Japan is using its presidency of the Group of Seven to highlight security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as asserting its influence as a key player on the international stage. North Korea, China and Russia all possess nuclear weapons capabilities and are in Japan's vicinity, making the G7 meeting in Hiroshima, one of two Japanese cities decimated by the atomic bombs dropped by the US at the end of World War II, symbolically significant. The G7 summit also marks a shift in Japan's diplomatic efforts, involving not only its traditional allies but also leaders from several Global South nations as observers.
The UK government has promised that its support for Ukraine will “never waver” after Chancellor Rishi Sunak met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Sunak updated Zelensky with “very positive progress” on fighting jets, which the US has approved for donation to the Ukrainian military. Zelensky expressed confidence that “peace will become closer today”. The G7 leaders endorsed continued support for Ukraine and vowed to raise the costs for those involved on Russia’s side of the conflict, as well as criticising China for its aggression towards Taiwan. Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko warned the “escalation” carries “enormous risks” for the countries involved, while Defence Secretary Ben Wallace claimed it underlined “how serious this situation still is”. The UK has supplied Ukraine with equipment including Challenger tanks and long-range missiles.
Charges of alleged match manipulation have been levelled at 15 players across the top two tiers and local leagues in Brazilian football, following an investigation initiated by the president of his own club. Hugo Jorge Bravo, an active police officer and president of Vila Nova, reportedly received information that one of his players had been approached to give a penalty to a rival team and began an investigation that led to Brazil's federal police, the district attorney's office of the state of Goias and the country's lower house of Congress becoming involved. The case has grown to encompass 11 games so far and may expand further.
Leaders from the G7 countries will end their festivities in Hiroshima centred on Russia and managing China following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's appearance. The western leaders used the forums to implement new sanctions against Russia while increasing cash flow to the Ukrainian military. The talk will transition to China as the most robust Asian ally of Russia, as the leaders implicitly remind President Xi Jinping that if he bullies them or changes the status quo in self-ruled Taiwan or the disputed South China Sea, China will experience the same resolve as Russia's attempt to redraw Ukraine's borders.
A letter to The Telegraph has expressed concern that Sir Keir Starmer's call to broaden the electorate might lead to Labour removing the vote from British citizens aged over 75, in an effort to reverse Brexit. The suggestions follow Sir Keir's support for granting the vote to both 16 and 17-year-olds and EU nationals resident in the UK. Terry Smith from north-west London argues that it would be absurd to remove the vote from elderly citizens on the grounds that they would not live to experience decisions about Brexit. Similarly, other letters were written arguing either for or against the increasing of the UK's population, the effect of LED lights on drivers and support for reparations to those impacted by slavery.
G7 talks culminate Sunday with in-person appeal from Zelensky
CNN
23-05-20 23:00
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an in-person appeal to world leaders at the Group of Seven (G7) talks on Sunday, calling for them to remain united against Russian aggression. Zelensky’s speech demonstrated the unity of world leaders 14 months since Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine began. However, there is concern that political pressure and fatigue could lead to a waning of Western support.
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy has appealed for diplomatic and military assistance in Hiroshima to his fellow G7 leaders amid ongoing aggression from Russia. The group has already announced new sanctions and other measures against Moscow, with Zelenskyy expected to deliver a speech to rally support for a ten-point peace plan which centres around Russia’s withdrawal from Ukrainian territory. Despite initial scepticism regarding the Ukrainian leader’s trip, there is guarded optimism that it will lead to a constructive end. India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, said: “I can assure you that India, and personally, I will do whatever we can to resolve this” while French President Emmanuel Macron referred to the trip as “a pathway to peace”, as Russia condemned attempts to contain it made by the G7. Although the US has been critical of its own delayed response, allied nations are now allowed to provide F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv in an attempt to help prevent further escalation.
Microsoft has said that China has approved its $69bn purchase of Activision Blizzard. This is significant as Activision Blizzard had stopped offering many of its games in mainland China earlier this year following a dispute with its local publishing partner, NetEase. Both the China and the European Union are set to give their consents to the deal, in contrast to the United Kingdom and US where authorities are attempting to block it. The EU conditionally cleared the purchase earlier this week, while British regulators rejected Microsoft's promises to try to prevent the destruction of competition.
The G7 summit in Hiroshima has ended with discussions focusing on the Ukrainian war and the dominance of China. They also focused on challenges facing developing economies, including Brazil, Vietnam, Comoros and India. Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy made headlines during his time the summit. He was present in the session on Ukraine where it was revealed he had spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. His itinerary for the rest of the day included visiting the Peace Memorial Park and the museum in Hiroshima to remember the atomic bombing of the city. Zelenskyy continues to make the rounds of G-7 leaders. Earlier on the second day of the summit, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the president on the margins of the summit for the first time since Russia's invasion of the Ukraine and shared images of their encounter to his Twitter page.
The final day of the Group of Seven (G7) summit has passed in Hiroshima, with delegates including Ukraine's President Volodomyr Zelenskyy discussing the war, China’s dominance and the issues faced by the Global South. Joining the leaders were a number of key Asia-Pacific figures such as the Indian, South Korean, Indonesian and Australian prime ministers. The triennial met throughout the summit, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took some time off to visit Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and Museum. President Joe Biden met with Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister for talks. The G7 laid out a common de-risking path on China, while India's Narendra Modi commented that he would “amplify concerns of the Global South” at the summit.
The Chinese economy needs more policy support and the People's Bank of China may need to cut interest rates by 0.1% as early as June. Meanwhile, Russia is benefiting from the heatwave in Asia, as shunned supplies of coal, gas and oil become increasingly attractive. The global economy is reviewed in 13 charts, while the end of earnings season sees reports from some Chinese tech companies. However, art auction sales are subdued due to a looming recession.
Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has pushed for global unity and clear leadership in the face of Russia's aggression as he attended the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Using the opportunity to confront India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Brazil's President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who have maintained diplomatic ties with Moscow, Zelenskyy raised his 10-point plan to end the Ukraine conflict. The US has been a significant backer of Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in 2014, with the Biden administration unveiling a new $375m arms package for Ukraine to aid it in its defence against Russian aggression.
A Ukrainian government spokesperson has denied that Russian troops have captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, following a statement by President Volodymyr Zelensky at the G7 summit in Japan. Zelensky had originally appeared to confirm Russian claims that the city had fallen, but a spokesman said the president's response had referred to whether Russia had taken the town, not whether Ukraine had lost it. Russian forces had claimed to have taken the city on 21 August. The battle for Bakhmut had been one of the longest and bloodiest of the conflict so far.
The Ukraine conflict was at the forefront of G7 meetings in Hiroshima, Japan, over the weekend. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the invitees to the meetings, which discussed China's growing dominance and issues affecting the so-called "Global South." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed the need for a "resilient and diversified" approach to supply chains, while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commented on the summit's significance for consolidating peace. Meanwhile, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for the issue of nuclear weapons to be discussed openly, and said it was "historically significant" for the G7 leaders visiting the Peace Memorial Museum to publish a focus on nuclear disarmament – known as the Hiroshima Vision. The G7 summit heralded a number of warm bilateral meetings, concluding with talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on the conflict on Sunday afternoon.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged his support to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in bringing peace to his nation amid Russia's full-scale invasion. The two leaders met in Hiroshima along the sidelines of the G7 summit, where Modi promised to do everything he can to help find a solution to the conflict. Over 17,000 Indian students had to be evacuated from Ukraine in February last year and Indian medical students had to transfer to universities in other countries to resume higher studies. India has come under criticism for its lack of support of Ukraine during the war. The G7 summit has provided an opportunity for fence-sitting nations, such as India and Brazil, to offer their support to Ukraine.
The leaders of the G7 nations have pledged sustained support for Ukraine amid claims from Russia that it has taken the heavily damaged city of Bakhmut. Meanwhile, confusion reigns over whether or not the city is ideed back in Russian hands. At a meeting of the G7 on Sunday, US President Joe Biden promised Ukraine a $375m military aid package featuring artillery and armoured vehicles, while other members of the group echoed his words of support.
The G7 summit in Japan's Hiroshima was dismissed as an "anti-Russian" and "anti-Chinese" event that undermines global stability by Russia's Foreign Ministry. Moscow accused the G7 of increasing "hysteria", rather than contributing to the resolution of conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was present at the Hiroshima summit as a guest, speaking to attendees about what members could do to support Kyiv as it continues its war with Russia.
The G7 summit in Japan failed to convince three emerging economies, Brazil, India and Indonesia, to endorse its views on Ukraine. Brazil, whose former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was invited to the summit, declined to meet Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and privately criticised the alliance’s stance in the Ukraine conflict. Indonesian President Joko Widodo offered to be a peace envoy after meeting Zelenskiy separately. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also endorsed a diplomatic solution. The interaction highlighted the G7’s difficulties in persuading major emerging nations to impose sanctions against Russia, and the difficulties of maintaining a global principle based on territorial integrity. A strategy was adopted before the summit to avoid pressuring invitees to condemn Russia.
Russian troops have entered Ukraine, sparking a worsening conflict that has turned into a full-scale war. As of August 2022, Russian troops have moved further into Ukraine than previously, destabilising the region, particularly around the conflict zone, and resulting in thousands of casualties. The US has pledged to provide military support to Ukraine in the form of over 400 million euros of military aid. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has made a surprise visit to attend the G7 summit in Hiroshima to discuss the conflict with counterparts from Brazil and India who have failed to condemn Russia’s actions.
China was a major topic of discussion at the latest G7 summit, alongside the war in Ukraine. The summit featured a lengthy section which expressed concern about China's trade practices, alleged political interference, and human rights abuses, while calling on Beijing to do more to “press Russia to stop its military aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine." The G7 leaders did not intend to decouple from China, but said they would need to start "de-risking and diversifying" for economic resilience. Joe Biden's approach towards China was compared to that taken by the G7. Biden said the US would “compete vigorously” with China, but the two countries should not see competition translate into conflict. The G7 has seemingly had success in keeping China in check, as Beijing accused the G7 of "hindering international peace, undermining regional stability and curbing other countries’ development.”
