Former Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry (D-MA) is officially sworn-in as Secretary of State in Washington D.C. February 1, 2013.

Factbox: Obama's second-term cabinet takes shape

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has begun to reshape his cabinet at the start of his second term, elevating several longtime advisers to key positions. More changes are still to come, as officials step down after long tenures through stressful periods at top jobs. Obama has faced criticism for his choices, in part because of past policy decisions and...

Mourners listen to a memorial service over a loudspeaker outside Newtown High School for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Newtown, Conn.

Gun control debate begins to simmer after massacre

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, WASHINGTON - Democrats say meaningful action in the wake of last week's elementary school shooting must include a ban on military-style assault weapons and a look at how the nation deals with individuals suffering from serious mental illness.  Several Democratic lawmakers and Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman said Sunday that it was time to take a deeper look into the recent...