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.

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain is an “independent man who thinks for himself”, President George Bush said today.

President George Bush will throw his “enthusiastic support” behind Republican presidential hopeful John McCain as the party’s national convention gets back on track today, the White House said.

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain will name the youngest and first female governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, as his running mate today, US media reported.

Barack Obama cranked up his campaign in the final days before the Democratic convention, drawing closer to naming a running mate and attacking what he said was Republican rival John McCain’s habit of questioning his “character and patriotism”.

US presidential hopeful John McCain arrived in Baghdad today for an unexpected visit with Iraqi and US diplomatic and military officials.

Congress approved new laws to step up anti-terror efforts in the US, shifting money to high-risk states and cities and expanding screening of air and sea cargo.

The 110th US Congress convened today with Democrats in control of both the House of Representatives and Senate for the first time in a dozen years.

THE United States is moving on several fronts toward a global tsunami warning system following the Asian catastrophe.

The United States is moving on several fronts toward a global tsunami warning system following the Asian catastrophe.

JOHN KERRY, assured of the Democratic nomination, is exploring options for a running mate, from southerners who can provide regional balance to those who can highlight economic problems under President George Bush.

Democratic US presidential primaries front-runner John Kerry has rolled up big victories and a pile of delegates in five states, while two of his rivals kept their candidacies alive with singular triumphs.

JOHN KERRY’S shock victory in the Iowa Caucuses on Monday has thrust him to the front in the Democratic race for the presidency.

US Jews would overwhelmingly support any major Democratic candidate over President George Bush if the election were held today, according to the Annual Survey of American Jewish Opinion.

Eight Democratic presidential contenders have strongly disputed that Howard Dean is the party’s best chance for beating President George Bush, or that former Vice President Al Gore’s endorsement of the front-runner will seal the nomination.

A nationwide poll released today said that an estimated 44% of the US electorate plan to vote against President George Bush next year, while 38% would support his re-election.

President George W. Bush’s job approval rating, which had slumped in several recent polls, has bounced back to 56% in a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll released today.

Former US first lady Hillary Clinton is planning to enter the race for the White House, despite earlier ruling herself out of the 2004 campaign, it was reported today.

Senator Joe Lieberman has said he will run for US president in 2004, telling pupils and parents at his old school that he will always "put America first".

Former US Vice President Al Gore, who came agonisingly close to winning the presidency two years ago, has said he will not run for the White House in 2004.