peace Prize for becoming the life-long voice of millions of Holocaust victims, has died, Israel's Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem said on Saturday. Wiesel, a philosopher, speaker, playwright and professor who also campaigned for the tyrannised and forgotten around the world, was 87. The Romanian-born Wiesel lived by the credo expressed in "Night," his landmark story of the Holocaust - "to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time". In awarding the Peace Prize in 1986, the Nobel Committee praised Wiesel as a "messenger to mankind" and "one of the most important spiritual leaders and guides in an age when violence, repression and racism continue to characterise the world." Wiesel was 16-years-old when he emerged from the newly liberated Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945. He had been orphaned by the Nazis and their identification number, A-7713, was tattooed on his arm as a physical manifestation of his broken faith and the nightmares that would haunt him throughout his life. Wiesel and his family had first been taken by the Nazis from the village of Sighetu Marmatiei in the Transylvania region of Romania to Auschwitz, where his mother and one of his sisters died. Wiesel and his father, Shlomo, ended up in Buchenwald, where Shlomo died. A few years after winning the peace prize, he established the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, which, in addition to Israeli and Jewish causes, campaigned for Miskito Indians in Nicaragua, Cambodian refugees, victims of South African apartheid and of famine and genocide in Africa. Wiesel became close to US President Barack Obama but the friendship did not deter him from criticising US policy on Israel. He spoke out in favour of Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and pushed the United States and other world powers to take a harder stance against Iran over its nuclear programme. Wiesel attended the joint session of the US Congress in 2015 when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the dangers of Iran's programme. Wiesel and wife, Marion, married in 1969 and their son, Elisha, was born in 1972 (Reuters)

Holocaust survivor, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel dies

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