<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indias-second-quarter-gdp-slips-to-71-per-cent-180485">India's </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indias-second-quarter-gdp-slips-to-71-per-cent-180485">second quarter</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indias-second-quarter-gdp-slips-to-71-per-cent-180485"> GDP slips to 7.1 per cent</a>

India recorded its second quarter(Q2) GDP at 7.1 per cent which was slower than the last quarter.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-central-leadership-asked-me-to-go-to-kartarpur-navjot-singh-sidhu-on-pakistan-visit-180481">Congress central leadership asked me to go to Kartarpur: Sidhu</a>

Amid the criticism over Pakistan visit, Punjab Cabinet Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu said that he went for the Kartapur Corridor inauguration ceremony with the consent of his party's central leadership.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/g20-trump-meets-argentine-president-mauricio-macri-discuss-trade-military-ties-180467">G20: Trump meets Argentine President Mauricio Macri; discuss trade, military ties</a>

President Trump met Argentine President Mauricio Macri ahead of the G20 opening at Buenos Aires in Argentina on Friday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-rahul-gandhi-arvind-kejriwal-farooq-abdullah-join-farmers-protest-at-jantar-mantar-180470">Delhi: Rahul, Kejriwal join farmers' protest at Jantar Mantar</a>

Opposition leaders including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and National Conference Chairman Farooq Abdullah participated in massive farmers protest in Delhi on Friday.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/telangana-cm-kcr-under-fire-for-snapping-at-man-querying-about-12-quota-for-muslims-180499">Telangana CM KCR under fire for snapping at man querying about 12% quota for Muslims</a>

TRS leader and Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao lost his cool and asked a man to remain silent when he raised a question on the proposed 12 per cent reservation for Muslims during an election meeting in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district.

&nbsp;

India's second quarter GDP slips to 7.1 per cent India recorded its second quarter(Q2) GDP at 7.1 per cent which was slower than the last quarter. Congress central leadership asked me to go to Kartarpur: Sidhu Amid the criticism over Pakistan visit, Punjab Cabinet Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu said that he went for the Kartapur Corridor inauguration ceremony with the consent of his party's central leadership.

India's second quarter GDP slips to 7.1 per cent India recorded its second quarter(Q2) GDP at 7.1 per cent which was slower than the last quarter. Congress central leadership asked me to go to Kartarpur: Sidhu Amid the criticism over Pakistan visit, Punjab Cabinet Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu said that he went for the Kartapur Corridor inauguration ceremony with the consent of his party's central leadership. G20: Trump meets Argentine President Mauricio Macri; discuss trade, military ties President Trump met Argentine President Mauricio Macri ahead of the G20 opening at Buenos Aires in Argentina on Friday. Delhi: Rahul, Kejriwal join farmers' protest at Jantar Mantar Opposition leaders including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and National Conference Chairman Farooq Abdullah participated in massive farmers protest in Delhi on Friday. Telangana CM KCR under fire for snapping at man querying about 12% quota for Muslims TRS leader and Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao lost his cool and asked a man to remain silent when he raised a question on the proposed 12 per cent reservation for Muslims during an election meeting in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district.

News brief: Big stories of the day

India will be taking part in two major trilaterals on Friday. One with Japan and US, another with China and Russia. The very first trilateral with Japan, America will take place on Friday. It was United States National Security Advisor Ambassador John Bolton who announced it and said," (Trump will be meeting)...Prime Minister Abe of Japan. That will transform at some point during that meeting into a trilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi."

This is an important trilateral coming on the background of Indo-Pacific concept gaining currency and quad meeting--India, Japan, Australia and the US-- taking place earlier this year in Singapore.

The second meeting with Russia and China (RIC) will take place after an interval of twelve years.

The timing of the&nbsp;meetings is directly related to the&nbsp;period of major global developments from trade wars to climate change issue. Sources told WION that, "It is indicative of India's growing diplomatic and economic profile in the world."

Sources added that it is "recognition of India assuming the leadership role on global issues of people's concerns such as climate change, renewable energy, corruption and disaster resilient infrastructure. Reflection of our willingness to contribute in a positive and a constructive way in strengthening multilateral institutions like WTO and trying to build a consensus on new ideas like Indo-Pacific."

BRICS informal summit will also take place which has been a permanent fixture on the sidelines of G20 summits.

Last year in 2017 the BRICS Informal summit took place on the sidelines of the 12th G20 summit during which the Indian PM met Chinese President Xi Jinping which helped in brokering peace at a time when the Doklam crisis was looming large on Sino-India ties. 
&nbsp;

India will be taking part in two major trilaterals on Friday. One with Japan and US, another with China and Russia. The very first trilateral with Japan, America will take place on Friday.

India will be taking part in two major trilaterals on Friday. One with Japan and US, another with China and Russia. The very first trilateral with Japan, America will take place on Friday. It was United States National Security Advisor Ambassador John Bolton who announced it and said," (Trump will be meeting)...Prime Minister Abe of Japan. That will transform at some point during that meeting into a trilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi." This is an important trilateral coming on the background of Indo-Pacific concept gaining currency and quad meeting--India, Japan, Australia and the US-- taking place earlier this year in Singapore. The second meeting with Russia and China (RIC) will take place after an interval of twelve years. The timing of the meetings is directly related to the period of major global developments from trade wars to climate change issue. Sources told WION that, "It is indicative of India's growing diplomatic and economic profile in the world." Sources added that it is "recognition of India assuming the leadership role on global issues of people's concerns such as climate change, renewable energy, corruption and disaster resilient infrastructure. Reflection of our willingness to contribute in a positive and a constructive way in strengthening multilateral institutions like WTO and trying to build a consensus on new ideas like Indo-Pacific." BRICS informal summit will also take place which has been a permanent fixture on the sidelines of G20 summits. Last year in 2017 the BRICS Informal summit took place on the sidelines of the 12th G20 summit during which the Indian PM met Chinese President Xi Jinping which helped in brokering peace at a time when the Doklam crisis was looming large on Sino-India ties.

G20 Summit: A day of trilaterals for India 

The 13th G20 Summit is all set to begin in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires today with India focusing on issues such as terror, black money and fugitive economic offenders.

Outlining his agenda at the G20 summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a yoga event in here said, "At G-20 summit many issues will be discussed, such as global economy, sustainable development, climate change, fugitive economic offenders. These are in the interest of the entire world, not just India and Argentina".

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Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale: The Secretary-General specifically acknowledged that India plays a very major role in climate change negotiations. He acknowledged that Prime Minister had taken a number of very concrete steps towards addressing climate change. <a href="https://t.co/DllEsahVa2">pic.twitter.com/DllEsahVa2</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1068302103452385280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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This comes even as fellow G20 country United Kingdom has been hosting fugitives like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya who have duped India's banks with billions of Rupees. 
&nbsp; 
India's G20 sherpa had told WION in an exclusive interview last week that, 'India will like the need for greater cooperation on economic offence and the issue of fugitive economic offenders."

He added, "economic offence offences have posed a major threat to the global economy and can undermine the economic stability of the global economy"

Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi will also take part in two trilateral meetings and an informal BRICS meet. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/g20-summit-a-day-of-trilaterals-for-india-180323">The </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/g20-summit-a-day-of-trilaterals-for-india-180323">trilaterals</a> will include Japan, America and India or JAI and Russia, India and China or RIC. While the Russia-India-China trilateral is happening for the second time in 12 years, the Japan, America and India trilateral is taking place for the first time. This is an important trilateral coming on the background of the Indo Pacific concept gaining currency and quad meeting--India, Japan, Australia and US-- taking place earlier this year in Singapore.&nbsp;

Need to have stable oil prices: PM Modi tells Saudi Crown Prince

Indian Prime minister has a number of bilaterals lined-up ahead of the&nbsp;G20 Summit. He has already met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. With UN chief, the main subject of discussion was the forthcoming climate change meeting in Katowice, Poland, the so-called 'COP 24'. With the Saudi Crown Prince, PM raised the issue of having stable oil prices.

Briefing the media after the meet foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said, "Crown Prince informed PM that Saudi will be finalising an initial investment into the&nbsp;national infrastructure fund. He referred to future prospects for investment in tech, agricultural and energy sectors. PM, in particular, stressed on&nbsp; the importance of having stable energy prices."

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PM Narendra Modi held bilateral meeting with Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in Buenos Aires, Argentina. PM Modi is in Argentina to attend the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/G20Summit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#G20Summit</a>. <a href="https://t.co/hKV9HZQhH8">pic.twitter.com/hKV9HZQhH8</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1068279688001282048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Prime Minister will be meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, the fourth meeting between the two leaders this year after Wuhan Informal summit and the meet on the sidelines of SCO summit and BRICS Summit.

Other than this, the focus will be on the ongoing trade war as US president Donald Trump sits down with Chinese President. Trump has already cancelled his talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin over the crisis in Ukraine. Clearly, it is a high voltage summit.

The 13th G20 Summit is all set to begin in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires today with India focusing on issues such as terror, black money and fugitive economic offenders.

The 13th G20 Summit is all set to begin in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires today with India focusing on issues such as terror, black money and fugitive economic offenders. Outlining his agenda at the G20 summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a yoga event in here said, "At G-20 summit many issues will be discussed, such as global economy, sustainable development, climate change, fugitive economic offenders. These are in the interest of the entire world, not just India and Argentina". Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale: The Secretary-General specifically acknowledged that India plays a very major role in climate change negotiations. He acknowledged that Prime Minister had taken a number of very concrete steps towards addressing climate change. pic.twitter.com/DllEsahVa2 — ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2018 × This comes even as fellow G20 country United Kingdom has been hosting fugitives like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya who have duped India's banks with billions of Rupees. India's G20 sherpa had told WION in an exclusive interview last week that, 'India will like the need for greater cooperation on economic offence and the issue of fugitive economic offenders." He added, "economic offence offences have posed a major threat to the global economy and can undermine the economic stability of the global economy" Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi will also take part in two trilateral meetings and an informal BRICS meet. The trilaterals will include Japan, America and India or JAI and Russia, India and China or RIC. While the Russia-India-China trilateral is happening for the second time in 12 years, the Japan, America and India trilateral is taking place for the first time. This is an important trilateral coming on the background of the Indo Pacific concept gaining currency and quad meeting--India, Japan, Australia and US-- taking place earlier this year in Singapore. Need to have stable oil prices: PM Modi tells Saudi Crown Prince Indian Prime minister has a number of bilaterals lined-up ahead of the G20 Summit. He has already met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. With UN chief, the main subject of discussion was the forthcoming climate change meeting in Katowice, Poland, the so-called 'COP 24'. With the Saudi Crown Prince, PM raised the issue of having stable oil prices. Briefing the media after the meet foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said, "Crown Prince informed PM that Saudi will be finalising an initial investment into the national infrastructure fund. He referred to future prospects for investment in tech, agricultural and energy sectors. PM, in particular, stressed on the importance of having stable energy prices." PM Narendra Modi held bilateral meeting with Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in Buenos Aires, Argentina. PM Modi is in Argentina to attend the #G20Summit. pic.twitter.com/hKV9HZQhH8 — ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2018 × The Prime Minister will be meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, the fourth meeting between the two leaders this year after Wuhan Informal summit and the meet on the sidelines of SCO summit and BRICS Summit. Other than this, the focus will be on the ongoing trade war as US president Donald Trump sits down with Chinese President. Trump has already cancelled his talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin over the crisis in Ukraine. Clearly, it is a high voltage summit.

G20 Summit: PM Modi says focus on fugitive economic offenders, boosting global economy

Experts believe international trade issues will be the first priority for the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Argentina and expressed their expectations of China.

The G20 meeting, to be held from November&nbsp;30 to December 1 in Buenos Aires, is themed "Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development." It will focus on issues like global economy, trade and investment, sustainable development, infrastructure and climate change.

As Latin American countries, international organizations and academic institutions were calling on the G20 mechanism to play its role, safeguard multilateralism and try to reach consensus on key issues, experts believe international trade issues will be an important topic in the meeting.

An expert from Brazil hopes all the countries could find solutions via dialogue.

"No government can solve problems with approaches to domestic problems, because such approaches will possibly hurt all countries in the chain of global economic system. We should understand that the current world economy is highly interconnected and interdependent. Not a single country can exist in isolation. No government or leader should think that problems can be solved by closing the door," said Alexandre Uehara, professor of international relations of the University of Sao Paulo.

Besides, Argentine politicians expressed expectations of China.

"We have high expectations of not only the bilateral relations between Argentina and China, but also China's participation in the G20 summit. This is because under the current international economic conditions, China has a great say and also a great potential for economic development. Besides, it is a main trading partner of Argentina," said Francisco Javier Quintana, secretary-general of the national council of the Republican Proposal Party of Argentina.

&nbsp;

Experts believe international trade issues will be the first priority for the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Argentina and expressed their expectations of China.

Experts believe international trade issues will be the first priority for the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Argentina and expressed their expectations of China. The G20 meeting, to be held from November 30 to December 1 in Buenos Aires, is themed "Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development." It will focus on issues like global economy, trade and investment, sustainable development, infrastructure and climate change. As Latin American countries, international organizations and academic institutions were calling on the G20 mechanism to play its role, safeguard multilateralism and try to reach consensus on key issues, experts believe international trade issues will be an important topic in the meeting. An expert from Brazil hopes all the countries could find solutions via dialogue. "No government can solve problems with approaches to domestic problems, because such approaches will possibly hurt all countries in the chain of global economic system. We should understand that the current world economy is highly interconnected and interdependent. Not a single country can exist in isolation. No government or leader should think that problems can be solved by closing the door," said Alexandre Uehara, professor of international relations of the University of Sao Paulo. Besides, Argentine politicians expressed expectations of China. "We have high expectations of not only the bilateral relations between Argentina and China, but also China's participation in the G20 summit. This is because under the current international economic conditions, China has a great say and also a great potential for economic development. Besides, it is a main trading partner of Argentina," said Francisco Javier Quintana, secretary-general of the national council of the Republican Proposal Party of Argentina.

International trade issues to be first priority for G20 summit

In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine crisis,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/putin-wants-my-whole-country-says-ukrainian-president-petro-poroshenko-180267"> US President Trump today cancelled</a> his meeting Russian President Putin in Argentina during the G20 summit to held in Buenos Aires from November 30th.

"Based on the fact that the ships and sailors have not been returned to Ukraine from Russia, I have decided it would be best for all parties concerned to cancel my previously scheduled meeting in Argentina with President Vladimir Putin," the US president said in a tweet just before leaving for the summit.

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Based on the fact that the ships and sailors have not been returned to Ukraine from Russia, I have decided it would be best for all parties concerned to cancel my previously scheduled meeting....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1068181367857397760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"I look forward to a meaningful Summit again as soon as this situation is resolved!" he added.

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....in Argentina with President Vladimir Putin. I look forward to a meaningful Summit again as soon as this situation is resolved!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1068181371883909121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked NATO members to send naval vessels to the Sea of Azov to back his country in the standoff with Russia. President Putin blamed Ukraine for escalating the crisis.&nbsp;

President Putin said that border guards "fulfilled their military duty" and protected Russia's border.

"These territorial waters were always ours, even before Crimea joined Russia," Putin said, referring to Moscow's 2014 annexation of the peninsula.&nbsp;

Poroshenko claimed that Putin wanted "nothing less than to occupy the sea".&nbsp;

"We cannot accept this aggressive policy of Russia. First it was Crimea, then eastern Ukraine, now he wants the Sea of Azov," the Ukrainian president said.

On Sunday, Russian naval ships had seized three Ukranian vessels during a skirmish in the Sea of Azov, the clash led to condemnation by western powers including NATO which called Russia to return the Ukranian ships.

At least 24 Ukranian sailors were captured by the Russian navy during the clash. Tensions between the two countries have been on fever pitch since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the latest development sent political temperatures soaring in the region with Ukrainian authorities fearing a larger Russian response in the Sea of Azov.

Although Russia opened the Sea of Azov on Monday but&nbsp;the standoff over the seized ships and the captured sailors continued to keep the region simmering.

The Ukrainian president on Wednesday officially&nbsp;imposed Emergency in areas around the Russian border fearing the Russian military would respond.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gfb4Gb__NNE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, US President Trump today cancelled his meeting Russian President Putin in Argentina during the G20 summit to held in Buenos Aires from November 30th.

In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, US President Trump today cancelled his meeting Russian President Putin in Argentina during the G20 summit to held in Buenos Aires from November 30th. "Based on the fact that the ships and sailors have not been returned to Ukraine from Russia, I have decided it would be best for all parties concerned to cancel my previously scheduled meeting in Argentina with President Vladimir Putin," the US president said in a tweet just before leaving for the summit. Based on the fact that the ships and sailors have not been returned to Ukraine from Russia, I have decided it would be best for all parties concerned to cancel my previously scheduled meeting.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2018 × "I look forward to a meaningful Summit again as soon as this situation is resolved!" he added. ....in Argentina with President Vladimir Putin. I look forward to a meaningful Summit again as soon as this situation is resolved! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2018 × Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked NATO members to send naval vessels to the Sea of Azov to back his country in the standoff with Russia. President Putin blamed Ukraine for escalating the crisis. President Putin said that border guards "fulfilled their military duty" and protected Russia's border. "These territorial waters were always ours, even before Crimea joined Russia," Putin said, referring to Moscow's 2014 annexation of the peninsula. Poroshenko claimed that Putin wanted "nothing less than to occupy the sea". "We cannot accept this aggressive policy of Russia. First it was Crimea, then eastern Ukraine, now he wants the Sea of Azov," the Ukrainian president said. On Sunday, Russian naval ships had seized three Ukranian vessels during a skirmish in the Sea of Azov, the clash led to condemnation by western powers including NATO which called Russia to return the Ukranian ships. At least 24 Ukranian sailors were captured by the Russian navy during the clash. Tensions between the two countries have been on fever pitch since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, the latest development sent political temperatures soaring in the region with Ukrainian authorities fearing a larger Russian response in the Sea of Azov. Although Russia opened the Sea of Azov on Monday but the standoff over the seized ships and the captured sailors continued to keep the region simmering. The Ukrainian president on Wednesday officially imposed Emergency in areas around the Russian border fearing the Russian military would respond.

Trump cancels meeting with Putin at G20 over Russia-Ukraine standoff

In an exclusive conversation with WION ahead of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/13th-g20-summit-from-trade-wars-to-terror-to-south-south-cooperation-focus-on-consensus-making-179885">G20 summit in Buenos Aires</a>, Argentina’s ambassador to India Daniel Chuburu said the focus of the summit will be on putting forward the perspective of developing countries. Argentina will be hosting this year's G20 summit form November 30 to December 1, becoming the first South American country to do so. Chuburu added that the focus will be on terror, trade wars and cryptocurrency.

WION:&nbsp;What will be the focus of this year's G20 summit?

Daniel Chuburu:&nbsp;The main theme has been— during this year— it has been the fact of trying to get consensus. That was something that came very clearly from last years summit in Germany in which there was a need to have a consensus. So we felt the question of consensus has to be clearly&nbsp;spoken. Argentina, India come from the south. We are developing countries. The question of sustainable development is something that is very important. We believe sustainable development that can give us the greater benefit. The very important question of fairness. We believe the world has been doing well in the last years, a lot of growth coming to a lot of countries, but the benefits of growth have not been fairly distributed.&nbsp;

WION:&nbsp;What will the G20 summit in Argentina be remembered for?

Daniel Chuburu: As far as we can be credible to the theme we develop, we would like to be remembered for that. Unfortunately, this has been the year of trade wars that have been on the first page of newspapers for a long time. So this is one of the issues that are there in the mind of everyone for the summit. There have been a lot of discussions. The process of G20 happens through the summit, 20 G20 leaders, 30 Leaders in total. This is a whole year process. We had more than 60 meetings, 10 at minister levels. During the meet, we prepare what is discussed. The bureaucracy goes in one direction, then 20 leaders get together to discuss. It's not a strict agenda. We have to give leaders the possibility to sit down and discuss. We firmly believe G20 document should be short, final, action-oriented document. G20 doesn’t have a secretariat. G20 is not an international organization. G20 is an informal mechanism whose main expression is leaders summit.

 
WION: How can G20 bring viability to South America?

Daniel Chuburu: That was one of the main preoccupations of the government of Argentina since we took office in December last year. Our sherpa and our minister have been visiting the region and developing member countries of the G20. We thought it was very important to bring the perspective of the south. The perspective of developing countries. We have stressed that and we have been transmitting the idea in all the meets. There is not such a thing or a single answer to any problem. Tried to put the perspective of region and countries.

WION: How much will the focus be on cryptocurrency?

Daniel Chuburu: Argentina has accepted that issue is to be discussed. It was discussed by the minister of finance and presidents of the central bank in July this year. They have interpreted that it is not a threat but have to keep eye on it. It touches a very sensitive area. The question of illegality brings me to clarify that there is not yet such a consensus on G20 on a need to establish a regulation on it. The decision has to be taken. Yes, the consensus is that cryptocurrency touches important issues like money laundering, protection of the right of investors, consumers, financing of terror, transparency of the market. No clear consensus on regulation.

 
WION: How much will terror be the issue?

Daniel Chuburu: I believe terror is one of the issues that are on the international agenda. But not a specific group dealing with it in G20. So I guess it will be in the final document. It will reflect the concern that a lot of countries and region within G20 have especially on the financing of terror.

 
WION: Will you be calling neighbours?

Daniel Chuburu: Chile has been invited. Netherland has been invited. Two countries, Argentina has invited themselves. Chair of international groupings like ASEAN with Singapore and African Union with Rwanda invited. So, seven countries have been invited. Spain is always invited to G20. Participation of every region. South Africa has been invited. Some countries do have representation in their own region and they are part of the G20.

 
WION: How do you see the future of G20?

Daniel Chuburu: We believe the composition of G20 plus do represent the changes that have taken place in the world. Its a place where you can discuss world problems and the impacts of the different crisis. It's not an international organisation. It is an informal mechanism. They further take it to an international organisation. We don’t intend to take a further step on formalisation or institutionalisation of G20.

WION: Any update on bilaterals at the summit?

Daniel Chuburu:&nbsp;I can’t confirm you any bilateral. We can deal with meeting that we are going to deal bilaterally. Difficult to keep track of bilateral. Will reassure you that a lot of bilateral will take place.

In an exclusive conversation with WION ahead of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s ambassador to India Daniel Chuburu said the focus of the summit will be on putting forward the perspective of developing countries.

In an exclusive conversation with WION ahead of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s ambassador to India Daniel Chuburu said the focus of the summit will be on putting forward the perspective of developing countries. Argentina will be hosting this year's G20 summit form November 30 to December 1, becoming the first South American country to do so. Chuburu added that the focus will be on terror, trade wars and cryptocurrency. WION: What will be the focus of this year's G20 summit? Daniel Chuburu: The main theme has been— during this year— it has been the fact of trying to get consensus. That was something that came very clearly from last years summit in Germany in which there was a need to have a consensus. So we felt the question of consensus has to be clearly spoken. Argentina, India come from the south. We are developing countries. The question of sustainable development is something that is very important. We believe sustainable development that can give us the greater benefit. The very important question of fairness. We believe the world has been doing well in the last years, a lot of growth coming to a lot of countries, but the benefits of growth have not been fairly distributed. WION: What will the G20 summit in Argentina be remembered for? Daniel Chuburu: As far as we can be credible to the theme we develop, we would like to be remembered for that. Unfortunately, this has been the year of trade wars that have been on the first page of newspapers for a long time. So this is one of the issues that are there in the mind of everyone for the summit. There have been a lot of discussions. The process of G20 happens through the summit, 20 G20 leaders, 30 Leaders in total. This is a whole year process. We had more than 60 meetings, 10 at minister levels. During the meet, we prepare what is discussed. The bureaucracy goes in one direction, then 20 leaders get together to discuss. It's not a strict agenda. We have to give leaders the possibility to sit down and discuss. We firmly believe G20 document should be short, final, action-oriented document. G20 doesn’t have a secretariat. G20 is not an international organization. G20 is an informal mechanism whose main expression is leaders summit. WION: How can G20 bring viability to South America? Daniel Chuburu: That was one of the main preoccupations of the government of Argentina since we took office in December last year. Our sherpa and our minister have been visiting the region and developing member countries of the G20. We thought it was very important to bring the perspective of the south. The perspective of developing countries. We have stressed that and we have been transmitting the idea in all the meets. There is not such a thing or a single answer to any problem. Tried to put the perspective of region and countries. WION: How much will the focus be on cryptocurrency? Daniel Chuburu: Argentina has accepted that issue is to be discussed. It was discussed by the minister of finance and presidents of the central bank in July this year. They have interpreted that it is not a threat but have to keep eye on it. It touches a very sensitive area. The question of illegality brings me to clarify that there is not yet such a consensus on G20 on a need to establish a regulation on it. The decision has to be taken. Yes, the consensus is that cryptocurrency touches important issues like money laundering, protection of the right of investors, consumers, financing of terror, transparency of the market. No clear consensus on regulation. WION: How much will terror be the issue? Daniel Chuburu: I believe terror is one of the issues that are on the international agenda. But not a specific group dealing with it in G20. So I guess it will be in the final document. It will reflect the concern that a lot of countries and region within G20 have especially on the financing of terror. WION: Will you be calling neighbours? Daniel Chuburu: Chile has been invited. Netherland has been invited. Two countries, Argentina has invited themselves. Chair of international groupings like ASEAN with Singapore and African Union with Rwanda invited. So, seven countries have been invited. Spain is always invited to G20. Participation of every region. South Africa has been invited. Some countries do have representation in their own region and they are part of the G20. WION: How do you see the future of G20? Daniel Chuburu: We believe the composition of G20 plus do represent the changes that have taken place in the world. Its a place where you can discuss world problems and the impacts of the different crisis. It's not an international organisation. It is an informal mechanism. They further take it to an international organisation. We don’t intend to take a further step on formalisation or institutionalisation of G20. WION: Any update on bilaterals at the summit? Daniel Chuburu: I can’t confirm you any bilateral. We can deal with meeting that we are going to deal bilaterally. Difficult to keep track of bilateral. Will reassure you that a lot of bilateral will take place.

Perspective of developing countries to be put forward at G20: Argentina envoy to WION

G20 Summit: PM Modi to reach Argentina

G20 Summit: World leaders arrive for G20 Summit

By Tony Walker

When US President Donald Trump meets his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on the margins of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires between November 30 and December 1, nothing less than a reasonably healthy global trading system and continued economic growth will be on the table.

It is one of the more significant meetings between two global leaders in the modern era.

The encounter will recall the high-wire diplomacy between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s, which signalled the end of the Cold War and, as it happened, the disintegration of the former Soviet Union.

Or, before that, Richard Nixon’s visit to China in 1972, which resulted in the signing of the Shanghai Communique and an end to decades of hostility between the United States and China.

World markets unnerved by an evolving trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies will take their cues from this encounter between an unpredictable US president and a Chinese leader who will not want to be seen to yield ground. Or, to give it an oriental description, lose face.

This is a fractious moment in world economic history.

Billions of dollars in global equity markets will rest on a reasonable consensus in the Argentine capital. The two sides will reach for a compromise that will enable relative stability to be restored to an economic relationship that is threatening to unravel.

Since a ragged outcome, or even failure, is in no-one’s interests, it is hard to believe Washington and Beijing will not seek to calm legitimate concerns about the risks of a full-blown trade war and its impact on global growth.

US-China trade tremors are already having an impact on growth projections for 2018-2020.

In its latest World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund reports the world economy is plateauing, partly due to trade tensions and stresses in emerging markets.

The IMF has scaled back its global growth projections from its July Outlook forecast for 2019 to 3.7 per cent from 3.9 per cent. It has marked down US growth by 0.2 percentage point to 2.5 per cent, and China by a similar margin to 6.2 per cent.

However, if trade disruptions persist, fallout will become more serious in 2020 with global growth projected to be down by 0.8 per cent, and with it US and China growth down significantly.

Trade wars have consequences, including risks of a global recession.

All this invests the Trump-Xi encounter with more-than-usual significance. A bad outcome will heighten risks of an accelerating global slowdown.

In the lead-up to the G20, American and Chinese officials have been preparing the ground, with the Chinese side anxious to reduce tensions following a November 1 phone call between the two presidents.

But it is less clear that Washington is willing to ease pressure on China to liberalise further a foreign investment environment, seek ways to reduce a trade gap and make more conspicuous efforts to tone down concerns about Chinese pilfering of its intellectual property.

In a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese officials underscored China’s desire for a reasonable outcome in Buenos Aires. Wang Shouwen, a vice commerce minister, said:

"We hope China and the US are able to resolve their problems based on mutual respect, benefits and honesty."

However, Trump is continuing to threaten further increases in tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports now set at 10 per cent but due to increase to 25 per cent from January 1. He told The Wall Street Journal this week:

"The only deal would be China has to open up their country to competition from the United States."

Trump also threatened to slap tariffs on an additional $267 billion worth of Chinese imports if negotiations with Xi are unsuccessful:

"If we don’t make a deal, then I’m going to put the $267 billion additional on (at a tariff rate of either 10 per cent or 25 per cent)."

This next batch of Chinese imports might include laptops and Apple iPhones, which are among China’s biggest exports to the US.

Further complicating the possibility of a satisfactory negotiation in Buenos Aires is a lingering dispute between the US and China over reforms to the World Trade Organisation to strengthen its dispute resolution and appeal mechanisms.

The US also objects to China’s continued description as a “developing country” under WTO rules. This includes provisions that are favourable to Chinese state-owned enterprises.

A collapse in efforts to reform the WTO would strike another blow at a multilateral trading system that is under more stress than at any time since globalisation gathered pace in the 1990s.

The US-China trade conflict, which is threatening to become a full-blown trade war with unpredictable consequences, cannot be separated from a more general deterioration in relations.

These were given expression last month by Vice President Mike Pence in a speech to the Hudson Institute, in which he lambasted China in a way that prompted talk of a new cold war.

Pence accused China of deploying: "… an arsenal of policies inconsistent with free and fair trade, including tariffs, quotas, currency manipulation, forced technology transfers, intellectual property theft and industrial subsidies handed out like candy. These policies have built Beijing’s manufacturing base, at the expense of its competitors – especially the United States."

The US trade deficit with China reached $375 billion last year – nearly half the US global trade deficit.

None of this augurs well for a constructive resolution of US-China differences at the G20, although you might hope Trump’s approach would be tempered by concerns about the economic consequences of a conspicuous failure.

What seems most likely, given the stakes involved, is for officials from both countries to be tasked with responsibility for addressing a range of American concerns, with the aim of resetting the relationship.

This would seem to be a best-case scenario.

In the meantime, officials working on the draft of a final communique will be struggling to satisfy competing demands from G20 participants for clear-cut statements on protectionism and climate change.

These have been staples of such communiques since the G20 was formed ten years ago amid a global financial crisis.

Washington is reportedly resisting an explicit call to fight protectionism. It is also demanding a watering down of the G20’s commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Consensus on these issues is proving elusive, further undermining efforts to address global challenges.

This underscores a dramatic shift in the global geopolitical environment since Trump gained office.

At the 2016 G20 summit in Hangzhou, world leaders agreed on a “rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation playing the central role in today’s global trade”.

On climate, the G20 committed itself “to complete our respective domestic procedures in order to join the Paris Agreement”.

Two years later, a “rules-based” trading system is being shredded and the Paris Agreement is at risk of unravelling. These are troubled times, not helped by an American pullback from the stabilising role in global affairs it has played since the second world war. 
 
(Tony Walker is Adjunct Professor, School of Communications, La Trobe University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/much-at-stake-as-donald-trump-and-xi-jinping-meet-at-g20-106774">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By Tony Walker When US President Donald Trump meets his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on the margins of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires between November 30 and December 1, nothing less than a reasonably healthy global trading system and continued economic growth will be on the table.

By Tony Walker When US President Donald Trump meets his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on the margins of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires between November 30 and December 1, nothing less than a reasonably healthy global trading system and continued economic growth will be on the table. It is one of the more significant meetings between two global leaders in the modern era. The encounter will recall the high-wire diplomacy between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s, which signalled the end of the Cold War and, as it happened, the disintegration of the former Soviet Union. Or, before that, Richard Nixon’s visit to China in 1972, which resulted in the signing of the Shanghai Communique and an end to decades of hostility between the United States and China. World markets unnerved by an evolving trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies will take their cues from this encounter between an unpredictable US president and a Chinese leader who will not want to be seen to yield ground. Or, to give it an oriental description, lose face. This is a fractious moment in world economic history. Billions of dollars in global equity markets will rest on a reasonable consensus in the Argentine capital. The two sides will reach for a compromise that will enable relative stability to be restored to an economic relationship that is threatening to unravel. Since a ragged outcome, or even failure, is in no-one’s interests, it is hard to believe Washington and Beijing will not seek to calm legitimate concerns about the risks of a full-blown trade war and its impact on global growth. US-China trade tremors are already having an impact on growth projections for 2018-2020. In its latest World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund reports the world economy is plateauing, partly due to trade tensions and stresses in emerging markets. The IMF has scaled back its global growth projections from its July Outlook forecast for 2019 to 3.7 per cent from 3.9 per cent. It has marked down US growth by 0.2 percentage point to 2.5 per cent, and China by a similar margin to 6.2 per cent. However, if trade disruptions persist, fallout will become more serious in 2020 with global growth projected to be down by 0.8 per cent, and with it US and China growth down significantly. Trade wars have consequences, including risks of a global recession. All this invests the Trump-Xi encounter with more-than-usual significance. A bad outcome will heighten risks of an accelerating global slowdown. In the lead-up to the G20, American and Chinese officials have been preparing the ground, with the Chinese side anxious to reduce tensions following a November 1 phone call between the two presidents. But it is less clear that Washington is willing to ease pressure on China to liberalise further a foreign investment environment, seek ways to reduce a trade gap and make more conspicuous efforts to tone down concerns about Chinese pilfering of its intellectual property. In a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese officials underscored China’s desire for a reasonable outcome in Buenos Aires. Wang Shouwen, a vice commerce minister, said: "We hope China and the US are able to resolve their problems based on mutual respect, benefits and honesty." However, Trump is continuing to threaten further increases in tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports now set at 10 per cent but due to increase to 25 per cent from January 1. He told The Wall Street Journal this week: "The only deal would be China has to open up their country to competition from the United States." Trump also threatened to slap tariffs on an additional $267 billion worth of Chinese imports if negotiations with Xi are unsuccessful: "If we don’t make a deal, then I’m going to put the $267 billion additional on (at a tariff rate of either 10 per cent or 25 per cent)." This next batch of Chinese imports might include laptops and Apple iPhones, which are among China’s biggest exports to the US. Further complicating the possibility of a satisfactory negotiation in Buenos Aires is a lingering dispute between the US and China over reforms to the World Trade Organisation to strengthen its dispute resolution and appeal mechanisms. The US also objects to China’s continued description as a “developing country” under WTO rules. This includes provisions that are favourable to Chinese state-owned enterprises. A collapse in efforts to reform the WTO would strike another blow at a multilateral trading system that is under more stress than at any time since globalisation gathered pace in the 1990s. The US-China trade conflict, which is threatening to become a full-blown trade war with unpredictable consequences, cannot be separated from a more general deterioration in relations. These were given expression last month by Vice President Mike Pence in a speech to the Hudson Institute, in which he lambasted China in a way that prompted talk of a new cold war. Pence accused China of deploying: "… an arsenal of policies inconsistent with free and fair trade, including tariffs, quotas, currency manipulation, forced technology transfers, intellectual property theft and industrial subsidies handed out like candy. These policies have built Beijing’s manufacturing base, at the expense of its competitors – especially the United States." The US trade deficit with China reached $375 billion last year – nearly half the US global trade deficit. None of this augurs well for a constructive resolution of US-China differences at the G20, although you might hope Trump’s approach would be tempered by concerns about the economic consequences of a conspicuous failure. What seems most likely, given the stakes involved, is for officials from both countries to be tasked with responsibility for addressing a range of American concerns, with the aim of resetting the relationship. This would seem to be a best-case scenario. In the meantime, officials working on the draft of a final communique will be struggling to satisfy competing demands from G20 participants for clear-cut statements on protectionism and climate change. These have been staples of such communiques since the G20 was formed ten years ago amid a global financial crisis. Washington is reportedly resisting an explicit call to fight protectionism. It is also demanding a watering down of the G20’s commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Consensus on these issues is proving elusive, further undermining efforts to address global challenges. This underscores a dramatic shift in the global geopolitical environment since Trump gained office. At the 2016 G20 summit in Hangzhou, world leaders agreed on a “rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation playing the central role in today’s global trade”. On climate, the G20 committed itself “to complete our respective domestic procedures in order to join the Paris Agreement”. Two years later, a “rules-based” trading system is being shredded and the Paris Agreement is at risk of unravelling. These are troubled times, not helped by an American pullback from the stabilising role in global affairs it has played since the second world war. (Tony Walker is Adjunct Professor, School of Communications, La Trobe University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Much at stake as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet at G20

Trade wars between the United States and China will be the top focus at the 13the G20 summit even as host Argentina will focus on South-South cooperation and India on highlighting the issue of terror, especially in its region. Speaking to WION ahead of the G20 summit that will take place in Argentina’s capital&nbsp;Buenos Aires, India’s sherpa or top negotiator at the grouping, Shaktikanta Das, said, “On FATF (Financial Action Task Force) leaders will spell out what kind of appeal or political message they would like to give to FATF. Not just passing laws to deal with terror but the actual implementation of FATF principals by all countries”.&nbsp;

This comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s inaction on 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed who roams the streets of that country freely and even wanted to contest the general elections. Earlier this year, Pakistan was blacklisted for failing to take strong action, especially against financial support to terror groups.

In the previous G20 summit held in Hamburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given an 11-point agenda on terror.

Prime Minister Modi will&nbsp;meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for the fourth time this year on the sidelines of G20. They first met at the famous informal Wuhan summit in April followed by meetings on the sidelines of SCO and BRICS summit in China and South Africa.

In a pre-departure statement, Modi said, "I look forward to meeting leaders from other G-20 countries to review the work of G-20 in the last ten years of its existence and chart the ways and means to meet the new and upcoming challenges of the coming decade. We will deliberate on the situation of global economy and trade, international financial and tax systems, the future of work, women empowerment, infrastructure and sustainable development."

Prime Minister&nbsp;Modi is also expected to meet US President Donald Trump. The expected meet will be the first one since the S400 deal was signed between India and Russia.&nbsp;India hasn’t confirmed the meet with Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale saying New Delhi is “Currently working on several bilateral meetings”.&nbsp;

Both India and the US have been focusing on terror emanating from Pakistan. The Indian prime minister&nbsp;had raised the issue with US Vice-President Mike Pence when the two met on the sidelines of the 13th East Asian summit just two weeks ago. Last week, US President Trump made known his displeasure with Islamabad when he justified his aid cut saying that the country does not do a single “damn thing”. He also came down on Pakistan for providing safe haven to Osama bin Laden&nbsp;who was killed by US forces in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad in 2011.

India’s sherpa also told WION that India would call for “greater international cooperation on economic offences and offenders, especially fugitive economic offenders” and “economic offences pose a major threat to global economy”. This comes even as Nirav Modi, the man behind the infamous scam at Punjab National Bank and Vijay Mallya who owes billions of rupees to India’s public sector banks continue to stay in the&nbsp;UK, a fellow G20 country.

A BRICS meeting will also take place.&nbsp;A similar BRICS summit&nbsp;followed the&nbsp;2017 G20 summit&nbsp;during which the talks between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping helped in defusing the Doklam crisis.

All in all, New Delhi will be using the high table to raise awareness about issues that concern today's increasingly fragile world.&nbsp;Meanwhile, host, Argentina will be focusing on giving perspective on&nbsp;south-south&nbsp;cooperation and raising the issue of cryptocurrency. Argentina’s ambassador to India Daniel Chuburu spoke to WION and said, “consensus is that cryptocurrency touches important issues like money laundering, protection of the right of investors, consumers, financing of terror”

Argentina is the first South American country to host the G20 summit. This is the 13th G20 summit and comes on the 10th anniversary of leaders summit which took place on the backdrop of financial crisis in 2008.

On South-South cooperation, Argentinian ambassador said, “Our sherpa and our minister have been visiting the region and developing member countries of the G20. We thought it was very important to bring the perspective of the south. The perspective of developing countries.”

But this year summit will have a lot of big bilaterals. US President Donald Trump will be meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. With Xi, Trump will be focusing on solving the current trade wars that have broken between world’s number one and number two economy. No solution means global growth can suffer in 2019. With Russian president, with whom he will be meeting for the second time this year, the focus will be on Syria and the current crisis in Ukraine.

The long shadow of Khashoggi murder will also have an impact some uncomfortable moments are expected when Turkish President&nbsp;Recep Tayyip Erdogan&nbsp;and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman come face to face for the first time since the news of&nbsp;Khashoggi's&nbsp;killing came.

Trade wars between the United States and China will be the top focus at the 13the G20 summit even as host Argentina will focus on South-South cooperation and India on highlighting the issue of terror, especially in its region.

Trade wars between the United States and China will be the top focus at the 13the G20 summit even as host Argentina will focus on South-South cooperation and India on highlighting the issue of terror, especially in its region. Speaking to WION ahead of the G20 summit that will take place in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires, India’s sherpa or top negotiator at the grouping, Shaktikanta Das, said, “On FATF (Financial Action Task Force) leaders will spell out what kind of appeal or political message they would like to give to FATF. Not just passing laws to deal with terror but the actual implementation of FATF principals by all countries”. This comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s inaction on 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed who roams the streets of that country freely and even wanted to contest the general elections. Earlier this year, Pakistan was blacklisted for failing to take strong action, especially against financial support to terror groups. In the previous G20 summit held in Hamburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given an 11-point agenda on terror. Prime Minister Modi will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for the fourth time this year on the sidelines of G20. They first met at the famous informal Wuhan summit in April followed by meetings on the sidelines of SCO and BRICS summit in China and South Africa. In a pre-departure statement, Modi said, "I look forward to meeting leaders from other G-20 countries to review the work of G-20 in the last ten years of its existence and chart the ways and means to meet the new and upcoming challenges of the coming decade. We will deliberate on the situation of global economy and trade, international financial and tax systems, the future of work, women empowerment, infrastructure and sustainable development." Prime Minister Modi is also expected to meet US President Donald Trump. The expected meet will be the first one since the S400 deal was signed between India and Russia. India hasn’t confirmed the meet with Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale saying New Delhi is “Currently working on several bilateral meetings”. Both India and the US have been focusing on terror emanating from Pakistan. The Indian prime minister had raised the issue with US Vice-President Mike Pence when the two met on the sidelines of the 13th East Asian summit just two weeks ago. Last week, US President Trump made known his displeasure with Islamabad when he justified his aid cut saying that the country does not do a single “damn thing”. He also came down on Pakistan for providing safe haven to Osama bin Laden who was killed by US forces in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad in 2011. India’s sherpa also told WION that India would call for “greater international cooperation on economic offences and offenders, especially fugitive economic offenders” and “economic offences pose a major threat to global economy”. This comes even as Nirav Modi, the man behind the infamous scam at Punjab National Bank and Vijay Mallya who owes billions of rupees to India’s public sector banks continue to stay in the UK, a fellow G20 country. A BRICS meeting will also take place. A similar BRICS summit followed the 2017 G20 summit during which the talks between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping helped in defusing the Doklam crisis. All in all, New Delhi will be using the high table to raise awareness about issues that concern today's increasingly fragile world. Meanwhile, host, Argentina will be focusing on giving perspective on south-south cooperation and raising the issue of cryptocurrency. Argentina’s ambassador to India Daniel Chuburu spoke to WION and said, “consensus is that cryptocurrency touches important issues like money laundering, protection of the right of investors, consumers, financing of terror” Argentina is the first South American country to host the G20 summit. This is the 13th G20 summit and comes on the 10th anniversary of leaders summit which took place on the backdrop of financial crisis in 2008. On South-South cooperation, Argentinian ambassador said, “Our sherpa and our minister have been visiting the region and developing member countries of the G20. We thought it was very important to bring the perspective of the south. The perspective of developing countries.” But this year summit will have a lot of big bilaterals. US President Donald Trump will be meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. With Xi, Trump will be focusing on solving the current trade wars that have broken between world’s number one and number two economy. No solution means global growth can suffer in 2019. With Russian president, with whom he will be meeting for the second time this year, the focus will be on Syria and the current crisis in Ukraine. The long shadow of Khashoggi murder will also have an impact some uncomfortable moments are expected when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman come face to face for the first time since the news of Khashoggi's killing came.

At G20 summit, India will call for greater cooperation on fugitive economic offenders

US President Donald Trump will have a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30 and December 1, the White House said Tuesday.

The trilateral, which would be an expansion of the bilateral between Trump and Abe, is part of the series of meetings Trump would have later this week on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina. The annual meeting is being attended by leaders of the top 20 economies of the world.

However, all eyes are expected to be on two meetings that Trump would have with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Briefing reporters ahead of the G-20 Summit, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that Trump will also have meetings with President Mauricio Macri of Argentina, President Moon Jae-In of South Korea, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

Bolton said the Trump-Abe bilateral meeting would expand into a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi.

"He is going to meet with President Macri, the host government of Argentina, he'll meet with President Moon of South Korea, he'll meet with President Erdogan of Turkey, Prime Minister Abe of Japan, that will transform at some point during that meeting a trilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi,"&nbsp;Bolton said.

"The president will meet with President Putin and have a working dinner with President Xi," he said. PTI&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump will have a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30 and December 1, the White House said Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump will have a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires on November 30 and December 1, the White House said Tuesday. The trilateral, which would be an expansion of the bilateral between Trump and Abe, is part of the series of meetings Trump would have later this week on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Argentina. The annual meeting is being attended by leaders of the top 20 economies of the world. However, all eyes are expected to be on two meetings that Trump would have with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Briefing reporters ahead of the G-20 Summit, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that Trump will also have meetings with President Mauricio Macri of Argentina, President Moon Jae-In of South Korea, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Bolton said the Trump-Abe bilateral meeting would expand into a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi. "He is going to meet with President Macri, the host government of Argentina, he'll meet with President Moon of South Korea, he'll meet with President Erdogan of Turkey, Prime Minister Abe of Japan, that will transform at some point during that meeting a trilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi," Bolton said. "The president will meet with President Putin and have a working dinner with President Xi," he said. PTI

PM Modi to have trilateral meeting with Trump and Japanese counterpart in Argentina

Thousands of people from social groups gathered in a sports stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday (November 27) to protest against the G20 at the end of this week and against President Mauricio Macri, after he reached a $57 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund in September to tackle a weathering economic crisis in the country.

Argentina has vowed to crack down on any anarchists and anti-capitalist protesters who try to disrupt the G20, saying it was working with foreign governments to identify and block entry to potential trouble-makers.

This year's G20 summit will be held in the Argentine capital from November 30 to December 1. Local leftist groups are planning marches against the gathering and have invited activists from around the world to join them.

The event will be guarded by 22,000 police and 700 security ministry agents, and the government has been in contact with a number of foreign security services, including those in the United States, Britain, Brazil, Italy and Spain, she said.

Thousands of people from social groups gathered in a sports stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday (November 27) to protest against the G20 at the end of this week and against President Mauricio Macri, after he reached a $57 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund in September to tackle a weathering economic crisis in the country.

Thousands of people from social groups gathered in a sports stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday (November 27) to protest against the G20 at the end of this week and against President Mauricio Macri, after he reached a $57 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund in September to tackle a weathering economic crisis in the country. Argentina has vowed to crack down on any anarchists and anti-capitalist protesters who try to disrupt the G20, saying it was working with foreign governments to identify and block entry to potential trouble-makers. This year's G20 summit will be held in the Argentine capital from November 30 to December 1. Local leftist groups are planning marches against the gathering and have invited activists from around the world to join them. The event will be guarded by 22,000 police and 700 security ministry agents, and the government has been in contact with a number of foreign security services, including those in the United States, Britain, Brazil, Italy and Spain, she said.

Social groups protest against G20 and IMF in Argentina

As Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman tours friendly Arab nations ahead of the Group of 20 (G-20) industrialised nations summit in Argentina, Saudi diplomacy aims to achieve two goals: put the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi behind it and thwart Qatari efforts to benefit from the kingdom’s predicament.

The Saudi campaign is producing predictably mixed results. It is proving successful with nations willing to back it for political, financial or economic gain, such as Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia, and Palestine or nations like the United Arab Emirates, Russia and China that share Saudi Arabia’s illiberal, authoritarian values.

Prince Mohammed and the kingdom’s ties to Western nations, even those like the United States that have opted for maintaining close ties in the face of mounting criticism in their national legislatures, hang in the balance despite having survived the storm so far.

With the US Congress gearing up for potential action against Saudi Arabia, not only because of the October 2 killing of Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate but also the humanitarian crisis sparked by Saudi military intervention in Yemen, President Donald J Trump has no plans to meet Prince Mohammed one on one at this weekend’s G-20 gathering.

Much like Trump’s decision may be perceived as a public slap, it does not suggest that Trump has backed away from his determination to shield US-Saudi relations and the crown prince from the potential fallout of the Khashoggi killing.

Similarly, Britain this week went ahead with joint exercises of the British and Saudi air forces although the United Kingdom has left open the possibility of imposing sanctions if the killing proves to have been government-sanctioned rather than an operation by rogue elements.

One key focus of the Saudi campaign appears to be Palestine and Iraq, countries not on Prince Mohammed’s travel schedule but where Qatar, that has been resisting an 18-month old Saudi-UAE-led economic and diplomatic boycott, stands to benefit from the Khashoggi crisis and that figure prominently in Trump’s designs for the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia this month said that it had transferred $60 million to President Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestine Authority, financially strapped as a result of the Trump administration cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in funding of the authority as well as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unwra) that supports Palestinian refugees.

Saudi Arabia’s resumption of funding followed several Palestinian statements in the last two months supporting the kingdom’s assertion that it had not sanctioned the killing of Khashoggi and expressing confidence in the Saudi judiciary’s ability to mete out justice to the culprits.

Saudi Arabia, ostensibly at Prince Mohammed’s behest, had in the past year withheld payments to the Palestine Authority because of its refusal to engage with the United States following Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the authority’s support for Turkey’s leadership in rallying Muslim opposition to US policy.

The resumption of funding is also in line with King Salman’s intervention in the last year insisting that the kingdom was committed to Palestinian rights, including declaring East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state.

It also coincided with Israeli acquiescence in the flow of $150 million from Qatar to Gaza, controlled by Islamist Hamas, in a bid to alleviate the crippling impact of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the region and prevent tension between Israel and the group spinning out of control.

Beyond countering expanding Qatari influence, the Saudi move is likely to increase the kingdom’s leverage in pressuring the Palestine Authority to back off its refusal to entertain a mooted US Israeli-Palestinian peace plan that has yet to be made public but would be stillborn without Palestinian participation.

Similarly, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are competing for influence in Iraq, another battleground that is important to both the United States and the kingdom because of the close ties between Iraq and Iran.

Senior Saudi and Qatari officials have frequented Baghdad in recent weeks as Iraq’s new prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, puts his cabinet together and pushes an ambitious economic development plan that is dependent on foreign investment.

Even though Iraq is likely to balance relations between the two Gulf rivals, it is also not going to trouble its burgeoning relationship with the kingdom by speaking out on the Khashoggi issue.

Prince Mohammed, despite protests in Tunisia, the only country on the crown prince’s itinerary that has not brutally suppressed freedom of expression, and a legal challenge in Argentina, which could curtail his future travel plans even if it does not stop him from attending the G-20 summit, has proven in recent days that he is not universally persona non grata.

Nonetheless, his reception in Argentina by world leaders is likely to be a litmus test of the degree of reputational damage that he and the kingdom have suffered. Trump’s apparent hesitancy to meet separately with the crown prince could set the tone if indeed the president sticks by his initial decision. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

As Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman tours friendly Arab nations ahead of the Group of 20 (G-20) industrialised nations summit in Argentina, Saudi diplomacy aims to achieve two goals: put the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi behind it and thwart Qatari efforts to benefit from the kingdom’s predicament.

As Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman tours friendly Arab nations ahead of the Group of 20 (G-20) industrialised nations summit in Argentina, Saudi diplomacy aims to achieve two goals: put the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi behind it and thwart Qatari efforts to benefit from the kingdom’s predicament. The Saudi campaign is producing predictably mixed results. It is proving successful with nations willing to back it for political, financial or economic gain, such as Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia, and Palestine or nations like the United Arab Emirates, Russia and China that share Saudi Arabia’s illiberal, authoritarian values. Prince Mohammed and the kingdom’s ties to Western nations, even those like the United States that have opted for maintaining close ties in the face of mounting criticism in their national legislatures, hang in the balance despite having survived the storm so far. With the US Congress gearing up for potential action against Saudi Arabia, not only because of the October 2 killing of Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate but also the humanitarian crisis sparked by Saudi military intervention in Yemen, President Donald J Trump has no plans to meet Prince Mohammed one on one at this weekend’s G-20 gathering. Much like Trump’s decision may be perceived as a public slap, it does not suggest that Trump has backed away from his determination to shield US-Saudi relations and the crown prince from the potential fallout of the Khashoggi killing. Similarly, Britain this week went ahead with joint exercises of the British and Saudi air forces although the United Kingdom has left open the possibility of imposing sanctions if the killing proves to have been government-sanctioned rather than an operation by rogue elements. One key focus of the Saudi campaign appears to be Palestine and Iraq, countries not on Prince Mohammed’s travel schedule but where Qatar, that has been resisting an 18-month old Saudi-UAE-led economic and diplomatic boycott, stands to benefit from the Khashoggi crisis and that figure prominently in Trump’s designs for the Middle East. Saudi Arabia this month said that it had transferred $60 million to President Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestine Authority, financially strapped as a result of the Trump administration cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in funding of the authority as well as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unwra) that supports Palestinian refugees. Saudi Arabia’s resumption of funding followed several Palestinian statements in the last two months supporting the kingdom’s assertion that it had not sanctioned the killing of Khashoggi and expressing confidence in the Saudi judiciary’s ability to mete out justice to the culprits. Saudi Arabia, ostensibly at Prince Mohammed’s behest, had in the past year withheld payments to the Palestine Authority because of its refusal to engage with the United States following Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the authority’s support for Turkey’s leadership in rallying Muslim opposition to US policy. The resumption of funding is also in line with King Salman’s intervention in the last year insisting that the kingdom was committed to Palestinian rights, including declaring East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state. It also coincided with Israeli acquiescence in the flow of $150 million from Qatar to Gaza, controlled by Islamist Hamas, in a bid to alleviate the crippling impact of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the region and prevent tension between Israel and the group spinning out of control. Beyond countering expanding Qatari influence, the Saudi move is likely to increase the kingdom’s leverage in pressuring the Palestine Authority to back off its refusal to entertain a mooted US Israeli-Palestinian peace plan that has yet to be made public but would be stillborn without Palestinian participation. Similarly, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are competing for influence in Iraq, another battleground that is important to both the United States and the kingdom because of the close ties between Iraq and Iran. Senior Saudi and Qatari officials have frequented Baghdad in recent weeks as Iraq’s new prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, puts his cabinet together and pushes an ambitious economic development plan that is dependent on foreign investment. Even though Iraq is likely to balance relations between the two Gulf rivals, it is also not going to trouble its burgeoning relationship with the kingdom by speaking out on the Khashoggi issue. Prince Mohammed, despite protests in Tunisia, the only country on the crown prince’s itinerary that has not brutally suppressed freedom of expression, and a legal challenge in Argentina, which could curtail his future travel plans even if it does not stop him from attending the G-20 summit, has proven in recent days that he is not universally persona non grata. Nonetheless, his reception in Argentina by world leaders is likely to be a litmus test of the degree of reputational damage that he and the kingdom have suffered. Trump’s apparent hesitancy to meet separately with the crown prince could set the tone if indeed the president sticks by his initial decision. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How Saudi and Qatar are competing over Iraq

Asian markets were mixed Tuesday as dealers focused on crunch G20 talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, with the US president warning he will ramp up his trade war with China if the two do not reach a deal.

With the economic superpowers in the middle of an increasingly bitter standoff, there are hopes the two leaders will be able to work out an agreement that brings them back from the brink of a tariffs row that threatens to dent global growth.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published Monday, Trump said he thought it "highly unlikely" the US would hold off more than doubling duties on $250 billion of Chinese imports if there is no breakthrough.

"If we don't make a deal, then I'm going to put the $267 billion additional on," he told the newspaper, referring to the remainder of Chinese imports that so far have not been hit with tariffs.

"The only deal would be China has to open up their country to competition from the United States."

While some observers suggested the comments were a typical Trump ploy to apply maximum pressure on Beijing heading into the meeting, there remain fears about what the tycoon has in mind.

"It doesn't sound like we will see Donald the Deal Maker but instead Trump the Trade Warrior at G20," said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA.

Asian traders moved cautiously in early exchanges after Monday's global rally, which was fuelled by rising oil prices, Italy's softer tone in its budget standoff with Brussels and Britain's Brexit agreement with the European Union.

Oil outlook warning

Tokyo ended the morning 0.1 per cent higher, Shanghai added 0.1 per cent and Sydney rose 0.5 per cent but Hong Kong and Singapore each slipped 0.6 per cent.

Seoul and Wellington both added 0.3 per cent but Taipei shed 0.6 per cent and Manila gave up 0.5 per cent.

While the meeting is the main event this week, investors are also keeping an eye on speeches from top Federal Reserve officials including boss Jerome Powell, which could signal a softer pace of interest rate hikes.

Rising US borrowing costs -- fuelled by surging US growth -- have been a major cause of concern for investors but recent comments from the central banker appear to show a more dovish outlook for 2019 as the global economy slows.

On oil markets both main contracts remained under pressure despite Monday's jump, with market-watchers waiting for next month's gathering of OPEC and non-OPEC members hoping they will announce a cut in output.

The commodity has been hammered since early October by a series of issues including the uncertain global outlook, the trade war, rising supplies, slowing demand and weakness in China.

As trade tensions begin to bite on the global economy, analysts are predicting slower growth into next year, meaning there would be less demand for oil.&nbsp;

"It has been our long-held view that slower global economic activity would be a factor weighing on oil demand in 2019 and that the market would move into surplus," London-based Capital Economics said.

Key figures around 0245 GMT

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.1 percent at 21,843.37 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.6 per cent at 26,226.26

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4 percent at 2,586.54

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1332 from $1.1326 at 2130 GMT

Euro/pound: UP at 88.46 pence from 88.44 pence

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2811 from $1.2806&nbsp;

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 26 cents at $51.37 per barrel&nbsp;

Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN 17 cents at $60.31 per barrel

New York - Dow Jones: UP 1.5 percent at 24,640.24 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 1.2 percent at 7,036.00 (close)

Asian markets were mixed Tuesday as dealers focused on crunch G20 talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, with the US president warning he will ramp up his trade war with China if the two do not reach a deal.

Asian markets were mixed Tuesday as dealers focused on crunch G20 talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, with the US president warning he will ramp up his trade war with China if the two do not reach a deal. With the economic superpowers in the middle of an increasingly bitter standoff, there are hopes the two leaders will be able to work out an agreement that brings them back from the brink of a tariffs row that threatens to dent global growth. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published Monday, Trump said he thought it "highly unlikely" the US would hold off more than doubling duties on $250 billion of Chinese imports if there is no breakthrough. "If we don't make a deal, then I'm going to put the $267 billion additional on," he told the newspaper, referring to the remainder of Chinese imports that so far have not been hit with tariffs. "The only deal would be China has to open up their country to competition from the United States." While some observers suggested the comments were a typical Trump ploy to apply maximum pressure on Beijing heading into the meeting, there remain fears about what the tycoon has in mind. "It doesn't sound like we will see Donald the Deal Maker but instead Trump the Trade Warrior at G20," said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. Asian traders moved cautiously in early exchanges after Monday's global rally, which was fuelled by rising oil prices, Italy's softer tone in its budget standoff with Brussels and Britain's Brexit agreement with the European Union. Oil outlook warning Tokyo ended the morning 0.1 per cent higher, Shanghai added 0.1 per cent and Sydney rose 0.5 per cent but Hong Kong and Singapore each slipped 0.6 per cent. Seoul and Wellington both added 0.3 per cent but Taipei shed 0.6 per cent and Manila gave up 0.5 per cent. While the meeting is the main event this week, investors are also keeping an eye on speeches from top Federal Reserve officials including boss Jerome Powell, which could signal a softer pace of interest rate hikes. Rising US borrowing costs -- fuelled by surging US growth -- have been a major cause of concern for investors but recent comments from the central banker appear to show a more dovish outlook for 2019 as the global economy slows. On oil markets both main contracts remained under pressure despite Monday's jump, with market-watchers waiting for next month's gathering of OPEC and non-OPEC members hoping they will announce a cut in output. The commodity has been hammered since early October by a series of issues including the uncertain global outlook, the trade war, rising supplies, slowing demand and weakness in China. As trade tensions begin to bite on the global economy, analysts are predicting slower growth into next year, meaning there would be less demand for oil. "It has been our long-held view that slower global economic activity would be a factor weighing on oil demand in 2019 and that the market would move into surplus," London-based Capital Economics said. Key figures around 0245 GMT Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.1 percent at 21,843.37 (break) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.6 per cent at 26,226.26 Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4 percent at 2,586.54 Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1332 from $1.1326 at 2130 GMT Euro/pound: UP at 88.46 pence from 88.44 pence Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2811 from $1.2806 Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 26 cents at $51.37 per barrel Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN 17 cents at $60.31 per barrel New York - Dow Jones: UP 1.5 percent at 24,640.24 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 1.2 percent at 7,036.00 (close)

Asian markets mixed as Trump threatens to ramp up trade war

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Argentina from November 28 to December 2 to participate in the G20 meeting in Buenos Aires during which he will also meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of other participating nations, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.

Modi will also highlight the risks posed by oil price volatility and raise the issue of combating terror financing and money laundering, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said.

One of the issues that will be discussed is strengthening of the WTO, he told reporters.

The meeting is being held amid the ongoing trade war between the US and China.

"Our interest is two-fold that the G20 issue is not hijacked by the single issue of trade, whether it is between two countries or otherwise.

"And secondly how we can constructively reform the WTO which serves India's interest and which is multilateral. That is going to be one of the focal points of this G20 meeting, or certainly of India's position at the G20 meeting," Gokhale said.

He said the G20 Summit must cover the entire gamut of economic issues, including the agricultural sector reform, the challenges climate change poses and health-care issues faced by the world.

The theme of the G20 Summit is 'Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development'.

Detailing Modi's visit, Gokhale said the prime minister will make a lead intervention in a session on 'Putting People First' that is essentially on the global economy.

The second session is on talks of building consensus which will deal with trade, finance, taxation, sustainable development and climate change.

The third session will be on 'Embracing Opportunities' and these are related to energy infrastructure, sustainable food security. The prime minister will be making subsidiary interventions in the other two sessions, Gokhale said.

There will be a number of bilateral meetings during the visit.

Prime Narendra Modi and Chinese President XI Jinping will meet twice during the G20 summit in Argentina, said a foreign ministry official on Tuesday (November 27) as the two Asian powerhouses seek warmer ties.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told reporters in New Delhi that the meetings would aim at giving impetus to ties and enhance mutual understanding between the two countries.

Relations between the Asian giants were strained last year over a 73-day military face-off in a remote, high-altitude stretch of their disputed Himalayan border. But the neighbours have over recent months been working on mending ties.

When asked about a possible meet with the US President Donald Trump, Gokhale said the ministry was working on various bilaterals.

The foreign secretary said Modi will also meet United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Mauricio Macri, the President of Argentina; Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

He will also meet the prime ministers of Spain, Jamaica, the Netherlands and the president of the European Union and European Council.

A bilateral meeting between Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron is also being worked out, Gokhale said.

The prime minister, he said, will also speak on his flag programmes like the Jan Dhan Yojana, the Mudra scheme, Ayushman Bharat, soil health card in the G20 Summit.

The prime minister will also make a pitch to countries who are not in the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn to join the International Solar Alliance.

Gokhale said the issue of disaster relief infrastructure will also be discussed.

There is a space of major countries, particularly the G20 nations, to have some kind of informal arrangement where they can share the capacity building, technical know-how with countries hit by disasters, Gokhale said.

India has shared a concept paper with the G20 countries and it has received a positive response, he added.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Argentina from November 28 to December 2 to participate in the G20 meeting in Buenos Aires during which he will also meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of other participating nations, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Argentina from November 28 to December 2 to participate in the G20 meeting in Buenos Aires during which he will also meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of other participating nations, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday. Modi will also highlight the risks posed by oil price volatility and raise the issue of combating terror financing and money laundering, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said. One of the issues that will be discussed is strengthening of the WTO, he told reporters. The meeting is being held amid the ongoing trade war between the US and China. "Our interest is two-fold that the G20 issue is not hijacked by the single issue of trade, whether it is between two countries or otherwise. "And secondly how we can constructively reform the WTO which serves India's interest and which is multilateral. That is going to be one of the focal points of this G20 meeting, or certainly of India's position at the G20 meeting," Gokhale said. He said the G20 Summit must cover the entire gamut of economic issues, including the agricultural sector reform, the challenges climate change poses and health-care issues faced by the world. The theme of the G20 Summit is 'Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development'. Detailing Modi's visit, Gokhale said the prime minister will make a lead intervention in a session on 'Putting People First' that is essentially on the global economy. The second session is on talks of building consensus which will deal with trade, finance, taxation, sustainable development and climate change. The third session will be on 'Embracing Opportunities' and these are related to energy infrastructure, sustainable food security. The prime minister will be making subsidiary interventions in the other two sessions, Gokhale said. There will be a number of bilateral meetings during the visit. Prime Narendra Modi and Chinese President XI Jinping will meet twice during the G20 summit in Argentina, said a foreign ministry official on Tuesday (November 27) as the two Asian powerhouses seek warmer ties. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told reporters in New Delhi that the meetings would aim at giving impetus to ties and enhance mutual understanding between the two countries. Relations between the Asian giants were strained last year over a 73-day military face-off in a remote, high-altitude stretch of their disputed Himalayan border. But the neighbours have over recent months been working on mending ties. When asked about a possible meet with the US President Donald Trump, Gokhale said the ministry was working on various bilaterals. The foreign secretary said Modi will also meet United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Mauricio Macri, the President of Argentina; Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He will also meet the prime ministers of Spain, Jamaica, the Netherlands and the president of the European Union and European Council. A bilateral meeting between Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron is also being worked out, Gokhale said. The prime minister, he said, will also speak on his flag programmes like the Jan Dhan Yojana, the Mudra scheme, Ayushman Bharat, soil health card in the G20 Summit. The prime minister will also make a pitch to countries who are not in the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn to join the International Solar Alliance. Gokhale said the issue of disaster relief infrastructure will also be discussed. There is a space of major countries, particularly the G20 nations, to have some kind of informal arrangement where they can share the capacity building, technical know-how with countries hit by disasters, Gokhale said. India has shared a concept paper with the G20 countries and it has received a positive response, he added. (With inputs from Reuters)

PM Modi to visit Argentina from Nov 28-Dec 2 for G20 Summit; to meet Chinese President twice

When G20 world leaders met for the first time in 2008 their mission was a desperate one - to rescue the global economy from the worst financial crisis in more than 70 years. They were successful.

Ten years on, that picture of unity in the face of economic calamity is in the rear-view mirror. Leaders of the G20 industrialized nations meeting in Argentina next week are expected to struggle to agree on a joint statement on two of the biggest, and thorniest, global issues on their agenda - trade and climate change.

Officials in European and Asian capitals helping to prepare for the meeting said they were cautiously optimistic that a communique would be issued when the two-day meeting ends on December&nbsp;1.

But many said it would likely be watered down to try to ensure approval from US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, an avowed skeptic of man-made climate change who has adopted protectionist trade policies and a more isolationist foreign policy.

Recent history suggests those who draft the communique face a tough challenge when they begin their work in earnest in Buenos Aires on Monday.

Last weekend, officials from countries attending a major Asia-Pacific summit failed to agree on a joint communique for the first time as the United States clashed with China over trade and security.

In May Trump rejected a statement by fellow leaders of the G7 industrialized economies after a tense gathering ended in acrimony, again over tariffs and trade.

"It's a club that is even more difficult to manage than the G7," said a French diplomatic source. "Let's face it. The issues are difficult, the talks have been difficult since last year. It will be the case again this year, maybe even tougher."

It will be the first time the leaders have met since Trump imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports to force concessions from Beijing on greater access to Chinese markets, forced technology transfer and intellectual property theft.

China responded with import tariffs on US&nbsp;goods.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned this week that an escalation in the trade war - the US&nbsp;tariff rate on $200 billion in Chinese goods is set to increase to 25 percent from 10 percent on January&nbsp;1 - would impede global economic growth.

Officials from some G20 countries, anxious to see a swift end to the US-China trade war, are hopeful but not confident that a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of G20 may yield at least a partial ceasefire.

But in the United States and China there is pessimism.

Within the White House there is uncertainty over how hard Trump is prepared to push Xi during their talks on trade and other disputes as the president sorts through sometimes conflicting advice from his own top aides, a senior Trump official said.

"Expectations (on the meeting) are low. But keeping the personal relationship going is an extremely high priority," the US&nbsp;official said, referring to Trump and Xi, who have sought to forge a close working relationship despite the tensions between their countries, the world's two biggest economies.

China's main goal at the G20 is to get the United States to refrain from raising the tariffs in January, said Chinese economists and academics. But Xi would not be bullied into making a bad deal.

"Even if they are able to reach a small agreement, the leaders of China and the United States cannot reach a fundamental agreement, so there would not be a ceasefire in the trade war," said Shi Yinhong, the head of the Center for American Studies at Beijing's elite Renmin University who has advised the Chinese government on diplomacy.

Trump said on Thursday he was well prepared for his meeting with Xi.

"It's not like, 'Oh gee, I'm going to sit down and study.' I know every ingredient. I know every stat. I know it better than anybody knows it. And my gut has always been right. And we're doing very well. And I will tell you China very much wants to make a deal."

Trump will also meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders have not met face to face since a bilateral summit in July in Helsinki that prompted Trump critics to accuse him of cozying up to the Kremlin.

'No alternative'

G20 leaders are also expected to discuss reform of the World Trade Organization, but officials said it was unlikely any agreement would be reached.

The United States is increasingly skeptical of the WTO's ability to resolve international trade disputes. The European Union is also pushing to reform the body to make it better able to address modern trade problems.

European countries are anxious that the final communique refer to the fight against climate change, a senior European Union official said. Trump has announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord, casting doubt on the science underpinning the agreement.

Despite disagreements on key issues and the United States' growing skepticism about the usefulness of multilateral bodies, G20 members insist the forum remains an important opportunity for world leaders to meet and exchange views on pressing issues.

"Its existence itself helps us gather quickly and discuss key issues on a global level when needed," said a senior G20 official in Asia.

A senior German official involved in G20 preparations said Germany remained committed to G20 as a place for multilateral and bilateral discussions despite the current tensions.

"Sometimes you have to be patient. There is no alternative anyway than to try to work together," the official said.

When G20 world leaders met for the first time in 2008 their mission was a desperate one - to rescue the global economy from the worst financial crisis in more than 70 years.

When G20 world leaders met for the first time in 2008 their mission was a desperate one - to rescue the global economy from the worst financial crisis in more than 70 years. They were successful. Ten years on, that picture of unity in the face of economic calamity is in the rear-view mirror. Leaders of the G20 industrialized nations meeting in Argentina next week are expected to struggle to agree on a joint statement on two of the biggest, and thorniest, global issues on their agenda - trade and climate change. Officials in European and Asian capitals helping to prepare for the meeting said they were cautiously optimistic that a communique would be issued when the two-day meeting ends on December 1. But many said it would likely be watered down to try to ensure approval from US President Donald Trump, an avowed skeptic of man-made climate change who has adopted protectionist trade policies and a more isolationist foreign policy. Recent history suggests those who draft the communique face a tough challenge when they begin their work in earnest in Buenos Aires on Monday. Last weekend, officials from countries attending a major Asia-Pacific summit failed to agree on a joint communique for the first time as the United States clashed with China over trade and security. In May Trump rejected a statement by fellow leaders of the G7 industrialized economies after a tense gathering ended in acrimony, again over tariffs and trade. "It's a club that is even more difficult to manage than the G7," said a French diplomatic source. "Let's face it. The issues are difficult, the talks have been difficult since last year. It will be the case again this year, maybe even tougher." It will be the first time the leaders have met since Trump imposed tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese imports to force concessions from Beijing on greater access to Chinese markets, forced technology transfer and intellectual property theft. China responded with import tariffs on US goods. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned this week that an escalation in the trade war - the US tariff rate on $200 billion in Chinese goods is set to increase to 25 percent from 10 percent on January 1 - would impede global economic growth. Officials from some G20 countries, anxious to see a swift end to the US-China trade war, are hopeful but not confident that a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of G20 may yield at least a partial ceasefire. But in the United States and China there is pessimism. Within the White House there is uncertainty over how hard Trump is prepared to push Xi during their talks on trade and other disputes as the president sorts through sometimes conflicting advice from his own top aides, a senior Trump official said. "Expectations (on the meeting) are low. But keeping the personal relationship going is an extremely high priority," the US official said, referring to Trump and Xi, who have sought to forge a close working relationship despite the tensions between their countries, the world's two biggest economies. China's main goal at the G20 is to get the United States to refrain from raising the tariffs in January, said Chinese economists and academics. But Xi would not be bullied into making a bad deal. "Even if they are able to reach a small agreement, the leaders of China and the United States cannot reach a fundamental agreement, so there would not be a ceasefire in the trade war," said Shi Yinhong, the head of the Center for American Studies at Beijing's elite Renmin University who has advised the Chinese government on diplomacy. Trump said on Thursday he was well prepared for his meeting with Xi. "It's not like, 'Oh gee, I'm going to sit down and study.' I know every ingredient. I know every stat. I know it better than anybody knows it. And my gut has always been right. And we're doing very well. And I will tell you China very much wants to make a deal." Trump will also meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders have not met face to face since a bilateral summit in July in Helsinki that prompted Trump critics to accuse him of cozying up to the Kremlin. 'No alternative' G20 leaders are also expected to discuss reform of the World Trade Organization, but officials said it was unlikely any agreement would be reached. The United States is increasingly skeptical of the WTO's ability to resolve international trade disputes. The European Union is also pushing to reform the body to make it better able to address modern trade problems. European countries are anxious that the final communique refer to the fight against climate change, a senior European Union official said. Trump has announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord, casting doubt on the science underpinning the agreement. Despite disagreements on key issues and the United States' growing skepticism about the usefulness of multilateral bodies, G20 members insist the forum remains an important opportunity for world leaders to meet and exchange views on pressing issues. "Its existence itself helps us gather quickly and discuss key issues on a global level when needed," said a senior G20 official in Asia. A senior German official involved in G20 preparations said Germany remained committed to G20 as a place for multilateral and bilateral discussions despite the current tensions. "Sometimes you have to be patient. There is no alternative anyway than to try to work together," the official said.

G20, forged in crisis, faces major test next week: Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he had "very good" talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the trade conflict between the two economic giants, and meetings were being planned at the G20 summit at the end of this month.

The phone call comes as tensions between the world's two biggest economies are rising on several fronts, including commerce and security.

"Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade," Trump tweeted.

Trump said trade talks were "moving along nicely" and that meetings were "being scheduled" at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires.

Xi said he was "very happy" to talk to Trump again and attaches "great importance to good relations with the president", according to China's official Xinhua news agency.

The Chinese president also said he would like to meet Trump at the G20.

Disagreements on trade have "adversely affected" industries from both countries as well as global trade, Xi said.

"China does not want to see this," he said, according to Xinhua.

"The economic teams of the two countries should strengthen contact, conduct consultations on issues of mutual concern, and push for a mutually acceptable solution to China-US economic and trade issues," Xi said.

Washington and Beijing are in an increasingly high-stakes standoff over Trump's aggressive move to end what he says have been years of unfair trade practices by China, including rampant intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers and market access barriers.

Trump imposed new tariffs on roughly half of Chinese imports this summer while Beijing fired back with tariffs on most US products.

Trump said he and Xi also had "a good discussion on North Korea."

The US leader wants to maintain United Nations sanctions and pressure to compel Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme, even as he prepares for a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Xi said the situation on the Korean peninsula has "undergone positive changes."

"It is hoped that the United States and (North Korea) will take care of each other's concerns and further advance the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," he said, adding that "China will continue to play a constructive role."

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he had "very good" talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the trade conflict between the two economic giants, and meetings were being planned at the G20 summit at the end of this month.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he had "very good" talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the trade conflict between the two economic giants, and meetings were being planned at the G20 summit at the end of this month. The phone call comes as tensions between the world's two biggest economies are rising on several fronts, including commerce and security. "Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade," Trump tweeted. Trump said trade talks were "moving along nicely" and that meetings were "being scheduled" at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires. Xi said he was "very happy" to talk to Trump again and attaches "great importance to good relations with the president", according to China's official Xinhua news agency. The Chinese president also said he would like to meet Trump at the G20. Disagreements on trade have "adversely affected" industries from both countries as well as global trade, Xi said. "China does not want to see this," he said, according to Xinhua. "The economic teams of the two countries should strengthen contact, conduct consultations on issues of mutual concern, and push for a mutually acceptable solution to China-US economic and trade issues," Xi said. Washington and Beijing are in an increasingly high-stakes standoff over Trump's aggressive move to end what he says have been years of unfair trade practices by China, including rampant intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers and market access barriers. Trump imposed new tariffs on roughly half of Chinese imports this summer while Beijing fired back with tariffs on most US products. Trump said he and Xi also had "a good discussion on North Korea." The US leader wants to maintain United Nations sanctions and pressure to compel Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme, even as he prepares for a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Xi said the situation on the Korean peninsula has "undergone positive changes." "It is hoped that the United States and (North Korea) will take care of each other's concerns and further advance the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," he said, adding that "China will continue to play a constructive role."

Trump, Xi eye G20 talks after 'very good' phone call

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday discussed overcapacity in world steel markets and agreed to work on solutions within the framework of the G20 group of industrialised nations, Merkel`s spokesman said.

The two leaders emphasised close ties between the two countries, which are both facing planned U.S. steel and aluminium tariffs, and agreed to deepen the strategic partnership between them, Steffen Seibert said in a statement.

He said Merkel invited the Chinese government to visit Berlin for consultations, and Xi invited Merkel to visit China. They also discussed the current situation in North Korea regarding its nuclear and missile development efforts.&nbsp;

The two leaders emphasised close ties between the two countries

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday discussed overcapacity in world steel markets and agreed to work on solutions within the framework of the G20 group of industrialised nations, Merkel`s spokesman said. The two leaders emphasised close ties between the two countries, which are both facing planned U.S. steel and aluminium tariffs, and agreed to deepen the strategic partnership between them, Steffen Seibert said in a statement. He said Merkel invited the Chinese government to visit Berlin for consultations, and Xi invited Merkel to visit China. They also discussed the current situation in North Korea regarding its nuclear and missile development efforts.

Merkel, Xi agree to work on steel overcapacity within G20

Japan&#39;s Finance Minister, Taro Aso, may skip the G20 meeting to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina next week. Finance leaders from 20 nations will gather at Argentina&#39;s capital city among leaders from across the world.&nbsp;

Aso&#39;s uncertainty on attending the meeting looms in the wake of a cronyism scandal that has paralysed the parliamentary undertakings in the country. Masatsugu Asakawa, Japan&#39;s top financial diplomat, would attend the G20 meeting instead.

Premier Shinzo Abe and Aso, who is his close ally, are under pressure after the finance ministry announced that it had altered records of a discounted sale of state-owned land to a school operator with ties to Abe&#39;s wife.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Masatsugu Asakawa, Japan's top financial diplomat, would attend the G20 meeting instead

Japan's Finance Minister, Taro Aso, may skip the G20 meeting to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina next week. Finance leaders from 20 nations will gather at Argentina's capital city among leaders from across the world. Aso's uncertainty on attending the meeting looms in the wake of a cronyism scandal that has paralysed the parliamentary undertakings in the country. Masatsugu Asakawa, Japan's top financial diplomat, would attend the G20 meeting instead. Premier Shinzo Abe and Aso, who is his close ally, are under pressure after the finance ministry announced that it had altered records of a discounted sale of state-owned land to a school operator with ties to Abe's wife. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid cronyism scandal, Japan's Finance Minister to skip G20 meeting

Trump was out of sync with the leaders of Western countries at the G20, but showed a close fondness for Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;

Trump was the only leader of the world&#39;s major economies to reverse&nbsp;his country&#39;s pledge to&nbsp;achieve&nbsp;the climate goals set out in the Paris climate accord, which the 19 other countries called &quot;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/08/world/europe/group-of-20-climate-change-agreement.html" target="_blank">irreversible</a>&quot;.

Trump and Putin said they look forward to working together on cybersecurity, even though multiple US intelligence agencies say Russia launched a broad cyber campaign against the United States&nbsp;to interfere&nbsp;with the 2016 election, with the specific aim to get Trump elected.

Trump emerged from the G20 saying he &quot;accepted&quot; Putin&#39;s claim that Russia did not interfere in the election.&nbsp;

The US president tweeted today (June 9) that Putin &quot;vehemently denied&quot; interfering in the presidential election.

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I strongly pressed President Putin twice about Russian meddling in our election. He vehemently denied it. I&#39;ve already given my opinion.....
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/884012097805406208">July 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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...We negotiated a ceasefire in parts of Syria which will save lives. Now it is time to move forward in working constructively with Russia!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/884013689736769536">July 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Putin &amp; I discussed forming an impenetrable Cyber Security unit so that election hacking, &amp; many other negative things, will be guarded..
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/884016887692234753">July 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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...and safe. Questions were asked about why the CIA &amp; FBI had to ask the DNC 13 times for their SERVER, and were rejected, still don&#39;t....
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/884018776391503872">July 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

This comes even though on June 26, 2017, he posted a Tweet in which he appears to accept that there was in fact Russian meddling in the US election. However, he blamed Obama, not Russia, for it.

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The real story is that President Obama did NOTHING after being informed in August about Russian meddling. With 4 months looking at Russia...
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/879323238425395200">June 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Trump&#39;s position also appeared in contrast to that of Haley&#39;s position who said on Sunday that &quot;everybody knows&quot; Russia meddled in the 2016 elections and now they were trying to &quot;save &nbsp;face&quot;.

Defending Trump, Haley said Trump confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin on the election meddling at the G20

&quot;What I understand is that President Trump let them know that, look, we know you did this (meddled in US elections), and cut it out. And President Putin is never going to admit that they did it. And so they have to come back and they have to defend themselves,&quot; Nikki Haley told CNN.

&quot;This is Russia trying to save face. And they can&#39;t. They can&#39;t. Everybody knows that Russia meddled in our elections. Everybody knows that they&#39;re not just meddling in the United States&#39; election. They&#39;re doing this across multiple continents, and they&#39;re doing this in a way that they&#39;re trying to cause chaos within the countries,&quot; she said.

This comes just as the Washington Post reported that&nbsp;Russian government hackers have penetrated energy and nuclear company business networks.

Trump also made a peace deal with Russia regarding Syria which, as the Daily Beast summarises:&nbsp;Will leave dictator Bashar al-Assad in power, who, this April, Trump said &quot;needed to go&quot; because of his alleged chemical weapons attacks on his own people. The deal will permits the idea of &quot;safe zones&quot; proposed by Russia and its backers, and it depends on cooperation from Moscow, including the use of Russian troops to patrol parts of the country.

Basic Russia-Trump background coming in to G20

Highly anticipated was Trump&#39;s first meeting as president with Vladimit Putin. Media outlets have&nbsp;stated it is their first meeting together, but more precisely it is definitely the first time Trump has met Putin as US president;&nbsp;it is not exactly&nbsp;clear that they have never met.&nbsp;

Donald Trump has given many different accounts of his&nbsp;relationship with Putin, saying &quot;I have never met Putin&quot; on one occassion and &quot;I don&#39;t think I&#39;ve ever met him&quot; on another. He has claimed adamently he &quot;has no relationship with Putin&quot;, and, in 2013, when asked if he has a relationship with Putin said &quot;I do have a relationship&quot;.&nbsp;On&nbsp;one occassion he&nbsp;said &quot;I was in Moscow recently, and I spoke indirectly and directly with President Putin&quot;.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3VjpE3Z1-bw" width="560"></iframe>

There are currently several ongoing investiations into Donald Trump and his administration&#39;s links to Russia.

The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/CATCH-UP-Where-we-are-and-whats-next-for-all-the-Trump-Russia-investigations/articleshow/59084422.cms" target="_blank">Justice Department</a> has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counselor to&nbsp;lead the DOJ investigation into &quot;any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump.&quot;

Mueller is also leading a&nbsp;criminal investigation to see if&nbsp;obstruction of justice, witness intimidation or perjury&nbsp;were committed by anyone involved in his other investigation, including President Trump.

The Senate And House Intelligence Committee is also investigating Trump&#39;s administration&#39;s connection to Russia.

So is the Senate Judiciary and also the House Oversight and Government Reform Committees are also investigating Trump and Russia.

Trump split with US intel by accepting Putin's claim Russia didn't interfere in the US election, then pledged to work with Russia on cybersecurity

Trump was out of sync with the leaders of Western countries at the G20, but showed a close fondness for Vladimir Putin. Trump was the only leader of the world's major economies to reverse his country's pledge to achieve the climate goals set out in the Paris climate accord, which the 19 other countries called "irreversible". Trump and Putin said they look forward to working together on cybersecurity, even though multiple US intelligence agencies say Russia launched a broad cyber campaign against the United States to interfere with the 2016 election, with the specific aim to get Trump elected. Trump emerged from the G20 saying he "accepted" Putin's claim that Russia did not interfere in the election. The US president tweeted today (June 9) that Putin "vehemently denied" interfering in the presidential election. I strongly pressed President Putin twice about Russian meddling in our election. He vehemently denied it. I've already given my opinion..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017 × ...We negotiated a ceasefire in parts of Syria which will save lives. Now it is time to move forward in working constructively with Russia! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017 × Putin & I discussed forming an impenetrable Cyber Security unit so that election hacking, & many other negative things, will be guarded.. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017 × ...and safe. Questions were asked about why the CIA & FBI had to ask the DNC 13 times for their SERVER, and were rejected, still don't.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017 × This comes even though on June 26, 2017, he posted a Tweet in which he appears to accept that there was in fact Russian meddling in the US election. However, he blamed Obama, not Russia, for it. The real story is that President Obama did NOTHING after being informed in August about Russian meddling. With 4 months looking at Russia... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2017 × Trump's position also appeared in contrast to that of Haley's position who said on Sunday that "everybody knows" Russia meddled in the 2016 elections and now they were trying to "save face". Defending Trump, Haley said Trump confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin on the election meddling at the G20 "What I understand is that President Trump let them know that, look, we know you did this (meddled in US elections), and cut it out. And President Putin is never going to admit that they did it. And so they have to come back and they have to defend themselves," Nikki Haley told CNN. "This is Russia trying to save face. And they can't. They can't. Everybody knows that Russia meddled in our elections. Everybody knows that they're not just meddling in the United States' election. They're doing this across multiple continents, and they're doing this in a way that they're trying to cause chaos within the countries," she said. This comes just as the Washington Post reported that Russian government hackers have penetrated energy and nuclear company business networks. Trump also made a peace deal with Russia regarding Syria which, as the Daily Beast summarises: Will leave dictator Bashar al-Assad in power, who, this April, Trump said "needed to go" because of his alleged chemical weapons attacks on his own people. The deal will permits the idea of "safe zones" proposed by Russia and its backers, and it depends on cooperation from Moscow, including the use of Russian troops to patrol parts of the country. Basic Russia-Trump background coming in to G20 Highly anticipated was Trump's first meeting as president with Vladimit Putin. Media outlets have stated it is their first meeting together, but more precisely it is definitely the first time Trump has met Putin as US president; it is not exactly clear that they have never met. Donald Trump has given many different accounts of his relationship with Putin, saying "I have never met Putin" on one occassion and "I don't think I've ever met him" on another. He has claimed adamently he "has no relationship with Putin", and, in 2013, when asked if he has a relationship with Putin said "I do have a relationship". On one occassion he said "I was in Moscow recently, and I spoke indirectly and directly with President Putin". There are currently several ongoing investiations into Donald Trump and his administration's links to Russia. The Justice Department has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counselor to lead the DOJ investigation into "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump." Mueller is also leading a criminal investigation to see if obstruction of justice, witness intimidation or perjury were committed by anyone involved in his other investigation, including President Trump. The Senate And House Intelligence Committee is also investigating Trump's administration's connection to Russia. So is the Senate Judiciary and also the House Oversight and Government Reform Committees are also investigating Trump and Russia.

Trump abandons Western countries at G20, sidles up to Putin

For a moment Saturday the United States was represented by another Trump on the world stage, when the president&#39;s daughter Ivanka took a seat among a table of G20 leaders in Germany.

The 35-year-old former fashion model sat down next to Xi Jinping, Angela Merkel and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Hamburg, diplomats and the White House confirmed.

The incident&nbsp;fuelled allegations of nepotism against the US leader, who has put family members in top White House positions.

A White House official told AFP that Ivanka had been at the back of the room but &quot;briefly joined the main table when the president had to step out.&quot;

The official emphasised that &quot;when other leaders stepped out, their seats were also briefly filled by others.&quot;&nbsp;

Merkel also sought to play down the case, saying that it is &quot;in line with what other delegations do&quot;.&nbsp;

But Trump&#39;s already vociferous detractors were enraged.

Historian Anne Applebaum took to Twitter to denounce what she described &quot;an unelected, unqualified, unprepared New York socialite&quot; being seen as &quot;the best person to represent American national interests.&quot;

Ivanka&#39;s participation came to light when a Russian official, Svetlana Lukash tweeted a picture of Ivanka at the main table of the summit in Hamburg, surrounded by world leaders.

&quot;And replaces Pres Trump at the G20 table as he leaves for bilateral meetings&quot; she said.

&quot;It&#39;s nothing unusual for an advisor to sit up front,&quot; said one diplomat on condition of anonymity, &quot;we have had it before.&quot;

&nbsp;&#39;She&#39;s a champion&#39;&nbsp;

Earlier in the day Trump had waxed lyrical about his daughter before a bevy of world leaders, gathered to boost a fund designed to encourage female entrepreneurs.

&quot;I&#39;m very proud of my daughter, Ivanka -- always have been, from day one -- I had to tell you that, from day one,&quot; Trump said before Canada&#39;s Justin Trudeau and Australia&#39;s Malcom Turnbull.&nbsp;

&quot;She&#39;s always been great,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;A champion.&nbsp;She&#39;s a champion.&quot;

Trump then prompted some nervous laughter when he mused about whether he had made her life more difficult.&nbsp;

&quot;If she weren&#39;t my daughter, it would be so much easier for her. Might be the only bad thing she has going, if you want to know the truth.&quot;

Ivanka was given the official title of &quot;First Daughter and Advisor to the President&quot; early in the adminstration, amid outcry that an unofficial role exempted her from ethics rules.

Her husband -- Trump&#39;s son-in-law -- is assistant to the president and senior advisor, a top White House role. Neither of the two take a salary.

Just a few weeks ago Ivanka professed to want to avoid getting involved in politics.

While unusual, it is not unheard of for presidential kin to play a role in policy making. Bill Clinton&#39;s wife Hillary worked on health care reform and Rosalynn Carter sat in on cabinet meetings.

Ivanka sat down next to? Xi Jinping, Angela Merkel and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Hamburg

For a moment Saturday the United States was represented by another Trump on the world stage, when the president's daughter Ivanka took a seat among a table of G20 leaders in Germany. The 35-year-old former fashion model sat down next to Xi Jinping, Angela Merkel and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Hamburg, diplomats and the White House confirmed. The incident fuelled allegations of nepotism against the US leader, who has put family members in top White House positions. A White House official told AFP that Ivanka had been at the back of the room but "briefly joined the main table when the president had to step out." The official emphasised that "when other leaders stepped out, their seats were also briefly filled by others." Merkel also sought to play down the case, saying that it is "in line with what other delegations do". But Trump's already vociferous detractors were enraged. Historian Anne Applebaum took to Twitter to denounce what she described "an unelected, unqualified, unprepared New York socialite" being seen as "the best person to represent American national interests." Ivanka's participation came to light when a Russian official, Svetlana Lukash tweeted a picture of Ivanka at the main table of the summit in Hamburg, surrounded by world leaders. "And replaces Pres Trump at the G20 table as he leaves for bilateral meetings" she said. "It's nothing unusual for an advisor to sit up front," said one diplomat on condition of anonymity, "we have had it before." 'She's a champion' Earlier in the day Trump had waxed lyrical about his daughter before a bevy of world leaders, gathered to boost a fund designed to encourage female entrepreneurs. "I'm very proud of my daughter, Ivanka -- always have been, from day one -- I had to tell you that, from day one," Trump said before Canada's Justin Trudeau and Australia's Malcom Turnbull. "She's always been great," he said. "A champion. She's a champion." Trump then prompted some nervous laughter when he mused about whether he had made her life more difficult. "If she weren't my daughter, it would be so much easier for her. Might be the only bad thing she has going, if you want to know the truth." Ivanka was given the official title of "First Daughter and Advisor to the President" early in the adminstration, amid outcry that an unofficial role exempted her from ethics rules. Her husband -- Trump's son-in-law -- is assistant to the president and senior advisor, a top White House role. Neither of the two take a salary. Just a few weeks ago Ivanka professed to want to avoid getting involved in politics. While unusual, it is not unheard of for presidential kin to play a role in policy making. Bill Clinton's wife Hillary worked on health care reform and Rosalynn Carter sat in on cabinet meetings.

Ivanka sits in for President Trump at G20

As G-20 leaders continued their Summit discussions for the second day here today, US President Donald Trump today walked up to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for &quot;an impromptu interaction&quot;. 
 
NITI Ayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya, sherpa for India at the Summit, tweeted about the &quot;interaction&quot;, along with pictures of the two leaders and others just before start of the second day of working sessions of the G-20 Summit ending today. 
 
&quot;In an impromptu interaction at the G-20 Summit, POTUS (President of the US) waves to the PM, walks to him, other leaders gather around. Gr8 moments,&quot; Panagariya tweeted. He described the interaction as &quot;great moments&quot;.

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In an impromptu interaction at G20 Summit, POTUS waves to the PM, walks to him, other leaders gather around. Gr8 moments <a href="https://t.co/LzvLlfqaB2">pic.twitter.com/LzvLlfqaB2</a>
&mdash; Arvind Panagariya (@APanagariya) <a href="https://twitter.com/APanagariya/status/883612945854365696">July 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

 
Panagariya, also the vice-chairman of government think- tank Niti Aayog, is representing India in the negotiations for the leaders&#39; communique. 
 
Besides a series of bilateral meetings, Modi had brief chats with various leaders at the Summit, including with IMF chief Christine Lagarde and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

US President Trump and Indian PM Modi seem to be at ease in each other's company at the G-20 summit

As G-20 leaders continued their Summit discussions for the second day here today, US President Donald Trump today walked up to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "an impromptu interaction". NITI Ayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya, sherpa for India at the Summit, tweeted about the "interaction", along with pictures of the two leaders and others just before start of the second day of working sessions of the G-20 Summit ending today. "In an impromptu interaction at the G-20 Summit, POTUS (President of the US) waves to the PM, walks to him, other leaders gather around. Gr8 moments," Panagariya tweeted. He described the interaction as "great moments". In an impromptu interaction at G20 Summit, POTUS waves to the PM, walks to him, other leaders gather around. Gr8 moments pic.twitter.com/LzvLlfqaB2 — Arvind Panagariya (@APanagariya) July 8, 2017 × Panagariya, also the vice-chairman of government think- tank Niti Aayog, is representing India in the negotiations for the leaders' communique. Besides a series of bilateral meetings, Modi had brief chats with various leaders at the Summit, including with IMF chief Christine Lagarde and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Trump walks up to Modi for 'impromptu' chat at G-20 Summit

The United States, Russia and Jordan have reached a crucial ceasefire and &quot;de-escalation agreement&quot;&nbsp;in southwestern Syria, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said on Friday.

Tillerson announced the deal after a meeting&nbsp;between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg.&nbsp;

The ceasefire&nbsp;goes into effect on Sunday,&nbsp;Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who was also present at the meeting, said.&nbsp;

Tillerson said the area covered by the ceasefire affects Jordan&rsquo;s security and is a &ldquo;very complicated part of the Syrian battlefield&rdquo;.

&ldquo;It is (a) well-defined agreement on who will secure this area,&rdquo; he told the media,&nbsp;

Prior to leaving for the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, Tillerson had said the US was prepared to discuss joint&nbsp;efforts with Russia in order to stabilise the situation in Syria,&nbsp;

(with inputs from Reuters)

&nbsp;

The United States, Russia and Jordan have brokered a crucial ceasefire deal in southwest Syria that goes into effect on Sunday

The United States, Russia and Jordan have reached a crucial ceasefire and "de-escalation agreement" in southwestern Syria, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said on Friday. Tillerson announced the deal after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg. The ceasefire goes into effect on Sunday, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who was also present at the meeting, said. Tillerson said the area covered by the ceasefire affects Jordan’s security and is a “very complicated part of the Syrian battlefield”. “It is (a) well-defined agreement on who will secure this area,” he told the media, Prior to leaving for the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, Tillerson had said the US was prepared to discuss joint efforts with Russia in order to stabilise the situation in Syria, (with inputs from Reuters)

US, Russia and Jordan reach ceasefire deal for southwest Syria

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday he had not given up on trying to get US counterpart Donald Trump to change his mind about withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate change agreement.

The final statement from the Group of 20 leaders meeting in Hamburg on Saturday exposed the divide that remains between the United States and other G20 members on the 2015 Paris accord aimed at combating climate change.

But Macron also said he would host a summit on December&nbsp;12 to move the Paris deal forward.

&quot;On Dec. 12, two years after the Paris (climate) agreement, I will, therefore, convene a summit to take further action on climate, notably on the financial front,&quot; Macron told reporters.

He said that the summit would aim to mobilise private and public financing for the projects committed to under the Paris agreement.

Asked if he was trying to persuade Trump to change his mind on the climate deal, Macro said: &quot;I never despair to convince, because I think it is a duty, given my position, and it is a trait of my character&quot;.

Macron and Trump met during the G20 summit in Hamburg and Trump will travel to France for the Bastille Day military parade on July 14.

?Macron?said he would host a summit on December?12 to move the Paris deal forward.The summit would aim to mobilise private and public financing for the projects committed to under the Paris agreement

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday he had not given up on trying to get US counterpart Donald Trump to change his mind about withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate change agreement. The final statement from the Group of 20 leaders meeting in Hamburg on Saturday exposed the divide that remains between the United States and other G20 members on the 2015 Paris accord aimed at combating climate change. But Macron also said he would host a summit on December 12 to move the Paris deal forward. "On Dec. 12, two years after the Paris (climate) agreement, I will, therefore, convene a summit to take further action on climate, notably on the financial front," Macron told reporters. He said that the summit would aim to mobilise private and public financing for the projects committed to under the Paris agreement. Asked if he was trying to persuade Trump to change his mind on the climate deal, Macro said: "I never despair to convince, because I think it is a duty, given my position, and it is a trait of my character". Macron and Trump met during the G20 summit in Hamburg and Trump will travel to France for the Bastille Day military parade on July 14.

Macron says will continue to press Trump on Paris climate accord

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