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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

Open Questions series

Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack

Singapore’s former foreign minister also discusses Trump, the latest China-Japan dust-up, and rivalry between Hong Kong and the city state.

22 Dec 2025 - 10:02AMvideocam

Taylor Swift

All about the Taylor Swift-approved book, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

18 Dec 2025 - 6:00PM

US-China decoupling

Open Questions | Yeo on how Trump wants to avoid Taiwan upending China relations

18 Dec 2025 - 12:28PM

Donald Trump

Trump rewrites White House history with plaques mocking predecessors

Donald Trump, who has made no secret of his enmity for his Democratic predecessors, displays his grievances on White House walls.

18 Dec 2025 - 2:05PM

New plaques have been placed underneath presidential portraits on the Colonnade at the White House. Photo: AP

Donald Trump

Trump has signed more executive orders this year than in his entire first term

The US president’s 221st order designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, joining others on AI and fighting ‘woke’ culture.

17 Dec 2025 - 4:30AMvideocam

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’

Billie Tsien, founding partner of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, tells of designing the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre and the Obama Presidential Centre.

9 Dec 2025 - 3:18PM

Architect Billie Tsien, pictured at Asia Society Hong Kong Centre, which she says was a complicated and scary site to build on. Photo: Tracy Wong

United States

Trump ally ousted as New Jersey prosecutor by appeal court

The ruling calls into question the legitimacy of a number of cases and criminal charges approved during Habba’s challenged tenure.

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 President Donald Trump shouts as he plays golf at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Scotland in July. Photo: AP

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

Argentina’s former president Mauricio Macri has warned the current Argentinian leadership not to cut ties with China just to curry favour with the US. Photo: AFP

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

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

Former US president Barack Obama’s wife Michelle Obama just released a new book, The Look, chronicling her fashion throughout the years. Photo: AP

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

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

Wade Gustafson, a volunteer election judge, puts up an American flag and voting signs in St Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday. Photo: Star Tribune via AP

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

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

Jiro Ono (right) shows a gift from Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike to celebrate his 100th birthday in front of Sukiyabashi Jiro on September 18. Photo: Bureau of Social Welfare, Tokyo Metropolitan Government/AP

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

Heavy machinery tears down a section of the East Wing of the White House for Donald Trump’s planned ballroom. Photo: AFP

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

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

US President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

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

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

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Barack Obama

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack

Singapore’s former foreign minister also discusses Trump, the latest China-Japan dust-up, and rivalry between Hong Kong and the city state.

All about the Taylor Swift-approved book, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Open Questions | Yeo on how Trump wants to avoid Taiwan upending China relations

Trump rewrites White House history with plaques mocking predecessors

Donald Trump, who has made no secret of his enmity for his Democratic predecessors, displays his grievances on White House walls.

Trump has signed more executive orders this year than in his entire first term

The US president’s 221st order designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, joining others on AI and fighting ‘woke’ culture.

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’

Billie Tsien, founding partner of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, tells of designing the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre and the Obama Presidential Centre.

Trump ally ousted as New Jersey prosecutor by appeal court

The ruling calls into question the legitimacy of a number of cases and criminal charges approved during Habba’s challenged tenure.

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.

Open Questions | George Yeo on superpower ‘headaches’ and why the US dollar could crack