Islamabad, Dec 19 : A bipartisan group of American experts on Pak-US relations has called for a rethink in Washington's approach towards Islamabad, depicting a dismal picture of the country and expecting Pakistan to prove to be the single greatest foreign policy and national security challenge for President-elect Barack Obama.

The Pakistan Policy Working Group report reviewed and endorsed by Richard Armitage, former US Deputy Secretary of State, and Lee Hamilton, former US Representative and Co-Chair of the 9/11 Commission, has cautioned that because of intensifying political, economic and security crisis in Pakistan, American interests were more threatened.

Nairobi/Johannesburg  - You know it has been a bad year when the only news to cheer is the election of a president in another country.

Unfortunately for many nations in Africa this has been the case this year, with the election of Barack Obama bringing small comfort to countries struggling with conflict and political instability.

While Obama's election may turn out to bring little in the way of concrete benefit to the continent, many Africans felt their self-respect was boosted by the victory of a man whose roots lie in Kenya.

Washington  - President-elect Barack Obama vowed to restore confidence in the US financial system as he announced his choice to head the government's top regulator on Thursday.

Obama named Mary Schapiro, a long-time regulator, to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has come under sharp criticism for failing to foresee the massive financial crisis striking US banks.

London, Dec 18 : President elect Barack Obama''s White House team is to undergo a crash course in how to handle terrorist attacks and international crises as part of rigorous efforts to prepare the new administration for early challenges in office.

The briefings and exercises on potential international alarms and security threats - the most comprehensive ever for any incoming officials - will include two days of hands-on training next January in which cabinet officials will be questioned on dealing with potential disaster scenarios, including an attack that would wipe out the top tier of America''s political leadership.

New York, Dec 18 : Snaps dating back to 1980 have come to light, which show a rather `cool' side of US president-elect Obama.A series of photographs showing a relaxed Barack Obama during his time as a student have been published as Obama was named person of the year by Time magazine.

The pictures, taken in 1980 by Lisa Jack, a fellow student at Occidental University, lay forgotten in her basement for years until she hunted them out during the election build-up.

Washington, Dec 18 : President-elect Barack Obama's path to the White House included beating one of the United States most powerful families, but his election last month is helping accelerate the trend toward dynasty politics.

Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of a former president and the niece of two senators is pursuing the seat vacated by Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton, the wife of the former president, Politico. com reported.