May 4, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
Britain s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, left, poses for a photo with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, ahead of their bilateral talks as part of the G7 foreign ministers meetings in London, on May 3, 2021. (Ben Stansall / Pool via AP) LONDON (Kyodo) Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized nations started a three-day meeting Monday in London, focusing on ways to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific and on action to curb the coronavirus pandemic. The first in-person G-7 foreign ministers meeting in two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the gathering is expected to showcase the unity of democratic nations in dealing with global issues, an apparent rebuke of China and Russia which U.S. President Joe Biden has labeled as autocratic regimes.
Matthew Lee
In this May 3, 2021, photo, Britain s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, right, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speak at a news conference at Downing Street in London. A flurry of diplomatic activity and reports of major progress suggest that indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran may be nearing a conclusion. That s despite efforts by U.S. officials to play down chances of an imminent deal that would bring Washington and Tehran back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Pool Photo via AP) May 03, 2021 - 9:06 PM
WASHINGTON - A flurry of diplomatic contacts and reports of major progress suggest that indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran may be nearing an agreement. Thatâs despite efforts by U.S. officials to play down chances of an imminent deal that would bring Washington and Tehran back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.
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Former UK prime minister Gordon Brown warned world leaders that the pandemic is becoming a “man-made catastrophe” as inoculation rates struggle to gather pace in poor countries.
The call for immediate action came as the foreign ministers of the world’s leading economies gathered in London on Tuesday for the first face-to-face meeting of the G7 in more than two years.
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The Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator programme – which aims to find, develop and distribute coronavirus shots, tests and therapeutics to poor nations – is $19 billion short of this year’s $22bn target.
The World Health Organisation said an additional $35bn to $45bn would be needed next year to ensure most adults around the world are immunised.
G-7 ministers will also try to agree on a way to make coronavirus vaccines available around the globe. Wealthy countries have been reluctant to give up precious stocks until they have inoculated their own populations.
Organizers have taken steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the London meeting, including setting up plastic screens between participants and making on-site coronavirus tests available.
Credit: AP
Britain s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, right, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attend a joint press conference at Downing Street in London, Monday, May 3, 2021, during the G7 foreign ministers meeting. (Ben Stansall/Pool Photo via AP)