Great powers try to keep it casual
The G8 is forging closer ties with emerging economies but neither side is anxious to formalise the relationship, says Hugh Willamson.
G8 summit 2007
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The leaders of the Group of Eight industrialised nations are meeting in Heiligendamm for their annual summit. The success of this year’s meeting hinges on a widely heralded deal on tackling climate change, although host nation Germany has played down hopes for a breakthrough, preferring instead to focus on the issues of trade and African development.
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Tensions mark the close of G8 summit
Growing tensions between Russia and the west overshadowed the close of the Group of Eight summit of industrialised nations in Germany.
Doubts over Russia missiles offer
After months of escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow over US plans for a missile defence shield in Europe, President Vladimir Putin this week surprised George W. Bush with an offer to co-operate with the US.
Putin dashes hopes for Kosovo breakthrough
Vladimir Putin has told fellow G8 leaders he would veto a United Nations resolution paving the way for the independence of Kosovo, dashing hopes that the deadlock between Russia and the west could be broken
Bush bows out of final G8 sessions
President George W. Bush missed some of the final day of the G8 summit in Germany because of illness. The White House said he was suffering from a stomach ailment, but that it was not serious.
Cheers all round for ‘winner’ Merkel
Angela Merkel called the G8 summit “a success”, and although a look back at the three-day gathering shows this to be only partly true, the German chancellor no doubt comes out of it honourably.
UN to hold climate summit in September
United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon said he would convene a high level meeting in September in New York to plan the next steps in climate change negotiations.
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Comment and Analysis
What the G8 must achieve
Let the G8 do something significant: achieve progress on climate change and Africa and embark on reform of its composition.
Merkel will not bend at G8
The German chancellor will not return from the G8 a victor – but she will not be the leader to yield before Vladimir Putin or George Bush, says Bertrand Benoit.
On Kyoto, Bush may be on to something
Flexible co-operation might do what ‘binding’ targets failed to – restrain temperatures, writes Clive Crook
Why Africa needs a Marshall plan
Such a scheme could ignite growth and cut poverty, but a radical change to the aid system is needed first, write Glenn Hubbard and William Duggan.
The rich world can help Africa
Instead of shipping food aid, the G8 countries should enable poor nations to achieve food security, write Glenn Denning and Jeffrey Sachs.
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