The Mega Millions jackpot was inching towards a US lottery record, soaring to $586m (€426m) amid a frenzy of ticket purchases and raising the possibility that the prize could pass the billion-dollar mark by Christmas Eve.

JUST about all the people of the United States who were old enough, remember where they were when they heard that John F. Kennedy was shot.

Good news over hiring and retail sales helped send the US stock market sharply higher yesterday.

US President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney have closed out their hard-fought battle for the White House, yielding centre stage to voters who face a stark choice on election day between fundamentally different visions for the country’s future.

US president Barack Obama and his challenger Mitt Romney are storming into the last day of their long presidential contest, mounting a final thrust before Election Day and engaging in the toughest battleground state – Ohio.

President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney scurried through decisive swing states on Sunday, issuing promises of better days to come while castigating their opponent.

President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney attacked one another yesterday in frenzied campaigning as the presidential election enters the closing stages.

A woman in the US has given birth to a boy weighing 13lb 13oz — without the aid of drugs or surgery.

A woman in the United States has given birth to a boy weighing 13lbs 13oz - without the aid of surgery.

A massive winter storm roared into America’s heartland today, carrying a paralysing punch of dangerous ice and snow that shut down airports, schools, colleges and government offices.

FANS of heavy metal band Slipknot were mourning bassist Paul Gray, who was found dead in a hotel room.

Fans of heavy metal band Slipknot were mourning bassist Paul Gray, who was found dead in a hotel room.

Barack Obama called for a “new politics for a new time” as he suggested his campaign was taking the moral high road to the White House today.

Barack Obama and John McCain headed into the final weekend of the presidential campaign today focused tightly on the economy.

The US presidential campaign turned even nastier with John McCain and Barack Obama blaming each other for the deepening US financial crisis and failure to agree the $700bn (€487bn) bailout plan.

Hillary Rodham Clinton told an exuberant crowd she wanted Barack Obama to win the White House, saying that even though he dashed her presidential dream he is a better choice to lead America than Republican John McCain.

YOU’RE aware that they’re picking presidential candidates in America at the moment.

US presidential hopeful Barack Obama said he would stand up for the American family and reclaim the American dream if he took office.

Ozzy Osbourne is set to return to the venue where he infamously bit the head off a bat - for the first time in 25 years.

Democrat presidential hopeful Barack Obama cast himself as the leader the US needed to stand up to and engage renegade nations such as North Korea.

Mark Warner’s decision to bow out of the early US presidential race leaves a field still crowded with Democrats competing to be the most attractive alternative to front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Eight workers at a meat processing plant in Lincoln, Nebraska, claimed the record $365m Powerball jackpot today, giving each about $15.5m after taxes.

Less than two months after an accidental fall shattered his left kneecap and broke his right arm, Cuban president Fidel Castro is back on his feet, attending to visiting leaders and making public appearances.

John Kerry is telling voters that President Bush’s record on jobs and taxes have helped special interests, not their interests, as he launches the final stretch of his presidential campaign with running mate John Edwards.

US Vice President Dick Cheney warned American voters that they face the threat of another terrorist attack if voters make the “wrong choice” on Election Day.

MOST people who are old enough remember where they were this day 40 years ago. I was heading for Des Moines, Iowa, when a couple of women got on the bus.