London
Boris Johnson today urged G7 leaders to aim for a more 'feminine' and 'gender neutral' recovery from Covid in a bizarre opening speech, DailyMail reported on Friday. Officially kicking off the summit in Carbis Bay, the PM appealed for them to 'level up' and not repeat the mistakes of the aftermath of the credit crunch when 'inequality' increased.
But he sparked bewilderment as he expanded on his vision for the qualities the world should be encouraging following the havoc wreaked by the devastating disease. As the leaders - including US president Joe Biden - sat around a table before the first session, Mr Johnson told them they need to 'build back better' and be 'united in our vision for a cleaner, greener world'.
'I think that is what the people of our countries now want us to focus on. They want us to be sure that we are beating the pandemic together and discussing how we will never have a repeat of what we have seen but also that we are building back better together,' he said.
'Building back greener and building back fairer and building back more equal and, how shall I, in a more gender neutral and, perhaps a more feminine way. 'How about that, apart from anything else. So those are some of the objectives that we have before us at Carbis Bay.'
G7 eyes $100b from IMF funds to Covid-ravaged nations: US
The US and other G7 members are considering reallocating $100 billion from the International Monetary Fund’s warchest to help countries struggling most to cope with the Covid-19 crisis, the White House said.
The issue will be on the table when G7 leaders discuss how to help steer the world’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic at a 3-day summit in Cornwall, in southwestern England, which began on Friday. “The United States and our G7 partners are actively considering a global effort to multiply the impact of the proposed Special Drawing Rights allocation to the countries most in need,” the US President’s office said.
US will donate 500mn no strings attached Covid-19 vaccine doses: Biden
President Joe Biden on Friday said the US will be the “arsenal of vaccines” to combat virus, as he announced Washington will donate 500 million doses of “no strings attached” vaccines for the global fight against the pandemic.
“And today, we're taking a major step that will supercharge the global fight against this pandemic. At my direction, the US will purchase an additional half-billion doses from Pfizer — the Pfizer vaccine — that we’ll donate to nearly 100 low- and lower-middle-income countries,” said Biden.
UK Police detain 7 driving near venue
British Police say 7 people were arrested after officers found two vehicles carrying paint, smoke grenades and loudspeakers close to the G7 summit venue in southwest England.
"It’s a relationship, you can call it the deep and meaningful relationship, whatever you want, the indestructible relationship. It’s a relationship that has endured for a very long time, and has been an important part of peace and prosperity both in Europe and around the world, said Boris Johnson, British PM.
