Indian Foreign Affairs Minister Jaishankar met UK Home Secretary Priti Patel on Tuesday and signed the migration and mobility partnership agreement to facilitate legal travel and encourage talent flows.

Indian FM Jaishankar meets UK Home Secy Priti Patel, signs migration & mobility agreement

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be doing all his meetings virtually in London after he was exposed to possible Covid positive cases.

The EAM is in London for the G7 foreign ministers meet where India has been invited as a guest along with India, Australia, South Korea, South Africa, and the secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It has been reported that some members of the Indian delegation have been confirmed covid positive.

EAM tweeted, "Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well."

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Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1389854062762409987?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The Indian delegation had tested Covid negative when they had left for the UK on Sunday. In fact, some members of the delegation have been vaccinated as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sources said, "Working out with UK health authorities and what needs to be done."&nbsp;As of now, the entire Indian delegation has isolated and healthy.&nbsp;The Indian foreign minister is in the UK from&nbsp;May 3 to&nbsp;6, and he is expected to come back towards the end of the week.

Today was the last day of the G7, but it was important since the focus was on the invited guest countries. Along with guest countries, foreign ministers in the G7 summit&nbsp;are discussing issues like n Open Societies, Vaccines/Health, Climate/Girl’s Education. EAM joined all the meetings virtually and will also call on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson virtually.

UK PM said, "I think it is very important to try to continue as much business as you can as a government. We have a very important relationship with India, with our G7 partners. As I understand, what's happened is that the individual concerned they are all isolating now. I will be seeing the Indian foreign minister later on this afternoon but that will be a zoom exchange".

In his London visit, EAM so far has met South Africa's FM Dr. Naledi Pandor, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, US Secretary of state Antony Blinken. He also had a conversation with EU FM Josep Borrell and a trilateral with French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian and Australian FM Marise Payne, but no pictures were released of the meeting.&nbsp;

G7 FMs meet, along with guest countries was the biggest in-person gathering of foreign ministers amid the covid pandemic, and such physical meet is happening after a gap of over two&nbsp;and half years. The last meeting happened in France.

India is being invited since 2019 on a continuous basis for G7 meets, first by France, then by the US, and this year by the British. Indian PM has been invited for the leader's summit that will take place in the UK later physically, which could also see the first in-person Quad meetings as well.&nbsp;

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be doing all his meetings virtually in London after he was exposed to possible Covid positive cases. The EAM is in London for the G7 foreign ministers meet where India has been invited as a guest along with India, Australia, South Korea, South Africa, and the secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be doing all his meetings virtually in London after he was exposed to possible Covid positive cases. The EAM is in London for the G7 foreign ministers meet where India has been invited as a guest along with India, Australia, South Korea, South Africa, and the secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It has been reported that some members of the Indian delegation have been confirmed covid positive. EAM tweeted, "Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well." Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well. — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2021 × The Indian delegation had tested Covid negative when they had left for the UK on Sunday. In fact, some members of the delegation have been vaccinated as well. Sources said, "Working out with UK health authorities and what needs to be done." As of now, the entire Indian delegation has isolated and healthy. The Indian foreign minister is in the UK from May 3 to 6, and he is expected to come back towards the end of the week. Today was the last day of the G7, but it was important since the focus was on the invited guest countries. Along with guest countries, foreign ministers in the G7 summit are discussing issues like n Open Societies, Vaccines/Health, Climate/Girl’s Education. EAM joined all the meetings virtually and will also call on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson virtually. UK PM said, "I think it is very important to try to continue as much business as you can as a government. We have a very important relationship with India, with our G7 partners. As I understand, what's happened is that the individual concerned they are all isolating now. I will be seeing the Indian foreign minister later on this afternoon but that will be a zoom exchange". In his London visit, EAM so far has met South Africa's FM Dr. Naledi Pandor, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, US Secretary of state Antony Blinken. He also had a conversation with EU FM Josep Borrell and a trilateral with French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian and Australian FM Marise Payne, but no pictures were released of the meeting. G7 FMs meet, along with guest countries was the biggest in-person gathering of foreign ministers amid the covid pandemic, and such physical meet is happening after a gap of over two and half years. The last meeting happened in France. India is being invited since 2019 on a continuous basis for G7 meets, first by France, then by the US, and this year by the British. Indian PM has been invited for the leader's summit that will take place in the UK later physically, which could also see the first in-person Quad meetings as well.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar's participation at G7 summit goes virtual over Covid worries

The British government said India’s entire delegation to the Group of Seven summit in London is self-isolating after two of its members tested positive for COVID-19. Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar did not test positive for the virus.

News Alert: Two coronavirus cases among Indian delegation at London G7 Summit

G7 nations have gathered in London for the first in-person talks since 2019. Two words have dominated the headlines since end of 2019- China & Coronavirus. These two words dominated the summit as well. WION brings you more on this.

G7 nations seeks common front on China, discuss sharing vaccine stockpile

The United Kingdom is hosting the first in-person G7 foreign ministers meeting in two years from May 3 to 5 in London. The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting will focus on geopolitical priorities, such as Russia, China and Iran. It will also take up global challenges, including climate change, COVID-19 pandemic and famine.

Britain hosts first in-person G7 foreign ministers meeting in two years

UK is hosting the first in-person G7 foreign ministers meeting in two years in London. On the first day, Dominic Raab, the UK foreign secretary, spoke alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. They discussed NATO's withdrawal from Afghanistan, Iran, China and the threat posed by Russia.

G7 Summit: Blinken and Raab discussed Russia, China

The G7 is meeting in-person for the first time in 2 years. The summit is underway in London. What's on the agenda? Who all are attending?

Gravitas: G7 Summit begins in London

UK hosting first in-person G7 foreign ministers meeting in two years

Ethiopia has assured that Eritrean troops fighting in its conflict-hit Tigray region "started to evacuate" one day after the G7 group of leading nations called for their rapid withdrawal.&nbsp;

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced last week that the Eritrean forces would leave Tigray, in the north of the country, just three days after finally acknowledging their presence amid mounting reports of massacres and widespread sexual violence.

But residents of some Tigray cities and towns continued to report the presence of Eritrean soldiers in recent days.

The G7, to this end, said in a statement Friday that their exit "must be swift, unconditional and verifiable".

In a response posted online Saturday night, Ethiopia's foreign ministry said that process had begun.

"As announced last week, the Eritrean troops who had crossed the border when provoked by the TPLF have now started to evacuate," the statement said, adding that Ethiopia's military had now "taken over guarding the national border."

The TPLF is the Tigray People's Liberation Front, former ruling party in Tigray that dominated national politics in Ethiopia for nearly three decades before Abiy took power in 2018.

Friday's G7 statement also called for "independent, transparent and impartial investigation" of alleged human rights abuses and "unhindered humanitarian access".

The Ethiopian foreign ministry statement Saturday noted that a joint investigation involving "international human rights experts" would begin soon. It also said foreign aid to respond to the conflict remained "far too low".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-urges-rapid-eritrean-withdrawal-from-tigray-as-stalemate-looms-375110">Also read |&nbsp;G7 urges rapid Eritrean withdrawal from Tigray as stalemate looms</a>

Abiy sent troops into Tigray in November, a move he said came in response to TPLF-orchestrated attacks on federal army camps.&nbsp;

Addis Ababa and Asmara long denied Eritreans were active in Tigray at all, contradicting testimony from residents, rights groups, aid workers, diplomats and even some Ethiopian civilian and military officials.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) had earlier accused Eritrean troops of massacring hundreds of people in the Tigrayan town of Axum in November.

Ethiopia has assured that Eritrean troops fighting in its conflict-hit Tigray region "started to evacuate" one day after the G7 group of leading nations called for their rapid withdrawal.

Ethiopia has assured that Eritrean troops fighting in its conflict-hit Tigray region "started to evacuate" one day after the G7 group of leading nations called for their rapid withdrawal. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced last week that the Eritrean forces would leave Tigray, in the north of the country, just three days after finally acknowledging their presence amid mounting reports of massacres and widespread sexual violence. But residents of some Tigray cities and towns continued to report the presence of Eritrean soldiers in recent days. The G7, to this end, said in a statement Friday that their exit "must be swift, unconditional and verifiable". In a response posted online Saturday night, Ethiopia's foreign ministry said that process had begun. "As announced last week, the Eritrean troops who had crossed the border when provoked by the TPLF have now started to evacuate," the statement said, adding that Ethiopia's military had now "taken over guarding the national border." The TPLF is the Tigray People's Liberation Front, former ruling party in Tigray that dominated national politics in Ethiopia for nearly three decades before Abiy took power in 2018. Friday's G7 statement also called for "independent, transparent and impartial investigation" of alleged human rights abuses and "unhindered humanitarian access". The Ethiopian foreign ministry statement Saturday noted that a joint investigation involving "international human rights experts" would begin soon. It also said foreign aid to respond to the conflict remained "far too low". Also read | G7 urges rapid Eritrean withdrawal from Tigray as stalemate looms Abiy sent troops into Tigray in November, a move he said came in response to TPLF-orchestrated attacks on federal army camps. Addis Ababa and Asmara long denied Eritreans were active in Tigray at all, contradicting testimony from residents, rights groups, aid workers, diplomats and even some Ethiopian civilian and military officials. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) had earlier accused Eritrean troops of massacring hundreds of people in the Tigrayan town of Axum in November.

G7 effect: Ethiopia says Eritrean troops have 'started to evacuate' Tigray

Wealthy G7 powers on Friday ramped up health funding for poorer nations after accusations they are hoarding coronavirus vaccines, as US President Joe Biden and the rest of the leaders declared a "turning point" from the psychodramas of the Trump era.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, this year's chair of the G7, vowed to free up any surplus UK vaccines for poorer countries at a future date, and underlined the need for collective action to recover from the pandemic.

"We've got to make sure the whole world is vaccinated because this is a global pandemic and it's no use one country being far ahead of another, we've got to move together," he said in opening remarks at the online summit, the G7's first since last April when the group was rent apart by then president Donald Trump.

At the G7, Biden brought a pledge of $4 billion (4.6 billion euros) in US aid to the UN's Covax fund to buy vaccines for global distribution.&nbsp;

Germany said it was giving an extra 1.5 billion euros for the global rollout, and the European Union doubled its own Covax funding to one billion euros.

The total in G7 commitments stands at 7.5 billion euros, the group said in a joint statement following the talks.

"Drawing on our strengths and values as democratic, open economies and societies, we will work together and with others to make 2021 a turning point for multilateralism and to shape a recovery that promotes the health and prosperity of our people and planet," the leaders added.

- 'Inflection point' -

But ahead of the gathering, French President Emmanuel Macron had demanded richer nations go further by transferring 3-5 percent of their existing stock to Africa.

"It's an unprecedented acceleration of global inequality and it's politically unsustainable too because it's paving the way for a war of influence over vaccines," he told the Financial Times, as Russia and China step up free or low-cost distribution of their own jabs.

The ONE Campaign, a global organisation co-founded by U2 singer Bono, said the G7 members plus Australia had collectively bought nearly 1.25 billion more doses than they needed to inoculate every member of their populations against Covid-19.

Later Friday, Biden, Johnson and EU leaders in the G7 joined another gathering online, the annual Munich Security Conference, to discuss "renewing transatlantic cooperation".&nbsp;

Biden became the first US president to address the Munich meeting, underlining a decisive shift after cooperation was all but broken under his go-it-alone predecessor.

The struggle worldwide between democracy and autocracy is at an "inflection point", Biden told the Munich conference.

"And I believe with every ounce of my being that democracy must prevail."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed President Biden's arrival on the stage.

"Multilateralism is boosted through the change in the US government -- the Biden administration has already demonstrated this with its first decisions" on returning to the Paris climate accord and rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO), she said.

- Absent China looms large -

Though Friday marked America's formal re-entry to the Paris climate accord, in a departure from Trump-era politics, Biden has maintained his predecessor's mistrust of China.

Beijing is not part of the G7 -- which comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US -- and Washington is repositioning rich democracies as a counterweight amid mistrust of China's initial handling of Covid-19.

Biden urged a collective pushback against China's "economic abuses", and also accused Russia of attacking democracies.

At Britain's urging, the G7 agreed to look into a possible pandemic treaty to enhance early warning and data transparency in case of future outbreaks.&nbsp;

London denies it has China in its sights, but the Asian power has been widely accused of covering up the emergence of the virus in late 2019 and depriving the WHO of vital early information.

Now that inoculation campaigns are picking up speed -- in the West at least -- G7 leaders also hope to look past the pandemic to financial recovery after lockdowns ravaged many economies.

Biden also said the world can "no longer do the bare minimum on climate", as Britain prepares to host the UN's next climate summit, COP26, in the Scottish city of Glasgow in November.&nbsp;

COP26 will cap a busy diplomatic year that will flesh out Johnson's vision of a "Global Britain", following its Brexit withdrawal from the EU.&nbsp;

He&nbsp;hopes to host the G7's leaders in person in June, at a resort in southwest England.

Wealthy G7 powers on Friday ramped up health funding for poorer nations after accusations they are hoarding coronavirus vaccines, as US President Joe Biden and the rest of the leaders declared a "turning point" from the psychodramas of the Trump era.

Wealthy G7 powers on Friday ramped up health funding for poorer nations after accusations they are hoarding coronavirus vaccines, as US President Joe Biden and the rest of the leaders declared a "turning point" from the psychodramas of the Trump era. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, this year's chair of the G7, vowed to free up any surplus UK vaccines for poorer countries at a future date, and underlined the need for collective action to recover from the pandemic. "We've got to make sure the whole world is vaccinated because this is a global pandemic and it's no use one country being far ahead of another, we've got to move together," he said in opening remarks at the online summit, the G7's first since last April when the group was rent apart by then president Donald Trump. At the G7, Biden brought a pledge of $4 billion (4.6 billion euros) in US aid to the UN's Covax fund to buy vaccines for global distribution. Germany said it was giving an extra 1.5 billion euros for the global rollout, and the European Union doubled its own Covax funding to one billion euros. The total in G7 commitments stands at 7.5 billion euros, the group said in a joint statement following the talks. "Drawing on our strengths and values as democratic, open economies and societies, we will work together and with others to make 2021 a turning point for multilateralism and to shape a recovery that promotes the health and prosperity of our people and planet," the leaders added. - 'Inflection point' - But ahead of the gathering, French President Emmanuel Macron had demanded richer nations go further by transferring 3-5 percent of their existing stock to Africa. "It's an unprecedented acceleration of global inequality and it's politically unsustainable too because it's paving the way for a war of influence over vaccines," he told the Financial Times, as Russia and China step up free or low-cost distribution of their own jabs. The ONE Campaign, a global organisation co-founded by U2 singer Bono, said the G7 members plus Australia had collectively bought nearly 1.25 billion more doses than they needed to inoculate every member of their populations against Covid-19. Later Friday, Biden, Johnson and EU leaders in the G7 joined another gathering online, the annual Munich Security Conference, to discuss "renewing transatlantic cooperation". Biden became the first US president to address the Munich meeting, underlining a decisive shift after cooperation was all but broken under his go-it-alone predecessor. The struggle worldwide between democracy and autocracy is at an "inflection point", Biden told the Munich conference. "And I believe with every ounce of my being that democracy must prevail." German Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed President Biden's arrival on the stage. "Multilateralism is boosted through the change in the US government -- the Biden administration has already demonstrated this with its first decisions" on returning to the Paris climate accord and rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO), she said. - Absent China looms large - Though Friday marked America's formal re-entry to the Paris climate accord, in a departure from Trump-era politics, Biden has maintained his predecessor's mistrust of China. Beijing is not part of the G7 -- which comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US -- and Washington is repositioning rich democracies as a counterweight amid mistrust of China's initial handling of Covid-19. Biden urged a collective pushback against China's "economic abuses", and also accused Russia of attacking democracies. At Britain's urging, the G7 agreed to look into a possible pandemic treaty to enhance early warning and data transparency in case of future outbreaks. London denies it has China in its sights, but the Asian power has been widely accused of covering up the emergence of the virus in late 2019 and depriving the WHO of vital early information. Now that inoculation campaigns are picking up speed -- in the West at least -- G7 leaders also hope to look past the pandemic to financial recovery after lockdowns ravaged many economies. Biden also said the world can "no longer do the bare minimum on climate", as Britain prepares to host the UN's next climate summit, COP26, in the Scottish city of Glasgow in November. COP26 will cap a busy diplomatic year that will flesh out Johnson's vision of a "Global Britain", following its Brexit withdrawal from the EU. He hopes to host the G7's leaders in person in June, at a resort in southwest England.

After Trump, Biden and G7 refocus on Covid recovery

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Biden to ask G7 allies to work together on China challenge US President Joe Biden will on Friday rally global democracies and European allies to work together t

Biden to ask G7 allies to work together on China challenge US President Joe Biden will on Friday rally global democracies and European allies to work together to address a range of concerns about China | READ MORE Britain vows to ‘share’ vaccines with poor nations as G-7 meets Some of the world's wealthiest countries are promising to share coronavirus vaccines with the poorest, but details of when and how many remain scarce as leaders of the Group of Seven economic powers hold their first meeting of 2021 on Friday | READ MORE US: Aid pause to Ethiopia no longer linked to dam dispute The United States says it has decided to de-link its suspension of millions of dollars of aid to Ethiopia from that country's dispute with Egypt over a massive hydroelectric dam project | READ MORE China looks for measures to lift flagging birthrate More than four years after ending its controversial one-child policy, China is considering additional measures to increase its flagging birthrate | READ MORE Watch: India's homegrown anti-tank missile Helina launched successfully, ready for induction The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials on Friday said that four 'Helina' anti-tank missiles were launched from Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv helicopter at Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan | READ MORE Indian-American scientist Swati Mohan played key role in NASA Mars rover landing An Indian-American scientist, Swati Mohan, played a pivotal role in landing NASA's historic Perseverance rover on the Martian surface on Friday | READ MORE Pfizer first dose 85% effective after 2-4 weeks, study says The first dose of the Pfizer vaccination is 85 per cent effective against coronavirus infection between two and four weeks after inoculation | READ MORE Uber drivers are workers, not self-employed: UK Supreme Court Britain's top court on Friday ruled that ride-hailing giant Uber's drivers are entitled to workers' rights, in a judgment with huge implications for the "gig economy" | READ MORE China's Sinovac delivers 1 million doses to Hong Kong China's Sinovac delivered 1 million doses of its Covid vaccine CoronaVac to Hong Kong on Friday | READ MORE

Top ten world news: Biden to rally G7 allies, UK vows to share vaccines and more

US President Joe Biden will on Friday rally global democracies and European allies to work together to address a range of concerns about China.

Biden is, however, not looking for a "new Cold War." The Democratic president will use a “virtual visit” to Europe to try to re-establish the United States as a multilateral team player after four years of divisive “America First” policies pursued by Donald Trump.

Biden will urge democracies to work together to push back against practices and policies of the Chinese government that he will describe as “economically abusive and counter to our values.”

The Biden White House is reviewing China policy across an array of fronts, including its military buildup and trade policies, its actions in Hong Kong, treatment of minority Uighurs in Xinjiang and its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Biden will meet at 9 am (1400 GMT) with G7 leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan by video-conference, but plans to join them for an in-person summit hosted by the UK this summer.

Additionally, later on Friday morning, Biden will address an online session of the Munich Security Conference -- which often draws top global leaders.

Several years ago as a private citizen, Biden had reassured participants rattled by the Trump presidency: “We will be back.”

Biden will underscore that democracies, not autocracies, offer the best path forward for the world, after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump rioters made clear that democracy was fragile.

The US president will also speak specifically about “malign” and concerted action he believes Russia has taken to destabilise and undermine democracy in the United States and Europe and elsewhere, and will call on allies to stand firm with Washington.

The Kremlin has, however, repeatedly denied any such action.

On the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear programme, Biden will say the United States looks forward to re-engaging in diplomacy amid efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal that Trump abandoned, the official said.

Biden will also urge other G7 leaders to continue to invest heavily in their economies to foster and accelerate economic growth.

(with inputs from Reuters)

US President Joe Biden will on Friday rally global democracies and European allies to work together to address a range of concerns about China. Biden is, however, not looking for a "new Cold War.

US President Joe Biden will on Friday rally global democracies and European allies to work together to address a range of concerns about China. Biden is, however, not looking for a "new Cold War." The Democratic president will use a “virtual visit” to Europe to try to re-establish the United States as a multilateral team player after four years of divisive “America First” policies pursued by Donald Trump. Biden will urge democracies to work together to push back against practices and policies of the Chinese government that he will describe as “economically abusive and counter to our values.” The Biden White House is reviewing China policy across an array of fronts, including its military buildup and trade policies, its actions in Hong Kong, treatment of minority Uighurs in Xinjiang and its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Biden will meet at 9 am (1400 GMT) with G7 leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan by video-conference, but plans to join them for an in-person summit hosted by the UK this summer. Additionally, later on Friday morning, Biden will address an online session of the Munich Security Conference -- which often draws top global leaders. Several years ago as a private citizen, Biden had reassured participants rattled by the Trump presidency: “We will be back.” Biden will underscore that democracies, not autocracies, offer the best path forward for the world, after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump rioters made clear that democracy was fragile. The US president will also speak specifically about “malign” and concerted action he believes Russia has taken to destabilise and undermine democracy in the United States and Europe and elsewhere, and will call on allies to stand firm with Washington. The Kremlin has, however, repeatedly denied any such action. On the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear programme, Biden will say the United States looks forward to re-engaging in diplomacy amid efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal that Trump abandoned, the official said. Biden will also urge other G7 leaders to continue to invest heavily in their economies to foster and accelerate economic growth. (with inputs from Reuters)

Biden to ask G7 allies to work together on China challenge

The President of The Unites States Joe Biden in his debut virtual G7 (Group of Seven) summit will be discussing COVID-19 vaccine distribution, ailing Economy and most prominently the challenges posed by China. The virtual summit, hosted by UK's PM Boris Johnson will also include leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the European Commission and European Council.

Joe Biden to debut at first virtual G7 Summit

Britain's Queen Elizabeth will most likely host new US President Joe Biden and other world leaders at Buckingham Palace before a summit of the G7 big economies scheduled between June 11 and 13.

The Sunday Times newspaper described the event as as a "soft power" reception, adding the Queen would be joined by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Britain has announced plans to hold the first in-person summit of the G7 for nearly two years in June in Cornwall, southwest England. Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes the meeting will forge a consensus that the global economy must recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in a pro-free trade and sustainable way.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to participate in events in the lead up to and during the summit in the coastal region of Cornwall after India was invited as a guest country to join the Group of Seven -- the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US -- by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.&nbsp;

According to 'The Sunday Times', the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is keen for the royal family to have a strong presence as part of a pre-summit and post-Brexit charm offensive of world leaders.

"There is a desire from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to have a very strong royal presence before G7 events, and all senior members of the royal family will be part of what happens," the newspaper quoted a senior royal source as saying.

The 94-year-old Queen, who has been based at her Windsor Castle home in south-east England through the coronavirus lockdown since last year, will be hoping to return to her London palace and get a calendar of activities going at Buckingham Palace after a year of pared-down events.

A one-on-one meeting between the monarch and the new US President is set to be her first significant diplomatic engagement after she returns to London.

According to royal aides quoted by the newspaper, Charles has already written to Biden to congratulate him on his appointment and is said to be delighted with a series of executive orders signed by the new president which address climate change and the environment, overturning many of Donald Trump's policies.

During his UK state visit in 2019, Trump had broken with the tradition of arriving at Buckingham Palace in a motorcade, choosing to fly in by helicopter instead.

In another apparent breach of royal protocol, he had famously greeted the monarch with a fist bump instead of a handshake. The Queen has met every US president since the start of her reign in 1952, except Lyndon B Johnson, with Biden now expected to be the next in line for a royal interaction.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth will most likely host new US President Joe Biden and other world leaders at Buckingham Palace before a summit of the G7 big economies scheduled between June 11 and 13.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth will most likely host new US President Joe Biden and other world leaders at Buckingham Palace before a summit of the G7 big economies scheduled between June 11 and 13. The Sunday Times newspaper described the event as as a "soft power" reception, adding the Queen would be joined by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Britain has announced plans to hold the first in-person summit of the G7 for nearly two years in June in Cornwall, southwest England. Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes the meeting will forge a consensus that the global economy must recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in a pro-free trade and sustainable way. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to participate in events in the lead up to and during the summit in the coastal region of Cornwall after India was invited as a guest country to join the Group of Seven -- the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US -- by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. According to 'The Sunday Times', the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is keen for the royal family to have a strong presence as part of a pre-summit and post-Brexit charm offensive of world leaders. "There is a desire from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to have a very strong royal presence before G7 events, and all senior members of the royal family will be part of what happens," the newspaper quoted a senior royal source as saying. The 94-year-old Queen, who has been based at her Windsor Castle home in south-east England through the coronavirus lockdown since last year, will be hoping to return to her London palace and get a calendar of activities going at Buckingham Palace after a year of pared-down events. A one-on-one meeting between the monarch and the new US President is set to be her first significant diplomatic engagement after she returns to London. According to royal aides quoted by the newspaper, Charles has already written to Biden to congratulate him on his appointment and is said to be delighted with a series of executive orders signed by the new president which address climate change and the environment, overturning many of Donald Trump's policies. During his UK state visit in 2019, Trump had broken with the tradition of arriving at Buckingham Palace in a motorcade, choosing to fly in by helicopter instead. In another apparent breach of royal protocol, he had famously greeted the monarch with a fist bump instead of a handshake. The Queen has met every US president since the start of her reign in 1952, except Lyndon B Johnson, with Biden now expected to be the next in line for a royal interaction.

UK's Queen may host Biden at Buckingham Palace before G7 summit in June

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News brief: UK to host G7 summit, US prepares for Biden inauguration, and more

The UK has invited India to a G7 summit -- to be held in June, the government has said.

Britain, which holds the rotating presidency of the G7 in 2021, has also invited leaders from Australia and South Korea to attend as guest countries.

The government announced the summit will be the first face-to-face meeting of the group since the start of Joe Biden's US presidency.

Outgoing US President Donald Trump was forced to cancel last year's meeting of the G7 -- the world's most advanced economies -- due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Individual leaders have yet to confirm their attendance, but the summit is scheduled to take place on June 11-13 in Carbis Bay, a coastal town in Cornwall, southwest England.

The global response to Covid-19 and climate change are expected to rank high on the agenda at the group's first in-person meeting in nearly two years.

"As the most prominent grouping of democratic countries, the G7 has long been the catalyst for decisive international action to tackle the greatest challenges we face," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement.

"Coronavirus is doubtless the most destructive force we have seen for generations," he added, saying it was "only right that we approach the challenge of building back better by uniting with a spirit of openness to create a better future".

Leaders and ministers from the seven nations -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- have met virtually in recent months.

Johnson's office said he would use the summit to promote a green recovery from the pandemic, encouraging G7 members to unite to "make the future fairer, greener and more prosperous".

Britain also takes over the presidency of the UN Security Council in February, and Johnson has signalled he is seeking to boost the UK's international presence as it embarks on a new path post-Brexit.

The UK has invited India to a G7 summit -- to be held in June, the government has said. Britain, which holds the rotating presidency of the G7 in 2021, has also invited leaders from Australia and South Korea to attend as guest countries.

The UK has invited India to a G7 summit -- to be held in June, the government has said. Britain, which holds the rotating presidency of the G7 in 2021, has also invited leaders from Australia and South Korea to attend as guest countries. The government announced the summit will be the first face-to-face meeting of the group since the start of Joe Biden's US presidency. Outgoing US President Donald Trump was forced to cancel last year's meeting of the G7 -- the world's most advanced economies -- due to the coronavirus pandemic. Individual leaders have yet to confirm their attendance, but the summit is scheduled to take place on June 11-13 in Carbis Bay, a coastal town in Cornwall, southwest England. The global response to Covid-19 and climate change are expected to rank high on the agenda at the group's first in-person meeting in nearly two years. "As the most prominent grouping of democratic countries, the G7 has long been the catalyst for decisive international action to tackle the greatest challenges we face," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement. "Coronavirus is doubtless the most destructive force we have seen for generations," he added, saying it was "only right that we approach the challenge of building back better by uniting with a spirit of openness to create a better future". Leaders and ministers from the seven nations -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- have met virtually in recent months. Johnson's office said he would use the summit to promote a green recovery from the pandemic, encouraging G7 members to unite to "make the future fairer, greener and more prosperous". Britain also takes over the presidency of the UN Security Council in February, and Johnson has signalled he is seeking to boost the UK's international presence as it embarks on a new path post-Brexit.

UK invites India to first G7 summit of Biden era to be held in June

The United Kingdom has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 Summit as a guest. The G7 Summit is scheduled to be held in Cornwall in June 2021.

UK invites Indian PM Modi to attend G7 summit

The US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to host the delayed G7 Summit after the Presidential elections scheduled in November 2020.

The&nbsp;Group of Seven summit was to be held in June this year but the US President Donald Trump had decided to postpone it due to the ongoing pandemic, which had sent the world in a worldwide lockdown. Since then, trump has been unable to host the summit due to the surge in coronavirus cases, especially in the US.

However, Trump has now announced that he would like to host the summit in a "calmer atmosphere" after the November 3 presidential elections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-china-would-be-needed-in-expanded-g7-summit-310694">Also read|&nbsp;Russia says China would be needed in expanded G7 summit</a>

"I'm much more inclined to do it sometime after the election. ... We could do it through teleconference or we could do it through a meeting," Trump said at a news conference from White House. He feels November would be a&nbsp;"better, calmer atmosphere to have a G7."

However, he has not given any conformation on whether or not Russian President Vladimir Putin will be invited to this summit, after he declared his intentions of extending invitations to Russia, India, South Korea and Australia.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-politics-over-g7-expansion-heats-up-303077">Also watch|&nbsp;Gravitas: Politics over G7 expansion heats up</a>

&nbsp;"I don`t know but we have invited a number of people to the meeting. I certainly would invite him to the meeting," he said, adding that no date has been finalised yet, and therefore the invitations have not been sent out.

The invite as discussed between Trump and Putin over a phone call in June. Russia was once a part of the then-called G8 group, but was expelled in 2014&nbsp;after annexing the Crimea region from Ukraine, and the name was changed to G7 — which includes the US,&nbsp;Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada.

The US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to host the delayed G7 Summit after the Presidential elections scheduled in November 2020. The Group of Seven summit was to be held in June this year but the US President Donald Trump had decided to postpone it due to the ongoing pandemic, which had sent the world in a worldwide lockdown.

The US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to host the delayed G7 Summit after the Presidential elections scheduled in November 2020. The Group of Seven summit was to be held in June this year but the US President Donald Trump had decided to postpone it due to the ongoing pandemic, which had sent the world in a worldwide lockdown. Since then, trump has been unable to host the summit due to the surge in coronavirus cases, especially in the US. However, Trump has now announced that he would like to host the summit in a "calmer atmosphere" after the November 3 presidential elections. Also read| Russia says China would be needed in expanded G7 summit "I'm much more inclined to do it sometime after the election. ... We could do it through teleconference or we could do it through a meeting," Trump said at a news conference from White House. He feels November would be a "better, calmer atmosphere to have a G7." However, he has not given any conformation on whether or not Russian President Vladimir Putin will be invited to this summit, after he declared his intentions of extending invitations to Russia, India, South Korea and Australia. Also watch| Gravitas: Politics over G7 expansion heats up "I don`t know but we have invited a number of people to the meeting. I certainly would invite him to the meeting," he said, adding that no date has been finalised yet, and therefore the invitations have not been sent out. The invite as discussed between Trump and Putin over a phone call in June. Russia was once a part of the then-called G8 group, but was expelled in 2014 after annexing the Crimea region from Ukraine, and the name was changed to G7 — which includes the US, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada.

Trump wants to host G7 Summit after November elections in 'calmer atmosphere'

The United States has told Japan that it wants to organise an in-person Group of Seven leaders’ summit in late August, according to a Reuters report.

In response, Japan told the United States that its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would be willing to attend the summit if it were to be held in late August.

US President Donald Trump decided in May to postpone the summit to September or later expand the list of invitees to include Australia, Russia, South Korea and India.

Although it is not clear why the event would be held earlier than September, opinion polls show clear signs of erosion of Trump’s electoral support since the coronavirus outbreak.

The G7 groups the United States, Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Italy and Canada, and the European Union also attends.

The United States has told Japan that it wants to organise an in-person Group of Seven leaders’ summit in late August, according to a Reuters report. In response, Japan told the United States that its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would be willing to attend the summit if it were to be held in late August.

The United States has told Japan that it wants to organise an in-person Group of Seven leaders’ summit in late August, according to a Reuters report. In response, Japan told the United States that its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would be willing to attend the summit if it were to be held in late August. US President Donald Trump decided in May to postpone the summit to September or later expand the list of invitees to include Australia, Russia, South Korea and India. Although it is not clear why the event would be held earlier than September, opinion polls show clear signs of erosion of Trump’s electoral support since the coronavirus outbreak. The G7 groups the United States, Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Italy and Canada, and the European Union also attends.

US is hoping for an in-person G7 summit in late August, say Japanese sources

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US President Donald Trump in a 40-minute phone call where the two leaders discussed the upcoming G7 summit and the border faceoff with China. Both the leaders also exchanged views on the COVID-19 situation in their countries.

Modi-Trump phone call: Modi expresses concern over US protests

U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to create a new bloc to counter China. What's at stake for India? Why is there stiff opposition to inviting Russia?

Gravitas: Trump delays 'outdated' G7 Summit

G7 leaders of the UK and Canada have opposed Russia's return to the G7,&nbsp;deepening a rift over US President Donald Trump's wish for the country to rejoin.

"Russia was excluded from the G7 after it invaded Crimea a number of years ago, and its continued disrespect and flaunting of international rules and norms is why it remains outside of the G7, and it will continue to remain out," Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a news conference.

The G7 summit, which the US hosts this year, convenes the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK to discuss matters of co-operation.

Russia was expelled from the group, previously known as the G8, in 2014 in response to its annexation of Crimea.

Earlier, a spokesman for the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would veto any proposal to allow Russia to rejoin the group.

Unless Russia ceases its "aggressive and destabilising activity", the UK would not support the country's readmission to the group, Mr Johnson's spokesman said.

"Russia was removed from the G7 group of nations following its&nbsp;annexation of Crimea and we are yet to see evidence of changed behaviour which would justify its readmittance," the spokesman told reporters.

The president had said the G7's "outdated group of countries" should be expanded to include others, including Russia.

The White House said making "progress toward convening the G7" with Russia was among the topics Trump and Putin discussed in a phone call.

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Trump said on Saturday he would postpone the G7 summit scheduled to take place this month until September.

G7 leaders of the UK and Canada have opposed Russia's return to the G7, deepening a rift over US President Donald Trump's wish for the country to rejoin. "Russia was excluded from the G7 after it invaded Crimea a number of years ago, and its continued disrespect and flaunting of international rules and norms is why it remains outside of the G7, and it will continue to remain out," Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a news conference.

G7 leaders of the UK and Canada have opposed Russia's return to the G7, deepening a rift over US President Donald Trump's wish for the country to rejoin. "Russia was excluded from the G7 after it invaded Crimea a number of years ago, and its continued disrespect and flaunting of international rules and norms is why it remains outside of the G7, and it will continue to remain out," Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a news conference. The G7 summit, which the US hosts this year, convenes the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the UK to discuss matters of co-operation. Russia was expelled from the group, previously known as the G8, in 2014 in response to its annexation of Crimea. Earlier, a spokesman for the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would veto any proposal to allow Russia to rejoin the group. Unless Russia ceases its "aggressive and destabilising activity", the UK would not support the country's readmission to the group, Mr Johnson's spokesman said. "Russia was removed from the G7 group of nations following its annexation of Crimea and we are yet to see evidence of changed behaviour which would justify its readmittance," the spokesman told reporters. The president had said the G7's "outdated group of countries" should be expanded to include others, including Russia. The White House said making "progress toward convening the G7" with Russia was among the topics Trump and Putin discussed in a phone call. Trump said on Saturday he would postpone the G7 summit scheduled to take place this month until September.

UK, Canada reject Russia's return after Trump summit invite

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-international-monetary-fund-chief-lagarde-takes-swipe-at-trumps-twitter-habits-256970">US President Donald Trump</a> said on Saturday the next <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/swift-backlash-as-donald-trump-picks-own-golf-resort-to-host-g7-256587">G7 summit</a> will not be at one of his own Florida golf clubs, reversing a decision that had sparked corruption accusations.

"Based on both Media &amp; Democrat Crazed and Irrational Hostility, we will no longer consider <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hopes-us-china-trade-deal-will-be-signed-by-middle-of-november-256808">Trump</a> National Doral, Miami, as the Host Site for the G-7 in 2020," the president tweeted.

"We will begin the search for another site, including the possibility of Camp David, immediately."

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney had on Thursday announced that the south Florida venue was "the best place" among a dozen US locations considered for the June 10-12 gathering next year.

Critics said the move would violate both the foreign and domestic emoluments clauses that are designed to shield a US leader from outside influence.

On Friday, new legislation to block the plan was introduced by Democrats in Congress, who have already opened an impeachment investigation into allegations that the president pressured Ukraine into interfering on his behalf in the 2020 US election.

The bill, called "Trump's Heist Undermines the G-7 (THUG) Act," would have cut off all federal funding for the move, and require the White House to turn over all relevant documents that show how administration officials decided on Doral.

Trump National Doral is vital to his organization's finances and was once one of his biggest money-makers -- but it has been in steep decline, according to the Washington Post.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday the next G7 summit will not be at one of his own Florida golf clubs, reversing a decision that had sparked corruption accusations.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday the next G7 summit will not be at one of his own Florida golf clubs, reversing a decision that had sparked corruption accusations. "Based on both Media & Democrat Crazed and Irrational Hostility, we will no longer consider Trump National Doral, Miami, as the Host Site for the G-7 in 2020," the president tweeted. "We will begin the search for another site, including the possibility of Camp David, immediately." Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney had on Thursday announced that the south Florida venue was "the best place" among a dozen US locations considered for the June 10-12 gathering next year. Critics said the move would violate both the foreign and domestic emoluments clauses that are designed to shield a US leader from outside influence. On Friday, new legislation to block the plan was introduced by Democrats in Congress, who have already opened an impeachment investigation into allegations that the president pressured Ukraine into interfering on his behalf in the 2020 US election. The bill, called "Trump's Heist Undermines the G-7 (THUG) Act," would have cut off all federal funding for the move, and require the White House to turn over all relevant documents that show how administration officials decided on Doral. Trump National Doral is vital to his organization's finances and was once one of his biggest money-makers -- but it has been in steep decline, according to the Washington Post.

Trump says next G7 summit won't be at his Miami golf resort

U.S. President Donald Trump will host next year's Group of Seven economic summit of developed world leaders at one of his own properties, the Trump National Doral golf resort near Miami, a White House official said on Thursday.

U.S. to host 2020 G7 summit at Trump's own luxurious resort near Miami

US President Donald Trump has awarded the hosting of the next G7 summit to one of his own Florida golf clubs, the White House said on Thursday, sparking accusations of corruption from opposition lawmakers and ethics campaigners.&nbsp;

The Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami was "the best place" among a dozen US venues considered for the June 10-12 gathering next year, acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told reporters at the White House.

But some members of Congress and civil society groups immediately rebuked Trump for what Democrats called "among the most brazen examples yet of the president's corruption."&nbsp;

"He is exploiting his office and making official US government decisions for his personal financial gain," Jerry Nadler, the chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.

Nadler vowed that Trump's "latest abuse of power" would not distract from the Democratic-led impeachment investigation into allegations that the president pressured Ukraine into interfering on his behalf in the 2020 US election.

Democrats were already probing Trump's suggestion at the most recent G7 gathering in France in August that the next one could be hosted at one of his resorts.

Critics say the move would violate both the foreign and domestic emoluments clauses that are designed to shield a US leader from outside influence.

'Abusing the presidency'

"This is unbelievable," Noah Bookbinder, the executive director of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington pressure group, said in a statement.

"Given the potential consequences the president is facing for abusing the presidency for his own gain, we would have thought he would steer clear of blatant corruption at least temporarily; instead he has doubled down on it."

Trump National Doral is vital to Trump's overall finances and was once one of his biggest money-makers -- but it has been in steep decline, according to the Washington Post.

The newspaper reported in May that the resort's net operating income -- the amount left after expenses are paid -- had fallen by 69 per cent in two years.

"The president is now officially using the power of his office to help prop up his struggling golf business. There appears to be no bottom to President Trump's corruption," Bookbinder added.&nbsp;

Walter Shaub, a former director of the Office of Government Ethics and a senior director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, tweeted that the decision was "so overtly corrupt" that it could not be viewed as anything other than a loyalty test for senators.

"If they are corrupt enough to look the other way, Trump will know he can do anything," he said.

Asked if Trump was aware the choice of venue would inevitably raise accusations of impropriety, Mulvaney said he was -- and had decided to go ahead anyway.

Empty in June

"We're going to have it there, and there's going to be folks who will never get over the fact that it's a Trump property. We get that, but we're still going there," he told reporters.

Mulvaney said Trump suggested Doral as a venue when his team initially gathered to go over a list of 12 possible venues.

He said Doral would put on the event at cost, which he claimed would be as much as half what it would be at other venues. But he gave no estimates of the cost or comparisons.

An important draw is the club's size -- 900 acres, including three golf courses, according to Mulvaney, who said all the foreign delegations and the press could be housed "on campus."

The Post's David Fahrenthold, who has closely followed Trump Organisation finances, tweeted that Doral was typically empty in June because of the Miami heat.

"Now -- b/c @realdonaldtrump has awarded the summit to himself -- it will be full," he said.

When he touted Doral at the last G7 in Biarritz, Trump brushed off critics who said he was pushing his brand and profiting from his office.

"It's a great place. It's got tremendous acreage, many hundreds of acres, so we can handle whatever happens," he told reporters.

US President Donald Trump has awarded the hosting of the next G7 summit to one of his own Florida golf clubs, the White House said on Thursday, sparking accusations of corruption from opposition lawmakers and ethics campaigners.

US President Donald Trump has awarded the hosting of the next G7 summit to one of his own Florida golf clubs, the White House said on Thursday, sparking accusations of corruption from opposition lawmakers and ethics campaigners. The Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami was "the best place" among a dozen US venues considered for the June 10-12 gathering next year, acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told reporters at the White House. But some members of Congress and civil society groups immediately rebuked Trump for what Democrats called "among the most brazen examples yet of the president's corruption." "He is exploiting his office and making official US government decisions for his personal financial gain," Jerry Nadler, the chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement. Nadler vowed that Trump's "latest abuse of power" would not distract from the Democratic-led impeachment investigation into allegations that the president pressured Ukraine into interfering on his behalf in the 2020 US election. Democrats were already probing Trump's suggestion at the most recent G7 gathering in France in August that the next one could be hosted at one of his resorts. Critics say the move would violate both the foreign and domestic emoluments clauses that are designed to shield a US leader from outside influence. 'Abusing the presidency' "This is unbelievable," Noah Bookbinder, the executive director of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington pressure group, said in a statement. "Given the potential consequences the president is facing for abusing the presidency for his own gain, we would have thought he would steer clear of blatant corruption at least temporarily; instead he has doubled down on it." Trump National Doral is vital to Trump's overall finances and was once one of his biggest money-makers -- but it has been in steep decline, according to the Washington Post. The newspaper reported in May that the resort's net operating income -- the amount left after expenses are paid -- had fallen by 69 per cent in two years. "The president is now officially using the power of his office to help prop up his struggling golf business. There appears to be no bottom to President Trump's corruption," Bookbinder added. Walter Shaub, a former director of the Office of Government Ethics and a senior director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, tweeted that the decision was "so overtly corrupt" that it could not be viewed as anything other than a loyalty test for senators. "If they are corrupt enough to look the other way, Trump will know he can do anything," he said. Asked if Trump was aware the choice of venue would inevitably raise accusations of impropriety, Mulvaney said he was -- and had decided to go ahead anyway. Empty in June "We're going to have it there, and there's going to be folks who will never get over the fact that it's a Trump property. We get that, but we're still going there," he told reporters. Mulvaney said Trump suggested Doral as a venue when his team initially gathered to go over a list of 12 possible venues. He said Doral would put on the event at cost, which he claimed would be as much as half what it would be at other venues. But he gave no estimates of the cost or comparisons. An important draw is the club's size -- 900 acres, including three golf courses, according to Mulvaney, who said all the foreign delegations and the press could be housed "on campus." The Post's David Fahrenthold, who has closely followed Trump Organisation finances, tweeted that Doral was typically empty in June because of the Miami heat. "Now -- b/c @realdonaldtrump has awarded the summit to himself -- it will be full," he said. When he touted Doral at the last G7 in Biarritz, Trump brushed off critics who said he was pushing his brand and profiting from his office. "It's a great place. It's got tremendous acreage, many hundreds of acres, so we can handle whatever happens," he told reporters.

Swift backlash as Donald Trump picks own golf resort to host G7

U.S. President Donald Trump will host next year's Group of Seven economic summit of developed world leaders at one of his own properties, the Trump National Doral golf resort near Miami, a White House official said

Donald Trump awards G7 summit to his own resort

US President Donald Trump said on Monday Washington had struck trade agreements with Tokyo that could be implemented without congressional approval, but stopped short of assuring Japan that new tariffs would not be slapped on vital auto exports.

In a letter to the US&nbsp;Congress released by the White House, Trump said that he intends to enter into the agreements on tariff barriers and digital trade "in the coming weeks" and was notifying lawmakers that the tariff deal would be made under a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-japan-agree-trade-deal-in-principle-245579">trade</a> law provision allowing the US&nbsp;president to make reciprocal tariff reductions by proclamation.

"In addition, I also will be entering into an Executive Agreement with Japan regarding digital trade," Trump said in the letter.

Neither agreement would require a vote in Congress under the so-called "fast track" approval process.

The Trump administration last year notified Congress that it would pursue negotiations with Japan under this method.

On a critical issue to Japan, Trump's announcement left unclear whether he has agreed not to impose threatened national security tariffs on Japanese vehicles and auto parts.

Avoiding the "Section 232" tariffs of up to 25 per cent&nbsp;was a major motivating factor for Tokyo in negotiating with Washington on trade.

"At the finishing stage, we plan to reconfirm that 232 won't be imposed," Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's lead negotiator, told a regular news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Taro Aso said the deal won't contain any provision on currencies another worry for Tokyo.

Japan wants to avoid any agreement hindering its ability to intervene in the foreign-exchange markets in the event of a spike in the yen, or to expand the Bank of Japan's massive monetary stimulus.

Trump said after the&nbsp;G7 summit last month that he was not considering auto tariffs "at this moment".

Over much of the past year, the scope of talks has narrowed to exclude the automotive sector, the source of most of the $67 billion US&nbsp;trade deficit with Japan.

Instead, Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in August announced an agreement in principle of a deal that covered reductions in tariffs on agricultural and industrial goods, but not autos.

A spokesman for US&nbsp;Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer could not immediately be reached for comment on the letter and the trade deals.

Trump and Abe said at the G7 summit in France that they hoped to sign the agreement at this month's United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Trump's letter did not disclose any content of the agreements, but Japan had previously said it was willing to consider a deal that would reduce agriculture tariffs to levels previously contemplated under the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal that Trump quit on his third day in office in 2017.

Trump's letter said that the United States would pursue further trade negotiations with Japan.

"My Administration looks forward to continued collaboration with the Congress on further negotiations with Japan to achieve a comprehensive trade agreement that results in more fair and reciprocal trade between the United States and Japan," Trump said.

The US&nbsp;technology industry officials say they expect the digital trade agreement with Japan to be closely aligned with provisions in the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which follow the US&nbsp;model for internet development.

The USMCA provisions aim to ensure the free flow of data across borders without taxation, prohibit data server localization requirements and limit governments' ability to require the disclosure of source code by the companies they regulate.

For Trump, the signing of even a partial trade deal with Japan centred largely on agriculture would provide some relief to US&nbsp;farmers who have been battered by a 14-month US-China trade war and lost market share.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday Washington had struck trade agreements with Tokyo that could be implemented without congressional approval, but stopped short of assuring Japan that new tariffs would not be slapped on vital auto exports.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday Washington had struck trade agreements with Tokyo that could be implemented without congressional approval, but stopped short of assuring Japan that new tariffs would not be slapped on vital auto exports. In a letter to the US Congress released by the White House, Trump said that he intends to enter into the agreements on tariff barriers and digital trade "in the coming weeks" and was notifying lawmakers that the tariff deal would be made under a trade law provision allowing the US president to make reciprocal tariff reductions by proclamation. "In addition, I also will be entering into an Executive Agreement with Japan regarding digital trade," Trump said in the letter. Neither agreement would require a vote in Congress under the so-called "fast track" approval process. The Trump administration last year notified Congress that it would pursue negotiations with Japan under this method. On a critical issue to Japan, Trump's announcement left unclear whether he has agreed not to impose threatened national security tariffs on Japanese vehicles and auto parts. Avoiding the "Section 232" tariffs of up to 25 per cent was a major motivating factor for Tokyo in negotiating with Washington on trade. "At the finishing stage, we plan to reconfirm that 232 won't be imposed," Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's lead negotiator, told a regular news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday. Finance Minister Taro Aso said the deal won't contain any provision on currencies another worry for Tokyo. Japan wants to avoid any agreement hindering its ability to intervene in the foreign-exchange markets in the event of a spike in the yen, or to expand the Bank of Japan's massive monetary stimulus. Trump said after the G7 summit last month that he was not considering auto tariffs "at this moment". Over much of the past year, the scope of talks has narrowed to exclude the automotive sector, the source of most of the $67 billion US trade deficit with Japan. Instead, Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in August announced an agreement in principle of a deal that covered reductions in tariffs on agricultural and industrial goods, but not autos. A spokesman for US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer could not immediately be reached for comment on the letter and the trade deals. Trump and Abe said at the G7 summit in France that they hoped to sign the agreement at this month's United Nations General Assembly in New York. Trump's letter did not disclose any content of the agreements, but Japan had previously said it was willing to consider a deal that would reduce agriculture tariffs to levels previously contemplated under the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal that Trump quit on his third day in office in 2017. Trump's letter said that the United States would pursue further trade negotiations with Japan. "My Administration looks forward to continued collaboration with the Congress on further negotiations with Japan to achieve a comprehensive trade agreement that results in more fair and reciprocal trade between the United States and Japan," Trump said. The US technology industry officials say they expect the digital trade agreement with Japan to be closely aligned with provisions in the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which follow the US model for internet development. The USMCA provisions aim to ensure the free flow of data across borders without taxation, prohibit data server localization requirements and limit governments' ability to require the disclosure of source code by the companies they regulate. For Trump, the signing of even a partial trade deal with Japan centred largely on agriculture would provide some relief to US farmers who have been battered by a 14-month US-China trade war and lost market share.

Trump says the US reaches trade deals with Japan, no word on cars

President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday that Europe has "nothing to teach" Brazil about preserving the environment, as data showed thousands of new fires were ignited on the first day of a ban on burning.&nbsp;

The far-right leader's comments are likely to fuel a diplomatic row between Brazil and Europe over the worst fires in years in the Amazon basin. Offers have come in from overseas to help put them out.&nbsp;

It comes as a Brazilian delegation, which includes Bolsonaro's third son and hopeful ambassador to the United States, is set to meet with senior US administration officials at the White House on Friday after President Donald Trump offered to assist with the Amazon crisis.&nbsp;

Bolsonaro has accused Germany and France of "buying" Brazil's sovereignty after the G7 offered $20 million in Amazon fire aid and he initially rejected the money unless his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron withdrew insults made against him. &nbsp;

Bolsonaro later said Brazil would accept bilateral aid to fight the fires but has insisted the Latin American country must control the money.

The Brazilian president told reporters he would talk to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, without specifying when, and repeated a demand that "our dear Macron" retract remarks relating to Brazil's sovereignty of the Amazon before he would speak to him.&nbsp;

"Europe has nothing to teach us about preserving the environment," Bolsonaro said, reiterating his plan for "sustainable exploitation" of the Amazon.

"It will happen," he added.

The visit by Bolsonaro's son Eduardo and Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo to Washington was to thank Trump for his support during the crisis over the Amazon fires, the Brazilian leader said Thursday.

A senior US administration official said the men would visit the White House. There was no confirmation they would meet with Trump.

More fires

On the eve of the G7 summit last week, Macron declared the forest fires, which are also affecting Bolivia, an "international crisis" and put it on the agenda of the gathering of the rich democracies.&nbsp;

Macron also accused Bolsonaro of lying to him about Brazil's climate change stance.

Bolsonaro reacted furiously, accusing Macron of having a "colonialist mentality."&nbsp;

Under growing pressure to do more, Bolsonaro issued a nationwide 60-day ban on burning that took effect Thursday.&nbsp;

Activists quickly doused hopes that the prohibition would work in the remote Amazon region where deforestation has surged this year as agencies tasked with monitoring illegal activities were weakened.&nbsp;

On the same day, as the ban took effect, 2,300 new fires were detected -- most of them in the Amazon basin -- taking the total number for this year to 87,257, the latest figures from the National Institute for Space Research show.

Nearly 1,500 of the new fires were in the vast Amazon basin.&nbsp;

This year's total is the highest since 2010 when 132,106 fires were detected across the country.

Para was the hardest hit state on Thursday, with 587 new blazes -- up 67 per cent from the previous day.

Some 464 fires were started in Mato Grosso, a rise of 274 per cent.&nbsp;

In Rondonia, where firefighting efforts were initially concentrated, 67 new fires were registered, nearly three times the previous day. &nbsp;

Police on Thursday arrested three people for burning more than 5,000 hectares (12,350 acres) in a conservation area in Para.&nbsp;

Thousands of troops and firefighters have been deployed since the weekend to combat the fires, along with two C-130 Hercules and other aircraft that are dumping water over affected areas in the country's north.

The defence ministry says the fires are under control.&nbsp;

Bolsonaro claimed in a live broadcast on Facebook on Thursday that "this year's fires are below the average of recent years."

President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday that Europe has "nothing to teach" Brazil about preserving the environment, as data showed thousands of new fires were ignited on the first day of a ban on burning.

President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday that Europe has "nothing to teach" Brazil about preserving the environment, as data showed thousands of new fires were ignited on the first day of a ban on burning. The far-right leader's comments are likely to fuel a diplomatic row between Brazil and Europe over the worst fires in years in the Amazon basin. Offers have come in from overseas to help put them out. It comes as a Brazilian delegation, which includes Bolsonaro's third son and hopeful ambassador to the United States, is set to meet with senior US administration officials at the White House on Friday after President Donald Trump offered to assist with the Amazon crisis. Bolsonaro has accused Germany and France of "buying" Brazil's sovereignty after the G7 offered $20 million in Amazon fire aid and he initially rejected the money unless his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron withdrew insults made against him. Bolsonaro later said Brazil would accept bilateral aid to fight the fires but has insisted the Latin American country must control the money. The Brazilian president told reporters he would talk to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, without specifying when, and repeated a demand that "our dear Macron" retract remarks relating to Brazil's sovereignty of the Amazon before he would speak to him. "Europe has nothing to teach us about preserving the environment," Bolsonaro said, reiterating his plan for "sustainable exploitation" of the Amazon. "It will happen," he added. The visit by Bolsonaro's son Eduardo and Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo to Washington was to thank Trump for his support during the crisis over the Amazon fires, the Brazilian leader said Thursday. A senior US administration official said the men would visit the White House. There was no confirmation they would meet with Trump. More fires On the eve of the G7 summit last week, Macron declared the forest fires, which are also affecting Bolivia, an "international crisis" and put it on the agenda of the gathering of the rich democracies. Macron also accused Bolsonaro of lying to him about Brazil's climate change stance. Bolsonaro reacted furiously, accusing Macron of having a "colonialist mentality." Under growing pressure to do more, Bolsonaro issued a nationwide 60-day ban on burning that took effect Thursday. Activists quickly doused hopes that the prohibition would work in the remote Amazon region where deforestation has surged this year as agencies tasked with monitoring illegal activities were weakened. On the same day, as the ban took effect, 2,300 new fires were detected -- most of them in the Amazon basin -- taking the total number for this year to 87,257, the latest figures from the National Institute for Space Research show. Nearly 1,500 of the new fires were in the vast Amazon basin. This year's total is the highest since 2010 when 132,106 fires were detected across the country. Para was the hardest hit state on Thursday, with 587 new blazes -- up 67 per cent from the previous day. Some 464 fires were started in Mato Grosso, a rise of 274 per cent. In Rondonia, where firefighting efforts were initially concentrated, 67 new fires were registered, nearly three times the previous day. Police on Thursday arrested three people for burning more than 5,000 hectares (12,350 acres) in a conservation area in Para. Thousands of troops and firefighters have been deployed since the weekend to combat the fires, along with two C-130 Hercules and other aircraft that are dumping water over affected areas in the country's north. The defence ministry says the fires are under control. Bolsonaro claimed in a live broadcast on Facebook on Thursday that "this year's fires are below the average of recent years."

'Europe has nothing to teach Brazil about preserving environment,' says Bolsonaro as Amazon fires soar

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Thursday held a meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Bonne in New Delhi.

The duo met days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/talks-on-climate-change-to-nsg-membership-big-takeaways-from-pm-modis-participation-at-g7-summit-245857">during G7 summit</a>.&nbsp;

Both the leaders confirmed that first Rafale fighter jets will be handed over to India in September.

In September 2016, India signed a deal with the French government and Dassault Aviation to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets for over Euro 7.8 billion to arrest the fall of combat squadrons and meet urgent requirements on the eastern and western fronts.&nbsp;

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa are scheduled to receive the first Rafale fighter jet manufactured by French firm Dassault Aviation for India on September 20.

The officials here have said the Indian Rafale is far more advanced than the ones operating with the French Air Force and that is why the plane would continue to be used for training Indian pilots till May next year.&nbsp;

The Indian Air Force will deploy one each squadron of the Rafale combat aircraft at its airbases in Ambala in Haryana and Hashimara in Bengal.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Thursday held a meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Bonne in New Delhi. The duo met days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during G7 summit.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Thursday held a meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Bonne in New Delhi. The duo met days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during G7 summit. Both the leaders confirmed that first Rafale fighter jets will be handed over to India in September. In September 2016, India signed a deal with the French government and Dassault Aviation to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets for over Euro 7.8 billion to arrest the fall of combat squadrons and meet urgent requirements on the eastern and western fronts. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa are scheduled to receive the first Rafale fighter jet manufactured by French firm Dassault Aviation for India on September 20. The officials here have said the Indian Rafale is far more advanced than the ones operating with the French Air Force and that is why the plane would continue to be used for training Indian pilots till May next year. The Indian Air Force will deploy one each squadron of the Rafale combat aircraft at its airbases in Ambala in Haryana and Hashimara in Bengal.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval meets his French counterpart Emmanuel Bonne during G7 summit

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - August 28th, 2019

The Amazon is not on fire. There are fires in the Amazon rainforest, as there are every year in July-September, because this is the dry season. There may be more fires than usual this year, and it may even be the fault of Jair Bolsonaro, the Donald Trump mini-me who became the president of Brazil last January, but that is not still clear.

Yet, there is a great outcry, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying that Bolsonaro lied to him about his stance on climate change. Macron is even threatening to withhold French ratification of the recently signed free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur (of which Brazil is the biggest member).

Meanwhile, British prime minister Boris Johnson declares that it is “an international crisis”, and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel calls the fires “an acute emergency...for the whole world.” The Finnish foreign minister even suggests that the EU should boycott Brazilian beef. Concerted international action at last!

Well, no. They might have done it at the G7 summit of the world’s richest countries in Biarritz, but they all knew it would just prompt another Donald Trump walk-out like last year’s. And some of their advisers may be warning them by now that they are not on very safe grounds when they paint Bolsonaro as the sole culprit of the piece.

Bolsonaro is not a good person. He is an obtuse and obnoxious bully who doesn’t give a fig about the climate and advocates ‘developing’ the Amazon in ways that would ultimately destroy the rainforest.

When environmental activists claimed that farmers encouraged by Bolsonaro’s incendiary rhetoric were setting fires to clear Amazonian land for ranching, he blamed the activists themselves, saying that they were setting the fires to discredit him. He had no evidence, he admitted, but he had a “feeling” about it.

Of course, Brazilian farmers and the agribusiness interests behind them are setting fires to destroy bits of the forest, but this is not new with Bolsonaro. The amount of forest they destroyed annually went into steady decline after the Workers’ Party (PT) took power in 2003, but the damage has been trending back up again since the last PT president, Dilma Rousseff, was impeached by Congress in 2015.

Bolsonaro is definitely the icing on the cake, but it’s questionable how much impact he has had after less than eight months in power. The number of fines handed out for illegal burning has dropped by a third this year, but the great majority of illegal burns always went unpunished anyway.

When Brazil’s National Space Research Institute reported an 88% increase in deforestation in June compared with the same month a year ago, nobody except Bolsonaro questioned the data. But, that was before this year’s burning season (Queimada) began, and presumably referred to losses of forest due to illegal logging and land-clearing for mining operations, not to fires.

When the same Brazilian space institute claimed more recently that satellite data showed an 83% increase this year in forest fires, mainly in the Amazon region, Bolsonaro promptly fired its director, claiming that he was manipulating the data for political reasons.

Bolsonaro’s relationship with the truth is as distant as Trump’s, but it must be pointed out that NASA’s Earth Observatory — also relying on satellite data — reported on 22 August that “total fire activity across the Amazon basin this year has been close to the average in comparison to the past 15 years.”

There is, to be sure, a pall of smoke hanging over São Paulo — Brazil’s biggest city — at the moment. It’s as bad as Singapore six years ago or Vancouver last summer, and there’s no doubt that it comes from forest fires. They are, however, fires in the Bolivian part of the Amazon, not Brazil’s.

What the hell, you may say. Bolsonaro may not be guilty this time, but he’s guilty of lots of other things, so let’s hang him anyway. This is not a wise way of proceeding, even if you are doing it with the best of intentions. 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-bolsonaro-may-not-be-the-real-culprit-of-the-amazon-fire-2785439">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The Amazon is not on fire. There are fires in the Amazon rainforest, as there are every year in July-September, because this is the dry season. There may be more fires than usual this year, and it may even be the fault of Jair Bolsonaro, the Donald Trump mini-me who became the president of Brazil last January, but that is not still clear.

The Amazon is not on fire. There are fires in the Amazon rainforest, as there are every year in July-September, because this is the dry season. There may be more fires than usual this year, and it may even be the fault of Jair Bolsonaro, the Donald Trump mini-me who became the president of Brazil last January, but that is not still clear. Yet, there is a great outcry, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying that Bolsonaro lied to him about his stance on climate change. Macron is even threatening to withhold French ratification of the recently signed free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur (of which Brazil is the biggest member). Meanwhile, British prime minister Boris Johnson declares that it is “an international crisis”, and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel calls the fires “an acute emergency...for the whole world.” The Finnish foreign minister even suggests that the EU should boycott Brazilian beef. Concerted international action at last! Well, no. They might have done it at the G7 summit of the world’s richest countries in Biarritz, but they all knew it would just prompt another Donald Trump walk-out like last year’s. And some of their advisers may be warning them by now that they are not on very safe grounds when they paint Bolsonaro as the sole culprit of the piece. Bolsonaro is not a good person. He is an obtuse and obnoxious bully who doesn’t give a fig about the climate and advocates ‘developing’ the Amazon in ways that would ultimately destroy the rainforest. When environmental activists claimed that farmers encouraged by Bolsonaro’s incendiary rhetoric were setting fires to clear Amazonian land for ranching, he blamed the activists themselves, saying that they were setting the fires to discredit him. He had no evidence, he admitted, but he had a “feeling” about it. Of course, Brazilian farmers and the agribusiness interests behind them are setting fires to destroy bits of the forest, but this is not new with Bolsonaro. The amount of forest they destroyed annually went into steady decline after the Workers’ Party (PT) took power in 2003, but the damage has been trending back up again since the last PT president, Dilma Rousseff, was impeached by Congress in 2015. Bolsonaro is definitely the icing on the cake, but it’s questionable how much impact he has had after less than eight months in power. The number of fines handed out for illegal burning has dropped by a third this year, but the great majority of illegal burns always went unpunished anyway. When Brazil’s National Space Research Institute reported an 88% increase in deforestation in June compared with the same month a year ago, nobody except Bolsonaro questioned the data. But, that was before this year’s burning season (Queimada) began, and presumably referred to losses of forest due to illegal logging and land-clearing for mining operations, not to fires. When the same Brazilian space institute claimed more recently that satellite data showed an 83% increase this year in forest fires, mainly in the Amazon region, Bolsonaro promptly fired its director, claiming that he was manipulating the data for political reasons. Bolsonaro’s relationship with the truth is as distant as Trump’s, but it must be pointed out that NASA’s Earth Observatory — also relying on satellite data — reported on 22 August that “total fire activity across the Amazon basin this year has been close to the average in comparison to the past 15 years.” There is, to be sure, a pall of smoke hanging over São Paulo — Brazil’s biggest city — at the moment. It’s as bad as Singapore six years ago or Vancouver last summer, and there’s no doubt that it comes from forest fires. They are, however, fires in the Bolivian part of the Amazon, not Brazil’s. What the hell, you may say. Bolsonaro may not be guilty this time, but he’s guilty of lots of other things, so let’s hang him anyway. This is not a wise way of proceeding, even if you are doing it with the best of intentions. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Jair Bolsonaro may not be the real culprit of the Amazon fires

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