THE SQUIZ
A select group of world leaders have gathered in Japan’s Hiroshima for the Group of Seven (G7) Summit this weekend to discuss the top issues. Russia and China are at the top of the ‘problem’s list – specifically, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, China’s aggression towards Taiwan, and its use of ‘economic coercion’. Naturally, that affects Australia and while we’re not a G7 member (that’s reserved for Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US, and the UK), PM Anthony Albanese will attend.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH CHINA?
Many of the G7 countries have close economic and trade ties to China – it’s the world’s 2nd-largest economy and a key supplier of manufactured goods. Reliance on trade with China has come into focus in recent years as tensions with Beijing led to trade bans and spanners thrown into global supply chains. So one of the big talking points will be dealing with that growing threat… But reports say there are mixed views on what can be done because G7 members with strong trade ties to China – particularly European nations – might be unwilling to upset Beijing. And for Oz, another step forward was taken yesterday when China’s Ambassador Xiao Qian said his country would lift its ban on Aussie timber imports.

AND WHAT ABOUT RUSSIA?
Reports say the leaders plan to heap more sanctions on Russia over its ongoing attacks on Ukraine by restricting its energy production and trade that supports its military. They’ll also consider sanctions on 3rd countries aiding Russia’s efforts. And fittingly for a summit being held in Hiroshima – which was wiped out by an atomic bomb in WWII – leaders will also discuss the proliferation of nuclear weapons relating to Russia’s war and North Korea’s uptick in ballistic missile testing. Just on the development of dangerous weapons – this week, Ukraine claimed it had destroyed 6 of Russia’s prized Kinzhal missiles, which the Kremlin has denied.Russian officials have accused 3 scientists who created the “unstoppable” hypersonic missiles of treason, saying at least one revealed state secrets about the weapons.