Fresh off a decisive victory in Illinois, Mitt Romney won critical establishment support from former Florida Governor Jeb Bush as he looks to unite the Republican Party behind his candidacy.

House Democratic leaders are predicting victory for President Barack Obama’s bill to overhaul the US health care system.

A Republican senator who had single-handedly blocked a stop-gap measure to extend help for the jobless finally relented under withering assaults from Democrats and dwindling support within his own party.

TAKING his defence to the airwaves rather than his impeachment trial, Governor Rod Blagojevich lashed out at his accusers yesterday and revealed he had considered naming chatshow host Oprah Winfrey to the senate.

The state impeachment trial of Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich will take place today – without the politician.

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

PRESIDENT-elect Barack Obama called for Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich to resign yesterday, hours after the embattled governor reported for work amid charges he plotted to sell Obama’s vacant Senate seat.

US politicians were today rushing to prevent the state governor charged with trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat in a “political corruption crime spree” appointing someone to the post.

REPUBLICAN presidential nominee John McCain challenged rival Barack Obama yesterday to suspend their heated campaign, postpone tomorrow’s debate and work together to deal with the nation’s financial troubles.

Mattel has extended its worldwide recalls of Chinese-made toys to more than 18.6 million, including popular Barbie and Polly Pocket, and warned that more could be ordered off store shelves because of lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed.

Republicans dismissed a Democratic plan for an all-night session of the US Senate to debate President Bush’s military strategy in Iraq amid bipartisan proposals to redeploy US troops.

Black US presidential hopeful Barack Obama has been given Secret Service protection amid fears for his safety, a senior law enforcement source said today.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates today said it remains unclear how long the “temporary” US military build up ordered by President George Bush in Iraq will last.

President George Bush is to send as many as 6,000 National Guard troops to the US border with Mexico to help stop the flood of illegal immigrants.

US President George Bush is pressuring Congress to renew the Patriot Act by highlighting the actions of Ohio police who helped catch a man accused of plotting attacks on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York and a Midwest shopping centre.

A 12-year-old New York girl, who was among the first to be sued by the record industry for sharing music over the Internet, is off the hook after her mother agreed to pay $1,900 (€1,700) to settle the lawsuit.