The intelligence came from an exotic variety of sources: there was the so-called Laptop of Death; there was the Iranian commander who mysteriously disappeared in Turkey. But pivotal to the United States investigation into Iran's suspect nuclear-weapons programme was the work of a little-known intelligence specialist, Thomas Fingar.

She can sell books -- but can she sell a politician? Barack Obama confirmed recently that Oprah Winfrey will join him in his campaign in three key states next month for the Democratic Party's nomination for the United States presidential election. The Obama team anticipates a huge demand for tickets for one of the US's most popular television celebrities.

Republican presidential hopefuls will go head to head for the first time at Tuesday's Iowa caucuses in the fight for the GOP ticket to take on Obama.

Republicans feel snubbed by the US president's combative inauguration speech. Ewen MacAskill reports.

Barack Obama has underscored the bond between the US and Libya, but vowed to hunt down those behind the possibly premeditated killing of the US envoy.

The Republicans plan to hold a congressional inquiry into WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange.

United States President Barack Obama has mounted the biggest challenge in two decades to the US's deeply ingrained gun culture.

Mitt Romney's bid for the Republican presidential ticket boosted as the head of rival Michelle Bachmann's Iowa campaign walks out on her.