Barack Obama

Barrack Obama praises NBA stars

The NBA was this week suspended indefinitely amid the spread of COVID-19, with league commissioner Adam Silver saying that will remain the case for at least 30 days.

In response, Kevin Love, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Blake Griffin all donated $100,000 to the arena staff of their respective teams to help those who will be hardest hit by the halting of NBA action.

Zion Williamson vowed to cover the salaries of all staff at the New Orleans Pelicans' Smoothie King Center for the next month.

Obama did not record private meetings

"We obviously didn't record private meetings," the former official said. "The Obama White House didn't secretly record private meetings"

The White House press office had a stenographer in meetings with journalists in order to have an independent transcript of the interviews, a common practice, the former official said.

Obama warned Trump about hiring Michael Flynn

Mr Obama warned his successor less than 48 hours after the November election during a conversation in the Oval Office, former Obama officials said.

Mr Flynn's contacts with a Russian envoy left him vulnerable to blackmail, a Senate panel heard on Monday.

He was fired in February for concealing the nature of these contacts.

Mr Flynn, a retired army lieutenant-general, misled the Trump administration about discussing US sanctions against Russia with the country's envoy, Sergei Kislyak, before the inauguration.

White House to keep visitor logs secret

The White House cited "grave national security risks and privacy concerns" as the reason for its decision.

Former President Barack Obama voluntarily disclosed more than 6 million records during his presidency.

Critics say the logs allow for monitoring of individuals or groups who may be trying to influence policy.

White House Communications Director Michael Dubke said the administration is following a 2013 federal court ruling that found most of the logs are considered presidential records and are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Obamas expected in French Polynesia

Tahiti Nui TV reported that several sources had confirmed that Mr Obama would initially stay at the Brando resort on Tetiaroa.

The French Polynesian presidency said it had been advised of Mr Obama's arrival but no details about his stay had been given.

The reports said during their visit, Mr and Mrs Obama would also spend time on Bora Bora.

They said there would be no formal welcome when the couple arrives in Tahiti.

 

Photo: AFP Former US President Barack Obama and his wide Michelle Obama, in Cuba last year. 

FBI asked Justice Department to refute Trump's wiretapping claim

The FBI made the request because such wiretapping would be illegal, since the President cannot just order the eavesdropping of a U.S. citizen's phones, the sources said. The sources would not say who was involved in the conversations between the FBI and DOJ.

So far, the Justice Department has not said anything in reaction to Trump's tweets on Saturday, in which he made the wiretapping allegations.

Asked about the FBI request, a Justice Department spokesman said he had no comment. The FBI refused comment as well.

White House wants Congress to probe if Obama ordered wiretap

The request came a day after President Donald Trump alleged, without supporting evidence, that then-President Obama ordered a wiretap of the phones at Trump's campaign headquarters in Trump Tower in New York.

Mr Trump, who has been facing intense scrutiny over alleged Russian interference in support of his presidential bid, made the wire-tapping allegation in tweets written from his weekend home in Florida early on Saturday.

His press secretary said the inquiry into alleged Russian interference should also examine these allegations.

Barack and Michelle Obama agree Penguin Random House book deal

"The company has acquired world publication rights for two books, to be written by President and Mrs Obama respectively," the publisher said.

Titles and other details have not been disclosed but the deal is believed to be worth over $60m (£48m).

Mr Obama is the author of the bestsellers Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope.

Mrs Obama has written American Grown - a book about food and gardening.

Trump says Obama behind leaks

Trump was asked in an interview on Fox News' "Fox and Friends" if he believed Obama was responsible for the town hall protests against Republicans this month.

"It turns out his organization seems to do a lot of these organizing to some of the protests that these Republicans are seeing around the country against you. Do you believe President Obama is behind it and if he is, is that a violation of the so-called unsaid presidents' code?" Trump was asked.

"No, I think he is behind it. I also think it is politics, that's the way it is," Trump replied.

Yes we can... elect Obama president of France?

"It's totally crazy, but the cool thing is that once you get past that, you start thinking that maybe it's possible. Who cares that he's not French? He's Barack Obama," one of the campaign organizers told CNN.

They've launched a website and they put up 500 posters of Obama around Paris last weekend, said the organizer. He asked to be identified only as Antoine.

They're hoping to get 1 million people to sign a petition urging Obama to run.

Yes, it's a joke, he admits -- but one with a serious purpose.