COMMENT

Harsh reality of closing Guantánamo Bay

The Bush Administration's treatment of prisoners has left Barack Obama a legal headache that is difficult to overcome

Three hurdles for the new President

Things are set fair for Obama so long as he can master the economy, terrorism and Congress

Old hands need new approach to stubborn conflicts

Obama is going to find it hard to unite the pack of super-envoys that he is putting together to shower advice on to intractable conflicts

Task 1: reinvent capitalism

Obamanomics will not try to rebuild America on the principle that markets are always right

The inauguration

Obama: America is ready to lead once more

President said the US must recognise that it had duties 'to ourselves, our nation and the world'. Watch video

Thunderstruck Obama left searching for words

For all his famed eloquence, the moment Barack Obama had strived so hard for began with fluffed lines and a nervous laugh

IN FULL: the inaugural speech

The full text of the inaugural speech of the 44th President of the United States of America

First Lady passes fashion test

With one dress Michelle Obama had to reveal her personality and strike a blow for US style. And she did

REACTION

America gets permission to move beyond race

Race doesn't matter, crowds chanted during the election campaign. That is still not true, but now it matters a lot less

‘They brought us here as slaves'

There was universal acknowledgment that the inauguration of Obama was freighted with a special significance for African-Americans

We can achieve it all, say black Britons

The atmosphere was electric as hundreds of Afro-Caribbean Britons gathered to celebrate Barack Obama's triumph

THE PEOPLE

Joy, taunts, ballgowns and fleeces

A cordial transfer of power has taken place – but the outlook remains decidedly frosty for Barack Obama

Just another bizarre day out with Mum and Dad

Malia and Sasha Obama have been promised a puppy for their efforts. It was their applause that mattered the most

Obama greeted by frenzy of internet activity

At the peak of the ceremony more than 4,000 people were leaving comments every minute on a special Facebook tool on CNN

Critique of Elizabeth Alexander's presidential poem

Erica Wagner was not impressed by the everyday repetition of the poem which followed Obama's inauguration speech