After the first black president, who will be second?

President Obama’s historic election in 2008 and his reelection last year proved decisively that race is no longer an insurmountable hurdle to high political office in the United States. But the current pool of possible candidates suggests that the next black president will not be taking the oath of office anytime soon. “In the shadow of Barack Obama, there’s not been a lot of growth,”...

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President Tan confident US will steer world out of uncertainty

SINGAPORE: President Tony Tan Keng Yam has said he is confident that the United States will be able to rise to the occasion of steering of the world out of economic uncertainty, under the leadership of President Barack Obama.In a congratulatory letter to President Obama on his inauguration for a second term in office, President Tan noted that during his first term, the US averted a financial...

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Yannick's mother wants to visit son, but has no money

PATIALA: After treatment for about six months in a private hospital here, there is slight improvement in the health of Burundi student, Yannick Nihangaza, who was brutally attacked in Jalandhar in April, but the long stay of his father in Patiala has badly affected the financial health of the family.Yannick's mother and younger brother want to come to Patiala to see their recovering family member,...

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Attack at Algeria Gas Plant Heralds New Risks for Energy Development

The siege by Islamic militants at a remote Sahara desert natural gas plant in Algeria this week signaled heightened dangers in the region for international oil companies, at a time when they have been expanding operations in Africa as one of the world's last energy frontiers. (See related story: "Pictures: Four New Offshore Drilling Frontiers.")As BP, Norway's Statoil, Italy's Eni, and...

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Sasha's View: 'Good Job, Daddy. You Didn't Mess Up'

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden today officially embarked on their second term, taking the Constitutionally mandated oath of office in two separate private ceremonies inside their homes.Shortly before noon in the Blue Room of the White House, Obama raised his right hand, with his left on a family Bible, reciting the oath administrated by Chief Justice John...

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Biden’s gun task force met with all sides, but kept its eye on the target

Vice President Biden was curt, avoiding confrontation when he sat down with the National Rifle Association and other gun rights advocates. He looked across the table in his ornate conference room and asked the NRA official if his group could back a ban on assault weapons. “No,” was James J. Baker’s reply. There was little discussion, no real debate over whether a 1990s ban had worked....

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WP will strengthen the voice of the opposition: Lee Li Lian

SINGAPORE: Workers' Party (WP) candidate for the Punggol East by-election, Lee Li Lian said having another WP member in Parliament will strengthen the voice of the opposition.It means more airtime for the opposition to ask more questions on behalf of Singaporeans and this, she said will definitely make a difference. Ms Lee refuted talk that having the WP members in Parliament did not make...

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Srinagar-Jammu highway reopens

SRINAGAR: As the weather improved across the state on Sunday, the Srinagar-Jammu highway was reopened for one-way traffic after three days, an official said."Traffic will move from Jammu to Srinagar on the highway today (Sunday). Drivers are advised to drive cautiously as slippery road conditions exist at places on the highway," said an official of the traffic department.As reports of non-availability...

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Attack at Algeria Gas Plant Heralds New Risks for Energy Development

The siege by Islamic militants at a remote Sahara desert natural gas plant in Algeria this week signaled heightened dangers in the region for international oil companies, at a time when they have been expanding operations in Africa as one of the world's last energy frontiers. (See related story: "Pictures: Four New Offshore Drilling Frontiers.")As BP, Norway's Statoil, Italy's Eni, and...

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Algeria Hostage Crisis Over, One American Dead

After the Algerian military's final assault on terrorists holding hostages at a gas complex, the four-day hostage crisis is over, but apparently with additional loss of life among the foreign hostages.One American, Fred Buttaccio of Texas, has been confirmed dead by the U.S. State Department. Two more U.S. hostages remain unaccounted for, with growing concern among U.S. officials...

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