· Whitney mourned as Grammys begin
The music world pays tribute to singer Whitney Houston, who has died at the age of 48, as the Grammy Awards get under way in Los Angeles.
· Romney victory in Maine caucuses
Frontrunner Mitt Romney sees off a strong challenge from outsider Ron Paul to win the Republican primary caucuses in Maine, say party officials.
· Obama changes contraception rule
US President Barack Obama says insurers - and not religious institutions - will provide contraception to women free of charge, amid a row with religious leaders.
· Hackers claim attack on CIA site
Hackers claim responsibility for disabling the CIA website in an announcement on a Twitter feed under the banner of the Anonymous collective.
· Romney: I'm a true conservative
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is to try and woo sceptical conservatives, days after poll wins for rival Rick Santorum.
· Notorious kidnapper pleads guilty
Ann Pettway, the US woman who stole a newborn baby from a New York City hospital in 1987 and raised her as her own, admits kidnapping.
· Quote fix will 'scar' King statue
Work to correct a quotation on the new Martin Luther King memorial in Washington DC will end up "scarring it for life", the architect warns.
· Uzbek pleads guilty to Obama plot
A 22-year-old Uzbek man admits at a federal court in Birmingham, Alabama plotting to kill US President Barack Obama.
· Police recapture Madonna stalker
A man with "violent tendencies" convicted of stalking Madonna is recaptured a week after escaping from a psychiatric hospital, police say.
· HBO attacked over death of horses
Animal rights group Peta calls for TV and film safety rules to be tightened after two horses were put down during filming for HBO racing drama Luck.
· Imports increase US trade deficit
Record imports contributed to a 3.7% increase in the US trade deficit in December, official figures show.
· Life term for Frankfurt shooting
A Kosovo man who admitted shooting dead two US airmen at Frankfurt airport a year ago is sentenced to life in prison by a German court.
· CNN man off air for Beckham tweet
CNN suspends a political analyst for sending tweets during the Super Bowl that sparked a homophobia outcry.
· Medical drama House to end run
The show, which stars British actor Hugh Laurie, will finish after the current eighth season ends.
· NYSE Euronext hit by failed deal
Profits at NYSE Euronext have been hit by the collapse of its planned merger with Deutsche Boerse.
· PepsiCo to cut 8,700 global jobs
Soft drinks maker PepsiCo is set to cut 8,700 jobs as part of a plan to save $1.5bn over three years.
· Canada country profile
Provides an overview of Canada, including key events and facts about the world's second-largest country
· Regions and territories: Puerto Rico
An overview of Puerto Rico, including key facts, political leaders and notes on the media
· Regions and territories: St Pierre and Miquelon
An overview of the sole French territory in North America
· United States country profile
Provides an overview of the United States, including key events and facts about this superpower
· VIDEO: Teenagers caught out by sniffer dog
A US company is helping parents find out if their children are taking drugs by bringing a sniffer dog into their homes
· VIDEO: Oscar statuettes flown into LA
Boxes of the 2012 Oscar statuettes have arrived in LA ahead of the Academy Awards on 26 February.
· VIDEO: Thousands of troops storm US coast
Bold Alligator, an international training exercise involving upwards of 19,000 troops, is under way off Virginia and North Carolina.
· VIDEO: Athletes race up Empire State
Athletes from New Zealand and Germany win the annual stair-race up the Empire State Building.
· VIDEO: Sir Paul McCartney gets his star
Sir Paul McCartney has been honoured with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
· VIDEO: US: Risk of Syria civil war grows
The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, has once again attacked Russia and China's veto of a Security Council resolution condemning the ongoing violence in Syria.
· AUDIO: How did Canada weather the crisis?
The president of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance told Radio 5 live how Canada managed to avoid a state-bailout.
· Republican candidates on the issues
Defining the four remaining Republican hopefuls
· Meeting Rick Santorum's Italian family
Italian family spots long-lost US relative on TV
· Story of the most famous seven words in US journalism
The story of the most famous seven words in US journalism
· FBI files of the rich and famous
Which famous people did the FBI keep tabs on, and why?
· 'Lifeline' US-Somalia remittances on hold
Somalis suffer as US cuts remittances amid terror fears
· 'Bullied fat kids' fight back
Hard-hitting anti-obesity ads spark online backlash
· VIDEO: Tribes untouched by civilisation
Saving the mysterious Amazon tribes untouched by modern world
· US X Factor crowns first winner
The first victor of the US version of The X Factor is crowned, winning a $5m contract with Simon Cowell's record label.