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G8 summit to focus on tax, trade and transparency | G8 summit to focus on tax, trade and transparency |
(about 2 hours 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 and better access for aid. | |
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". |
His interview coincided with a White House announcement that the US would provide a further $300m (£190m) 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' |
To try to get as much consensus as possible on Syria, UK Prime Minister David Cameron hosted a working dinner on Monday night. The leaders were alone, with no officials present to witness the political showdown. | |
After the meeting, British officials suggested that an agreement had nearly been reached on a final communique on Syria. However, they said it would take more work on Tuesday to agree the precise language. | |
The communique is likely to back the launch of Syrian peace negotiations in Geneva, and insist that more humanitarian aid must be allowed in to all parts of Syria. | |
But the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says that what emerges may not be all that ambitious - and even then, it's far from certain that any agreement will change the appalling reality in Syria itself. | |
'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. |