FORMER White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel hoped to win more than half the vote yesterday in the Chicago mayoral race to avoid a run-off election.

A 23-year-old woman from South Armagh is in a critical condition in Chicago after she was beaten with an aluminium baseball bat in the US city yesterday.

A boy allegedly abducted in a custody dispute two years ago has been found alive, hidden behind a wall at his grandmother’s home.

Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was impeached by furious colleagues who said he had turned state government into a “freak show”.

President-elect Barack Obama said he hoped to fulfil “the simple hopes and common dreams of all Americans” as he announced his resignation from the US Senate today.

President-elect Barack Obama said he hoped to fulfil “the simple hopes and common dreams of all Americans” as he announced his resignation from the US Senate today.

GREATER co-operation on transatlantic research between universities and businesses is almost certainly on the cards following the visit to Cork of a high-powered trade delegation from Illinois.

US Democratic presidential contenders sought to underscore their differences with Republicans on gay and lesbian rights, but leading candidates also faced sharp questions on their reluctance to embrace marriage for same-sex couples.

A vote to criticise US President George Bush for his decision to send more troops to Iraq is expected to pass in a rare admonishment of a wartime commander-in-chief.