said.

The president also spoke of the challenges of lifting up his party while in office.

"I had trouble transferring my personal popularity or support to the broader cause of the Democratic Party," he said. "And I think that's a legitimate criticism.

Obama, the first African-American president, also elaborated on how his journey didn't spell the end of racial challenges facing the country.

"I think any talk of the post-racial America before my election was never realistic," he said. "I think that talk was not only naive but it created some problems down the road."

Obama, however, said he remained optimistic about the changes he made while in office, and that even though the country was seemingly moving in an opposing direction, "his spirit was unchanged."

"You get the baton and hopefully you've eitherThai bill to restrict protest receives initial approval

Thailand’s parliament voted overwhelmingly to approve a bill restricting political protests on February 26.

The
bill will impose restrictions on the time, place and nature of the
demonstrations, said Colonel Winthai Suvaree, Spokesman of the military
Government, stressing that the bill does not ban protesting but is to
ensure order in public gatherings.

The bill must be approved by
the National Legislative Assembly at the second and third meetings. If
the bill becomes law, it will proscribe protests outside courts,
parliament and the Prime Minister’s office, known as the Government
House.-VNA