Washington, Feb. 6 : President Barack Obama will hold his first White House press conference Monday night during the prime time TV slot, the White House said Thursday.

According to the Washington Times, Obama is also considering addressing a joint session of Congress on February 24.

Washington, Feb. 6: Critters are now roaming the grounds of the White House, and to deal with the problem, the Secret Service has called in the National Park Service (NPS).

The NPS is in hot pursuit of a pack of raccoons that were spotted roaming the manicured grounds near the White House; the Washington Post quoted a spokesman, as saying.

Masked bandits scurrying through Washington aren''t news to the seasoned trappers who have made a handsome living relocating varmints from attics, crawl spaces and chimneys in homes.

Washington, Feb. 6: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has become the first world statesman to shake hands with U. S. President Barack Obama, which may not amuse Blair's successor at 10, Downing Street, Gordon Brown.

Even though he has been out of office for 18 months, it was Blair who was endorsed by the new American president as "my very good friend", to the intense irritation of 10 Downing Street, reports Fox News.

Washington  - US President Barack Obama on Thursday reached out to believers of all faiths as he expanded the White House office of faith-based partnerships.

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Obama acknowledged differences among religions, but stressed the common beliefs of all faiths to care for others.

Washington, Feb. 5 : Ace golfer Tiger Woods plans to play golf with President Obama soon.

President Obama gave the answer any golfer would give when asked if he''d like to play a round with Tiger Woods.

"I''d love to," Obama said.

Woods detailed the brief conversation the two men had on his Web site Wednesday. That talk took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial two days before Obama''s inauguration. Woods was one of the many celebrities who addressed the crowd and spoke warmly of his father''s military service and of others who wear the uniform.

Woods described Obama as a man having "great leadership qualities, and his accomplishment truly embodies what''s best about America."

Adelaide, Feb. 5: A real estate agent has drawn fire over a newspaper column containing a racially "offensive" joke about Barack Obama, but she says she is unrepentant.