Originally Posted By Malin To discuss the G20 Summit that starts tomorrow in London. News coming out today Already today Protesters have caused trouble in the heart of London's financial district. Russia and the US commit to agree new nuclear arms reduction deal before the existing treaty expires in December. A new set of financial regulations is a "non-negotiable" outcome of the G20 for France and Germany, Nicolas Sarkozy has said.
Originally Posted By Malin President Obama and his wife Michelle have arrived at Buckingham Palace ahead of a reception at which they will meet the Queen for the first time.
Originally Posted By alexbook The conspiracy nuts who claim that Obama is actually a British citizen should be having a field day with that.
Originally Posted By Malin The G20 leaders have arrived in Downing Street for a working dinner on the eve of crunch talks at the global summit. The Menu which features seasonal British produce was chosen by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, and is being prepade by a team of young chefs from Oliver's Fifteen restaurant. Starter: Organic salmon from Shetland, with samphire and sea kale, local vegetables and Irish soda bread. Main Course: Slow-roasted shoulder of lamb from north Wales, Jersey Royal potatoes, wild mushrooms and mint sauce. Desert: Bakewell tart and custard.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh This just in: Diplomatic jaws dropped across the continent yesterday when it was revealed that U.S. President Barack Obama had, once again, fumbled a routine protocal of international statecraft: finding the right gift for a foreign leader or head of state. In a private ceremony with Queen Elizabeth, Her Royal Highness bequeathed to the Obamas one of the earliest known copies of William Shakespeare's Henry V. She also presented him with the framed orginal sheet music of John Newton's "Amazing Grace." To the Obama daughters, the Queen gave a dollhouse-sized replica of Windsor Castle with a functioning train station in the year of the compound. They also received a prize Shetland pony. Mrs. Obama was given a ruby ring commissioned and worn by Queen Victoria. The Obamas, unfortunately, did not seem prepared for the occasion despite the row set off by the exchange of gifts between Prime Minister Brown and the U.S. President barely a month ago. Mr. Obama rather unceremoniously handed the Queen a shopping bag from the Duty Free shop at Heathrow airport. It contained a signed paperback copy of Dreams of My Father, purchased at the WH Smith shop at the airport, a bottle of Johnny Walker Scotch (black label), a CD of the Swedish band ABBA's greatest hits (still in shrink wrap with a 2-for-1 sticker on it) and ten bags of M&Ms with the presidential seal on them. The Queen responded in a rather flat: "How delightful."
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh I wish I could claim it, but I stole it from Goldberg at NRO's Corner.
Originally Posted By hopemax The actual gifts were an iPod, loaded with video and photos from her US trip. and a songbook signed by Richard Rodgers (of Rodgers and Hammerstein). The Queen gave the Obamas a signed photograph of her and Prince Philip, the standard gift to visiting dignitaries.
Originally Posted By DAR <<and a songbook signed by Richard Rodgers (of Rodgers and Hammerstein). >> So the Royal family can look forward to her majesty belting out Oh What A Beautiful Morning.
Originally Posted By DAR And what could be on the iPod?? Rodgers and Hammerstein? Mozart? Stevie Wonder? Flo Rida?
Originally Posted By mawnck >>and a songbook signed by Richard Rodgers (of Rodgers and Hammerstein).<< Unfortunately it was in a format that only works on American pianos. No doubt the iPod contained the Sex Pistols' Greatest Hits.
Originally Posted By Malin The UK papers have had a field day with that story, but the bigger story coming out of the meeting is the close friendship, that the Queen and Mrs Obama appeared to share after only a few hours. Meanwhile Prince Phillip has made headlines for his comment during a conversation with Obama. Obama: I had breakfast with the Prime Minister, I had meetings with the Chinese, the Russians, David Cameron... And I'm proud to say I did not nod off in one of the meetings," he said. To which the Duke laughingly replied: "Can you tell the difference between them?"
Originally Posted By Mr X None too surprising coming from a guy who told a bunch of Brit students in China not to stay too long or their eyes "will go all slitty".
Originally Posted By Malin News I forgot to report yesterday is that Barack Obama has accepted an invitation to visit China later this year. So far news today is that G20 leaders have kicked off the London summit with a breakfast meeting as they seek an agreement on the global financial crisis.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad What is the buzz I keep getting snippets of that there is going to be talk of a global currency? Anything to that?
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<What is the buzz I keep getting snippets of that there is going to be talk of a global currency? Anything to that?>> I expect that team USA is pushing back on that. If that happens the Federal Reserve will lose its ability to conjure money out of thin air, at least in a mostly consequence free way. I see this as more of a warning shot to the US to kick the stimulus habit, which we are now basically financing with Ben Bernanke fun bucks.
Originally Posted By Mr X There SHOULD be a "global currency" for globally traded commodities (such as oil), rather than relying on the dollar (an arbitrary fund to say the least) or any other national currency. Will that occur? I doubt it (there would be wars first...REAL ones, not the skirmishes we call "war" today).
Originally Posted By Mr X But if they did, indeed, create such a currency (let's call em "WorldBucks"), it would be a simple enough thing to peg The WorldBuck to the price of gold, or oil or whatever, and treat national currencies accordingly. Heck, that's what they do with the dollar now, right?
Originally Posted By Malin Leaders of the G20 nations have agreed to pump an additional trillion dollars into the troubled global economy. Gordon Brown: This is the day that the world came together to fight back against the global recession. Not with words but with a plan for global recovery and for reform.
