Written by on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in Latest News.
Reuters - Hours after taking office on Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama ordered military prosecutors in the Guantanamo war crimes tribunals to ask for a 120-day halt in all pending cases.
Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back
Written by on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in Latest News.
The destruction at Juhr el Dik, a farming village on Gaza’s eastern border, was a hard fact, but how it happened was not, with Israelis and Gazans each offering their own versions of events.
Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back
Written by on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in Latest News.
AP - The official Chinese translation of President Barack Obama’s inauguration speech omitted his references to communism and dissent, and a live broadcast on state television Wednesday quickly cut away to the anchor when sensitive topics were mentioned.
Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back
Written by on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in Latest News.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The stars stepped out on Inauguration night, flocking to a host of balls across the nation’s Capitol, to celebrate the Inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back
Written by on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in Latest News.
After months of speculation, at last we know: Michelle Obama has chosen New York designer Jason Wu to create her inaugural night gown. This is not the first time the first lady has worn one of the 26-year-old’s designs-she picked one of his dresses last November for a interview with Barbara Walters. Tonight’s piece-an elaborate, one-shoulder, floor-length white chiffon gown-is fairy-like, filled with ruffles and sparkles and reportedly costs around $3,500.
All that aside, no matter what the country thinks about the dress-and you can be sure, they will think a lot-we already know how Mrs. Obama’s husband feels. When the couple entered the Neighborhood Ball tonight, President Barack Obama announced, “First of all, how good-looking is my wife?”
Fashion experts tell us what they think about Mrs. O’s Inaugural Ball gown
“Michelle Obama once more does something new and fresh-working with an emerging fashion star and turning Jason Wu overnight into a household name.
This type of dress silhouette is something that’s completely unexpected. It’s vibrant and aspirational, full and gorgeous. In the past, no one has been this striking or this ravishing. She’s bringing sexy back.”-Sasha Charnin Morrison, fashion director, Us Weekly
“I actually gasped when Michelle Obama came out in that dress. And the fact that it’s by virtually unknown, twenty-something designer Jason Wu makes me love her (and it) even more. The gown hits the mark between classic (flowy and goddess-y) and inventive (floral appliqués and sparkles). She looks so radiant, elegant, and best of all, totally comfortable in her own skin which makes her that much more alluring.”-Emily Hsieh, Lucky contributing editor
Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back
Written by on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in Latest News.
Our man in the crowd gets exclusive interviews and video of the A-listers attending the history-making ceremony
Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back
Written by on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in Latest News.
First lady Michelle Obama celebrated her husband’s inauguration Tuesday night wearing a white chiffon, one-shoulder gown covered in fluffy appliques and beading that will now become part of fashion history.
Designed by 26-year-old Jason Wu, much loved in the fashion world but otherwise not well known, the gathered-skirt gown was surprising for its reserve given Michelle Obama’s love of jewel tones and sleek silhouettes. Yet it was unconventional too, exposing her much-remarked-upon, well-toned arms.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 2009 Presidential Inauguration Balls
The gown’s slight train swirled pleasingly and her shoulder-sweeping earrings picked up the gown’s sparkle as she and President Barack Obama danced the evening’s first dance at the Neighborhood Ball at Washington’s Convention Center.
“First of all, how good-looking is my wife?” the president asked a cheering crowd.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: 2009 Presidential Inauguration
The gown will be donated to the Smithsonian, according to tradition, the first lady’s spokeswoman said.
Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, wore a red strapless gown.
President Obama wore a white bow tie with a single-vent, notch-collar tuxedo and an American flag pinned to its lapel.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Presidential Posh: A Look Back At Inaugural Style History
The fashion industry has anxiously looked to the election of President Obama for months, embracing his wife as an emblem and ambassador of modern style, who wears clothes from young designers as well as mainstream American retailers.
Earlier in the day, Michelle Obama won applause from style-watchers for the sparkling yellow sheath dress with matching coat by Cuban-born American designer Isabel Toledo that she wore to the swearing-in and parade.
The lemongrass-colored dress was applauded as a cheerful message of hope and a vote for the American fashion industry. In some light, the embellished ensemble took on a pale greenish cast, coordinating nicely with green gloves from J. Crew and Jimmy Choo green patent pumps.
The Obama daughters were style icons in their own right, with Malia, 10, in a double-breasted periwinkle-blue coat with a blue-ribbon bow at the waist, and Sasha, 7, in a pink coat with
orange scarf and satin belt, a coral-colored dress peeking out at the hem. Their coats were from Crewcuts by J. Crew.
Wu, who has only shown a collection since 2006, and Toledo, who had a short stint at Anne Klein but is considered relatively avant-garde, are exactly the kinds of designer Obama gravitates
toward.
“There is nothing that comes close to this moment,” Toledo said, speaking in New York. “It’s not just my moment and hers, but it’s the world’s…It’s not only what she’s wearing. It’s what the moment represents.”
Toledo said she chose the lemongrass color for the optimism it represents.
“I didn’t want a traditional blue or red,” she said. “That color has sunshine in it. I fell in love with it. So did she.”
That unusual shade of yellow “really popped” on Michelle Obama’s complexion, said fashion designer Kai Milla, wife of Stevie Wonder and an invited guest to the swearing-in ceremony.
“What I recognized more than anything from our new first lady and Hillary (Clinton) and everyone else is that everyone was fresh,” she said.
The overall day-look was largely a hit.
“She’s off to an auspicious start,” said Hamish Bowles, Vogue magazine’s European editor-at-large who curated the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute exhibit on Jackie Kennedy in 2001.
“Mrs. Obama’s choice today was appropriate, dignified and elegant, but it also had a considerable element of fashion panache,” he added. “She’s finding great American talent.”
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: On The Scene: Barack Obama’s Inauguration
PLAY IT NOW: Aretha Franklin Sings For Obama!
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: 2009 Presidential Inauguration - News - Politics - Barack Obama
Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back
Written by on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in Latest News.
The contestants are still upset from last week’s elimination challenge when they had to send Jerry home, but it’s time to move on and push forward. And they get right into it…
Temptation Challenge. The team who eats the most calories wins. The winning team gets to go home for a couple days and train alone with the trainer. Joelle seems to take a lot of food. Some of the others struggle with even taking one piece. Alison Sweeny announces what each team ate. 380 calories for Mandi for a slice of pizza. Aubrey, her teammate on the Yellow, ate nothing! Filipe also ate nothing and his teammate Sione ate two pieces of pizza and a taco for 960 calories. Kristin from purple also ate nothing and Cathy followed suit by eating nothing. Damien and Nicole from the red team both ate nothing. Helen and Shannon, pink, ate nothing. Tara and Laura didn’t eat anything. Black and Brown ate nothing. Joelle ate nothing but Carla ate slices of pizza, chicken nuggets and cupcakes for a total of 2710 calories. Everyone gets angry with Joelle for celebrating in front of Mandi who wanted to go home and see her kids.
Joelle admits she feels like an outsider. In one of the funniest moments of the episode, she says repeatedly “I’ve tried to be engaging” which just makes me laugh out loud. She’s so off-putting as she says it and looks at the camera.
Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back
Written by on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in Latest News.
Reuters - Barack Obama took power as the first black U.S. president on Tuesday and quickly turned the page on the Bush years, urging Americans to rally to end the worst economic crisis in generations and repair the U.S. image abroad.
Original post by Reuters and software by Elliott Back
Written by on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 in Latest News.
Reuters - Barack Obama took power as the first black U.S. president on Tuesday and quickly turned the page on the Bush years, urging Americans to rally to end the worst economic crisis in generations and repair the U.S. image abroad.
Original post by Reuters and software by Elliott Back
