Michelle and Barack Obama welcomed a mix of Hollywood A-listers, captains of industry and prominent Chinese-Americans to the White House as they threw a “quintessentially American” state dinner for the president of China, complete with apple pie, ice cream and jazz music.

Antoine Deneriaz claimed he never lost the belief that he would be crowned Olympic champion after recovering from a torn knee ligament to blaze to men’s downhill glory in Sestriere.

Janet Jackson's Super Bowl breast flash in February has now prompted hit cartoon The Simpsons to weigh in on America's broadcast decency debate.