G7 Summit 2019 – when is the meeting, where is it being hosted and which countries’ leaders are in France?
FRANCE is to host the 45th meeting of seven of the world's most advanced economies.
Here's what you need to know about the most powerful summit on Earth...
What does the G7 do?
The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies, as well as the EU and European Commission.
They consist of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States and the presidency rotates every year.
It offers the leaders of these nations to come together and tackle the most challenging global issues of the time.
In the last 40 years, the G7 claims to have "strengthened security policy, mainstreamed climate change and supported disarmament programmes".
The group was previously known as the G8 and counted Russia among its members, but Russia has been excluded since annexing the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in early 2014.
Where is G7 2019 being hosted?
This year, leaders will gather between August 24-26 in the city of Biarritz in southwestern France.
Talks will take place in a number of venues in the city, including the luxurious Hotel du Palais.
Security for the event is said to be "extremely heavy" and "unprecedented".
Biarritz's airport will be closed to the public from Thursday to Sunday, as will the train station and those of four neighbouring municipalities.
Commuter trains are also cancelled, and a section of a nearby motorway has been rerouted.
Those already in certain areas of the city will also face security cordons.
Which leaders will be at the summit in Canada?
- Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau
- French President, Emmanuel Macron
- US President, Donald Trump
- British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson
- Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte
- German Chancellor, Angela Merkel
- Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe
- President of the European Council, Donald Tusk
The following leaders have also been invited to attend the summit and participate in some sessions:
- Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison
- Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi
- Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez
What's on this year's agenda?
On the agenda for this year's summit will be the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, the European-backed nuclear deal with Iran currently opposed by President Trump, and the unrest that continues to unfold in Hong Kong.
The meeting will also be Boris Johnson first major appearance on the world stage since he became prime minister in July.
It will be seen as an opportunity to acquaint himself with world leaders ahead of the UK's EU exit and to discuss alternatives to the current exit deal with EU leaders.
Johnson is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with President Trump to discuss the relationship between their two countries.
What criticisms have been made of the G7?
G7 gatherings tend to attract thousands of protesters.
In 2018, protest groups in Quebec focused on global trade, the environment, migration, aboriginal rights and a number of other issues.
A coalition organised "a mass demonstration against the G7, capitalism, patriarchy, colonialism, racism and borders".
See what's making headlines globally
Many protesters claim the G7 - which has no representative from any African, Russian or Middle Eastern nation - is completely outdated.
Protest groups also use the worldwide platform as a stage to lobby and campaign on issues that are important to them.
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