The gathering set for Thursday evening may help President Barack Obama write a happy ending to an arrest that triggered a fierce debate over race relations. ...read

Obama turns off pro-democracy news ticker on U.S. building in Havana to improve relations with Cubans

The news 'zipper' on the fifth floor of the American Interest Section in the Cuban capital had riled the government for the past three years.

British-born Citigroup oil trader at eye of US pay storm

British-born oil trader Andrew Hall is at the eye of a deadly serious storm over Barack Obama's attempts to rein in the pay of America's top bankers.

Cashing in: British oil trader demands £60m bonus after profiting from petrol pump misery

Oxford graduate Andrew Hall is in line for the massive payout even as motorists are stung by the soaring costs of petrol and diesel.

Israel ignores U.S. pleas to settle nuclear dispute diplomatically and hints at attack on Iran

Israel has said it is still considering using military force to stop Iran getting the bomb.

Beethoven, Bach and... Amy Winehouse: Gordon Brown a 'big fan' of the troubled singer as he reveals what's on his iPod

He once claimed to be a fan of the Arctic Monkeys. But yesterday, Gordon Brown told a group of young people that he keeps Bach, Beethoven and U2 on his iPod

Member of Berlusconi's cabinet calls for withdrawal of Italian troops from Afghanistan

A key member of Premier Silvio Berlusconi's cabinet today called for Italy's soldiers to be withdrawn from Afghanistan.

PETER HITCHENS: What if the Berlin Wall didn't fall?

Twenty years ago, the totem of the Cold War was torn down. Now PETER HITCHENS poses a provocative question: would the world have actually been a better place if it had never happened?

CIA 'put pressure on Britain to cover up its use of torture'

The CIA has been secretly pressuring the British Government to help it cover up its use of torture, documents filed in the High Court have revealed.

Obama regrets his attack on 'stupid' police for 'racist' arrest of Harvard scholar

Barack Obama has admitted today he should not have described the arrest of a black Harvard professor as 'stupid'.

Obama: I used to pray every night - now I pray ALL the time (and get devotionals on my BlackBerry)

The leader of the free world must bear a bit more responsibility in his every day life than most of us do. So perhaps it's not surprising that Barack Obama has swerved towards God.

Iraq's prime minister leaves door open for U.S. forces to stay longer in Iraq

Iraq's prime minister left the door open to the continued presence of U.S. forces in Iraq beyond the date both countries have set as a firm deadline for the last American soldiers to leave.

My God, gasps stunned Susan Boyle as she meets her idol Elaine Paige on American TV

The two finally met yesterday, on a U.S. talk show, with a shocked Susan reacting with delight when surprised by Broadway star Paige.

Move over Mr President: Susan Boyle forces Barack Obama to switch time of national address

Susan Boyle has compared her sudden fame to being hit by a 'demolition ball.' The 48-year-old, who became a global star with a show-stopping performance on Britain's Got Talent, addressed her high-profile meltdown for the first time in a candid interview on American television.

Charlize Theron and Will Ferrell cheer on Chelsea - Blues lead way in famous fans' club but which star supports your team?

Sportsmail goes through football's elite 20 and comes up with a mighty bunch of A-listers, actors, authors and who-the-hell are theys after Hollywood stars Will Ferrell and Charlize Theron roared Chelsea to victory over Inter Milan in Pasadena, California.

Michael Jackson the freak is better off dead, says Rupert Everett

His death sparked sombre vigils and floral tributes of saintly standards. And as a host of A-list stars clambered to pay their respects to Michael Jackson, few would have dared to heap him with anything other than praise.

Hillary Clinton could return to Northern Ireland as next U.S. envoy

U.S. Secretary of State is considering the move despite Trimble's put-down that she was a 'wee bit silly' in claiming a major peace process role during election battle with Obama.

Stylish Michelle Obama shows off elegant new bob

Michelle Obama continued to cement her reputation as one of the most fashionable women in the world by showing off a new hairstyle.

Honeymoon period over for Obama as polls show his ratings have fallen to lowest point yet

The hope and optimism that washed over the United States in the opening months of Barack Obama's presidency are giving way to harsh realities.

That's one ella ella ella of a new haircut Michelle! First Lady Obama steals Rihanna's style

Michelle Obama put up her hair to look as if it had been cut into a pixie crop, with a sweeping fringe, very like that of the Umbrella singer.

A British Tornado fighter jet has crashed at a major NATO base in southern Afghanistan, the third aircraft mishap in as many days as foreign forces press their new offensives against the Taliban. ...read

The Apollo Age: How 40 years has transformed the first men on the Moon

Forty years after their historic Moon mission, the three Apollo 11 astronauts have come together for what could be the last time.

Never-before-seen photo shows Neil Armstrong's face as he first walks across the moon

An amazing new photograph showing Neil Armstrong's face through his space suit visor has come to light.

Fears of bloodshed as Honduras crisis talks fail and deposed Zelaya vows to return home

Honduras' political rivals were on a collision course on Monday after negotiations collapsed and deposed President Manuel Zelaya vowed to return home despite warnings from a defiant de facto government.

'The most trusted man in America': News legend Walter Cronkite dies at 92

President Barack Obama led tributes yesterday to the legendary American TV newsman Walter Cronkite after his death in New York at the age of 92.

Black Eyed Peas: The band with a conscience

Bentleys, buying houses for the family and helping Barack Obama become President... Live finds out what drives the band with the oddest names in pop.

Gordon falls off Silvio's bling list: While Blair got 18 watches, Brown just gets ties

Such was Berlusconi's admiration for Tony Blair that he gave him 18 watches, four necklaces, two bracelets, two sets of rings, a clock and a leather holdall in just four years.

Stop using racism to excuse failure, Obama tells black America

Speech was first time he has directly confronted the issue of race since making history six months ago as the first black president to move into the White House.

Swine flu: Medical chief orders NHS to prepare for 65,000 deaths - with a toll of as many as 350 a day

Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has ordered the NHS to plan for as many as 65,000 deaths - with 350 a day at the peak.

'If you do not release the U.S. soldier then you will be hunted:' American demands return of Taliban hostage

Leaflet shows soldiers with smiling Afghan children while another has a picture of troops kicking down doors.

Anthrax alert after man posts his wife's ashes to U.S. embassy

Security officials went into overdrive at the U.S. embassy when the envelope arrived, just before President Barack Obama reached Rome last Wednesday for the G8.

Unlucky 13 for MLB as Granderson seals another win for American League

The American League stretched its unbeaten streak to 13 years as it beat the National League 4-3 in Major League Baseball's 80th All-Star Game in St Louis, Missouri.

Cameron shows his soccer skills but how does he shape up against the other premier stars Obama, Blair and Brown?

When they're not commanding countries or heading up the opposition, these political leaders like nothing more than a kick-about with the boys.

Russell Brand to host MTV Video Music Awards again but news hits a bad note for some

The saying that there is no such thing as bad publicity has proved all too true for disgraced comic Russell Brand as it was announced today that he will host the MTV Video Music Awards again this year.

Afghan villagers: Crooked police are a bigger problem than the Taliban

Afghan villagers had complained to the US Marines for days: The police are the problem, not the Taliban. They steal from villagers and beat them

Obama's Supreme Court pick Sonia Sotomayor faces tough questions in confirmation battle

She assured senators of her impartiality as she sought to lock up all-but-certain confirmation as the first Hispanic on the nation's top tribunal.

Sir Bob Geldof joins rock stars to record song in appeal to stop extradition of Gary McKinnon

Sir Bob Geldof, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and singer Chrissie Hynde have recorded a song in an appeal to Barack Obama to stop the extradition of Gary McKinnon.

Give over, no way is that Barack Obama? Lifesize figure in Blackpool bids for world's worst waxwork title

While they are chuffed to bits with their Barack Obama figure at Louis Tussauds in Blackpool others have been wondering whether it is a contender for the title of world's worst waxwork.

Top Brown advisor banned from G8 summit after contracting swine flu

Gordon Brown's aide, who picked up the virus in Mexico, was told he could not attend the gathering at L'Aquila in Italy in case he passed it on to U.S. president Barack Obama and other top politicians.

Sonia Sotomayor begins formal hearings to become America's first Hispanic Supreme Court judge

The Bronx-born judge will face the Senate Judiciary Committee which will consider whether she should sit on the nation's highest court.

Britain faces a greater threat from terrorists than the United States does, Barack Obama said yesterday. ...read

MoD troop carriers are U.S. rejects... and '1 in 10' of our soldiers could die in Afghanistan

MPs have been warned the carnage could get even worse as the MoS reveals that new vehicles purchased to protect British troops in Afghanistan have already been rejected as unsafe by the US military.

Barack Obama tells Africa to stop blaming the West for its economic woes during historic visit

An American president who has 'the blood of Africa within me' praised and scolded the continent of his ancestors today.

Obama takes family 'who lead blessed lives' to one-time slave fortress in Ghana

Obama told me that he felt it was important to bring his children, who had such 'blessed lives', to the one-time slave fortress at Ghana's Cape Coast.

Hope meets Pope: Pontiff welcomes Obama to Vatican

The U.S. President, whose single-word campaign slogan was 'hope', said it was a 'great honor' to talk face-to-face with spiritual leader

Send Lockerbie bomber back, Gaddafi tells Brown in historic meeting at G8 summit

The Libyan dictator used their first face-to-face meeting to raise the case of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, who was convicted of blowing up Pan Am flight 103 in 1988.

Buy it now: General Motors to sell cars on eBay in bid to kickstart its recovery

Vauxhall's American parent company General Motors is to sell cars over the internet on eBay with the British subsidiary likely to follow suit.

Morning after the night before: Carla Bruni tours earthquake ruins after romantic G8 dinner with her husband

She spent the evening with G8 leaders and the first ladies' club before enjoying some time with her husband.

We'll negotiate reduction of nuclear arsenals, says Brown at G8

Leaders of the world's major economies meeting at the G8 summit in Italy today agreed to Mr Obama's proposal that a nuclear security summit should be held in Washington ahead of the planned review of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Finance guru calls £484bn U.S. bailout 'half a Viagra'

The world's second-richest man has dismissed Barack Obama's $787billion stimulus as just 'half a tablet of Viagra and a bunch of candy'.

Brown's olive branch: Britain could cut nuclear warheads to persuade rogue states to give up arms race

The Prime Minister and other G8 leaders agreed to U.S. President Barack Obama's proposal for a major summit next spring designed to pave the way to a revised global nuclear treaty.

Spy row erupts at G8 summit as Italians are accused of eavesdropping on secret meetings

An extraordinary row has broken out at the G8 summit after it emerged Italian aides had spied on bilateral meetings.

Fancy jetting off with Carla? President Sarkozy names new £50m plane after his third wife

Nicolas Sarkozy's 'bling bling' reputation reached new heights today when it emerged his new £50million jet has been named 'Carla' after Ms Bruni.

Miss Obama's peacenik T-shirt sends a message to G8 leaders

Barack Obama's eldest daughter Malia wears a top bearing the CND logo in a a clear message to her father and leaders of the G8.

We haven't beaten the recession yet, Brown warns G8 leaders

The economy faces new 'warning signals' that cannot be ignored and could choke off a recovery, Gordon Brown warned world leaders last night.

Berlusconi's ex-Playmate minister stands in, Sarah Brown's three outfits in six hours... but where's Carla?

All eyes were on the G8 summit's glamorous - and unexpected - co-host yesterday. Mara Carfagna is a former topless model who is now Italy's equalities minister.

Michael Jackson memorial: Singer's daughter Paris, 11, breaks down as she pays tribute to 'the best daddy ever'

Jackson's tearful daughter Paris's voice broke as she told the millions watching his memorial concert: 'I just want to say I love him so much.'

Obama urges Russia to 'reset' relations with America after breakfast summit with Putin

Barack Obama appealed to a sceptical Russia in a major speech this morning, telling its people America was not destined to be an 'antagonist'.

G8 summit: Italy prepares to protect world leaders from everything from air strikes to earthquake

With the world's most powerful leaders gathering in the city of L'Aquila just three months after a devastating earthquake, Italian security officials have prepared an emergency evacuation plan.

Gordon Brown prepares for 'boot camp summit' as world leaders and First Ladies converge on Italy for G8

Preparations for the meeting, in the Italian mountain town of L'Aquila, have been shambolic, according to experts.

After the outrage amongst Michael Jackson's army of UK fans yesterday when they were told that only Americans could apply for tickets to Tuesday's public memorial service, they have now been allowed to attend. ...read

Michael Jackson's body to be displayed on stage at memorial service as fans gather for emotional farewell

Michael Jackson's body is expected to go on show to his fans and a worldwide TV audience at today's memorial service in Los Angeles.

Tories' Andrew Lansley walks into Labour's internet trap ... with a little help from a glamorous woman

The Tories claimed that Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is the first victim of an internet-based dirty tricks unit, involving a female reporter at the HSJ

Seven U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan in 'deadliest day' for America in a year

The killings may also be a sign that the war being fought in the Taliban heartland of the south and east could now be expanding north.

Zelaya supporters escalate their battle for Honduras as ousted president heads to Washington for talks

Supporters of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya vowed to widen protests and block trade nationwide as the deposed leader headed to the US.

Russia and the U.S. shake hands on a nuclear deal to reduce warheads

The 'joint understanding' would see the two countries cut the number of warheads to around 1,500 from current levels above 2,200.

Barack Obama and wife Michelle lead the Fourth of July celebrations as US stars party hard

Fireworks lit up the skies as celebrities such as Matt Damon, Jim Carrey, Pamela Anderson and Jessica Alba joined the Americans commemorating the nation's 233rd anniversary.

Honduras slides towards anarchy as ousted president vows to make second return

Honduras slid toward greater instability after soldiers blocked an airport runway to keep ousted President Manuel Zelaya from returning.

Strengthening the rule of law in Russia should be part of new partnership with U.S. says Obama

Barack Obama said strengthening human rights and the rule of law in Russia should be a part of the much-heralded 'reset' in U.S.-Russian relations, according to an interview with an embattled Russian opposition newspaper

Now Twitter tweets its way into the English dictionary

It is the internet phenomenon championed by Barack Obama, Britney Spears and Stephen Fry. And now it's an official part of the English language.

Now Twitter tweets its way into the English dictionary

It is the internet phenomenon championed by Barack Obama, Britney Spears and Stephen Fry. And now it's an official part of the English language.

Now Twitter tweets its way into the English dictionary

It is the internet phenomenon championed by Barack Obama, Britney Spears and Stephen Fry. And now it's an official part of the English language.

Now Twitter tweets its way into the English dictionary

It is the internet phenomenon championed by Barack Obama, Britney Spears and Stephen Fry. And now it's an official part of the English language.

Now Twitter tweets its way into the English dictionary

It is the internet phenomenon championed by Barack Obama, Britney Spears and Stephen Fry. And now it's an official part of the English language.

Now Twitter tweets its way into the English dictionary

It is the internet phenomenon championed by Barack Obama, Britney Spears and Stephen Fry. And now it's an official part of the English language. .

Now Twitter tweets its way into the English dictionary

Harry Potter and the Deathly Swine Flu: Ron Weasley actor is first celebrity victim of bug

The actor who plays schoolboy wizard Ron Weasley was forced to take a week out of filming the latest Harry Potter film after he caught swine flu. 

Honduras braces for violence as exiled leader vows to return

Honduras is bracing itself for a threatened confrontation today as ousted President Manuel Zelaya insisted he was coming home to reclaim his post. 

21st out of 23: Defence Secretary's Cabinet rank is the lowest in history prompting Armed Forces anger

Gordon Brown is facing growing anger among Armed Forces chiefs after it was revealed that new Defence Secretary has the lowest-ever ranking in the Cabinet pecking order for a holder of the post.