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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

Ethel Kennedy never remarried after Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968. Photos: Getty Images, @ @kerrykennedyrfk/Instagram

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

Donald Trump

Trump gambles his Iran attack will save flailing Maga agenda

1 Mar 2026 - 2:46AMvideocam

Crime

Son of slain director Rob Reiner pleads not guilty to parents’ murder

24 Feb 2026 - 12:26PM

Donald Trump

Trump says he’s ordering release of US files on UFOs and aliens

US president directs the Pentagon to release records on extraterrestrial life after accusing Obama of disclosing ‘classified information’.

20 Feb 2026 - 2:02PM

An alien sculpture in the California town of Baker, known as the ‘Gateway to Area 51’. Photo: AFP

United States

US civil rights icon Jesse Jackson dies at 84: ‘my constituency is the damned’

The Baptist minister’s two presidential runs helped lay the groundwork for the election of America’s first black president, Barack Obama.

17 Feb 2026 - 6:53PM

UFOs and Extraterrestrial Life

Are aliens real? Obama says yes but rules out long-running conspiracy

Barack Obama says a secretive US base isn’t holding extraterrestrials - unless a massive conspiracy kept him in the dark.

16 Feb 2026 - 1:13PM

Britain

Purrfect? Larry the cat marks 15 years – and 6 PMs – as UK’s chief mouser

Many cats have occupied the post since the 1920s with historical records even showing them in government residences in the era of Henry VIII.

15 Feb 2026 - 10:29PM

Larry, the official 10 Downing Street cat. File photo: AP

United States

Obama blasts ‘clown show’ after Trump’s racist monkey video

The ex-president said most Americans ‘find this behaviour deeply troubling’ and it will hurt the Republicans in the midterm election.

16 Feb 2026 - 11:18AMvideocam

United States

Epstein’s girlfriend married a woman, showing how he gamed immigration

The late sex offender used student visas, English language courses and sham marriages to keep foreign women in the US.

15 Feb 2026 - 1:30AM

United States

‘A giant scam’: Trump makes his biggest rollback of US climate policy to date

US president confounds critics as he repeals finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health.

13 Feb 2026 - 1:47PM

The US repeal eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks. Photo: TNS

United States

Trump admin removes rainbow flag from birthplace of US gay rights movement

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani called it an ‘act of erasure’, while others described the move as an attack on the queer community.

11 Feb 2026 - 7:39AM

A rainbow flag blows in the wind inside Christopher Park near the Stonewall Inn in New York in June 2019. Photo: Reuters

Donald Trump

Trump claims he ‘didn’t see whole’ racist post showing Obamas as apes

The White House initially defended the video clip as a Lion King meme, then blamed a staff member for posting it ‘erroneously’.

7 Feb 2026 - 3:58PM

Vietnam

Friend or foe? Leaked Vietnamese military document labels US ‘belligerent’

While noting that ‘there is little risk of a war’, document urges vigilance to prevent the US from finding a pretext to invade Vietnam.

4 Feb 2026 - 12:01PM

ICBMs

China grows nuclear arsenal as last US-Russia limits expire

President Xi Jinping plans to further expand China’s nuclear weapons stockpile, while caps on US and Russian deployments end this week.

5 Feb 2026 - 2:58PM

A Chinese DF-5C intercontinental strategic nuclear missile on display at a military parade. (Photo: EPA)

United States

US, Russia to enter new, unregulated nuclear age as arms pact nears expiry

With Trump showing less interest in extending the New START agreement, the future of nuclear weapon limits is unclear.

1 Feb 2026 - 2:43PMvideocam

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony to launch a nuclear-powered attack submarine in Murmansk last year. Photo: AFP

United States

ICE thaw? White House softens tone after Minneapolis killings outrage

Some federal agents will start leaving Minneapolis following White House talks with the state’s governor and city mayor.

27 Jan 2026 - 4:33PMvideocam

United States

‘Wake-up call’: Obama and Clinton speak out as latest killing shocks US

Two former presidents join the outcry over the shooting of Alex Pretti, as video analysis appears to contradict the government’s statements.

26 Jan 2026 - 5:23PMvideocam

Horoscopes

Horoscopes: what’s your luck like in January 2026, Earth Ox month?

It’s going to be smooth sailing for the Dragon, Horse and Dog, but those under the Ox sign need to be careful while on the road.

6 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

The Chinese zodiac is comprised of 12 animals. Illustration: SCMP Graphics

Singapore

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

In an episode of her new Disney+ docuseries, Swift listened to this Barack Obama-recommended book by Liz Moore – now it’s coming to Netflix.

18 Dec 2025 - 6:00PM

US-China decoupling

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

Former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo says that Donald Trump is prioritising stable relations with China, and that the US is facing decline amid a shift to a multipolar world.

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

Alina Habba attends her swearing-in ceremony as interim US Attorney for the District of New Jersey, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on March 28. Photo: Reuters

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

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Barack Obama

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.

Trump gambles his Iran attack will save flailing Maga agenda

Son of slain director Rob Reiner pleads not guilty to parents’ murder

Trump says he’s ordering release of US files on UFOs and aliens

US president directs the Pentagon to release records on extraterrestrial life after accusing Obama of disclosing ‘classified information’.

US civil rights icon Jesse Jackson dies at 84: ‘my constituency is the damned’

The Baptist minister’s two presidential runs helped lay the groundwork for the election of America’s first black president, Barack Obama.

Are aliens real? Obama says yes but rules out long-running conspiracy

Barack Obama says a secretive US base isn’t holding extraterrestrials - unless a massive conspiracy kept him in the dark.

Purrfect? Larry the cat marks 15 years – and 6 PMs – as UK’s chief mouser

Many cats have occupied the post since the 1920s with historical records even showing them in government residences in the era of Henry VIII.

Obama blasts ‘clown show’ after Trump’s racist monkey video

The ex-president said most Americans ‘find this behaviour deeply troubling’ and it will hurt the Republicans in the midterm election.

Epstein’s girlfriend married a woman, showing how he gamed immigration

The late sex offender used student visas, English language courses and sham marriages to keep foreign women in the US.

‘A giant scam’: Trump makes his biggest rollback of US climate policy to date

US president confounds critics as he repeals finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health.

Trump admin removes rainbow flag from birthplace of US gay rights movement

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani called it an ‘act of erasure’, while others described the move as an attack on the queer community.

Trump claims he ‘didn’t see whole’ racist post showing Obamas as apes

The White House initially defended the video clip as a Lion King meme, then blamed a staff member for posting it ‘erroneously’.

Friend or foe? Leaked Vietnamese military document labels US ‘belligerent’

While noting that ‘there is little risk of a war’, document urges vigilance to prevent the US from finding a pretext to invade Vietnam.

China grows nuclear arsenal as last US-Russia limits expire

President Xi Jinping plans to further expand China’s nuclear weapons stockpile, while caps on US and Russian deployments end this week.

US, Russia to enter new, unregulated nuclear age as arms pact nears expiry

With Trump showing less interest in extending the New START agreement, the future of nuclear weapon limits is unclear.

ICE thaw? White House softens tone after Minneapolis killings outrage

Some federal agents will start leaving Minneapolis following White House talks with the state’s governor and city mayor.

‘Wake-up call’: Obama and Clinton speak out as latest killing shocks US

Two former presidents join the outcry over the shooting of Alex Pretti, as video analysis appears to contradict the government’s statements.

Horoscopes: what’s your luck like in January 2026, Earth Ox month?

It’s going to be smooth sailing for the Dragon, Horse and Dog, but those under the Ox sign need to be careful while on the road.

.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

In an episode of her new Disney+ docuseries, Swift listened to this Barack Obama-recommended book by Liz Moore – now it’s coming to Netflix.

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

Former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo says that Donald Trump is prioritising stable relations with China, and that the US is facing decline amid a shift to a multipolar world.

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.

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