US

The US has given Russia its written responses to a set of security demands by Moscow over Ukraine amid fears it could invade its neighbour. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the “ball is in Russia’s court”, as he added: “We’re ready either way.” Russia has massed about 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border

A woman has been handed a restraining order after allegedly sending Apple boss, Tim Cook, hundreds of “threatening” messages and turning up at his condo. The temporary order, that demands the 45-year-old woman stop harassing, stalking, and contacting the tech firm’s chief executive, was issued by a court on Friday. In a petition for the

Joe Biden has said he would consider imposing personal sanctions on Vladimir Putin if Russia invades neighbouring Ukraine. The US president also said there would be “enormous consequences” for the world if President Putin’s troops push into the former Soviet state, that lies on its south-western border. Some 8,500 US troops have been put on

A six-month-old baby has been killed after getting caught in the crossfire of a gunfight in Atlanta. The shooting happened near a convenience store and a school in the northwest of the city. The child’s mother told WSB-TV that she was driving when she saw people in two cars firing at each other. She said

The US has ordered the families of all American embassy staff in Kyiv to leave Ukraine amid heightened fears of a Russian invasion. The US State Department told the dependants of staffers at the US embassy in Ukraine’s capital that they must leave the country and said that non-essential employees could also leave at government

Boris Johnson has warned that “gloomy” intelligence suggested Russia was planning a lightning raid on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv as fears grow of an invasion – with NATO sending additional ships and jets to its deployments in eastern Europe. The alliance said it could also add additional combat units in response to Russia’s military build-up on

Three former Minneapolis police officers who were on the scene of George Floyd’s murder in May 2020 go on trial in a US federal court today. Former officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J Alexander Kueng stand accused of violating Mr Floyd’s civil rights by failing to administer medical aid to him. Kueng and Thao

Tributes are being paid to the son of Oscar-winning actress Regina King, who has died just days after his 26th birthday. Ian Alexander Jr was a musician and DJ who often accompanied his mother to red carpet events, and both were big champions of each other’s work. A spokesperson for King confirmed his death was

A New York City police officer was killed and a second injured following a shooting in Harlem on Friday. Jason Rivera, 22, died while responding to a call from a mother saying she was fighting with one of her sons. The gunman was shot by a third officer at the scene and taken to hospital

The boyfriend of Gabby Petito claimed responsibility for her death before taking his own life, according to the FBI. Brian Laundrie had been on a cross-country trip in the US with Ms Petito when she disappeared. Her body was found in Wyoming in September, sparking a manhunt for Laundrie, who officials believe returned to Florida

A group of teenagers from a Christian youth group, bundled up in scarves and beanie hats, march down the National Mall in Washington DC chanting “Hey Ho, Hey Ho, Roe has got to go.” They are protesting a decision that legalised abortion long before they were born, and for some of them, before even their

Meat Loaf, an American singer and actor has died at the age of 74, a statement on his official Facebook page said. Real name, Michael Lee Aday, the performer has sold more than 65 million albums worldwide. The statement said: “Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with

President Joe Biden has warned that “Russia will pay a heavy price” if it invades Ukraine. Speaking on Thursday, the US leader said he has been “absolutely clear with President Putin” that “if any assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion”. That invasion, he said, would be met with a

Lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell have filed a motion for a retrial, just weeks after she was found guilty of recruiting underage girls to be sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein. The 60-year-old Briton, who is an ex-girlfriend of the late billionaire paedophile, is due to be sentenced in June after her conviction in a New York

President Joe Biden has said he thinks Russia will mount an attack on Ukraine.  Speaking at a news conference marking a year in office, the US President suggested there was an inevitability about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions. “My guess is he will move in; he has to do something,” Joe Biden said. “Do I

Top Donald Trump ally Rudy Giuliani has been issued with a subpoena by the US congressional committee investigating last year’s Capitol riot. The committee has demanded the former president’s personal lawyer – and three other members of Mr Trump’s legal team – hand over documents and sit for depositions on 8 February. In the days

US President Joe Biden will hold a news conference later today at the White House to mark his first year in office. The event is much anticipated, and that alone is a hint of how challenging this first year has been for the 79-year-old. The president does not give many news conferences. Critics suggest his

The British man who was shot dead after taking four people hostage at a synagogue in Texas had been on the radar of MI5, Sky News understands. The Security Service began looking into Malik Faisal Akram, 44, in the second half of 2020 to assess whether he posed a security threat, a Whitehall source said.

The British man who took four hostage in Texas was on a call with his children when he was shot dead, his brother has told Sky News. Malik Faisal Akram, originally from Blackburn in Lancashire, was killed after the FBI entered the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue. The gunman’s brother, Gulbar Akram, said he spoke to

The British man accused of holding hostages inside a Texas synagogue on Saturday demanded the release of a Pakistani woman who is imprisoned close by on charges of trying to kill American service members in Afghanistan. Aafia Siddiqui is serving an 86-year prison sentence in the Fort Worth area after being convicted in 2010. During