American Morning
Thousands protest at Bank of England ahead of G-20
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/01/g20.protests.art.jpg caption="Thousands protest at Bank of England ahead of G-20"]
Happening now on CNN's American Morning:
LONDON, England (CNN) - Thousands of anti-capitalists, anarchists, and environmental campaigners gathered outside the Bank of England on Wednesday to make their voices heard a day before the G-20 summit in London.
Police estimated there were as many as 4,000 people at the scene. Aerial footage showed the streets filled with people, with lines of luorescent-yellow-clad police in the crowd.
Eleven people were arrested for being in possession of police uniforms, a police spokesman said. They had earlier been stopped while riding in an armored personnel carrier near Bishopsgate, near the Bank of England, and the vehicle will now be examined by police, the spokesman said.
Protesters occasionally lunged forward against the police line, and one masked protester hit out at polices with a long black pole. One police officer was whisked to the side after apparently being hit. Police held their line and occasionally pushed protesters back with their hands.
Protesters carried banners that read "Arrest the War Criminals," "One Currency, One Country, One World," and "Capitalism Isn't Working."
Obama: "We are going to get through this"
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Happening now on CNN's American Morning:
President Barack Obama holds a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
LONDON, England (CNN) - U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown say the G-20 must agree tough new rules for the banking system to help lift the world out of recession.
Obama and Brown met for more than two hours in London Wednesday, the day before the G-20 summit begins.
At a press conference afterwards the pair pushed for a united front to tackle the economic crisis.
Obama thanked Brown for his leadership during the economic crisis, saying he had showed extraordinary energy setting the foundations for the G-20.
He reiterated yet again that the "special relationship" between the countries continued to be strong.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is in London and you can follow her reporting on Twitter @amFIX
What’s on Tap – Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
President Obama on the world stage.
He goes into the G-20 economic summit as arguably the most popular leader in the world today. Will that translate into a culture of cooperation between nations to make life better for us? One leader is already threatening to walk out if leaders don’t sign on to tougher financial regulation.
Our special coverage begins at 5am eastern when the president holds a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. That will be followed by high-stakes talks with Russian and Chinese leaders. China holds the biggest stake in our economic recovery. The Obamas will meet the Queen later this evening and present her with a gift. What do you get a woman who has a kingdom??
The CNN Money Team, and the Best Political Team – all up early to bring you the critical points coming out of the G-20 for your money and your future.
We want you to be a part of the big show – at 877-MYAMFIX. See you then…
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American Morning viewers overwhelmingly scolded Congress for spending time on the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) playoff issues:
- “I can't believe that Congress is actually wasting time whining about college football. Congress is fiddling while Wall Street and Main Street burn. Fix the economy, stupid!”
Others thought it was a good idea:
- “Just as an FYI, Theodore Roosevelt helped to set up the NCAA back in 1905 or 1906 with the intention of making football safer for college kids, so there is a bit of precedent with a President "meddling" with college football.”
Caterpillar calls for release of execs held hostage in France
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From Producer Beth Rotatori and CNN Wire
Caterpillar officials are calling for the release of a group of company executives being held hostage at a plant in Grenoble, France, by hundreds of workers angry about proposed lay-offs.
“The actions that are taking place today, led by a small minority of individuals, are not helping as we work for a positive resolution of this situation,” Chris Schena, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for manufacturing operations in Europe, said in the statement released by the company Tuesday afternoon.
Caterpillar, a U.S.-based construction equipment company, would not provide the names or nationalities of the executives being held in Grenoble.
Jim Dugan, the company’s chief corporate spokesperson, told CNN that a “handful” of employees were being detained at the plant.
Police arrived at the scene two hours after the incident began on Tuesday but had not succeeded in getting the situation under control.
Model Ford?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/31/kiran.painting.art.jpg caption="A talented fan, Mario Della Casa, sent Kiran this painting."]
Hi Everyone,
Have you driven a Ford lately?
Mark Fields sure hopes you do. He's the EVP of Ford Motor Company and I spoke with him this morning. Ford is the only "big 3" Detroit automaker who isn't getting bailout money from Americans to stay afloat. As we've been reporting, the Obama Administration has ousted GM's CEO and given the company an ultimatum, "show us you're viable in 60 days or no more money." Chrysler's been told, "merge with Fiat and we want your plan to stay afloat in 30 days or else." Read more
So how did Ford manage to stay afloat in the worst year for the company in its 105 year history? And how will Fields continue to operate? Because he says his company is still passing on taxpayer money. Watch
So, as the 3 companies pledge to do what they can to stay above water, there are still huge questions that remain about their future. Where does the U.S. government draw the line on how involved it gets in the decisions of these private companies? And to what extent can the U.S. government back the warranties, and guide and finance the futures of the once mighty automakers? President Obama has said "These companies – and this industry – must ultimately stand on their own". So maybe 2009 will be a better year for them. But in the end, people have to want to buy their cars. And they need credit to finance them in many cases. And they certainly want guarantees that they are buying cars from companies that won't go under in 6 months.
So Ford is hanging tough for now and in the end may be the last man standing in the Motor City.
As always we want to hear from you. Follow us on Twitter: @kiranchetrycnn and @amfix
Cheers,
Kiran
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