Novel coronavirus

U.S. economy shrank at record-breaking 33 percent rate last quarter

By Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy shrank at a dizzying 33% annual rate in the April-June quarter — by far the worst quarterly plunge ever — when the viral outbreak shut down businesses, throwing tens of millions out of work…

Pilgrims pray on peak day of hajj in shadow of coronavirus

By Aya Batrawy, Associated Press

Masked pilgrims arrived Thursday at Mount Arafat, a desert hill near Islam's holiest site, to pray and repent on the most important day of the hajj, the annual pilgrimage in Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

After 99 days of success, virus returns to haunt Vietnam

By Hau Dinh, Associated Press

For 99 days, Vietnam seemed to have defeated the coronavirus. There wasn't a single reported case of community transmission.

Why people are taking more coronavirus risks as the pandemic drags on

By Fedor Kossakovski

Even as COVID-19 cases are surging to new heights across the U.S., it makes sense that people are likely to be more lax in their precautions than during the early days of the crisis, experts in risk perception say.

Pence urges in-person school during visit to North Carolina

By Bryan Anderson, Associated Press

Vice President Mike Pence said schools around the country will have the resources they need to reopen for in-person learning during a visit to a classroom of masked fourth graders at a North Carolina private school.

WATCH: Trump seeks out loyal donors in West Texas fracking fields

By Ellen Knickmeyer, Jonathan Lemire, Associated Press

His visit on Wednesday comes during the state's fierce coronavirus outbreak. At the same time, a global oil and gas glut is putting the squeeze on Trump's loyal donors in the petroleum industry.

U.S. is expected to report a record-breaking economic plunge

By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press

Having endured what was surely a record-shattering slump last quarter, the U.S. economy faces a dim outlook as a resurgent coronavirus intensifies doubts about the likelihood of any sustained recovery the rest of the year.

Rep. Gohmert tests positive for coronavirus, cancels Trump trip

By Alan Fram, Associated Press

The 66-year-old Texas Republican was screened for the virus at the White House on Wednesday morning. Gohmert had gone there because he was planning to fly to Texas with President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One.

Fed wrestles with its next moves as virus stalls U.S. economy

By Associated Press

The central bank is working toward providing more specific guidance on the conditions it would need to see before considering raising its benchmark short-term interest rate, which is now pegged near zero.

Space Camp in danger of closing permanently due to pandemic

By Jay Reeves, Associated Press

Space Camp, an educational program attended by nearly 1 million people, including a dozen who went on to become astronauts or cosmonauts, said Tuesday it’s in danger of closing without a cash infusion because of the coronavirus pandemic.