US

Dozens of planes have been forced to divert or fly holding patterns to avoid potential debris from the SpaceX rocket that blew up. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it briefly slowed and re-routed planes in the area where the pieces were falling back to earth. Tracking app FlightRadar24 said its most-watched flights last

President Joe Biden will not enforce a ban on social media giant TikTok which is due to take effect the day before he leaves the White House, a US official has said. The ban is supposed start on 19 January, a day before Mr Biden leaves the Oval Office and his Republican opponent Donald Trump

President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of actors Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone as ambassadors to help make Hollywood “bigger, better and stronger”. Mr Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social the actors, all supporters of the president-elect, had been appointed as his “special envoys” to the world-famous filmmaking hub,

The two richest people on the planet are heading for a showdown in space. Elon Musk versus Amazon founder Jeff Bezos: they both launched prototype rockets on the same day, a rivalry with billions of dollars at stake. SpaceX’s Starship is fuelled by Musk’s extraordinary appetite for risk. He innovates through failure, and the seventh

Jeff Bezos’s space company Blue Origin has successfully launched its rocket into orbit on its first test flight. New Glenn – described by Blue Origin as a “giant, reusable rocket” and designed for a minimum of 25 flights – was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, early on Thursday morning. As it happened: New Glenn blasts

The expectation was that this would be a speech tinged with hubris and bitterness.  The consensus was that it would be a greatest hits farewell threaded with frustration that America didn’t appreciate him despite the achievements, as he’d see them, of his one-term presidency – from a booming economy, record employment, historic infrastructure bills, climate

President Joe Biden has warned of a “dangerous concentration of power” among a few wealthy people in the United States in his farewell address to the nation. Without naming president-elect Donald Trump, Mr Biden said: “Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that really threatens our entire democracy,

Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state has said he anticipates the US “will have to deal with” China invading Taiwan before the end of this decade. Marco Rubio made the comment as he appeared in front of a bipartisan Senate committee ahead of a vote on whether he is suitable for the role. He

Elon Musk is being sued for failing to disclose his purchase of more than 5% of Twitter stock in a timely fashion. The world’s richest man bought the stock in March 2022 and the complaint by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said the delay allowed him to continue buying Twitter stock at artificially

Donald Trump’s choice for US defence secretary has been accused of lacking the competence for the job, during a much-disrupted Senate confirmation hearing. Senators are determining whether Pete Hegseth, a former combat veteran and TV news show host, is fit to lead the US military as Mr Trump’s choice for defence secretary. He is a

President-elect Donald Trump engaged in an unprecedented criminal effort to overturn his 2020 election defeat, according to a report by Special Counsel Jack Smith. He said that Trump “inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence” in the January 6 riots and knowingly spread a false narrative about fraud in the 2020 election. Special

With less one week left to go before the Biden administration gives way to Trump’s second term, the starkly contrasting visions and styles of the two presidencies could not be more striking. President Biden is using his final week to mould and cement his legacy. No one writes their own legacy but that doesn’t stop

Police are reportedly focusing on a possible human cause in early investigations into what caused the deadly Palisades fire in Los Angeles. Several law enforcement sources told Sky’s partner site NBC News potential lines of inquiry involve fireworks or unauthorised individuals camping in the area. Stressing no conclusions have been reached, they said other possibilities

A Gaza deal is “on the brink”, President Joe Biden has said in his final foreign policy address. The outgoing US president said it would include a hostage release deal and a “surge” of aid to Palestinians. Mr Biden was delivering his final foreign policy address before he leaves office next week. Today’s address will

Donald Trump has been handed a no-penalty sentence following his conviction in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. The incoming US president has received an unconditional discharge – meaning he will not face jail time, probation or a fine. The sentencing in Manhattan comes days before the 78-year-old is due to be inaugurated as US

A “dizzy” robotaxi passenger nearly missed his flight after his cab started driving around in circles.  Mike Johns was attempting to catch a flight from an Arizona airport and hailed a Waymo driverless taxi last month. However, his trip was quickly derailed and he nearly missed his flight. “I get in, buckle up (safety first)

Firefighters in California are battling a fast-moving wildfire which is sweeping an exclusive Los Angeles hillside dotted with celebrity homes. Officials say the wildfire is being fanned by gusts from a “life-threatening” and “destructive” wind storm hitting southern California. Image: Pic: AP Image: Pic: AP Fire crews are battling a handful of small blazes in

A soldier who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI – including ChatGPT – to help plan the attack, police have said. Matthew Livelsberger, 37, a US Army Green Beret, fatally shot himself just before the truck blew up outside the hotel on New Year’s Day. Police in

Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on 20 January. The ceremony will take place in Washington DC and marks the peaceful transition of power from Joe Biden to Mr Trump – who is returning to the White House for a non-consecutive second term. Here is your guide

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allied militias are committing genocide in Sudan while waging war against the army for control of the country, Joe Biden’s US administration has determined – two weeks before leaving office. In a statement sharing the designation on Tuesday, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said the RSF and