TODAY is a big day in Washington DC, with a momentous collision of giants set to unfold on a golf course in the American capital. Except we’re not talking about Congressional Country Club and the 111th US Open.

In a remarkable 36 hours of his presidency, Barack Obama carried a momentous secret but gave no hint of it as he consoled tornado victims, delivered a college commencement address and cracked jokes at a black-tie dinner.

The US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the aborted landing of a plane carrying First Lady Michelle Obama earlier this week, a spokeswoman said today.

A blizzard-like storm has rocked the Mid-Atlantic and North-eastern US states, crippling travel across the region and causing hundreds of thousands of power cuts.

Gordon Brown arrived in the US today for his first meeting with Barack Obama since he was elected president.

The presidential finale for George Bush includes a goodbye to Washington and a hello from fellow Texans.

US President-elect Barack Obama landed in the Washington area today, setting up the final march toward his January 20 inauguration.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern will deliver his historic address to the US Houses of Congress in Washington today, marking the high point of his final days in office.

The pope’s birthday present from George Bush today comprised at least 9,000 guests on the White House lawn, a 21-gun salute, a famed soprano’s rendition of The Lord’s Prayer and an emotional presidential welcome.

Pope Benedict XVI said he was “deeply ashamed” of the clergy sex abuse scandal that has rocked the American church.

US President George Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq today, using the war zone as a backdrop to argue his case that the buildup of US troops is helping stabilising the nation.

Six days of national mourning for former US President Gerald Ford has begun with military honours and a simple family prayer service at his parish church.

Six days of national mourning for former US President Gerald Ford, starting this afternoon with a private service for his family, will include a day of silence on Wall Street, with the major stock markets closed.

George Bush has declared Tuesday a national day of mourning for former US president Gerald Ford, asking people to gather in places of worship to honour his memory and ordering non-essential government departments to close.

A 100-pound woman ate 26 grilled cheese sandwiches in 10 minutes at a New York restaurant, winning the World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship.

A small plane strayed within three miles of the White House, leading to frantic evacuation of the Executive Mansion and the Capitol with military jets scrambling to intercept the aircraft and firing flares to steer it away.

AMERICA bade farewell to Ronald Reagan yesterday in a majestic state funeral at Washington's National Cathedral.

THE body of former US President Ronald Reagan, escorted by Nancy Reagan and his children, began its journey to the capital, Washington, yesterday for national memorial services.

President George Bush flew home today after surprising US troops in Iraq with a secret Thanksgiving Day visit to thank them for ”defending the American people from danger”.

Nearly a million people were without electricity on America’s east coast tonight as hurricane Isabel slammed ashore.

President George Bush today led hundreds of thousands of people fleeing from the path of hurricane Isabel as it bore down on America’s east coast.

The body of the first American known to have died in combat in Afghanistan has arrived back home.

President Bush is on board Air Force One ready to leave Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, bound for New York.