A handout picture released by the European Commission shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab posing for a family photograph with other delegates during the G7 foreign ministers meeting in London. AFP
A handout picture released by the European Commission shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab posing for a family photograph with other delegates during the G7 foreign ministers meeting in London. AFP
A handout picture released by the European Commission shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab posing for a family photograph with other delegates during the G7 foreign ministers meeting in London. AFP
A handout picture released by the European Commission shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab posing for a family photograph with other delegates duri

The six key takeaways from the G7 meeting


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

Diplomats from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, and representatives from the EU, have met in London for three days of talks on the key global issues affecting people, the planet, security and future prosperity.

Here are the six key takeaways from the London G7 summit:

Iran

The G7 said they were committed to ensuring that Iran would never develop a nuclear weapon and welcomed discussions between the nuclear deal signatories, and the US, for all parties to return to the agreement covering Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The diplomats asked Iran to allow for these talks by avoiding any further escalation and said the latest Iranian actions were very serious.

The G7 supported the International Atomic Energy Agency in its monitoring and verification work.

They said they condemned Iran’s support to proxy forces and militias, and called on Iran to stop all ballistic missile activities.

The G7 supports efforts to ensure a thorough investigation into the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 tragedy to hold Iran accountable.

The group said they were deeply concerned by the continued human rights abuses in Iran and called for the release of all foreign, dual nationals and human rights defenders who faced arbitrary arrest, detention and lengthy prison sentences.

Syria

The G7 condemned the regime of President Bashar Al Assad and its backers’ continuing atrocities against the Syrian people.

They called for unhindered humanitarian access into Syria, which is crucial for easing the effects of the crisis, which s now in its 11th year.

The group also supports a political solution to the Syria conflict in line with a UN Security Council resolution.

This includes a nationwide ceasefire and a safe and neutral environment for refugees to return.

The G7 called for free and fair elections under UN supervision. Only when a credible political process is firmly under way would the G7 consider assisting with rebuilding Syria.

The group called on the regime to refrain from further use of chemical weapons and said they were firmly committed to accountability for those responsible for the use of such arms and breaches of international law.

Yemen

The continuing conflict in Yemen, with its repercussions on the unity of the country and its independence, continues to be a cause of serious concern for the G7.

They called on all parties in Yemen to agree to UN proposals for an immediate ceasefire, the free flow of imports through Red Sea ports, the reopening of Sanaa airport, and the resumption of inclusive political talks, with meaningful participation of Yemeni women and youth.

The G7 condemned the Iran-backed Houthi rebels' cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia and their continued Marib offensive.

The called for accountability for human rights breaches and abuses, and stressed the need for all the parties to the conflict to provide full humanitarian access and ensure the protection of civilians.

Libya

The G7 welcomed the progress achieved in Libya since the start of the Berlin Process, including the recent endorsement of the interim Libyan Government of National Unity and Presidency Council.

They called on the GNU to make the necessary preparations for inclusive, transparent and credible national presidential and parliamentary elections on December 24, 2021.

The group also wants to see an improvement in the delivery of basic services to the Libyan people, respect for human rights, protection of refugees and migrants and to ensure the full participation and protection of women and youth.

The G7 also stressed the importance of unifying Libya’s institutions and protecting its national oil infrastructure, ensuring that oil revenues are transparently budgeted and distributed for the benefit of all Libyan people.

The Sahel

The G7 said they were concerned by continuing instability, increasing violence, and the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Sahel.

They welcomed enhanced efforts to tackle the causes of instability in the region.

They welcomed the implementation of the “civil surge” agreed on during the N’Djamena Summit in February 2021, and structural reforms to address the rule of law, anti-corruption and inclusive governance.

The group underscored the need for all involved in the Sahel to respect human rights, including the right of women to take part in conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes, and international humanitarian law.

They called for the continued implementation of the peace agreement in Mali and credible and inclusive elections to achieve a timely return to a democratically elected government that meets the needs of all Malians.

Reaffirmation of core values

The G7 said they were committed to championing media freedom as a vital part of upholding democracy and human rights around the world.

They condemned intimidation, harassment and violence against journalists.

The group said they were concerned about actions by states to intentionally disrupt their own populations’ access to, or dissemination of, information, knowledge and data online.

Internet shutdowns and network restrictions undermine civic space, online and offline, and unjustifiably limit access to information and the rights of peaceful assembly, association and freedom of expression online.

The G7 also committed to work together to further a common understanding of how existing international law applies to cyber space.

They reaffirmed a shared commitment to uphold international law, which is an essential and binding element of the framework for state action in cyber space, and applies to state behaviour in cyber space just as it applies to any other domain.

The G7 said they were committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief for all, and strongly encouraged all states to treat every person equally under the law, regardless of their religion or belief.

By working together, the G7 said they would deter those who target democratic institutions and processes, seek to undermine public confidence in the integrity of democracies, and try to interfere in the information space.

They also pledged to continue to share best practices and develop common approaches to issues such as foreign interference, protecting elections, responding to disinformation and information manipulation, and engaging with social media platforms.

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

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South Africa v India schedule

Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg

ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion

T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town

Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

GP3 qualifying, 10:15am

Formula 2, practice 11:30am

Formula 1, first practice, 1pm

GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm

Formula 1 second practice, 5pm

Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm

Bharat

Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 630bhp

Torque: 900Nm

Price: Dh810,000

Abu Dhabi race card

5pm Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige Dh110,000 1,400m

5.30pm Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige Dh110,000 1,400m

6pm Abu Dhabi Championship Listed Dh180,000 1,600m

6.30pm Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m

7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m

7.30pm Handicap (TB) |Dh100,000 2,400m

THE SPECS

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km

Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)

On sale: now

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Cologne v Hoffenheim (11.30pm)

Saturday

Hertha Berlin v RB Leipzig (6.30pm)

Schalke v Fortuna Dusseldof (6.30pm)

Mainz v Union Berlin (6.30pm)

Paderborn v Augsburg (6.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (9.30pm)

Sunday

Borussia Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen (4.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)

SC Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (9on)

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Match on BeIN Sports

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17

At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.