What is the g20? The summit of global leaders in hamburg explained

Hamburg erupted into violence Thursday night as anticapitalist protestors and black bloc anarchists demonstrated against the G20 summit. German authorities have said that at least 213 police

officers were injured during the violence, and at least 144 people have been arrested and 144 others are in custody, a police officer said. Several protesters sustained severe injuries from

police batons, according to protest organiser Andreas Blechschmidt, and there are unconfirmed reports that one suffered potentially life-threatening injuries. WHAT IS THE G20? The G20 is a

powerful international forum that gathers world leaders and bankers from the top 20 of the world’s most successful and emerging economies. Collectively the group accounts for roughly 85 per

cent of the world’s GDP and a staggering two-thirds of the global population. The G20 was founded in 1999, in a slew of post-World War Two initiatives to increase global economic

cooperation. These initiatives also included the founding of the world Bank and International Monetary Fund. This year the group’s annual summit was held in Hamburg, GERMANY, between Friday

July 7 and July 8. Climate change discussions, North Korea and trade deals dominated the summit, with Germany chairing the meetings. HOW IS THE G20 ORGANISED? The group has no formal

organisational structure but is rather an informal forum with no permanent secretariat. It has a rotational presidency that is responsible for setting the agenda every year and organising

all of the meetings and events. Argentina and India are the next countries in line to assume presidency after Germany. Because it is an informal forum, the G20 does not actually posses and

executive or legislative powers and its decisions are non-binding.  Whether or not any agreements are implemented by member states relies on their willingness to cooperate. WHO ARE THE G20

MEMBERS? The G20 is made up of 19 individual countries on top of the EUROPEAN UNION, which is represented by the European Commission and by the European Central Bank. Additionally each year

the G20 president invites six guest countries, to increase its “engagement with the international community.” In its 5th Anniversary Vision Statement, the group said: “As a Forum

representing over 80% of the global economy, we have a responsibility to all citizens.”  It is also customary to invite the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as the

chair of the African Union and a representative of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE G20 ARE: Argentina – President Mauricio Macri Australia – Prime

Minister Malcolm Turnbull Brazil – President Michel Termer Canada – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau CHINA – President Xi Jingping FRANCE – President Emmanuel Macron Germany – Chancellor Angela

Merkel India – Prime Minister Narendra Modi Indonesia – President Joko Widodo  Italy – Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni Japan – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Mexico – President Enrique Pena Nieto

Russia – Vladimir Putin Saudi Arabia – King Salman  South Africa – President Jacob Zuma Republic of Korea – President Moon Jae-in Turkey – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan United Kingdom –

Prime Minister THERESA MAY UNITED STATES – President DONALD TRUMP EU Council – President Donald Tusk EU Commission – President Jean-Claude Juncker