US President Donald Trump has raised the idea of delaying the November 3 election, an idea immediately rejected by both Democrats and his fellow Republicans.

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Pompeo proud Aust stepping up on China

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has told a congressional committee the Chinese Communist Party is "the central threat of our times" and he is proud Australia, Japan and the UK have increased maritime manoeuvres in the South China Sea.

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Coronavirus pandemic crushes US economy

The US economy has suffered its biggest blow since the Great Depression in the second quarter as the COVID-19 pandemic shattered consumer and business spending.

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UK virus cases rise, fears of second wave

Britain has reported its highest number of new COVID-19 infections in more than a month, as ministers fret about a second wave of cases in Europe.

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NASA's Mars rover launches successfully

NASA's Mars rover Perseverance has blasted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral on a $US2.4 billion ($A3.4 billion) mission to search for traces of potential past life on the planet.

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Obama honours congressman Lewis at funeral

Former US president Barack Obama has honoured congressman John Lewis with a sweeping eulogy, saying the late civil rights leader brought the country "a little bit closer to our highest ideals".

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Maxwell's bid to block details of sex life

Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has urged a US appeals court to block the release of a deposition about her sex life.

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Australian Associated Press