Dick Cheney and others oppose a decision to review interrogations that may have overstepped even more lenient legal guidance of Bush-administration lawyers.

The already unwieldy debate over US healthcare reform grew stranger and darker this week, drawing in British physicist Stephen Hawking, “death panels”, guns and Nazi Germany.

A pre-eminent black Harvard University professor and the white police sergeant who arrested him for disorderly conduct in his own home sat down last night for a beer with Barack Obama, the US president, to discuss the incident that has sparked intense debates on race relations.

Since Barack Obama won the race for the White House on Nov 4, related merchandise has been snapped up so quickly that memorabilia retailer Jim Warlick opened a second shop last month. He is also planning to open another five temporary stores in the weeks surrounding Mr Obama’s inauguration on Jan 20, an event that could draw several million people.

Mr Warlick is not alone. Mr Obama’s image has boosted merchandise sales for producers, suppliers and even inspired mom-and-pop shops to enter the world of politics for the first time.

Barack Obama, the US president elect, had a ready audience this week when he spoke of repairing the country’s image among Muslims and the international community – issues he trumpeted on the campaign trail that last month led him to victory. What exactly he will have to do to restore good relations depends on whom you ask. But all agree that actually fixing the ties will be an uphill battle.