Biden, Harris lash Trump in introduction of historic VP pick
WILMINGTON, Del. — Joe Biden and Kamala Harris delivered an aggressive one-two attack on the character and performance of President Donald Trump on Wednesday, as they made their election case for the first time as running mates.
US commander: Islamic State threat in west Syria growing
WASHINGTON — Elements of the Islamic State group are working to rebuild in western Syria, where the U.S. has little visibility or presence, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East warned on Wednesday.
US budget deficit climbs to record $2.81 trillion
SILVER SPRING, Md. — The U.S. budget deficit climbed to $2.81 trillion in the first 10 months of the budget year, exceeding any on record, the Treasury Department said Wednesday.
Tribune closing 5 newsrooms including NY Daily News
Tribune Publishing Company, which owns some of the most storied newspapers in American journalism, said Wednesday that it is closing the newsrooms at five of them, including New York’s Daily News and The Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland.
Let it flow: Trump administration eases showerhead rules
WASHINGTON — The Trump Administration wants to change the definition of a showerhead to let more water flow, addressing a pet peeve of the president who complains he isn’t getting wet enough.
For Americans waiting on virus aid, no new relief in sight
WASHINGTON — Americans counting on emergency coronavirus aid from Washington may have to wait until fall.
Asia Today: Victoria adds 21 deaths, Singapore clears dorms
MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian state of Victoria on Wednesday reported a record 21 virus deaths and 410 new cases from an outbreak in the city of Melbourne that has prompted a strict lockdown.
UN chief: pandemic threatens peace and risks new conflicts
UNITED NATIONS — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Wednesday that the COVID-19 pandemic not only threatens gains in fighting global poverty and building peace but risks exacerbating existing conflicts and generating new ones.
UK records deepest recession among top economies
LONDON — Britain has suffered the deepest recession among the world’s top economies this year, shrinking by a fifth in the second quarter alone when much of the economy was mothballed as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
Actors back at Disney World after deal reached with union
ORLANDO, Fla. — Walt Disney World and the union for its actors and singers reached an agreement on Wednesday that will allow them to return to work, more than a month after they said they were locked out of the reopening of the theme park resort for publicly demanding coronavirus tests.
Biden picks Kamala Harris as running mate, first Black woman
WILMINGTON, Del. — Joe Biden named California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate on Tuesday, making history by selecting the first Black woman to compete on a major party’s presidential ticket and acknowledging the vital role Black voters will play in his bid to defeat President Donald Trump.
‘If not now, when?’: Black women seize political spotlight
MARIETTA, Ga. — The little girl ran up to her, wide-eyed and giddy. “Are you Charisse Davis?” the fourth grader asked.
Powerful storm leaves 2 dead, heavy crop damage in Midwest
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Hundreds of thousands across the Midwest remained without electricity on Tuesday after a powerful storm packing 100 mph winds battered the region a day earlier, causing widespread damage to millions of acres of crops and killing at least two people.
US contractor told Lebanese port official of chemicals risk
WASHINGTON — About four years before the Beirut port explosion that killed dozens of people and injured thousands, a U.S. government contractor expressed concern to a Lebanese port official about unsafe storage there of the volatile chemicals that fueled last week’s devastating blast, American officials said Tuesday.
Appeals court seems wary of ordering dismissal of Flynn case
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court in Washington appeared inclined Tuesday to let a judge decide on his own whether to grant the Justice Department’s request to dismiss the criminal case against former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Worldwide virus cases top 20 million, doubling in six weeks
It took six months for the world to reach 10 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus. It took just over six weeks for that number to double.
Scientists uneasy as Russia approves 1st coronavirus vaccine
MOSCOW — Russia on Tuesday became the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine, a move that was met with international skepticism and unease because the shots have only been studied in dozens of people.
What do the kids say? K-12 students sound off on school
NEW YORK — Parents have weighed in on reopening schools. Teachers have weighed in. Public health experts, too, along with cities, states and President Donald Trump.
Big Ten, Pac-12 pull plug on fall football amid pandemic
The Big Ten and Pac-12 called off their fall football seasons on Tuesday because of concerns about COVID-19, taking two of college football’s five power conferences out of a crumbling season.
Mississippi governor: ‘College football is essential’
JACKSON, MISS. — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves described college football — even amid the coronavirus pandemic — as “essential” Tuesday, his comments echoing a tweet President Donald Trump posted the day before and coming on the same day his Republican counterpart in Florida also pushed for games to be held this fall.