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| G8 leaders 'hopeful on economy' | G8 leaders 'hopeful on economy' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Leaders of the major industrial powers, the G8, say there are signs of stabilisation in the world economy but warned that "significant risks remain". | Leaders of the major industrial powers, the G8, say there are signs of stabilisation in the world economy but warned that "significant risks remain". |
| The statement came as the International Monetary Fund said the world economy was beginning to pull out of recession. | The statement came as the International Monetary Fund said the world economy was beginning to pull out of recession. |
| The G8 summit is being held in the town of L'Aquila, Italy, where nearly 300 people died in an earthquake in April. | The G8 summit is being held in the town of L'Aquila, Italy, where nearly 300 people died in an earthquake in April. |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said later on Wednesday that the summit has agreed tough new carbon emissions cuts. | |
| He said the G8 had agreed it would cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 with the rest of the world committed to a 50% cut over the same period. | |
| Mr Brown said the G8 would try to prevent global average temperatures rising more than 2C above pre-industrial levels. | |
| The summit agenda is also expected to include food security, North Korea and Iran. | |
| The area where the three-day summit is being held is still suffering aftershocks and an evacuation plan is in place in case a serious tremor should hit. See a map of summit venues | The area where the three-day summit is being held is still suffering aftershocks and an evacuation plan is in place in case a serious tremor should hit. See a map of summit venues |
| Security is also tight and at least 36 protesters have already been arrested. | Security is also tight and at least 36 protesters have already been arrested. |
| US President Barack Obama arrived on Wednesday, as did British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. | US President Barack Obama arrived on Wednesday, as did British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| G8 KEY ISSUES/TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY: Economy1045 GMT - leaders arrive in L'Aquila1100 GMT - first session | G8 KEY ISSUES/TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY: Economy1045 GMT - leaders arrive in L'Aquila1100 GMT - first session |
| THURSDAY: Climate ChangeBrazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, Egypt join talks1230 GMT - Junior G81300 GMT - Major Economies Forum meetingFRIDAY: International Development0630 GMT - crisis' impact on Africa with African leaders attending0830 GMT - food security1100 GMT - final news conferenceG8 members: Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, US At a glance: summit agenda Mr Berlusconi's G8 Party | THURSDAY: Climate ChangeBrazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, Egypt join talks1230 GMT - Junior G81300 GMT - Major Economies Forum meetingFRIDAY: International Development0630 GMT - crisis' impact on Africa with African leaders attending0830 GMT - food security1100 GMT - final news conferenceG8 members: Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, US At a glance: summit agenda Mr Berlusconi's G8 Party |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev flew in fresh from talks with Mr Obama in Moscow in which they agreed a framework for new nuclear weapons cuts. | |
| The leaders of France, Canada and Japan are also attending, along with EU representatives. | The leaders of France, Canada and Japan are also attending, along with EU representatives. |
| But Hu Jintao, China's president, cancelled plans to attend the summit and address G8 leaders, instead flying back to Beijing amid continuing unrest in China's western region of Xinjiang. | But Hu Jintao, China's president, cancelled plans to attend the summit and address G8 leaders, instead flying back to Beijing amid continuing unrest in China's western region of Xinjiang. |
| The summit opened with a working lunch for the leaders, but a draft declaration was already circulating amongst journalists covering the talks. | The summit opened with a working lunch for the leaders, but a draft declaration was already circulating amongst journalists covering the talks. |
| On the world economy it said: "While there are signs of stabilisation, including recovery in stock markets ... the situation remains uncertain and significant risks remain to economic and financial stability." | |
| Other points reported to be in the draft communique include: | |
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| The statement echoed an assessment by the IMF on Wednesday which said the world economy was beginning to pull out of recession, but recovery was likely to be uneven and sluggish. | The statement echoed an assessment by the IMF on Wednesday which said the world economy was beginning to pull out of recession, but recovery was likely to be uneven and sluggish. |
| The IMF says problems in financial markets and banks remain, and developed economies are unlikely to resume growth until the second half of next year. | The IMF says problems in financial markets and banks remain, and developed economies are unlikely to resume growth until the second half of next year. |
| On climate change, an EU official told AFP news agency that the G8 had dropped a pledge to cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050. | On climate change, an EU official told AFP news agency that the G8 had dropped a pledge to cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050. |
| "There is a very strong commitment to identify the global goal for substantially reducing global emissions by 2050, but there is no 50%," the official said. | "There is a very strong commitment to identify the global goal for substantially reducing global emissions by 2050, but there is no 50%," the official said. |
| G8 leaders are under pressure to get closer to a new deal on climate change management ahead of a crucial meeting in Copenhagen in December. | G8 leaders are under pressure to get closer to a new deal on climate change management ahead of a crucial meeting in Copenhagen in December. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe "global warming" myth has been completely debunked by many leading academics, yet many, politicians believe it for their own purposes.William Read, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThe "global warming" myth has been completely debunked by many leading academics, yet many, politicians believe it for their own purposes.William Read, UK Send us your comments |
| Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi moved the summit to L'Aquila to show solidarity with the victims of April's earthquake. | Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi moved the summit to L'Aquila to show solidarity with the victims of April's earthquake. |
| He took Mrs Merkel on a tour of Onna, a nearby village almost flattened by the quake, and Mr Obama was later given a tour of L'Aquila. | |
| Germany has pledged to help rebuild the church in Onna as a symbol of reconciliation for a massacre of 17 villagers by German troops in 1944. | Germany has pledged to help rebuild the church in Onna as a symbol of reconciliation for a massacre of 17 villagers by German troops in 1944. |
| "The world has changed. We have become friends with the people (of Onna) and Germany can help," Mrs Merkel said. | "The world has changed. We have become friends with the people (of Onna) and Germany can help," Mrs Merkel said. |
| Mr Berlusconi may also be hoping to use the summit to put his domestic troubles behind him. His wife has filed for divorce and he has faced myriad accusations about wild parties and relations with young women and prostitutes. | Mr Berlusconi may also be hoping to use the summit to put his domestic troubles behind him. His wife has filed for divorce and he has faced myriad accusations about wild parties and relations with young women and prostitutes. |
| Officials will also be hoping for more positive headlines than when Italy hosted the G8 in Genoa in 2001. That summit was marred by violent protests and police faced charges of brutality and misconduct. | Officials will also be hoping for more positive headlines than when Italy hosted the G8 in Genoa in 2001. That summit was marred by violent protests and police faced charges of brutality and misconduct. |
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| Inside the G8 nerve centre | Inside the G8 nerve centre |
| But on Tuesday, police in Rome said they had arrested 36 people after masked protesters blocked roads, threw objects and set fire to tyres. | But on Tuesday, police in Rome said they had arrested 36 people after masked protesters blocked roads, threw objects and set fire to tyres. |
| On Wednesday, dozens of protesters occupied four coal power plants in different regions of Italy, demanding tougher measures from G8 leaders in fighting climate change, Greenpeace said. | On Wednesday, dozens of protesters occupied four coal power plants in different regions of Italy, demanding tougher measures from G8 leaders in fighting climate change, Greenpeace said. |
| International political issues like the Iranian election aftermath, the Middle East, nuclear weapons and terrorism will also feature in talks. | International political issues like the Iranian election aftermath, the Middle East, nuclear weapons and terrorism will also feature in talks. |
| African leaders will join the three-day summit on Friday to push for a new initiative to fund farming in the developing world and tackle global hunger. | African leaders will join the three-day summit on Friday to push for a new initiative to fund farming in the developing world and tackle global hunger. |
| The financial crisis has had a severe impact in some developing countries and campaign groups say it makes it all the more important for the G8 to live up to earlier commitments to increase aid, the BBC's Andrew Walker in L'Aquila says. | The financial crisis has had a severe impact in some developing countries and campaign groups say it makes it all the more important for the G8 to live up to earlier commitments to increase aid, the BBC's Andrew Walker in L'Aquila says. |
| LOCATION OF 2009 G8 SUMMIT L' Aquila was at the epicentre of a major earthquake that hit the Italian region of Abruzzo on 6 April this year. The G8 summit is being held at the Guardia di Finanza non-commissioned officers' school. This was where the funeral of the earthquake victims took place and also the HQ of the department co-ordinating emergency work. The barracks comprise more than 50 buildings. World leaders are staying in the officers' quarters and more than 2,400 journalists are housed in a "media village". April's earthquake damaged several medieval buildings, including the church of Santa Maria di Collemaggio. A statue of the Virgin Mary and Child (pictured) recovered from the church is on display at the G8 venue among other works of art affected by the quake. | LOCATION OF 2009 G8 SUMMIT L' Aquila was at the epicentre of a major earthquake that hit the Italian region of Abruzzo on 6 April this year. The G8 summit is being held at the Guardia di Finanza non-commissioned officers' school. This was where the funeral of the earthquake victims took place and also the HQ of the department co-ordinating emergency work. The barracks comprise more than 50 buildings. World leaders are staying in the officers' quarters and more than 2,400 journalists are housed in a "media village". April's earthquake damaged several medieval buildings, including the church of Santa Maria di Collemaggio. A statue of the Virgin Mary and Child (pictured) recovered from the church is on display at the G8 venue among other works of art affected by the quake. |
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