Author: |Posted: 6:20 pm on 17/11/09
Category: World News Blog
President Obama’s joint press appearance with President Hu of China today seemed to involve the American trying to say very little that might cause offence, and the Chinese leader trying to say almost nothing at all.
Neither took questions from reporters at the end of this stage-managed tour, which has been likened by some to an embarrassed debtor visiting his bank manager: China is the largest foreign holder of US government bonds and enjoys a trade surplus with the US.
Author: |Posted: 12:23 pm on 17/11/09
Category: Snowblog
There’s something eerie in the woodshed – and it’s not the resurrection of Sarah Palin flogging her book on Oprah’s show. “Running for the White House in 2012 is not on my radar.” Phew!
No, forget Ms Palin, and we can probably afford to for now. Let’s concentrate instead on the strengthening pound – last night up against the dollar, up against the euro. This has on a little to do with the UK’s improving prospects and much more to do with the current tussle between America and her largest investor, China.
Author: |Posted: 6:00 pm on 30/09/09
Category: World News Blog
As if Obama doesn’t already have enough on his plate – healthcare reform is still stalled in the Congress, direct talks with Iran are starting tomorrow and a complete review of US strategy in Afghanistan is underway – now the great battle of over climate has officially begun in Washington. And this one is likely to make all the fights over bailouts and healthcare look like childs play. read more
Author: |Posted: 3:05 pm on 06/07/09
Category: Snowblog
It is 24 years since Reagan and Gorbachev opened the window on the Cold War. They met in November 1985 at a chateau on Lake Geneva.
I was lucky enough to be sent from Washington where I was resident correspondent for ITN. Today in a rather more low key moment, Obama meets Medvedev.
Author: |Posted: 3:19 pm on 24/04/09
Category: Snowblog
Perhaps inevitably, my final highlight from the last 20 years is from the day an African American man became president of the United States.
I was out on the streets early in the morning encountering the people from near and far who’d come to share in the moment.
- See the whole of Jon’s first show as main presenter, on 24 April 1989, here.
Author: |Posted: 4:30 pm on 09/04/09
Category: Snowblog
We are about to see Obama’s mettle tested domestically in America. I’m in the States this week and very struck by how his first international foray has gone down here.
To some extent its supposed success has been taken for granted. There have been comparisons with Reagan in that the office of the US president had returned to actually LOOKING presidential.
