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08 Nov 2011 10:14

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World: Tell us how you really feel: Sarkozy, Obama rip Netanyahu on hot mic

  • Sarkozy French leader Nicolas Sarkozy, at the G20 economic conference last week, had what he thought was a candid exchange with Barack Obama when he said this about Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu: “I cannot bear Netanyahu, he’s a liar.” Damn.
  • Obama In an effort to sympathize with his diplomatic friend, Obama reportedly responded like this: “You’re fed up, but I have to deal with him every day.” While press officials heard the conversation, it seems unlikely that there was a recording of the (amusing) exchange. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Mar 2011 15:53

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World: France may not wait for IAEA on nuclear safety

  • France may preempt IAEA summit: President Nicolas Sarkozy wants G20 nuclear industry officials to come to Paris in May to discuss safety issues. This might rankle the United Nations, as such an event would preempt the IAEA’s summit in Vienna, planned for June. The IAEA lacks the power to force action on its recommendations, which is why nations like France may not want to wait for the U.N. body. “I suspect that this will not be appreciated on the 28th floor,” said a diplomat, referring to the office of IAEA Director General Yukiyo Amano. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Mar 2011 13:19

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World: Tough times for Sarkozy in wake of French elections

  • 35.7% the vote, in yesterday’s French elections, for the Socialist Party under Martine Aubry
  • 11.6% the vote for the far-right National Front Party, headed by Marine LePen, a strong showing
  • 20.3% the vote for Nicolas Sarkozy’s Union for a Popular Majority Party, a weak outcome source
  • » Sarkozy may be sweating right now: The election had a low turnout at just 45% of the nation’s voters (still, turnout like that trounces the U.S. average for non-Presidential elections). While the threat to President Sarkozy posed by the Socialists is well known, as polls show him trailing their yet unknown candidate in his reelection effort, the big takeaway concern may be the rising power of the National Front Party under Marine Le Pen. The far-right nationalist party took 2 seats in the 102-seat general council, and have effectively flexed more political muscle much quicker than most thought they could.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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