Leaders of the G7 countries say they are more concerned than ever about foreign interference and plan to create a 91裸聊视频渃ollective response framework91裸聊视频� to counter foreign threats to democracies.
That pledge is part of a 43-page communique released Friday by the leaders of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany and Japan.
It said government ministers have been asked to get the framework together by the end of the year, and that it will include publicly exposing 91裸聊视频渇oreign operations of information manipulation.91裸聊视频�
The communique also called on tech companies to step up their efforts to prevent and counter foreign interference and information manipulation, particularly through the abuse of artificial intelligence.
The focus on foreign interference and its threats to democracy comes at a time when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 government has been embroiled in controversy over allegations that foreign states including China and India have tried meddling in the last two federal elections.
And the concern over AI comes after a warning about that technology from Pope Francis, who on Friday became the first pope to address G7 leaders.
The pontiff counselled the leaders to centre humanity in the development of AI and ensure that decisions about when to use weapons or even less-lethal tools are always made by humans and not machines.
91裸聊视频淲e would condemn humanity to a future without hope if we took away people91裸聊视频檚 ability to make decisions about themselves and their lives, by dooming them to depend on the choices of machines,91裸聊视频� Francis said.
91裸聊视频淲e need to ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs: Human dignity itself depends on it.91裸聊视频�
Trudeau met with the pope before his address Friday afternoon. According to Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 office, the pair talked about advancing reconciliation and the need for the return of Indigenous artifacts held in the Vatican Museum.
Leaders of outreach countries, who arrived at the summit on Friday, also attended the pope91裸聊视频檚 address. Among them were Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Argentine President Javier Milei and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After Modi shared a photo of himself shaking hands with Trudeau on social media, the Prime Minister91裸聊视频檚 Office said the pair had a 91裸聊视频渂rief discussion on the bilateral relationship.91裸聊视频�
Trudeau also congratulated Modi on his re-election, said spokeswoman Ann-Clara Vaillancourt.
91裸聊视频淥f course there are important issues between our two countries right now. You can appreciate that we won91裸聊视频檛 be making any further statements at this time,91裸聊视频� Vaillancourt said.
It was the first time the two met in person since Trudeau accused Modi91裸聊视频檚 government of being involved in the killing of a Sikh activist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in British Columbia.
Trudeau made the shocking revelation in the House of Commons last September. Four Indian nationals have since been arrested and charged with Nijjar91裸聊视频檚 murder.
The first day of the G7 summit in Apulia, Italy, had been dominated by news that the leaders will deliver a US$50-billion loan to Ukraine using interest earned on profits from Russia91裸聊视频檚 frozen central bank assets as collateral.
Canada promised Thursday to pitch in up to $5 billion toward the loan.
91裸聊视频淲e reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes,91裸聊视频� said the communique released Friday. 91裸聊视频淭ogether with international partners, we are determined to continue to provide military, budget, humanitarian and reconstruction support to Ukraine and its people.91裸聊视频�
The conflict in the Middle East also featured prominently in the leaders91裸聊视频� final statement, though there was no significant promise of new action from the G7.
The communique endorsed the ceasefire deal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden and called on Hamas to fully accept the proposal, while also calling for more humanitarian aid to get to civilians.
The leaders also said they seek 91裸聊视频渃onstructive and stable91裸聊视频� relations with China, while calling on Beijing 91裸聊视频渢o refrain from adopting export control measures, particularly on critical minerals, that could lead to significant global supply chain disruptions.91裸聊视频�
On that front, the communique insisted G7 nations 91裸聊视频渁re not decoupling or turning inward. We are derisking and diversifying supply chains where necessary and appropriate, and fostering resilience to economic coercion.91裸聊视频�
Canada has agreed to spend just shy of $687 million on initiatives to strengthen climate resiliency and advance gender equality. About half of that, $360 million, is a repayable contribution to the Asian Development Bank for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects.
Italian negotiators successfully removed the word 91裸聊视频渁bortion91裸聊视频� from an earlier draft of the communique, the ANSA news agency reported on Thursday.
The final version did, however, include a commitment to quality health care for women, including 91裸聊视频渃omprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights,91裸聊视频� and a pledge to 91裸聊视频渦nlock91裸聊视频� at least US$20 billion over three years to boost women91裸聊视频檚 empowerment.
Canada91裸聊视频檚 contribution to those initiatives is $120 million.
Another $200 million is going toward the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Migration was another priority for summit host Italy and its right-wing government, which wanted to increase investment and funding for African nations as a means of reducing migratory pressure on Europe.
A G7 coalition has been launched to prevent and counter the smuggling of migrants.
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