An awe-inspiring blood-red “supermoon” will cast its eerie light on the Earth early on Monday, perhaps creating an atmosphere of wonder and fear across the world.

Barack Obama said today he had resigned his 20-year church membership “with some sadness” in the aftermath of inflammatory remarks by his long-time pastor the Rev Jeremiah Wright and fiery remarks by another minister.

Republican John McCain tried to ease concerns that he is too old to be president, opening medical records that show the three-time melanoma survivor appears cancer-free, has a strong heart, and is in general good health.