Pak could be ‘smuggling’ fake currency via diplomatic route

Pakistan may be using a complex but clandestine diplomatic route to push fake currency into India.

This was revealed during investigations into the recent fake currency rackets busted by the Maharashtra ATS and other agencies, as also the arrest of LeT operative Mohammed Omar Madni, who was found in possession of fake currency worth lakhs by the Delhi police.

According to ATS sources, the fake currency found with Madni was of the same series as that recovered in various recent busts in Hyderabad, Goa and Mumbai (by the ATS).

ATS officers say that this proves that all the notes had been printed in the same press, and as the quality of the notes was top-notch, they could only have been printed in a government press (of Pakistan).

Investigations into several of these busts, as also the interrogation of Madni, for which an ATS team had recently gone to Delhi, have revealed a complex web of fake currency smuggling from Pakistan to India. ATS officers say Pakistan may be using diplomatic channels to push fake currency into India.

An ATS officer said, “Recently, a lot of fake currency has been pushed into India, as is evident from the many rackets busted in the recent past. We have learnt that some of this money is pushed through diplomatic channels to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, and then smuggled into India in smaller batches. As diplomats or their assistants and office staff have diplomatic immunity and pass through green channels without their baggage being checked at airports, fake currency in large numbers is pushed through them. Once the money reaches, say, Bangladesh, it is then handed over in small amounts to people who smuggle it into India.”

Additional CP, ATS, Parambir Singh said, “We had this information from intelligence agencies, and suspicions were also raised during our investigations. But as yet we have not been able to apprehend anyone. Thus, it is difficult to pinpoint how exactly the racket operates. It is, however, true that Madni was carrying fake currency of the same series that we had seized a couple of months ago.”

The RBI, in a recent investigation, had said that at least Rs 2,000 crore in fake currency has been pushed into India in the past five years.

The ATS and intelligence agencies had found that much of the profit from this racket was being used to fund Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in India, and there were indications that some of this money had also funded the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.

IB sources say ISI raises Rs 1,800 crore annually to fund terror operations, and that a major chunk of it comes from fake currency rackets. ATS sources say that Rs 30 lakh of the Rs 50 lakh spent on the attack on Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in December 2005 was obtained through such a racket.

Mamata Banerjee presents rail budget for 2009-10

New Delhi (IANS): Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee began presenting her ministry's budget for the current fiscal shortly after noon Friday with the promise of addressing the concerns of average passengers.

"People all over the country have high expectations from the railway budget," Banerjee told the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, switching between English and Hindi.

She started with a question if Indian Railways, which runs the world's second largest railroad network under single management, should function purely on the basis of economic viability or address the social commitment.

"Time has come when our economic and social philosophers have to change their old mindset of economic viability and replace it with social viability and upliftment," she said.

Ms. Banerjee said her focus would be on better passenger amenities, good food at affordable prices, clean toilets at stations and trains.

"Fifty stations will be developed into world class facilities," she said naming those at Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Varanasi Guwahati, Chennai, Mangalore, Porbundar and Kochi, among others.

This is her first rail budget for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and third in her political career.

PTI report adds:

Ms. Banerjee says an expert committee will be set up to advise her on implementation of the so-called economically unviable but socially desired projects.

She also stated that the priorities will include better passenger amenities, safety and security and provision of good quality food and drinking water.

The Railway Ministry has plans to develop important stations through private-public partnership. These include CST Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Howrah, Sealdah, Varanasi, New Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Kanpur, Chennai Central, Thiruvananthapuram Central, Secunderabad, Bangalore City, Byappanahalli, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Habibganj, Agra Central, Chandigarh, Kolkata, New Jalpaiguri, Puri and Kochi.

The Railways are to develop multi-functional complexes with shopping malls, food stalls, medicines and variety stores in different parts of the country.

The Infotainment services to be provided in major long-distance trains, Ms. Banerjee said.

Ms. Banerjee said that SMS updates on wait-listed tickets are to be introduced.

The Auto-vending machines will be installed in large and medium stations, she said.

The high-capacity air-conditioned double-decker trains to be introduced on select inter-city routes, Ms. Banerjee said.

She also stated that unreserved ticketing terminals to be expanded from 5000 to 8000. Automatic ticket vending machines to be increased.

Ms. Banerjee, in her speech, said arrangement with Department of Posts for issuance of tickets.

An Integrated Security System is being developed for 130 vulnerable stations to provide security to passengers, she said.

She stated in her speech that seven nursing colleges to be set up on railway land in places including Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Railway medical colleges to be developed along with rail hospitals on public-private partnership.

Ms. Banerjee said that better representation to be given to minorities, women and the economically backward in railway recruitment. Special recruitment drive to be launched to fill vacancies in physically-handicapped category.

18,000 wagons to be acquired during the current year, she said.

The Railway Minister added that the Railways making efforts with Department of Heavy Industries for takeover of ailing wagon manufacturing units like Burn Standards.

Ms. Banerjee added that a new policy is to be launched for construction and operation of private freight terminals.

The Railways are to develop cold storages for farmers to store vegetables and fruits, she said. The Railway Minister added to say that superfast parcel express trains to be started on a pilot basis between Delhi and Chennai and Delhi and Mumbai.

The freight loading target for 2009-10 set at 882 million tonnes, an increase of 39 million tonnes, Ms. Banerjee said.

She said that photo-ID cards cum credit cards to be given to accredited journalists. Travel concession has been increased from 30 to 50 per cent for them.

During peak hours, ladies' specials to be introduced in suburban trains.

She also stated that twelve non-stop point-to-point trains between select cities are to be introduced. The sections include -- Howrah-Mumbai, Delhi-Lucknow, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Pune, Delhi-Allahabad, Howrah-Delhi, Sealdah-Delhi and Ernakulum-Delhi.

Another Nithari? 22 slum kids go missing

NEW DELHI: Is another Nithari unfolding at New Sanjay Amar colony in east Delhi? This slum cluster behind the Karkardooma courts has seen at

A man holds up a photo of his children. Three of his daughters are missing. (TOI Photo) More Pictures

least 22 children go missing in past four years. And just like in the case of the Noida murders, cops seem to be in denial, saying there is no pattern to the disappearances.

The latest cases occurred less than a week ago. On February 11, as many as six teenagers went missing on the same day. "We filed a police complaint, but cops took no action," said Rajkumar Dhingane, a social worker from the area.

Police say the children of New Sanjay Amar colony, the largest JJ cluster in east Delhi housing 15,000 people, have been willingly eloping. But residents point out that barring the latest incidents, most of the missing kids are below 15 years, which makes the elopement theory unlikely.

Babulal, a rickshaw-puller whose three daughters disappeared three years ago, says the helplessness of knowing that they could be in trouble and still not being able to help them, eats him from within. "My daughters, Nisha and Ashu, twins who were seven when they went missing, and Sushila, 6, had gone out to play and never returned. I filed a police complaint and went searching for them, but all in vain. I still hope that one day, my daughters just return home and everything will be alright," he said.

Worried parents losing hope

Tansukh Lal’s daughter Poonam, 15, disappeared on January 27. "My daughter had gone out with two women my wife knew. They were from the neighbouring Bhikam Singh Colony. Neither Poonam, nor the two women, ever returned. Police say that Poonam may have eloped. Even if she has, why don’t they just find her for me?" said Tansukh. Similarly, auto-driver Satyadev’s 3-year-old daughter Lado had gone out to play sometime in December 2008 and never came back. "We filed a police complaint but no policeman ever came home to even check on her," he said.

Meanwhile, with each passing day, parents of the six teenagers who went missing on February 11 are losing hope. "We went to the cops to complaint. However, no action seems to have been taken so far," said Saroj, the mother

of one of the missing girls, Pooja. Billu Singh, father of Durga, who too went missing on February 11, said that he doesn’t care if she eloped but just wants her to come back home.

DCP (east) Anand Mohan said four out of the six children missing since February 11 were in relationships and the two couples appear to have fled with their friends after planning it through. "However, considering that they were minors, we registered a case of kidnapping and are trying to trace them," he said. Another senior official added that teams were sent to neighbouring states to trace them.

According to a report compiled by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, 102 children, mostly in the age group of 6-17 year, have gone missing in the last two-and-a-half years from areas in Sangam Vihar, Madanpur Khadar, Badarpur and Nangloi in the city. As in the case in New Sanjay Amar colony children, no action was taken in most of these cases. So where have all the children gone?

The cops are not alarmed. They say Nithari was a one-off incident and there is not much evidence to suggest that the same is repeating itself in Delhi.

"There is no pattern to any of these cases. Mostly, parents of these children are daily wage workers and are barely educated. Many times, children just wander off and forget how to get back home. Sometimes, they return to their native village with the help of someone. Many minors elope by choice. Around 60% of these cases are worked out," said Delhi Police PRO Rajan Bhagat.

He said the police would get worried if some organized gang of traffickers was behind these disappearances.
"But there is no evidence to suggest that," he added. According to another senior officer, regular studies are conducted by Delhi Police to look for a pattern in the cases of missing children. "We have not observed any pattern so far," he said.

India capable of facing any security threat: Antony

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India is capable of facing any threat to its security coming from any quarter, defence minister A K Antony said in wake of a warning from a top al-Qaida commander. ( Watch )

"One thing I can tell you. Whatever threat coming from any quarter, our armed forces are always ready to face them," Antony said on the sidelines of a function here.

He was replying to a question on reports about a top al-Qaida commander warning India of more Mumbai-style terror strikes if it tried to attack Pakistan.

Antony, however, said he had not come across this particular report.

Commenting on Pakistan's demand for more information from India to complete its probe into the Mumbai terror attack, Antony said he had nothing more to add than what external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee had said on the matter.

"My senior colleague Mukherjee had already made India's position clear on the matter. He had already explained this categorically. We are one Government, one voice," he added.

The al-Qaida commander who was reported killed in a US drone strike last year, has appeared in a video warning India of more Mumbai-style attacks if it tried to attack Pakistan.

"India should know that it will have to pay a heavy price if it attacks Pakistan," Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, believed to be al-Qaida's military commander in Afghanistan and ranked behind No 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri, said in a 20-minute video in Arabic received by BBC.

Yazid, who the Pakistani military said may have been killed in fighting last August in the Bajaur tribal region, said: "The Mujahideen will sunder your armies into the ground, like they did to the Russians in Afghanistan.

"They will target your economic centres and raze them to the ground.

Underworld may be out to kill Kasab

MUMBAI: Terror groups may have approached Dawood Ibrahim to kill Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist caught alive after the November 26 Mumbai attacks.( Watch )

According to TV reports, quoting sources in intelligence agencies, underworld don Chhota Shakeel, a close aide of Dawood's, has been given a contract to kill Kasab. Shakeel is believed to be hiding in Pakistan and taking help from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence.

According to the sources, the plot came to light on January 29 when a Research and Analysis Wing branch of Gujarat's Bhuj district intercepted a telephone conversation from across the border. The matter has already been discussed at the January 10 National Security Council meeting.

The information has been now handed over to the Mumbai police by the Centre. An official said Kasab's death would mean there won't be any evidence to nail Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks.

Refuting the claims, Mumbai’s joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria said, "If that had been true, we would be the first one to be informed as Kasab is in our custody. There is always a threat to his life right from the day he was arrested and that is the reason we don’t take him to court for extending his custody. We will also ensure his safety in the jail once he is remanded to judicial custody."

Maria said various countries whose citizens were killed in the 26\11 terror attack were also conducting separate probes into the carnage. ‘‘If they are conducting probes, it implies that they have registered criminal cases. The fact came out during our meetings with representatives of these countries,’’ he said.

Maria, however, ruled out that these countries were asking for extradition of Kasab. Of those killed in the attack, 26 were foreign nationals, including those from the US, Germany, Malaysia and Israel.

Union minister Mahavir Prasad booked in murder case

GORAKHPUR: In a major embarrassment to the government at the Centre, Union minister Mahavir Prasad has been booked for alleged conspiracy in a murder case, a senior police officer said on Wednesday. ( Watch )

The case was registered on the direction of the Allahabad High Court under section 120 B IPC (conspiracy) against the Union minister for micro, small and medium Industries in Gagha police station here on Tuesday night, senior superintendent of police Aditya Mishra said.

Two other accused, village head of Ujjarpar, Rajesh Singh and one Gauri Shankar have been booked under sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of public peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) and the SC/ST Act.

According to police, a woman called Subhavati of village Ujjarpar, the native village of the minister, had move a local court for lodging the cases against the accused.

She had alleged that the village head and Gauri Shankar were involved in the murder of her husband on January 28 and charged the minister with helping the accused.

She moved the High Court after the local CJM's court rejected her plea.

Police said the case was registered on the direction of the high court.

Earlier, the police had registered the case as a road accident. No arrest has so far been made in this connection, the SSP said.

In Delhi, Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said "currently, it seems as the Allahabad High Court has passed an order but we have not seen the order and if an FIR has been registered, we don't have a copy of the FIR at the moment."

After scrutinizing the order, the FIR and talking to the minister, "we will come to an appropriate conclusion and respond to it,” he said.

"It is inappropriate to come to any conclusion before scrutinizing the documents," Tiwari said.

Police said that the Union minister was among the three accused that included Gauri Shankar Gupta, a relative of Prasad.

"What we plan to do is to carry out fair and completely impartial investigations so that we can ascertain whether the facts lead to the case being chargesheeted as the murder or again as that of an accident," Mishra said.

"That is our task ahead in the next few days and I am sure within 7-10 days we will be able to clear up the confusion," he said.

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Campus selections

Special Correspondent

NARSARAOPET (GUNTUR Dt.): Aegis Aspire Consultancy Services Ltd, Hyderabad will conduct campus selections on the PNC & KR Degree College campus here on Saturday. Candidates with any degree and knowledge of computers, passed out from any college in 2006 or later will be eligible. The emoluments would be attractive and the process of recruitment was based on screening for voice assessment, written test and personal interview.

Students possessing MCA and M.Sc Computer Science degrees can also participate. Candidates with good communication skills, work culture and preparedness to work during night shift, would be preferred. They should have the ability to handle assignments independently. The candidate should bring two sets of resume, Xerox copies of academic certificates and passport size photos.

Chiru to tour Chittoor from tomorrow

Chittoor: Praja Rajyam party president Chiranjeevi will tour Chittoor district from January 22 to 25 as per the press note released on Tuesday by district convener Jangalapalli Srinivasulu. He will cover 33 places in Chittoor district during his tour starting his tour from Kuppam, the constituency represented by the former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and cover Shantipuram Rajupeta Cross, Ramakuppam, V-Kota, Baireddypalli, Palamaner and make night halt at Pugur. On Friday he will tour Kallupalli, Rayalpeta, Punganur were he will unveil the statue of Jyothirao Phule. Then he will visit Ramasamudram, Madanapalli, Valmikipuram.

On Saturday he will cover Chinthaparthi, Kalikiri, Kanduru, Somala, Sadum, Kalluru, Damalcheruvu, Paturu and Puthalpattu. Hee will visit Chittoor, Gangadhar Nellore, Kothapallimitta, S.R.Puram, Pallipattu Junction, Karvetnagar, Puttur, Nagiri on January 25 and he will leave for Chennai. In all these places he will address the public.

Congress cheated people: Narayana

Staff Reporter

“Government will be taught a lesson”

Photo: Praveen Kumar Chowdary

Interests of People: CPI State secretary Narayana participating at a programme in Mahbubabad of Warangal district on Tuesday. -

MAHABUBABAD (WARANGAL DT.): CPI State unit secretary K. Narayana exhorted the people to defeat Congress which failed to keep its promises and for adopting anti-people policies. The Congress hoodwinked people on separate Telangana issue and snatched away lands from the poor in the name of setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZs). “The Chief Minister is feeling happy that he could deceive TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao. But, Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy is not realising the fact that he deceived people of Telangana who will definitely teach the Congress a lesson soon,” Mr Narayana warned .

The CPI leader was here to take part in a public meeting organised by the party. He said the Left parties would once again play a key role both at Centre and in State. They joined hands with the UPA only to dislodge communal forces headed by BJP. Now, they are joining hands with TDP and others only to defeat corrupt Congress .

Referring to the alliance with the TDP which the Left parties criticised in the past, Mr. Narayana said they were not for or against any individual but were always concerned with protecting the interests of people.

The Left party leader said the Congress government lost the trust of people in the state by adopting anti-people policies and with involvement of Ministers in scandals such as Volkswagen.Referring to the naxals, the CPI leader hoped that the Maoists join mainstream.

YSR says money diverted from Satyam to Maytas

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Almost a fortnight after the more Rs. 7,000 crore fraud of Satyam Computer Services Ltd. surfaced, the State government for the first time has conceded that the tainted company is closely related to Maytas Infra, a company that secured several projects in irrigation and other sectors in the State.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy admitted that investigation into the affairs of one company “definitely leads to the other.” “There is talk about money from Satyam being diverted to Maytas,” he said.

Replying to queries at a press conference here on Tuesday, he said the Crime Investigation Department of the State police was probing into the affairs of Satyam and “there is no bar on them to investigate that (Maytas) also.” Replying to queries on land allotment to Satyam at Visakhapatnam, he said Satyam as a company should be differentiated and it was the erstwhile management that “defrauded the shareholders.” He replied in the negative when asked whether all the projects awarded to Maytas would be scrapped.

Officials had been asked to closely supervise work on projects awarded to Maytas. The government would “explore alternatives as remedial measures as and when it feels that the firm cannot complete the projects.”

TDP chief’s tour to begin tomorrow

Correspondent

Naidu to address meetings in Vizianagaram

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Naidu will reach Chintalapalem from Visakhapatnam airport

He will enter Srikakulam district at Rajam

---

VIZIANAGARAM: The Telugu Desam district committee has finalised route map for the three-day tour of party president N. Chandrababu Naidu in S. Kota, Nellimarla, Bobbili and Parvathipuram Assembly constituencies on January 22, 23 and 24. The objective of the tour, it is learnt, is to patch up differences among party leaders and strengthen the cadre in the wake of desertion of leaders to the Praja Rajyam.

Mr. Naidu will reach Chintalapalem from Visakhapatnam airport at 11 a.m. and address meetings at Kothavalasa and Anandapuram. After lunch he will hold meetings at Vepada, Sompuram, Boddam, S. Kota, Sitampeta junction, Jami, Chinnapuram, Ainada, Jonnada and D. Thallavalasa and stay for the night at Sri Shanti lay-out.

On January 23, he will address a meeting at Akkivaram, Bhogapuram, Natavalasa, Perapuram and Poosapatirega. He will reach Cheepurupalli for night stay after addressing meetings at Rellivalasa, Kumili, Dannanapeta, Ramatheerthalu, Sathivada, Boppadam, Arthamooru, Konuru, Dummeda, Thodrangi and Garividi.

On January 24, the TDP chief will leave Cheepurupalli at 10 a.m. and address wayside meetings at Bondapalli, Garugubilli, Sathamvalasa, Bhimavaram, Gothada, Somalingapuram, Coonayavalasa, Akulakatta junction, Baangi, Mugada, Peda Bhimavaram, Rangarayapuram, Bobbili, Komatipalli, Kaluvarai, Chintada, Barli, Pakki, Peda Penki and Balijipeta. He will leave for Rajam in Srikakulam district from there.

Balakrishna’s itinerary

Close on the heels of his tour, film actor N. Balakrishna will tour Srikakulam district on February 3 and 4, Vizianagaram February 5 and 6 and Visakhapatnam on February 7.

Raju admits to funds diversion

YDERABAD: Former Satyam chairman B. Ramalinga Raju reportedly confessed to having diverted funds from the company to two other entities, Maytas Properties and Maytas Infra, promoted by his sons.

A top police source indicated that the fudging of accounts, as admitted by Mr. Raju in his letter to the board of directors, was apparently a red herring and the fraud encompassed land transactions running into hundreds of acres. The questioning by CID sleuths is understood to have yielded these crucial leads. Meanwhile, the interrogation of his brother Rama Raju and former Chief Financial Officer of the company, Srinivas Vadlamani, continued for the third day on Tuesday at the DGP’s office.

HISTORIC INAUGURATION ON THE CAPITOL

Barack Obama, 44th President of the U.S., breaks colour barrier and holds out promise before a troubled nation — Photo: Praveen Kumar Chowdary

THE BIG MOMENT: Barack Obama is sworn in the 44th President of the U.S. by Chief Justice John Roberts in Washington. Michelle Obama holds the Bible. Their daughters Malia and Sasha are at right.

WASHINGTON: Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States on Tuesday, shattering American racial barriers as the first black leader of the nation he promised to free from the grip of its profound economic troubles and steer away from wars in two distant lands.

The 47-year-old Mr. Obama assumed power over a country longing for change after George W. Bush’s eight divisive years in the White House. That era witnessed the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, the beginning of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and an economic collapse not seen since the 1930s Great Depression.

Joe Biden was sworn in the 47th Vice-President. He took his oath of office from Associate Justice John Paul Stevens.

Mr. Obama said in his first address to the nation as its new leader: “Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.”

Speaking to a massive crowd that spread across the National Mall from the Capitol toward the Lincoln Memorial, Mr. Obama recalled the words of George Washington, America’s first President, enjoining Americans against faint-heartedness “in this winter of our hardship.”

“With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come,” the President said in his 18-plus-minute address. “Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.”

Mr. Obama promised the world a new America that listens to all voices. But he vowed to spare nothing to keep America safe, addressing terrorist foes directly.

“We will not apologise for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defence, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.”

He added: “To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

Acknowledging the historic nature of his inauguration as leader of a nation with a deeply troubled racial past, Mr. Obama said: “This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.”

The National Mall was jammed with hundreds of thousands of spectators, perhaps well above one million, who came from across American and the globe to witness the historic transfer of power. Most could only see the new President on giant television screens placed among the huge crowd.

The nation’s 56th inauguration day began for Mr. Obama and his vice-presidential pick Joe Biden with a traditional morning worship service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, across Lafayette Park from the White House.

After the 45-minute service, the Obama couple were welcomed to the White House for coffee. Mr. Bush and first lady Laura Bush greeted them at the North Portico, according to custom.

Mr. Obama’s election electrified millions across the globe with the hope that the new American leader would be more inclusive and open to the needs of people and governments worldwide, more collaborative and more inclined to attack problems with diplomacy than with military power.

Remarkable ascent

The ceremony was the culmination of a remarkable ascent for the Democrat, who moves into the Oval Office as the nation’s fourth youngest President. In less than five years, he rose from a little-known Illinois State lawmaker to the nation’s highest office, persuading Americans that despite his relative inexperience, he could turn around the economy, end the Iraq war and restore U.S. standing in the world.

A gifted, inspirational speaker, he has raised the hopes of millions as he outlined a new course for the U.S. He promised to emphasise diplomacy, seek global solutions to climate change, reject torture and shut down the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Mr. Obama’s presidency puts Democrats firmly in charge of Washington. They will control both chambers of Congress and the White House for the first time since 1994.

Though the new President faces monumental challenges, he should face an extended honeymoon as he takes over from Mr. Bush, who leaves Washington as one of the nation’s most unpopular and divisive Presidents. — AP