US

Donald Trump has said the Spanish flu “probably ended the Second World War” – despite the conflict having started almost two decades later. The US president incorrectly stated the pandemic began in 1917, one year before the first cases were reported in 1918. Speaking at a White House news conference, Mr Trump suggested the illness

Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger say they are “beyond thrilled” and “extremely blessed” after welcoming their first child together. The Guardians Of The Galaxy star and the author announced the birth of their daughter Lyla Maria Schwarzenegger Pratt in a joint post on Instagram. A close-up colour image showed both parents holding their new baby’s

Police camera footage showing George Floyd pleading with the officers who were arresting him moments before he died has been released. The video, which was previously only available to journalists and members of the public to view by appointment, can now be published following a ruling by a Hennepin County judge. In the recordings from

Donald Trump has been escorted out of a press briefing by a Secret Service agent after a shooting outside the White House. The US president was just minutes into a statement to the media when he was rushed out of the room. He was escorted to the Oval Office by the agent and the White

At least one person has died and several others are seriously injured after a major explosion destroyed houses in Baltimore. At least five others, some of them children, were initially trapped in the rubble, firefighters said, while local media reported at least three people had been rescued. The exact cause of the blast on Reisterstown

Donald Trump has denied reports the White House inquired about getting his face carved onto Mount Rushmore alongside past US presidential greats – but then immediately suggested it “sounds like a good idea”. According to the New York Times, an official approached the office of South Dakota governor Kristi Noem last year to find out

One of the attending police officers admitted there was nothing they could really do. As hundreds of people crowded on to a small beachfront park, he said the prospect of trying to issue fines to them all was unrealistic. For weeks now, a group called Saturate OC has been holding religious revivals and baptisms on

The US has surpassed 5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus, by far the highest in the world. The bleak milestone – recorded the Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the virus – confirms the US as the worst hit country, followed by Brazil and India, which have more than 3 million and 2.1 million infections

Simon Cowell has broken his back while testing his new electric bicycle at his home in California. The music mogul, 60, was trying out the bike in the courtyard of his Malibu home when he fell off. A spokesperson for Cowell said he was due to have surgery on Saturday evening. He is currently under

Simon Cowell is recovering from surgery after breaking his back while testing his new electric bicycle. The entertainment mogul had been at his home in California when he broke his back in a number of places, according to a representative. They added that Cowell was “doing fine” after the six-hour procedure and is still under

Donald Trump has bypassed Congress to give thousands of Americans a tax holiday and extra unemployment benefit after talks with the Democrats collapsed. The president signed executive orders to extend economic relief for those hit hardest by the coronavirus at a news conference at his private New Jersey country club on Saturday. He accused Democrats

By Sally Lockwood, news correspondent There is a crisis behind the coronavirus crisis in the US. As it prepares to lose thousands more lives to COVID-19 in the coming weeks, millions of Americans are facing destitution. The emergency benefits that have been supporting around 30 million Americans since March ended on 31 July. Many received

An influential supporter of Donald Trump and evangelical Christian leader has left his role over a racy photo he posted on social media. Jerry Falwell Jr got into hot water because the picture showed him with his arm round a young woman, and with his trousers partially unzipped. He was holding a glass that contained

Russia is attempting to discredit Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ahead of the US election, America’s counterintelligence chief has said. William Evanina, director of the US National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said officials were also concerned about “ongoing and potential activity by China and Iran” in relation to the election. He accused the Kremlin of

A policeman shot in the stomach in 1971 has tracked down the man who did it – 46 years after he escaped from prison. Luis Archuleta, 77, was arrested in Espanola, New Mexico on Wednesday – 49 years after he shot police officer Daril Cinquanta in Denver, the FBI said. Archuleta, also known as Larry

An approved coronavirus vaccine may only end up being effective 50% of the time, the top US infectious diseases expert has warned. The chances of a COVID-19 vaccine being almost 100% effective are “not great”, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said on Friday. “We don’t know yet