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Barack Obama facing backlash over his 60th birthday party during surge of COVID-19 cases

Barack Obama has come under fire for planning an extravagant 60th birthday party as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the US. The former President is expecting to have hundreds of guests at his luxurious 30-acre property on Martha’s Vineyard island in Massachusetts this weekend. According to Axios, over 400 family, friends and staff are expected to arrive, as well as celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, George Clooney and more. <img style="width: 500px; height: 280.7971014492754px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842823/marthas-vineyard.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6afee518ef74465ba0ee2a01986940e3" /> Image credit: LandVest The rock band Pearl Jam are also rumoured to be performing at the prestigious event. The party, booked for August 7th, is facing criticism as it comes at a time when the highly-infectious Delta strain of Coronavirus is devastating the US, with an average of 70,000 cases per day. White House press secretary Jen Psaki stepped in to defend Obama's birthday plans, stating he is following guidelines put in place by Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and will have safety protocols adhered to. Psaki also said that Obama "has been a huge advocate of individuals getting vaccinated", and will require guests to be jabbed ahead of time to be allowed into the event. Guests will also receive a COVID test upon arrival, and anyone with symptoms will not be let in. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

The touching gift from Obama that moved the Queen to tears

Queen Elizabeth was moved to tears by a touching gift from then-President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, a former staffer has revealed. According to Capricia Penavic Marshall, the then chief of protocol for the United States, the 94-year-old British monarch was overwhelmed when presented with a leather-bound collection of memorabilia about her late father, King George VI. The heartwarming gift included invitations and notes from King George’s final visit to America in 1939 and was given by the Obamas at a lunch in 2011. “We wanted to make sure that what we were furthering this special relationship with the UK and particularly with Her Majesty,” Capricia told People magazine. “President and Mrs Obama were so, so very fond of her. In doing our research, we learned that [Queen Elizabeth] had a cherished relationship with her father, and she collected anything and everything that she could about him... “When she walked over and she's flipping and looking through the pages, I'm looking at her and I'm like, ‘Oh, goodness, I hope that she likes it.’ “And I want to say that I saw a little glisten of a tear in her eye after she paged through it a bit. She looked to the president said, ‘Thank you so very much for this.’” The former president and first lady also gave the Queen a green floral brooch – made of 14-karat yellow gold, diamonds and moss agate – which is said the couple chose themselves from Washington D.C.’s Tiny Jewel Box store. “I'd like to say that she was proud to wear a piece of a presidential gift and was displaying the unity between the two nations,” Capricia said. “I think that she has the capacity to always lift the message up right now and to create those stronger bounds. But she herself is the only one who will really know.” The brooch – which has been named “the American State Visit Brooch” – was worn by the Queen when President Donald Trump visited the UK in 2018.

Beauty & Style

“Don’t touch the bag”: Former Obama staff member reprimanded by Queen’s aid

Barack Obama’s former Chief of Protocol has revealed the extreme lengths Queen’s staff go to in order to protect her privacy. Capricia Penavic Marshall worked for former President Obama from 2009 to 2013 and her role meant she advised him on all matters of national and international diplomatic protocol. She also recalled to <a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/politics/capricia-penavic-marshall-new-book-remembers-trying-take-queen-elizabeth-purse/" target="_blank">People</a> the embarrassing moment she was scolded for trying to help the royal with her purse during an official visit to Buckingham Palace in 2011. After stepping forward to assist the Queen with her bag so that she could greet the Obamas without it, Marshall, 56, says her British counterpart quickly pushed her back and told her simply: “We do not touch the bag.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836673/queen.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/79d44520f5384eb18817bb6ddbc449b6" /> Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth. “As Her Majesty walked out, I made a comment to my counterpart. I said, ‘Oh, my goodness, Her Majesty has her bag.’ And I made an ever so slight move with my left foot,” she recalled. “He, with both of his hands, pushed me back against the wall and said, ‘Do not touch the bag,’ and I said, ‘Oh, my goodness. I'm so sorry.’” The unnamed royal staffer reiterated his point again, saying no one was to ever touch the Queen’s bag. “He goes, ‘We do not touch the bag.’ And I said, ‘Okay, I apologize. I would never. But do we know what's in the bag?’ And he said, ‘We don't know what's in the bag. But we never touch the bag,'” she revealed. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836672/queen-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fb25d221d26e4870a22bd919086447da" /> Capricia Penavic Marshall In Marshall’s new book, Protocol: The Power of Diplomacy and How to Make It Work for You, she said she actually learned Her Majesty actually uses her bag as a means of signalling to her staff. “If it's on one part of her arm, it means the meeting is going fine, leave me alone. But if she lowers it, it means, ‘End this now. I want to go,'” Marshall explained. Despite the awkward moment that could have gone terrible wrong, Marshall says the visit was a huge success and noted that the former President Obama and his wife Michelle were “so, so very fond” of the royal.

International Travel

Inside Michelle and Barack Obama’s new $17 million mansion

Michelle and Barack Obama have been known as regulars at Martha’s Vineyard, with annual visits to the Massachusetts island since their time in the White House. Now the couple are making things more permanent with the purchase of a mansion they rented over the summer. The US$11.75 million property (NZ$17.94 million) was sold last week to a trust, <a href="https://people.com/home/barack-michelle-obama-buy-marthas-vineyard-mansion/">People</a> reported. James F Reynolds, Chicago investment banker and longtime friend of Barack Obama, is also named as a trustee on the deed. The Edgartown home spans 6,892 square feet (640 square metre) and features seven bedrooms and eight-and-a-half baths as well as a number of stone fireplaces, two guest wings, a sun deck, boathouse and a pool. Photo credit: LandVest

Money & Banking

“That is not activism”: Barack Obama quick to call out keyboard warriors

Barack Obama spoke at the Obama Foundation’s annual summit in Chicago and spoke about the state of politics and activism within the US as well as the ‘woke’ culture that continues to grow in the world of politics. Being ‘woke’ means being aware or attentive to injustices in society and some people use being ‘woke’ to ‘cancel’ people who do things wrong, whether that be spelling mistakes in tweets or using the wrong word to describe something. The former US President was quizzed and got passionate about those who are ‘politically woke’. “This idea of purity and you’re never compromised and you’re politically woke, and all that stuff — you should get over that quickly,” he said, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/barack-obama-says-politically-woke-should-get-over-themselves/news-story/3500ce14ebfaaa2d4674556e2fcc1769" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. “The world is messy. There are ambiguities. People who do really good stuff have flaws. People who you are fighting with may love their kids and share certain things with you.” He was also quick to mention the issue with young people thinking that they can spark change by pointing out spelling mistakes. “One danger I see among young people particularly on college campuses is that I do get a sense among certain young people, and this is accelerated by social media, that the way of me making change is to be as judgmental as possible about other people and that’s enough,” Mr Obama said. “Like if I tweet or hashtag about how you didn’t do something right, or used the wrong verb, then I consider that I can feel pretty good about myself because, ‘man did you see how woke I was, I called you out’,” Mr Obama said, prompting laughter in the crowd. “That is not activism, that is not bringing about change. “If all you’re doing is casting stones, you are probably not going to get that far.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7832154/obama-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/836c492da6f6498a9ce70d8c9f5decf0" /> Former first lady Michelle Obama also spoke about the US’s problems with racism. “Families like ours — upstanding families like ours who were doing everything we were supposed to do and better — as we moved in, white folks moved out because they were afraid of what our families represented,” she said. “I always stop there when I talk about this out in the world because I want to remind white folks, ya’ll were running from us. This family. This family with all the values you read about, you were running from us. “And you still running, because we’re no different from the immigrant families that are moving in. the families that are coming from other places to try to do better.” “I can’t make people not afraid of black people,” she said. “But maybe if I show up every day as a human, a good human, maybe that work will pick away at the scabs of your discrimination.”

News

Obama shells out almost $22 million on bizarre island retreat

Barack and Michelle Obama are planning on buying a massive Martha’s Vineyard estate. The Obamas’ are in contract to buy an almost 12-hectare beachfront property, with a massive 640sqm main house. According to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/08/22/barack-and-michelle-obama-are-buying-15m-estate-in-marthas-vineyard/">NY Post</a>, the family were just renting the beachfront house for the summer but quickly fell in love and made an offer. The seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom property certainly has room for everyone and has a living room with vaulted ceilings and a stone fireplace. The home also includes a chef’s kitchen and a formal dining room with giant windows. The home is located in Edgartown, Massachusetts and was formerly owned by Boston Celtics chief Wyc Grousbeck. The master suite has a fireplace and a private sun deck for the power couple to relax in. Outside, there’s a pool with a fireplace as well as a private beach which include a boathouse. The location is known for its classic white-painted New England architecture and is ripe with world-class restaurants where other celebrities frequent, including David Letterman and Amy Schumer. Scroll through the gallery to see inside the Obama’s new home. Photo credits: <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realtor.com/news/" target="_blank">Realtor.com</a>

Home & Garden

"We’re living with divorced dad right now”: Michelle Obama’s verdict on Donald Trump's presidency

Michelle Obama has let her frustration be known over the Donald Trump presidency, as the current US president works hard to eradicate all the hard work that was done by her husband, former US President Barack Obama. Michelle was in London promoting her best-selling autobiography Becoming, when the host, US talk show host Stephen Colbert, asked how she felt about the Trump presidency. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7825976/obama.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/26857e195857431187914f81f1e900e0" /> Michelle Obama with Stephen Colbert in London “We are a teenager, we’re changing all over the place and we come from a broken family,” Michelle explained. “We’re a little unsettled and having good parents is tough. Sometimes you spend the weekends with divorced dad and that feels like it’s fun, but then you get sick. “That’s what America’s going through. We’re kind of living with divorced dad right now.” After making the joke about living with “divorced dad”, the former First Lady took aim at Trump himself. “For anyone who had any problems with Barack Obama, let’s just think about what we were troubled by — there were never any indictments.” Michelle also told a personal anecdote about the Queen, which she broke royal protocol with by putting her arm around her in 2009. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7825975/obama-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ca99d383097c49b1a77e998a52dc2a81" /> Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth II, Michelle Obama and Prince Philip She told the story about how touched she had been by the Queen’s decision to wear a small pin badge that the presidential couple had given her as a gift and couldn’t contain her joy. “I don’t know that I could have done anything differently because it was a natural human reaction.” She’s also very fond of the Queen’s wit. “That was my experience, that has been my experience: that kind of warmth and graciousness and intelligence and wit — I like her.” Michelle’s book tour will take her all around Europe, with stops in Paris and Amsterdam. Have you read Michelle’s autobiography Becoming? Let us know in the comments.

News

"Michelle would leave me": Barack Obama admits the one thing his wife won't put up with

Barack Obama has joked about the one thing that would prompt his wife Michelle to leave him. The former US president was speaking to a crowd of young leaders in Berlin, Germany, for an event organised by his non-profit the Obama Foundation on Saturday. He explained that his organisation is non-partisan. “I’m not here to support any political party, I’ve held my last political office,” the 57-year-old told the town hall audience. “Michelle would leave me if I ever ran for office again.” Although the US constitution stated that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice”, there are ways that he could gain a third term as President. According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jvdelong/2015/08/03/thinking-about-a-third-term/#7f9c81352f77" target="_blank">Forbes</a>, he could seek presidency through a non-elected route, such as becoming elected vice president or running as a cabinet member and then ascending via the Presidential Succession Act. This is not the first time the 44th President of the United States has joked about Michelle leaving him. In 2017, he delivered the joke in his acceptance speech for the Profile in Courage Award. “I also want to thank Michelle Obama for, after the presidency, sticking with me,” he said at the event. “Because I think she felt an obligation to the country to stay on, but once her official duties were over, it wasn’t clear.” He added, “I love my wife, and I’m grateful for her, and I do believe that it was America’s great good fortune to have her as First Lady.” The pair first met when they were working together at a law firm in 1989. They tied the knot three years later and went on to have two daughters, Malia and Sasha. After leaving the White House in 2017, Michelle told <a rel="noopener" href="https://people.com/politics/michelle-obama-barack-marriage-rediscovering-romance-after-white-house/" target="_blank">PEOPLE</a> that she and her husband have been enjoying quality time that they did not have as much of during their days as the President and the First Lady. “We are finding each other again,” she said. “We have dinners alone and chunks of time where it’s just us – what we were when we started this thing: no kids, no publicity, no nothing. Just us and our dreams.”

Relationships

Michelle Obama’s surprising marriage confession

The former First Lady of the United States has revealed that her and husband Barack Obama, who many look at as the pinnacle of a stable relationship, went through marriage counselling in a candid interview. The 54-year-old sat down with Good Morning America and said that her relationship with Barack is like any other marriage. “I know too many young couples who struggle and think there’s something wrong with them and I want them to know that Michelle and Barack Obama, who have a phenomenal marriage and love each other, we work on our marriage,” she said to interviewer Robin Roberts. Michelle and Barack, who met for the first time at a law practice they were both working at, credit marriage counselling for teaching them ways to take care of themselves and each other. “Marriage counselling for us was one of those ways where we learned how to talk out our differences. What I learnt about myself was my happiness was up to me,” she told Roberts. The full interview aired on Tuesday this week on Good Morning America and was the same day Michelle’s first book, Becoming, was released. The memoir is an inside look into the life of the former First Lady as she shares her struggles and triumphs throughout her life. One particular struggle was the difficulty she faced when trying to conceive before welcoming her two daughters Malia and Sasha. “We were trying to get pregnant and it wasn’t going well,” she writes in her book, according to The Associated Press. “We had one pregnancy test come back positive, which caused us both to forget every worry and swoon with joy, but a couple of weeks later I had a miscarriage, which left me physically uncomfortable and cratered any optimism we felt.” But the couple soon had Malia and Sasha with the help of IVF. Are you keen to read Michelle Obama's new book Becoming? Let us know in the comments below.

Relationships

Barack Obama’s heartfelt tribute to Michelle on 26th wedding anniversary

Barack and Michelle Obama have been known to inspire couples around the world with their love and appreciation for each other. And on Wednesday, the pair celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary by taking to social media and sharing a heartfelt message for one another. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Happy Anniversary, <a href="https://twitter.com/MichelleObama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MichelleObama</a>. For 26 years, you’ve been an extraordinary partner, someone who can always make me laugh, and my favorite person to see the world with. <a href="https://t.co/s8xoZ9j2YR">pic.twitter.com/s8xoZ9j2YR</a> — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1047564181266939905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">3 October 2018</a></blockquote> Posting on Twitter, the former US President shared a photo of Michelle and captioned it: “For 26 years, you’ve been an extraordinary partner, someone who can always make me laugh, and my favourite person to see the world with.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@barackobama</a> for 26+ years of love, trust, and respect - for being a man who always lifts up and honors me and our wonderful girls. Each day I’m with you, I’m reminded of what a treasure you truly are to us all. <a href="https://t.co/dfgJRMyWJj">https://t.co/dfgJRMyWJj</a> — Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichelleObama/status/1047567519370956800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">3 October 2018</a></blockquote> Michelle then replied to the tweet with a message of her own, saying, “Thank you @barackobama for 26+ years of love, trust and respect – for being a man who always lifts up and honors me and our wonderful girls. “Each day I’m with you, I’m reminded of what a treasure you truly are to us all.” The duo formed a bond in 1989, after Barack was mentored by Michelle at Chicago law firm Sidley Austin. But despite their loving relationship now, Michelle says she wasn’t fond of Barack at first. “Barack about a month in, asked me out, and I thought, ‘No way. This is completely tacky,’” she told <a rel="noopener" href="https://abcnews.go.com/" target="_blank">ABC News</a>. But she later gave in and agreed to go on a date to the Art Institute of Chicago and later watched the 1989 Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing. “He showed all the sides – he was hip, cutting edge, cultural, sensitive. The fountain – nice touch. The walk – patient,” Michelle revealed to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a>. The power couple decided to tie the knot after three years of dating on October 3, 1992. Taking to her Instagram earlier in the year, Michelle shared a rare photo of the two from their wedding day, giving an inside look into their relationship. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjHhl_lgrQN/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">You can’t tell it from this photo, but Barack woke up on our wedding day in October, 1992 with a nasty head cold. Somehow, by the time I met him at the altar, it had miraculously disappeared and we ended up dancing almost all night. Twenty five years later, we’re still having fun, while also doing the hard work to build our partnership and support each other as individuals. I can’t imagine going on this wild ride with anybody else.</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/michelleobama/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Michelle Obama</a> (@michelleobama) on May 23, 2018 at 4:03am PDT </div> </blockquote> “You can’t tell it from this photo, but Barack woke up on our wedding day in October 1992 with a nasty head cold,” she wrote in the caption. “Somehow, by the time I met him at the altar, it had miraculously disappeared, and we ended up dancing almost all night. “Twenty-five years later, we’re still having fun, while also doing the hard work to build our partnership and support each other as individuals. I can’t imagine going on this wild ride with anybody else.”

Technology

The sweet moment between George W. Bush and Michelle Obama at John McCain’s funeral

A small moment of sunshine came out of a rather emotional day, as an exchange between former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Michelle Obama went viral. A memorial service for US Senator John McCain was held on Saturday, who passed away on August 25 due to glioblastoma – the medical term for a brain tumour. As viewers tuned in to watch the service, many noticed a sweet moment between the former President and First Lady, as George was seen delivering a small piece of church candy into the hands of Michelle. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> George W. Bush sneaking a piece of candy to Michelle Obama is warming my heart . <a href="https://t.co/pAtDdIcSeB">pic.twitter.com/pAtDdIcSeB</a> — Roland Scahill (@rolandscahill) <a href="https://twitter.com/rolandscahill/status/1035904690825908225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 September 2018</a></blockquote> The exchange happened with the two seated next to each other, as Sen. Joe Lieberman spoke about the importance of reaching across the political aisle. The video shows former President Barack Obama looking at the pair fondly as his wife responds to George with a “thank you". George has spoken about the Obama’s with high regard in the past, especially Michelle who he said “kind of likes my sense of humour,” he told <a href="https://people.com/politics/george-w-bush-breaks-down-his-affection-for-michelle-obama-we-just-took-to-each-other/">People magazine</a> in 2017. “Anybody who likes my sense of humour, I immediately like.”

News

The three questions Barack Obama believes everyone should ask before marriage

The former White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer has revealed the wise relationship advice that Barack Obama shared with him while he was president. In Pfeiffer’s new book, Yes, We (Still) Can, the author shares a deep conversation he had with his former boss on his last day on the job in 2015. As they shared their plans for the future, Pfeiffer opened up about his girlfriend, hinting that the pair were getting serious. “So are you guys moving together? This is the one, huh,” Obama asked Pfeiffer, in an excerpt that has been shared on Twitter. Obama then shared some fatherly advice in the form of three questions he believes everyone should ask before getting married. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Barack Obama’s relationship advice to <a href="https://twitter.com/danpfeiffer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danpfeiffer</a> is better than 99% of the advice columns on the Internet. <a href="https://t.co/AumDz0M8fY">pic.twitter.com/AumDz0M8fY</a> — Amanda Litman (@amandalitman) <a href="https://twitter.com/amandalitman/status/1009981680042627073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2018</a></blockquote> “Here’s the advice I give everyone about marriage — is she someone you find interesting?” Pfeiffer says Obama asked him. Pfeiffer admitted he was confused by the question, but then Obama explained: “You will spend more time with this person than anyone else for the rest of your life, and there is nothing more important than always wanting to hear what she has to say about things.” Then Obama shared question number two: “Does she make you laugh?” Then the former president revealed the final question Pfeifer should ask himself before proposing: “I don’t know if you want kids, but if you do, do you think she will be a good mom?” Pfeifer was able to answer yes to all three of the crucial questions and then invited Obama to attend his wedding, which was one of four weddings the former president attended of couples who met through him and his work. Both Michelle and Barack have been vocal about their strong bond with each other after 25 years of marriage. In May, Michelle shared a photo from their 1992 wedding and explained how the couple are “still having fun”. “Twenty-five years later, we’re still having fun, while also doing the hard work to build our partnership and support each other as individuals,” she wrote. “I can’t imagine going on this wild ride with anybody else.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 33.19444444444444% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjHhl_lgrQN/" target="_blank">A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama)</a> on May 23, 2018 at 4:03am PDT </div> </blockquote> Last October, Obama delivered a sweet video tribute to his wife while she was speaking at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women. “I had to crash this party because today we have been married for 25 years,” Obama said in the video. “The idea that you would put up with me for a quarter of a century is a remarkable testament to what a saintly, wonderful, patient person you are.” “It was a lot easier for me to do it,” he added with a smile, “because the fact of the matter is that not only have you been an extraordinary partner, not only have you been a great friend, somebody who could always make me laugh, somebody who would always make sure that I was following what I thought was right, but you have also been an example to our daughters and to the entire country.”

Relationships

The secret Barack Obama hid from Michelle during Buckingham Palace visit

A new book by former President Barack Obama’s national security advisor has revealed a few secrets from Barack and Michelle Obama’s meeting with Queen Elizabeth during their visit to Buckingham Palace in May 2011. Ben Rhodes in The World As It Is: A Memoir of the Obama White House reveals that despite feeling in awe of the Queen, Barack favourably compared the sovereign to his beloved grandmother, whom he nicknamed “Toot.” “I really love the queen,” then-President Obama told Rhodes, according to the book. “She’s just like Toot, my grandmother. Courteous. Straightforward. All about what she thinks. She doesn’t suffer fools.” The Obamas’ visit to Buckingham Palace also included an odd rodent drama. According to the book, Barack was in a room going over his speech with his aides as Michelle was getting ready to sleep in another room when, suddenly, a butler appeared. “Mr. President, pardon me,” the butler said. “There’s a mouse.” “Don’t tell the first lady,” Barack quickly replied. “We’ll try to catch it, sir.” “Just don’t tell the First Lady,” Barack repeated, according to the book. And when Rhodes jokingly said to Barack that maybe the monarchy “really is a dying empire,” Obama laughed and said: “No, they’ve still got a lot going on. Did you see the bling on the queen?” He added, looking around the “ornate” room, “I’m just a few years away from being in the State Senate and living in a condo.”

News

Michelle Obama reveals all about her Buckingham Palace “sleepover”

The royals – they’re just like you and me! Well, that’s if Michelle Obama’s new revelations are anything to go by. The former First Lady opened up about her experience spending the night at Buckingham Palace during her state visit with ex-President Barack Obama in 2011, explaining there was no nervousness or awkwardness at all. “I think by the time we had the sleepover we had enough interacting with them,” she said at a MUSE event in New York. “The surprising thing is folks wanted to be treated normally. Everybody is happy when all the people are gone. They want to be hugged. They want to be touched. They gossip.” But as comfortable as the Obamas were in the company of royalty, there was one thing she said the White House had over Buckingham Palace – the cooking. “I don't want to insult anybody, American food is just better,” Michelle said. Although, she did concede that the Queen certainly outdid her former home when it came to china. “Everything is gold,” she revealed. “We had seen the gold room – there’s a room where they keep all the gold. It was Sasha’s birthday and the Queen opened the house and she let us see that room. During the state banquet, the plate that I thought was the charger, that was the plate. They put food on the gold charger.”

Home & Garden

Barack Obama jokes about big ears as new portrait unveiled

Former US President Barack Obama has poked fun about his big ears and praised his wife’s “hotness” as their portraits were unveiled at America’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC overnight. Painted by African-American artists who were personally chosen by the Obamas, the couple made a rare public appearance to attend the portrait unveiling. <img width="492" height="369" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/378503f4b1320c197fd68339fe95e20e" alt="Former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama stand beside their portraits after their unveiling at the National Portrait Gallery. Picture: AFP" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Speaking at the event, Mr Obama said that working with artist Kehinde Wiley was “a great joy,” but jokingly added that the artist refused to budge on some of his request. “I tried to negotiate less grey hair [but] Kehinde’s artistic integrity would not allow [him] to do what I asked. I tried to negotiate smaller ears. Struck out on that as well.” The former first lady Michelle Obama was painted by Baltimore-based artist Amy Sherald, who Mr Obama personally thanked during his speech. “Amy, I want to thank you for so spectacularly capturing the grace and beauty and intelligence and charm and hotness of the woman I love,” the former president said. <img width="491" height="400" src="https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/world/analysis/2018/02/12/the-obamas-portraits-are-not-what-youd-expect-thats-why-theyre-great/portraits2_jpg.jpg.size.custom.crop.801x650.jpg" alt="Image result for obama portraits side by side" class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 1px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> But Mrs Obama’s portrait has drawn mixed reactions from the public, with the most common criticism being that it doesn’t look like the former first lady. The gallery has a complete collection of presidential portraits. The latest additions are now available for public viewing.

Art

Barack Obama’s birthday message to Michelle will make your heart melt

When your “happy birthday” post to your wife has more than 3 million likes on Instagram, you know you’ve got a way with words. That’s what happened yesterday when Barack Obama captioned a photo of himself and wife Michelle with the following message: “You're not only my wife and the mother of my children, you're my best friend. “I love your strength, your grace, and your determination. And I love you more each day. Happy Birthday, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/MichelleObama/">@MichelleObama</a>” The image shows the pair, looking effortlessly well-dressed as usual, with Michelle’s hand placed lovingly on her husband’s knee as he looks at her. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BeEI3RjBNGl/" target="_blank">A post shared by Barack Obama (@barackobama)</a> on Jan 17, 2018 at 12:52pm PST </div> </blockquote> Comments poured in, with messages such as “this pair is a class act,” and “Beautiful Human Beings!” Michelle quickly responded with a message of her own, with a heartfelt caption to thank her husband for her birthday bouquet. “Thank you <a href="https://www.instagram.com/BarackObama/">@BarackObama</a> for the beautiful flowers waiting for me in the office this morning. You’re my best friend, biggest fan, and getting notes and flowers from you will never get old.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BeEHnyelRuk/" target="_blank">A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama)</a> on Jan 17, 2018 at 12:41pm PST </div> </blockquote> Could they be more adorable? It seems Michelle had many notes and messages from well-wishers for her birthday, as she continued in her post, “And to the many people from around the country who sent cards and posted on social media, you have no idea how much we love hearing from you. “I know birthdays can sometimes be bittersweet (54!), but your messages of hope, generosity, and warmth have always reminded me how lucky and blessed we are.” Let’s hope these two continue with their public displays of affection, to give us all a little hope that romance is not yet dead. What do you think of the trend for writing notes like this and placing them on social media? We would love to hear what you think in the comments.

Technology

Staff reveal former President Barack Obama's best jokes

Ex-President Barack Obama and George W Bush might have been considered the leader of the free world in their day, but apparently they didn’t let this get in the way of a laugh. A recently released book Treating People Well: The Extraordinary Power of Civility at Work and in Life former White House social secretaries Lea Berman and Jeremy Bernard open up about life working for the first families. Interestingly, Berman contents Bush “understood the power of a good laugh,” and wasn’t above self-deprecating humour when interacting with his inner circle. Bush reportedly embraced the “Bushisms” lampooned in the media, to such an extent that “terms such as “misunderestimate” and “I’m the decider” became commonplace. Apparently, the Obama administration was no different. The book recounts a famous story of Bernard’s first day at the White House where he wore a garish orange Hermès tie. He’d reportedly been second-guessing the tie all morning before he went to meet his new boss. When Bernard arrived in Michelle Obama’s office she exclaimed, “Oh, my... your tie!” The First Lady, who had been tipped off about the wardrobe faux pas, burst into laughter, and this sort of gentle ribbing came to be a hallmark of their time in charge. What are your thoughts?

Books

“I’m nervous”: Prince Harry’s hilarious interview with Barack Obama

They’re two of the most famous faces in the world, but when Prince Harry and Barack Obama sat down for a chat a couple of months ago, they were just like every other pair of mates catching up after a long time. During the Invictus Games in September, the 33-year-old prince met with the former US President to record a special Christmas radio broadcast for the BBC, and we’ve just gotten our first glimpse at their chat, which will be released in full on December 27. <blockquote class="twitter-video"> Here is a sneak preview of when <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BarackObama</a> met Prince Harry for the interview. Listen to the full interview on 27th December on <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCr4today?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCr4today</a>. <a href="https://t.co/p5I1dUdyhx">pic.twitter.com/p5I1dUdyhx</a> — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/942353717101318144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2017</a></blockquote> “Do I have to put on a British accent?” Obama joked, with Harry replying, “No, but if you start using long pauses between answers you’re going to get ‘the face,’” and proceeding to scowl. “You’re excited about this,” Harry tells Obama before launching into his questions. “I’m nervous about this. That’s what’s quite funny.” In response, Obama offered a compromise: “I’ll interview you if you want.” The pair, who have met several times both during and after Obama’s time in the White House, discussed the former President’s memories of his last day in office, his plans for the future, and how he hopes to shape the lives of the next generation of leaders with his Obama Foundation. The full broadcast will be available on BBC radio and as a podcast. Tell us in the comments below, will you be tuning in?

Michelle's sweet tribute to Barack Obama on 25th wedding anniversary

Michelle Obama has written a special post to her husband, former US President Barack Obama, in honour of their 25th wedding anniversary. The former first lady wrote, "Happy 25th anniversary @barackobama. A quarter of a century later, you're still my best friend & the most extraordinary man I know. I [heart] you." Along with the tribute, Michelle shared a black and white photo from their wedding day on October 3, 1992. <img width="500" height="499" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/43751/1_500x499.jpg" alt="1 (30)"/> The couple first met in 1989 in Chicago while they were both working in a law firm. Michelle was assigned to be Barack’s mentor during his time as a summer associate. 25 years since their wedding, the power couple have accomplished a lot together, including raising their two daughters, 19-year-old Malia and 16-year-old Sasha. Malia has recently started college and Barack Obama shared just how hard it was for him to drop her off. "I dropped off Malia at college, and I was saying to Joe and Jill (Biden) that it was a little bit like open-heart surgery, and I was proud that I did not cry in front of her," he said. "But on the way back, the Secret Service was off, looking straight ahead, pretending they weren't hearing me as I sniffled and blew my nose. It was rough."

Relationships

10 most inspiring quotes from Barack Obama

During his eight years as arguably the most powerful man in the world, former US President Barack Obama accomplished so much and inspired so many. Today, as he celebrates his 56th birthday, we decided to take a look at some of his wisest quotes – and we think you’ll agree, they’re more important now than ever before. See them for yourself in the gallery above and tell us in the comments, which of these quotes inspires you the most?

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10 most inspiring quotes from Barack Obama