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Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II, born August 4, 1961, was the 44th President of the United States and the first black US president. He served as president between January 20, 2009 to January 20, 2017. Obama was named the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize laureate in October 2009. He was succeeded by Republican Donald John Trump, who assumed office in January 2017.

Born

4 Aug 1961

Industry

Politics

Job Title

44th President of the United States of America

Students at Yu Ying Public Charter School in Washington perform a Chinese song and dance. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s annual report recommends introducing more Mandarin immersion programmes in the US. Photo: Yu Ying Public Charter School

US-China relations

US commission wants more Mandarin language courses to curb Beijing’s sway

Move would deepen students’ linguistic and cultural understanding amid cuts to US cultural exchange programmes to China.

11 Dec 2025 - 6:53AM

My Life

‘Architects are always jumping in water that’s over our heads’

9 Dec 2025 - 3:18PM

United States

Trump ally ousted as New Jersey prosecutor by appeal court

2 Dec 2025 - 3:51AM

United States

Trump declares all orders signed by autopen under Biden ‘terminated’

Trump vows to terminate every document his predecessor signed, and if Biden lied about using an autopen, he would be charged with perjury.

29 Nov 2025 - 7:06AM

Donald Trump

Trump unveils ‘president’s golf course’ revamp at Joint Base Andrews

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is leading the project, the latest addition to the US president’s long list of construction jobs.

23 Nov 2025 - 6:14AM

US-China relations

Ex-Argentine leader warns against cutting China ties to improve US relations

Macri argues Argentina’s farm and commodity sales rely on China even as current president Javier Milei pursues broader deal with Washington.

22 Nov 2025 - 5:57AMvideocam

Crime

Fugees rapper jailed for 14 years over illegal donations to Obama campaign

Grammy-winner was convicted on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.

21 Nov 2025 - 4:28PM

Fugees rapper Prakazrel ‘Pras’ Michel at the US District Court in Washington in 2023. Photo: Reuters

United States

Ex-US Treasury chief stepping back from public roles over Epstein emails

Larry Summers says he needs to ‘rebuild trust’ after correspondence with sex offender Epstein was revealed in files released by Congress.

18 Nov 2025 - 4:22PM

Celebrity style

The Look: what Michelle Obama said about her most iconic fashion picks

Michelle Obama – who shares daughters Sasha and Malia with Barack Obama – is known for her bold fashion choices, from Jason Wu to Versace.

16 Nov 2025 - 6:00AM

Fame and celebrity

Who is Michelle Obama’s long-time personal stylist, Meredith Koop?

Barack Obama’s wife has been rocking Chanel, Loewe and Simone Rocha fits during the press tour for the release of her latest book, The Look.

10 Nov 2025 - 11:40AM

Stylist Meredith Koop has been working with Michelle Obama for over a decade. Photo: @meredithkoop/Instagram

United States

Nancy Pelosi, first woman US House speaker, to retire from Congress

Trump calls Pelosi an ‘evil woman’ as his long-time political adversary announces her retirement.

7 Nov 2025 - 11:36AM

Then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds the gavel at the US Capitol in Washington in 2019. File photo: AP

United States

California votes to redraw congressional map in triumph for Newsom

Voters pass Proposition 50 measure championed by California’s governor in a counterpunch at Trump-backed move in Texas.

5 Nov 2025 - 4:34PM

United States

Trump’s shadow looms as US voters pick New York mayor, state governors

The results will serve as an early gauge of the US electorate’s mood after a whirlwind first nine months of a norm-shattering presidency.

5 Nov 2025 - 7:52AM

Donald Trump

Trump doubles down on ICE raids: ‘they haven’t gone far enough’

US president defends aggressive ICE efforts, claiming ‘liberal judges’ were holding back deportation efforts.

3 Nov 2025 - 4:25PM

ICE agents and federal officers detain a migrant as he walks out from a hearing during targeted detainment at a US immigration court in New York City. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

Xi’s key encounters with US presidents and Putin

Chinese President Xi Jinping met a US president for the 17th time since taking office when he held talks with Donald Trump in South Korea on October 30. By contrast, he has had 41 encounters with Russian leader Vladimir Putin as president.

26 Nov 2025 - 5:10PM

Japan

Still on a roll at 100, this Japanese sushi legend aims to live to 114

Jiro Ono, owner of three-Michelin-starred Sukiyabashi Jiro, says work is the secret to his longevity.

7 Nov 2025 - 5:01PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Ballroom blitz: Trump defies critics as he tears down part of White House

White House dismisses ‘pearl-clutching’ over demolition work for new ballroom, as Trump calls the sound of construction ‘beautiful’.

22 Oct 2025 - 2:40PM

Japan

‘Take it to heart’: why Japan’s atom-bombed cities want Trump to visit

The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki warn that time is running out to hear the voices of those who survived the nuclear attacks.

14 Oct 2025 - 11:10AMvideocam

A person sits in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome memorial in Hiroshima, Japan, in September. Photo: EPA

My Life

He finger-painted until it bored him. Then came the fire

The Filipino designer on his sold-out exhibitions in the 1990s, a terrifying incident with a gas canister, and his daily Hong Kong hikes.

13 Oct 2025 - 6:15PM

Donald Trump

Trump’s quest for the Nobel Peace Prize falls short, at least this time

US president misses out on the prestigious prize amid global controversy and claims of ending seven wars.

10 Oct 2025 - 5:46PM

United States

Ex-FBI chief James Comey pleads not guilty in case pushed by Trump

His lawyers say they plan to argue that the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed.

9 Oct 2025 - 10:31AM

Former FBI director James Comey during his court arraignment on Wednesday. Image: Dana Verkouteren via AP

United States

Trump’s deportation of Abrego Garcia likely vindictive: judge

The judge cited ‘remarkable statements’ from a Deputy Attorney General as evidence the indictment was retaliatory for the deportee’s challenge.

4 Oct 2025 - 8:30AM

Kilmar Abrego Garcia appears for a check-in at an ICE field office in Baltimore. Photo: Reuters

The Philippines

How will the Philippines use its share of US$55 million maritime aid?

Manila may invest in radars, surveillance drones and coastguard training, rather than game-changing security assets, analysts say.

28 Sep 2025 - 3:34PMvideocam

Luxury travel

Review | Waldorf Astoria New York continues to uphold its grand legacy, a century on

The historic hotel has played host over the years to A-list guests from Barack Obama to Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra.

21 Sep 2025 - 12:00PM

Donald Trump

Trump’s push for the Nobel Peace Prize won’t sway us, says committee

US president claims he ‘deserves it’, but the Norwegian Nobel Committee insists its decisions are based on merit, not media campaigns.

12 Sep 2025 - 2:02PM

US President Donald Trump at a 9/11 ceremony in Washington on Thursday. Photo: AP

US-China relations

Opinion | As China’s military closes gap on US, economic security becomes the new frontier

Washington’s weaponisation of the global financial system has accelerated and Beijing is acutely aware of the danger.

1 Sep 2025 - 8:26AMvideocam

Washington has grown increasingly confident over the past two decades about using economic and technology choke points as tools of political pressure. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

Opinion | As China’s military closes gap on US, economic security becomes the new frontier

Washington’s weaponisation of the global financial system has accelerated and Beijing is acutely aware of the danger.

29 Aug 2025 - 3:02PM

Donald Trump

Trump ran on a promise of revenge. He’s making good on it

Ex-national security adviser John Bolton, who called the administration the ‘retribution presidency’, became the latest target this week.

24 Aug 2025 - 3:31AMvideocam

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Barack Obama

US commission wants more Mandarin language courses to curb Beijing’s sway

Move would deepen students’ linguistic and cultural understanding amid cuts to US cultural exchange programmes to China.

‘Architects are always jumping in water that’s over our heads’

Trump ally ousted as New Jersey prosecutor by appeal court

Trump declares all orders signed by autopen under Biden ‘terminated’

Trump vows to terminate every document his predecessor signed, and if Biden lied about using an autopen, he would be charged with perjury.

Trump unveils ‘president’s golf course’ revamp at Joint Base Andrews

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is leading the project, the latest addition to the US president’s long list of construction jobs.

Ex-Argentine leader warns against cutting China ties to improve US relations

Macri argues Argentina’s farm and commodity sales rely on China even as current president Javier Milei pursues broader deal with Washington.

Fugees rapper jailed for 14 years over illegal donations to Obama campaign

Grammy-winner was convicted on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.

Ex-US Treasury chief stepping back from public roles over Epstein emails

Larry Summers says he needs to ‘rebuild trust’ after correspondence with sex offender Epstein was revealed in files released by Congress.

The Look: what Michelle Obama said about her most iconic fashion picks

Michelle Obama – who shares daughters Sasha and Malia with Barack Obama – is known for her bold fashion choices, from Jason Wu to Versace.

Who is Michelle Obama’s long-time personal stylist, Meredith Koop?

Barack Obama’s wife has been rocking Chanel, Loewe and Simone Rocha fits during the press tour for the release of her latest book, The Look.

Nancy Pelosi, first woman US House speaker, to retire from Congress

Trump calls Pelosi an ‘evil woman’ as his long-time political adversary announces her retirement.

California votes to redraw congressional map in triumph for Newsom

Voters pass Proposition 50 measure championed by California’s governor in a counterpunch at Trump-backed move in Texas.

Trump’s shadow looms as US voters pick New York mayor, state governors

The results will serve as an early gauge of the US electorate’s mood after a whirlwind first nine months of a norm-shattering presidency.

Trump doubles down on ICE raids: ‘they haven’t gone far enough’

US president defends aggressive ICE efforts, claiming ‘liberal judges’ were holding back deportation efforts.

Xi’s key encounters with US presidents and Putin

Chinese President Xi Jinping met a US president for the 17th time since taking office when he held talks with Donald Trump in South Korea on October 30. By contrast, he has had 41 encounters with Russian leader Vladimir Putin as president.

Still on a roll at 100, this Japanese sushi legend aims to live to 114

Jiro Ono, owner of three-Michelin-starred Sukiyabashi Jiro, says work is the secret to his longevity.

Ballroom blitz: Trump defies critics as he tears down part of White House

White House dismisses ‘pearl-clutching’ over demolition work for new ballroom, as Trump calls the sound of construction ‘beautiful’.

‘Take it to heart’: why Japan’s atom-bombed cities want Trump to visit

The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki warn that time is running out to hear the voices of those who survived the nuclear attacks.

He finger-painted until it bored him. Then came the fire

The Filipino designer on his sold-out exhibitions in the 1990s, a terrifying incident with a gas canister, and his daily Hong Kong hikes.

Trump’s quest for the Nobel Peace Prize falls short, at least this time

US president misses out on the prestigious prize amid global controversy and claims of ending seven wars.

Ex-FBI chief James Comey pleads not guilty in case pushed by Trump

His lawyers say they plan to argue that the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed.

Trump’s deportation of Abrego Garcia likely vindictive: judge

The judge cited ‘remarkable statements’ from a Deputy Attorney General as evidence the indictment was retaliatory for the deportee’s challenge.

How will the Philippines use its share of US$55 million maritime aid?

Manila may invest in radars, surveillance drones and coastguard training, rather than game-changing security assets, analysts say.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Review | Waldorf Astoria New York continues to uphold its grand legacy, a century on

The historic hotel has played host over the years to A-list guests from Barack Obama to Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra.

Trump’s push for the Nobel Peace Prize won’t sway us, says committee

US president claims he ‘deserves it’, but the Norwegian Nobel Committee insists its decisions are based on merit, not media campaigns.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | As China’s military closes gap on US, economic security becomes the new frontier

Washington’s weaponisation of the global financial system has accelerated and Beijing is acutely aware of the danger.

Opinion | As China’s military closes gap on US, economic security becomes the new frontier

Washington’s weaponisation of the global financial system has accelerated and Beijing is acutely aware of the danger.

Trump ran on a promise of revenge. He’s making good on it

Ex-national security adviser John Bolton, who called the administration the ‘retribution presidency’, became the latest target this week.

Review | Waldorf Astoria New York continues to uphold its grand legacy, a century on

Opinion | As China’s military closes gap on US, economic security becomes the new frontier