Five days, four cities, three countries and two late nights finally caught up with US President George W. Bush on Sunday. ‘‘I’m jet-lagged,’’ he admitted at a news conference with French President Jacques Chirac after losing track of a reporter’s four-part question. ‘‘What’s the first couple,’’ he asked distractedly. ‘‘That’s what happens when you’re over 55,’’ Bush quipped as he stood beside the 69-year-old newly re-elected French leader. Bush, who is on a gruelling weeklong European trip that ends in Italy on Tuesday, showed signs of weariness several times during the half-hour session.‘‘Okay, phew, a lot of questions here,’’ he noted at one point. A US TV network reporter startled Bush by ending his question about anti-American demonstrations in Europe in impeccable French. The President, who occasionally sprinkles his speeches with Spanish phrases, said: ‘‘Very good. The guy memorises four words and he plays like he’s intercontinental. I’m impressed. Que bueno.’’ ( Reuters)
