Obama caps historic day 10 inaugural balls

2009-01-21 13:10:23 GMT SINA.com WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle capped their historic day with a speedy tour through 10 inaugural balls before retiring, at last, for their first night in the White House.

Obamas celebrate, at last, on way to White House

2009-01-21 08:47:16 GMT SINA.com WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle capped their historic day with a speedy tour through 10 inaugural balls before retiring, at last, for their first night in the White House.

Michelle Obama chooses white ball gown

2009-01-21 08:32:55 GMT China Daily WASHINGTON -- First lady Michelle Obama chose a white chiffon one-shoulder gown for a series of balls celebrating the inauguration of her husband.

US black churches celebrate Obama taking office

2009-01-21 08:27:46 GMT China Daily WASHINGTON -- Long a shield and sword for African American progress, black churches around the US on Tuesday celebrated the inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African American president with praise, songs and jubilation.

Some music for inauguration was taped, not live

2009-01-23 10:31:34 GMT SINA.com WASHINGTON – The classical music played for millions of people watching President Barack Obama's inauguration was not the live performance it appeared to be.

Obama takes presidential oath again after stumble

2009-01-22 13:27:12 GMT SINA.com WASHINGTON – After the flub heard around the world, President Barack Obama has taken the oath of office. Again. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the oath to Obama on Wednesday night at the White House — a rare do-over. The surprise moment came in response to Tuesday's much-noticed stumble, when Roberts got the words of the oath a little off, which prompted Obama to do so, too.

Obama takes oath again after inauguration mistake

2009-01-22 01:59:27 GMT Xinhua English WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama took oath of office a second time on Wednesday at the White House because a word was out of sequence when he was sworn in on Tuesday.

Bush twins offer advice for Sasha, Malia

2009-01-21 08:14:40 GMT China Daily WASHINGTON – Just in time for move-in day, the Bush twins offered their best advice Tuesday to Sasha and Malia Obama on living in a "magical place" called the White House.

Obama fifth left-handed U.S. president

2009-01-21 13:14:09 GMT Xinhua English Obama is not the only left-handed U.S. president, but may be the fifth after Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Gerald Ford.

Obama's inauguration made headline in Philippine newspaper

2009-01-21 12:39:19 GMT Xinhua English A Filipino vendor reads a local newspaper carrying the headline 'President Barack Obama' a few hours after Barack Obama's inauguration as president of the United States, at a news stand in Manila, capital of the Philippines, Jan. 21, 2009.

First couple, first dance

2009-01-21 11:19:44 GMT Xinhua English First lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama dance on a replica of the presidential seal at the Commander-in-Chiefs Inaugural ball in Washington January 20, 2009.

George W. Bush departs from U.S. Capitol

2009-01-21 05:10:32 GMT Xinhua English Newly-inaugurated US President Barack Obama (rear) hugs former President George W. Bush (R, front) as Bush departs from the US Capitol after Obama's swearing in as the 44th President of the United States in Washington D.C. Jan. 20, 2009.

Obama's Inaugural Address (IV): Closing remarks

2009-01-21 02:48:21 GMT Reuters As he closed his inaugural address, US President Barack Obama said, "With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come."

Obama's Inaugural Address (III): Leave Iraq responsibly

2009-01-21 02:37:34 GMT Reuters US President Obama pledges to work "tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat," and responsibly leave Iraq and work toward peace in Afghanistan.

[Part I] [Part II] [Part III] [Part IV]

Obama's Inaugural Address (II): Work to be done

2009-01-21 02:33:17 GMT Reuters In his inaugural address, US President Barack Obama said, "We must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."

Obama's Inaugural Address (I): Meet challenges

2009-01-21 02:25:17 GMT Reuters US President Obama pledges to meet the challenges facing the country including two wars, a weakened economy and an ineffective health care system:

Confirmation of Obama's cabinet designees goes through progress, bumps

2009-01-22 06:01:24 GMT Xinhua English WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- As Hillary Rodham Clinton was finally greenlighted by the Senate Wednesday to take office in the U.S. State Department, other cabinet designees are still undergoing thorough check at the floor.

Poll: People optimistic on Obama by 3-1 margin

2009-01-21 14:25:45 GMT SINA.com WASHINGTON – A new poll shows that by a 3-1 margin, the American people feel more optimistic about the country's future now that Barack Obama has been inaugurated president.

News Analysis: Can Obama bring U.S. out of crisis?

2009-01-21 13:57:18 GMT Xinhua English WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Barack Obama on Tuesday was sworn in as the first African American president in U.S. history amidst daunting challenges that include a worsening recession and two wars in distant countries.

A sober inaugural for a nation in peril

2009-01-21 13:38:04 GMT SINA.com America made history Tuesday; Barack Obama promised more in a sober, almost anti-heroic inaugural that sought to shift the focus back onto the people he must now lead in “this winter of our hardship.”

Argentine prez: Fidel Castro 'believes in Obama'

2009-01-22 03:48:51 GMT SINA.com HAVANA – Fidel Castro watched the U.S. inauguration on television and said Wednesday that Barack Obama seems "like a man who is absolutely sincere," Argentina's president said after meeting with the Cuban icon. "Fidel believes in Obama," Cristina Fernandez said.

Syria hopes for constructive dialogue with Obama administration

2009-01-21 22:43:51 GMT Xinhua English DAMASCUS, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday expressed the hope for "a constructive dialogue with the United States based on common interests and mutual respect" during the tenure of the new U.S. President Barack Obama.

Hamas: Obama has to learn from his successors' mistakes

2009-01-21 20:31:30 GMT Xinhua English GAZA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- An Islamic Hamas movement's spokesman said on Wednesday that 44th President of the United States Barack Obama "has to learn from the mistakes of his successors."

FM: Iran asks Obama to realize emerging "new Middle East"

2009-01-21 15:31:58 GMT Xinhua English TEHRAN, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki asked the new U.S. President Barak Obama to realize the emerging "new Middle East," the official IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

Obama's day starts with church, coffee with Bush

2009-01-20 15:44:51 GMT SINA.com WASHINGTON – As massive crowds swarmed the National Mall on Tuesday to witness Barack Obama's inauguration as president, the man at the center of the maelstrom began the day quietly and reverently, at a church service across the street from the White House.

The stars come out for Obama

2009-01-20 09:14:54 GMT Forbes WASHINGTON, D.C.--Washington has often been described as a "Hollywood for ugly people." Barack Obama is changing all that. At least for the weekend.

Obama steps to door of White House — and history

2009-01-20 04:03:09 GMT SINA.com WASHINGTON – Barack Obama stood at the threshold of the White House on Monday, summoning fellow Americans to join him in service as tens of thousands flocked to the nation's capital to celebrate his inauguration as the first black president. "Tomorrow we will come together as one people on the same Mall where Dr. King's dream echoes still," said the president-elect, invoking the memory of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the national holiday in his honor.

Obama taps into King's legacy ahead of inauguration

2009-01-20 00:57:48 GMT Xinhua English WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- One day before his inauguration, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama honored Martin Luther King Jr. Monday, tapping into the late civil rights icon's legacy to usher in a national cause for service and voluntarism.

The inauguration by the numbers

2009-01-20 08:39:36 GMT Forbes This weekend, America's capital city will welcome thousands of government officials and dignitaries from the U.S. and around the world. Over 10,000 buses will carry 500,000 riders into Washington, D.C., doubling the city's population. On Inauguration Day, the Metro is expected to have a 17-hour rush hour. District bars will be open 24-hours a day for five straight days.

Backgrounder: Obama inaugural activities on Jan. 19

2009-01-19 22:59:21 GMT Xinhua English WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The following is a schedule of events related to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Monday, one day before he is sworn in as the country's 44th president.

Four-day inauguration: Schedule and details

2009-01-19 07:26:46 GMT SINA.com The historic inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States is now fast upon us. Even if you aren’t making the trip to the capital, there are many ways to participate and follow the festivities from afar.

Backgrounder: Schedule of official events for U.S. presidential inaugural

2009-01-17 22:53:02 GMT Xinhua English WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn into office on Tuesday as the first African-American president in history. The following is an official calendar on the inauguration-related events.

Obama's whirlwind first day: economy, war and more

2009-01-22 02:16:20 GMT SINA.com WASHINGTON – In a first-day whirlwind, US President Barack Obama showcased efforts to revive the economy on Wednesday, summoned top military officials to the White House to chart a new course in Iraq and eased into the daunting thicket of Middle East diplomacy. "What an opportunity we have to change this country," said the 47-year-old chief executive, who also issued new ethics rules for his administration and hosted a reception at the presidential mansion for 200 inauguration volunteers and guests selected by an Internet lottery.