President Barack Obama signs an executive order to close down the detention centre at Guantánamo Bay in the Oval Office today. Photograph: Getty Images
Mood sober as president gets down to businessANALYSIS: AS THE vast crowd started leaving the National Mall in Washington following Barack Obama’s inauguration on Tuesday, the new president sat down to lunch in the Capitol’s statuary hall with dozens of friends and lawmakers, writes DENIS STAUNTONin Washington

Obama calls Middle East leaders during first day in officeHOURS AFTER the last Israeli troops left the Gaza Strip, President Barack Obama, in his first day in office, phoned regional leaders yesterday stressing his commitment to pursuing Middle East peace.
Arts looking for new dawnMany people involved in the arts in the US are hoping their new president will repay their support with cabinet-level representation. But if such a post never materialises, can artists learn to coordinate their interests more effectively? asks BELINDA McKEON.

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Obama calls Middle East leaders during first day in officeHOURS AFTER the last Israeli troops left the Gaza Strip, President Barack Obama, in his first day in office, phoned regional leaders yesterday stressing his commitment to pursuing Middle East peace.

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Shift on Muslim detention must not merely make them new blacks in USANALYSIS: Halting Guantánamo trials is hardly enough. Obama’s plan is very welcome, but alone it is not a sufficient step in improving the US’s legal attitudes to Muslims, writes ASIM QURESHI .

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Policy on Iran will shape perceptions of president-electDebate has intensified about how - and when - Iran should be approached by the incoming regime, writes Ruadhán Mac Cormaic in New York

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