Third quarter GDP likely to show record growth, confirming V-shaped, ‘best-ever’ recovery

Deloitte estimated that the U.S. contraction in in 2020 would be the second mildest (behind only Japan) among G7 nations, with all the other countries — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the U.K. — estimated to take a harder hit.”

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the Chicago Fed, the Conference Board, and Goldman Sachs have all expected growth to be between 30% and 35%, on an annualized basis. This level of growth, economists note, would be the highest in the history of American GDP calculations, which began during the Great Depression.

“It’s the best-ever recovery,” economist Art Laffer told Just the News. “But you know, bottom line, the reason that’s the best is because the first and second quarter were the two worst. They were caused by something not economic, they were caused by the pandemic. And so it’s not a normal recovery in the sense of the Great Depression.” 

https://justthenews.com/nation/economy/new-q3-economic-numbers-expected-show-record-growth-best-ever-recovery-us-economists

Israel Attacks Syria Following Attempted Border Bombing

JERUSALEM, Israel – Israeli fighter jets, helicopters, and aircraft carried out airstrikes against the Syrian military Monday evening in response to an attempt by four men to plant explosives near the security fence between Israel and Syria Sunday night.

The Israel Defense Forces struck numerous positions held by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces, including observation posts, intelligence collections systems, anti-aircraft artillery, and command and control systems.

“The IDF sees the Syrian regime as responsible for all operations carried out in its territory and will continue to act with determination against all attacks on the sovereignty of the State of Israel,” said the IDF in a statement.

Syria’s official news agency, SANA, said that the Syrian military engaged “hostile targets” near Damascus, and the enemy airstrikes inflicted “material damage” in the city of Quneitra.  Al-Arabiya reports that some injuries were sustained during the strikes.

Shortly before the airstrikes, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that an air raid by unidentified aircraft had killed at least 15 Iranian-backed militiamen in al-Bukamal.

Citing “reliable sources,” the group said the attack targeted “positions of Iranian forces and Iranian-backed militias in Imam Ali Base, areas near Al-Sekka, and in Al-Bokamal desert in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.”

SOHR sources said that military vehicles transported dead and injured militiamen to Iraq.

On Sunday, Israeli troops killed four men who entered Israeli territory and attempted to plant explosives near an unmanned IDF post along the security fence.

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2020/august/israel-attacks-syria-following-attempted-border-bombing-attack

‘Unrigging the system,’ Trump signs executive orders to lower prescription drug prices

‘Some very rich people are not going to like me very much today,’ Trump says

By Nicholas Ballasy

President Trump said Friday that he’s “unrigging the system” with executive orders aimed at reducing the prices of prescription drugs in the U.S.

One of the executive orders would provide discounted insulin and EpiPens to low-income Americans, which Trump said would bring the cost down to “pennies a day.”

The president explained that community health centers would have to pass the savings they receive on the drugs onto their patients.

Another order would allow “states, wholesalers and pharmacies” to safely import prescription drugs from Canada –a change Trump said the Obama-Biden administration wasn’t able to make

“We’re standing up to the lobbyists and special interests,” the president said in a White House event. “I’m unrigging the system that is many decades old.”

A third order seeks to prevent “middle men and women” from “making a fortune” on drugs for Medicare patients, the president said. The rule would pass on the “billions” that distributors receive on drugs from pharmaceutical companies as a way to reduce the price for patients. 

“Some very rich people are not going to like me very much today,” Trump said.

Trump explained that the fourth executive order, if implemented, would target the issue of how the exact same drugs cost more in the U.S. compared to other countries such as Germany. Trump said Medicare would be required to purchase drugs at the same price other countries pay.

https://justthenews.com/government/white-house

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