A $14bn (€10.5bn) emergency rescue for the big three US car manufacturers collapsed in the Senate today after a union refused to accept Republican demands for swift pay cuts.

Barack Obama “will move as quickly as he can” to set up the team who will help him rule America as its first black president, his chief strategist said today.

President George Bush told Congress’ lower house today that the state of America’s troubled economy “demands” that it followed the Senate’s lead and passed a €487bn rescue package.

A deal to solve the US financial crisis will happen “eventually” after an emergency meeting at the White House ended without an agreement, Barack Obama said today.

A $700bn (€474bn) plan to help rescue the global economy from collapse was taking shape tonight following negotiations by Democrat and Republican politicians in the United States.

THERE is a contrast between Europe and America but not a contradiction, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the joint houses of Congress yesterday.

A YEAR ago, Hillary Clinton was joshing about whether she could appoint her husband secretary of state when she became president and Barack Obama was urging a throng to be realistic about his own chances.

The visit of Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness to the United States was a wonderful testament to leadership and courage, Senator Edward Kennedy claimed tonight.

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton accused her rivals of “throwing mud” and distorting her record as she clashed with her opponents on stage in Las Vegas.

A DUP delegation is travelling to the United States today to meet a number of leading politicians.

Irish-American politicians tonight called on Sinn Féin to endorse policing in Northern Ireland after it turned down policing board seats in the North.

Bertie Ahern today urged the US Senate to pass immigration legislation that would benefit the estimated 50,000 to 70,000 illegal Irish immigrants in the United States.

The US government was tonight urged to close any loophole which would enable Gerry Adams to raise money at American fundraising events even if he is barred from attending them.

US president George Bush gained important new Democratic support for his war resolution, bolstering his expected margin of victory in Congress for broad authority to use force against Iraq.

The leaders of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government were today holding talks with New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and other US politicians on the second day of their visit to Washington.