A win over divisional rivals Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday evening saw the Denver Broncos emerge from the toughest part of their NFL campaign relatively unscathed and in poll position in the AFC and will now retain home advantage throughout January’s play-offs.

President Barack Obama spared two turkeys from the oven, fulfilling the annual tradition of a presidential pardon for a couple of lucky birds ahead of the American holiday of Thanksgiving Day.

A tunnel designed to smuggle drugs from Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego was equipped with lighting, ventilation and an electric rail system, US authorities said, making it one of the most sophisticated secret passages discovered along the US-Mexico border.

Elle Macpherson is engaged.

An American journalist has been missing in Syria since he was kidnapped more than one month ago, his family said today, less than two years after he was held by government forces in Libya while covering that country’s civil war.

Lawyers for Halle Berry and her ex-boyfriend have settled court issues that arose after a Thanksgiving Day fight at the actress’ home.

As the NFL heads into December, nearly every division race has an outright favourite.

The National Consumer Agency is advising people to shop smart if buying online this Christmas.

Tom Cruise has to take regular breaks on his new movie due to the weight of his costumes.

World stocks were boosted today by a robust start to the US holiday shopping season and reports that European leaders are considering legal means to force debt-ridden euro countries into fiscal discipline.

A FEW violent incidents broke out across America on Black Friday as millions of shoppers rushed into stores that opened hours earlier than usual on the most anticipated shopping day of the year.

Oprah Winfrey has discovered she has a half-sister – a Milwaukee woman who was given up for adoption by Winfrey’s mother nearly 50 years ago, when the TV talk show host was eight years old.

OPRAH Winfrey recently learned she has a half-sister — a Milwaukee woman who was put up for adoption by Winfrey’s mother nearly 50 years ago.

THE star of Ireland’s U23 team which claimed gold at the European cross-country championships in Albufeira yesterday predicts this title will be the catalyst for senior glory.

WHEN David McCarthy finished third in the Manchester Road Race on Thanksgiving Day, medal hopes for Ireland’s U23 men’s team at Sunday’s European cross-country championships in Albufeira shot through the roof.

Wall Street stocks ended lower today on lingering fears that Europe’s debt crisis will continue to spread even after Ireland gets bailed out.

John Travolta is “beyond happy” to have become a father again.

Lindsay Lohan is being released from rehab so she can spend Thanksgiving Day with her father.

MARTIN FAGAN is hoping a big performance in today’s Manchester Road Race in Connecticut will impress the Irish selectors ahead of next month’s European cross-country championships in Albufeira.

Victoria Beckham is helping her friend Eva Longoria get over her split from husband Tony Parker and is organising a girls’ night out for the actress.

Alistair Cragg has been confirmed by Athletics Ireland as part of the Irish team for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Santry Park next month.

Madonna and baseball hunk Alex Rodriguez have fuelled speculation that they are a couple after spending the weekend together in Mexico City.

Britney Spears has reportedly turned down the chance to make a second guest appearance on Madonna's world tour - because of family commitments.

MARTIN FAGAN and Mary Cullen are named in the Irish senior teams for the European cross-country championships in Toro, near Madrid, on Sunday week.

OUR CHRISTMAS traditions often have rather strange and obscure origins.

A FAMILY dispute in California turned deadly when a gunman burst into a Thanksgiving Day gathering and opened fire, killing three people, police said.

A family dispute in California, turned deadly when a gunman burst into a Thanksgiving Day gathering and opened fire, killing three people, police said.

ALISTAIR CRAGG wants to spearhead the Irish challenge at next month’s European cross-country championships and the European indoor championships in Birmingham in early March when he will defend his 3,000m title — his big priority.

United States Vice President Dick Cheney made a surprise visit to Iraq today, touring the country after parliamentary elections.

BRITAIN’S Prince Charles paid a surprise visit to Iraq yesterday, strolling around one of Saddam Hussein’s old palaces to inspect British troops and share a traditional Arabic coffee with local dignitaries.

TEENAGE surfer Bethany Hamilton returned to competition just 10 weeks after losing her left arm in a shark attack.

Images of George Bush being cheered by troops during his surprise visit to Baghdad last month boosted public support for the war in Iraq.

THE New England Patriots became the first team to clinch a divisional title and the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs earned play-off berths in Week 14 of the NFL.

US senators Hillary Clinton and Jack Reed arrived in Iraq yesterday following President George Bush’s surprise visit – and said it was not too late to bring the United Nations back into the country.

A British Airways pilot almost let the cat out of the bag over US President George Bush’s secret visit to Baghdad.

President George Bush flew home today after surprising US troops in Iraq with a secret Thanksgiving Day visit to thank them for ”defending the American people from danger”.

A 13-year-old surfing star who survived a shark attack is planning to head back into the water of Hawaii tomorrow – Thanksgiving Day.

Workers will continue removing debris at the World Trade Centre site on Thanksgiving Day out of respect for the victims' families, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has said.

Troubled actor Robert Downey junior is set to escape prison for drugs charges by striking a deal with prosecutors, it was reported today.