The leaders of seven of the world’s largest developed economies are meeting for the final day of the G7 summit in Biarritz, southern France today amid controversy over the unexpected arrival of Iranian officials at the summit yesterday.
International media is reporting that Iran’s foreign minister landed in Biarritz on Sunday to hold meetings with France’s President Emmanuel Macron as well as the British and German leaders but that no such meetings were held with the American delegation.
It’s reported that the Iranian party arrived at the invitation of the French government following discussions with other G7 members on Saturday evening.bThe talks come during a period of raised tensions between Iran and United States following the US’s withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. European powers have been attempting to deescalate by keeping open a dialogue with Iran despite a series of incidents involving the country.
The G7 brings together the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US, and UK as well as the European Union. Over the past two days the leaders have held talks on issues ranging from climate change and the Amazon fire crisis to international trade and Brexit.
Pope calls for prayers for the Amazon
Pope Francis has invited followers to pray that the unprecedented fires burning in the Amazon rainforest may be quickly contained. Speaking in his weekly address to the faithful in St Peter’s Square, the head of the Catholic Church said, „we are all concerned about the extensive fires that have broken out in the amazon” adding that the „forest lung” is „vital for our planet”.
The Amazon, which is the world’s largest rainforest and produces a significant amount of the atmosphere’s oxygen, is currently burning at an unprecedented rate as thousands of deliberate fires rage uncontrolled in Brazil and neighbouring South American countries.
The Pope is the latest to add his voice to the international outcry for the forest; French President Macron has called the situation in the Amazon an „international crisis” and the issue is understood to have been discussed at the G7 conference over the weekend.
Polish, German, and US presidents to speak at WW2 commemorations
The presidents of Poland, Germany, and the United States are to give speeches at a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War.
According to reports from the Polish Press Agency, a total of 250 guests from 40 foreign delegations and expected to attend the event on September 1st in Warsaw which will mark 80 years since German invasion of Poland ignited the most destructive conflict in human history.
Polish archaeologists discover Inca ruins in Peru
TVP reports that archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an ancient building complex located high in the Peruvian Andes. A team of archaeologists, including from the University of Warsaw, discovered the ruins on the slopes of a dormant volcano some 4,800 metres above sea-level.
The Coropuna volcano was once sacred to the Inca civilisation and was a place of pilgrimage and even human sacrifice. The archaeologists suspect the site was used as a base for pilgrims journeying up the mountain to make offerings at the summit of the volcano.
Record-breaking crowds at Verva street-racing in Gdynia
Record-breaking numbers of people may have visited the Verva street racing and motorsports festival in Gdynia over the weekend, Radio Gdansk is reporting.
Organisers estimate that roughly 160,000 people visited on Saturday and interest was no lower on Sunday, in no small part thanks to the presence of Polish Formula 1 legend Robert Kubica.
Poland’s tennis players win big over the weekend
It was a fantastic weekend for Poland’s tennis players as three Poles saw off rivals to win in separate competitions in the US. Poland’s Łukasz Kubot and his Brazilian partner beat their British and American rivals to win the men’s doubles competition at the Winston Salem open on Friday.
Just the next day, Hubert Hurkacz was crowned champion in the men’s singles competition fending off competitors from France and Canada.
Meanwhile, Poland’s Magda Linette was seeing off Czech and Italian contenders to become the first ever champion at the inaugural NYJTL Bronx open in New York.
TH/RGEN NEWS
