newsmakers

newsmakers

Photo of Malia Obama hits Instagram page

WASHINGTON

An unauthorized photo of President Barack Obama’s 16-year-old daughter, Malia, is drawing attention on the Internet.

The photograph appears on the Instagram page for Pro Era, a hip-hop music collective based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Malia sports a white T-shirt with the group’s red and green logo across the front. She also has her hands raised behind her head as if adjusting her ponytail.

The White House disapproves of photographs being published or posted of Malia and her 13-year-old sister, Sasha, when they are not with Obama and/or first lady Michelle Obama, or other unauthorized use of their names or images.

The White House declined to comment Tuesday, an apparent sign of its unhappiness over the photo’s distribution.

Bradley Bledsoe, a spokesman for Pro Era, did comment, saying by email that “the group received the photo from a mutual friend of Pro Era and Malia, and the photo is real.”

Nicholas Sparks separating from wife

NEW YORK

The marriage of Nicholas Sparks appears headed for an unhappy ending.

Spokeswoman Jill Fritzo of PMK-BNC confirmed Tuesday that the best-selling author and screenwriter had separated from his wife of 25 years, Cathy. Sparks, 49, said in a statement issued through Fritzo that the decision was not “made lightly” and that he and his wife “remain close friends.”

Sparks is known for blending romance and sadness in such novels as “The Notebook” and “The Wedding,” the story of a 30-year-old marriage in crisis and how the husband fights to save it. Many of his books have been adapted into feature films.

The news of his separation first was reported by People magazine.

Associated Press