AP-US-ECONOMY-GDP

US economy slowed to a 2% rate last quarter in face of COVID

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hampered by rising COVID-19 cases and persistent supply shortages, the U.S. economy slowed to a 2% annual rate in the July-September period, the weakest quarterly growth since the pandemic recession erupted early last year. Thursday’s report from the Commerce Department estimated that the nation’s gross domestic product — its total output of goods and services — declined sharply from the 6%-plus annual growth rates of each of the previous two quarters. But now, with confirmed COVID cases declining, vaccination rates rising and more Americans venturing out to spend money, many economists think GDP is bouncing back to a rate of 6% or even better in the current fourth quarter.

AP-US-UNEMPLOYMENT-BENEFITS

US jobless claims drop to pandemic low of 281,000

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to a pandemic low last week, another sign that the job market and economy continue to recover from last year’s coronavirus recession. Jobless claims dropped by 10,000 to 281,000, lowest since mid-March 2020, the Labor Department said Thursday. Since topping 900,000 in early January,  weekly applications have steadily dropped, moving ever closer to prepandemic levels just above 200,000. In all, 2.2 million people were collecting unemployment checks the week of Oct. 16, down from 7.7 million a year earlier. 

BC-US-CONGRESS-BUDGET

Biden to head to Capitol to push agenda, unite Democrats

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is traveling to Capitol Hill to pitch House Democrats on a dramatically scaled back domestic policy package. It’s now $1.75 trillion and without a paid family leave program and other priorities. But it’s still a sweeping proposal with new health care, free-prekindergarten and climate change programs. Later, the president will make remarks at the White House. The president has wanted to announce at least the framework of a deal before departing later Thursday on global summits. Progressive House Democrats want to see the fine print of the big domestic bill before voting on a related infrastructure measure.

AP-EU-EUROPE-ECONOMY

European Central Bank keeps pandemic support going

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank has decided to keep its pandemic stimulus efforts unchanged even as consumer prices spike and central banks in other parts of the world look to dial back support as their economies bounce back from the worst of the COVID-19 outbreak. The decision Thursday affects the 19 European Union countries that use the euro currency and sets up a debate in December about whether and how to end the 1.85 trillion euro stimulus program. The bond purchase program drove down longer-term borrowing costs for businesses as they weathered shutdowns and for governments as they spent more for pandemic support. It is slated to run at least through March 2022.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-RUSSIA

Moscow shuts most workplaces as infections, deaths soar

MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian capital has started a nonworking period intended to stem coronavirus infections as daily cases and deaths from COVID-19 surged to all-time highs. The government coronavirus task force reported 1,159 deaths in 24 hours, Russia’s largest daily toll of the pandemic. To contain the spread, President Vladimir Putin has ordered a nonworking period from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7 when most state organizations and private businesses are to suspend operations. He encouraged the most affected regions to move faster, and Moscow did on Thursday. Kindergartens, schools, gyms, entertainment venues and most stores are closed, and restaurants and cafes only can provide takeout or delivery service. 

AP-VIRUS OUTBREAK

Vaccine reluctance in Eastern Europe brings high COVID cost

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is suffering through a surge in coronavirus infections and deaths, along with other parts of Eastern Europe. While vaccines are plentiful, there is widespread reluctance to get them in many countries. Only about 16% of Ukraine’s 41 million people are fully vaccinated, the second lowest rate in Europe after Armenia. Experts say the slow pace of vaccinations is rooted in a variety of factors, including public distrust of government officials, past experiences with other vaccines, misinformation on social media and some resistance from Orthodox religious figures. Elsewhere, Russia on Thursday reported 1,159 deaths in 24 hours — its largest daily toll since the pandemic began. The Kremlin has ordered a national nonworking period starting this week and lasting until Nov. 7.

AP-EU-BRITAIN-SOCIAL-MEDIA-

Facebook, Google, Twitter face grilling by UK lawmakers

LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers are set to grill Facebook and other tech giants over how they handle online safety as European efforts to regulate social media companies gain momentum. Representatives from Facebook, YouTube, Google, Twitter and TikTok will be questioned Thursday by members of a parliamentary committee scrutinizing the British government’s draft online safety legislation. Governments on both sides of the Atlantic want tougher rules aimed at protecting social media users, especially younger ones, but the United Kingdom’s efforts are much further along. The hearing comes the same week YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat were questioned by a U.S. Senate panel.

BRITAIN-ASSANGE

Lawyer: US promises over Assange extradition not enough

LONDON (AP) — A lawyer defending WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has argued that promises offered by the U.S. government that he would not be subjected to harsh prison conditions if he is extradited to face American justice are not enough to address concerns about his fragile mental health and high risk of suicide. Assange’s lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, said the Australian was too mentally ill to be extradited to the United States to face trial on espionage charges. He spoke during a two-day hearing at Britain’s High Court. The United States government is seeking to overturn an earlier ruling by a lower British court that refused a U.S. request to extradite Assange over WikiLeaks’ publication of secret American military documents a decade ago. 

DAUNTE WRIGHT-OFFICER

Stiffest charge stands for ex-cop who killed Daunte Wright

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge has denied a defense request to dismiss the most serious charge against a former suburban Minneapolis police officer who said she meant to use a Taser instead of a handgun when she fatally shot Black motorist Daunte Wright. Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter will stand trial in Hennepin County on first- and second-degree manslaughter charges in the death of Wright, who was shot after being stopped April 11 for a traffic violation. Potter, who is white, was initially charged with second-degree manslaughter, which requires a finding that she acted with “culpable negligence” in Wright’s death. Prosecutors later added a first-degree manslaughter count against Potter and a judge on Wednesday decided to allow the charge.

AP-US-OFF-DUTY-OFFICER-FATAL-SHOOTING

Jury awards $17M in deadly shooting by off-duty LAPD officer

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A federal jury has awarded $17 million to the parents of a mentally ill man who was shot in a Costco store by an off-duty Los Angeles police officer. The panel in Riverside ruled Wednesday in a lawsuit filed against the city of LA and the former officer for the 2019 killing of Kenneth French. Salvador Sanchez shot French and wounded his parents after the man knocked him down at the Costco store in Corona. Sanchez told investigators that he was holding his infant son and thought he had been shot. He was fired last year and has been charged with manslaughter.

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