Friday, June 25, 2010

FP morning brief 6/25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
World leaders gather in Toronto

Top news: World leaders are arriving in Canada today for the G8 and 20 summits, and differences on the preferred approach for addressing the global economic crisis are already apparent. Whereas U.S. President Barack Obama has urged countries not to pull back too quickly on their stimulus measures, the British, French, German, and Japanese have all unveiled new austerity measures in recent weeks.

British Prime Minister David Cameron downplayed the difference in approach on the flight to Toronto. "This weekend isn't about a row over fiscal policy. We all agree about the need for fiscal consolidation," he said. "This is about putting the world economy on an irreversible path to recovery."

Other hot-button issues, including sanctions on Iran and North Korea will also likely be discussed.

The G8 will meet first in Ontario's Muskoka lake region where they discuss increased support for child healthcare in the developing world and hold outreach meetings with seven African countries. They will reconvene with the rest of the G20 in Toronto this weekend.

The city of Toronto is bracing for the large protests that have become a staple of these high-level summits. Police have already arrested three suspects on weapons charges.

The Hellburger summit: After a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the White House and a lunch at Ray's Hellburger in Arlington, Va., Obama announced his support for Russia's entry into the WTO and a deal to resume U.S. chicken exports to Russia.

 
Asia and Pacific
Middle East
Africa
Europe
  • A bombing in Athens killed a close aid to Greece's counterterrorism minister.
  • A suspected Basque militant wanted for a string of car bombings was arrested in Northern Ireland.
  • A German court ruled that doctor assisted suicide is legal.
Americas
 
-By Joshua Keating
http://link.email.foreignpolicy.com/r/QFFRJ43/H9BI/W0FR/XFX9/C5XWB/ZH/h

DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/Getty Images

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