World leaders wrap up meetings at G20 summit amid violent public protests in Hamburg

Hamburg: Leaders of the world’s top economic powers are wrapping up their search for common ground on trade, climate change and a host of other issues at the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg on Saturday, a meeting overshadowed by violent clashes between anti-globalisation activists and police. [caption id=“attachment_3789887” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Leaders discuss trade, climate change and other issues at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. AP[/caption] Saturday’s agenda features discussions on partnerships between the G20 and Africa, on migration and health. There is also a discussion on digitalisation, empowering women and unemployment. A key focus is on what formulations the G20 leaders find to set out their positions on global trade and climate change. The host, German chancellor Angela Merkel, said after the first day of meetings Friday that discussions on trade were very difficult and that differences on climate change were clear. Finding compromises is challenging at a time when President Donald Trump’s “America First” rhetoric and decision in June to withdraw from the Paris accord against climate change has caused widespread concern. Germany has been keen to preserve the G20’s tradition of making decisions by consensus. The G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, France, Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Also attending are the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Guinea, Senegal, Singapore and Vietnam. Saturday’s sessions come after a second night of trouble elsewhere in Hamburg, as rioters set up street barricades, looting supermarkets and attacking police with slingshots and firebombs. Hundreds of officers went into buildings in the Schanzenviertel neighborhood to arrest troublemakers.