Under 3 weeks left: Obama in closing stretch of presidency

His last vacation behind him, President Barack Obama is entering the closing stretch of his presidency, an eleventh-hour push to tie up loose ends and put finishing touches on his legacy before handing the reins to President-elect Donald Trump. Obama returned to Washington midday Monday from Hawaii with less than three weeks left.

Under 3 weeks left: Obama in closing stretch of presidency

His last presidential vacation behind him, Barack Obama is entering the closing stretch of his presidency, an eleventh-hour push to tie up loose ends and put finishing touches on his legacy before handing the reins to President-elect Donald Trump. Obama returns to Washington midday Monday from Hawaii with just two-and-a-half weeks left.

President Obama confirms farewell address in Chicago

President Barack Obama greets people as he leaves Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, adjacent to Honolulu, Hawaii, en route to Washington on Jan. 1, 2017, after his annual family vacation on the island of Oahu. President Barack Obama greets people as he leaves Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, adjacent to Honolulu, Hawaii, en route to Washington on Jan. 1, 2017, after his annual family vacation on the island of Oahu.

Under 3 weeks left: Obama in closing stretch of presidency

His last presidential vacation behind him, Barack Obama is entering the closing stretch of his term, an eleventh-hour push to tie up loose ends and put finishing touches on his legacy before handing the reins to President-elect Donald Trump. Obama returns to Washington at midday Monday from Hawaii with less than three weeks remaining in his presidency.

Under 3 weeks left: Obama in closing stretch of presidency

His last presidential vacation behind him, Barack Obama is entering the closing stretch of his term, an eleventh-hour push to tie up loose ends and put finishing touches on his legacy before handing the reins to President-elect Donald Trump. Obama returns to Washington at midday Monday from Hawaii with less than three weeks remaining in his presidency.

GOP Congress feels it has mandate to undo Obama’s agenda

In this Dec. 8, 2016 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., and others, listen as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Republicans’ grip on all levers of power stands as a mandate to the GOP-led Congress, which will move swiftly to try to undo eight years of outgoing President Barack Obama’s agenda.

GOP Congress feels it has mandate to undo Obama’s agenda

In this Dec. 8, 2016 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., and others, listen as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Republicans’ grip on all levers of power stands as a mandate to the GOP-led Congress, which will move swiftly to try to undo eight years of outgoing President Barack Obama’s agenda.

Trump’s winter nest is lavish Florida club

When President-elect Donald Trump rang in the new year this weekend, he did it with actor Sylvester Stallone, romance-novel cover model Fabio and a crowd of wealthy developers under the swaying palm trees at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. President George W. Bush had his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Trump’s winter nest is lavish Florida club

When President-elect Donald Trump rang in the new year this weekend, he did it with actor Sylvester Stallone, romance-novel cover model Fabio and a crowd of wealthy developers under the swaying palm trees at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. President George W. Bush had his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

35 Russian diplomats expelled by Obama leave US

The State Department has confirmed that the 35 Russian diplomats President Barack Obama ordered out of the country have departed the United States. The State Department has confirmed that the 35 Russian diplomats President Barack Obama ordered out of the country have departed the United States.

AFL Footy Show’s Billy Brownless poses with Sam Newman at Shane Warne’s NYE party

Diva singer’s aides claim faulty earpiece caused Times Square lip-sync disaster – and accuse TV execs of disabling equipment on PURPOSE to create a scandal and boost their audience figures Will a BAG solve the mystery of what happened to six missing plane passengers who vanished over Lake Eerie? Police find luggage in hunt for family of four and their two friends What 2017 means for YOUR love life: A thrilling alignment between Jupiter and Uranus promises magic, reveals OSCAR CAINER in an unmissable series Stand up during the TV commercials and eat purple… just two of an Oxford professor’s essential tips to help anyone over 40 stay fit and well into old age Rosie O’Donnell calls Trump ‘mentally unstable’ on Twitter and warns America that there are ‘less than three weeks to stop him’ ‘No computer is safe,’ warns Trump as he explains how he writes important information down and sends it … (more)

Roxy Jacenko flaunts her SUPER toned abs in a scarlet bikini in Hawaii

Diva singer’s aides claim faulty earpiece caused Times Square lip-sync disaster – and accuse TV execs of disabling equipment on PURPOSE to create a scandal and boost their audience figures Will a BAG solve the mystery of what happened to six missing plane passengers who vanished over Lake Eerie? Police find luggage in hunt for family of four and their two friends What 2017 means for YOUR love life: A thrilling alignment between Jupiter and Uranus promises magic, reveals OSCAR CAINER in an unmissable series Stand up during the TV commercials and eat purple… just two of an Oxford professor’s essential tips to help anyone over 40 stay fit and well into old age Rosie O’Donnell calls Trump ‘mentally unstable’ on Twitter and warns America that there are ‘less than three weeks to stop him’ ‘No computer is safe,’ warns Trump as he explains how he writes important information down and sends it … (more)

What Others Say: Trump must learn nuance of foreign policy

In a solemn recent ceremony, Shinzo Abe became the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial at Pearl Harbor that honors the nearly 2,400 service members killed in his nation’s sneak attack 75 years ago that plunged America into World War II. He didn’t apologize, but offered condolences – just as Barack Obama did in May, when he became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the memorial in Hiroshima to those killed in the 1945 atomic bombing that hastened Japan’s surrender.

Thomas L. Friedman: Netanyahu Makes Trump His Chump

For those of you confused over the latest fight between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, let me make it simple: Barack Obama and John Kerry admire and want to preserve Israel as a Jewish and democratic state in the Land of Israel. I have covered this issue my entire adult life and have never met two U.S. leaders more committed to Israel as a Jewish democracy.

Get Used To It

Given the high degree of partisan divide following the US election, a discomfiting fact is that Donald Trump is likely to espouse many responsible positions in his role as president, even if he can’t make the case for them himself. This confusing state of affairs has not become obvious yet.

Donald Trump still not sold on Russian link to hacking – but he is…

President-elect Donald Trump says that “no computer is safe” when it comes to keeping information private, expressing new skepticism about the security of online communications his administration is likely to use for everything from day-to-day planning to international relations. “You know, if you have something really important, write it out and have it delivered by courier, the old-fashioned way,” Trump told reporters during his annual New Year’s Eve bash.

Economically weak, politically fragile: Putin won 2016, but Russia has its limits as a superpower

In a New Year’s address that came off like a victory lap, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked his country Saturday in the wake of a wildly successful 2016 that saw the Kremlin leader shore up Russia’s standing abroad and acquire a host of powerful geopolitical friends. Putin heads into 2017 on a strong note, having brokered a cease-fire in Syria that sidelined the United States and having won the praise of President-elect Donald Trump by declining to retaliate in response to President Barack Obama’s administration’s decision to punish Moscow over its alleged interference in the U.S. election.

Russia pledges reprisals for US hacking punishment

Moscow – Russia on Friday eyed retaliatory measures against the US after President Barack Obama kicked out dozens of suspected intelligence agents and imposed sanctions in a furious dispute over alleged election interference. The barrage of punishment against Moscow over cyber attacks dragged ties between Russia and the United States – already at their worst since the Cold War – to a fresh low less than a month ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking charge.

Obama sanctions Russia for U.S. election meddling

PanARMENIAN.Net – President Barack Obama on Thursday, December 29 unleashed a barrage of retaliatory measures against Moscow for meddling in the U.S.election, imposing sanctions on two intelligence agencies, expelling 35 agents and shuttering two Russian compounds inside the United States, AFP reports. Making good on a promise to punish Vladimir Putin’s government for allegedly trying to tilt the 2016 election in Donald Trump’s favor, Obama unveiled a broad range of steps that will inflame tensions with both Moscow and the president-elect.

Trump pledges to meet U.S. spy chiefs for Russian hacking facts

PanARMENIAN.Net – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday, December 29 responded to a slew of U.S. election related sanctions against Russia with a call for the country to “move on” and a conciliatory pledge to meet U.S. spy chiefs he has harshly criticized, AFP says. “It’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things,” Trump said, echoing previous prickly reactions to allegations his November win over Hillary Clinton was somehow tainted by Russian interference.

Trump expresses doubts about security of all computers

Melania Trump, right, looks on as her husband President-elect Donald Trump talks to reporters during a New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, in Palm Beach, Fla. Melania Trump, right, looks on as her husband President-elect Donald Trump talks to reporters during a New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, in Palm Beach, Fla.

FILE – In this Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, file photo,

Trump really doesn’t trust computers President-elect leans toward old technology despite Twitter use. Check out this story on portclintonnewsherald.com: http://usat.ly/2iU5N8e FILE – In this Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, file photo, President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

The Latest: Obama kicks off New Year’s Eve on golf course

President Barack Obama is starting off New Year’s Eve hitting the links at the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, known for its views of the Pacific coastline and Koolau mountains, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Obama’s motorcade left his vacation rental home in Kailua about 10 a.m. As it arrived on base a few minutes later, the sun was breaking through the clouds.

With Trump, Russia goes from foe of U.S. to friend

The diatribe against the Obama administration on prime-time television by a Russian Foreign Ministry official was hardly unusual in the long history of rocky relations between the United States and Russia. The Obama administration was “bad for everyone,” Maria Zakharova, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said on the Christmas Day broadcast, barreling on almost uninterrupted by the talk show host.