Obama names Indian-American lawyer Neal Katyal to key post

WASHINGTON - Hours before his inauguration, president-elect Barack Obama Tuesday tapped another top Indian-American lawyer, Neal Kumar Katyal, to the key post of principal deputy Solicitor General.

Michelle Obama dazzles all with golden dress

WASHINGTON - Slated for her dress sense last year, First Lady Michelle Obama turned up in an unabashedly glamorous outfit to add a dash of dazzling colour to the sobre gathering at husband Barack Obama’s inauguration Tuesday.

Tinsel Town to invade staid Washington on Obama inauguration

LOS ANGELES - Ever since Republican presidential candidate John McCain used a sarcastic video to mock Barack Obama as the world’s biggest celebrity, the US president-elect has scrupulously kept a respectable distance from his closest Hollywood supporters.

Iran’s hopes from Obama: Respect, end of isolation

TEHRAN - Nobody in Tehran would admit it, but the international isolation since the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in August 2005 has caused Iran enormous problems both politically and economically.

Bush bids farewell with terrorist attack warning

WASHINGTON - As President George W. Bush bid farewell after eight tumultuous years in the White House, he warned that while America is safer than it was seven years ago, its gravest threat remains another terrorist attack.

Bush gets a bounce in popularity as he prepares to say goodbye

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush, who has of late been touting his image in India, received a bounce in his popularity at home too as he prepared to say goodbye in a farewell speech Thursday night.

Hillary Clinton runs into rough weather over husband’s fundraising

WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton has run into rough weather over potential conflicts of interest former President Bill Clinton’s fundraising could pose if she is confirmed as secretary of state, but has refused to commit to greater disclosure.

Obama, Rice, accomplished models of African-American leaders: Study

WASHINGTON - Race and gender influence how politicians speak, which might not always be to their advantage, according to a psycho-linguistic study.

From cosy comfort to claustrophobic cell, Rajus fall from grace

HYDERABAD - From the cosy environs of their posh bungalows and state-of-the-art offices to the claustrophobic confines of Chanchalguda jail here, life has taken a cruel turn for B. Ramalinga Raju and his brother B. Rama Raju.

Mideast peace process in doubt as new year nears (Yearender - 12)

TEL AVIV/RAMALLAH - The Middle East peace process is hanging by a thread as 2009 is nearing - just one year after negotiations were revived following seven years of violence.