Barack Obama - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Protesters interrupt Biden, Obama, Clinton at $25 million New York fundraiser

PRESIDENT Joe Biden and his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, headlined a star-studded fundraiser with former President Bill Clinton, offering a robust defence of the White House's handling of the Gaza crisis as protesters interrupted the event. Biden, who travelled with Obama on Air Force One to New York, took part in a discussion with Clinton moderated by "The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in front of thousands of guests. Organizers say the event raised more than $25 million for Biden's U.S. reelection campaign. But the fundraiser was punctuated by several protests inside the…

Mar

2024

By JEFF MASON

Obama, Bill Clinton to join Biden to raise $25 million at event with Queen Latifah and Lizzo

WORLD

PRESIDENT Joe Biden will get a boost from Democratic predecessors Barack Obama and Bill Clinton at a fundraiser in New York slated to raise more than $25 million and add some oomph to Biden's 2024 re-election campaign. Biden and the two former commanders-in-chief will take part in a discussion moderated by "The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert at Radio City Music Hall in front of thousands of guests at what Biden's re-election campaign said would be the most successful political fundraiser in history. Musicians Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele are slated to perform, and some…

May

2023

By The African Mirror

Russia says 500 Americans to be banned, list includes Obama

WORLD

RUSSIA'S foreign ministry said former President Barack Obama was among 500 U.S. citizens who would be banned in response to the latest round of sanctions announced by Washington. The ministry also said Russia had refused the latest U.S. request for consular access to detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in March on suspicion of spying. This move was triggered by the U.S. refusal last month to give visas to media travelling with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the United Nations, it said in a statement. "Washington should have learned a long time ago that not a single hostile…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Obama, Spielberg and Springsteen delight Barcelona restaurant staff

WORLD

PEOPLE in Barcelona had to do a double take when former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and film-maker Steven Spielberg joined the throngs of tourists to visit some of the city's main sites - albeit with added security. The trio were in Barcelona to attend a concert by pal Bruce Springsteen at Barcelona's Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium on Friday night. Obama, Spielberg and Springsteen dined at the Amar restaurant in the Palace Hotel on Thursday. Staff member Pol Perello uploaded a photo of them posing with wait staff and chefs to Instagram with the comment "the pleasure this job brings…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

From Chinua Achebe to Toyin Falola – 5 essential books Nigeria’s new president should read

LITERATURE

NOT many African political leaders are known to have publicly declared their love of reading. US President Barack Obama popularised the idea of a recommended reading list and he still shares his annual choice. Author OLAYINKA OYEGBILE, Journalist and Communications scholar, Trinity University, Lagos As a communications scholar and a book reviewer, I made a short list of essential reads for Nigeria’s new president. My selection of books is based on what a new president needs to know when he takes the reins of a deeply divided and disillusioned country. Nigeria has many problems. Disunity deepened under the Muhammadu Buhari…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Obama joins NBA Africa as strategic partner

NEWS

FORMER U.S. President Barack Obama has joined NBA Africa as a strategic partner to help advance social responsibility efforts across the continent, the National Basketball Association has announced. Obama will have a minority equity stake in the new venture, which over time he intends to use to fund Obama Foundation youth and leadership programs across Africa. "By investing in communities, promoting gender equality, and cultivating the love of the game of basketball, I believe that NBA Africa can make a difference for so many of Africa's young people," Obama said in a news release. "I've been impressed by the league's…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Obama, Bush, Clinton, Carter and First Ladies promote vaccine in new advertisements

WORLD

SHEILA DANG FORMER U.S. Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter will star in two new public service announcements (PSA) for the coronavirus vaccine alongside former First Ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Rosalynn Carter, the Ad Council announced on Thursday. "The science is clear. These vaccines will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease," said President Bush in one of the PSAs with Obama and Clinton, urging Americans to get vaccinated. "That's the first step to ending the pandemic and moving our country forward," said Obama. Noticeably absent…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

Barack Obama adds South African song ‘Uwrongo’ to year-end playlist

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO FORMER American president Barack Obama released his popular, year end music playlist - a compilation of his favourite songs from 2020 - and one of the songs included is a South African track called ‘Uwrongo’. It is the first time that the former president has added any South African song to his annual anticipated playlist. Obama’s ‘Favourite Music of 2020’ playlist is part of his year-end recommendations that the former president compiles in various categories including books, movies & TV (a new feature due to covid-19 lockdown regulations), and music. The playlist features features from hip-hop star Megan…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Four takeaways from Day Three of the Democratic National Convention

WORLD

JAMES OLIPHANT THE third night of the Democratic National Convention featured a lineup of high-wattage political star power: former President Barack Obama, 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and, lastly, 2020 vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Here are takeaways from Wednesday's program: THE BATTLE IS JOINED It was a night set aside for Harris' history-making turn as the first Black woman and Asian American on a major U.S. presidential ticket, but Obama's blistering indictment of President Donald Trump left the biggest mark. Dispensing with any notion of civility between those who have held the office, Obama painted his successor as a…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Obama slams Trump as unfit, says U.S. democracy is at risk

WORLD

JOSEPH AX FORMER U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday assailed his successor, Donald Trump, as deeply unfit for the office he occupies and argued that voting for his former No. 2, Joe Biden, was necessary to ensure the survival of American democracy. "He's shown no interest in putting in the work; no interest in finding common ground; no interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends; no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves," Obama said…