☕ Hiroshima, 80 years on

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Some headlines from this morning:

• Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, as President Donald Trump's deadline for a Ukraine ceasefire of 8 August approaches. Trump has threatened Russia with heavy sanctions and secondary sanctions on countries trading with Russia if Moscow doesn't end what he called the "horrible war" with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the threat of tougher sanctions, saying Russia would only pursue peace if it began running out of money. Expectations remain low for a settlement by Trump's Friday deadline, as Russia continues large-scale air attacks on Ukraine despite the sanctions threats. The meeting comes after three rounds of Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul failed to end the war, now in its third year since Moscow's invasion.

• The U.S. Coast Guard has determined the implosion of a submersible that killed five people in June 2023 was “preventable” in a 335-page report published by investigators on Tuesday. Five people boarded OceanGate’s Titan submersible in an attempt to dive to the wreck of the Titanic, including OceanGate's billionaire founder. The tour was only 90 minutes in when the hull lost structural integrity, killing everyone instantly. The report says OceanGate’s safety practices were “critically flawed”, it had a toxic workplace culture, and used intimidation to avoid scrutiny in the lead-up to the tragedy. To prevent future incidents, the Coast Guard says it will pursue "proper regulatory oversight" of submersibles and impose stricter standards on builders of such vessels.

• At least 100 people are missing after severe flash flooding in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand, a popular tourist destination for people travelling to the Himalayas. Roads and buildings across the region were damaged by water from the overflowing Bhagirathi River, with communication lines down and several key highways severely damaged. Authorities say 130 people have been rescued so far, and eleven of the missing are from a nearby army base that was hit by the flash flooding. Authorities told the BBC they now hold concerns for a number of other smaller villages downstream who could be hit by further flash flooding and landslides.

• The Department of Health and Human Services announced it will cancel $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development projects targeting flu, COVID-19, and bird flu. The decision affects 22 projects led by major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Moderna. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, said he was pulling the funding because "mRNA technology poses more risks than benefits for these respiratory viruses" and claimed the vaccines "fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections." Health experts criticized the move, with former FDA official Peter Lurie calling it the US "turning its back on one of the most promising tools to fight the next pandemic." The funding will be redirected toward what Kennedy described as "safer, broader vaccine platforms”.

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President Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics last week after the agency reported weaker-than-expected job growth, sparking criticism that he's politicizing economic data. It's the first time a president has dismissed the nation's chief statistician over unfavorable numbers. Here's what you need to know.

What happened?

Trump announced Friday he fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, claiming she "rigged" statistics "to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad."

The dismissal came after the BLS reported employers added just 73,000 jobs in July—well below the expected 109,000. The agency also revised May and June data downward by 250,000 jobs, signaling potential economic weakness.

Why it matters?

The BLS produces the monthly jobs report that influences Federal Reserve decisions on interest rates and shapes public perception of economic health. The data is collected through scientific surveys and has been considered nonpartisan for decades.

"Under our democracy, it is unacceptable to fire someone for publishing data collected in accordance with scientific standards," the Association of Public Data Users said.

The reactions

Former BLS officials and economists condemned the firing as unprecedented political interference. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Trump "weak" for "shooting the messenger" over unfavorable statistics.

Friends of the BLS, a group of former agency heads, demanded a Congressional investigation, saying the firing "undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics that are a cornerstone of intelligent economic decision-making."

Trump’s defense

The president defended his decision, claiming the numbers were manipulated.

"I believe the numbers were phony, just like they were before the election," Trump said Friday. "So you know what I did? I fired her."

Republicans pointed out that McEntarfer was appointed by former President Biden, though BLS commissioners traditionally serve regardless of which party holds power.

What’s next

Trump must nominate a replacement who requires Senate confirmation. The controversy raises questions about whether future economic data will be viewed as politically influenced rather than scientifically objective.

I’ve got 2 minutes

The mayor of Hiroshima warned against growing nuclear threats Tuesday as the Japanese city commemorated the 80th anniversary of the first atomic bomb. Officials from over 120 countries attended the ceremony amid escalating global conflicts and expanding nuclear arsenals. Here's what you need to know.

1945

On August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb called "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, instantly killing between 66,000-80,000 people. Radiation and injuries killed another 70,000 in the following months, with the total death toll now estimated at about 160,000 people.

Three days later, the U.S. dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki, killing 40,000 people and forcing Japan's surrender, ending World War II. By the end of 1945, the death toll from this bomb was estimated to be about 74,000.

The warning

Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui said nuclear deterrence policies are gaining dangerous acceptance worldwide.

"There is a growing belief that possessing nuclear weapons is unavoidable in order to protect their own countries," Matsui told the crowd Tuesday.

Toshiyuki Mimaki, a survivor of the Hiroshima bomb, pointed to current conflicts as evidence of rising nuclear risks. "We're in a very dangerous situation with Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran," he said. Mimaki is a represenative of Nihon Hidankyo, an organization of atomic bombing survivors who received the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.

Today’s nuclear landscape

Nine countries now possess nuclear weapons, with the U.S. and Russia controlling 90% of the world's arsenal. Modern nuclear bombs are far more powerful than those used in 1945, capable of killing over 580,000 people in a city like New York.

Global nuclear spending reached $100 billion in 2024, up 11% from the previous year, according to international monitoring groups.

Treaty concerns

Matsui declared the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, designed to prevent weapons spread, is "on the brink of dysfunction." He called on Japan to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which bans nuclear weapons entirely.

Over 70 countries have signed the ban treaty since 2021, but nuclear powers, including the U.S. and Russia, refuse to participate, arguing that deterrence prevents conflict.

Survivors

Hibakusha - the Japanese term for atomic bomb survivors—continue using their firsthand experiences to advocate against nuclear weapons. Many attended Tuesday's ceremony despite their advanced age.

"The horrors we witnessed must never be repeated," said one survivor at the commemoration.

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