President Barack Obama will make his first visit as president to a US mosque next week in a defence of religious freedom, the White House said, following a rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.

Private individuals will no longer be allowed to advertise guns on Facebook and Instagram, the photo-sharing service owned by Facebook.

The Obama administration confirms for the first time that Hillary Clinton's home server contained closely guarded government secrets, censoring 22 emails that contained material requiring one of the highest levels of classification. The revelation comes three days before Clinton competes in the Iowa presidential caucuses.

US police say they have arrested the leader of an armed militia which occupied a wildlife refuge in Oregon, with one person killed in a shootout.

Scientists are set to announce today whether the civilization is any closer or farther from disaster based on a "Doomsday Clock" that measures the likelihood of a global catastrophe.

A Texas grand jury has cleared Planned Parenthood of misconduct after the abortion provider was accused of selling foetal body parts for profit.Instead, the panel charged the filmmakers behind the accusations with tampering with government records.

Millions of people across the eastern US are clearing up after the weekend's massive snowstorm that virtually paralysed the region.

US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat says she appreciates the opportunity to hear BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s thoughts on political situation in Bangladesh.

US Internet giant Google pays Apple a billion dollars in 2014 to be the go-to search tool on iPhones, Bloomberg reported, citing court documents.

A near record blizzard smothers the eastern United States, shutting down New York and Washington in a colossal storm that leaves 15 people dead and affects some 85 million residents.

A monster blizzard threatening the US East Coast slams into Washington, blanketing the nation's capital in snow as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst was yet to come.

A huge blizzard bearing down on the US east coast is expected to dump near-record levels of snow on Washington and the Mid-Atlantic region.

Asian stocks open higher after turmoil on financial markets saw European and US indexes tumble following another oil price fall.

Video-streaming company Netflix says its customer numbers have surged more than expected last quarter, sending its US-listed shares up as much as 8% in after hours trading.

US government scientists are widely expected to announce Wednesday that 2015 was the planet's hottest year in modern times, amid mounting concerns over the pace of climate change worldwide.

Guitarist Glenn Frey, who helped make The Eagles one of the most successful acts in US rock history with hits such as "Hotel California," died Monday. He was 67.

Iran says new US curbs on the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile programme were illegitimate, vowing to continue developing its conventional military deterrent.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have released 10 US sailors held for entering its territorial waters in the Gulf, state television reported.

A US long-range heavy bomber flew over South Korea, the US military says, days after North Korea conducted its first alleged hydrogen bomb test in defiance of international sanctions.

The US State Department is revamping its counter-violent-extremist communications efforts through a new Global Engagement Center, a State Department press release said.