An “intentional” explosion linked to a motorhome has rocked the city of Nashville in the US. It happened at 6.30am in an area of central Nashville packed with bars, restaurants and shops, police said. The blast sent shattered glass and debris flying through the air as black smoke and flames billowed from the vehicle. Image:
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A further 39,036 confirmed coronavirus cases have been recorded in the UK – the second-highest daily total to date – according to government figures. The only day which has surpassed this daily figure was Wednesday, when 39,237 new cases were confirmed. However, it is important to note the amount of testing has increased in the
The president-elect is known for favouring a tone of unity but in his pre-Christmas address he tore into Donald Trump for failing to prioritise America’s cyber security. One of the biggest cyber attacks in US history emerged last week. Hackers spent months exploring the systems of dozens of government agencies and corporations including the US
Donald Trump has pardoned his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort – as he continues to offer clemency to associates convicted in the Russia probe. Mr Trump also pardoned his former adviser Roger Stone and the real estate developer Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, on Wednesday. Manafort, 70, had been sentenced to
Donald Trump has suggested he may not sign the $892bn (£665bn) coronavirus relief package that was approved by Congress. The US president said in a video shared from his Twitter account that the bill was delivering too much money to foreign countries and not enough to US citizens. The bill allows for most Americans to
US President Donald Trump has issued a number of controversial pardons in the final weeks of his tenure. The list of 20 people who have had their crimes pardoned includes ex-members of Congress convicted of corruption, two people charged in the Russia investigation that shadowed his presidency, and four security guards who opened fire on
Facebook has removed a number of features from its Instagram and Messenger apps in Europe due to what it says is an update to EU privacy rules – including security features it uses to scan for child abuse content. A recent change to the ePrivacy Directive, that was designed to prevent companies such as Facebook
A senior member of Donald Trump’s administration has accused Russia of carrying out a massive cyber hack that penetrated top secret US government agencies. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described the attack as a “pretty significant effort”. “I think it’s the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that
A weather forecast for the Christmas period in Miami has predicted cold temperatures in the next few days – with a sprinkle of falling iguanas. The projection, by the National Weather Service in Florida, wrote on Twitter that low temperatures will be in the 30-40F range (0 to 4C), meaning “falling iguanas are possible.” Dec
US President-elect Joe Biden will be vaccinated against COVID-19 this week, as the country’s second approved jab is moved from warehouses to healthcare facilities. Mr Biden will receive the vaccine on Monday, days after Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has not
Wrestler, Hollywood actor – and now Santa Claus. Is there nothing Dwayne Johnson cannot do? The Rock has helped out a widowed father-of-two who was struggling to buy Christmas presents for his children, donning a festive red suit and a “Dwanta” hat to spread some festive cheer during a surprise virtual meeting. It came about
The US House of Representatives has approved a $892bn (£655bn) coronavirus relief package, passing the first hurdle for it to become law. The bill, which includes a $600 (£440) payment to the majority of Americans along with extra payments to the millions who have lost their jobs, will now go to the Senate for approval,
Apple has made advances in its secret self-driving car project and is set to launch production by 2024, according to reports. The iPhone maker has for years been rumoured to be working on a self-driving car programme known as Project Titan, although the company has never publicly acknowledged it. Now, according to a report by
Virgin Atlantic has joined British Airways and Delta Airlines in making travellers take COVID tests before they fly from the UK to New York. The state’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, said on Monday that BA and Delta Airlines had taken the decision following the spread of a more contagious variant of the virus in the UK.
2020 is the deadliest year in US history – and is attributed mostly to the coronavirus pandemic. The US is on course to surpass 3.2 million overall deaths in 2020, according to preliminary data, which would mark the first time figures have topped three million. A rise in deaths between 20,000 and 50,000 is not
A plane preparing for takeoff was halted in New York after a Florida couple with their pet dog fled via an emergency slide, authorities say. The incident took place on board an Atlanta-bound Delta flight as it was taxiing towards the runway at LaGuardia Airport on Monday. Witnesses reported seeing an agitated-looking male passenger force