Cabinet expansion today

New Delhi, May 28 (ANI): Fifty-nine ministers will take oath in the second round of cabinet expansion here today.

Dr. Singh has recommended several names to the President for inclusion in his Council of Ministers.

The names doing the rounds are that of Virbhadra Singh, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Farooq Abdullah, Dayanidhi Maran, A Raja, Mallikarjun Kharge, Kumari Selja, Subodh Kant Sahay, M S Gill, G K Vasan, Pawan Kumar Bansal, Mukul Wasnik, Kantilal Bhuria and M K Azhagiri, who have been recommended for cabinet rank.

The names of Praful Patel, Prithviraj Chavan, Sriprakash Jaiswal, Salman Khursheed, Dinsha Patel, Jairam Ramesh, Krishna Tirath have been recommended for Ministers of State with Independent Charge.

The names of E Ahamed, V Narayanasamy, Srikant Jena, Mullappally Ramachandran, D Purandeswari, Panabaka Lakshmi, Ajay Maken, K H ,Muniyappa, Namo Narain Meena, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, A Sai Prathap, Gurudas Kamat, M M Pallam Raju, Mahadev Khandela, Harish Rawat, K V Thomas, Saugata Ray, Dinesh Trivedi, Shishir Adhikari, Sultan Ahmed, Mukul Roy, Mohan Jatua, S S Palanimanickam, D Napoleon, S Jagathrakshakan, S Gandhiselvan, Preneet Kaur, Sachin Pilot, Shashi Tharoor, Bharatsinh Solanki, Tusharbhai Chaudhary, Arun Yadav, Prateek Prakash Patil, R P N Singh, Vincent Pala, Pradeep Jain and Agatha Sangma have been recommended for Ministers of State.

In the first round of swearing-in on Friday, only 19 ministers were inducted along with the Prime Minister. Portfolios have been allocated to only six ministers. (ANI)

PM, Sonia Gandhi finalise list of ministers ahead of cabinet expansion

New Delhi, May 27 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi met here today to finalise the list of ministers ahead of the cabinet expansion.

Fifty-nine ministers will take oath in the second round of cabinet expansion on Thursday.r. Singh has recommended several names to the President for inclusion in his Council of Ministers.

The names doing the rounds are that of Virbhadra Singh, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Farooq Abdullah, Dayanidhi Maran, A Raja, Mallikarjun Kharge, Kumari Selja, Subodh Kant Sahay, M S Gill, G K Vasan, Pawan Kumar Bansal, Mukul Wasnik, Kantilal Bhuria and M K Azhagiri, who have been recommended for cabinet rank.

The names of Praful Patel, Prithviraj Chavan, Sriprakash Jaiswal, Salman Khursheed, Dinsha Patel, Jairam Ramesh, Krishna Tirath have been recommended for Ministers of State with Independent Charge.

The names of E Ahamed, V Narayanasamy, Srikant Jena, Mullappally Ramachandran, D Purandeswari, Panabaka Lakshmi, Ajay Maken, K H ,Muniyappa, Namo Narain Meena, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, A Sai Prathap, Gurudas Kamat, M M Pallam Raju, Mahadev Khandela, Harish Rawat, K V Thomas, Saugata Ray, Dinesh Trivedi, Shishir Adhikari, Sultan Ahmed, Mukul Roy, Mohan Jatua, S S Palanimanickam, D Napoleon, S Jagathrakshakan, S Gandhiselvan, Preneet Kaur, Sachin Pilot, Shashi Tharoor, Bharatsinh Solanki, Tusharbhai Chaudhary, Arun Yadav, Prateek Prakash Patil, R P N Singh, Vincent Pala, Pradeep Jain and Agatha Sangma have been recommended for Ministers of State.

In the first round of swearing-in on Friday, only 19 ministers were inducted along with the Prime Minister. Portfolios have been allocated to only six ministers. (ANI)

People in north-east have high hopes from their MP Manmohan Singh

Imphal/Kohima/Agartala May 26 (ANI): The recently concluded Parliament elections, which elicited the participation of over 65 percent voters, have raised the hopes of the people that the region will be given special attention by the centre.

People expect the new Members of Parliament to take up their needs in the Central Parliament. The response of the people towards elections also displayed their faith in democracy and rejection of militancy.

The swearing-in of B.K. Handique, who was elected from Jorhat, as a Cabinet Minister, has strengthened their belief that the Central leadership is keen to ensure peace in the region.

All the Members of Parliament, elected from seven states in the region, wish to work for the development of the region, which is rich in natural resources. They hope efforts will be made to exploit the natural resources and the tourism and trade potential.

” I will continue to work for the welfare of my people,” said B.K. Handique.

People in the northeast have high expectation from their political representatives and hope that they will effectively neutralise the insurgent groups who have not allowed peace to prevail.

In Manipur, the Indian National Congress made a sweep in elections on both the Inner and Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency seats.

“As usual we have the manifesto of our party. This is an all- India manifesto. We also have a state manifesto. We will try to implement whatever we have proposed in the manifesto of our party under the guidance of the party president and chief minister,” said Dr. Th Meina Singh, Member of Parliament from Inner Manipur.

In Nagaland, the Nagaland People’s Front won the lone Lok Sabha seat of the state.

People expect that factional clashes will end in the State.

In Tripura, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) candidates won in both parliamentary constituencies.

“We shall continue our fight inside as well as outside the parliament for the development and betterment of the lot of the people in the state,” said Khagen Das, MP from West Tripura.

In Assam, the Congress party won seven of the 14 Lok Sabha seats.

Bharatiya Janata Party registered win in four seats while its alliance partner Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) secured one seat. The Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) secured one seat each.

In Meghalaya, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party won one seat each.

The Indian National Congress won two seats in Arunachal Pradesh and one in Mizoram. In Sikkim, the Sikkim Democratic Front won the lone parliamentary constituency.

People in the north-east are happy that Dr. Manmohan Singh, who has a house in Assam, will give special attention to the north-east. (ANI)

Are Biden’s gaffes straining his relations with Obama?

Washington, May 23 (ANI): Right after his November election as the US Vice-President, a series of blunders have dogged down Joe Biden. The latest question being asked in Washington circles is-Have Biden’s faux pas strained his relations with President Barack Obama?

Biden’s aides are having a tough time defending their vice president’s goof-ups, as also his relationship with Obama, The Politico reports.

A book by Newsweek’s Richard Wolffe quoted his senior aide as saying, “Biden can’t keep his mouth shut.”

According to the paper, Obama scolded Biden after he made an inappropriate joke to White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett about her abortive bid to fill Obama’s Senate seat, which got caught up in scandal after Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich allegedly tried to sell it.

Jarrett, however, defended Biden by saying that she was not offended by his remarks.

“Any suggestion that I was insulted by the vice president’s gracious comments regarding my potential for public service is ridiculous,” Jarrett said in an e-mail. “I was very flattered by his kind words at the time and enjoy working closely with him in the White House.”

The White House also rejected reports on Obama and Biden’s strained relations.

“The president’s own comments and the major tasks he’s put on the vice president’s plate speak volumes. A blind quote from a ‘senior aide’ should be given the proper weight: zero,” Biden’s spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander told the site.

Although his aides stress that Obama relies on Biden as a confidant and that the two are close, but doubts continue to surface.

Known for his gaffes, Biden has repeatedly forced the administration to defend his remarks.

Recently, he was accused of disclosing the location of a classified bunker. Earlier, the White House had to step in after Biden sparked a furor when he said he was advising his family to avoid confined spaces because of swine flu.

Obama himself has publicly reined in Biden. When the vice president made a joke after Chief Justice John Roberts botched Obama’s swearing-in, the president placed his hand on Biden and shook his head, the report adds.

At his first news conference, Obama was asked about comments Biden had made concerning the potential success of the $787 billion stimulus package. Obama laughed.

“You know, I don’t remember exactly what Joe was referring to,” he said, “not surprisingly.” (ANI)

Manmohan Singh calls first Cabinet meet today

New Delhi, May 23 (ANI): A day after taking oath as Prime Minister for the second term, Manmohan Singh called a meeting of the Union Cabinet today.

According to sources, it is likely to take a decision on convening a Parliament session to enable new members to take oath. President Pratibha Patil will be addressing a joint sitting of both the houses during the session.

Earlier, Dr. Singh visited Mahatma Gandhi’s memorials besides those of other departed leaders and placed a wreath on them.

He was sworn-in as Prime Minister for a second term along with 19 other Cabinet ministers on Friday.

The 76-year-old, soft-spoken economist is the first Prime Minister since post-independence after Jawaharlal Nehru to be returned to office after completing a full term.

Senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, A K Antony, P Chidambaram, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, former Chief Ministers S M Krishna, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Veerappa Moily were inducted in the Cabinet.

Kamal Nath, Sushilkumar Shinde, S Jaipal Reddy, Meira Kumar, Vayalar Ravi, Murli Deora, Kapil Sibal, B K Handique, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma and C P Joshi also took oath as Cabinet Ministers.

Friday’s swearing-in would be followed by an expansion of the Council of Ministers on May 26. The expansion would include Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (MoS) with independent charge as well as other Ministers of State. (ANI)

Manmohan Singh takes oath as PM along with 19 cabinet ministers

New Delhi, May 22 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil administered oath of office and secrecy to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with 19 Cabinet ministers.

The 76-year-old, soft-spoken economist is the first Prime Minister since post-independence after Jawaharlal Nehru to be returned to office after completing a full term.

Senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, A K Antony, P Chidambaram, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, former Chief Ministers S M Krishna, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Veerappa Moily were inducted in the Cabinet.

Kamal Nath, Sushilkumar Shinde, S Jaipal Reddy, Meira Kumar, Vayalar Ravi, Murli Deora, Kapil Sibal, B K Handique, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma and C P Joshi also took oath as Cabinet Ministers.

Mukherjee is likely to retain finance portfolio, which he got as additional charge towards the end of the tenure of the outgoing government.

The names of Krishna and Kamal Nath are being mentioned for External Affairs Ministry. Chidambaram and Antony are expected to retain home and defence respectively.

Today’s swearing-in would be followed by an expansion of the Council of Ministers on May 26. The expansion would include Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (MoS) with independent charge as well as other Ministers of State.

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Mukul Wasnik, Vilas Muttemwar figure in the list of names, who will likely find place on Tuesday in the expanded Cabinet.

The Congress would also be looking to bring the DMK around by then so as to also include its representatives in the Cabinet.

The grand swearing-in ceremony, which started around 6:30 p.m., took place in Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan where President Pratibha Patil administered the oath of office and secrecy to Dr Singh and his council of ministers.

The first session of the newly constituted Lok Sabha is expected to begin from June 2, and is likely to continue till June 10. (ANI)

Election Commission to meet President with list of new MPs

New Delhi, May 18 (ANI): The Election Commission will formally submit the list of newly-elected Lok Sabha members to President Pratibha Patil on Monday.

The new House is constituted by the Election Commission, which performs this work within two to three days of declaration of results.

The three-member Election Commission comprising the Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla along with two other commissioners S. Y. Quraishi and V. S. Sampat will call on the President at 6.00 in the evening, a Rashtrapati Bhavan official stated.

President Patil will make the customary address to the first and brief joint session of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, which will mark the beginning of the new House.

Before convening the new session, the President will administer oath to pro-tem speaker, the senior most among the elected members, for swearing-in of new members.

The newly-elected Lok Sabha to be constituted after the elections is all set to have a full budget session in June which will last till August, but it will have no monsoon session this year. (ANI)

Fiji president reappoints coup leader as PM

SUVA (Reuters) – Fiji’s president reappointed former coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama to head the politically unstable South Pacific nation’s government on Saturday, less than two days after a court ruled his 2006 coup illegal.

Fiji has suffered four coups and a bloody military mutiny since 1987, mainly as a result of tensions between the majority indigenous Fijian population and the economically powerful ethnic Indian minority

Bainimarama was sworn in as caretaker prime minister in the morning by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, who on Friday annulled the 1997 constitution and sacked the judges who declared Bainimarama’s former government illegal on Thursday.

Bainimarama came to power in a bloodless 2006 coup.

“He just came, he read the oath and he was appointed as prime minister,” a local journalist told Reuters by telephone.

A swearing-in ceremony for a new cabinet was due to take place in the afternoon.

Late on Friday the president issued a decree giving himself the power to appoint a prime minister by decree and other ministers on the advice of the prime minister, the FijiLive (www.fijilive.com) website said. These powers are to remain in force until a parliament is elected under a new constitution yet to be adopted.

Emergency regulations giving the police and military special powers have also been enacted, but the situation in Suva generally remained calm despite the political upheavals of the last few days.

Iloilo’s suspension of the constitution has been condemned overseas. Iloilo has called for elections by 2014.

(Editing by David Fox)

Ten more ministers inducted into Rajasthan Cabinet

Jaipur, Feb 28 (ANI): Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expanded his two-and-a-half month old cabinet on Saturday.

State Governor S K Singh administered the oath of secrecy to ten ministers – two of cabinet rank and eight ministers of state at a ceremony in Raj Bhawan.

Dr. Jitendra Singh and Rajendra Pareek were sworn-in as cabinet rank ministers while Ram Lal Jat, Bharosilal Jatav, Ashok Bairwa, Mangilal Gharasia, Pramod Jain Bhaya, Babulal Nagar, Ameen Khan and Gurmeet Kunnar were inducted as ministers of state.

With today’s expansion, the strength of the Gehlot Ministry has gone up to 23.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Gehlot, his other cabinet colleagues, government officials and supporters of the newly appointed ministers.

Gehlot was sworn-in as Rajasthan Chief Minister on December 13, 2008. (ANI)

Even Obama and Bush’s limo’s possess starkly different personalities

Washington, Jan.21 (ANI): Change has come not only to the White House, but also to the official presidential limousine.

On the day he was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama shuttled around Washington in a virtually impenetrable armored Cadillac, which had doors at least five inches thick, reports the New York Daily News.

Obama’s official car is a hybrid of a different sort. It has variously been described as part car, part truck and part tank.

“Although many of the vehicle’s security enhancements cannot be discussed, it is safe to say that this car’s security and coded communications systems make it the most technologically advanced protection vehicle in the world,” said Secret Service spokesperson Nicholas Trotta in a news release.

President George W. Bush also cruised around the capital in a Cadillac – a 2006 DTS. Obama’s is the first presidential car not to have a specific model name.

The new limo has bigger windows and better visibility than the Bush vehicle, but is about the same size, according to a GM spokesman. The limo is covered with heavy armor and has bulletproof glass, a sealed interior to block chemical attacks and state-of-the-art electronics.

It is a tradition for the Secret Service to debut new wheels for the nation’s leader as the President-elect is chauffeured from the White House to the swearing-in ceremony and then down Pennsylvania Avenue for the inaugural parade.

This Cadillac was created specifically for the president and is “not a direct extension of any single model,” said GM spokeswoman Joanne K. Krell.

“The presidential vehicle is built to precise and special specifications, undergoes extreme testing and development, and also incorporates many of the top aspects of Cadillac’s ‘regular’ cars – such as signature design, hand-cut-and-sewn interiors, etc.,” Krell told CNN. (ANI)

First daughters Malia, Sasha Obama are J. Crew ‘fashion loyalists’

New York, January 21 (ANI): First daughters Malia and Sasha Obama may find themselves dubbed as J. Crew fashion loyalists after being repeatedly spotted sporting the retailer’s outfits.

The young trendsetters, apparently taking after their mum Michelle, who is a favourite amongst fashion experts, chose to clad themselves in Crewcuts threads at their President-father Barack’s recent swearing-in ceremony.

While the 10-year-old Malia wrapped herself in a striking blue and black coat, her seven-year-old sister Sasha chose an eye-catching pink coat with bright orange scarf and gloves, reports the New York Daily News.

Little did the budding fashion icons would have realised that their Inaugural outfits would temporarily hang the label’s website after shoppers flocked online to find a copy of the girls’ attire.

The duo has previously worn Crewcuts for a Lincoln Memorial celebration, when they chose cream and white coats.
They were further joined by their mother who chose the same brand for the Kids Inaugural Ball. (ANI)

Michelle Obama’s Inauguration dress gathers mixed reviews

Melbourne, January 21 (ANI): It seems fashion favourite Michelle Obama will continue to remain under the scanner, especially after her Inauguration dress managed to win and loose admiration simultaneously.

The First African-American Lady of the United States gathered mixed reviews for donning a pale gold dress, matched with a coat made of Swiss wool lace, lined with French silk, at President-husband Barack’s swearing-in ceremony.

The designer Isabel Toledo piece, which was paired with a set of contrasting emerald green stilettos, was further bejewelled with a patterned diamante collar.

British newspaper Daily Telegraph saw her attire as “a strong, modern statement”, and The Daily Mail also praised Michelle for being “effortlessly stylish”.

However, the New York Post seemed less impressed, saying “very strange outfit. Far too glitzy and blingie”.

The LA Times, too, held similar doubts.

“Rather disappointing choice for a woman who generally has excellent fashion sense. Going to have to kick it up a notch from this dowdy outfit if she wants to be the next Jackie/Diana,” News.com.au quoted the LA times as saying.

“The dress is rather dull for the moment. It fails to accentuate her figure. This would be a dress for church, and not this memorable day,” another writer added.

The mum-of-two, hailed by fashion experts, had later changed into white chiffon, one-shoulder gown, designed by Jason Wu, for the inauguration balls, which prompted the new President to say: “First of all, how good looking is my wife?” (ANI)

Mandela: Obama’s inauguration recalls joy at his election in 1994

Mandela: Obama's inauguration recalls joy at his election in 1994 Johannesburg – Congratulating Barack Obama on his inauguration as the first black president of the United States Tuesday, iconic former South African president Nelson Mandela said the historic event reminded him of the excitement that surrounded his own election as his country’s first democratically-elected president.

In a letter handed to Obama shortly before his inauguration on Tuesday, anti-apartheid hero Mandela, 90, said: “There is a special excitement on our continent today, Mister President, in the knowledge that you have such strong personal ties with Africa, we share in that excitement and pride.”

“You will always be in our affection as a young man who dared to dream and to pursue that dream.”

Lamenting the sense of hopelessness that gripped many parts of the world in the face of conflict and persistent injustice, Mandela praised Obama for bringing “a new voice of hope.”

Obama’s inauguration reminded him of his own emotional swearing-in as South Africa’s first post-apartheid president in 1994 after spending 27 years in jail for resisting prejudice.

“People, not only in our country, but around the world, were inspired to believe that through common human effort, injustice can be overcome and that together a better life for all can be achieved,” he said. (dpa)

High tech Obama’s web team beats him into office

High tech Obama's web team beats him into office San Francisco – The inauguration of US President Barack Obama was greeted by an instantaneous avalanche of chatter and commentary on the internet.

But the web team of the new leader was not far behind. In fact, by many measures, it beat not only the bloggers but also the president himself.

At precisely 12:01 pm local time, pictures of Obama and his family appeared on the home page of the president’s website Whitehouse. gov alongside four features, under the headline Change Has Come to America

The posting preceded by some six minutes the swearing-in of Obama on the steps of the Capitol. However according to constitutional experts quoted by MSNBC, the changing of the guard officially took place at noon Washington time, with the swearing-in merely a formality.

At the same time, the first blog of the new presidency was posted by Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House, who pledged to make the new website “a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world.”

Phillips said that Obama’s new media efforts would revolve around three principles – communications that would be comprehensive and timely; transparency to provide all Americans with a window into the business of government; and participation which would include the publication of all non-emergency legislation for public comment for at least five days before the President signs it.

Two other blogs were also posted at the same time reviewing Obama’s observance of Martin Luther King Day the previous day and his activities on Tuesday prior to the inauguration.

Other sections were also updated to reflect the agenda of the new administration in 24 areas ranging from civil rights to foreign policy. Biographies of the major figures in the administration were also posted (dpa)

About two million converge to watch Obama’s swearing-in ceremony

Washington, Jan.20 (ANI): About two million people have converged into the area between the Capitol, the White House and the Lincoln Memorial to witness the first African American taking oath of office and secrecy in a short while from now as 44th President, replacing George W.Bush .

Many of these people will remain to be over a mile away from the actual venue of swearing-in ceremony. But they will watch the historical moment taking place on giant TV screens erected along the National Mall.

Thousands arrived before daylight Tuesday in standing-room-only trains. They carried blankets and wore Obama scarves to ward off the wind chills of minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Earlier, suburban Washington train stations were jammed. A four-story parking deck at the Springfield, Virginia, station was filled at 5 a.m. Trains rolling into the stop about 15 miles south of the Capitol had no room for the hundreds on the platform. (ANI)

‘The Greatest’ salutes Obama

Washington, Jan.20 (ANI): Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, celebrating his 67th birthday, was the guest of honor Monday night at a Kentucky Blue Grass ball for 1,400 that included other celebrities, lawmakers and native Kentuckians.

Steve Buttleman, official bugler of the Churchill Downs racetrack, said it was appropriate to be saluting Obama and Ali at the same time.

He said Obama was the leader of the greatest nation on Earth and Muhammad Ali was the greatest boxer of all time.

By contrast, George W. Bush kept a low profile within the grounds of the White House that he will leave Tuesday, but also granted clemency for two high-profile, controversial former Border Patrol officers.

These acts of public service on the one hand – a cause that Obama will tout in his swearing-in before the hundreds of thousands of people expected to pack the National Mall from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial – and mercy on the other marked the crossing of two leaders.

One enters the White House to great expectations, another leaves with many people disappointed.

The handover – months in the planning – will begin at 9:55 a.m. Tuesday, when the outgoing president and First Lady Laura Bush will play host to Obama, wife Michelle, Vice President-elect Joe Biden and others over coffee in the Blue Room of the White House.
Bush leaves office with less than one-third of Americans surveyed voicing approval for his performance. He will fly from Andrews Air Force Base to his new home in Midland, Texas. Obama, enters office with two-thirds of Americans surveyed voicing optimism about his ability to handle the job.

They will be the first African-American family to occupy America’s first residence. (ANI)

Michelle Obama is a beautiful woman with gorgeous skin, says leading makeup artist

Chicago, January 19 (ANI): Michelle Obama continues to add to her growing list of fans, including her Chicago-based makeup artist who admires the “beautiful woman with gorgeous skin”.

Ingrid Grimes-Myles, who would be ready with her trade sticks for the new First Lady at the swearing-in ceremony and inaugural balls, revealed that it was the “clean look” that suited the wife of President-elect Barack the best.

“We always have a clean look going for her. She’s a beautiful woman with gorgeous skin,” the Chicago Sun-Times quoted her as saying.

Grimes-Myles further explained Michelle’s look as “not an avant-garde look. It’s not a fashionista or Vogue-spread type of thing.

“It’s a professional woman. We want her to be read very natural and polished.” (ANI)

White supremacists under the scanner ahead of Obama swearing-in

Washington, Jan 17 (ANI): White supremacists across the United States are closely being watched by hate crimes experts and law enforcement officials as Barack Obama prepares to be sworn in as the first Black president of the United States next week.

So far, there is no known organized effort to express opposition to Obama’s rise to the presidency — other than a call by the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan for its members to wear black armbands and fly the US flag upside down on Inauguration Day and Obama’s first full day in office, the Daily News reported.

“The level of vitriol, I expect, will go up a bit more around inauguration time,” said Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University-San Bernardino.

There “is concern” about White supremacist groups during the inauguration, said Joe Persichini, the assistant FBI director who is helping to oversee security during the inauguration.

The inauguration of the nation’s first minority president increases any potential threat, “particularly stemming from individuals on the extremist fringe of the white supremacist movement,” said a recent intelligence assessment by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.

But law enforcement has the appropriate resources to respond if needed, Persichini said. “We have seen a lot of chatter. We have seen a lot of discussions,” he said.

“We have seen some information via the Internet. But those are discussions. We look at the vulnerabilities and whether or not the groups are taking action. You have freedom of speech,” he added.

Anger, violence and interest in racist ideology did increase in the hours and days after Obama was elected president in November, hate groups experts said.

Three New York men were indicted on charges of conspiracy to interfere with voting rights — accused of targeting and attacking African-Americans in a brutal crime spree soon after Obama was declared the winner on November 4. (ANI)

Obama opening White House to public the day after swearing-in

Washington, January 17 (ANI): Barack Obama’s Presidential Inaugural Committee has revealed that his supporters amongst the public will be allowed in the White House on Wednesday, the day after he is sworn in, on a first-come, first-served basis.

An email sent out by the committee reveals the unusual offer, and tells that all that the people are required to do is to sign up on their Web site.

“If you are among the first to sign up today, you and a friend could be there,” the Washington Post quoted the e-mail as saying.

The mail says that Obama and Vice President-elect Biden have committed to running one of the most open and accessible presidential administrations in the country’s history.

It also states that an Open House reception for hundreds of special guests will be hosted at the White House on January 21.

The email even reads that the doors of the White House are being opened to the general public because the success of the Obama Government in the next four years would depend on new levels of openness and participation, and bringing change to Washington, D.C. is something everyone should be part of. (ANI)

Chidambaram cancels Washington trip

New Delhi, Jan.10 (ANI): With US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice unavailable for meetings in Washington, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has cancelled his visit to that country.

The cancellation of the visit comes even as Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is headed for Washington next week to be among the first half-a-dozen or so foreign heads of state and government to be received by Obama within days of his swearing-in as US President.

The Americans hope to extract an assurance from Zardari during his visit that Pakistan will hand over at least one or two persons wanted by India from among its list of 20 terrorists as a token of Islamabad’s commitment to fight terror on its soil.

State Department officials said last night that they had told India that Chidambaram was welcome to Washington at any time of his choosing, but added that Rice had her hands full with the fighting in Gaza. (ANI)