State of emergency in Crimea as Ukraine focuses pressure on ‘jewel in Putin’s crown’ 
US Resumes Dollar Shipments to Iraq After Months-Long Suspension 
Iran Holds State Funeral for Ali Khamenei as Security Fears Shape Succession 
Amy Coney Barrett Faces Conservative Backlash After Key Supreme Court Rulings Against Trump 
JD Vance Says Britain Needs Major Political Change as Leadership Transition Looms 
EU Chip Industry Faces Growing Risks From China Export Controls and U.S. Technology Dependence: Report 
Russian Attacks Kill Three in Eastern Ukraine as Civilian Casualties Mount 
Trump Marks America’s 250th Anniversary With National Mall Rally Amid Political Divide 
OpenAI Proposes 5% U.S. Government Stake Amid AI Policy Talks 
Russian Attacks Kill Six Across Ukraine as Kyiv Mourns Deadly Strike 
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of 702 Federal Regulations in Major Deregulation Push 
Khamenei Funeral Draws Thousands as Iran Stages Nationwide Week of Mourning 
DHS Investigates Cyber Breach in Homeland Security Information-Sharing Network 
US Appeals Court Limits ICE Detention Without Bond Hearings After 90 Days 
US Ambassador Prioritizes Cook Islands Critical Minerals, Warns of China’s Pacific Influence 
Trump Administration Declines USMCA Renewal, Opens Talks on New Trade Changes 
Moody’s Says Peru’s President-Elect Keiko Fujimori Could Boost Investor Confidence 
Former president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama turned heads during Joe Biden’s inauguration, with Mrs. Obama especially getting noticed for her plum-colored ensemble. Obama recently talked about his wife’s much-talked-about inauguration look when he surprised a virtual book club meeting.
The former president made a surprise appearance at a virtual meeting hosted by Black-owned independent bookstore Mahogany Books and the Very Smart Brothas Book Club, while a discussion about his memoir, “A Promised Land” was going on. One member of the club asked Obama what his thoughts are regarding the former first lady’s inauguration day outfit that was designed by Sergio Hudson. Michelle’s hairstyle was also widely-adored by those who were watching the event either in person or at home.
“I don’t know what it is about y’all, with Michelle and her belts,” said Obama, about his wife’s outfit. “I asked Michelle about it at dinner the other night. I said ‘Listen, baby, you are gorgeous. You know, I understand completely why you are a fashion icon,’ But I said ‘Was your hair that different? ‘Cause it didn’t look that different.’”
When some of the members pointed out that the former first lady’s hairstyle during the event was “laid,” Obama said that he did not have any other answer than that she looked good and that she looked better than him.
It is not just the American public that the former first lady has also charmed, but Queen Elizabeth herself was as well. Royal insiders revealed what happened during the G20 Summit when Obama was still president, where they faced some criticism for supposedly ignoring royal protocols and touching the Queen. One insider revealed that the Queen actually enjoyed Michelle’s company during their visit to Buckingham Palace.
Back in 2009, the Queen invited the Obamas to go on a trip with them by car, with the then-first lady being given the privilege to sit next to the monarch herself. Journalist Ashley Pearson revealed in the 2020 documentary “Michelle Obama: Life After the White House” that Michelle was actually reluctant to sit next to the Queen. Pearson shared that the Queen put Michelle’s fears to rest by assuring her that she can sit next to the monarch.
“When Michelle hesitated, the Queen said to Michelle, ‘Have they warned you that you can’t do this?’ and when she said ‘Yes,’ the Queen said ‘Rubbish - you can sit wherever you want.’ So it seems like despite everybody in the world freaking out that Michelle put her arm around the Queen, the Queen was charmed - very much so, by Michelle Obama,” shared Pearson.
