Beneath The Smiles and Handshakes, Tensions Simmer As World Leaders Meet For G20

After converging in Osaka, Japan amid heavy rains, world leaders gathered on Friday morning for the traditional “family photo” that marks the start of the

Group of 20 powwow.

But beneath the smiling faces of the world’s most powerful people, tensions were brewing.

The year-long trade war between Beijing and Washington put the spotlight on Chinese President Xi Jinping, who made a beeline to shake hands with his US counterpart Donald Trump before the group picture, ahead of their high-stakes meeting on Saturday. It was the first time the two leaders had met in person since they called a truce on tariffs in December at the last G20 summit in Argentina – a ceasefire that ended last month as trade talks stalled.

In contrast, Xi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were seen later in the day sitting together but not talking, amid frosty relations between the two countries.

Moments before the shoot, Trump had crossed the red carpet with Vladimir Putin, at one point placing his hand on the Russian president’s back as they walked to the steps for the photo. The 38 world leaders took their places in three rows, with host Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the centre of the first – flanked on the left by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump, and on the right by Argentine President Mauricio Macri, Putin and Xi.

Parents’ relentless hunt for missing daughter heats up as new tech breathes life into case

Pentagon Contractor Indicted for Leaking Classified Info to the Washington Post

Trump warns Canada of 100% tariffs if it becomes China’s ‘drop off port’ with new potential trade deal

Legal Analyst: There Are Still Several Ways Pam Bondi Can Charge Don Lemon for His Conduct

Campus Radicals: Union member tell-all, Dems back to DEI ways, more violent leftist threats on campus

Trump takes aim at Senate ‘blue slip’ tradition as GOP resists change

The Tide Has Turned on DEI in Nearly Every Major Institution, But Teachers and Educators Refuse to Ditch It

Hawaii RNC members pay their way to represent state: ‘It’s not a cheap hobby’

Cruz back in Texas after photo of him boarding plane sparks backlash ahead of winter storm

‘I Went to Princeton and Harvard!’: Michelle Obama Complains About Being Known as ‘Barack Obama’s Wife’

Johnson warns House Republicans to ‘stay healthy’ as GOP majority shrinks to the edge

Navy Under Secretary Hung Cao says personnel discharged over vaccine mandate were ‘failed’

Pentagon plans to give South Korea primary role in deterring North Korea threats under new strategy

Minnesota ‘on the clock’ as HHS threatens penalties over childcare fraud scandal

Man who allegedly threatened to shoot ICE agents had rifles, body armor and ammo cache, feds say

Across the sea of men – including a stern-looking Trump – mostly in black and navy suits, British Prime Minister Theresa May stood out in a bright red suit, the same one she wore when announcing her resignation last month.

The G20, an event critics say has lost relevance in recent years, comes at a time of growing populism and polarisation around the globe – from political schisms in Europe to American protectionism under Trump and the intensifying US-China conflict.

At a forum dedicated to international economic cooperation, the handshakes and shoulder-rubbing could not mask the growing divisions in the global trading system, with the trade war between Beijing and Washington at the forefront.

After a more traditional photo, Abe directed the leaders to wave at the camera, during which the US president broke with the others in lifting their arms, instead turning to the Saudi prince to exchange a few words. Tensions briefly flared between the US and Saudi Arabia after the Saudi prince was accused of orchestrating the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October.