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| G8 summit to focus on tax, trade and transparency | G8 summit to focus on tax, trade and transparency |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tax, trade and transparency are expected to dominate discussions on the second day of a summit of the G8 group of leading industrialised nations. | Tax, trade and transparency are expected to dominate discussions on the second day of a summit of the G8 group of leading industrialised nations. |
| The issues - dubbed "The Three Ts" - were placed at the top of the agenda by the UK for its presidency of the G8. | The issues - dubbed "The Three Ts" - were placed at the top of the agenda by the UK for its presidency of the G8. |
| Monday's meetings in Northern Ireland focused on the conflict in Syria. | Monday's meetings in Northern Ireland focused on the conflict in Syria. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin was pressed to agree a joint communique calling for peace talks and better access for aid or face isolation. | Russian President Vladimir Putin was pressed to agree a joint communique calling for peace talks and better access for aid or face isolation. |
| After talks with his US counterpart Barack Obama, both men acknowledged their differences but said they shared a common desire to stop the bloodshed. | After talks with his US counterpart Barack Obama, both men acknowledged their differences but said they shared a common desire to stop the bloodshed. |
| "Of course, our opinions don't coincide. But all of us want to stop the violence and we have agreed to push the parties to the negotiating table," Mr Putin told reporters. | "Of course, our opinions don't coincide. But all of us want to stop the violence and we have agreed to push the parties to the negotiating table," Mr Putin told reporters. |
| Mr Obama said they had instructed their teams to continue working towards hosting an international conference in Geneva that would aim to find a political solution to end the violence, which the UN says has left more than 93,000 people dead since March 2011. | Mr Obama said they had instructed their teams to continue working towards hosting an international conference in Geneva that would aim to find a political solution to end the violence, which the UN says has left more than 93,000 people dead since March 2011. |
| In an interview with US broadcaster PBS, Mr Obama emphasised that "we're not taking sides in a religious war between Shia and Sunni" but aiming instead for a "stable, non-sectarian, representative government". | In an interview with US broadcaster PBS, Mr Obama emphasised that "we're not taking sides in a religious war between Shia and Sunni" but aiming instead for a "stable, non-sectarian, representative government". |
| In his first direct remarks since the US said it would step up military support to Syrian rebels, he warned that anyone not involved in the detail might not understand "if you set up a no-fly zone, that you may not be actually solving the problem on the zone". | In his first direct remarks since the US said it would step up military support to Syrian rebels, he warned that anyone not involved in the detail might not understand "if you set up a no-fly zone, that you may not be actually solving the problem on the zone". |
| "We have to not rush into one more war in the Middle East." | "We have to not rush into one more war in the Middle East." |
| His interview coincided with a White House announcement that the US would provide a further $300m of humanitarian aid for Syrians - split between Syria itself, where more than 4.25 million people have been displaced, and neighbouring countries dealing with the 1.6 million refugees. | His interview coincided with a White House announcement that the US would provide a further $300m of humanitarian aid for Syrians - split between Syria itself, where more than 4.25 million people have been displaced, and neighbouring countries dealing with the 1.6 million refugees. |
| 'Ultimatum' | 'Ultimatum' |
| From the moment he arrived at the G8 summit, Russia's president surely knew the talks on Syria would be difficult, reports the BBC's Bridget Kendall at Lough Erne, County Fermanagh. | From the moment he arrived at the G8 summit, Russia's president surely knew the talks on Syria would be difficult, reports the BBC's Bridget Kendall at Lough Erne, County Fermanagh. |
| At a working dinner on Monday evening, he was more or less faced with an ultimatum - either join UK Prime Minister David Cameron and others in committing to peace talks and better access to humanitarian aid in Syria, or face being accused of blocking progress, our correspondent says. | At a working dinner on Monday evening, he was more or less faced with an ultimatum - either join UK Prime Minister David Cameron and others in committing to peace talks and better access to humanitarian aid in Syria, or face being accused of blocking progress, our correspondent says. |
| And Mr Putin, it seems, does not want to be a deal-breaker, she adds. | And Mr Putin, it seems, does not want to be a deal-breaker, she adds. |
| After the dinner, during which no officials were present, British officials suggested that an agreement appeared to be close on a final communique on Syria. However, they said it would take more work on Tuesday morning to agree the precise language. | After the dinner, during which no officials were present, British officials suggested that an agreement appeared to be close on a final communique on Syria. However, they said it would take more work on Tuesday morning to agree the precise language. |
| The hope is that if Russia chooses a form of unity rather than isolation, it could create a more positive climate in which to coax President Bashar al-Assad's government and opposition leaders in some form of negotiation. | |
| 'Biggest' trade deal | 'Biggest' trade deal |
| Another major issue that will be discussed by the Group of Eight - the UK, US, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Canada and Japan - on Tuesday is ensuring tax compliance. | Another major issue that will be discussed by the Group of Eight - the UK, US, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Canada and Japan - on Tuesday is ensuring tax compliance. |
| Mr Cameron has committed to making "fighting the scourge of tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance a priority". The UK has said it also wants to ensure anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures are effective, and help poorer countries collect tax revenues. | Mr Cameron has committed to making "fighting the scourge of tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance a priority". The UK has said it also wants to ensure anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures are effective, and help poorer countries collect tax revenues. |
| Another priority for the UK's presidency of the G8 is advancing trade. | Another priority for the UK's presidency of the G8 is advancing trade. |
| On Monday, the US and the European Union launched negotiations on what they said could be the "biggest bilateral trade deal in history". | On Monday, the US and the European Union launched negotiations on what they said could be the "biggest bilateral trade deal in history". |
| The EU said a deal would add 119bn euros (£100bn; $160bn) to the EU economy and 95bn euros for the US. | The EU said a deal would add 119bn euros (£100bn; $160bn) to the EU economy and 95bn euros for the US. |
| European Commission chairman Jose Manuel Barroso said it would create "huge economic benefits". Mr Obama said a deal was achievable and that he would make it a priority. | European Commission chairman Jose Manuel Barroso said it would create "huge economic benefits". Mr Obama said a deal was achievable and that he would make it a priority. |
| G8 leaders also want to promote greater transparency about the ownership of companies and land, and also about where money flows. | G8 leaders also want to promote greater transparency about the ownership of companies and land, and also about where money flows. |
| The UK says removing conflict and corruption, having the presence of property rights and strong institutions are vital for countries to move from poverty to wealth. | The UK says removing conflict and corruption, having the presence of property rights and strong institutions are vital for countries to move from poverty to wealth. |
| The G8 leaders are also scheduled on Tuesday to discuss counter-terrorism and the paying of ransoms to hostage-takers, and will be joined by the leaders of other countries, including Mexico and Ethiopia, for a working lunch before the final news conference in the afternoon. | The G8 leaders are also scheduled on Tuesday to discuss counter-terrorism and the paying of ransoms to hostage-takers, and will be joined by the leaders of other countries, including Mexico and Ethiopia, for a working lunch before the final news conference in the afternoon. |