IT WAS almost like one of those moments in a buddy-cop movie when the two partners who dislike each other at the beginning finally bond while taking on the bad guys.

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s lawyers have asked a US federal judge to issue a subpoena for President Barack Obama to testify as a witness at his corruption trial.

A politically-shaken White House promised a sharper focus on jobs and the economy, but was less sure-footed on health care reform.

President Barack Obama treated first lady Michelle Obama to a surprise birthday party at a Washington restaurant known for its commitment to organically grown food.

Defiant Rod Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, said today that if what he had done as Illinois governor was an impeachable offence, he was living on the “wrong planet” and in the “wrong place”.

PRESIDENT-elect Barack Obama hasn’t even stepped into office and already a scandal is threatening to dog him.

US president-elect Barack Obama interviewed primary election rivals Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson to be his secretary of state, Democrats said, as he considered folding former foes into his new administration.

Barack Obama heads to the White House for his first post-election meeting with President George Bush this week, as Americans await signals of how their new leader will confront the overwhelming array of challenges facing the United States.

US president-elect Barack Obama went straight to work today appointing his new government and studying some of the problems he will inherit when he takes office in 10 weeks.

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.

BACKSTAGE, behind the floodlights, moments before he gave the 2004 Democratic convention keynote address that would launch his career into the national stratosphere, Barack Obama made a confession to his wife, Michelle.