Nick Faldo put his personal stamp on Europe's Ryder Cup side again today before a ball had even been struck in practice at Valhalla.

Thousands of victims of Hurricane Ike huddled in shelters for what could be weeks and others queued wearily for food, water, ice and petrol as the misery of the disaster along the Texas coast became increasingly clear.

A clean-up operation was under way at the Ryder Cup venue today after the remnants of Hurricane Ike ripped through Louisville.

Shares tumbled today as US investors reacted to a stunning reshaping of the landscape of Wall Street.

Wyclef Jean and Matt Damon spent Sunday touring the storm-ravaged Haitian city of Gonaives, helping victims of tropical storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike.

A television tower and a number of trees were sent crashing by 60mph gusts at Valhalla yesterday on the eve of the European and American teams’ arrival for the Ryder Cup starting on Friday.

Cries of adulation – and hunger – followed Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean and actor Matt Damon as they toured flood-ravaged Gonaives to call attention to widespread suffering in the marooned city.

Rescue crews in the US navigated debris-strewn streets to reach people still stuck in some of the thousands of homes flooded by Hurricane Ike, while authorities in the fourth-largest US city, imposed a curfew and warned residents that it would be weeks before Houston is fully back up and running.

Rescue crews in the US searched neighbourhoods inundated by Hurricane Ike’s storm surge early this morning, racing against time to save those who spent a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power lines.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama temporarily toned down his campaign as Hurricane Ike made its devastating sweep across Texas, while his running mate Joe Biden prepared to take on a more prominent role in criticising his old friend and now rival, Republican John McCain.

Howling ashore with 110 mph winds, Hurricane Ike ravaged the Texas coast today, flooding thousands of homes and businesses, shattering windows in Houston’s skyscrapers and knocking out power to millions of people.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama asked his supporters today to help with recovery from Hurricane Ike and cancelled his plans to crack jokes on the TV comedy show Saturday Night Live in the aftermath of the storm.

Hurricane Ike ravaged south-east Texas early today, battering the coast with driving rain and ferocious wind gusts as residents who decided too late they should have heeded calls to evacuate made futile calls for rescue.

A monster-sized Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast, threatening to rattle the sparkling skyscrapers of America’s fourth-largest city, shut down the heart of the US oil industry for days and obliterate waterfront towns already flooded with waist-high water.

Crude oil futures briefly sank below the psychologically important US$100 a barrel mark for the first time in five months today, showing that investors believe a worsening global economy will continue to drive down demand for some time in the US and elsewhere.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Texas were today ordered to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Ike.

A number of elements to the oil pricing dynamic have been jostling for dominance in the market so far this week with the result that oil stands at somewhat of a crossroads.

As Hurricane Ike charged into the Gulf of Mexico and toward the Texas coast, officials prepared today to evacuate the first of a million residents who could be in the way of the storm’s path.

Oil prices are retreating from earlier gains in Asia, after Opec vowed to abide by its quotas but decided not to take the more dramatic step of slashing production targets.

Hurricane Ike moved across the Gulf of Mexico today on its way towards the Texas coast after crashing through Cuba and toppling ageing Havana buildings.

Hurricane Ike roared south of Cuba's densely populated capital of fragile ageing buildings after tearing across the island nation, ravaging homes, killing at least four people and forcing 1.2 million to evacuate.

Hurricane Ike roared down Cuba’s spine and towards the island’s densely populated capital of fragile historic buildings after ravaging homes, forcing 1.2 million people to evacuate and killing at least four.

Hurricane Ike roared across Cuba today, blowing buildings to rubble and sending waves surging over homes.

Hurricane Ike roared across Cuba today, tearing off roofs and sending waves crashing into buildings, as 900,000 Cubans fled to shelters or higher ground and Havana residents in decaying historic buildings prepared for a direct hit.

The US National Hurricane Centre says Hurricane Ike has weakened to a Category 2 storm as it moves over Cuba. More than 770,000 Cubans have evacuated to shelters or higher ground.

Hurricane Ike roared on to Cuba today after destroying houses and crops on low-lying islands and worsening floods in Haiti that have already killed more than 300 people.

“Extremely dangerous” Hurricane Ike grew to fierce Category 4 strength today as it roared on an uncertain path that forced millions from the Caribbean to Florida, and Louisiana to Mexico, to wonder where it would eventually strike.

Hurricane Ike barrelled toward the Turks and Caicos as a powerful Category 3 storm today, prompting an exodus of tourists and residents from the normally idyllic Atlantic island chain.

Tropical Storm Hanna sped toward the Carolinas today, promising to deliver gusty winds and heavy rain during a dash up America’s Eastern Seaboard that could wash out the weekend for millions of people.

Tropical Storm Hanna roared past the edge of the Bahamas today before a possible hurricane hit on the Carolinas, leaving behind at least 137 dead in Haiti.

Tropical Storm Hanna roared along the edge of the Bahamas today, ahead of a possible hurricane hit on the Carolinas, leaving behind at least 61 dead in Haiti.

A hurricane watch has been posted in North and South Carolina ahead of Tropical Storm Hanna, which is now passing near the Bahamas.

Tropical Storm Hanna knocked out power to the southern Bahamas and authorities from Nassau to South Carolina warned residents to prepare for evacuation as it moved north, growing into a hurricane.