US

Hundreds of people have been stranded, cars have been swept away and roads have been closed after record rainfall triggered flash floods in America’s Death Valley. The national park, which straddles eastern California and Nevada, was hit by 1.46in (3.71cm) of rain in one area – around 75% of what it typically gets in a

American actress Anne Heche has been critically injured after her car crashed into a house in Los Angeles and burst into flames. According to NBCLA, the driver was speeding down a residential street – and the blue Mini Cooper drove 30ft into a two-storey home in Mar Vista. Local media reports suggest the 53-year-old has

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been ordered to pay another $45.2m (£37.4m) to the parents of a Sandy Hook shooting victim, a jury has ruled. He was ordered to pay $4.1m (£3.3m) in damages by a jury on Thursday to the parents of six-year-old Jesse Lewis, who was killed in the school massacre in 2012.

A man has been arrested after a 12-year-old girl was held captive with the dismembered remains of her mother and brother. The girl provided key information that led to the arrest of her mother’s live-in boyfriend, according to authorities in Alabama. Tallapoosa County sheriff Jimmy Abbett described the child as “a hero for surviving the

The parents of one of the Sandy Hook victims have been awarded $4.1m (£3.3m) in damages in a defamation trial brought against internet conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose six-year-old son Jesse Lewis was among the 20 students and six teachers killed in the attack in Connecticut, successfully sued Jones and

A US congresswoman and three others have been killed in a car crash in the state of Indiana. Republican Jackie Walorski died in what police say was a head-on collision in Elkhart County at around 12.30pm on Wednesday. Ms Walorski, 58, had represented Indiana’s 2nd congressional district since 2012. Police say a northbound passenger car

Internet conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has admitted that the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre was “100% real” after previously claiming it was a hoax. “Especially since I’ve met the parents. It’s 100% real,” the Infowars host told a court in Texas on Wednesday. Jurors in the trial are hearing evidence to determine how much Jones

US President Joe Biden will sign an executive order later today in an attempt to make it easier for women seeking an abortion to travel between states for the procedure. He will also help launch a federal taskforce on access to reproductive care, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, officials said. It comes after the

The parents of a six-year-old boy who was shot dead in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre told conspiracy theorist Alex Jones he has made their lives a “living hell” as they faced him in court. Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis said they have experienced death threats, harassment and ongoing trauma over the last decade

The US has no DNA confirmation of the death of al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul – but has verified his identity through “multiple” other sources, the White House has said. Al-Zawahiri, one of the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks, was killed in a US drone strike on his home in the Afghan capital

Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed by a US airstrike in Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden has confirmed. Addressing the nation from the balcony off the White House Blue Room, Mr Biden said “justice has been delivered” after authorising the strike which killed the man who was one of the masterminds of the

It’s been another awful day for Sheriff Joe Engle and his teams. On the banks of one or so many creeks in this stunning corner of Kentucky, they lift a body onto a stretcher. Three days since the water swept through these rural communities, they are still finding those who didn’t make it. “This is

Actor Nichelle Nichols, who found worldwide fame and led the way for black women in TV by starring in the original Star Trek TV series, has died. Her son, Kyle Johnson, said she died on Saturday in Silver City, New Mexico. She was 89. Her role in the 1966-69 series as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura earned

It’s the amount of water that passed through these rural Kentucky creeks that is so astonishing. I’m standing by the banks of the river which runs through the town of Hazard. I’m at least 30ft above the current water level. Yet there is mud and debris all around. The water level two nights ago was

Joe Biden has again tested positive for COVID-19 in what doctors say may be a “rebound” infection. The US president, 79, has “experienced no re-emergence of symptoms and continues to feel quite well”, White House physician Dr Kevin O’Connor said. Mr Biden also tested positive nine days ago, on 21 July, when he was said

A ticket-holder has won the US Mega Millions jackpot of $1.28bn (£1.05bn) – the third biggest lottery prize in the country. Officials said the single winning ticket was bought in Illinois. The numbers drawn on Friday night were 13-36-45-57-67, with a Mega Ball of 14. The jackpot grew to such an astronomical figure after 29

A man who helped Islamic State by narrating recruitment videos has been sentenced to life in prison in the US. Saudi-born Mohammed Khalifa was described by the US Department of Justice as a “leading figure” in the terrorist group’s English language media unit. Prosecutors said the unit produced videos such as the ones showing the

At least 15 people have been killed after flash flooding in eastern Kentucky following a series of storms. Torrential rains have devastated the area, with its governor Andy Beshear declaring a state of emergency in six counties. “We are currently experiencing one of the worst, most devastating flooding events in Kentucky’s history,” he said. “Hundreds

San Francisco has declared a state of emergency in response to the growing spread of monkeypox cases across the city. As of 27 July, 261 people had confirmed or probable monkeypox infections, with health officials warning the figure is likely to rise. The city’s mayor London Breed tweeted: “San Francisco is declaring a Local Public Health Emergency

The world’s largest economy has contracted for a second consecutive quarter, although the downturn is yet to be officially termed a recession. The US recorded a 0.9% decline in output on an annualised basis between April and June when economists had forecast an increase of 0.5%. The early data would meet the international criteria for