JUDY WOODRUFF: In the
day's other news: U.S.
businesses slowed their
hiring in August amid
global economic weakness and
the tariff war with China.
The Labor Department reports
employers added a net of 130,000
jobs, fewer than expected.
That total included 25,000
temporary workers hired
for the 2020 U.S. census.
The unemployment rate held
steady at 3.7 percent,
even as more people
started looking for work.
The chairman of the
Federal Reserve, Jerome
Powell, is playing down
the risk of recession.
He spoke at a conference in
Switzerland today, and gave an
upbeat view of what lies ahead,
despite some uncertainty.
JEROME POWELL, Federal Reserve
Chairman: Our main expectation
is not at all that there'll
be a recession.
I did mention, though,
that there are these risks.
And we're monitoring them very
carefully and we're conducting
policy in a way that will
address them.
But, no, I wouldn't see a
recession as the most likely
outcome for the United States
or for the world
economy, for that matter.
JUDY WOODRUFF: The Fed
cut short-term interest
rates in July, and is
widely expected to do
so again this month.
The Taliban staged another fatal
assault in Afghanistan today
amid growing questions about
a potential peace deal.
The attack killed two people
in the Western province of
Farah, and fighting continued
in the city hours later.
Meanwhile, Afghan President
Ashraf Ghani postponed a
trip to Washington next week.
His government says
that a potential U.S.
agreement with the Taliban
could lead to all-out
civil war.
In Hong Kong, some 2,000
pro-democracy protesters
surrounded a police
station and subway stop
in new confrontations
with police.
Officers answered with rubber
bullets, tear gas and pepper
spray, and the demonstrators
used umbrellas to
shield themselves.
They also rejected promises
to kill a much-criticized
extradition law.
JOHN CHAN, Student (through
translator): The government is
one that doesn't listen to the
voice of the people.
It doesn't have a
mandate from the people.
All it listens to is the
central people's government.
This is an issue that, during
the last two to three months,
everyone has been able to
see really clearly.
Our government is
not working for us.
JUDY WOODRUFF: The
protesters are now calling
for an investigation of
alleged police brutality
and for direct elections
of city leaders.
The one-time strongman
president of Zimbabwe,
Robert Mugabe has died.
He led the African nation's
black majority to power in
1980 and he ruled for 37 years,
before being driven from office.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Robert
Mugabe was 95 years old.
Mexico now says the number of
migrants arriving at its border
to cross into the United States
has fallen more than 50 percent
in the last three months.
The foreign minister announced
today that some 64,000 people
were stopped from crossing
in August.
That's down from more than
144,000 who crossed in May.
Mexico deployed thousands
of troops and police
to slow the flow of
migrants, after President
Trump threatened tariffs.
Back in this country, the Trump
administration opened a legal
assault today on California
and four automakers over
emissions standards.
The U.S. Justice Department
notified Ford, Honda, Volkswagen
and BMW that they are being
investigated for possible
antitrust violations.
In July, the companies
adopted California's
emissions standards,
which are tougher than
those the administration favors.
And on Wall Street, the Dow
Jones industrial average gained
69 points to close at 26797.
The Nasdaq fell 13 points
and the S&P 500 added two.
Still to come on the
"NewsHour": the psychological
trauma of separating
children from their families
at the border; Mark Shields
and David Brooks break down the
week's news, including funding
decisions for the border wall
and Democrats' plans to address
climate change; inside the
new wing of the Kennedy
Center for the Performing
Arts; and much more.