Los Angeles has renamed a stretch of road to honor former United States president Barack Obama. The nearly 4-mile strip, previously named Rodeo Road, is now called “Obama Boulevard”, as reported by CNN. Obama’s first rally in Los Angeles was held at Rancho Cienega Park on Feb. 20, 2007. It is situated on Rodeo Road, across from W. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. “For every child who will drive down this street and see the name of the first Black President of our country, this boulevard will serve as a physical reminder that no goal is out of reach and that no dream is too big,” said city council president Herb Wesson on Twitter. Read also: Obamas top the Trumps as America's most admired people The motion to rename the stretch of road was first made in 2017. It was approved in August 2018, 10 years after Obama officially became the Democratic Party’s first African-American presidential nominee in August 2008. The district where the road … [Read more...] about Los Angeles renames street ‘Obama Boulevard’
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Jho Low and rapper indicted for Obama donations
WASHINGTON: Fugitive financier Low Taek Jho – also known as Jho Low – and a founding member of hip-hop group Fugees have been indicted for making illegal contributions to US president Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. Jho Low, 37, and Haitian-American rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, 46, were accused of conspiracy and other charges in the four-count indictment unsealed on Friday. The presidential candidate receiving the contributions was not identified in the indictment and was referred to only as “Candidate A”. But it has been widely reported and it was clear from the indictment that it was Obama. The indictment alleges that between June and November 2012, Low transferred US$21.6 million (RM89 million) to Michel “for the purpose of funneling significant sums of money into the United States presidential election”. Michel allegedly paid about US$865,000 (RM3.6 billion) to about 20 “straw donors” so they could make … [Read more...] about Jho Low and rapper indicted for Obama donations
Obamas producing Netflix project critical of Trump
Former US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are producing for Netflix an adaptation of Michael Lewis's book The Fifth Risk, a critique of Donald Trump's rise to power. The video-on-demand platform announced a year ago that the former first couple had entered into a multi-year agreement to produce films and series with Netflix. On Tuesday, Netflix unveiled the initial projects for Higher Ground Productions, Obama's production company in partnership with the streaming service. Among them is the adaptation of Lewis's book in "non-fiction" form, Netflix said in a statement. The series "will aim to portray the importance of unheralded work done by everyday heroes guiding our government and safeguarding our nation," it said. Several of Lewis's books have already been adapted for cinema, including The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine. Read also: Barack and Michelle Obama sign Netflix production deal His latest work, published last year, describes the … [Read more...] about Obamas producing Netflix project critical of Trump
Obamas to produce adaptation of book on Trump presidency
Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama's production house will bring out an adaptation of Michael Lewis' "The Fifth Risk", which is around the administration of the Donald Trump presidency. Higher Ground Productions, the Obama's production company in partnership with Netflix, has unveiled an initial slate of projects, including this adaptation, reported variety.com. A description of the series reads: "From Lewis, the author of 'The Big Short' and 'Moneyball', and based on his book 'The Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy', 'Fifth Risk', a non-fiction series, will portray the importance of unheralded work done by everyday heroes guiding our government and safeguarding our nation." The Obamas' other projects include a biopic on American reformer Frederick Douglass and a period drama set in the fashion world penned by Callie Khouri. The content comprises a range of scripted and unscripted projects for a range of audiences, as well as full-length features and documentaries. … [Read more...] about Obamas to produce adaptation of book on Trump presidency
Richard Lugar, US foreign-policy luminary, dies at 87
WASHINGTON: Senator Richard Lugar, a leading US voice on foreign policy for decades and a onetime presidential candidate known for his civility and bipartisan ways, has died at a medical center in Falls Church, Virginia. He was 87.Lugar died of chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy, according to a statement from the Lugar Center in Washington, a global policy institute which he founded in 2013.A soft-spoken Republican moderate, Lugar was twice chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and built a reputation as one of Washington's most influential foreign-policy voices during the record six terms he represented Indiana in the Senate.That reputation was burnished by his willingness to work across party lines, most famously when he joined Democratic senator Sam Nunn in 1991 to forge what became known as the Nunn-Lugar program to help former Soviet republics dismantle their nuclear arsenals.In a statement, Vice President Mike Pence - former governor of Indiana - mourned … [Read more...] about Richard Lugar, US foreign-policy luminary, dies at 87