G20 leaders prepare for difficult summit

A deeply divided G20 will hope to move beyond broad promises of economic cooperation as world leaders begin their two day summit in Seoul today.

But while all of the rich and emerging countries which make up the group are agreed that the aim is to stimulate economic growth, there are fears the get-together could descend into a row about currency.

It is a question of global imbalance –
China is accused of manipulating its yuan to help boost Chinese exports which has led to Beijing amassing huge foreign reserves.
While the US policy of creating new money to pursue quantitative easing could be considered a form of currency manipulation too.

Either way, an agreed closing statement looks being a struggle.

Shortly before the leaders arrived, more than 500 protesters held a candle-light vigil in South Korea’s capital, urging the summit to produce policies which will help the poor.
Many of them firmly believe the United States and the powerful dollar are to blame for the global financial crisis.

G20: Seoul on highest alert for G20 summit

Protests seem to go hand in hand with G20 summits and usually on a fairly grand scale.
But one individual tried his luck by brandishing a placard in front of the summit conference hall.

Euronews reporter Seamus Kearney said he was expressing his anger over globalisation pollution when police pounced.

Seoul is obviously on a high security alert. South Korean police have created a no-go-zone of a two kilometres radius round the summit conference hall. It means the thousands of demonstrators who are expected to turn up will be kept well away from the talks.

Demonstration: British police tactics questioned after student riots 

Questions are being asked of Britain’s largest police force regarding their handling of a student march which turned violent. Protesters caused extensive damage to the Conservative party headquarters in central London.

As hundreds of students forced their way into the building at one point there were only 20 uniformed officers on hand to deal with the situation. More than 30 people were arrested and 14 others were injured.

Observers believe most of the trouble makers were not members of the National Union of Students who were demonstrating about a hike in tuition fees.

One student protester said: “I think for some people it may have damaged the message but I think for other people it will have made it stronger.”

Another student joined in saying, “It is a shame that it came to this however, you cannot blame people for acting in this way when they have exhausted all other options.”

Government proposals to treble tuition fees at some UK universities have caused widespread anger among students.

Most of those participating did so in a law abiding way.

The march had been planned in liaison with the Metropolitan police but in the end just 225 police officers were deployed to control a demonstration which saw 50,000 students on the streets.

Flood: Widespread flooding hits much of rural Italy 

Heavy rains are continuing to fall across Italy causing some of the worst flooding in decades.

Hardest hit yesterday was the southern province of Salerno where hundreds had to be evacuated from their homes after several rivers burst their banks.
Half a million people are reported to be without drinking water.

Since Monday numerous regions have been struggling to cope as businesses suffer, transport links are disrupted and schools are closed.

Much of the country’s farms are suffering, with crops and livestock lost.
One chicken farmer described his helplessness at hearing the frantic cries from his 20,000 flock as the rising waters claimed them – followed by silence!

In the northern province of Veneto it is estimated that damage amounting to 300 million euros has been caused, provoking Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to allocate emergency funds to help bolster the local economy.

Politics: Bosnia swears in new three member presidency

Bosnia has inaugurated its new three member presidency, with the country’s leaders appearing divided over the nation’s future role in the EU and NATO.

Fifteen years after a bloody ethnic war sparked the break-up of Yugoslavia, the presidents’ laid out their separate visions.

At a ceremony in Sarajevo, the country’s Bosnian Serb president Nebojsa Radmanovic called for patience before joining both organisations.

‘‘Europe should give us advice and help us, and offer us multiple solutions which fulfil European standards, and not impose final solutions and then arbitrate between us,’‘ Radmanovic said.

But, Bosnia’s Bosniak president Bakir Izetbegovic said:’‘All of us in the region are interested in progress towards membership of the European Union and there will be no progress without true regional cooperation between the countries which share mutual borders.’‘

Unlike their Serb counterpart, Bosnia’s Bosniak and Croat leaders believe the country should progress toward EU and NATO membership immediately.

However, Brussels has made reform of the Balkan nation’s government a key condition of entry.

From: Euronews