Top Stories Today – April 6, 2019
Top Stories Today – April 6, 2019
Less than half of Americans support NATO
A new survey shows that less than half of Americans support the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an alliance originally designed to provide collective security against the Soviet Union, but now focused on Russia and non-state actors such as the Taliban and the Islamic State group. The YouGov survey, released to commemorate the 70th anniversary of NATO, found that only 44 percent of Americans support the United States’ place in the agreement. That was down 3 percentage points from when the survey was conducted in 2017.
The poll also surveyed other NATO countries and found that support for the alliance had decreased significantly in the past two years among key European allies. Support for NATO dropped in Britain from 73 percent to 59 percent, in Germany from 68 percent to 54 percent, and in France from 54 percent to 39 percent. The Voice of America
Judge halts high-capacity magazine sales in California
A federal judge on Friday halted sales of high-capacity ammunition magazines in California, giving state officials a chance to appeal his order last week that allowed their sale for the first time in nearly 20 years. US District Judge Roger Benitez barred further sales until the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals considers whether to reinstate the state’s ban on magazines holding more than 10 bullets.
But the judge said those who bought the extended magazines since his initial order a week ago may keep them without fear of being prosecuted while the appeal proceeds. The Voice of America
Biden jokes about allegations
Former Vice President Joe Biden, after his first public speech since four women came forward to say he had touched them in ways that made them uncomfortable, said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if more allegations soon arose. Speaking to a union group on Friday, Biden also joked about the claims, telling a laughing crowd he “had permission” to hug the union leader.
He was later asked if he would like to directly apologize to the women he offended, and said “I’ve made it clear that if I made anyone feel uncomfortable, I feel badly about that. That was never my intention … I’m not sorry for any of my intentions.” On Wednesday, Biden promised he would more “mindful” of people’s personal space going forward. The Week
Trump says Fed should cut rates
President Trump on Friday called on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates and take additional steps to stimulate economic growth, his latest attempt to put the traditionally independent central bank under his thumb.
Speaking to reporters before traveling to the southwestern border, the president once again criticized the Fed’s interest rate increases in 2018, saying “they really slowed us down.” Mr. Trump, who is presiding over one of the longest sustained economic expansions in United States history, also said the Fed should do more to give the economy a lift — including resuming a stimulus program that he opposed when it began under President Barack Obama. The Washington Post
US economy added 196,000 jobs in March
US employers added 196,000 jobs in March, the Labor Department reported Friday. The number exceeded expectations of a 172,000-job gain forecast by economists surveyed by MarketWatch. The number marked a rebound from a 17-month low in February, when US non-farm payrolls grew by a disappointing 20,000 new jobs, although that figure was adjusted up to 33,000 in Friday’s report. The strong jobs report could help ease fears of a sharp economic slowdown.
“A number that is close to consensus and with an upward revision to February will give you some degree of comfort that while the economy is slowing, it isn’t declining rapidly,” said Dan North, chief economist at Euler Hermes North America in Baltimore, shortly before the report came out. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. MarketWatch, CNBC via The Week
Boeing cuts 737 production
Boeing is temporarily cutting production of its best-selling 737 airliner in the continuing fall-out from crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. Production will drop from 52 planes a month to 42 from mid-April, Boeing has said in a statement.
The decision is a response to a halt in deliveries of the 737 Max – the model involved in the two accidents. The plane is currently grounded as preliminary findings suggest its anti-stall system was at fault. An Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max crashed only minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa in March, killing all 157 people on board. BBC