America has a latest figurehead in its struggle against childhood obesity - Michelle Obama. Last week, the First Lady told mayors from around the US how the current growth in the number of extremely overweight people was so staggering that it now threatens the ¬country's economy, through obesity-induced joblessness; children's education, because their weight issues disrupt studies; and healthcare, which may become besieged by patients with obesity-related ¬diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure..

Acknowledging the time and money pressures faced by many parents who desire their children to eat healthily, Obama admitted: "It wasn't that long ago that I was juggling a full-time job with the round-the-clock role of being a mom. And there were abundance of times when, after a long day at work, when the fridge was empty and everyone was hungry, I just ordered that pizza, because it was easier. Or we went to the drive-through for burgers, because it was quick and cheap. And I wasn't always conscious of how all the calories and fat in some of the processed foods I was buying were adding up. It got to the point where our pediatrician kind of tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'You know, you might want to consider making some changes.'"

American Red Cross disaster relief efforts in Haiti received wonderful recognition on Monday during a visit to the Disaster Operations Center (DOC) at Red Cross national headquarters by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

President Obama personally thanked Red Cross employees and volunteers for their part in the work being done to assist the people of Haiti following last week's earthquake. The President expressed his thanks to everyone at the Red Cross for their work, saying to the employees and volunteers present, "tip-top operation, thank you and keep it up; you make us very proud."

Though he spoke straight to those present here in Washington, President Obama's words were for our Red Cross team all across the country. Working jointly, we will get the job done.

Happy Birthday Michelle! The first lady michelle turned 46 Sunday. On Saturday night, President Obama took her to dinner at Restaurant Nora, one of this city's best known particular occasion eateries with a gang of Chicago pals as guests.

Among the guests were Marian Robinson, Michelle's mother; Chicago pal and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett; Chicago pals Eric and Cheryl Whitaker; and Attorney common Eric Holder and his wife, Sharon Malone.

The Obamas linger at Nora's for four hours. My spy who happened by possibility to be at Nora's told me the presidential party was in the private upstairs room - and the other guests were frisked and wended before being allowed in the restaurant near Dupont Circle.

US President, Barak Obama is said to make a request to Congress for an additional $33 billion to fight the unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the Obama administration is makes request on top of a record $708 billion for the US Defence Department next year.

The extra $33 billion in 2010, the AP said would typically go toward the expansion of the war in Afghanistan. Obama ordered an extra 30,000 troops for that war as part of an overhaul of the war plan late last year.

The request for that additional funding will be sent to Congress at the same occasion as the record spending request for next year, making war funding an especially difficult pill for some of Obama’s Democratic allies, it said.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will go to the funeral for Vice President Joe Biden's mother, Jean Biden, the White House has announced. The service will take place tomorrow in Wilmington, Delaware.

Jean Biden, who passed away last week at the age of 92, frequently accompanied her son on the campaign trail.

The vice president said in announcer her death that he and his family "learned the dignity of hard work" from Jean Biden, addition that "her strength, which was immeasurable, will live on in all of us."

For all that's going through the political minds of the administration, its critic and its well-wishers, there's perhaps only one thing on the mind of the Obama girls:

The vacation's over. President Barack Obama, wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia returns to the White House on jan 4th, wearing warm riggings against the sub-freezing chill of an unusual cold-spell in the capital.

They left behind the warm influence and shaved ice of Hawaii - the president called his "Snowbama.'' The 20 inches of snow that fell here before Christmas are typically gone, save for the remains of some plowed snowbanks.

For all the political heat the president faces here in Washington, it's value pausing for a moment to see just how the girls have grown, how the president has grayed and how happy the bunch look to be home.

Michelle Obama made an appearance on an episode of Iron Chef America show to endorse healthy eating for children.

The mum-of-two, who became the only US first lady to appear on a actuality television show, stressed on the need to cut down childhood obesity through healthier meals, better school lunches, the use of farmers' markets and do exercises.

Michelle further brought with her a secret ingredient that she later exposed were sweet potatoes from the White House garden.

"And now we're expanding the tours of the garden to any public [state] schoolchildren that come to Washington DC, and we're doing those on a usual basis, and it's just been a wonderful educational addition," she added.