As most of you know, I was hoping for a “Yes” vote in the Greek referendum, especially as the proposal which the Tsipras government put forth this week encompassed most of the demands which Greece’s creditors had been making.
The Syriza proposals were approved by the creditors, and sent to the Eurozone finance ministers. And then Germany got in the act.
In an act of suicidal hubris, Germany is demanding nothing short of humiliation for Greece. Even though I had hoped for a Yes vote, this petty revenge is unbelievable from a country which plunged Europe into two World Wars. It is Germany’s gambit to establish the EU as merely a Greater German Co-Prosperity Sphere.
Here is where we stand at the moment.
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Newspaper headlines.
Frankfurter Allgemeine
Translation: Trust has been lost; Doubts of Greece’s willingness to reform.
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Le Figaro
Translation: Greece has driven a wedge between France and Germany
Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Barack Obama chat during the Outreach group photo on the second day of the summit of G7 nations at Schloss Elmau near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
President Barack Obama greets other guests as he arrives to attend a working session
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President Barack Obama greets Senegal’s President Macky Sall as he arrives to attend a working session at the summit of G7 nations
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This must have been one fascinating conversation indeed. Dude with the phone? Yes, we feel the same way too. 😜
President Barack Obama arrives at the summit of G7 nations on June 7, 2025 in Kruen, Germany. In the course of the two-day summit G7 leaders are scheduled to discuss global economic and security issues, as well as pressing global health-related issues, including antibiotics-resistant bacteria and Ebola
President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel speak at the summit of G7 nations at Schloss Elmau near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
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President Barack Obama is welcomed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer at the summit of G7 nations
President Barack Obama enjoys a non-alcoholic weissbier
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Justin Huggler: Why is Barack Obama drinking beer at 11am?
Angela Merkel welcomed Barack Obama to the G7 summit with a traditional Bavarian breakfast on Sunday – complete with a half-litre of beer.But before he could get down to business, Mrs Merkel treated him to a full Bavarian breakfast of white sausages, pretzels and foaming lager. Eleven in the morning might be considered a little early for a beer in some parts of the world, but in Bavaria breakfast is not complete without a weissbier, as the local wheat beer is called.
It’s not quite as hard-drinking as it sounds: Bavarians don’t down a quick pint before heading to the office every morning. It originates in Frühschoppen - a local tradition of meeting for a drink late in the morning on Sundays and holidays. According to Bavarian custom, the sausages cannot be eaten after 12 noon, because no preservatives are used and they are made fresh every day. Therefore those who wish to wash their sausages down with a beer must get supping before that time. The local saying is that the sausages must not be allowed to hear the church bells chime noon.
More here
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Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen Harper speak with President Barack Obama at an evening concert
resident Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel sit down for a working dinner at the summit of G7 nations
(Clockwise from L) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, U.S. President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and President of the European Council Donald Tusk sit down for a working dinner
President Barack Obama meets children at Mount Pleasant Primary School in Newport, Wales. President Barack Obama visited the school with Prime Minister David Cameron, before attending a two-day NATO summit at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport
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It's not every day you get @BarackObama in your classroom... walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-new… #NATOSummitUK http://t.co/rI82s40NRT
— Wales Online (@WalesOnline) September 04, 2025
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Wales Online: Nato Summit 2014: Barack Obama And David Cameron Visit Newport’s Mount Pleasant Primary School
Hundreds of wellwishers greeted American President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron as they arrived at a primary school in Newport this morning. Mr Obama’s car was adorned with an American and Welsh flag, and he greeted the smiling youngsters of Mount Pleasant Primary School in Welsh saying “bore da” - “good morning” - and then listened to a welcome message, thanking him for being the first serving US president to visit Wales. When a smiling Mr Obama walked into a Year 6 class speaking Welsh, the pupils’ nervous chatter turned to delighted smiles.
Some onlookers had brought ladders while others stood on walls or even on the back of bikes to try to get the best view. Local resident Sally Pyrah-Barnes, 47, said the day felt like a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. “It’s good Barack Obama took time out from the summit to acknowledge the local city and the local kids,” she said. Among the crowds gathered outside was college student Jay Singh, 16. He said: “It’s pretty surreal, Barack Obama being in Rogerstone. It’s great that he’s come here and shows Newport has plenty to offer and it’s not just about Cardiff. Mrs Green added: “We both like Obama. He seems to have his finger on the pulse.”
More here
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A crowd cheers President Barack Obama’s arrival during a visit at Mount Pleasant Primary School in Newport, Wales
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Amazing! #MPsFamily http://t.co/ULqMcVUWwg
— Mount Pleasant (@MP_Primary) September 04, 2025
► Here's lookin' at you, kid bbc.in/1unrsWQ
President Obama gets to know pupils in Newport http://t.co/bZ7bgymqvf
— BBC Wales News (@BBCWalesNews) September 04, 2025
People lining the streets this morning at the school visit. Very friendly crowds :-) #NATOSummitUK http://t.co/jm7r2eb4eC
— NATO Wales Police (@NATOWalesPolice) September 04, 2025
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President Barack Obama speaks with Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron during the NATO summit at the Celtic Manor resort, near Newport, in Wales
President Barack Obama, is seated at a table with, from left to right: France’s President Francois Hollande; Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko; British Prime Minister David Cameron; German Chancellor Angela Merkel; and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi as they meet about Ukraine
Secretary of State John Kerry passes a document to President Barack Obama as British Prime Minister David Cameron, speaks at a meeting of NATO leaders regarding Afghanistan
President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron bow their heads for a moment of silence for service members killed in Afghanistan
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks with President Barack Obama as they arrive for a group photo
President Barack Obama stands with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and British Prime Minister David Cameron as he arrives for a NATO summit
White House.gov