U.S. consumers cut back on their borrowing in August, with credit card use dropping for a sixth straight month, reflecting caution in the midst of the pandemic-triggered recession. The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that total borrowing fell by $7.2 billion after a gain of $14.7 billion in July. It was the first decline since a $12 billion fall in May when pandemic-driven shutdowns ground the economy to a near standstill. The weakness in August came from a $9.4 billion fall in the category that covers credit cards, the sixth decline in that area starting with a $25.4 billion drop in March. The category that covers auto loans and student loans rose by $2.2 billion in August, its fourth gain after a $5.6 billion drop in April.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday credited an experimental drug treatment with helping his recovery from COVID-19 and suggested his diagnosis could be a “blessing in disguise” for the nation’s battle against the pandemic — even though there is no way for the president or his doctors to know whether the drug had any effect. In a new White House video posted Wednesday evening, Trump said his illness had shed light on an experimental antibody cocktail that he credited for his improved condition. Seemingly sensitive to the fact that his treatment course is far more comprehensive than the care received by average Americans, he promised to swiftly get the drugs approved for use — and distribute it for free — even though he does not have the power to order that himself.

Jacob Kornbluh, a reporter at the ‘Jewish Insider’ tweeted that he will be filing charges against Boro Park Community Activist Heshy Tischler for ‘incitement and physical assault’. Kornbluh tweeted that he was a hit in the head and kicked while being called a “Nazi” by what he called an, “angry crowd of hundred of community members.” A video (attached) shows Tischler calling Kornbluh a “Rat” and a “Moiser” and encouraging the crowd to do the same – exclaiming, “Everyone say moiser!” People can be heard yelling “min darf eim hargenen” (We need to kill him). At the time of YWN publishing this article, it had already turned into a national story, with many, many elected officials condemning the incident, as well as news reporters publishing videos on Twitter.

Special to YWN News: The repercussions of NY Governor Cuomo’s verbal assault yesterday on the Hasidic and other Orthodox Jewish communities are already beginning to appear. A Newburg based bowling alley refused service to a number of Orthodox Jewish families on Thursday afternoon. This was less than 24 hours after the governor’s controversial speech and draconian measures limiting synagogue services to ten people per synagogue in what he termed “red zones.” Approximately twenty un-related and un-connected families tried to go bowling when rain forced them to change their Chol HaMoed plans. Slightly after 2:15PM near Newburgh, NY, it began to rain.

New restrictions are coming in Rockland County where COVID-19 infection rates have risen exponentially. That rate is now 4.5%. “It’s critically important that we get this under control. The numbers are starting to grow exponentially. We don’t need that right now,” Rockland Co. Executive Ed Day said. “We’ve made great progress and great strides here.” Day announced that the Governor’s Cluster restrictions will take effect at 12:01 AM, Friday, October 9, 2020. “We are awaiting further details from the Governor’s Office related to the New York State Police Task Force which will oversee enforcement of the restrictions in these zones,” Day said.

Thousands of protestors gathered in Brooklyn’s Borough Park neighborhood for a second night Wednesday, as demonstrators spoke out against Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new restrictions on schools, businesses and Shuls in Jewish neighborhoods of the city and state amid an uptick in coronavirus cases. The crowd made it clear they would continue to Daven together despite the statewide mandate to restrict houses of worship in virus “hotspots,” and said they feel Orthodox Jewish communities are being unfairly targeted. The protests were mostly peaceful, with many dancing to Sukkos music, as some held Trump 2020 flags. The NYPD arrived in riot gear, and were greeted warmly with shouts of “Blue Lives Matter”. A small fire was lit on 13th Avenue late at night, but was quickly extinguished.

For the sixth time in the Atlantic hurricane season, people in Louisiana are once more fleeing the state’s barrier islands and sailing boats to safe harbor while emergency officials ramp up command centers and consider ordering evacuations. The storm being watched Wednesday was Hurricane Delta, the 25th named storm of the Atlantic’s unprecedented hurricane season. Forecasts placed most of Louisiana within Delta’s path, with the latest National Hurricane Center estimating landfall in the state on Friday. The center’s forecasters warned of winds that could gust well above 100 mph (160 kph) and up to 11 feet (3.4 meters) of ocean water potentially rushing onshore when the storm’s center hits land. “This season has been relentless,” Louisiana Gov.

In another indication of a changed Middle East, an Egyptian television channel aired in full the remarks said by Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi while on a visit to Berlin to meet with Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two foreign ministers met on Tuesday for discussions on cooperation on issues of mutual interest. On Tuesday evening, a spokesperson for Ashkenazi noted to the Israeli media that the Egyptian television channel Extra News aired the Israeli FM’s remarks in full along with Bin Zayed’s remarks, stressing that the broadcast is “most extraordinary,” especially considering that it was aired on October 6, the anniversary of the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

Joseph Bruno, who rose from poverty to become one of New York’s most powerful politicians as the Republican leader of the state Senate for more than a decade, died Tuesday night at age 91. Bruno died at his Brunswick home across the Hudson River from the state Capitol, surrounded by family and his longtime companion Kay Stafford, according to information from Stafford’s business, CMA Consulting. There was no cause of death provided. He had been battling cancer. Bruno — with an earthy, gregarious personality and full head of silver hair — stood out in a Capitol full of politicians known for sticking to talking points. He was a crucial Republican ally of former Gov. George Pataki, helping usher in tax cuts and other conservative legislation.

The U.S. trade deficit rose in August to the highest level in 14 years. The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that the gap between the goods and services the United States sells and what it buys abroad climbed 5.9% in August to $67.1 billion, highest since August 2006. Exports rose 2.2% to $171.9 billion on a surge in shipments of soybeans, but imports rose more — up 3.2% to $239 billion — led by purchases of crude oil, cars and auto parts. The U.S. deficit with the rest of the world in the trade of goods such as airplanes and appliances set a record $83.9 billion in August. The United States ran a surplus of $16.8 billion in the trade of services such as banking and education, lowest since January 2012.