G20 summit: Macron and Saudi crown prince in extraordinary exchange over Khashoggi murder and Yemen
Two-day summit intended to focus on development, infrastructure and food security
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Your support makes all the difference.The G20 Summit in Argentina kicked off with world leaders huddling on the sidelines to discuss their response to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was seen discussing the death with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who appeared to be ignored during the group’s official “family photo” portrait session.
Meanwhile, confusion remains over whether Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will meet during the summit.
See the latest updates in our live blog below
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The president kicked off Friday morning with a series of angry tweets after the White House reaffirmed he had cancelled an expected discussion with Mr Putin, despite the Kremlin claiming otherwise.
“Oh, I get it! I am a very good developer, happily living my life, when I see our Country going in the wrong direction (to put it mildly). Against all odds, I decide to run for President & continue to run my business-very legal & very cool, talked about it on the campaign trail...,” he tweeted.
“....Lightly looked at doing a building somewhere in Russia. Put up zero money, zero guarantees and didn’t do the project. Witch Hunt!”
Reports suggest Mr Trump is in a “terrible mood” and “completely distracted” as he headed to the event.
The president responded to news of Mr Cohen’s plea deal by saying he was a “weak person and not a very smart person.”
Mr Trump will be having a number of meetings at the summit in Buenos Aires starting the day at 6.50am local time and finishing 10.10pm. He said on Thursday he had cancelled a meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, due to the country’s conflict with Ukraine.
The president has downgraded a number of his bilateral meetings as he feels “there’s nothing in them for him”, according to CNN.
Issues such as the trade war between the US and China and the conflict over Ukraine are likely to dominate the agenda.
Ahead of the summit Mr Trump said current tariff levels on Chinese imports would rise as planned.
The summit is being held in South America for the first time and Michael Shifter, head of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based think tank, said G20 summits wer once considered an opportunity for Latin American members Argentina, Brazil and Mexico to shape the global agenda.
“That turned out to be a fleeting aspiration,” Mr Shifter said.
“...Argentine president Mauricio Macri, the summit’s host, has lowered expectations. ... Now a success would be a summit meeting that goes smoothly, without any major disruption.”
French President Emmanuel Macron (L), the president of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker (2-L), Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (3-L, top), Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (2-R), and British Prime Minister Theresa May (bottom) meet for a working session (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP/Getty Images)
Diplomats from G20 countries are haggling over a final summit statement, with deep divisions over what language to use on the Paris climate accord and the World Trade Organization, according to two European officials involved in the discussions.
Facing the prospect of a no-statement summit, European delegations were trying to create a common front and may come out with their own separate declaration if they can't get the US or others on board.
European leaders were meeting in the morning at the summit venue in the Argentine capital to stake out common positions on trade, climate and the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Reports of an earthquake in Buenos Aires where the G20 summit is being held.
Wall Street was set to open lower on Friday as caution mounted ahead of a high-stakes US-China trade meeting at the G20 Summit, whose outcome would determine if the trade war that has roiled financial markets would abate or worsen.
President of Argentina Mauricio Macri greets Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman al-Saud upon his arrival to the opening day of Argentina G20 Leaders' Summit 2018 (Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)
Vladimir Putin at has denounced the "vicious" use of sanctions and trade protectionism while speaking at the G20 summit.
Donald Trump has apparently been "distracted" at the G20 summit today because his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, has admitted to lying to Congress about his alleged links to Russia.
What could it all mean for the president?
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo celebrated the revised trade pact between Canada, Mexico and the United States after leaders of the three nations signed the agreement.
“A big win for all the people of North America!” the secretary of state tweeted. “Pleased to witness @Potus at the historic signing of the #USMCA - it marks a great moment in our relations with #Canada & #Mexico.”
Saudi Arabia has announced it was conforming to the G20 agenda regarding the Sustainable Development Goals.
The country will reportedly aim to reach 200 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030, along with other renewable energy commitments, including localising the energy sector.
The government will also seek to increase women’s participation in the work force and increase life expectancy across the country by “promoting public health.”
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