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There have been 733,842 deaths recorded, according to an AFP tally of official sources

Global coronavirus infections pass 20 million

More than 20 million coronavirus cases have now been registered across the world, over half in the Americas.

There has been an increase of 10,000 deaths in nine days in the United States

US Covid-19 death toll passes 160,000

US deaths from the coronavirus pandemic have exceeded 160,000, nearly a quarter of the world's total, according to a Reuters tally.

World • 07 Aug 20

The Mars probe launched on a Long March 5 - China's biggest space rocket

China launches first Mars mission in space race with US

China has launched a rocket carrying a probe, orbiter and rover to Mars, a week before a similar US mission is due to launch

Science and Technology • 23 Jul 20

Medics conduct a coronavirus check on a member of an indigenous tribe in Brazil

Brazil deaths reach over 80,000, as Trump backs masks

Brazil's coronavirus death toll has surpassed 80,000, according to health ministry figures, as the country hit second-hardest in the world continued struggling to control the pandemic.

Coronavirus • 21 Jul 20

Harvard and MIT earlier this month had asked the court to block the order announced by ICE that students must leave the country if their classes are only online, or transfer to a school offering in-person tuition

US rescinds order denying visas for foreign students

The United States government has rescinded its controversial decision to revoke foreign student visas whose courses move online due to coronavirus, a federal judge said.

United States • 14 Jul 20

The NYPD banned chokeholds in 1993, but their use was not eliminated and rarely punished

First NYPD officer charged over illegal chokehold usage

A New York police officer was arrested and charged with administering an illegal chokehold, police have said.

World • 25 Jun 20

The geographic footprint of the US Covid-19 epidemic has shifted to the midwest and southeast, including Florida

Why the US is experiencing a coronavirus plateau

When epidemiologists talked about "flattening the curve," they probably did not mean it this way: the US hit its peak coronavirus caseload in April, but since that time the graph has been on a seemingly unending plateau.

News Lens • 09 Jun 20

States of Mind: 'Hailing Hearses Instead of Taxis'

Physician Assistant Jim Nealon and Funeral Director Clive Anderson reflect on how Covid-19 ripped through New York, on the people they lost and the moments that will stay will them forever.

US • 09 Jun 20

The outpouring of protests followed the 25 May killing of George Floyd

Bail set at $1m for policeman charged with Floyd murder

A Minneapolis judge set a $1m bail for police officer Derek Chauvin today as he made his first court appearance charged with the murder of George Floyd.

World • 08 Jun 20

US unemployment hit a post-World War II high in April - but the figures rebounded somewhat in May

US employment figures rebound in May

The US economy unexpectedly added jobs in May after suffering record losses in the prior month, offering the clearest signal yet that the downturn triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic was probably over, though the road to recovery could be long.

Business • 05 Jun 20

George Floyd memorial: 'Get your knee off our necks'

Hundreds of mourners joined an emotional memorial service in Minneapolis yesterday for George Floyd, as civil rights leader Al Sharpton vowed mass protests will continue until "we change the whole system of justice".

George Floyd • 05 Jun 20

People raise their hands and shout slogans as they protest at a makeshift memorial in Minneapolis

Pope, UN rights head condemn racism and violence in US

Pope Francis has called for national reconciliation in the United States, saying that while racism is intolerable, the street violence that has broken out is "self-destructive and self-defeating".

US • 03 Jun 20

States of Mind: The Women Issue

News • 26 May 20

A Tupolev Tu-214ON aircraft equipped to take part in Open Skies flights

European nations 'regret' US Open Skies decision

France, Germany and eight other European nations have said they "regret" the decision by US President Donald Trump to exit the Open Skies mutual military surveillance treaty with Russia.

World • 22 May 20

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO will continue to provide 'strategic leadership to co-ordinate the global response' to the crisis

WHO member states agree to independent probe

World Health Organization member states have agreed to an independent probe into the UN agency's coronavirus response as US criticism mounted over its handling of the pandemic.

Coronavirus • 19 May 20

Donald Trump said he was been taking hydroxychloroquine for the last week and a half

Trump taking anti-malaria drug as Covid-19 preventative

US President Donald Trump revealed he is taking hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug that he has touted despite medical warnings about its use, as a preventative medicine against the coronavirus.

Coronavirus • 19 May 20

Covid-19 disruptions to the food supply chain have led to price rises in the supermarkets

Food for thought: US livestock being killed and dumped

No doubt it is a similar situation in Ireland but right now here in the United States, a trip to the supermarket can be a bit of a guessing game when it comes to predicting which aisles will be empty and which will be well-stocked.

Coronavirus • 17 May 20

A vaccine can take between five and 10 years to research, develop and produce

Vaccine Race: 12-18 month forecast 'still best guess'

Scientists and pharma companies working to get vaccine doses rolling off the production line say the accelerated pace of development is staggering.

Coronavirus • 06 May 20

Donald Trump suspended US contributions to the WHO on 14 April

US House committee launches probe of WHO aid cutoff

The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee has launched an investigation into US President Donald Trump's blocking of funds for the World Health Organization.

Coronavirus • 27 Apr 20

Donald Trump said he is seeking to shield the job market for US citizens

Trump signs order suspending immigration green cards

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order suspending the approval of some immigration green cards for 60 days.

World • 23 Apr 20

Donald Trump says he is responding to 'the attack from the Invisible Enemy'

Trump to suspend all immigration into US over Covid-19

US President Donald Trump has said that he would temporarily suspend immigration to the United States because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus • 21 Apr 20

Listen: Pandemic at the Polls

'States of Mind' untangles the complicated US voting web as the country's system continues to be questioned

News • 20 Apr 20

Numbers suggest 'descent' in cases - New York Governor

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says total hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients reached 16,103, down from 16,213 the day before, while an additional 478 people died over the past 24 hours, the lowest daily fatality rate since 1 April.

World • 20 Apr 20

First responders at the University of Maryland Baltimore Medical Center

US deaths from coronavirus pass the 20,000 mark

US deaths due to the coronavirus surpassed 20,000 on Saturday, the highest reported number in the world, according to a Reuters tally, although there are signs the pandemic might be nearing a peak.

US • 11 Apr 20

People maintain social distancing during Good Friday prayers in Kolkata

At a glance: Global coronavirus death toll tops 100,000

More than 100,000 people have died worldwide from the coronavirus, with nearly 70% of all fatalities in Europe.

Coronavirus • 11 Apr 20