Washington  - US president-elect Barack Obama on Friday called for urgent action to stem the country's economic decline, lending his backing to a 825-billion-dollar stimulus package introduced by lawmakers a day earlier.

But Obama warned that even with a massive injection of public cash into the world's largest economy "things could get worse before they get better."

"I want everybody to be realistic about this," Obama said in a speech at a factory in Ohio.

Nairobi- Barack Obama's African relatives will take a front seat when their most famous family member takes his oath as 44th president of the United States in Washington next Tuesday.

His 87-year-old grandmother Sarah Obama, who raised Obama's deceased father, was among several relatives who travelled from her home in Kenya to Washington on Friday. Further members of the large clan - Obama's father had 8 siblings and four wives - are expected over the weekend.

Grandmother Sarah had already witnessed Obama's swearing in as senator in 2005 and still remembers the US capital with mixed feelings: "Much too cold!"

Madrid - Ninety per cent of Spaniards welcome the election of Barack Obama as US president, a poll made public on Friday showed.

The high percentage was only comparable with the number of Spaniards who had opposed the US invasion of Iraq, which was backed by Spain's then conservative government, according to the Elcano Institute.

The international studies institute interviewed 1,000 people for the poll in December.

Those interviewed regarded Obama as the best world leader, followed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and future US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

London, Jan 16 : U. S. president-elect Barack Obama is thoughtful and loving but may have a chip on his shoulder, according to a palmist.

According to Lori Reid, a palmist, Obama's hand comes in the category called The Water Hand, which is a common feature of thinkers, artists and writers.

She said that the phalanx of his little finger is large, which apparently suggests he may has the tendency to gain weight, as he gets older.

New York, Jan. 16 : With just four days left for Barack Obama's inauguration as the United States' 44th President, the American fashion industry has started creating inauguration-themed clothing.

They are producing T-shirts, tote bags and scarves range from runway darlings Derek Lam and Narcisco Rodriguez to everyday folks with a good sense of humour.

Washington, Jan. 16 : People hoping to cash in on the crowds expected to attend next week's presidential inauguration, run the risk of falling prey to scammers

A FOX News report has revealed that online postings for getting a place to stay on rent during the event, are more often than turning out to be a nightmare for those posting it, as they run the risk of being trapped by fakes.