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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

The Obama Presidential Centre, in Chicago’s South Side, towers over the surrounding area. Photo: TNS

Tourism

‘It’s a Trojan horse’: how the Obama Presidential Centre is dividing Chicago

The presidential museum that opens on June 19 is a bold addition to Chicago’s iconic skyline, but not all local residents are impressed.

9 Jun 2026 - 7:15PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Is Trump calling the shots on Israel, or just pretending to?

9 Jun 2026 - 11:00PMvideocam

Donald Trump

US judge strikes down Trump’s US$100,000 H-1B visa fee as unlawful

9 Jun 2026 - 11:59AMvideocam

United States

Court blocks US military removing transgender troops for now

Appeals court shields current service members from discharge while leaving wider enlisting restrictions in place.

2 Jun 2026 - 10:24AM

The Pentagon, headquarters of the US military, in Washington. File photo: AP

United States

Powell uses JFK award speech to defend Fed from political pressure

Former Fed chair urges protection of America’s democratic institutions, warns they face a ‘stress test’.

1 Jun 2026 - 11:35AM

United States

As I see it | Trump makes everything worse but he didn’t start it

Essays from over a decade ago show that America’s institutional decay and populist revolt predate the current US president’s rise to power.

26 May 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Netanyahu increasingly isolated as Trump pursues Iran peace deal

The lack of a decisive victory in the Iran war has led Trump to lose confidence in the Israeli prime minister, analysts say.

25 May 2026 - 6:48PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump points towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference after meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025. Photo: Reuters

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi’s key interactions with US and Russian presidents

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Beijing days after meeting US President Donald Trump. It was the first time that the leaders of Russia and the US have made state visits to China in the same month.

21 May 2026 - 11:47AM

China-Russia relations

Inside the royal garden that is Putin’s ‘second home’ in China

More than 1,400 heads of state have stayed in the compound, with the Russian president usually accommodated in its most prestigious villa.

20 May 2026 - 5:54PMvideocam

China-Russia relations

Why China-Russia ties outpace Beijing’s engagement with Washington

Donald Trump’s recent state visit appears unlikely to fundamentally reshape or overshadow broader agenda of Sino-Russian cooperation.

20 May 2026 - 2:50PMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow in March 2013, during Xi’s first foreign trip as China’s leader. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

From Jack Sparrow to Bride of Chucky, Iran’s jibes at Trump are hit in China

The footage also leans into popular culture, using Chinese rap and popular cartoon figures to court younger social media users.

19 May 2026 - 8:00PM

The Iranian children’s puppet Pesar Ammeh Za and China’s Ne Zha are depicted as good friends. Photo: Handout

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Xi Jinping welcomes Trump into China’s hidden heart: Zhongnanhai

Centuries-old trees and ‘most beautiful’ roses take centre stage as US leader taken on rare stroll around secluded, symbolic seat of power.

15 May 2026 - 10:32PMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

The toast, the tastes and the tech selfie that crowned the US-China summit

The Chinese and US presidents attend a glittering state banquet that combined Chinese and Western dishes.

14 May 2026 - 10:17PMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

The message China wants to send by hosting Trump at Temple of Heaven

Beijing urges US president ‘to hold the line on peaceful coexistence’ as it prepares to host him at heritage site.

14 May 2026 - 6:29PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump is expected to tour Beijing’s historic Temple of Heaven on Thursday as part of his state visit to China. Photo: Xinhua

Food and Drinks

Trump’s Beijing banquet: will it be Big Macs or Huaiyang cuisine in the Great Hall?

Discover how Huaiyang cuisine – China’s diplomatic delicacy – balances tradition and innovation to win over world leaders, from Nixon to Obama, in Beijing’s high-stakes banquet diplomacy.

13 May 2026 - 5:11PM

Donald Trump attends a state dinner at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, in 2017. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Opinion | Trump’s threats against Iran are historically illiterate

The US president’s threats to end Iranian civilisation expose his ignorance of the country’s long history.

9 May 2026 - 3:30PM

Myanmar

Myanmar’s military rulers hire Trump ally for US$50,000 a month to lobby Washington

Roger Stone has been commissioned to rebuild relations with the US, though analysts doubt Myanmar can escape its pariah status.

7 May 2026 - 4:13PM

Fame and celebrity

As David Attenborough turns 100, the star naturalist’s ‘unequalled’ impact

We look at Attenborough’s unique ability to tell nature’s story through his BBC shows on evolution to ocean plastic as he turns 100 on May 8.

7 May 2026 - 12:45PMvideocam

Naturalist David Attenborough’s documentaries have made generations of viewers “care about nature”. Here’s how, ahead of his 100th birthday on May 8. Photo: Blue Planet II

Fame and celebrity

Meet Matt Friend, whose comedy charms stars, presidents – and King Charles

Friend, whose CNN comedy special aired ahead of the White House correspondents’ dinner, is gaining acclaim for his celebrity impressions.

1 May 2026 - 6:00AM

Donald Trump

US Justice Department cites shooting as need for Trump’s ballroom

Trump’s DOJ gives preservationists Monday deadline to drop White House ballroom suit after shooting at hotel event.

27 Apr 2026 - 10:56AMvideocam

United States

Obama meets New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani before reading to preschoolers

The event comes days after Republican US President Trump said Mamdani was destroying New York with his tax policies.

19 Apr 2026 - 7:16AM

Former US president Barack Obama and Mayor Zohran Mamdani sing ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ during a reading event in New York on Saturday. Photo: AP

United States

Supreme Court justices lean towards Trump in asylum-processing case

The White House is defending US authority to turn away asylum seekers when officials judge the border to be too overburdened.

25 Mar 2026 - 4:24AM

A small group led by members of the clergy gather for a vigil at the US Supreme Court building in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

China-Japan relations

Trump’s biggest cheerleader? Why Japan’s Takaichi is making waves in China

White House photo of Japanese prime minister apparently dancing to a band draws derision on Chinese social media.

22 Mar 2026 - 5:00PMvideocam

Japan

Japanese atomic bomb survivor who hugged Obama in Hiroshima dies at 88

Earlier this month, Shigeaki Mori warned that the world was at risk of another nuclear attack over the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

18 Mar 2026 - 3:15PM

China-Japan relations

Why Japan thinks China’s growing cultural clout is something it needs to counter

The global success of Chinese video games and animation – as well as the appeal of traditional culture – has triggered a reaction in Tokyo.

19 Mar 2026 - 8:33AMvideocam

Donald Trump

Bill, George, Barack or Joe: which ex-president gave Trump backing for Iran war?

Trump said his presidential pal told him, ‘I wish I did it.’ But all four living ex-presidents said they had not been in touch.

17 Mar 2026 - 10:15PM

US President Donald Trump signs an executive order at the White House on Monday. Photo: EPA

Two Sessions 2026

What’s wrong with a G2? Wang Yi lays out China’s case against great-power rivalry

Bloc confrontation is a path to disaster and the world must abide by the UN Charter, the foreign minister says.

8 Mar 2026 - 9:11PMvideocam

Fame and celebrity

Who was Ethel Kennedy – and was she really mean to Carolyn Bessette?

The Kennedy family matriarch and RFK’s widow, who raised 11 children, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama for her public service.

3 Mar 2026 - 6:00PM

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Barack Obama

‘It’s a Trojan horse’: how the Obama Presidential Centre is dividing Chicago

The presidential museum that opens on June 19 is a bold addition to Chicago’s iconic skyline, but not all local residents are impressed.

Is Trump calling the shots on Israel, or just pretending to?

US judge strikes down Trump’s US$100,000 H-1B visa fee as unlawful

Court blocks US military removing transgender troops for now

Appeals court shields current service members from discharge while leaving wider enlisting restrictions in place.

Powell uses JFK award speech to defend Fed from political pressure

Former Fed chair urges protection of America’s democratic institutions, warns they face a ‘stress test’.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}As I see it | Trump makes everything worse but he didn’t start it

Essays from over a decade ago show that America’s institutional decay and populist revolt predate the current US president’s rise to power.

Netanyahu increasingly isolated as Trump pursues Iran peace deal

The lack of a decisive victory in the Iran war has led Trump to lose confidence in the Israeli prime minister, analysts say.

Xi’s key interactions with US and Russian presidents

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Beijing days after meeting US President Donald Trump. It was the first time that the leaders of Russia and the US have made state visits to China in the same month.

Inside the royal garden that is Putin’s ‘second home’ in China

More than 1,400 heads of state have stayed in the compound, with the Russian president usually accommodated in its most prestigious villa.

Why China-Russia ties outpace Beijing’s engagement with Washington

Donald Trump’s recent state visit appears unlikely to fundamentally reshape or overshadow broader agenda of Sino-Russian cooperation.

From Jack Sparrow to Bride of Chucky, Iran’s jibes at Trump are hit in China

The footage also leans into popular culture, using Chinese rap and popular cartoon figures to court younger social media users.

Xi Jinping welcomes Trump into China’s hidden heart: Zhongnanhai

Centuries-old trees and ‘most beautiful’ roses take centre stage as US leader taken on rare stroll around secluded, symbolic seat of power.

The toast, the tastes and the tech selfie that crowned the US-China summit

The Chinese and US presidents attend a glittering state banquet that combined Chinese and Western dishes.

The message China wants to send by hosting Trump at Temple of Heaven

Beijing urges US president ‘to hold the line on peaceful coexistence’ as it prepares to host him at heritage site.

Trump’s Beijing banquet: will it be Big Macs or Huaiyang cuisine in the Great Hall?

Discover how Huaiyang cuisine – China’s diplomatic delicacy – balances tradition and innovation to win over world leaders, from Nixon to Obama, in Beijing’s high-stakes banquet diplomacy.

Opinion | Trump’s threats against Iran are historically illiterate

The US president’s threats to end Iranian civilisation expose his ignorance of the country’s long history.

Myanmar’s military rulers hire Trump ally for US$50,000 a month to lobby Washington

Roger Stone has been commissioned to rebuild relations with the US, though analysts doubt Myanmar can escape its pariah status.

As David Attenborough turns 100, the star naturalist’s ‘unequalled’ impact

We look at Attenborough’s unique ability to tell nature’s story through his BBC shows on evolution to ocean plastic as he turns 100 on May 8.

Meet Matt Friend, whose comedy charms stars, presidents – and King Charles

Friend, whose CNN comedy special aired ahead of the White House correspondents’ dinner, is gaining acclaim for his celebrity impressions.

US Justice Department cites shooting as need for Trump’s ballroom

Trump’s DOJ gives preservationists Monday deadline to drop White House ballroom suit after shooting at hotel event.

Obama meets New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani before reading to preschoolers

The event comes days after Republican US President Trump said Mamdani was destroying New York with his tax policies.

Supreme Court justices lean towards Trump in asylum-processing case

The White House is defending US authority to turn away asylum seekers when officials judge the border to be too overburdened.

Trump’s biggest cheerleader? Why Japan’s Takaichi is making waves in China

White House photo of Japanese prime minister apparently dancing to a band draws derision on Chinese social media.

Japanese atomic bomb survivor who hugged Obama in Hiroshima dies at 88

Earlier this month, Shigeaki Mori warned that the world was at risk of another nuclear attack over the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Why Japan thinks China’s growing cultural clout is something it needs to counter

The global success of Chinese video games and animation – as well as the appeal of traditional culture – has triggered a reaction in Tokyo.

Bill, George, Barack or Joe: which ex-president gave Trump backing for Iran war?

Trump said his presidential pal told him, ‘I wish I did it.’ But all four living ex-presidents said they had not been in touch.

What’s wrong with a G2? Wang Yi lays out China’s case against great-power rivalry

Bloc confrontation is a path to disaster and the world must abide by the UN Charter, the foreign minister says.

Who was Ethel Kennedy – and was she really mean to Carolyn Bessette?

The Kennedy family matriarch and RFK’s widow, who raised 11 children, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama for her public service.

As I see it | Trump makes everything worse but he didn’t start it