A torrential downpour sent water surging through New York’s tube system, highway tunnels and across airport runways, leaving thousands stranded and one big question: How could 3ins of rain bring the country’s largest transport system to a halt?

A flight from Los Angeles to London was diverted to New York today because of what officials said may have been unfounded fears of a security breach.

Rapper DMX was slapped with an extra 10 days behind bars by a New York judge who said he had not shown respect for the court.

A bodyguard who has protected outspoken film maker and gun-control advocate Michael Moore was arrested at Kennedy International Airport for allegedly carrying a pistol without a New York licence, authorities said tonight.

The United Nations was shut down and hundreds of flights were cancelled after a storm dumped 14 inches of snow on New York and in the north-eastern United States.

Federal investigators in the US have arrested three men in connection with Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.