After a good deal of financial negotiations, creditors rejected a bid from Direct Brands and Borders filed for an auction.

FORBES: Postmortem: A Borders Nonfiction Selection

Mr Obama, who was senator for Illinois and lived in Chicago before his election to the White House, will be the first sitting US president to take on such a direct role in an Olympic bid.

BBC: Obama to woo IOC over Chicago bid

Angela Burns AM called on the assembly government to introduce direct elections to the authorities in a bid to improve localism and accountability.

BBC: Democracy Live site links

He is seeking to increase American and international investment in the Palestinian territories in a bid to underwrite the first direct peace talks between the two sides in more than two years.

WSJ: Kerry Focuses on Iran, North Korea Leaders

Among the conspiracy charges is an accusation that Nagin awarded "no bid" work to a city contractor who provided "concealed and direct campaign monies" to Nagin, the indictment says.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

But President Obama has vowed to veto the bid at the council stage, backing Israel's view that a resumption of direct peace talks offer the only route to peace.

BBC: David Cameron to hold Obama talks and address UN