A couple from Des Moines, Iowa, recently visited Ireland and they wrote this glowing review online about why other people should follow their lead and visit the Emerald Isle.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Hillary Clinton pushed to show she can be popular with younger voters after students told her they failed to connect with her.

It’s not all doom and gloom as we take a look at some of the lighter news bites from around the world.

Five things from the world of arts, film and TV to keep you occupied this week

Romance sizzles at bacon fest as two couples marry

Noisy fish looking for sex

The macabre Gone Girl, the surprise US bestseller, has been criticised as misogynist, but its author Gillian Flynn’s depictions of women eschew blandness for darker truths, says Suzanne Harrington

A shaggy brown ram successfully dodged police, his handlers and a few cars while trotting through central Des Moines in the US after escaping from his trailer.

Two tiny villages in northern New Hampshire got the race for the White House under way today, casting America’s first election day votes.

The race for the Republican presidential nomination took several twists and turns as Rick Perry dropped out, Newt Gingrich faced stunning allegations from his ex-wife and Mitt Romney struggled to maintain a shaky front-runner's standing.

The chairman of the Iowa Republican party has said Mitt Romney has won the Iowa caucus by eight votes.

JUDGMENT day dawned for Republican contenders vying to take on Barack Obama in November’s presidential election, with a pivotal vote in Iowa set to dramatically reduce the field of contenders.

Republican Mitt Romney is sensing an opening to win next Tuesday’s Iowa caucuses, and he is campaigning with increasing confidence – and a new crush of advertising – to bolster his closing argument: that he is the most electable candidate to challenge US President Barack Obama in November.

WITH the implosion of Herman Cain’s campaign amid accusations of adultery and sexual harassment, the once-crowded 2012 Republican presidential field appears to be narrowing to a two-man race between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.

Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel launched an ardent defence of President Barack Obama in Iowa, saying that to create middle-class security “we just can’t cut our way to prosperity”.

US congresswoman Michele Bachmann kicked off her presidential campaign in Iowa, where a strong finish in the state’s early nominating caucus could position the anti-tax tea party candidate as a serious challenger to more mainstream Republicans hoping to take on President Barack Obama in 2012.

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.

A fierce storm blamed for at least 17 deaths left dangerous ice, heavy snow and vicious winds in its wake as it as it made its way from America’s Midwest to the New England region.

President-elect Barack Obama spoke to the world from his home city of Chicago as he became the first black president of the United States.

The United States’ failure to pass a financial rescue package would be an “economic catastrophe”, Barack Obama’s spokesman said today.

FOR the second time in 15 years, Keith Aubuchon found himself packing his belongings and evacuating his home to escape a “100-year” flood of the Mississippi River.

Receding water revealed widespread damage today in Iowa’s second-largest city, Cedar Rapids, caused by a record flood peak, while other Iowa cities faced rivers that were still rising, following a series of storms that left at least 15 people dead.

The Cedar River, which burst its banks after torrential rain, has forced at least 20,000 people from their homes in the US state of Iowa, officials said today.

Rising flood waters forced the evacuation of a hospital today as the American Midwest continued to suffer the effects of heavy storms.

Half a town is in ruins following a deadly tornado that ripped apart a stretch of northern Iowa.

Barack Obama stepped to the brink of victory in the Democratic presidential race today, defeating Hillary Clinton in the Oregon primary and moving within 100 delegates of the total needed to claim the prize at the party convention this summer.

Oprah Winfrey has officially thrown her support behind US presidential candidate Barack Obama, after joining the Democrat senator at a campaign rally in Iowa on Saturday.

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.

A man who emigrated from Kenya to the US found prosperity beyond his expectations on the day he became a US citizen.

He’s a mutt with a mug only a mother could love.

A teacher who notoriously seduced a 12-year-old pupil – and had his children - has been released from a US prison after serving seven years for child rape.

A Briton who travelled to Iowa to have sex with a 14-year-old girl he met on the internet apologised in court yesterday as he was jailed for five years.

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.

A MAN, who has been married three times and is the father of a child, is to stand before a judge in Seattle this week accused of 48 charges of murder.

A man who has been married three times and is the father of a child, is to stand before a judge in Seattle this week accused of 48 charges of murder.

A huge snowstorm took a bite out of spring across the US today, burying emerging flower buds, cancelling baseball games and snarling the morning rush hour.

Accident investigators believe a broken rail caused the Amtrak passenger train crash that killed one person and injured 96 others.

An investigation was today taking place into how an Amtrak train carrying 210 people from Chicago to California derailed in rural Iowa, killing an elderly woman and injuring 96 others.