Congressional leaders head to the White House on Friday to discuss how to avert a series of deep budget cuts, on the day they are due to take effect.

The Supreme Court hears an Alabama county's challenge to a landmark 1965 voting rights law.

Shortly after his swearing-in as defence secretary, Chuck Hagel says the US should engage with the world rather than dictate to it.

Argentina signals to a US court that it will resist demands by a group of investors to repay them in full 11 years after its huge debt default.

The US Senate confirms Jack Lew, President Barack Obama's nominee for treasury secretary, in a 71-26 vote.

Royal Dutch Shell says that it will suspend its offshore drilling programme in the Arctic for the rest of 2013 in order to give time to ensure safety.

Apple's chief executive Tim Cook acknowledges shareholder unease over the technology giant's falling share price, but says the company is working on a pipeline of "great stuff".

She takes questions about the 'sequester' US budget cuts

Late US civil rights leader Rosa Parks, who refused to give her bus seat to a white man in 1955, is honoured with a statue in the US Capitol building.

BP is accused of disregarding evidence during drilling that the Macondo well was unstable, on the third day of a civil trial over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Van Cliburn, the renowned American classical pianist who performed for every US president since Harry Truman, dies aged 78.

US President Obama has paid tribute to Rosa Parks during the unveiling of a statue of the civil rights pioneer beneath the dome of the US Capitol.

A group led by millionaire and former space tourist Dennis Tito plans to send a "tested couple" to Mars and back in a privately funded mission.

Orders for US durable goods fell in January for the first time in five months as aircraft orders plunged, but excluding transport, orders rose steadily.

Mark Wahlberg plays a police officer turned private investigator in his new film Broken City, a New York based thriller which also starts Russell Crowe.

Chuck Hagel is sworn in as the new US defence secretary, a day after the Senate approved his appointment following a bruising nomination battle.

Fashion giant DKNY apologises to a US street photographer after hundreds of his photos were used in a Bangkok shop display without permission.

A mobile app that can analyse urine for 25 medical conditions has been launched at the TED conference in Los Angeles.

Aerospace and defence group EADS reports a rise in profits and sales in 2012, boosted by a strong performance from its aircraft maker Airbus.

Beer drinkers in the US have filed a $5m (£3.3m) lawsuit accusing Anheuser-Busch of watering down its beer.