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G7 summit turning out not was expected with Israel-Iran conflict on everyone's mind

G7 summit turning out not was expected with Israel-Iran conflict on everyone's mind

Leaders of the G7  countries meet in Canada this week, for a summit that is not quite what they had expected, with the Israel-Iran conflict being on everyone’s mind. The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan and the European Union will be there, and of course, the president of the United States Donald Trump. Mark Carney, the new Canadian Prime Minister, had planned fo talks in the wilderness retreat of Kananaskis, that avoided rows with Mr Trump. Much of the agenda was non-controversial, about energy security, protecting mineral supply chains, accelerating the digital transition and tackling forest fires. However, Israel's decision to attack Iran will force the Group of Seven western powers to spend less time on other issues and instead discuss ways of managing the conflict. Canadian officials, still bruised by the experience of the last G7 summit that they hosted in 2018, even decided not to have a summit communique to avoid textual disputes dominating the gathering. On that occasion, Mr Trump in his first stint in office stormed out early and, on the plane home, withdrew his support for the summit communique. Instead, world leaders will agree a number of "short, action-oriented statements" that maintain consensus and ignore divisive issues. That now seems also to be overambitious. The G7 leaders, due to arrive in Canada on Sunday, know the global security and economic risks if this conflict escalates, dragging in other countries, sending oil prices soaring. Other leaders are also attending the summit as guests, including from Mexico, India, Australia, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine and Brazil. Many of them have their own problems with Mr Trump.
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Thousands of people join the Global March to Gaza

Thousands of people join the Global March to Gaza

The global march to Gaza is set to begin on 15 June, with thousands of international activists planning to walk from Al-Arish to the Rafah border crossing. The activists come from over 80 different countries and have arrived in Egypt by plane or organised bus. Participants include Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, a former South African lawmaker and grandson of Nelson Mandela, as well as Hala Rharrit, a former US State Department diplomat. The march aims to peacefully advocate for the opening of a humanitarian corridor into Gaza and to draw global attention to the worsening crisis in the Strip, characterised by shortages of food, medicine and fuel.
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Israel launches an air campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure

Israel launches an air campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure

On Friday (13 June), a series of powerful explosions were heard and seen across Iran, following a large-scale Israeli air campaign targeting the country's military infrastructure. In a prerecorded video released early on Friday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued that the strikes were aimed at nuclear infrastructure and ballistic missile factories inside Iran. According to Netanyahu, the strikes were necessary to delay what he described as an imminent nuclear threat.
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Sweden leads EU effort to harden position against Israel

Sweden leads EU effort to harden position against Israel

The European Union should harden its stance against Israel and follow in the footsteps of the United Kingdom and other Western allies by issuing sanctions against far-right members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet, Sweden’s foreign minister told Politico. Maria Malmer Stenergard said after meeting in Brussels with Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, that the EU now needs to take a stronger position and increase pressure on the Israeli government.