Admirers and critics debate future of G8 summit as G20 grows in power

DEAUVILLE // The latest Group of Eight summit was "historic", the moment for the great powers to rally their wealth and arms behind the Arab people and staunch a gap in the spread of "western" values across the world.

Or was it a pointless, costly absurdity, a vanity project for leaders of nations in decline, marginalised by the rise of China and other big, industrialising nations, for whom the forum founded in the 1970s is a neo-colonial throwback?

G-8 Chiefs Say Strengthening Economies to Prompt Focus Shift to Debt Cuts

Group of Eight leaders said a strengthening global economy will pave the way to cuts in the debt built up during the recession that followed the 2008 financial crisis.

Europe vowed to fight its fiscal woes with “determination,” while President Barack Obama promised a “clear and credible” U.S. deficit-reduction strategy. Japan was allowed to put off savings measures until its economy rebounds from the March earthquake and tsunami.

G-20 suit settled for $170,000

The least complicated of four civil lawsuits against the City of Pittsburgh stemming from the G-20 Summit has settled for $170,000, officials said Wednesday.

The settlement in the case of Frank Beal, a Point Breeze man who said out-of-town police broke his kneecap, will be paid by the city's insurer, City Solicitor Daniel Regan said.

London police officer on trial for manslaughter

British police officer Simon Harwood faces charges of manslaughter over the death of London newspaper seller c during G-20 summit in April 2009.

When 47-year old newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson died in April 2009 it was announced that of heart attack. Some time later the British mass media published a video, on which it is seen that a masked policeman hit the man with a baton and pushed him to the ground. The repeated examination proved that man died of internal hemorrhage.

G20 police officer to learn if he will be charged with manslaughter of Ian Tomlinson

The Director of Public Prosecutions will announce tomorrow if there is enough evidence to charge the Scotland Yard officer involved in the G20 protests death of Ian Tomlinson with manslaughter.

Keir Starmer QC vowed to launch a quick and ''thorough'' review of his decision not to prosecute Pc Simon Harwood after an inquest jury unanimously ruled earlier this month that the newspaper seller was unlawfully killed at the protests.

Sarkozy Says G-20 Priority Must Be Jobs, Protecting Rights

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said creating jobs must be the priority for Group of 20 nations while at the same time they must ensure respect for labor rights.

Sarkozy, speaking today in Paris at a conference on the social implications of economic development, said that countries with strong welfare systems did better during the recession that followed the 2008 financial turmoil.

The last jailed Toronto G-20 activist is released

Computer security expert Byron Sonne was granted finally bail after 330 days behind bars on May 16. He waited until Wednesday to be released, however, following the final bail hearing, when the crown attorney had the opportunity to contest the decision. Fortunately, the judge disagreed and he was free to go.

Sonne spent roughly 11 months in custody. The 38 year old was denied bail twice since his June 22, 2010 arrest, which took place just prior to the start of the G-20 Summit in Toronto.