Obama: 'Blood of Africa' in Me

Africa advocates say White House overlooks troubled continent

(NEWSER) - Michelle Obama's trip to southern Africa this week is giving new life to criticism that the Obama administration is overlooking the troubled continent, reports the Washington Post . The president has been to sub-Saharan Africa only once since taking office— a 24-hour trip to Ghana in 2009 —and critics say the region has been largely ignored. The American government is “not seeing Africa as a big priority," said a spokesman for TransAfrica Forum. "There has been some ambivalence.” More»

Limo bottoms out on way out of US Embassy, prez forced to take backup car

(NEWSER) - President Obama's "Beast" limousine is built to withstand assassins' bullets, bombs, and terrorist attacks—but apparently not Irish speed bumps. The 18-foot-long, 8-ton Cadillac was leaving the US Embassy for Moneygall today when it bottomed out on a ramp that the low-rider couldn't clear, reports the Daily Mail, and guffaws emerged from the cheering crowd as the president had to make a car-swap. More»

Moneygall readies for president's visit tomorrow

(NEWSER) - It's not often that drivers blink twice when passing the tiny Irish village of Moneygall, so one might imagine the frenzy that results when Barack Obama swings by for a visit tomorrow. Along with the country's trademark green and orange, locals have decked the County Offaly town out in red, white, and blue, opened an Obama Cafe, and started hawking Obama T-shirts in honor of the president's visit tomorrow, reports the Irish Times. The Offaly Independent has even been re-branded the Obama Independent. More»

Head table included actor BD Wong, everyone ate apple pie

(NEWSER) - Sure, everybody who is somebody got an invite to last night's state dinner, which 225 people attended. But who got seated at the head table with President Obama and guest of honor Hu Jintao? Gawker has the list, which includes:

• Law and Order star BD Wong
• Bill and Hillary, along with Jimmy and Roslyn, and John Kerry and Teresa
• GE's Jeff Immelt and wife Andrea (who's next to President Obama)
• Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and wife Maggie
• Communist Party bigwig Ling Jihua

China, US will open formal dialogue on concerns

(NEWSER) - China and the US agreed to open a formal dialogue on human rights, reports the Washington Post . But it should be based on "mutual respect and the principle of noninterference in each other's internal affairs," said President Hu Jintao. He did acknowledge, however, that "a lot still needs to be done in China" on the subject. Obama said he had a "very candid" talk with Hu on the topic, but that it shouldn't "prevent us from cooperating" on other matters. More»