Michelle’s outfit gets dressing down

NEW YORK, Saturday (Reuters) - All ears were listening to U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's victory speech this week but fashion-watchers were looking closely at his wife Michelle's dress -- and the verdict was not so good.

Despite comparisons during the campaign to stylish 1960s first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Michelle Obama was derided in opinion polls for her choice of a black and neon-red dress from Narciso Rodriguez's spring 2009 ready-to-wear collection.

In an online poll by USA Today, 65 percent of more than 10,000 readers believed the Harvard-educated corporate lawyer and future first lady “had an off day” and 35 percent said “She looks fantastic as always.” An online poll by People magazine mirrored those results, while a Los Angeles Times online poll found 45 percent hated the dress and 34 percent loved it.“The normally impeccable Michelle O made a questionable choice for her husband's historic election night victory,” wrote Lesley Scott, editor of fashion and lifestyle blog www.fashiontribes.com.

“It's less than flattering.” “However, every fashionista worth her salt takes risks,” Scott said, “which means the occasional misstep.” Not everyone disliked Obama's choice, which was shown on the catwalk only two months ago and is not yet available in stores. New York magazine hailed Obama for being able to hold her own against France's first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, a former supermodel.

“We have a feeling she'll continue to mix affordable pieces with designer pieces as First Lady, but this wardrobe choice proves this woman knows fashion and we have an exciting four years of political fashion ahead of us,” the magazine said.

Bush: Obama win was a US 'triumph'

WASHINGTON, Saturday (AFP) -Outgoing US President George W. Bush on Saturday hailed successor Barack Obama's election win as a “triumph” in US history and promised to smooth his way into the White House.

“Our citizens have chosen a president who represents a triumph of the American story -- a testament to hard work, optimism, and faith in the enduring promise of our nation,” he said in his weekly radio address.

“He can count on my complete cooperation as he makes his transition to the White House. Ensuring that this transition is seamless is a top priority for the rest of my time in office,” said Bush, who steps down January 20.

The president cited the global economic crisis and the global war on terrorists who, he warned, “would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people.”Bush said efforts had been ongoing for more than a year to ensure a flawless transition, including briefings on key policy issues.

“Americans expect their president to conduct the people's business. I will continue to uphold this solemn obligation for as long as this office remains in my trust,” he said.

Obama remarks on nuclear issue under fire

TEHRAN, Saturday (AFP) -Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani on Saturday slammed US president-elect Barack Obama for saying its pursuit of nuclear weapons was “unacceptable,” the official IRNA news agency reported.

“This signifies a pursuit of the same erroneous policy as in the past,”Larijani said when asked about Obama's comment on Friday. “If the United States wants to change its standing in the region it should send good signals.”

Chavez urges 'swing toward humanitarianism' by Obama govt

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez late Friday urged US President-elect Barack Obama to make “a swing toward humanitarianism”after he assumes control of the US government.

Obama should “make a swing toward humanitarianism, toward respectful treatment of the rest of the world,” said the Venezuelan leader, in his first public comments on Obama's US election victory Tuesday.

He added that “the United States could be a great country if it refashions itself from inside and turns inward.”Chavez and outgoing US President George W. Bush have maintained a contentious relationship, with the Venezuelan leader often accusing his US counterpart of meddling in his country's and Latin American affairs.

Democrat Obama won a decisive election victory against Republican White House hopeful John McCain last Tuesday. “I wish the new US government would keep abreast of the desires of the world and its own people and focus first and foremost on internal US matters,”Chavez said.

Hamas leader ready to talk to Obama

LONDON, Saturday (Reuters) - Hamas is ready to talk to U.S. President-elect Barack Obama but he must respect the Palestinian Islamist group's “rights and options”, its leader Khaled Meshaal said in an interview on Saturday.

In a visit to Israel in July, Obama played down the chances of negotiating with Hamas unless the group renounced violence and recognised Israel's right to exist.

Under the outgoing U.S. President George Bush, the United States refused to talk to Hamas.
“It's a big change -- political and psychological -- and it is noteworthy and I congratulate President Obama,” Meshaal said in the interview with Sky News website from the Syrian capital Damascus.

Interest high in what kind of dog Obamas will get

WASHINGTON, Saturday (Reuters) - Many Americans are eager to hear President-elect Barack Obama's views on the financial crisis and foreign policy, but they appear just as anxious to know what kind of dog he will get his daughters.

The Obama family has been barraged with suggestions about picking out a dog. At his victory speech in Chicago on Tuesday night, Obama.

told his daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, “I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us.” On Friday, at Obama's first news conference as president-elect, the seventh question was what kind of dog his family would get.

“With respect to the dog, this is a major issue. I think it's generated more interest on our website than just about anything,” Obama said. “We have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic. There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic.” “Our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but, obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me,” he quipped.

“So whether we're going to be able to balance those two things I think is a pressing issue on the Obama household,” he said.

Bush: Obama win was a US 'triumph'

WASHINGTON, Saturday (AFP) -Outgoing US President George W. Bush on Saturday hailed successor Barack Obama's election win as a “triumph” in US history and promised to smooth his way into the White House.

“Our citizens have chosen a president who represents a triumph of the American story -- a testament to hard work, optimism, and faith in the enduring promise of our nation,” he said in his weekly radio address.

“He can count on my complete cooperation as he makes his transition to the White House. Ensuring that this transition is seamless is a top priority for the rest of my time in office,” said Bush, who steps down January 20.

The president cited the global economic crisis and the global war on terrorists who, he warned, “would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people.”Bush said efforts had been ongoing for more than a year to ensure a flawless transition, including briefings on key policy issues.

“Americans expect their president to conduct the people's business. I will continue to uphold this solemn obligation for as long as this office remains in my trust,” he said.