The owners of a US funeral home have been accused of spending nearly $900,000 (£723,000) in pandemic relief funds on things such as holidays, cosmetic surgery, jewellery and cryptocurrency. Jon and Carie Hallford, owners of Return To Nature Funeral Home in Colorado, already face more than 200 criminal charges connected to last year’s discovery of

Donald Trump described the hush money case against him as an “assault on America” as he arrived at court in New York ahead of his historic trial. The former US president is accused of criminally altering business records to cover up a $130,000 (£104,200) payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford,

Harry and Meghan are set to be executive producers on two new Netflix shows, the streaming giant has announced. One series will explore “the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining and friendship”, while the other will give “unprecedented access to the world of professional polo”. They will be produced by their company Archewell Productions – with

The murder of a Second World War veteran has been solved – more than 50 years after he was found shot dead. Hiram ‘Ross’ Grayam had become a milkman after facing the “horrors of the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of two concentration camps”, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office said. He was delivering

Author Sir Salman Rushdie has described the moment before he was stabbed at a literary festival, saying he saw a “murderous shape rushing towards” him like a “squat missile”. The novelist was stabbed multiple times during the attack, which took place moments before he was due to give a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in

The executor of OJ Simpson’s estate has said he will try to prevent a $33.5m (£27m) payout to the families of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. The former NFL star and Hollywood actor was cleared of their double murder in 1995 in what was dubbed the “trial of the century” but

It’s more than 150 years since the American Civil War, but in Oscar-nominated director Alex Garland’s new film the present-day United States is divided – and the country is at war with itself again. In Civil War, Kirsten Dunst plays photojournalist Lee who braves the lawless frontlines for an exclusive interview with the president, played

The world’s oldest conjoined twins have died at the age of 62. Lori and George Schappell were born in 1961 in Pennsylvania with partially fused skulls and shared vital blood vessels and 30% of their brain, Guinness World Records reported. The pair died on 7 April, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, according

Disney has announced it is making changes to its policy that helps guests with disabilities avoid queuing after people who do not meet the criteria have been exploiting current rules. The company’s Disability Access Service programme (DAS) was launched in 2013 to assist guests who are unable to wait in ride queues for an extended

Ron Goldman’s father, Caitlyn Jenner, Alan Dershowitz and others have spoken out after former NFL footballer OJ Simpson died. Orenthal James Simpson’s family said he died at 76 when he “succumbed to his battle with cancer” on Wednesday. Nicknamed “The Juice”, Simpson was tried for murder in October 1995, in what was dubbed the “trial

The death of arguably one of America’s most-talked about names in the 1990s has re-ignited conversations about who OJ Simpson was and how he will be remembered. The former NFL star was tried and acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. He later spent time in jail

Former American footballer and actor OJ Simpson, who has died of cancer, will be remembered most for his role at the centre of the “trial of the century”. Accused of double murder, his case captured the attention of the US until it came to a dramatic end in late 1995. Here’s a look back at

OJ Simpson, the former American football star and Hollywood actor who was cleared of murdering his ex-wife and her friend in a criminal trial, has died aged 76. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren when he “succumbed to his battle with cancer” on Wednesday, his family said on X. X This content is

Former American footballer OJ Simpson has died at the age of 76, according to reports. In a statement on X, his family said: “On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. “He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. “During this time of transition, his family asks that you

Arizona is to ban nearly all abortions after its supreme court ruled a law from the Civil War-era could be enforced. It means an 1864 law criminalising abortions except when a mother’s life is at risk – with no exceptions for pregnancies due to rape or incest – will become enforceable. Doctors who perform the

Julian Assange’s wife has called on Joe Biden to “do the right thing” and “drop the charges” as Thursday marks the fifth anniversary of her husband’s imprisonment. The US president said on Wednesday he is “considering” a request from Australia, where Assange is from, to drop the prosecution and allow the WikiLeaks founder’s return to

The US is “considering” dropping the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, following a request from the Australian government. President Joe Biden said “we’re considering it”, when asked about the request by reporters at the White House on Wednesday. Assange is currently being held in Belmarsh prison in London after he was removed from the

Joe Biden has called Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to the war in Gaza a “mistake”. The US president has been increasingly public in his criticism of the Israeli prime minister and how Israel is carrying out its military offensive. “I think what he’s doing is a mistake. I don’t agree with his approach,” Mr Biden said

The parents of a US teenager who shot four classmates dead have been jailed for manslaughter for at least 10 years. Ethan Crumbley is serving life in prison for murder after killing four students at Oxford High School, near Detroit in Michigan in November 2021, when he was 15. His parents had given him the

Police officers in Las Vegas sprang into action to save the life of their police dog, who had been stabbed in the line of duty. As K9 Enzo fought for his life, police closed roads and called in a helicopter to get him the help he needed. “You did so good buddy.. you’re a good

How much will Donald Trump have enjoyed it? A British Foreign Secretary – the same one who had described him, variously, as “stupid,” “wrong” and “misogynistic” – knocking on his door to ask a favour. Toe-curling stuff, but a necessity nonetheless. Lord Cameron‘s US detour to Mar-a-Lago acknowledges where power lies in the political arm

A total solar eclipse is plunging the skies along a swathe of North America into darkness. The moon will completely block out the sun for more than four minutes in some places along a path starting in Mexico and crossing through the United States and into Canada. Millions are hoping for clouds to clear as

On Monday, an estimated 31.6 million people across America will be in the path of the biggest solar eclipse since 2017. Scientists will be able to study its effects on layers of the atmosphere, but according to conspiracy theorists, it could also be the end of days. The internet is running wild with some outlandish

Tens of millions will be eagerly looking to the skies later for a total solar eclipse – but a patchy forecast means the big moment could be ruined for some. Cloud is forecast in places such as Texas, Oklahoma and southern Arkansas as people gather for what’s set to be the most viewed eclipse ever.

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been arrested and summoned to court on allegations he assaulted and threatened to kill a drug-testing agent. Jones had been visited by anti-doping officer Crystal Martinez and her colleague Jerome Romero for a surprise drug test at his home in Albuquerque on 30 March. They had arrived to collect

A US lottery winner has scooped a $1.3bn jackpot that had rolled over for more than three months. The Powerball jackpot is the eighth largest lottery prize in US history and the sole winner – whose identity has not been revealed – will have it paid out over 30 years if they choose to receive

Police are searching for a man who allegedly set Senator Bernie Sanders’ office on fire in Vermont. The unknown man entered the building and sprayed an accelerant on Sanders’ office door on Friday morning. He then set it on fire and fled, according to police. A “significant fire engulfed the door and part of the

The third victim of the Baltimore bridge collapse has been recovered. Divers found the body of Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval and notified Maryland State Police, authorities said The 38-year-old construction worker was one of six people believed to have died after a cargo ship struck a support of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on 26 March.

This week in America it pays to know your cumulus from your cirrus and your nimbostratus from your plain old regular stratus.  They are all types of cloud, with cloud cover forecast to play havoc with the plans of hundreds of thousands of people preparing to watch the eclipse on Monday. Unusually for this time

LeBron James’s son is set to enter the 2024 NBA draft and may yet fulfil his father’s dream of playing together on the basketball court. Bronny James announced the move on Instagram saying: “I’ve made the decision to enter the NBA Draft while maintaining my college eligibility, and will also be entering the NCAA transfer