US News

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. Image: Joe

Wildfires in California and Montana have spiralled overnight, fuelled by hot and windy conditions and threatening neighbourhoods and forcing evacuation orders. In California’s Klamath National Forest, a largely rural area near the Oregon state line, the fast-moving McKinney fire went from scorching just over one square mile (about 2.5 sq km) on Friday, to tearing

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

Police in Illinois are defending the violent arrest of a 17-year-old after footage of officers punching him in the head sparked protests. The footage showed Hadi Abuatelah, who had fled police after a traffic stop in the village of Oak Lawn, being repeatedly punched in the legs and head by three officers on Wednesday. Police

In this rural part of Kentucky, it’s easy to see how so much rain in such a short time could be so devastating. The topography is perfect for flash floods. Steep hillsides, narrow valleys. And some of America’s poorest communities living in this stunning part of the central United States. From the air, Kentucky’s governor,

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. Image: Lost Creek in Kentucky. Pic: AP “We are currently experiencing one of the worst, most devastating flooding

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

A 15-year-old boy shot and killed three siblings before turning the gun on himself in Alaska, authorities have announced. The teenager was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at a home near the city of Fairbanks after a neighbour reported shots had been fired, a spokesperson for the Alaska State Troopers said. Officers

Relatives of America’s gun violence victims have told Sky News of their disappointment and anger after listening to exchanges between politicians and gun firm bosses at a congressional hearing in Washington “They have no heart. If it was their child they would be moving mountains to get these laws changed. Honestly,” Javier Cazares said. He

China has threatened “firm and resolute measures” if US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi makes her rumoured trip to Taiwan. Mrs Pelosi had planned to visit the island in April, but the trip was cancelled after she tested positive for coronavirus. Her office has not confirmed any details of a rescheduled trip, but her comments last

The US Attorney General has given his clearest indication yet that former President Donald Trump could be prosecuted for his role in attempting to overthrow the result of the 2020 election. In an interview with NBC News, Merrick Garland spoke more explicitly than he has ever before about the Justice Department investigation into the 6

Ghislaine Maxwell has been moved to a low-security prison in Florida, according to official documents. The 60-year-old was found guilty of luring young girls to massage rooms for disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein to molest between 1994 and 2004. She lodged an appeal against the sex trafficking conviction and 20-year sentence earlier this month. Prison documents

A flashy Rolls Royce-driving Gucci suit-wearing New York priest says his showy lifestyle was not to blame for a gunpoint robbery that happened during one of his live-streamed services. Dramatic footage shown on Bishop Lamor Miller-Whitehead’s social media live platforms captured the moment three hooded, masked gunmen burst into his service and stole the hundreds

A sailfish has stabbed a woman after leaping from the water and on to a fishing boat in the coast of Florida. Katherine Perkins was impaled in the groin after the 100-pound fish charged towards her. The woman was with two other people last Tuesday when an angler on board caught the sailfish on a

A six-year-old girl and her parents have been shot dead while camping in Iowa, police have said. The US state’s public safety department said the bodies of Sarah and Tyler Schmidt, both 42, and their daughter Lula were found in their tent in the Maquoketa Caves State Park. A relative said the couple’s nine-year-old son,

China’s military has become significantly more dangerous and aggressive over the past five years, the US’ top military officer has warned. Speaking in Indonesia, General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the number of intercepts by Chinese aircraft and ships in the Pacific region on US and other partner forces has

Thousands of people have been ordered to flee their homes and businesses near a fast-moving wildfire near Yosemite National Park on Saturday. The bush fire which started on Friday afternoon has now exploded to cover more than 26 square kilometres (10 square miles) according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Evacuation orders

Donald Trump’s former adviser, Steve Bannon, has been found guilty of contempt of Congress after refusing to appear before the US Capitol riots hearing. Bannon was charged with two counts of criminal contempt – each carrying up to a year in jail. He will be sentenced in October. Outside the courtroom, he said he respected

Joe Biden intermittently coughed his way through a virtual White House meeting, a day on from his testing positive for COVID. Mr Biden, who at 79 is the oldest person ever to serve as US president, appeared in good spirits but had a noticeably deeper voice and apologised for repeatedly breaking away from his speech