Virus puts brakes on US economic engine: consumer spending
The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Friday related to the glo...
Next potential shortage: Drugs needed to run ventilators
New York — As hospitals scour the country for scarce ventilators to treat critically ill patients stricken by the new coronavirus, pharmacists are beg...
Groups used to serving desperately poor nations now help US
In Santa Barbara, forklifts chug through the warehouse of Direct Relief, hustling pallets of much-needed medical supplies into waiting FedEx trucks. N...
Mercury-bound spacecraft buzzes Earth, beams back pictures
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A Mercury-bound spacecraft swooped past Earth on Friday, tweaking its roundabout path to the solar system’s smallest and innerm...
‘Downton Abbey’ creator shifts gears with series ‘Belgravia’
NEW YORK — Julian Fellowes' latest addictive series about English social classes kicks off with a party. Mind you, not just any run-of-the mill, high ...
Global pact to contain oil price crash takes shape
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The OPEC oil cartel and nations including Russia have agreed to boost oil prices by cutting as much as 10 million barrel...
Consumer prices slump 0.4% as virus puts chill on spending
WASHINGTON — Consumer prices fell 0.4% in March, the largest decline in five years, revealing the downward pressure that the coronavirus pandemic is e...
VIRUS DIARY: Isolation and patience on a quiet Gaza farm
BEIT LAHIYEH, Gaza Strip — I haven't spent more than a single night at my family's farm on the northern edge of Gaza since an Israeli airstrike killed...
Poland marks 10 years since president killed in plane crash
WARSAW, Poland — Poland's government on Friday marked the 10th anniversary of the plane crash that killed President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others by de...
29 years on death row, Pakistan woman suffers mental illness
ISLAMABAD — Kanizan Bibi was 16 when she was charged with murdering her employer’s wife and five children. The police said she was having an affair wi...
Markets stable amid holidays, oil down on OPEC uncertainty
BANGKOK — Asian shares were steady in quiet Good Friday trading after Wall Street closed out its best week in 45 years thanks to the Federal Reserve's...
Tokyo Olympic CEO hints games could be in doubt even in 2021
TOKYO — As the coronavirus spreads in Japan, the chief executive of the Tokyo Games said Friday he can’t guarantee the postponed Olympics will be stag...
Belarusian club puts mannequins in stands as fans stay away
MINSK, Belarus — They don't chant, they don't move, and they mostly wear the wrong colors.
New, larger wave of locusts threatens millions in Africa
KAMPALA, Uganda — Weeks before the coronavirus spread through much of the world, parts of Africa were already threatened by another kind of plague, th...
Singapore stops Zoom for online education as hackers strike
SINGAPORE — Singapore has suspended the use of Zoom for online education after hackers hijacked a lesson and showed obscene images to students.
Devils defenseman P.K. Subban is host of new NHL trivia show
Tired of sitting around the house and watching reruns on television every day?
Japan auto industry vows to protect jobs amid virus crisis
TOKYO — Toyota Chief Executive Akio Toyoda promised Friday that the Japanese auto industry would seek to protect jobs worldwide as it endures the coro...
Israelis looking out for overworked healthcare professionals
RAANANA, Israel — While hunkering down at home and keeping three young children entertained in coronavirus isolation, Adi Karmon Scope had a thought: ...
Column: No good walks spoiled as golf courses shuttered
It was probably just coincidence that Nevada’s governor issued an order closing golf courses just a few hours after a newspaper photographer tweeted a...
Lives Lost: At 97, World War II vet takes a final road
SEATTLE — In his final months, Bill Chambers couldn't walk, but he found peace in motion.
UN urges governments to tackle recession, scrap debt payment
UNITED NATIONS — More than 60 U.N. agencies and international organizations urged governments on Thursday to take immediate steps to address the unfol...
Barr says Russia probe was started ‘without basis’
WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr believes the Russia investigation that shadowed President Donald Trump for the first two years of his admin...
Tagovailoa’s agent says he’s healthy, will be ready for camp
Tua Tagovailoa’s agent says the quarterback is healthy and will be ready for training camp.
NBA says players will receive full checks on April 15
NBA players will receive their full checks when the next payday for most of them arrives on April 15 despite no games having been played for more than...
Storms packing high winds cause damage in Indiana, Arkansas
MOORESVILLE, Ind. — Severe storms with high winds, hail and possible tornadoes swept across the Midwest and caused damage to dozens of homes and busin...
Biden joins growing call for release of racial data on virus
DETROIT — Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is joining a growing call for the release of comprehensive racial data on the coronavirus pandemic,...
Defining moments that make the Masters unlike other majors
Gene Sarazen hit the shot that put the Masters on the map.
Democrats renew vote-by-mail push as virus upends elections
WASHINGTON — Democrats want to bolster mail-in voting and take other steps to make balloting easier this November, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thu...
A new $2.3 trillion Fed plan to aid localities and companies
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve unleashed a new series of moves Thursday to try to make loans available to states, localities and companies that have...
General says coronavirus may affect more Navy ships
WASHINGTON — Pentagon leaders anticipate that the coronavirus may strike more Navy ships at sea after an outbreak aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pa...