The first day of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, was dominated by discussions on the Middle East, Ukraine and the global economy, as leaders grappled with multiple crises that have reshaped the international landscape.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada, alongside invited partners including India, Brazil, South Korea and Ukraine.
The summit comes at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty and mounting economic challenges, with leaders attempting to find common ground on some of the world's most pressing issues.
The situation in the Middle East quickly emerged as the most urgent item on the agenda following the recently announced agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at ending hostilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived at the summit promoting the deal as a breakthrough that could bring stability to the region and help restore the free flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy corridors.
European leaders welcomed signs of de-escalation but sought greater clarity on the details of the agreement and Iran's future commitments regarding its nuclear programme.
The G7 also discussed the potential implications for global energy markets and concerns about further disruptions to oil supplies.
Despite the focus on the Middle East, support for Ukraine remained one of the summit's central themes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the gathering as an invited guest amidst a fresh wave of Russian attacks on Kyiv, including damage to the UNESCO-listed Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery.
Zelenskyy urged leaders to maintain military and financial assistance and renewed his call for direct peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. European leaders also discussed ways to increase pressure on Moscow, including additional sanctions and measures targeting Russia's energy revenues.
The discussions highlighted the continued determination among Western allies to support Ukraine, even as attention has increasingly shifted to developments in the Middle East.
Economic issues featured prominently during the opening day, with leaders expressing concerns over slowing global growth, supply chain vulnerabilities and dependence on Chinese critical minerals.
The G7 discussed the need to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on single suppliers of strategic materials essential for advanced technologies and the energy transition.
Trade tensions also resurfaced after President Trump threatened France with steep tariffs on wine in response to its digital tax on major American technology companies. The issue underscored lingering divisions within the group over trade policy and economic relations.
President Macron sought to emphasise the importance of maintaining G7 unity and avoiding protectionist measures that could further weaken the global economy.
Beyond immediate geopolitical crises, leaders began discussions on long-term challenges such as artificial intelligence, technological competition and access to critical minerals.
The summit is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation on AI governance, ensuring online safety and developing more resilient supply chains for the resources needed in emerging technologies and clean energy industries.
As host, Macron has sought to steer the summit through an increasingly fragmented international environment.
The French president has attempted to keep the focus on areas where consensus remains possible, while avoiding issues that could deepen divisions among member states. Climate change, which featured prominently at previous summits, has taken a less central role this year as leaders concentrate on security and economic concerns.
The second day of the summit is expected to focus on:
Although leaders projected an image of unity on the opening day, significant differences remain over trade, global security and how to respond to rapidly changing geopolitical challenges. Whether the summit produces concrete agreements or merely broad statements of intent will become clearer as discussions continue.
Saudi Arabia said its overnight strikes on Iran-backed group targets in Iraq were carried out in self-defence and warned it would take further militar...
A fire involving two gas vessels at Egypt's Damietta port has prompted conflicting reports over whether the incident was caused by a drone strike or a...
Pakistan has declared hepatitis C a national emergency and launched a nationwide campaign to screen more than 164 million people, as it steps up effor...
French DJ and electropop musician Kavinsky, whose atmospheric sound shaped a generation of electronic music fans, has died at the age of 50, French authorities said on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia said its overnight strikes on Iran-backed group targets in Iraq were carried out in self-defence and warned it would take further military action if the groups launched new attacks against the kingdom.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "good chance" of a deal with Tehran but warned strikes could resume if talks failed.
Moscow should stop linking Russia-Armenia relations to Azerbaijan, Baku's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada has said, after Russia again raised the Collective Security Treaty Organisation's role during the former Garabagh conflict.
Pakistani businesses are warning that growing difficulties in obtaining United Arab Emirates (UAE) visas are disrupting trade, delaying investment and limiting access to a key export market, despite both Islamabad and Abu Dhabi saying there is no official visa ban.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted three tankers and stopped them in Iran's southern waters early on Wednesday. It also announced a ballistic missile attack on two U.S. bases in Jordan.
On 29 July, AnewZ's Daybreak focused on meetings involving Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Benjamin Netanyahu, escalating tensions in the Middle East following U.S. military action, and the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.
The European Union has added Russian energy company Inter RAO to its latest sanctions package, raising questions over the future of Georgia's power sector. The move could have implications for electricity supplies in Tbilisi because of the company's indirect ownership of key energy assets.
Russia’s largest retailer Wildberries has begun searching for warehouse space in Kazakhstan, Moscow’s Kommersant newspaper has reported, citing sources in the real estate market. It comes after Ukrainian drone strikes damaged around 10 per cent of the online marketplace's logistics hubs in Russia.
Yerevan has seen a surge in Russians seeking apartments ahead of Moscow's parliamentary elections in September and amid rumours of mass mobilisation, Russian-language publication Verstka has reported, citing anecdotal evidence from local estate agents.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment