HIROSHIMA, Japan - China, Russia, climate change, artificial intelligence and diversity are among the issues on a crowded agenda awaiting leaders from the Group of Seven (G-7) bloc of wealthy advanced democracies this weekend.
They arrived in a rainy Hiroshima on Thursday, though the wet weather did nothing to dampen their resolve to confront a series of pressing issues during their summit.
The G-7 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, with the European Union a "non-enumerated" member without right to the rotating presidency.
Over their meetings through to Sunday, the leaders will try to forge a united front on China and Russia, both uninvited but also the largest elephants in the room.
Their communique on Sunday is expected to highlight China's "economic coercion", while they are also set to discuss tougher sanctions on Russia, including the possibility of third-party sanctions, to choke off its ability to continue the war in Ukraine.
This has taken on urgency after Russia launched a series of fresh missile assaults on Ukraine in May, and amid President Vladimir Putin's nuclear sabre-rattling.
Meanwhile, in a split-screen image epitomising the battle for influence in developing countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday convened for the first time a two-day summit with five Central Asian nations.
The same day, China fired back at G-7 nations with a report on the US' "coercive diplomacy". The official Xinhua News Agency cited the report as saying China has never bullied others nor started trade wars.
China's accusations were not without basis. Dr Tosh Minohara, chairman of the Research Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs think-tank, told The Straits Times that the US had, in the 1980s, likewise taken aim at Japan when its economy was on the ascendancy, by accusing the country of unfair trading practices.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 19, 2023 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 19, 2023 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Doncic drops winning three to put Mavericks 2-0 up
The Dallas Mavericks needed a big shot as they trailed in the final seconds in Game 2 of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Western Conference Finals on May 24.
France begins evacuating tourists stranded amid riots in New Caledonia
The first evacuation flights for French tourists stranded in New Caledonia due to riots in the Pacific territory took off on May 25, said the high commission representing the French state in the archipelago.
Modi's top rivals cast their ballots as election resumes
Two top rivals of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who accuse his government of targeting them in unjustified criminal probes cast their votes in New Delhi on May 25 as the country's six-week general election resumed.
FOREIGN TRIO BLOW CHAMPS AWAY
Goals from Oliveira, Cruz and Gama give DPMM 4-1 victory as Albirex lose again
'THE GAME OF OUR LIVES'
Scorer Garnacho says nobody believed United could deny City another double
Self-belief helps Riley to 2nd-round lead in Texas
After getting past an ill-timed weather interruption at the end of his round, Davis Riley polished off a bogey-free, six-under 64 to claim the second-round lead at the Charles Schwab Challenge on May 24.
NUNES IS BACK IN BUSINESS
Brazilian ace has not been as prolific of late, but four-timer puts him level with Queiroz
Zverev among dark horses eyeing first Grand Slam title
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have won the last eight French Open titles but with the ageing Grand Slam champions nowhere near their best this season, a new champion could be crowned.
CYCLE FUN, CYCLE SAFE
On his first solo cycling trip overseas, Ong Swee Yong found himself lost in Mount Takatsuka in complete darkness, not knowing whether he would make it out.
Hey, that's my voice
When companies use AI to copy your voice to make money
