Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Italy on Friday (Jun 14) to attend the G7 Outreach Summit. This is PM Modi's first foreign trip after becoming prime minister for the third term. While boarding the plane on Thursday, he said India would focus on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa and the Mediterranean.&nbsp;

<h2>PM Modi meets Macron&nbsp;</h2>

PM Modi met French President Emmanuel Macron&nbsp;on the sidelines of the G7 summit&nbsp;and discussed ways to further bolster the bilateral ties and exchanged views on global issues.

Taking to his official X account, PM Modi said that he had an "excellent meeting" with Macron. "This is our fourth meeting in one year, indicating the priority we accord to strong India-French ties. Our talks covered numerous subjects such as defence, security, technology, AI, Blue Economy and more. We also discussed how to encourage innovation and research among the youth. I conveyed my best wishes to him on the hosting of the Paris Olympics, which begins next month," PM Modi wrote.&nbsp;

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J'ai eu une excellente réunion avec mon ami le Président <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>. Il s'agit de notre quatrième rencontre en un an, ce qui indique la forte priorité que nous accordons aux liens solides entre l'Inde et la France. Nos échanges ont porté sur de nombreux sujets tels que la… <a href="https://t.co/rDsy5FPCHu">pic.twitter.com/rDsy5FPCHu</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1801568390470885568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>PM Modi's meeting with Sunak&nbsp;</h2>

PM Modi also met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak. On his X account, he wrote: It was a delight to meet PM @RishiSunak in Italy. I reiterated my commitment to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the third term of the NDA Government. There is great scope to deepen ties in sectors like semiconductors, technology and trade. We also talked about further cementing ties in the defence sector."&nbsp;

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It was a delight to meet PM <a href="https://twitter.com/RishiSunak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RishiSunak</a> in Italy. I reiterated my commitment to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the third term of the NDA Government. There is great scope to deepen ties in sectors like semiconductors, technology and trade.… <a href="https://t.co/ehjhFY89cE">pic.twitter.com/ehjhFY89cE</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1801565043919643070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>PM Modi meets Zelensky</h2>

PM Modi said that he had a very productive meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He added that India is eager to cement bilateral relations with Ukraine.&nbsp;

"Regarding the ongoing hostilities, reiterated that India believes in a human-centric approach and believes that the way to peace is through dialogue and diplomacy," the prime minister said.&nbsp;

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Had a very productive meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. India is eager to further cement bilateral relations with Ukraine. Regarding the ongoing hostilities, reiterated that India believes in a human-centric approach and believes that the way to peace is through… <a href="https://t.co/XOKA0AHYGs">pic.twitter.com/XOKA0AHYGs</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1801572899771302043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Pope greets PM Modi&nbsp;</h2>

Pope Francis joined on Friday (June 14) the outreach session of the G7 leaders' summit in Borgo Egnazia, in the southern Italian region of Puglia, to lead discussions on artificial intelligence.

It is the first time in history that a pontiff has taken part in a meeting of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies, comprising Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the United States and the European Union.&nbsp;

He greeted PM Modi and other leaders at the summit. PM Modi taking to X wrote, "Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the&nbsp; 
@G7 Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India."&nbsp;

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Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the <a href="https://twitter.com/G7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@G7</a> Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India. <a href="https://twitter.com/Pontifex?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pontifex</a> <a href="https://t.co/BeIPkdRpUD">pic.twitter.com/BeIPkdRpUD</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1801636845459227083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Italy on Friday (Jun 14) to attend the G7 Outreach Summit. This is PM Modi's first foreign trip after becoming prime minister for the third term.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Italy on Friday (Jun 14) to attend the G7 Outreach Summit. This is PM Modi's first foreign trip after becoming prime minister for the third term. While boarding the plane on Thursday, he said India would focus on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa and the Mediterranean. PM Modi meets Macron PM Modi met French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 summit and discussed ways to further bolster the bilateral ties and exchanged views on global issues. Taking to his official X account, PM Modi said that he had an "excellent meeting" with Macron. "This is our fourth meeting in one year, indicating the priority we accord to strong India-French ties. Our talks covered numerous subjects such as defence, security, technology, AI, Blue Economy and more. We also discussed how to encourage innovation and research among the youth. I conveyed my best wishes to him on the hosting of the Paris Olympics, which begins next month," PM Modi wrote. J'ai eu une excellente réunion avec mon ami le Président @EmmanuelMacron. Il s'agit de notre quatrième rencontre en un an, ce qui indique la forte priorité que nous accordons aux liens solides entre l'Inde et la France. Nos échanges ont porté sur de nombreux sujets tels que la… pic.twitter.com/rDsy5FPCHu — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024 × PM Modi's meeting with Sunak PM Modi also met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak. On his X account, he wrote: It was a delight to meet PM @RishiSunak in Italy. I reiterated my commitment to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the third term of the NDA Government. There is great scope to deepen ties in sectors like semiconductors, technology and trade. We also talked about further cementing ties in the defence sector." It was a delight to meet PM @RishiSunak in Italy. I reiterated my commitment to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the third term of the NDA Government. There is great scope to deepen ties in sectors like semiconductors, technology and trade.… pic.twitter.com/ehjhFY89cE — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024 × PM Modi meets Zelensky PM Modi said that he had a very productive meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He added that India is eager to cement bilateral relations with Ukraine. "Regarding the ongoing hostilities, reiterated that India believes in a human-centric approach and believes that the way to peace is through dialogue and diplomacy," the prime minister said. Had a very productive meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. India is eager to further cement bilateral relations with Ukraine. Regarding the ongoing hostilities, reiterated that India believes in a human-centric approach and believes that the way to peace is through… pic.twitter.com/XOKA0AHYGs — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024 × Pope greets PM Modi Pope Francis joined on Friday (June 14) the outreach session of the G7 leaders' summit in Borgo Egnazia, in the southern Italian region of Puglia, to lead discussions on artificial intelligence. It is the first time in history that a pontiff has taken part in a meeting of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies, comprising Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the United States and the European Union. He greeted PM Modi and other leaders at the summit. PM Modi taking to X wrote, "Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the @G7 Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India." Met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the @G7 Summit. I admire his commitment to serve people and make our planet better. Also invited him to visit India. @Pontifex pic.twitter.com/BeIPkdRpUD — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2024 × (With inputs from agencies)

G7 summit: PM Modi meets Macron, Sunak, Zelensky on sidelines, discusses bilateral ties and global issues

The Group of Seven (G7) rich nations’ energy and environment ministers, on Sunday (April 16) vowed to ramp up efforts and work toward cleaner and renewable energy while also phasing out power plants using coal, in a statement, following discussions in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo. However, they could not decide on a deadline to achieve said goals.&nbsp;

The 36-page communique&nbsp;

After two days of discussions between the environment and energy ministers of the bloc, they released a 36-page statement outlining some of their commitments ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima set to take place next month.&nbsp;

“Recognizing the current global energy crisis and economic disruptions, we reaffirm our commitment to accelerating the clean energy transition to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 at the latest,” said the statement.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-germany-to-end-its-decades-old-nuclear-power-era-what-now-582839">Explained | Germany to end its decades-old nuclear power era. What now?</a> 
 
The countries have also pledged to contribute to “expanding renewable energy globally” and reaffirmed their commitment to “achieving a fully or predominantly decarbonised power sector by 2035.”&nbsp;

This includes phasing out domestic “unabated” coal power generation – plants that do not capture emissions and prevent them from escaping into the atmosphere and also encouraged other countries to follow suit.&nbsp;

However, the G7 ministers have not given a deadline for phasing out coal-fired power plants, which has been a long-standing issue as many countries including Japan still heavily rely on this method for generating power. Tokyo relies on coal for nearly one-third of its power generation.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/g7-climate-talks-meet-seeks-to-reconcile-worlds-heavy-reliance-on-fossil-fuels-582882">G7 Climate Talks: Meet seeks to reconcile world's heavy reliance on fossil fuels</a>

The G7 nations which include countries like Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States,&nbsp;account for some 40 per cent of the world’s economic activity and are also responsible for nearly a quarter of global carbon emissions. The countries are also committed to ending plastic pollution and reducing additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040.&nbsp;

Investment in critical minerals

The G7 nations also acknowledged the importance of critical minerals for the transition to clean energy and reaffirmed the “need to prevent economic and security risks caused by vulnerable supply chains, monopolisation, lack of diversification of existing suppliers of critical minerals.”

In this context, they have also decided to boost the development of new mines and supply chains for critical minerals in a “responsible manner that promotes transparency and traceability” to keep up with demand. It added, “Currently $13 billion fiscal support that can be used for domestic and foreign projects is prepared across the G7 countries.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/himalayas-have-lost-glacier-mass-equal-to-weight-of-570-million-elephants-study-579733">Himalayas have lost glacier mass equal to weight of 570 million elephants: Study</a>

Indian&nbsp;environment&nbsp;minister's address

Indian Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav also addressed the plenary session of the G7 ministers’ meeting in Japan and spoke about how economic development is the first defence against climate change. He also took to Twitter and wrote, “The global goal of reaching net zero by 2050 needs enhanced emission descaling by developed nations.” 
&nbsp;

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Addressed the Plenary Session at G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment. 
 
IPCC AR 6 Report reemphasises development is our first defence against climate change. 
 
The global goal of reaching net zero by 2050 needs enhanced emission descaling by developed nations. <a href="https://t.co/GAoSXn9o4W">pic.twitter.com/GAoSXn9o4W</a>
— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) <a href="https://twitter.com/byadavbjp/status/1647072591084146689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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The Group of Seven (G7) rich nations’ energy and environment ministers, on Sunday (April 16) vowed to ramp up efforts and work toward cleaner and renewable energy while also phasing out power plants using coal, in a statement, following discussions in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo.

The Group of Seven (G7) rich nations’ energy and environment ministers, on Sunday (April 16) vowed to ramp up efforts and work toward cleaner and renewable energy while also phasing out power plants using coal, in a statement, following discussions in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo. However, they could not decide on a deadline to achieve said goals. The 36-page communique After two days of discussions between the environment and energy ministers of the bloc, they released a 36-page statement outlining some of their commitments ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima set to take place next month. “Recognizing the current global energy crisis and economic disruptions, we reaffirm our commitment to accelerating the clean energy transition to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 at the latest,” said the statement. ALSO READ | Explained | Germany to end its decades-old nuclear power era. What now? The countries have also pledged to contribute to “expanding renewable energy globally” and reaffirmed their commitment to “achieving a fully or predominantly decarbonised power sector by 2035.” This includes phasing out domestic “unabated” coal power generation – plants that do not capture emissions and prevent them from escaping into the atmosphere and also encouraged other countries to follow suit. However, the G7 ministers have not given a deadline for phasing out coal-fired power plants, which has been a long-standing issue as many countries including Japan still heavily rely on this method for generating power. Tokyo relies on coal for nearly one-third of its power generation. ALSO WATCH | G7 Climate Talks: Meet seeks to reconcile world's heavy reliance on fossil fuels The G7 nations which include countries like Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, account for some 40 per cent of the world’s economic activity and are also responsible for nearly a quarter of global carbon emissions. The countries are also committed to ending plastic pollution and reducing additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040. Investment in critical minerals The G7 nations also acknowledged the importance of critical minerals for the transition to clean energy and reaffirmed the “need to prevent economic and security risks caused by vulnerable supply chains, monopolisation, lack of diversification of existing suppliers of critical minerals.” In this context, they have also decided to boost the development of new mines and supply chains for critical minerals in a “responsible manner that promotes transparency and traceability” to keep up with demand. It added, “Currently $13 billion fiscal support that can be used for domestic and foreign projects is prepared across the G7 countries.” ALSO READ | Himalayas have lost glacier mass equal to weight of 570 million elephants: Study Indian environment minister's address Indian Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav also addressed the plenary session of the G7 ministers’ meeting in Japan and spoke about how economic development is the first defence against climate change. He also took to Twitter and wrote, “The global goal of reaching net zero by 2050 needs enhanced emission descaling by developed nations.” Addressed the Plenary Session at G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment. IPCC AR 6 Report reemphasises development is our first defence against climate change. The global goal of reaching net zero by 2050 needs enhanced emission descaling by developed nations. pic.twitter.com/GAoSXn9o4W — Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) April 15, 2023 × (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

G7 vows to work towards cleaner, renewable energy with no deadline

Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has warned Iran over the nuclear deal as she said resumed talks in Vienna to save the Iran nuclear deal is the Islamic republic's "last chance" to take a "serious" position.&nbsp;

At a two-day gathering of Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers meeting on Sunday (December 12), UK's Foreign Secretary Truss weighed in on a series of issues of global concerns as she mentioned the Russia-Ukraine, China and Afghanistan situations.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, talking about the nuclear deal, UK foreign secretary said that this is the last chance for Iran, adding that they must do so. She also said we [the West] will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-pm-naftali-bennett-to-make-historic-visit-to-uae-will-discuss-economic-and-regional-issues-436285">Israeli PM Naftali Bennett to make historic visit to UAE, will discuss economic and regional issues</a>

It is important to note that negotiations restarted on Thursday in order to try and revive the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers. In 2018, former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal. &nbsp;

On one hand, Iran has repeatedly claimed that it only wants to develop a civilian capability and also stated that it is to develop fuel for a research reactor. On the other hand, the West has highlighted Tehran's stockpile of enriched uranium that could be used to develop a nuclear weapon.&nbsp;

Liz Truss said, "This is the last chance for Iran to come to the negotiating table with a serious resolution to this issue, which has to be, agreeing the terms of the JCPOA, this is the last chance. And it is vital that they do so, we will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon."

The G7 comprises Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and the United States, and includes a representative from the European Union.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-nuclear-programme-ignites-new-tension-between-us-and-israel-436163">Iran’s nuclear programme ignites new tension between US and Israel</a>

G7 on China and Russia

The G7 major industrialised countries are concerned about the "coercive" economic policies of China. "We have been clear at this meeting this weekend that we are concerned about the coercive economic policies of China," Truss said.&nbsp;

"And what we want to do is build the investment reach, the economic trade reach, of like-minded, freedom-loving democracies," she added.&nbsp;

On Ukraine, Truss said there was a "very much a united voice from the G7 nations who represent 50 per cent of global GDP, being very clear that there will be massive consequences for Russia in the case of an incursion into Ukraine".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has warned Iran over the nuclear deal as she said resumed talks in Vienna to save the Iran nuclear deal is the Islamic republic's "last chance" to take a "serious" position.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has warned Iran over the nuclear deal as she said resumed talks in Vienna to save the Iran nuclear deal is the Islamic republic's "last chance" to take a "serious" position. At a two-day gathering of Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers meeting on Sunday (December 12), UK's Foreign Secretary Truss weighed in on a series of issues of global concerns as she mentioned the Russia-Ukraine, China and Afghanistan situations. Meanwhile, talking about the nuclear deal, UK foreign secretary said that this is the last chance for Iran, adding that they must do so. She also said we [the West] will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. ALSO READ | Israeli PM Naftali Bennett to make historic visit to UAE, will discuss economic and regional issues It is important to note that negotiations restarted on Thursday in order to try and revive the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers. In 2018, former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal. On one hand, Iran has repeatedly claimed that it only wants to develop a civilian capability and also stated that it is to develop fuel for a research reactor. On the other hand, the West has highlighted Tehran's stockpile of enriched uranium that could be used to develop a nuclear weapon. Liz Truss said, "This is the last chance for Iran to come to the negotiating table with a serious resolution to this issue, which has to be, agreeing the terms of the JCPOA, this is the last chance. And it is vital that they do so, we will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon." The G7 comprises Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and the United States, and includes a representative from the European Union. ALSO READ | Iran’s nuclear programme ignites new tension between US and Israel G7 on China and Russia The G7 major industrialised countries are concerned about the "coercive" economic policies of China. "We have been clear at this meeting this weekend that we are concerned about the coercive economic policies of China," Truss said. "And what we want to do is build the investment reach, the economic trade reach, of like-minded, freedom-loving democracies," she added. On Ukraine, Truss said there was a "very much a united voice from the G7 nations who represent 50 per cent of global GDP, being very clear that there will be massive consequences for Russia in the case of an incursion into Ukraine". (With inputs from agencies)

UK's foreign secretary says 'last chance' for Iran to come to the negotiating table and save nuclear deal

Brazilian&nbsp;warplanes&nbsp;are&nbsp;dumping&nbsp;water&nbsp;on the burning forest in the&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;state of Rondonia, responding to a global outcry over the destruction of the world's largest tropical rain forest.

As of Sunday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-amazon-burns-brazils-jair-bolsonaro-tells-rest-of-world-not-to-interfere-244909">President Jair Bolsonaro</a> had authorized&nbsp;military&nbsp;operations in seven states to combat raging&nbsp;fires&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Amazon, responding to requests for assistance from their local governments, a spokeswoman for his office said.

Reuters accompanied a firefighting&nbsp;brigade near the state capital of Porto Velho, where there were areas larger than football fields that had been charred, but active&nbsp;fires&nbsp;were contained to small areas of individual trees.

The dozen or so yellow-clad firefighters from environmental enforcement agency Ibama easily cleared brush from around a burning stump with a leaf blower, doused it with jets connected to&nbsp;water&nbsp;packs mounted on their backs and covered it in the earth.

A video posted by the Defense Ministry on Saturday evening showed a&nbsp;military&nbsp;plane pumping thousands of litres (thousands of gallons) of&nbsp;water&nbsp;out of two giant jets as it passed through clouds of smoke close to the forest canopy.

The response comes as leaders of countries in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protesters-march-near-biarritz-demanding-action-from-g7-leaders-245340">Group of Seven (G7)</a> nations currently meeting in France expressed grave concerns over the&nbsp;fires.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said the G7 was nearing a deal to provide "technical and financial help" to countries affected by the&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;fires.

Nearly 80,000&nbsp;fires&nbsp;have been registered across&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;through August 24, the highest since at least 2013, according to space research agency INPE.

Bolsonaro announced the&nbsp;military&nbsp;would be sent in on Friday after several days of criticism from the public and world leaders that&nbsp;Brazil's government was not doing anything to fight the&nbsp;fires.

He also said on Twitter he had accepted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's offer of a plane and specialized support for the firefighting&nbsp;operations, following a call between the two leaders.

But outside of Rondonia, the government had yet to provide any operational details for other states.

The Defense Ministry said in a briefing on Saturday that 44,000 troops were available in&nbsp;Brazil's northern&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;region but did not say how many would be used where and what they would do.

Military&nbsp;personnel around Porto Velho appeared to be largely coordinating firefighting&nbsp;efforts, according to a Reuters witness.

Asked for additional details, the Defense Ministry told Reuters in a statement that in all seven states that have asked for help, the&nbsp;military&nbsp;is planning operations to support firefighting initiatives already underway.

Justice Minister Sergio Moro had also authorized a force of&nbsp;military&nbsp;police to assist in&nbsp;fighting&nbsp;the&nbsp;fires, with 30 sets to be sent from Brasilia to Porto Velho.

The president's office posted to Twitter a photo of police officers on a plane bound for Rondonia set to arrive at noon.

Environment Minister Ricardo Salles posted a video showing a caravan of yellow fire prevention trucks and other government vehicles, saying they were on the ground responding in Rondonia.

Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Sunday he would seek a conservation pact with other&nbsp;Amazonian countries - first in bi-lateral meetings in Peru this week and then at the United Nations General Assembly.

"Colombia wants to lead a pact, a conservation pact, between the countries that have&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;territory," Duque said after meeting with an indigenous community in the&nbsp;Amazonian city of Leticia in southern Colombia.

"We must understand the protection of our Mother Earth and our&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;is a duty, a moral duty."

The&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;is the world's largest tropical rain forest and is seen as vital to the fight against climate change because of the vast amounts of carbon dioxide than it absorbs.

The&nbsp;Amazon, which provides 20 per cent of the planet's oxygen, is home to an estimated one million indigenous people from up to 500 tribes as well some three million species of plants and animals, including jaguars, sloths, giant otters, river dolphins, howler monkeys, toucans, reptiles, frogs and insects.

Brazilian climate scientist Carlos Nobre said he worries if 20-25 per cent of the ecosystem is destroyed that the&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;could reach a tipping point, after which it would enter a self-sustaining period of dieback as the forest converts to savannah.&nbsp;

Nobre warned that it is not far off with already 15-17 per cent of the rain forest having been destroyed.

Brazilian warplanes are dumping water on the burning forest in the Amazon state of Rondonia, responding to a global outcry over the destruction of the world's largest tropical rain forest.

Brazilian warplanes are dumping water on the burning forest in the Amazon state of Rondonia, responding to a global outcry over the destruction of the world's largest tropical rain forest. As of Sunday, President Jair Bolsonaro had authorized military operations in seven states to combat raging fires in the Amazon, responding to requests for assistance from their local governments, a spokeswoman for his office said. Reuters accompanied a firefighting brigade near the state capital of Porto Velho, where there were areas larger than football fields that had been charred, but active fires were contained to small areas of individual trees. The dozen or so yellow-clad firefighters from environmental enforcement agency Ibama easily cleared brush from around a burning stump with a leaf blower, doused it with jets connected to water packs mounted on their backs and covered it in the earth. A video posted by the Defense Ministry on Saturday evening showed a military plane pumping thousands of litres (thousands of gallons) of water out of two giant jets as it passed through clouds of smoke close to the forest canopy. The response comes as leaders of countries in the Group of Seven (G7) nations currently meeting in France expressed grave concerns over the fires. French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said the G7 was nearing a deal to provide "technical and financial help" to countries affected by the Amazon fires. Nearly 80,000 fires have been registered across Brazil through August 24, the highest since at least 2013, according to space research agency INPE. Bolsonaro announced the military would be sent in on Friday after several days of criticism from the public and world leaders that Brazil's government was not doing anything to fight the fires. He also said on Twitter he had accepted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's offer of a plane and specialized support for the firefighting operations, following a call between the two leaders. But outside of Rondonia, the government had yet to provide any operational details for other states. The Defense Ministry said in a briefing on Saturday that 44,000 troops were available in Brazil's northern Amazon region but did not say how many would be used where and what they would do. Military personnel around Porto Velho appeared to be largely coordinating firefighting efforts, according to a Reuters witness. Asked for additional details, the Defense Ministry told Reuters in a statement that in all seven states that have asked for help, the military is planning operations to support firefighting initiatives already underway. Justice Minister Sergio Moro had also authorized a force of military police to assist in fighting the fires, with 30 sets to be sent from Brasilia to Porto Velho. The president's office posted to Twitter a photo of police officers on a plane bound for Rondonia set to arrive at noon. Environment Minister Ricardo Salles posted a video showing a caravan of yellow fire prevention trucks and other government vehicles, saying they were on the ground responding in Rondonia. Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Sunday he would seek a conservation pact with other Amazonian countries - first in bi-lateral meetings in Peru this week and then at the United Nations General Assembly. "Colombia wants to lead a pact, a conservation pact, between the countries that have Amazon territory," Duque said after meeting with an indigenous community in the Amazonian city of Leticia in southern Colombia. "We must understand the protection of our Mother Earth and our Amazon is a duty, a moral duty." The Amazon is the world's largest tropical rain forest and is seen as vital to the fight against climate change because of the vast amounts of carbon dioxide than it absorbs. The Amazon, which provides 20 per cent of the planet's oxygen, is home to an estimated one million indigenous people from up to 500 tribes as well some three million species of plants and animals, including jaguars, sloths, giant otters, river dolphins, howler monkeys, toucans, reptiles, frogs and insects. Brazilian climate scientist Carlos Nobre said he worries if 20-25 per cent of the ecosystem is destroyed that the Amazon could reach a tipping point, after which it would enter a self-sustaining period of dieback as the forest converts to savannah. Nobre warned that it is not far off with already 15-17 per cent of the rain forest having been destroyed.

Warplanes dump water on Amazon as Brazil military begins fighting fires

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Saturday urged Russia to help solve the Syria crisis as he set off for a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major industrialised nations in Toronto.

The Syrian conflict has badly damaged already strained relations between the West and Russia, which backs President Bashar al-Assad.

The United States, France and Britain conducted missile strikes against Syrian targets this month after a suspected chemical weapons attack that Assad and Moscow deny carrying out.&nbsp

"We need constructive contributions from Russia to reach a peaceful solution," Maas told reporters before his flight, adding that this was equally true of the Ukraine conflict, which the G7 foreign ministers are also due to discuss.

Russia is not a member of the G7 and will not be taking part in the meeting.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been very critical of Russia`s involvement in both the Syrian and Ukraine conflicts and backs continued European Union sanctions against Moscow. But Maas hails from her junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats, which has traditionally sought good ties with Russia.

Germany did not take part in the air strikes, but Merkel backed them as a "necessary and appropriate" action to warn Syria against further use of chemical weapons.

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told Bild am Sonntag newspaper that the German armed forces would have been capable of taking part in the strikes but added: "We weren`t asked this time."

Since World War Two Germany has been reluctant to get involved in military missions abroad. Its limited engagements abroad have focussed mainly on training, surveillance, medical rescue and peacekeeping.

Syrian peace talks

Von der Leyen said the air strikes in Syria had reinvigorated peace initiatives, adding that it was crucial for the Syria peace talks in Geneva to get off the ground with all participants again.

She said it was necessary to negotiate with Assad`s government to achieve initial steps like a ceasefire and get humanitarian aid to suffering Syrians.

Von der Leyen, a member of Merkel`s conservatives, called for a tough stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying: "President Putin doesn`t value weakness. Chumming up to him or being soft doesn`t make him any friendlier."

She said it was important to insist that Russia keeps its commitments in the Minsk peace agreement before loosening sanctions imposed against Moscow over the Ukraine conflict.

But she also stressed that it was important to remain willing to talk to Russia.

Next week Maas is due to take part in an international conference on Syria in Brussels. He said humanitarian aid for people in Syria would be the main focus of that meeting.

"I will again affirm our support for the peace process under the aegis of the United Nations. We urgently need a political solution for this conflict that has gone on for far too long," Maas said.

On Monday Maas will fly to New York, where he will call for Germany to get a non-permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

Von der Leyen said Germany needed to increase its defence budget by several billion euros by 2021 or it would not be able to meet its international commitments.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Saturday urged Russia to help solve the Syria crisis as he set off for a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major industrialised nations in Toronto

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Saturday urged Russia to help solve the Syria crisis as he set off for a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major industrialised nations in Toronto. The Syrian conflict has badly damaged already strained relations between the West and Russia, which backs President Bashar al-Assad. The United States, France and Britain conducted missile strikes against Syrian targets this month after a suspected chemical weapons attack that Assad and Moscow deny carrying out. "We need constructive contributions from Russia to reach a peaceful solution," Maas told reporters before his flight, adding that this was equally true of the Ukraine conflict, which the G7 foreign ministers are also due to discuss. Russia is not a member of the G7 and will not be taking part in the meeting. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been very critical of Russia`s involvement in both the Syrian and Ukraine conflicts and backs continued European Union sanctions against Moscow. But Maas hails from her junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats, which has traditionally sought good ties with Russia. Germany did not take part in the air strikes, but Merkel backed them as a "necessary and appropriate" action to warn Syria against further use of chemical weapons. German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told Bild am Sonntag newspaper that the German armed forces would have been capable of taking part in the strikes but added: "We weren`t asked this time." Since World War Two Germany has been reluctant to get involved in military missions abroad. Its limited engagements abroad have focussed mainly on training, surveillance, medical rescue and peacekeeping. Syrian peace talks Von der Leyen said the air strikes in Syria had reinvigorated peace initiatives, adding that it was crucial for the Syria peace talks in Geneva to get off the ground with all participants again. She said it was necessary to negotiate with Assad`s government to achieve initial steps like a ceasefire and get humanitarian aid to suffering Syrians. Von der Leyen, a member of Merkel`s conservatives, called for a tough stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying: "President Putin doesn`t value weakness. Chumming up to him or being soft doesn`t make him any friendlier." She said it was important to insist that Russia keeps its commitments in the Minsk peace agreement before loosening sanctions imposed against Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. But she also stressed that it was important to remain willing to talk to Russia. Next week Maas is due to take part in an international conference on Syria in Brussels. He said humanitarian aid for people in Syria would be the main focus of that meeting. "I will again affirm our support for the peace process under the aegis of the United Nations. We urgently need a political solution for this conflict that has gone on for far too long," Maas said. On Monday Maas will fly to New York, where he will call for Germany to get a non-permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. Von der Leyen said Germany needed to increase its defence budget by several billion euros by 2021 or it would not be able to meet its international commitments.

German minister urges Russia to cooperate in solving Syria crisis

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Warplanes dump water on Amazon as Brazil military begins fighting fires

German minister urges Russia to cooperate in solving Syria crisis