washingtontimes--2020-10-29--2 dead in knife attack in French church; terrorism suspected

PARIS ( AP ) — French anti-terrorism prosecutors are investigating a knife attack at a church in the Mediterranean city of Nice that killed two people and wounded several others at a time when French authorities are on high alert for extremist violence .
The assailant was arrested after the Thursday morning attack at the Notre Dame Church and taken to a nearby hospital after being injured during his arrest , a police official said .
He was believed to be acting alone and police are not searching for other assailants , the official said .
She was not authorized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor ’ s office said an investigation was opened into an attack with a terrorist connection .
Images on French media showed the neighborhood locked down and surrounded by police and emergency vehicles .
Sounds of explosions could be heard as sappers exploded suspicious objects .
The exact motive of the attack was unclear but comes as France is under alert for Islamic extremist acts amid tensions over caricatures of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad published by satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo , and after two other recent attacks in France with links to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliament suspended a debate on new virus restrictions and held a moment of silence Thursday for the victims .
The prime minister rushed from the hall to head to a crisis center overseeing the aftermath of the attack .
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi said the attacker shouted “ Allahu akbar !
” repeatedly as police apprehended him and that “ the meaning of his gesture left no doubt.
” Speaking to reporters in Nice , Estrosi said two people were killed inside the church and a third person who escaped to a nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @

PARIS (AP) — French anti-terrorism prosecutors are investigating a knife attack at a church in the Mediterranean city of Nice that killed two people and wounded several others at a time when French authorities are on high alert for extremist violence.
The assailant was arrested after the Thursday morning attack at the Notre Dame Church and taken to a nearby hospital after being injured during his arrest, a police official said. He was believed to be acting alone and police are not searching for other assailants, the official said. She was not authorized to be publicly named.
The anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said an investigation was opened into an attack with a terrorist connection.
Images on French media showed the neighborhood locked down and surrounded by police and emergency vehicles. Sounds of explosions could be heard as sappers exploded suspicious objects.
The exact motive of the attack was unclear but comes as France is under alert for Islamic extremist acts amid tensions over caricatures of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad published by satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo, and after two other recent attacks in France with links to the cartoons.
The lower house of parliament suspended a debate on new virus restrictions and held a moment of silence Thursday for the victims. The prime minister rushed from the hall to head to a crisis center overseeing the aftermath of the attack.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi said the attacker shouted “Allahu akbar!” repeatedly as police apprehended him and that “the meaning of his gesture left no doubt.”
Speaking to reporters in Nice, Estrosi said two people were killed inside the church and a third person who escaped to a nearby bar was in a life-threatening condition.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--Pompeo, in Indonesia, renews China attacks as US vote looms

JAKARTA , Indonesia ( AP ) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo renewed the Trump administration ’ s rhetorical onslaught against China in Indonesia on Thursday as the American presidential election looms .
With China a central theme in President Donald Trump ’ s campaign to win a second term in just five days time , Pompeo took aim at Chinese aggressiveness in the South China Sea , where it has advanced maritime and territorial claims over the objections of its smaller neighbors , over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its repression of religious minorities .
Speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association of Southeast Asian Nations , Pompeo praised Indonesia ’ s leadership in ASEAN for pushing back on what he called China ’ s “ unlawful ” claims and lauded Jakarta ’ s protection of its own territory .
He also attacked Beijing for its treatment of religious minorities , calling China “ the gravest threat to the future of religious freedom.
” Delivering a speech on religious freedom in the capital of the world ’ s most populous Muslim nation , Pompeo denounced the Chinese Communist Party for its reported mass abuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region .
“ The atheist CCP has tried to convince the world that its brutalization of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang is necessary as a counterterrorism efforts or poverty - depending on the audience , they are speaking to , ” Pompeo said .
” I know the Chinese Communist Party has tried to convince Indonesians to look away from the torments your fellow Muslims are suffering.
” He dismissed as fantasy Chinese officials ’ claims that Uighurs are “ eager to discard their ethnic , religious and cultural identities to become ‘ modern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development ” and urged Indonesians to reject them .
Earlier , in an appearance with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi , Pompeo took China to task for threatening its neighbors .
“ We respect freedom of the seas , sovereignty and the rule of law , ” he said , standing beside Marsudi .
Marsudi agreed , saying “ any claims should be based on universally recognized principle of international law ” although she did not specifically mention China .
“ Our law-abiding nations reject the unlawful claims by Chinese Communist Party in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Indonesia ’ s courageous leadership on this subject within ASEAN and at the United Nations , ” Pompeo said .
“ It ’ s a cause worth pursuing in multilateral settings and the Trump administration very much supports this.
” Earlier this year , the Trump administration clarified its longstanding policy on the disputes by rejecting outright nearly all of Beijing ’ s maritime claims in the South China Sea .
That decision in July came as Trump began a concerted effort to use China as a campaign cudgel against his Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who he paints as weak on China and beholden to it .
Previously , U.S. policy had been to insist that maritime disputes between China and its smaller neighbors be resolved peacefully through U.N.-backed arbitration .
But in a July 13 statement , Pompeo said the U.S. now regards virtually all Chinese maritime claims outside its internationally recognized waters to be illegitimate .
China has pressed ahead with attempts to enforce its disputed claims in the South China Sea , leading to serious spats with Vietnam , the Philippines and Malaysia in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rulings that the disputes must be negotiated .
In making the U.S. announcement , Pompeo said China can not legally claim the James Shoal near Malaysia , waters surrounding the Vanguard Bank off Vietnam , the Luconia Shoals near Brunei or Natuna Besar off Indonesia .
On Thursday , Pompeo said Indonesia ’ s protection of Natuna Besar was commendable example of “ decisive action to safeguard its maritime sovereignty.
” “ I ’ m looking forward to cooperating together in the new ways to ensure maritime security and protect some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Pompeo arrived in Indonesia from the Maldives , where he announced the United States would for the first time open an embassy in the Indian Ocean archipelago , a move that reflects growing U.S. concern about increasing Chinese influence in the region .
“ The Chinese Communist Party continues its lawless and threatening behavior , ” Pompeo said in Male , just hours after accusing China of being a ” predator ” during his previous stop in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo .
“ The Chinese Communist Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Responding to Pompeo ’ s remarks , Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the secretary of state ’ s true intention was to “ let China fall back to an era of poverty and un-development , and let the world fall into the abyss of confrontation and division.
” “ This is just the biggest threat facing the world today .
But regrettably , Pompeo was born in the wrong time .
The trend of peace , development , cooperation and win-win in this era is irresistible , ” Wang told @ @

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo renewed the Trump administration’s rhetorical onslaught against China in Indonesia on Thursday as the American presidential election looms.
With China a central theme in President Donald Trump’s campaign to win a second term in just five days time, Pompeo took aim at Chinese aggressiveness in the South China Sea, where it has advanced maritime and territorial claims over the objections of its smaller neighbors, over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its repression of religious minorities.
Speaking in Jakarta, the headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pompeo praised Indonesia’s leadership in ASEAN for pushing back on what he called China’s “unlawful” claims and lauded Jakarta’s protection of its own territory. He also attacked Beijing for its treatment of religious minorities, calling China “the gravest threat to the future of religious freedom.”
Delivering a speech on religious freedom in the capital of the world’s most populous Muslim nation, Pompeo denounced the Chinese Communist Party for its reported mass abuses of Muslim minorities in the western Xinjiang region.
“The atheist CCP has tried to convince the world that its brutalization of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang is necessary as a counterterrorism efforts or poverty - depending on the audience, they are speaking to,” Pompeo said. ”I know the Chinese Communist Party has tried to convince Indonesians to look away from the torments your fellow Muslims are suffering.”
He dismissed as fantasy Chinese officials’ claims that Uighurs are “eager to discard their ethnic, religious and cultural identities to become ‘modern’ and enjoy the benefits of CCP-led development” and urged Indonesians to reject them.
Earlier, in an appearance with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Pompeo took China to task for threatening its neighbors.
“We respect freedom of the seas, sovereignty and the rule of law,” he said, standing beside Marsudi. Marsudi agreed, saying “any claims should be based on universally recognized principle of international law” although she did not specifically mention China.
“Our law-abiding nations reject the unlawful claims by Chinese Communist Party in the South China Sea as is clear from Indonesia’s courageous leadership on this subject within ASEAN and at the United Nations,” Pompeo said. “It’s a cause worth pursuing in multilateral settings and the Trump administration very much supports this.”
Earlier this year, the Trump administration clarified its longstanding policy on the disputes by rejecting outright nearly all of Beijing’s maritime claims in the South China Sea. That decision in July came as Trump began a concerted effort to use China as a campaign cudgel against his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, who he paints as weak on China and beholden to it.
Previously, U.S. policy had been to insist that maritime disputes between China and its smaller neighbors be resolved peacefully through U.N.-backed arbitration. But in a July 13 statement, Pompeo said the U.S. now regards virtually all Chinese maritime claims outside its internationally recognized waters to be illegitimate.
China has pressed ahead with attempts to enforce its disputed claims in the South China Sea, leading to serious spats with Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia in recent years. It has ignored arbitration rulings that the disputes must be negotiated.
In making the U.S. announcement, Pompeo said China cannot legally claim the James Shoal near Malaysia, waters surrounding the Vanguard Bank off Vietnam, the Luconia Shoals near Brunei or Natuna Besar off Indonesia.
On Thursday, Pompeo said Indonesia’s protection of Natuna Besar was commendable example of “decisive action to safeguard its maritime sovereignty.”
“I’m looking forward to cooperating together in the new ways to ensure maritime security and protect some of the world’s busiest trade routes,” he said.
Pompeo arrived in Indonesia from the Maldives, where he announced the United States would for the first time open an embassy in the Indian Ocean archipelago, a move that reflects growing U.S. concern about increasing Chinese influence in the region.
“The Chinese Communist Party continues its lawless and threatening behavior,” Pompeo said in Male, just hours after accusing China of being a ”predator” during his previous stop in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo.
“The Chinese Communist Party is a predator,” he said.
Responding to Pompeo’s remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the secretary of state’s true intention was to “let China fall back to an era of poverty and un-development, and let the world fall into the abyss of confrontation and division.”
“This is just the biggest threat facing the world today. But regrettably, Pompeo was born in the wrong time. The trend of peace, development, cooperation and win-win in this era is irresistible,” Wang told reporters.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--Oh Deer: Drivers should watch for bucks, does along roadways

FRANKFORT , Ky. ( AP ) - Oh deer !
Drivers should watch for bucks and does along Kentucky roadways @ @ @ @ @ .
Shorter periods of daylight and cooler temperatures trigger deer breeding season , which leads @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said Wednesday in a statement .
November is @ @ @ @ @ are most active , said Kyle Sams , the agency ’ s acting deer and @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s always a good idea to stay mindful that an encounter with a @ @ @ @ @ time , ” Sams said .
“ Dawn and dusk are the most likely hours @ @ @ @ @ roads , but they ’ re still going to be more active during daylight hours @ @ @ @ @ has a deer population estimated at 900,000 and there are about 3,000 deer-vehicle collisions reported @ @ @ @ @ Drivers who encounter a deer should slow down and only take evasive action if it @ @ @ @ @ officials said .

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Oh deer! Drivers should watch for bucks and does along Kentucky roadways this fall, officials said.
Shorter periods of daylight and cooler temperatures trigger deer breeding season, which leads to more deer-related crashes, the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said Wednesday in a statement. November is usually the month that deer are most active, said Kyle Sams, the agency’s acting deer and elk program coordinator.
“It’s always a good idea to stay mindful that an encounter with a deer could happen at any time,” Sams said. “Dawn and dusk are the most likely hours to see deer on the roads, but they’re still going to be more active during daylight hours than usual.”
The state has a deer population estimated at 900,000 and there are about 3,000 deer-vehicle collisions reported annually, officials said.
Drivers who encounter a deer should slow down and only take evasive action if it can be done safely, officials said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--Marvell snags Inphi in yet another semiconductor tie-up

SANTA CLARA , Calif. ( AP ) - The pace of consolidation in the semiconductor industry continues to accelerate with Marvell Technology saying Thursday that it will pay $ 10.63 billion for Inphi in a cash-and-stock deal .
Marvell , which makes integrated circuits and semiconductor infrastructure , said the combined company will be reorganized and based in the U.S. Marvell is currently domiciled in Bermuda .
Shareholders of Inphi , which specializes in high-speed date transmission , will get $ 66 per share of Inphi stock and about 2.3 shares in the combined company .
Upon closing , Marvell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company , with Inphi shareholders owning the remaining 17 % .
The deal has been approved by both boards and is expected to close by the second half of 2021 .
Earlier this week , Advanced Micro Devices said it was buying Xilinx for $ 35 billion in an all-stock deal that will combine the two Silicon Valley chip makers as consolidations sweep the sector at a time when a global pandemic is driving demand for tech ever higher .
Last month , Nvidia said it would buy Arm Holdings for up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an artificial intelligence research center in Cambridge , England , where Arm is headquartered .
In July , Maxim Integrated Products was snapped up by Analog Devices for more than $ 20 billion .
The companies said Inphi ’ s high-speed data interconnect platform , combined with Marvell ’ s storage , networking , processor , and security portfolio , positions the combined company for “ end-to-end technology leadership in data infrastructure.
” “ Our acquisition of Inphi will fuel Marvell ’ s leadership in the cloud and extend our 5G position over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and CEO Matt Murphy .
Ford Tamer , president and CEO of Inphi , will join Marvell ’ s board of directors upon closing .

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - The pace of consolidation in the semiconductor industry continues to accelerate with Marvell Technology saying Thursday that it will pay $10.63 billion for Inphi in a cash-and-stock deal.
Marvell, which makes integrated circuits and semiconductor infrastructure, said the combined company will be reorganized and based in the U.S. Marvell is currently domiciled in Bermuda.
Shareholders of Inphi, which specializes in high-speed date transmission, will get $66 per share of Inphi stock and about 2.3 shares in the combined company. Upon closing, Marvell shareholders will own about 83% of the company, with Inphi shareholders owning the remaining 17%. The deal has been approved by both boards and is expected to close by the second half of 2021.
Earlier this week, Advanced Micro Devices said it was buying Xilinx for $35 billion in an all-stock deal that will combine the two Silicon Valley chip makers as consolidations sweep the sector at a time when a global pandemic is driving demand for tech ever higher.
Last month, Nvidia said it would buy Arm Holdings for up to $40 billion and set up an artificial intelligence research center in Cambridge, England, where Arm is headquartered. In July, Maxim Integrated Products was snapped up by Analog Devices for more than $20 billion.
The companies said Inphi’s high-speed data interconnect platform, combined with Marvell’s storage, networking, processor, and security portfolio, positions the combined company for “end-to-end technology leadership in data infrastructure.”
“Our acquisition of Inphi will fuel Marvell’s leadership in the cloud and extend our 5G position over the next decade,” said Marvell president and CEO Matt Murphy.
Ford Tamer, president and CEO of Inphi, will join Marvell’s board of directors upon closing.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--European Central Bank holds off on strengthening stimulus

FRANKFURT , Germany ( AP ) - The European Central Bank held off from strengthening its current economic stimulus but signaled that more could be coming at its December meeting given that risks are growing as surging coronavirus infections and new restrictions on activity threaten Europe ’ s economy .
ECB head Christine Lagarde said Thursday that recent data show the economy “ is losing momentum more rapidly than expected ” and that there had been “ a clear deterioration in the near term outlook.
” The bank ’ s promise to review its position in December came in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about bond purchases and interest benchmarks .
The ECB said it will assess the dynamics of the pandemic and prospects for vaccine rollout as well as new staff estimates about inflation and growth .
That would lead to “ a thorough reassessment of the economic outlook ” at the Dec. 10 meeting .
The statement continued : “ On the basis of this updated assessment , the Governing Council will recalibrate its instruments , as appropriate , to respond to the unfolding situation.
” Lagarde said that staff “ are already at work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that “ we are looking at everything ” across the bank ’ s set of policy tools such as interest rates , bond purchases and cheap loans to banks .
The bank made no change to its 1.35 trillion ( $ 1.58 trillion ) pandemic emergency bond purchase program , which pumps newly created money into the economy to keep credit flowing to businesses and promote economic activity .
Those regular purchases are set to run through the middle of next year .
Analysts believe that is one reason the bank is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of stimulus still in the pipeline .
The ECB ’ s key goal is to raise inflation toward its target of below but close to 2 % , the level considered best for the economy .
Inflation was minus 0.3 % in September , partly a result of temporary measures such as a value-added tax cut in Germany but also a sign of weaker than optimal demand .
Economy output plunged 11.8 % in the 19 countries that use the euro in the second quarter but is estimated to have rebounded in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % as businesses reopened .
Figures for the quarter are to be released Friday .
Europe has been in part sustained by business ties between Germany , its largest economy , and China , where the pandemic hit earlier but has been largely contained , allowing activity to rebound to near normal levels .
German auto maker Volkswagen said Thursday it had increased sales in China by 3 % in the third quarter over the same quarter in 2019 , before COVID-19 .
Massive ECB stimulus and new spending by governments has helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cushion the downturn .
Governments have deployed furlough support programs to pay worker salaries if they are put on short hours or no hours but not laid off .
That has held down the rise in unemployment , which was 8.1 % in August .
Yet prospects for the last three months of the year have worsened as infection numbers have risen , raising the possibility of more anti-coronavirus restrictions .
Germany ordered restaurants , bars and theaters to close their doors Monday , and to keep them closed until December , under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of a “ difficult winter ” in a speech in parliament Thursday .
While industrial firms are doing better , services companies that depend on personal contact have been hard hit .
Airlines , hotels , restaurants and other businesses big and small have had a devastating drop in revenue .

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - The European Central Bank held off from strengthening its current economic stimulus but its President Christine Lagarde said there was “little doubt” that more action would be coming at its December meeting as surging coronavirus infections and new restrictions on activity threaten Europe’s economy.
Lagarde said Thursday that recent data show the economy “is losing momentum more rapidly than expected” and that there had been “a clear deterioration in the near term outlook.”
The bank’s staff is already working on a “recalibration” of the bank’s stance ahead of the Dec. 10 meeting, said Lagarde.
“We have little doubt… that the circumstances will warrant the recalibration and the implementation of this recalibrated package,” Lagarde said.
The bank’s promise to review its position in December came in an unusual introductory paragraph to its regular statement about bond purchases and interest benchmarks. The ECB said it will assess the dynamics of the pandemic and prospects for vaccine rollout as well as new staff estimates about inflation and growth. hat would lead to “a thorough reassessment of the economic outlook” at the Dec. 10 meeting.
Lagarde said that “we are looking at everything” across the bank’s set of policy tools such as interest rates, bond purchases and cheap loans to banks.
As expected the bank made no change to its 1.35 trillion ($1.58 trillion) pandemic emergency bond purchase program, which pumps newly created money into the economy to keep credit flowing to businesses and promote economic activity. Those regular purchases are set to run through the middle of next year. Analysts believe that is one reason the bank could take no action Thursday, since there already more stimulus still in the pipeline.
The ECB’s key goal is to raise inflation toward its target of below but close to 2%, the level considered best for the economy. Inflation was minus 0.3% in September, partly a result of temporary measures such as a value-added tax cut in Germany but also a sign of weaker than optimal demand.
Economy output plunged 11.8% in the 19 countries that use the euro in the second quarter but is estimated to have rebounded in the July-September months by as much as 10% as businesses reopened. Figures for the quarter are to be released Friday.
Europe has been in part sustained by business ties between Germany, its largest economy, and China, where the pandemic hit earlier but has been largely contained, allowing activity to rebound to near normal levels. German auto maker Volkswagen said Thursday it had increased sales in China by 3% in the third quarter over the same quarter in 2019, before COVID-19.
Massive ECB stimulus and new spending by governments has helped ward off turmoil on financial markets and cushion the downturn. Governments have deployed furlough support programs to pay worker salaries if they are put on short hours or no hours but not laid off. That has held down the rise in unemployment, which was 8.1% in August.
Yet prospects for the last three months of the year have worsened as infection numbers have risen, raising the possibility of more anti-coronavirus restrictions.
Germany ordered restaurants, bars and theaters to close their doors Monday, and to keep them closed until December, under what is being called “lockdown light.”
Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of a “difficult winter” in a speech in parliament Thursday.
While industrial firms are doing better, services companies that depend on personal contact have been hard hit. Airlines, hotels, restaurants and other businesses big and small have suffered a devastating drop in activity.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--GOP campaigns asks that late absentee ballots be separated

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - The campaigns for President Donald Trump and Republican state legislative candidates are petitioning the Minnesota Supreme Court to separate all mailed ballots received after Election Day in case of legal challenges to their validity .
The petition filed Wednesday is the latest challenge to Minnesota ’ s seven-day extension for absentee ballots .
It comes a day after a federal appeals court panel heard arguments on whether leaving the extension intact could lead to the disqualification of thousands of votes received after Nov. 3 .
In their filing to the Supreme Court , attorneys R. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns that the federal challenge before the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals might not be resolved by Election Day , making it “ practically impossible ” to identify ballots arriving after Tuesday unless they are kept separate , the Star Tribune reported .
The extended deadline was part of an earlier court-approved agreement that Secretary of State Steve Simon had reached with a citizens group allowing ballots to be counted as late as Nov. 10 , as long as they are postmarked by Election Day .
The Republican campaigns are asking that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : those received before the regular deadline of 8 p.m. on Tuesday , those received after the regular deadline but before 8 p.m. on Nov. 10 , and those received after the extended deadline .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The campaigns for President Donald Trump and Republican state legislative candidates are petitioning the Minnesota Supreme Court to separate all mailed ballots received after Election Day in case of legal challenges to their validity.
The petition filed Wednesday is the latest challenge to Minnesota’s seven-day extension for absentee ballots. It comes a day after a federal appeals court panel heard arguments on whether leaving the extension intact could lead to the disqualification of thousands of votes received after Nov. 3.
In their filing to the Supreme Court, attorneys R. Reid LeBeau II and Benjamin Pachito raise concerns that the federal challenge before the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals might not be resolved by Election Day, making it “practically impossible” to identify ballots arriving after Tuesday unless they are kept separate, the Star Tribune reported.
The extended deadline was part of an earlier court-approved agreement that Secretary of State Steve Simon had reached with a citizens group allowing ballots to be counted as late as Nov. 10, as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
The Republican campaigns are asking that mail-in ballots be separated into three groups: those received before the regular deadline of 8 p.m. on Tuesday, those received after the regular deadline but before 8 p.m. on Nov. 10, and those received after the extended deadline.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--Chesapeake Bay's dead zone is smallest it's been in years

SALISBURY , Md .
( AP ) - Researchers say that the Chesapeake Bay ’ s infamous dead zone is @ @ @ @ @ been in years .
The so-called dead zone is an area where oxygen levels are @ @ @ @ @ dies .
The area is caused by pollution , often from runoff from farms and @ @ @ @ @ s watershed .
The Daily Times of Salisbury reported Wednesday that the dead zone is @ @ @ @ @ and Virginia sides of the Chesapeake .
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources found that @ @ @ @ @ dissolved oxygen conditions were the second best on record since 1985 .
The only year @ @ @ @ @ was smaller was in 2012 .
Researchers at the Virginia Institute for Marine Science said @ @ @ @ @ was smaller than most over the last 35 years .
Beth McGee , director of @ @ @ @ @ Foundation , said the smaller dead zone is proof that years-long cleanup efforts are working @ @ @ @ @ the amount of runoff and treated sewage that flows into the watershed .

SALISBURY, Md. (AP) - Researchers say that the Chesapeake Bay’s infamous dead zone is the smallest it’s been in years.
The so-called dead zone is an area where oxygen levels are so low that aquatic life dies. The area is caused by pollution, often from runoff from farms and cities in the bay’s watershed.
The Daily Times of Salisbury reported Wednesday that the dead zone is smaller in both the Maryland and Virginia sides of the Chesapeake.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources found that the bay’s average dissolved oxygen conditions were the second best on record since 1985. The only year in which the dead zone was smaller was in 2012.
Researchers at the Virginia Institute for Marine Science said the dead zone in 2020 was smaller than most over the last 35 years.
Beth McGee, director of science at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said the smaller dead zone is proof that years-long cleanup efforts are working. Those efforts include reducing the amount of runoff and treated sewage that flows into the watershed.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--Man, shot killed in Franklin early Thursday morning

FRANKLIN , Mass .
( AP ) - A 26-year-old man was fatally shot in the chest in Franklin early @ @ @ @ @ .
Officers responding to a 911 call at about 12:45 a.m. found the victim with @ @ @ @ @ chest at a home in town , according to a statement from the office of @ @ @ @ @ .
Police officers and firefighters provided first aid to the man on the scene , @ @ @ @ @ Milford Regional Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead at 1:50 a.m. , according @ @ @ @ @ victim ’ s name was not released pending notification of his family .

FRANKLIN, Mass. (AP) - A 26-year-old man was fatally shot in Franklin early Thursday morning, the town’s first homicide in more than 20 years, authorities said.
Officers responding to a 911 call at about 12:45 a.m. found the victim with a gunshot wound to the chest at a home in town, according to a statement from the office of Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey.
Police officers and firefighters provided first aid to the man on the scene, before he was taken to Milford Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:50 a.m., according to the statement.
He was identified by authorities as DeAndre Akeem Scott, of Attleboro.
“This was not a random act. The parties appear to be known to each other,” Morrissey said.
No arrests were announced.
“This is the first incident of this type in Franklin since 1997,” police Chief Thomas Lynch said. He said there is no threat to the public.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--Monsignor dies of COVID-19 complications in Jamestown

FARGO , N.D. ( AP ) - The Diocese of Fargo says a Catholic church leader has died of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Jeffrey Wald , pastor of St. James Basilica in Jamestown , St. Mathias Church in @ @ @ @ @ Church in Buchanan , died Tuesday at a Jamestown hospital , Bishop John Folda said @ @ @ @ @ “ Monsignor Wald was a kind shepherd and gifted speaker , a champion for Catholic @ @ @ @ @ sorely missed by me , his brother priests , his parishioners and the faithful of @ @ @ @ @ loved him , ” said Bishop Folda .
“ My prayers go out to his @ @ @ @ @ at this tragic loss.
” Wald was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Fargo @ @ @ @ @ to his most recent parishes , Wald served at parishes in Grand Forks , Fingal @ @ @ @ @ Devils Lake , Starkweather and Fargo , as well as at Cardinal Muench Seminary in @ @ @ @ @ , Bishop Folda tested positive for COVID-19 , but has since recovered .

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The Diocese of Fargo says a Catholic church leader has died of coronavirus complications in Jamestown.
Monsignor Jeffrey Wald, pastor of St. James Basilica in Jamestown, St. Mathias Church in Windsor and St. Margaret Mary Church in Buchanan, died Tuesday at a Jamestown hospital, Bishop John Folda said. He was 56.
“Monsignor Wald was a kind shepherd and gifted speaker, a champion for Catholic education, and will be sorely missed by me, his brother priests, his parishioners and the faithful of the diocese who knew and loved him,” said Bishop Folda. “My prayers go out to his family, friends and parishioners at this tragic loss.”
Wald was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Fargo in 1992.
In addition to his most recent parishes, Wald served at parishes in Grand Forks, Fingal, Oriska, Crary, Devils Lake, Starkweather and Fargo, as well as at Cardinal Muench Seminary in Fargo.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Earlier this month, Bishop Folda tested positive for COVID-19, but has since recovered.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--Tanzania's opposition says vote 'spit in face of democracy'

NAIROBI , Kenya ( AP ) - Tanzania ’ s leading opposition candidate on Thursday rejected Wednesday ’ s presidential vote after alleging widespread irregularities , saying that whatever happened wasn ’ t an election and was like “ spitting in the face of democracy.
” The other main opposition party said one of its top candidates was arrested again .
Many across Africa have watched in dismay at what they ’ ve described as Tanzania ’ s abandonment of its long reputation for democratic ideals under populist President John Magufuli .
He leads in early results as he seeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tundu Lissu of the CHADEMA party also appeared to warn of unrest : “ Those in power are telling Tanzanians , ‘ If you want change , look for it another way , not through the ballot box , ’ ” he told reporters .
“ The message they are sending is , ‘ Use force if you can … We won ’ t let you win through democracy.
” He added , however , that unlike the government , “ we do not have the instruments of violence , ” and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also urged international condemnation of the election process .
Lissu , who survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and returned from exile this year , said he won ’ t accept the election results , asserting that thousands of observers were turned away from polling stations and those who managed to enter were not given official data .
The other top opposition party , ACT Wazalendo , announced that its presidential candidate in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar , Seif Sharif Hamad , was arrested Thursday for the second time in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members .
Police did not immediately comment but confirmed at least 70 arrests in the past two days in election-related incidents .
Streets into Zanzibar ’ s main city , Stone Town , were blocked .
“ Tanzania in full blown one party dictatorship .
We shall resist this , ” ACT Wazalendo chair Zitto Kabwe tweeted , later alleging that one of the arrested party members was badly beaten .
“ I ask the international community NOT to recognize this Tanzanian election.
” The East African nation ’ s electoral commission has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Africa ’ s most populous countries and fastest-growing economies .
Election results could be announced Friday .
The commission released results for 18 out of 264 constituencies , showing Magufuli with the early lead .
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party , in power since independence in 1961 , has won a majority of seats in the legislative assembly .
The CHADEMA opposition party chair , Freeman Mbowe , lost his seat .
Some Magufuli critics have expressed concerns that if the ruling party wins enough seats in parliament , the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extend the two-term limit .
The election turnout appeared to be below 50 % , according to the early figures .
Some 29 million people registered to vote .
Magufuli has been widely criticized for repressive measures against dissenting voices , including a ban on opposition political gatherings in 2016 and the targeting of media outlets .
Opposition figures ahead of the vote were arrested , blocked from traveling to rallies or even disqualified .
“ Tanzania championed freedoms and the independence of the continent , including leading the formation of the African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a sense of prestige and pride , ” Deprose Muchena with Human Rights Watch told a briefing Thursday .
“ Today , all those ideals are being contested.
” He said Tanzania instead was joining the ranks of countries like Zimbabwe .
Tanzania Elections Watch , a regional group of eminent persons , expressed concerns about the credibility and conduct of the election , noting deadly violence on the eve of the vote in Zanzibar , a massive disruption in internet and text messaging services and the reported arrests of other candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Tanzania the announcement made by the National Electoral Commission is final , ” the group ’ s co-chair Frederick Ssempebwa told a briefing , as results can not be challenged in court .
“ There is no avenue for the aggrieved parties to air their views.
” The declaration of results could trigger a wave of instability , Ssempebwa said .

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - Whatever happened on Wednesday wasn’t an election and was like “spitting in the face of democracy,” Tanzania’s leading opposition candidate said Thursday, while the United States noted “credible allegations of significant election-related fraud and intimidation.” The other main opposition party said several leaders were arrested after calling for protests, and one was badly beaten.
Many across Africa have watched in dismay at what they’ve described as Tanzania’s abandonment of its reputation of democratic ideals under populist President John Magufuli. He leads in early results as he seeks a second five-year term.
As the ruling party was winning an overwhelming majority of parliamentary seats, and the leaders of both top opposition parties lost theirs, the U.S. said “irregularities and the overwhelming margins of victory raise serious doubts about the credibility of the results announced today.” It noted widespread blocking of social media, repeat voting and pre-filling of ballots.
“Those in power are telling Tanzanians, ‘If you want change, look for it another way, not through the ballot box,’” leading opposition candidate Tundu Lissu of the CHADEMA party told reporters. “The message they are sending is, ‘Use force if you can … We won’t let you win through democracy.” But he called for protests by democratic means.
Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and returned from exile this year, asserted that thousands of observers were turned away from polling stations.
The other top opposition party, ACT Wazalendo, said its presidential candidate in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, Seif Sharif Hamad, was arrested for the second time this week, along with other party leaders, and that party official Ismail Jussa was “severely beaten” by soldiers.
The U.S. ambassador, Donald J. Wright, said Hamad should be released immediately, tweeting that “Detaining opposition leaders is not the act of a government confident in its electoral victory.”
Hamad was later released.
Zanzibar’s electoral commission said Hamad finished second with just 19% of the vote, while the ruling party candidate won with 76%. The commission didn’t comment on the arrests. Police also didn’t comment but confirmed at least 70 arrests in the past two days in election-related incidents. Streets into Zanzibar’s main city, Stone Town, were blocked.
“Tanzania in full blown one party dictatorship. We shall resist this,” ACT Wazalendo chair Zitto Kabwe tweeted. “I ask the international community NOT to recognize this Tanzanian election.”
But at the United Nations, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: “Look, we don’t have a mandate to assess these elections, right? We’re not electoral observers. Assessing the quality of these elections is the job of election observers.” He called it “very important that the people wait calmly, that all sides avoid any violence.”
Few international observers were present for Tanzania’s election, however, with some like the European Union not invited, unlike in previous years.
The East African nation’s electoral commission has denied allegations of voting irregularities in one of Africa’s most populous countries and fastest-growing economies.
Final election results could be announced Friday.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, in power since independence in 1961, won 51 of the 52 parliament seats for which counting had been completed. The CHADEMA opposition party chair, Freeman Mbowe, lost his seat, as did Kabwe of ACT Wazalendo.
Some Magufuli critics have expressed concerns that if the ruling party wins two-thirds of parliament seats, the president might try to change the constitution to extend the presidency’s two-term limit.
The election turnout appeared to be below 50%, according to the early figures. Some 29 million people registered to vote.
Magufuli has been widely criticized for repressive measures against dissenting voices, including a ban on opposition political gatherings in 2016 and the targeting of media outlets. Opposition figures ahead of the vote were arrested, blocked from traveling to rallies or even disqualified.
“Tanzania championed freedoms and the independence of the continent, including leading the formation of the African Union … many people look at Tanzania for a sense of prestige and pride,” Deprose Muchena with Human Rights Watch told a briefing Thursday. “Today, all those ideals are being contested.”
He said Tanzania instead was joining the ranks of countries like Zimbabwe.
Tanzania Elections Watch, a regional group of eminent persons, expressed concerns about the credibility and conduct of the election, noting deadly violence on the eve of the vote in Zanzibar, a massive disruption in internet and text messaging services and the reported arrests of other candidates on election day.
“Unfortunately, in Tanzania the announcement made by the National Electoral Commission is final,” the group’s co-chair Frederick Ssempebwa told a briefing, as results cannot be challenged in court. “There is no avenue for the aggrieved parties to air their views.”
The declaration of results could trigger a wave of instability, Ssempebwa said.
Tanzanian lawyer and Magufuli critic Fatma Karume, whose recent suspension from practicing law caused an outcry among legal experts, tweeted that Thursday was the president’s birthday. “He is going to get the present he has always wanted: No opposition in #Tanzania,” she said.
___
Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--Shell shareholders get reward as oil giant returns to profit

LONDON ( AP ) - Royal Dutch Shell increased its dividend payout to shareholders following a better-than-expected third quarter of the year , months after cutting it for the first time since World War II .
The oil giant , which is trying to transform itself into a carbon-neutral energy company , said Thursday that it was planning to increase its dividend by 4 % to 16.65 U.S. cents per share for the third quarter .
“ The strength of our performance gives us the confidence to lay out our strategic direction , resume dividend growth and to provide clarity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear parameters to increase shareholder distributions , ” Chief Executive Ben van Beurden said .
The dividend hike came as the company reported earnings on a current cost of supply basis - the industry standard - of $ 177 million in the July to September period .
Though down 97 % on last year because of the sharp slide in oil prices , the company ’ s earnings still beat the consensus in financial markets of $ 146 million .
It ’ s certainly a sharp improvement on the performance in the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss of $ 18.4 billion after it was forced to reassess how much the oil it had in untapped reserves would sell for .
“ On the face of it , there is a positive direction of travel here that should go some way towards assuaging concerns about Shell ’ s long-term direction of travel , ” said Stuart Lamont , investment manager at Brewin Dolphin .
Like others in the sector , Shell has faced a double challenge this year , dealing with plunging oil prices , some of which turned negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and increased pressure to set new environmental goals .
Shell and its U.K. rival BP have pledged to lower emissions to net zero by the middle of the century .
“ Undoubtedly , we are moving towards a renewable future , ” said David Kimberley , an analyst at Freetrade .
“ But this is not going to happen overnight and claims that the pandemic has accelerated this process seem misplaced and overly optimistic .
”

LONDON (AP) - Royal Dutch Shell increased its dividend payout to shareholders following a better-than-expected third quarter of the year, months after cutting it for the first time since World War II.
The oil giant, which is trying to transform itself into a carbon-neutral energy company, said Thursday that it was planning to increase its dividend by 4% to 16.65 U.S. cents per share for the third quarter.
“The strength of our performance gives us the confidence to lay out our strategic direction, resume dividend growth and to provide clarity on the cash allocation framework, with clear parameters to increase shareholder distributions,” Chief Executive Ben van Beurden said.
The dividend hike came as the company reported earnings on a current cost of supply basis - the industry standard - of $177 million in the July to September period.
Though down 97% on last year because of the sharp slide in oil prices, the company’s earnings still beat the consensus in financial markets of $146 million.
It’s certainly a sharp improvement on the performance in the second quarter when the company reported a massive loss of $18.4 billion after it was forced to reassess how much the oil it had in untapped reserves would sell for.
“On the face of it, there is a positive direction of travel here that should go some way towards assuaging concerns about Shell’s long-term direction of travel,” said Stuart Lamont, investment manager at Brewin Dolphin.
Like others in the sector, Shell has faced a double challenge this year, dealing with plunging oil prices, some of which turned negative for a short while in April, and increased pressure to set new environmental goals.
Shell and its U.K. rival BP have pledged to lower emissions to net zero by the middle of the century.
“Undoubtedly, we are moving towards a renewable future,” said David Kimberley, an analyst at Freetrade.
“But this is not going to happen overnight and claims that the pandemic has accelerated this process seem misplaced and overly optimistic.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--Judge grants 9-month delay to Meghan's lawsuit against paper

LONDON ( AP ) - A British judge on Thursday granted a request by the Duchess of Sussex to postpone the trial of her invasion of privacy lawsuit against the publisher of a British newspaper that published portions of a private letter she wrote to her father .
During a hearing in London , judge Mark Warby granted the application to delay the trial for around nine months , from a scheduled Jan. 11 start date to the fall of 2021 .
The exact date will be set later .
The decision followed a hearing held in private , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request should remain confidential .
The former Meghan Markle , 39 , is suing Associated Newspapers over five February 2019 articles in the Mail on Sunday and on the MailOnline website that published portions of a handwritten letter she wrote to her estranged father , Thomas Markle , after her marriage to Britain ’ s Prince Harry .
Associated Newspapers is contesting the claim at the High Court in London .
Markle , an American actress and star of TV legal drama “ Suits , ” married Harry , one of the grandsons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lavish ceremony at Windsor Castle in May 2018 .
Their son , Archie , was born the following year .
Early this year , the couple announced they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America , citing what they said was the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media .
They recently bought a house in Santa Barbara , California .

LONDON (AP) - A British judge on Thursday granted a request by the Duchess of Sussex to postpone the trial of her privacy lawsuit against a British newspaper publisher, and said the reason for the delay should remain secret.
During a hearing in London, judge Mark Warby granted the application to delay the trial for around nine months, from a scheduled Jan. 11 start date to October or November 2021. The exact date will be set later.
The decision followed a hearing held in private, and Warby said the reason for the delay request should be kept confidential.
The former Meghan Markle, 39, is suing Associated Newspapers for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement over five February 2019 articles in the Mail on Sunday and on the MailOnline website that published portions of a handwritten letter she wrote to her estranged father, Thomas Markle, after her marriage to Britain’s Prince Harry.
Associated Newspapers is contesting the claim at the High Court in London. The publisher did not resist the application to delay, but said the case was causing anxiety to 76-year-old Thomas Markle, who has health problems but intends to come to London to testify at the trial.
“He continues to feel that he has been misrepresented and that the claimant should not be pursuing this claim,” the publisher’s group editorial legal director, Liz Hartley, said in a written witness statement.
“He is anxious that he should have his day in court so that he can tell the truth in public, have his evidence tested under cross-examination and defend himself against the suggestion that he breached the claimant’s privacy without any reasonable justification.”
Markle, an American actress and star of TV legal drama “Suits,” married Harry, one of the grandsons of Queen Elizabeth II, in a lavish ceremony at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Their son, Archie, was born the following year.
Early this year, the couple announced they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said was the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media. They recently bought a house in Santa Barbara, California.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--US jobless claims aid fall to 751,000, virus resurges

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 751,000 , the lowest since March , but it ’ s still historically high and indicates the viral pandemic is forcing many employers to cut jobs .
Applications for unemployment aid fell 40,000 from the previous week , the Labor Department said Thursday .
They fell in 30 states , including big drops in California , Florida and Texas .
Claims rose in Arizona , Illinois , and Michican .
Rising confirmed virus cases in nearly every state , along with a cutoff in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy in the coming months .
As temperatures fall , restaurants and bars will likely serve fewer customers outdoors .
And many consumers may increasingly stay home to avoid infection .
Those trends could force employers to slash more jobs during the winter .
The seven-day rolling average for confirmed new cases in the U.S. soared over the past two weeks from 51,161 to 71,832 , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
The government said Thursday that the economy expanded at a record 33 % annual rate in the July-September quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after an epic collapse in the spring , when the economy shrank at a 31.4 % annual rate .
Yet the increase recovers only about two-thirds of what was lost to the pandemic .
And growth is believed to be slowing sharply in the final three months of the year to a roughly 3 % annual rate .
With Congress having failed to agree on any further stimulus this year , millions of unemployed Americans who will lose all their jobless benefits in the coming weeks and months will likely pull back further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loans from the government , many small companies will also go out of business .
Thursday ’ s report from the Labor Department said the number of people who are continuing to receive unemployment benefits fell more than 700,000 to 7.76 million .
The decline shows that some of the unemployed are being recalled to their old jobs or are finding new ones .
But it also indicates that many jobless Americans have used up their state unemployment aid - which typically expires after six months - and have transitioned to a federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 weeks .
The still-elevated number of jobless claims underscores that a full recovery from the pandemic recession remains far off .
Job growth has slowed for three straight months , leaving the economy still 10.7 million jobs short of its pre-pandemic level .
The unemployment rate remains high at 7.9 % .
Layoffs have continued at some large companies .
Boeing said Wednesday that it will now cut 30,000 jobs by the end of next year , almost one-fifth of its entire workforce , up from an earlier announcement that it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have emerged as bright spots in the economy and have helped strengthen U.S. manufacturing .
But the pandemic recession , unlike previous downturns , has done much more harm to in-person services and cost the jobs of millions of workers at restaurants , bars , gyms , and theaters .
Those businesses have suffered from government shutdown orders , some of which might now be revived as the virus resurges .
Even without shutdowns , the reluctance of many people to travel , shop or dine out for fear of contracting the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industries .
In a sign of caution , Americans boosted their savings over the summer , banking a big chunk of the $ 1,200 checks that had gone to most individuals and a now-expired $ 600-a-week federal jobless benefit .
Both were contained in a $ 2 trillion stimulus package that Congress approved in the spring .
Some research suggests that by September , unemployed Americans had spent about two-thirds of what they had saved .
If so , the jobless will likely cut their spending in the coming months and weaken growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy .
Consumer confidence slipped in October after having risen sharply in September .
The outlook for the economy over the next six months fell particularly hard , according to the Conference Board , a business research group .
With roughly 20 million Americans unemployed , the pandemic recession is still causing hardship for many families .
One-quarter of all adults say their family ’ s financial condition worsened in September compared with February , before the pandemic , according to a survey by the Urban Institute .
One in seven say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has lost a job during the downturn .

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 751,000, the lowest since March, but it’s still historically high and indicates the viral pandemic is forcing many employers to cut jobs.
Applications for unemployment aid fell 40,000 from the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. They fell in 30 states, including big drops in California, Florida and Texas. Claims rose significantly in Arizona, Illinois, and Michigan.
Rising confirmed virus cases in nearly every state, along with a cutoff in federal aid, are threatening to weaken the economy in the coming months. As temperatures fall, restaurants and bars will likely serve fewer customers outdoors. And many consumers may increasingly stay home to avoid infection. Those trends could force employers to slash more jobs during the winter.
The seven-day rolling average for confirmed new cases in the U.S. soared over the past two weeks from 51,161 to 71,832, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
The government said Thursday that the economy expanded at a record 33% annual rate in the July-September quarter. That’s a sharp rebound after an epic collapse in the spring, when the economy shrank at a 31.4% annual rate. Yet the increase recovers only about two-thirds of what was lost to the pandemic. And growth is believed to be slowing sharply in the final three months of the year to a roughly 3% annual rate.
With Congress having failed to agree on any further stimulus this year, millions of unemployed Americans who will lose all their jobless benefits in the coming weeks and months will likely pull back further on spending. Without another round of loans from the government, many small companies will also go out of business.
Thursday’s report from the Labor Department said the number of people who are continuing to receive unemployment benefits fell more than 700,000 to 7.76 million. The decline shows that some of the unemployed are being recalled to their old jobs or are finding new ones. But it also indicates that many jobless Americans have used up their state unemployment aid - which typically expires after six months - and have transitioned to a federal extended benefits program that lasts an additional 13 weeks.
The still-elevated number of jobless claims underscores that a full recovery from the pandemic recession remains far off. Job growth has slowed for three straight months, leaving the economy still 10.7 million jobs short of its pre-pandemic level. The unemployment rate remains high at 7.9%.
Layoffs have continued at some large companies. Boeing said Wednesday that it will now cut 30,000 jobs by the end of next year, almost one-fifth of its entire workforce, up from an earlier announcement that it would shed 19,000.
Home and auto sales have emerged as bright spots in the economy and have helped strengthen U.S. manufacturing. But the pandemic recession, unlike previous downturns, has done much more harm to in-person services and cost the jobs of millions of workers at restaurants, bars, gyms, and theaters.
Those businesses have suffered from government shutdown orders, some of which might now be revived as the virus resurges. Even without shutdowns, the reluctance of many people to travel, shop or dine out for fear of contracting the virus has compounded the difficulties for face-to-face service industries.
In a sign of caution, Americans boosted their savings over the summer, banking a big chunk of the $1,200 checks that had gone to most individuals and a now-expired $600-a-week federal jobless benefit. Both were contained in a $2 trillion stimulus package that Congress approved in the spring.
Some research suggests that by September, unemployed Americans had spent about two-thirds of what they had saved. If so, the jobless will likely cut their spending in the coming months and weaken growth.
Americans are already showing concern about the economy. Consumer confidence slipped in October after having risen sharply in September. The outlook for the economy over the next six months fell particularly hard, according to the Conference Board, a business research group.
With roughly 20 million Americans unemployed, the pandemic recession is still causing hardship for many families. One-quarter of all adults say their family’s financial condition worsened in September compared with February, before the pandemic, according to a survey by the Urban Institute. One in seven say that they or a spouse or partner has lost a job during the downturn.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--The Latest: Merkel condemns Nice attack, vigil planned

PARIS ( AP ) - The Latest on a knife attack in Nice , France , ( all times local ) : The European Union ’ s top officials have strongly condemned the knife attack in Nice and expressed their support to France , a founding member of the 27-nation bloc .
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , the head of the EU ’ s executive arm , said the whole of Europe stands behind France , “ determined in the face of barbarism and fanaticism.
” EU Council president Charles Michel , who chairs the meetings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed his “ solidarity with France and the French ” in a message posted on Twitter .
“ My thoughts are with the victims of the heinous attack on Nice and their loved ones .
All of Europe is with you , ” Michel wrote .
EU leaders were expected to meet later Thursday during a video conference .
The Elysee press service said French President Emmanuel Macron was still planning to attend the meeting despite a planned trip to Nice in the afternoon .
The energy-rich country of Qatar has offered its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack in France .
The country ’ s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that it wanted to reiterate “ Qatar ’ s firm position on rejecting violence and terrorism , regardless of the motives and reason.
” Many Muslims are marking Thursday as the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad .
A top Emirati diplomat , Anwar Gargash , has tweeted noting the Prophet ’ s birthday and saying that “ we affirm that the speech of violence and extremism does not represent us.
” Turkey has condemned the attack in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomatic tensions between the two countries .
“ We stand in solidarity with the people of France against terror and violence , ” a Turkish foreign ministry statement said , while strongly condemning the attack .
Turkey ’ s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin tweeted in Turkish and French , expressing his condolences .
“ We will fight all kinds of terror and extremism with determination and in solidarity , ” he said .
Relations between Turkey and France have been tense in recent months over Syria , Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday accused his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron of Islamophobia and questioned his mental health , prompting Paris to recall its ambassador to Turkey for consultations .
Erdogan ’ s criticism came after French President Emmanuel Macron ’ s firm stance against Islamism following the beheading of a teacher who showed caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad for a class lesson on free speech .
Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod has condemned the deadly attack at the Notre Dame Basilica in Nice and said on Twitter that “ Denmark stands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and allies.
” The Foreign Ministry quickly warned on Twitter that Danes in Nice should “ avoid the area around the church ” and follow local authorities ’ news updates .
Across the Baltic Sea , Lithuanian Foreign Minister wrote on Twitter in French that “ terrorism will never win over European values and our unity.
” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has expressed solidarity with France in a tweet sent in French and Dutch following the Nice church attack .
“ For the second time in a short time , France is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this time in Nice .
Our thoughts go out to the next of kin .
And we say to the French people : you are not alone in the fight against extremism .
The Netherlands is next to you , ” Rutte tweeted .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is “ appalled ” by the “ barbaric attack ” at the Notre Dame Basilica in Nice .
“ Our thoughts are with the victims and their families , and the U.K. stands steadfastly with France against terror and intolerance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in both French and English .
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the U.K. “ stands with France today in sorrow , shock and solidarity.
” “ Our thoughts are with the victims and their families and we offer every support to the French people in pursuing those responsible for this appalling attack , ” he said in a statement .
Officials across the political spectrum in Germany have condemned the attack in the southern French city of Nice , with some calling for a solidarity rally outside the French embassy .
Chancellor Angela @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the terrible murders in a church in Nice , ” adding that her thoughts were with the relatives and those injured .
She added : “ The French nation has Germany ’ s solidarity in these difficult hours.
” An attacker armed with a knife killed three people in the southern French coastal city Thursday .
German Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht said in a statement that she was “ shocked at the news of another terrible crime in France ” and expressed her sympathy to the victims .
She added that if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamist terror attack , then it would be “ an attack on our way of life and our core values.
” Social Democratic lawmaker Konstantin Kuhle called for people to gather for a minute ’ s silence later Thursday to commemorate recent victims of attacks in Paris , Dresden and Nice .
His call was backed by Berlin state official Sawsan Chebli , who encouraged fellow Muslims to participate and send a signal against what she described as “ those Islamist monsters.
” France ’ s prime minister says the country is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three people at Nice ’ s Notre Dame Basilica .
A man armed with a knife attacked two women and a man at the church Thursday morning , before he was shot by police .
As he lay wounded , the Nice mayor said the attacker repeated “ Allah Akbar ” over and over .
French authorities have opened a terrorism investigation .
Prime Minister Jean Castex told French lawmakers that the country would raise its alert level to “ emergency ” in response to the attack , which comes during high tensions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prophet Muhammad in the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo .
The announcement came hours before France was to go into a one-month coronavirus lockdown .
Thursday ’ s attack was the third since a terrorism trial opened in the January 2015 attacks against Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket .
Pope Francis is praying for the victims of the knife attack at a Roman Catholic basilica in the southern French city of Nice and for an end to all “ terrorist ” violence .
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni says Francis was informed about Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Basilica and expressed his solidarity with the Catholic community in France .
In a statement , Bruni said the attack “ sowed death in a place of love and consolation.
” He said Francis was praying for an end to such violence and “ for people to look at each other again as brothers and sisters and not as enemies.
” An attacker armed with a knife killed three people .
It was the third such attack in recent weeks following furor over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that were republished by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed with a knife has killed three people at a church in the southern French city of Nice .
It was the third attack in two months in France amid a growing furor over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that were republished by the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo .
Other confrontations and attacks were reported Thursday in the southern city of Avignon and in the Saudi city of Jiddah , but it was not immediately clear if they were linked to the attack in Nice .
Thursday ’ s assailant in Nice was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killings at the Notre Dame Basilica , less than a kilometer ( half-mile ) from the site in 2016 where another attacker plowed a truck into a Bastille Day crowd , killing dozens of people .

PARIS (AP) - The Latest on a knife attack in Nice, France, (all times local):
10:25 p.m.
France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor says the Nice attacker, who was born in 1999, was not on the radar of intelligence agencies as a potential threat.
Jean-Francois Ricard detailed the gruesome scene inside the church where a man and woman were killed by the attacker Thursday. The third victim, a 44-year-old woman who managed to flee, died at a nearby restaurant.
A 60-year-old woman whose body was found at the entry of the church, suffered “a very deep throat slitting, like a decapitation,” Ricard said. The 55-year-old man also died after deep cuts to his throat.
An investigation was opened for murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise, a common term for such crimes.
A Muslim holy book and two telephones were among the things found on the attacker. Also found was the knife used in the attack, with a 17-centimeter (6.7-inch) blade, Ricard said. A bag with the attacker’s personal affairs was found to contain another two unused knives.
___
10:20 p.m.
France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor says the man who killed three in a Nice church was a Tunisian aged about 20 who entered France from Italy, and was carrying a copy of Islam’s holy book, the Quran, on him at the time of the attack.
Jean-Francois Ricard told a press conference late Thursday that the man arrived in Italy by reaching the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa on Sept. 20, and traveled to Paris on Oct. 9.
The travel information came from a document on the man from the Italian Red Cross, Ricard said. The attacker was seriously wounded by police, who fired at least 14 bullets at him, and is being treated in a hospital.
___
8:45 p.m.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the attack in Nice.
In a tweet Thursday, Netanyahu said Israel “unites in shock and condemnation of the atrocious attack” at the Notre-Dame Basilica.
“All civilized peoples must stand in full solidarity with France against the scourge of terrorism,” he said. “There can be no justification or equivocation.”
___
8:05 p.m.
Iran’s foreign minister has strongly condemned the deadly knife attack in southern France and called it a “terrorist attack.”
Javad Zarif said in a tweet Thursday: “We strongly condemn today’s terrorist attack in #Nice. This escalating vicious cycle — hate speech, provocations & violence — must be replaced by reason & sanity.”
Zarif also referred to French President Emanuel Macron’s staunch support of secular laws that protect caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad as an exercise in freedom of expression.
Zarif says: “We should recognize that radicalism only breeds more radicalism, and peace cannot be achieved with ugly provocations.”
___
7:50 p.m.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the attack in southern France.
Ministry spokesman Ambassador Dhaifallah Ali al-Fayez on Thursday denounced the “terrorist crime.” He criticized all crimes that “aim to destabilize security and stability and are inconsistent with religious and humanitarian values and principles.”
Al-Fayez expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy for the families of the victims.
___
7:40 p.m.
All EU member states have expressed their solidarity with France following the knife attack that killed tree people in the southern city of Nice.
Leaders from the 27 countries gathered Thursday during a video conference focusing on COVID-19. In a joint statement, they condemned “in the strongest possible terms these attacks which represent attacks on our shared values.”
They added: “We call on Leaders around the world to work towards dialogue and understanding among communities and religions rather than division.”
___
7:20 p.m.
A man shot and killed by police in the French city of Avignon on Thursday claimed allegiance to an anti-immigrant group and had assaulted a merchant of North African descent, authorities said.
The incident came soon after a man shouting “God is great” in Arabic killed three people in a church in the southern city of Nice, prompting fears of copycat attacks.
The man in Avignon had a firearm, and was shot and killed by police after he refused to drop his weapon and a warning shot failed to stop him, according to a national police official.
The official said the man claimed to belong to extreme-right group Generation Identity and had assaulted a local merchant.
Avignon Prosecutor Philippe Guemas told broadcaster France Bleu that the assailant was a 33-year-old born in France “who had nothing to do with the Muslim religion” and appeared to be “psychologically unstable.”
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5:55 p.m.
U.S. President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to express his support for France after a knife-wielding man killed three people in an attack at a church in the southern French city of Nice.
Trump tweeted: “Our hearts are with the people of France. America stands with our oldest Ally in this fight. These Radical Islamic terrorist attacks must stop immediately. No country, France or otherwise can long put up with it!”
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5:20 p.m.
Pakistan’s foreign minister has condemned the killing of three people in a knife attack inside a church in the southern France city of Nice.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi addressed reporters Thursday after leading a rally in Multan to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
He said that Pakistan is “against any such incidents and we condemn violence wherever it happens.”
Qureshi congratulated about 1,000 rallygoers for peacefully expressing their love for the prophet.
Many attendees chanted slogans against France. Earlier Thursday, dozens of Pakistani students rallied in the capital, Islamabad, to denounce the French president’s support of secular laws that protect caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad as freedom of expression.
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5:10 p.m.
Twitter removed a tweet from former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad for glorifying violence but France’s digital minister demanded the company also ban him from its platform.
Cedric O said he told the managing director of Twitter in France that Mahathir’s account “must be immediately suspended,” O tweeted on Thursday. “If not, @twitter would be an accomplice to a formal call for murder.”
Mahathir, 95 and a former Malaysian prime minister, appeared to say the deaths of French people would be justified, in the wake of attacks that French authorities attributed to Muslim extremists.
“Muslims have a right to be angry and to kill millions of people for the massacres of the past,” he said Thursday, in a series of tweets that began with his thoughts on the beheading of a middle school teacher who showed caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad for a class on free speech.
Twitter at first put a label on the tweet saying it glorified violence but left it up because it “may be in the public’s interest.”
The tweet was later removed and replaced with a tag saying it broke the rules. The company said it took action for violating its policy on glorification of violence, which doesn’t allow threats against individuals or a group of people.
Mahathir was twice prime minister, and his second stint lasted from 2018 until he quit in February 2020. He has been viewed as an advocate of moderate Islamic views and a spokesman for the interests of developing countries. But at the same time, he pointedly criticized Western society and nations and their relationships to the Muslim world.
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4:45 p.m.
Somalia’s presidency says it “deeply regrets any violation against the faith and sanctity of the Muslim people, including insults to Prophet Mohammed under the pretext of freedom of speech,” but it does not mention Thursday’s attack at a church in France.
The Horn of Africa nation has seen protests this week after French President Emmanuel Macron defended laws that protect cartoons of the prophet as freedom of speech.
Somalia’s presidency warns that “any act that hurts the feelings of Muslims will serve the interests of extremist groups” and should be avoided at any cost. It urges world leaders to clearly differentiate between freedom of speech and violation of religious beliefs.
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4:40 p.m.
Nordic and Baltic leaders expressed dismay after the attack in the southern French city of Nice where three people were stabbed to death inside a church, with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen saying she was “deeply saddened.”
“Denmark stands shoulder to shoulder with our French friends in this difficult time,” Frederiksen wrote on Twitter.
Her Norwegian counterpart, Erna Solberg, wrote that “we must protect human rights and not be threatened by terrorists.”
“We urge political and religious leaders in the Muslim world to distance themselves from extremism and protect freedom of expression,” Solberg said.
Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid said on Twitter that “acts of terror can never be justified.”
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4:10 p.m.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended his condolences to French President Emmanuel Macron and families of the victims of the attack in Nice. In a telegram quoted by the Kremlin, Putin called the attack “a cynical and a cruel crime inside a church” and said that “the notions of human morals are absolutely alien to terrorists.”
Also on Thursday, several dozen people gathered in front of the French embassy in Moscow, denouncing the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
Asked by reporters whether a newspaper like Charlie Hebdo could exist in Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that it was impossible, pointing out that around 20 million Muslims live in Russia and the country has legislation that outlaws insulting religious beliefs. At the same time Peskov called the killings in Nice “an absolutely horrifying tragedy.”
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3:55 p.m.
French President Emmanuel Macron says he will more than double the number of soldiers deployed in the country to protect against attacks, sending 7,000 to guard schools and religious sites in particular after a man armed with a knife killed three people at a church in Nice.
Macron’s announcement to increase deployments from around 3,000 currently to 7,000 came hours after the attack in the Mediterranean city left two women and a man dead at the Notre Dame basilica. The killings put France on its highest level of alert and come at a time of extreme tension over the republication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad by the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
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3:45 p.m.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades says he was “horrified and saddened” by the deadly knife attack in Nice. Addressing his French counterpart and the people of France, Anastasiades posted on his official Twitter account that Cypriots “share your pain and stand in solidarity with you.”
He said Cyprus stands “united against hatred and terrorism.” “Our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones,” Anastasiades said
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2:55 p.m.
Dozens of Pakistani students have rallied in the capital, Islamabad, to denounce the French president’s support of secular laws that protect caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad as freedom of expression.
The protesters on Thursday held banners and chanted slogans against President Emmanuel Macron, saying Muslims are ready to die to protect the honor of Islam’s prophet.
The rally came on the day an attacker armed with a knife killed three people inside a church in the French city of Nice.
Authorities deployed police to prevent demonstrators from marching toward the French Embassy and the protesters eventually dispersed peacefully.
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2:45 p.m.
Saudi Arabia, the scene of an attack on a guard at the French Consulate in Jiddah on Thursday, has condemned the knife attack at the Notre Dame Basilica in Nice that left three people dead. Its Foreign Affairs ministry tweeted that it condemned the attack and also offered condolences for victims of the attack.
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2:40 p.m.
Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri posted on Twitter “the strongest condemnation” of the attack in Notre Dame Church in Nice, calling it a heinous crime. “Terrorism has no religion, and all Muslims are called on to reject this criminal act that is not related to Islam or to the prophet of love,” he wrote.
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2:35 p.m.
The European Union’s top officials have strongly condemned the knife attack in Nice and expressed their support to France, a founding member of the 27-nation bloc.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU’s executive arm, said the whole of Europe stands behind France, “determined in the face of barbarism and fanaticism.”
EU Council president Charles Michel, who chairs the meetings of the EU’s 27 leaders, expressed his “solidarity with France and the French” in a message posted on Twitter.
“My thoughts are with the victims of the heinous attack on Nice and their loved ones. All of Europe is with you,” Michel wrote.
EU leaders were expected to meet later Thursday during a video conference. The Elysee press service said French President Emmanuel Macron was still planning to attend the meeting despite a planned trip to Nice in the afternoon.
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2:30 p.m.
The energy-rich country of Qatar has offered its “strong condemnation and denunciation” of the attack in France.
The country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that it wanted to reiterate “Qatar’s firm position on rejecting violence and terrorism, regardless of the motives and reason.”
Many Muslims are marking Thursday as the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
A top Emirati diplomat, Anwar Gargash, has tweeted noting the Prophet’s birthday and saying that “we affirm that the speech of violence and extremism does not represent us.”
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2:10 p.m.
Turkey has condemned the attack in Notre Dame Basilica in Nice amid heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of France against terror and violence,” a Turkish foreign ministry statement said, while strongly condemning the attack.
Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin tweeted in Turkish and French, expressing his condolences. “We will fight all kinds of terror and extremism with determination and in solidarity,” he said.
Relations between Turkey and France have been tense in recent months over Syria, Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean. They hit a new low after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday accused his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron of Islamophobia and questioned his mental health, prompting Paris to recall its ambassador to Turkey for consultations.
Erdogan’s criticism came after French President Emmanuel Macron’s firm stance against Islamism following the beheading of a teacher who showed caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad for a class lesson on free speech.
1:55 p.m.
Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod has condemned the deadly attack at the Notre Dame Basilica in Nice and said on Twitter that “Denmark stands shoulder to shoulder with our French friends and allies.”
The Foreign Ministry quickly warned on Twitter that Danes in Nice should “avoid the area around the church” and follow local authorities’ news updates.
Across the Baltic Sea, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius wrote on Twitter in French that “terrorism will never win over European values and our unity.”
___
1:50 p.m.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has expressed solidarity with France in a tweet sent in French and Dutch following the Nice church attack.
“For the second time in a short time, France is startled by a gruesome act of terrorism, this time in Nice. Our thoughts go out to the next of kin. And we say to the French people: you are not alone in the fight against extremism. The Netherlands is next to you,” Rutte tweeted.
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1:47 p.m.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is “appalled” by the “barbaric attack” at the Notre Dame Basilica in Nice.
“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and the U.K. stands steadfastly with France against terror and intolerance,” Johnson said in a tweet sent in both French and English.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the U.K. “stands with France today in sorrow, shock and solidarity.”
“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families and we offer every support to the French people in pursuing those responsible for this appalling attack,” he said in a statement.
1:45 p.m.
Officials across the political spectrum in Germany have condemned the attack in the southern French city of Nice, with some calling for a solidarity rally outside the French embassy.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was “deeply shaken by the terrible murders in a church in Nice,” adding that her thoughts were with the relatives and those injured.
She added: “The French nation has Germany’s solidarity in these difficult hours.”
An attacker armed with a knife killed three people in the southern French coastal city Thursday.
German Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht said in a statement that she was “shocked at the news of another terrible crime in France” and expressed her sympathy to the victims.
She added that if the attack is confirmed to be an Islamist terror attack, then it would be “an attack on our way of life and our core values.”
Free Democratic Party lawmaker Konstantin Kuhle called for people to gather for a minute’s silence later Thursday to commemorate recent victims of attacks in Paris, Dresden and Nice.
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1:30 p.m.
Pope Francis is praying for the victims of the knife attack at a Roman Catholic basilica in the southern French city of Nice and for an end to all “terrorist” violence.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni says Francis was informed about Thursday’s attack at the Notre Dame Basilica and expressed his solidarity with the Catholic community in France.
In a statement, Bruni said the attack “sowed death in a place of love and consolation.”
He said Francis was praying for an end to such violence and “for people to look at each other again as brothers and sisters and not as enemies.”
An attacker armed with a knife killed three people. It was the third such attack in recent weeks following furor over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that were republished by the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
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11:20 a.m.
An attacker armed with a knife has killed three people at a church in the southern French city of Nice.
It was the third attack in two months in France amid a growing furor over caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad that were republished by the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
Other confrontations and attacks were reported Thursday in the southern city of Avignon and in the Saudi city of Jiddah, but it was not immediately clear if they were linked to the attack in Nice.
Thursday’s assailant in Nice was wounded by police and hospitalized after the killings at the Notre Dame Basilica, less than a kilometer (half-mile) from the site in 2016 where another attacker plowed a truck into a Bastille Day crowd, killing dozens of people.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--GDP roared back at record 33.1 percent in third quarter

The U.S. economy rebounded at a record annualized rate of 33.1 percent in the third quarter as employers recovered from coronavirus lockdowns .
The strong report gives President Trump a positive closing argument in the final days of the presidential campaign .
The rebound in gross domestic product came after the economy shrank by a record 31.4 percent in the second quarter .
Tens of millions of workers lost their jobs as businesses were forced to close during the early months of the pandemic .
Wall Street has been showing concerns this week about more economic woes .
The Dow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 3.4 percent , on Wednesday on a surge in COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and Europe , and the failure of Washington to approve another rescue package .
Markets this week had their biggest sell-off since June .
The Trump campaign quickly tweeted after the record GDP report , “ President Trump is making our economy great again !
” “ This record economic growth is absolute validation of President Trump ’ s policies which create jobs and opportunities for Americans in every corner of the country , ” said Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president built the world ’ s best economy once and he ’ s rapidly doing it again , proving that cutting taxes and reducing regulations and red tape clear the way for American ingenuity and our entrepreneurial spirit to thrive.
” Jobless claims also fell by 40,000 to 751,000 last week , the Labor Department reported on Thursday .
Josh Lipsky of the Atlantic Council , who is a former official at the International Monetary Fund , said the GDP report was good , but he also called it “ old news.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the summer as the U.S. emerged from lockdown and consumers spent stimulus funds , ” he said .
“ But with COVID cases rising in the fall combined with Washington ’ s failure to pass more relief , there are already signs the economy is stalling again in Q4 .
The U.S. is now on pace for at least a minus-4 percent contraction in 2020 , making it the worst year for GDP growth since World War II.
” Trump ally Alfredo Ortiz , president and CEO of the Job Creators Network , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million jobs in the past five months .
He said Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden would reverse the recovery .
“ Our small business members are terrified of his record tax hikes , Green New Deal , $ 15 minimum wage , and gradual government takeover of our healthcare system , ” Mr. Ortiz said in a statement .
“ Biden ’ s left-wing agenda would tank our economy and reverse all the progress we ’ ve made since the pandemic peaked .
We are going to need the largest conservative turnout in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosperous society.
” He said his network ’ s “ Keep America America ” campaign is educating voters about the stakes of this election .
“ With five days to go , we are working harder than ever and we will deliver , ” Mr. Ortiz said .
Mr. Murtaugh said the economy has regained more than half of the jobs lost to the global pandemic in less than six months , “ while it took more than two years to regain half of job losses from a recession while Joe Biden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to safely reopen the country , while Biden is the candidate of lockdowns , inviting another economic shutdown which would devastate working people and cause even more health problems above and beyond what the coronavirus has caused , ” he said .
“ Biden ’ s plans for a $ 4 trillion tax increase and Green New Deal regulations on every person , business , building and farm in the nation would kill this recovery while it ’ s already in full swing .
”

The U.S. economy rebounded at a record annualized rate of 33.1 percent in the third quarter as employers recovered from coronavirus lockdowns.
The strong report gives President Trump a positive closing argument in the final days of the presidential campaign.
“So glad this great GDP number came out before November 3rd,” the president tweeted.
The rebound in gross domestic product came after the economy shrank by a record 31.4 percent in the second quarter. Tens of millions of workers lost their jobs as businesses were forced to close during the early months of the pandemic.
Wall Street has been showing concerns this week about more economic woes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 943 points, or 3.4 percent, on Wednesday on a surge in COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and Europe, and the failure of Washington to approve another rescue package. Markets this week had their biggest sell-off since June.
Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden said despite the surge in hiring, Mr. Trump “is on track to be the first president since Herbert Hoover to leave office with fewer jobs than when he came into office.”
“This report underscores three inescapable truths about Donald Trump’s economy: we are in a deep hole and President Trump’s failure to act has meant that Q3 growth wasn’t nearly enough to get us out of; the recovery is slowing if not stalling; and the recovery that is happening is helping those at the top, but leaving tens of millions of working families and small businesses behind,” Mr. Biden said in a statement. “President Trump still has no plan to get our country through this crisis and move us forward.”
The president called it the “Biggest and Best in the History of our Country, and not even close.”
“Next year will be FANTASTIC!!! However, Sleepy Joe Biden and his proposed record setting tax increase, would kill it all,” Mr. Trump posted on Twitter.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the snap-back in the economy is not a “one-time impact.”
“It is a strong, strong recovery,” he said on Fox News.
The Trump campaign quickly tweeted after the record GDP report, “President Trump is making our economy great again!”
“This record economic growth is absolute validation of President Trump’s policies which create jobs and opportunities for Americans in every corner of the country,” said Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh. “The president built the world’s best economy once and he’s rapidly doing it again, proving that cutting taxes and reducing regulations and red tape clear the way for American ingenuity and our entrepreneurial spirit to thrive.”
Jobless claims also fell by 40,000 to 751,000 last week, the Labor Department reported on Thursday.
Josh Lipsky of the Atlantic Council, who is a former official at the International Monetary Fund, said the GDP report was good, but he also called it “old news.”
“The numbers reflect the rebound over the summer as the U.S. emerged from lockdown and consumers spent stimulus funds,” he said. “But with COVID cases rising in the fall combined with Washington’s failure to pass more relief, there are already signs the economy is stalling again in Q4. The U.S. is now on pace for at least a minus-4 percent contraction in 2020, making it the worst year for GDP growth since World War II.”
Trump ally Alfredo Ortiz, president and CEO of the Job Creators Network, noted that businesses created a record 11.2 million jobs in the past five months. He said Mr. Biden would reverse the recovery.
“Our small business members are terrified of his record tax hikes, Green New Deal, $15 minimum wage, and gradual government takeover of our healthcare system,” Mr. Ortiz said in a statement. “Biden’s left-wing agenda would tank our economy and reverse all the progress we’ve made since the pandemic peaked. We are going to need the largest conservative turnout in history to keep America a capitalist and prosperous society.”
He said his network’s “Keep America America” campaign is educating voters about the stakes of this election.
“With five days to go, we are working harder than ever and we will deliver,” Mr. Ortiz said.
Mr. Murtaugh said the economy has regained more than half of the jobs lost to the global pandemic in less than six months, “while it took more than two years to regain half of job losses from a recession while Joe Biden was in charge.”
“President Trump will continue to safely reopen the country, while Biden is the candidate of lockdowns, inviting another economic shutdown which would devastate working people and cause even more health problems above and beyond what the coronavirus has caused,” he said. “Biden’s plans for a $4 trillion tax increase and Green New Deal regulations on every person, business, building and farm in the nation would kill this recovery while it’s already in full swing.”
• Gabriella Muñoz contributed to this story.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--US economy grew at record 33.1% annual rate last quarter in rebound from virus-caused plunge, but re

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - US economy grew at record 33.1 % annual rate last quarter in rebound from virus-caused @ @ @ @ @ incomplete .

WASHINGTON (AP) - US economy grew at record 33.1% annual rate last quarter in rebound from virus-caused plunge, but recovery is incomplete.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-10-29--St. Louis police: Man shoved to ground during fight has died

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - A man who fell and hit his head after being shoved during an argument @ @ @ @ @ , and police are looking for the teen who shoved him .
Mustafa Vedinlic , @ @ @ @ @ hospital on Wednesday , days after he hit his head on the pavement outside a @ @ @ @ @ after he was pushed to the ground , television station KSDK reported .
The fatal @ @ @ @ @ into an argument with an 18-year-old man outside the bar , and the younger man @ @ @ @ @ .
The 18-year-old ran from the scene before police arrived , officials said , and @ @ @ @ @ .

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A man who fell and hit his head after being shoved during an argument over the weekend has died, and police are looking for the teen who shoved him.
Mustafa Vedinlic, 63, died at a hospital on Wednesday, days after he hit his head on the pavement outside a St. Louis bar Saturday night after he was pushed to the ground, television station KSDK reported.
The fatal injury happened after Vedinlic got into an argument with an 18-year-old man outside the bar, and the younger man shoved him, investigators said. The 18-year-old ran from the scene before police arrived, officials said, and police are searching for him.