G7 leaders urge tough line on Russia at start of summit

G7 leaders urge tough line on Russia at start of summit

Sunday June 7th, 2015 at 11:09 AM

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KRUEN, Germany Leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations backed a tough line toward Moscow at the start of a summit in the Bavarian Alps, with U.S. President Barack Obamaurging the gathering to stand up to Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Host Angela Merkel greeted Obama in the idyllic Alpine village of Kruen under blue skies, surrounded by locals in traditional dress, drinking beer and eating white sausage and pretzels.

The German chancellor was hoping to secure commitments from her G7 guests to tackle global warming ahead of a major United Nations climate summit in Paris in December. The German agenda also foresees discussions on global health issues, from Ebola to antibiotics and tropical diseases.

But the crises in Ukraine and Greece seemed likely to overshadow the discussions at Schloss Elmau, a luxury Alpine hotel near the Austrian border.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking before the start of the summit, voiced exasperation with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who has dismissed the latest aid-for-reform proposal from international creditors as "absurd".

Athens is running out of cash and will default on its debt, a move that could end up pushing it out of the euro zone, if it fails to reach a deal with its European partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the coming weeks.

Juncker reaffirmed that a so-called "Grexit" was not an option being considered, but said this did not mean he could "pull a rabbit out of a hat" to prevent it.

RUSSIAN AGGRESSION

Obama said leaders would discuss the global economy, trade partnerships and "standing up to Russian aggression in Ukraine", as well as threats from violent extremism and climate change.

Both he and Merkel highlighted the importance of the German-American relationship, damaged in recent years by revelations of U.S. spying in Germany, including the bugging of the chancellor's mobile phone.

"My message to the German people is simple: We are grateful for your friendship, for your leadership," said Obama, using the traditional Bavarian greeting "Gruess Gott" with a crowd gathered in the village square in Kruen. "We stand together as inseparable allies in Europe and around the world."

Merkel alluded to "differences" but described the United States as "our friend" and an "essential partner".

British Prime Minister David Cameron and European Council President Donald Tusk both said they hoped the G7 would present a united front on sanctions toward Russia.

EU leaders agreed in March that sanctions imposed over Russia's intervention in Ukraine would stay until the Minsk ceasefire agreement was fully implemented, effectively extending them to the end of the year, but a formal decision has yet to be taken.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is known to be skeptical about sanctions and left-wing politicians in Germany have also called for them to be removed.

"If anyone wants to start a discussion about changing the sanctions regime, it could only be about strengthening it," said Tusk.

European monitors have blamed a recent upsurge in violence in eastern Ukraine on Russian-backed separatists. Russian President Vladimir Putin was frozen out of what used to be the G8 after Moscow's annexation of Crimea last year.

PROTESTS

Leaders and reporters were shuttled to the summit site by helicopter on Sunday morning as hundreds of protesters blocked the main road to Schloss Elmau.

On Saturday, thousands of anti-G7 protesters marched in the nearby town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. There were sporadic clashes with police and several marchers were taken to hospital with injuries, but the violence was minor compared to some previous summits.

Germany deployed 17,000 police around the former Winter Olympic games venue at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. Another 2,000 were on stand-by across the border in Austria.

In addition to climate and health issues, the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and European Union were due to discuss Islamist militant threats from groups such as Islamic State and Boko Haram. The leaders of Nigeria, Tunisia and Iraq were to join them later as part of an "outreach" group of non-G7 countries.

Merkel was likely to have her work cut out for her on the climate talks. She won plaudits in 2007 when she hosted a G8 meeting on the Baltic coast and convinced Obama's predecessor George W. Bush to join other leaders in pledging to fight global warming.

This time, she and Hollande, who will host the climate summit at the end of the year and is keen to generate some momentum for that in Bavaria, were facing resistance from Japan and Canada.

(Additional reporting by Paul Carrel, Paul Taylor, Michelle Martin, Andreas Rinke, Gernot Heller, Sabine Siebold; writing by Noah Barkin; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

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President Obama Kicks Off Germany Trip With Beer Ahead of G7 Summit

Sunday June 7th, 2015 at 11:06 AM

ABC News: Politics

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President Obama arrived in Germany today for the G-7 summit and quickly made his first public stop to share beer with the locals -- all before noon.

“When I first heard Angela was hosting the G-7 in Bavaria, I was hoping that it would fall during Oktoberfest, but then again there’s never a bad day for a beer and a weisswurst,” Obama said in Kruen, Germany, prior to his beer sampling. “I can’t think of a better place to come to celebrate the enduring friendship between the German and the American people.”

The president hoisted his beer as he drank and ate pretzels and sausage with locals dressed in traditional Bavarian costumes of lederhosen and dirndl.

The president arrived in the village to the sound of alp horns playing in the scenic town. His stop in Kruen was intended as a celebration of the strong ties between the U.S. and Germany.

Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo

US President Barack Obama, left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, second left partly hidden, greet people as they walk through Kruen, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, southern Germany, Sunday, June 7, 2015, before attending the G-7 summit.

“This morning, as we celebrate one of the strongest alliances the world has ever known, my message to the German people is simple: We are grateful for your friendship, for your leadership,” he said. “We stand together as inseparable allies in Europe and around the world.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who led the president on a tour of the village, echoed the sentiment.

“Although it is true we sometimes have differences of opinion today from time to time, but still the United States of America is our friend, our partner and an essential partner with whom we cooperate very closely,” she said.

The president also praised the German culture and even noted one souvenir he wants to pick up while in the country -- lederhosen.

“I have to admit I forgot to bring my lederhosen but I’ll see if I can buy some while I’m here," he said.

Obama is in Germany for two-days of meetings at the G-7 summit, where leaders will discuss the global economy, trade, terrorism and climate change. There will be particular emphasis on ISIS when Obama meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Monday.

Russia’s aggression in Ukraine will also be on the agenda as this will be the second year in a row that G-7 leaders are meeting without Russia. The president is expected to urge his colleagues to extend economic sanctions on Russia, a conversation European allies will have later this summer.

Obama will also discuss the ongoing Iran nuclear negotiations with Merkel and British Prime MinisterDavid Cameron.

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Saudi Supreme Court Upholds Verdict Against Liberal Blogger

Sunday June 7th, 2015 at 11:04 AM

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court upheld an internationally condemned verdict against a liberal blogger who was publicly flogged after being found guilty of insulting Islam, state-linked news websites reported Sunday.

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the sentence of Raif Badawi, a 31-year-old father of three who was lashed in January in a public square, is final and cannot be overturned without a royal pardon.

Badawi, imprisoned since 2012, initially was sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes for breaking Saudi Arabia's technology laws and insulting Islamic religious figures through a blog he created.

After an appeal, a criminal court in Jiddah last year stiffened the punishment to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes. He also was banned from traveling abroad for 10 years after his prison term and fined $266,000.

In January, security officials flogged Badawi outside a mosque in Jiddah. Saudi rights activists said it was meant as a warning to others who think to criticize the religious establishment, of which the ruling family derives much of its authority.

Subsequent floggings were halted as the Supreme Court reviewed the case. A person close to the case, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said that because Badawi's flogging has been halted since January, the Supreme Court ruling may exclude lashings. It was not immediately possible to clarify the details of the judges' ruling.

The lashes had been scheduled to be administered over 20 weekly sessions, with 50 lashes each week, according to the London-based rights group Amnesty International. The rights group has launched a global campaign to call for Badawi's release and said Sunday that he remains at risk of being flogged.

Saudi Arabia's Western allies, including Washington, have called on authorities to rescind the punishment. The kingdom maintains its judiciary is independent and has rejected international pressure as interference in the country's internal affairs.

Netanyahu angry at silence over Gaza rocket attacks

Sunday June 7th, 2015 at 11:02 AM

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A Palestinian security officer closes the gate under Palestinian control at the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and the southern Gaza Strip, south of Rafah on June 7, 2015. SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images

JERUSALEM - Israel's prime minister on Sunday slammed the international community's silence over recent rocket attacks from Gaza and warned that a strong reprisal could be forthcoming.

Benjamin Netanyahu said he hasn't heard a word of condemnation from the world about three rocket attacks from Gaza over the past two weeks. The rockets did not cause any injury or harm but disrupted the quiet in southern Israel that has mostly prevailed since last summer's war between Hamas and Israel.

"It will be interesting to see if this silence continues when we use all our strength in exercising our right to defend ourselves," Netanyahu said at his weekly Cabinet meeting. "It should be clear: the hypocrisy that is sweeping the world will not chain our hands from defending the citizens of Israel."

The Israeli leader has condemned recently what he describes as "international campaign to blacken (Israel's) name." The international community disproportionately singles out the Jewish state for condemnation while remaining silent on major conflicts and human rights abuses in other countries, he said.

"We are in the midst of a great struggle being waged against the state of Israel, an international campaign to blacken its name. It is not connected to our actions; it is connected to our very existence. It does not matter what we do; it matters what we symbolize and what we are," Netanyahu said."I think that it is important to understand that these things do not stem from the fact that if only we were nicer or a little more generous - we are very generous, we have made many offers, we have made many concessions - that anything would change because this campaign to delegitimize Israel entails something much deeper that is being directed at us and seeks to deny our very right to live here," he said.

The Israeli military carried out an airstrike in the Gaza Strip early Sunday in response to the latest rocket attack from the Hamas-ruled territory. The projectile landed in an open area and there were no injuries or damage reported from the rocket attack or the airstrike.

A local jihadi organization that supports the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks. The group is mired in a struggle with Hamas and has said its recent attacks are in retaliation for a Hamas crackdown.

Israel considers Hamas responsible for any attacks that originate from Gaza, and announced Sunday that its crossings into Gaza will be shut down in response to the latest incident.

© 2015 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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G7 leaders urge tough line on Russia at start of summit

Sunday June 7th, 2015 at 11:01 AM

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KRUEN, Germany Leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations backed a tough line toward Moscow at the start of a summit in the Bavarian Alps, with U.S. President Barack Obamaurging the gathering to stand up to Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Host Angela Merkel greeted Obama in the idyllic Alpine village of Kruen under blue skies, surrounded by locals in traditional dress, drinking beer and eating white sausage and pretzels.

The German chancellor was hoping to secure commitments from her G7 guests to tackle global warming ahead of a major United Nations climate summit in Paris in December. The German agenda also foresees discussions on global health issues, from Ebola to antibiotics and tropical diseases.

But the crises in Ukraine and Greece seemed likely to overshadow the discussions at Schloss Elmau, a luxury Alpine hotel near the Austrian border.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking before the start of the summit, voiced exasperation with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who has dismissed the latest aid-for-reform proposal from international creditors as "absurd".

Athens is running out of cash and will default on its debt, a move that could end up pushing it out of the euro zone, if it fails to reach a deal with its European partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the coming weeks.

Juncker reaffirmed that a so-called "Grexit" was not an option being considered, but said this did not mean he could "pull a rabbit out of a hat" to prevent it.

RUSSIAN AGGRESSION

Obama said leaders would discuss the global economy, trade partnerships and "standing up to Russian aggression in Ukraine", as well as threats from violent extremism and climate change.

Both he and Merkel highlighted the importance of the German-American relationship, damaged in recent years by revelations of U.S. spying in Germany, including the bugging of the chancellor's mobile phone.

"My message to the German people is simple: We are grateful for your friendship, for your leadership," said Obama, using the traditional Bavarian greeting "Gruess Gott" with a crowd gathered in the village square in Kruen. "We stand together as inseparable allies in Europe and around the world."

Merkel alluded to "differences" but described the United States as "our friend" and an "essential partner".

British Prime Minister David Cameron and European Council President Donald Tusk both said they hoped the G7 would present a united front on sanctions toward Russia.

EU leaders agreed in March that sanctions imposed over Russia's intervention in Ukraine would stay until the Minsk ceasefire agreement was fully implemented, effectively extending them to the end of the year, but a formal decision has yet to be taken.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is known to be skeptical about sanctions and left-wing politicians in Germany have also called for them to be removed.

"If anyone wants to start a discussion about changing the sanctions regime, it could only be about strengthening it," said Tusk.

European monitors have blamed a recent upsurge in violence in eastern Ukraine on Russian-backed separatists. Russian President Vladimir Putin was frozen out of what used to be the G8 after Moscow's annexation of Crimea last year.

PROTESTS

Leaders and reporters were shuttled to the summit site by helicopter on Sunday morning as hundreds of protesters blocked the main road to Schloss Elmau.

On Saturday, thousands of anti-G7 protesters marched in the nearby town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. There were sporadic clashes with police and several marchers were taken to hospital with injuries, but the violence was minor compared to some previous summits.

Germany deployed 17,000 police around the former Winter Olympic games venue at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. Another 2,000 were on stand-by across the border in Austria.

In addition to climate and health issues, the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and European Union were due to discuss Islamist militant threats from groups such as Islamic State and Boko Haram. The leaders of Nigeria, Tunisia and Iraq were to join them later as part of an "outreach" group of non-G7 countries.

Merkel was likely to have her work cut out for her on the climate talks. She won plaudits in 2007 when she hosted a G8 meeting on the Baltic coast and convinced Obama's predecessor George W. Bush to join other leaders in pledging to fight global warming.

This time, she and Hollande, who will host the climate summit at the end of the year and is keen to generate some momentum for that in Bavaria, were facing resistance from Japan and Canada.

(Additional reporting by Paul Carrel, Paul Taylor, Michelle Martin, Andreas Rinke, Gernot Heller, Sabine Siebold; writing by Noah Barkin; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

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G7 summit gets underway in Germany - World

Sunday June 7th, 2015 at 10:55 AM

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel has welcomed the Group of Seven's leaders to the secluded Schloss Elmau hotel in Bavaria for their annual gathering, the sixth summit of the world's leading industrial powers hosted by Germany.

Merkel and her husband, Joachim Sauer, received U.S. President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Italy and Japan in bright sunshine at the luxury resort in the Bavarian Alps. They were joined by European Union leaders Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, who also are participants.

Obama was the last of the G7 leaders to be greeted Sunday by Merkel. That's because most of his counterparts rolled up to the more than 100-year-old Schloss Elmau in golf carts — except for British Prime Minister David Cameron, who arrived stylishly in a compact BMW.

Obama was the only one of the visiting leaders to walk the last stretch of the uphill route.

Obama often chafes at the limits placed on his mobility by U.S. Secret Service agents who protect him around the clock. He tries to avoid the motorcade and walk when he can.

The world leaders will spend Sunday and Monday discussing everything from the conflict in Ukraine to the Greek debt crisis and climate change.

Germany first hosted the G7 summit in 1978. The group later expanded to include Russia, becoming the G8, which Merkel hosted in the Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm in 2007.

Russia was excluded from the group last year over its actions in Ukraine. This is the second G7 summit since then.

Crises in Ukraine and Greece could overshadow summit

Merkel is hoping to secure commitments from her G7 guests to tackle global warming to build momentum in the run-up to a major United Nations climate summit in Paris in December. The German agenda also foresees discussions on global health issues, from Ebola to antibiotics and tropical diseases.

But the crises in Ukraine and Greece could overshadow the discussions at Schloss Elmau, a luxury hotel near in the picturesque mountains of southern Germany near the Austrian border.

Speaking before the start of the summit, Juncker, president of the European Commission, voiced exasperation with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, accusing him of distorting proposals by international creditors for a cash-for-reform deal to save Athens from default.

He reaffirmed that a Greek exit from the single currency area was not an option but cautioned that this did not mean he could "pull a rabbit out of a hat" to prevent it.

'Russian aggression'

Obama said leaders would discuss the global economy, trade partnerships and "standing up to Russian aggression in Ukraine" as well as threats from violent extremism and climate change.

Both he and Merkel highlighted the importance of the German-American relationship, damaged in recent years by revelations of U.S. spying in Germany, including the bugging of the chancellor's mobile phone.

"My message to the German people is simple: we are grateful for your friendship, for your leadership," said Obama, using the traditional Bavarian greeting "Gruess Gott" with the crowd gathered in a village square. "We stand together as inseparable allies in Europe and around the world,"

Merkel alluded to "differences" but described the United States as "our friend" and an "essential partner".

Harper and his wife, Laureen, arrived in Munich Saturday en route to the G7 summit. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

At the news conference with Juncker, Tusk, president of the European Council, said he hoped the G7 would present a united front on sanctions towards Russia, adding: "if anyone wants to start a discussion about changing the sanctions regime, it could only be about strengthening it".

European monitors have blamed recent bloodshed in eastern Ukraine on Russian-backed separatists. Russian President Vladimir Putin was frozen out of what used to be the G8 after Moscow's annexation of Crimea last year.

Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper, also had strong words for Putin ahead of the summit, saying there was "no point" in a dialogue with the Russian president. He also did not rule out that Canada could supply the weapons that Ukraine has explicitly asked for, saying that any support that went beyond the military and police trainers that Canada has offered so far would have to be done "in concert with our allies."

Clashes between protesters, police minor

Leaders and reporters were shuttled to the summit site by helicopter on Sunday morning as protesters blocked the main road to Schloss Elmau.

About 200 protesters reached the security fence around the secluded hotel where G7 leaders are meeting after hiking early Sunday from the resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen about eight kilometres away. On the other side of the fence, about 100 police officers with dogs were patrolling to keep the demonstrators out.

Protesters were shouting slogans like "Freedom and peace, no more G7!" and waving signs with slogans such as "Politics for people, not markets."

One anti-poverty group sent up balloons bearing the faces of the Group of Seven's leaders, urging them to stick to commitments to fight poverty around the world.

Adrian Lovett, a member of the group called One, said Sunday that the group wants "discussions here in Schloss Elmau to be much more than hot air."

The presence of protesters at this year's G7 summit has been small compared to past years. (Michael Dalder/Reuters)

On Saturday, thousands of anti-G7 protesters marched in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. There were sporadic clashes with police and several marchers were taken to hospital with injuries, but the violence was minor compared to some previous summits.

The annual summit has drawn repeated protests by those who believe the leaders' decisions favour banks and business interests over those of ordinary people. A planned trans-Atlantic free trade agreement this year is a particular concern.

The Germans have deployed 17,000 police around the former winter Olympic games venue at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. Another 2,000 are on stand-by across the border in Austria.

ISIS, Boko Haram also on agenda

In addition to climate and health issues, the leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and European Union are due to discuss militant threats from groups like ISIS and Boko Haram. The leaders of Nigeria, Tunisia and Iraq will join them later as part of an "outreach" group of non-G7 countries.

Merkel will also have hard work on the climate talks. She won plaudits in 2007 when she hosted a G8 meeting on the Baltic coast and convinced Obama's predecessor George W. Bush to join other leaders in pledging to fight global warming.

This time she and Hollande, who will host the UN summit at the end of the year, need to overcome resistance from Japan and Canada.

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Obama says G7 to discuss Russian aggression in Ukraine

Sunday June 7th, 2015 at 10:54 AM

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Greece's Tsipras 'failed' to deliver promised plan - Juncker

Sunday June 7th, 2015 at 10:53 AM

BBC News - Home

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Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras failed to deliver alternative economic reforms that he had "promised", says European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker.

Mr Juncker urged Mr Tsipras to come up with some alternative proposals "swiftly" so that negotiations could continue this week.

On Friday, Mr Tsipras rejected the EC's own reform proposals as "absurd."

Mr Juncker was speaking at the G7 summit in Bavaria.

In a signal that relations between Europe and Greece's new Syriza government may be reaching breaking point, Greece's combative finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, told a Greek newspaper that the latest reform demands were "an aggressive move designed to terrorise the Greek government... this Greek government cannot be terrorised".

Mr Juncker said that while he regarded Mr Tsipras as a friend, "friends have to observe minimal rules".

Mr Tsipras had misrepresented the EC's proposals to his parliament, Mr Juncker said, by suggesting they were offered on a take-it-or-leave-it basis, when he "knew perfectly well that I was willing to discuss the main points of disagreement".

The European Commission is asking for further reforms to Greece's economy, including tax increases and cuts in civil servants' salaries and pensions, before the next €7.2bn (£5.2bn) tranche of bailout money will be released.

But Greece has robustly rejected these proposals without some form of debt restructuring agreement in return.

Earlier this week, Greece said it would delay making a €300m loan repayment to the International Monetary Fund, instead rolling up four scheduled payments into one €1.6bn payment to be made at the end of June.

BBC economics editor Robert Peston said this move meant that "the risk of Greece defaulting on its debts - and leaving the euro - has substantially increased."

• International creditors want pension cuts, slimmer civil service, VAT reform, fewer tax rebates and more private sector investment, reports say
• Mr Tsipras rules out increased VAT on energy and reduced supplementary payments for poorer pensioners
• Athens wants lower primary budget surplus targets, but both sides appear close to agreement. According to reports, creditors want a budget surplus of 1% of GDP this year and 2% next, while Greece has proposed 0.8% for 2015 and 1.5% for 2016

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G7 summit: Obama and Merkel firm on Russia sanctions

Sunday June 7th, 2015 at 10:47 AM

BBC News - Home

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The US and German leaders say sanctions on Russia must stay until it implements a deal to end fighting in Ukraine.

President Barack Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks as the G7 summit of economic powers began in southern Germany.

Moscow is the target of European Union and US sanctions over its role in support of Ukrainian rebels.

Russia has been excluded from what was previously known as the G8, since the annexation of Crimea last year.

The West accuses Russia of sending military forces into eastern Ukraine to help the rebels - a charge echoed by analysts. Moscow denies this, saying any Russian soldiers there are volunteers.

As he arrived in the Bavarian Alps, Mr Obama said G7 leaders would discuss "standing up to Russian aggression" in Ukraine.

The White House issued a statement after Mr Obama's talks with Mrs Merkel, saying: "The duration of sanctions should be clearly linked to Russia's full implementation of the Minsk agreements and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty."

Germany, Britain and the US want an agreement to offer support to any EU member state tempted to withdraw backing for the sanctions on Moscow, which are hurting the Russian economy.

Last September's Minsk accord, involving Russia, pro-Russian rebels and the Ukrainian government, included the establishment of a 30km (19-mile) buffer zone between the two sides.

But fighting has intensified in recent weeks. In the latest incident, two Ukrainian coastguards were injured when a blast ripped through their patrol boat in the port of Mariupol, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.

The European Union's President of the Council of Ministers, Donald Tusk, signalled a toughening of sanctions in a statement at the G7.

"If anyone wants to start a debate about changing the sanctions regime, the discussion could only be about strengthening it."

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he was hopeful that there would be a united front to ensure that sanctions were "rolled over" despite admitting that "sanctions are having an impact on all of us".

EU sanctions are due to expire at the end of July.

UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond echoed concerns about wider Russian military pressure in an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.

But, when asked if the US should redeploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe, Mr Hammond said the West had a "delicate act to perform".

"We've got to send a clear signal to Russia that we will not allow them to transgress our red lines. At the same time we have to recognise that the Russians do have a sense of being surrounded and under attack, and we don't want to make unnecessary provocations."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia was not a threat and had "other things to worry about".

He told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera: "Only an insane person and only in a dream can imagine that Russia would suddenly attack Nato.

Mr Obama was greeted in the town of Kruen by Germany's Chancellor Merkel.

The two leaders then sat down to a traditional Bavarian meal of sausages and beer in the sunshine.

Greece's debt crisis and how to tackle global warming will also be on the agenda.

Ahead of the G7 gathering, thousands of protesters marched in the nearby town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, sparking sporadic clashes with police.

Several marchers were taken to hospital with injuries, but the violence was minor compared to some previous summits.

Security is being provided by 17,000 police officers.

The other leaders at the summit are Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, French President Francois Hollande, Canada's PM Stephen Harper and Italian PM Matteo Renzi.

Mrs Merkel will also be hoping to use the summit to discuss her plans for radical reform of global responses to pandemics like Ebola.

She wants to streamline and re-focus the World Health Organization, widely judged to have been ill-equipped when Ebola hit, and build up an international reserve force of doctors and scientists for deployment in a future crisis.

Mr Cameron will unveil plans for a squad of "disease detectives" ready to fly anywhere to identify new infections.

On Monday, the summit is also due to discuss militant threats from groups like Islamic State and Boko Haram with the leaders of Nigeria, Tunisia and Iraq, who form part of an "outreach" group of non-G7 countries.

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THE LATEST: Obama welcomed to the Alps, eyes lederhosen

Sunday June 7th, 2015 at 10:46 AM

AP Top Headlines At 10:29 A.M. EDT

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KRUEN, Germany (AP) -- 11:25 a.m. (0925 GMT, 5:25 a.m. EDT)...

Cameron Urges G7 Unity Over Russia Aggression

Sunday June 7th, 2015 at 10:37 AM

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David Cameron has arrived at the G7 in Germany, urging the world's most powerful leaders to keep up a united front in response to the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine.

Speaking soon after landing at the Elmau palace in Bavaria, southern Germany, Mr Cameron said: "We need to make sure Europe remains united."

He said sanctions should remain on Russia, despite any pain they cause the 28-nation group, adding: "It (sanctions) has an impact on all countries.

"(But) Britain hasn't let our pre-eminence in financial services get in the way of taking a robust response to Russian-backed aggression and I don't think other countries should either."

The summit in an Alpine town is held amid heavy security

US President Barack Obama also voiced his support for a strong line on the conflict, speaking just minutes after Air Force One touched down in Munich, saying leaders needed to stand up to "Russian aggression in Ukraine".

The EU and US worked in concert to impose stiff sanctions on members of President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and key sectors of the Russian economy in the wake of last year's annexation of Crimea.

Video: Obama In Germany For G7 Summit

Russia was also ejected from the G8 group, resulting in this year's slimmed-down summit line-up of seven.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is just one of the subjects Mr Cameron says he hopes to discuss at the summit - which includes the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and the US.

He also urged the G7 to tackle corruption, in the wake of the scandal engulfing FIFA.

He described corruption as "a cancer at the heart of so many challenges we face in our world", adding: "This is something we must not turn a blind eye to as perhaps was done for too long in the world of football."

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   Gallery: World Leaders Congregate In Garmisch For The G7 Summit

   The Japanese Prime Minister and his wife arrived in Germany on June 6th and were welcomed by men dressed in Bavarian traditional regional costumes upon arrival
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   Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signed a guest book on the tarmac of Munich Airport
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   A Bavarian rifleman took photos ahead of the arrival of the U.S. President
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   Air Force One touched down in Munich just after 04:15 GMT
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    Gallery: World Leaders Congregate In Garmisch For The G7 Summit

    The Japanese Prime Minister and his wife arrived in Germany on June 6th and were welcomed by men dressed in Bavarian traditional regional costumes upon arrival

Shrugging off suggestions that Britain had become less engaged with the rest of the world, he told reporters: "My message here is very clear - Britain is back. We've got a growing economy, we've got our deficit coming down, we are creating jobs at a record level.

"And Britain doesn't just want a strong economy. We want to engage with these issues of international security, whether that's a more secure Iraq or Syria, whether it's conquering Ebola in west Africa, whether it's dealing with the crisis in the Mediterranean.

"We do these things not just because we are a country with a conscience. We also do it because we know these things affect us back at home."

Greece's debt crisis and how to tackle global warming will also be on the agenda, along with a proposed trade deal between the European Union and the United States.

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1. 
2. 
   Gallery: Thousands Protest G7 In Germany

   Thousands of demonstrators packed Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a small Alpine town, to protest against the G7 summit
3. 
   The demonstration was largely peaceful, but a small group of protesters clashed with police
4. 
   The annual meeting the world's leading industrialised economies is held at Elmau palace near Garmisch-Partenkirchen
5. 
   Activists inflate a balloon with face of Prime Minister David Cameron in Munich during a protest against the G7 summit
18. 
19. 
    Gallery: Thousands Protest G7 In Germany

    Thousands of demonstrators packed Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a small Alpine town, to protest against the G7 summit

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi will also be on the sidelines of the summit to discuss his country's fight against Islamic State.

The Prime Minister is joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mr Obama, French President Francois Hollande, Italian PM Matteo Renzi, Canadian PM Stephen Harper and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe for the two-day summit.

Hundreds of people walked from the small Alpine town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen towards the security perimeter around the secluded summit venue 5 miles away, on Sunday morning.

Some 22,000 police from around Germany were brought in to keep the protesters away from the hotel and journalists were flown in by helicopter to the venue to avoid road delays due to the protesters.

Video: Sky Wins BAFTA For Ebola Coverage

There was also a short clash between protesters and police on Saturday.

Read the whole story

 

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Kerry's pointless diplomacy in Russia (Opinion)

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» Malaysia quake: Singapore to mourn its victims - BBC News
07/06/15 07:56 from Google News - Top Stories
BBC News Malaysia quake: Singapore to mourn its victims BBC News Monday will be a day of mourning in Singapore after eight of its citizens were confirmed killed in Friday's earthquake on Mount Kinabalu. Flags will be flown at half-ma...

» UK royals release first official Princess Charlotte photos - Fox News
07/06/15 07:54 from Google News - Top Stories
Fox News UK royals release first official Princess Charlotte photos Fox News This image made available by Kensington Palace June 6, 2015, taken by Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, at Anmer Hall, eastern England in mid-May 2015 shows Britain&#...

» Nollywood Takes on Paris
07/06/15 07:53 from Voice of America
It’s being called 'Nollywood sur Seine' - a Nigerian film festival, which is wrapping up its third edition in Paris Sunday. Nigeria is now the world’s second-largest movie producer, but film quality has not always been tops. That is chan...

» Greek bailout rejection disappoints Juncker
07/06/15 07:47 from FT.com - World
Commission president says he does not want to renew talks until Greece presents counterproposal

» Hurricane Blanca roars toward Mexico's Baja California - CNN
07/06/15 07:47 from Google News - World
NBCNews.com Hurricane Blanca roars toward Mexico's Baja California CNN (CNN) Hurricane Blanca is churning in the Pacific toward Mexico's Baja California coast, where it is expected to make landfall. Blanca has maximum sustained w...

» In time of sorrow and grief, personal bond between president, vice president on ... - Minneapolis Star Tribune
07/06/15 07:45 from Google News - Top Stories
Politico In time of sorrow and grief, personal bond between president, vice president on ... Minneapolis Star Tribune WASHINGTON — Few relationships in Washington are as complex as that of president and vice president, a partnership forg...

» Israel's Netanyahu says world is silent on Gaza rocket attacks - CTV News
07/06/15 07:45 from Google News - World
Los Angeles Times Israel's Netanyahu says world is silent on Gaza rocket attacks CTV News JERUSALEM -- Israel's prime minister on Sunday slammed the international community's silence over recent rocket attacks from Gaza and w...

» Patagonian shale raises hopes and fears
07/06/15 07:44 from FT.com - World
Argentina’s under-developed energy resources in Vaca Muerta could be bigger than those in Texas

» Israel Strikes Gaza After Rocket Fire - Voice of America
07/06/15 07:42 from Google News - World
Voice of America Israel Strikes Gaza After Rocket Fire Voice of America Israel's military says it has carried out an airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip in response to a rocket fired from Hamas-controlled territory into southern Isr...

» THE LATEST: Beware hot air: Group urges G-7 to fight poverty
07/06/15 07:37 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
ELMAU, Germany (AP) -- 1.30 p.m. (1130 GMT; 7.30 a.m. EDT)...

» Royal family photos show prince's kiss for baby sister - The Times (subscription)
07/06/15 07:35 from Google News - World
The Times (subscription) Royal family photos show prince's kiss for baby sister The Times (subscription) Sweet family photographs showing Princess Charlotte being held by her older brother Prince George have been released by Kensingt...

» Malaysia quake death toll at 16, search continues
07/06/15 07:35 from Reuters: International
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian authorities said on Sunday 16 bodies had been recovered from the country's highest peak Mount Kinabalu after a magnitude 6 earthquake caused landslides and aftershocks.

» Rescue of 10 migrant boats under way as arrivals set to reach 50000 - Sydney Morning Herald
07/06/15 07:33 from Google News - World
Sydney Morning Herald Rescue of 10 migrant boats under way as arrivals set to reach 50000 Sydney Morning Herald British, Swedish, Spanish and Italian ships are en route to help about 10 migrant boats that called for help on Sunday, the I...

» In sorrow, Obama-Biden put personal bond on public display - Salon
07/06/15 07:33 from Google News - Top Stories
Salon In sorrow, Obama-Biden put personal bond on public display Salon In sorrow, Obama-Biden put personal bond on public display President Barack Obama hugs Vice President Joe Biden during funeral services for Biden's son, Beau Bide...

» G7 leaders arrive in Bavaria for 2-day summit - CBC.ca
07/06/15 07:32 from World - Google News
CBC.ca G7 leaders arrive in Bavaria for 2-day summit CBC.ca U.S. President Barack Obama said Group of Seven (G7) leaders meeting in the Bavarian Alps on Sunday would discuss standing up to Russian aggression in Ukraine amid an upsurge in...

» Indian Prime Minister Seals Border, Other Deals with Dhaka
07/06/15 07:25 from Voice of America
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sealed a landmark agreement with Bangladesh to exchange tiny enclaves where thousands of people from both countries have been trapped for decades. The two countries signed several other agreements ...

» Afghan Troops Battle Taliban Forces in Yamgan
07/06/15 07:19 from Voice of America
Intense fighting is raging in northeastern Afghanistan where officials say a counteroffensive is underway to retake control of a remote district Taliban insurgents captured the Saturday.   The United Nations Sunday warned the Afghan conf...

» Rescuers, families honour 430 dead in Yangtze capsizing - CTV News
07/06/15 07:17 from World - Google News
CTV News Rescuers, families honour 430 dead in Yangtze capsizing CTV News JIANLI, China -- Nearby ships blared horns for three minutes Sunday and rescuers bowed in silence to honour the more than 430 victims of the Yangtze River capsizin...

» Bomb blast hits market in Nigeria's Borno State, 16 dead: sources
07/06/15 07:15 from Reuters: International
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - A bomb blast hit a cattle market in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno late on Saturday, with as many as 16 people dead, hospital and military sources said.

» Turkey votes in highly divisive election
07/06/15 07:08 from FT.com - World
At stake is Erdogan’s bid to boost his powers as president

» Iraq: Troops Advance Against IS in Key Refinery Town
07/06/15 07:07 from Voice of America
Iraqi troops backed by Shi'ite militias recaptured key parts of the northern refinery town of Beiji from Islamic State militants on Sunday, a general said.   The commander of the Interior Ministry's Quick Reaction Forces, Brig. Gen. Nass...

» THE LATEST: Tusk: Protests healthy; G-7 need not apologize
07/06/15 07:04 from AP Top Headlines At 7:05 a.m. EDT
ELMAU, Germany (AP) -- 12:55 p.m. (1055 GMT; 6.55 a.m. EDT)...

» British Official: Half Million Waiting to Migrate to Europe - Voice of America
07/06/15 07:03 from Google News - World
Voice of America British Official: Half Million Waiting to Migrate to Europe Voice of America A British official says as many as half a million people in Libya are looking to cross the Mediterranean's perilous waters this summer to E...

» Fifa corruption: 'Morocco won 2010 World Cup vote - not South Africa' - live - Telegraph.co.uk
07/06/15 07:01 from world - Google News
Telegraph.co.uk Fifa corruption: 'Morocco won 2010 World Cup vote - not South Africa' - live Telegraph.co.uk US prosecutors say Warner solicited bribes worth $10 million from the South African government to host the 2010 World Cu...

» Fifa in crisis: 'Morocco won 2010 World Cup vote - not South Africa' - Telegraph.co.uk
07/06/15 07:01 from world - Google News
Telegraph.co.uk Fifa in crisis: 'Morocco won 2010 World Cup vote - not South Africa' Telegraph.co.uk England, one of the countries that bid unsuccessfully for the 2018 World Cup, will now be alert to the possibility that it could...

» 2015 Women's World Cup Preview: 7 Important Things to Know Before the ... - E! Online
07/06/15 07:01 from world - Google News
E! Online 2015 Women's World Cup Preview: 7 Important Things to Know Before the ... E! Online Has the on-going FIFA corruption scandal finally piqued your interest in soccer!? If you said yes, welcome to the beautiful sport everyone ...

» 'Britain Is Back' - Cameron In Germany For G7
07/06/15 07:00 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
The Prime Minister calls on the world's most powerful leaders to address corruption and keep the pressure on Russia over Ukraine.

» Mourning ceremonies for China ferry dead as toll rises - BBC News
07/06/15 07:00 from Google News - World
CNN Mourning ceremonies for China ferry dead as toll rises BBC News Ceremonies are being held to remember the hundreds of people who died in Monday's Chinese ferry disaster. On Sunday the death toll rose to 431, with only 11 still mi...

» Mourning ceremonies for China ship dead as toll rises - BBC News
07/06/15 07:00 from Google News - World
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Mourning ceremonies for China ship dead as toll rises BBC News Ceremonies have been held to remember the hundreds of people who died in Monday's Chinese cruise ship disaster. On Sunday the death toll rose to 4...

» President Obama Kicks Off Germany Trip With Beer Ahead of G7 Summit - ABC News
07/06/15 06:58 from Google News - Top Stories
ABC News President Obama Kicks Off Germany Trip With Beer Ahead of G7 Summit ABC News President Obama arrived in Germany today for the G-7 summit and quickly made his first public stop to share beer with the locals -- all before noon. “W...

» Israel Strikes Gaza After Rocket Fire
07/06/15 06:56 from Voice of America
Israel's military says it has carried out an airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip in response to a rocket fired from Hamas-controlled territory into southern Israel. No casualties were reported Sunday from either strike. Air raid sirens ...

» Navy Ship Picks Up 700 Migrants In Sea Rescue
07/06/15 06:54 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
The UK mission comes as it emerged nearly 3,500 refugees were picked up from the Mediterranean in a single day by other countries.

» Obama says G7 to stand up to Russian aggression in Ukraine - Reuters
07/06/15 06:47 from Google News - World
Reuters Obama says G7 to stand up to Russian aggression in Ukraine Reuters KRUEN, Germany U.S. President Barack Obama said Group of Seven (G7) leaders meeting in the Bavarian Alps on Sunday would discuss standing up to Russian aggression...