TOKYO (AP) — Hiroshima marked the 67th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bomb attack with a call for the elimination of nuclear arsenals. About 50,000 people gathered August 6 in Hiroshima’s peace park near the epicenter of the 1945 blast that destroyed most of the city and killed as many as 140,000 people. A second atomic bombing August 9 that year in Nagasaki killed tens of thousands more and prompted Japan to surrender to the World War II Allies. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Japan must pass the experience on to future generations so that the lessons of Hiroshima are not forgotten. Mayor Kazumi Matsui said Japan must lead disarmament efforts. He also said the nuclear accident at Fukushima last year has shown the dangers of nuclear technology, even for peaceful purposes.

BEIJING (AP) — Lenovo has unveiled a lighter, quicker ThinkPad notebook computer inspired by the convenience of tablets and smartphones. The Chinese computer maker this month displayed the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon, which will go on sale soon. A Lenovo vice president, Dilip Bhatia, said it will have a longer battery life and lighter weight. He said that was in response to demands by customers who want a tablet’s convenience but need a notebook’s wider range of functions. Lenovo acquired the ThinkPad brand with IBM Corp.’s personal computer unit in 2005. Lenovo passed Dell Inc. last year to become the second-largest PC manufacturer after Hewlett-Packard Co.

MANILA, The Philippines (AP) — The Philippine House of Representatives has ended debate on a bill promoting contraception use in a country with one of Asia’s fastest-growing populations. The vote was an initial victory for proponents and President Benigno Aquino III who want to fast-track passage of the proposed law. The issue has divided Asia’s largest Roman Catholic nation for years. Church leaders led a rally denouncing the bill. Opposition representative Edcel Lagman, an author of the bill, said Aquino rallied congressmen to end repetitive debates on the measure. Lagman said the bill will be up for amendments and may be passed by the house before the end of the month. The senate still has to pass its own version, and a bicameral version then needs to be approved before Aquino can sign it into law.

INCHEON, South Korea (AP) — Four South Korean badminton players returned home after their disqualification from the Olympics for trying to lose matches. The two women’s doubles pairs arrived at Incheon International Airport in early August and left through undesignated gates as they tried to avoid media. The athletes did not comment. Two other doubles teams, from China and Indonesia, were also disqualified for deliberately playing poorly to secure a more favorable draw in the next round. The International Olympic Committee is demanding further investigation by national Olympic committees. South Korea’s Olympic delegation ordered the four players and their coach to return home, saying they violated the Olympic spirit of fair play and sportsmanship.