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Jobless rate set at 7.8; skeptics cry foul

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- President Obama said Friday's U.S. unemployment report shows the economy is "moving forward" but a former General Electric head called the data "unbelievable."

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The Labor Department reported the economy added 114,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent, its lowest level since early 2009.

"Today, I believe that as a nation we are moving forward again." Obama said at a campaign rally in Fairfax, Va. "Now after losing about 800,000 jobs a month when I took office, our businesses have now added 5.2 million new jobs over the past 2.5 years."

Obama said "too many middle class families are still struggling to pay the bills." He said the Labor Department report "is not an excuse to talk down the economy to score a few political points."

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Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney released a statement saying: "This is not what a real recovery looks like. We created fewer jobs in September than in August, and fewer jobs in August than in July, and we've lost over 600,000 manufacturing jobs since President Obama took office."

Romney said the results of Obama's "failed policies are staggering" and promised if he is elected the country "will have a real recovery with pro-growth policies that will create 12 million new jobs and rising incomes for everyone."

Alan B. Krueger, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, said in a statement released by the White House, "While there is more work that remains to be done, today's employment report provides further evidence that the U.S. economy is continuing to heal from the wounds inflicted by the worst downturn since the Great Depression."


Fiscal cliff may mean 277K fed jobs lost

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- More than a quarter-million federal workers could lose their jobs if the U.S. economy can't avoid the so-called fiscal cliff, a study indicates.

The Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University said 14 percent of the federal work force -- about 277,000 -- could be pink-slipped during the next 12 months if Congress fails to act by Jan. 1 and triggers about $1.2 trillion in spending cuts for the next decade, CNNMoney reported Friday.

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The cuts could furlough about 48,000 federal workers in civilian defense jobs and 229,000 from federal jobs. No one knows where the cuts would be made because programs that could be affected haven't been identified.

Jobs could be eliminated from food inspections, health institutes, national parks and possibly air traffic control towers staffed by Federal Aviation Administration, Stephen Fuller, director of the Center for Regional Analysis, told CNNMoney as he outlined a worst-case scenario.

"What that means is some airports won't be able to land as many planes, because FAA controllers won't be in the towers," Fuller said. "FBI agents won't be on the ground investigating and meat inspectors won't be inspecting."

The Office of Management and Budget, which released figures on how much is slated to be axed from each agency but hasn't identified the programs, declined comment, CNNMoney said.

The Congressional Budget Office said if the fiscal cliff isn't averted, job losses in the private sector could occur as well.


Syria to keep military 6 miles from Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Syria Friday ordered its military to keep aircraft at least 6.2 miles away from the Turkish border and to avoid artillery fire near the border.

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The order came a day after the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country would defend itself against what he called deliberate attacks by Syria, Today's Zaman reported.

"We have no intention of starting a war with Syria," Erdogan told reporters in Ankara after Turkey's Parliament gave him a one-year mandate to send troops into foreign countries "as a deterrent" a day after a Syrian-regime shell fell in the Turkish border town of Akcakale, killing a mother, her three daughters and a female relative.

Also Friday, Turkey and Iran expressed a commitment to boosting ties, despite tensions along the Turkish-Syrian border, Today's Zaman said.


50,000 rally to demand reforms in Jordan

AMMAN, Jordan, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Authorities said nearly 50,000 people gathered Friday in Amman, Jordan, to demand reforms -- a day after King Abdullah dissolved Parliament.

The Muslim Brotherhood's political organization, Islamic Action Front, said the "Friday to Rescue the Nation" rally and march was intended to protest economic hardship and demand a less centralized government, with more opposition seats in Parliament.

Protesters, including some from Islamist movements and leftist parties, demanded the right for voters to elect the prime minister, who is now appointed by the king, ANSAmed -- the Mediterranean hub of Italy's ANSA news agency -- reported.

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An estimated 2,000 security personnel watched as members of more than 80 political groups gathered in the Jordanian capital following noon prayers, The Jordan Times reported.

"We have had four governments, national dialogues, endless committees and we still haven't seen any real change on the ground," said Mohammed Omar of Irbid at the rally. "We are all one people, and we all want reform."

The event included a march to downtown's Palm Square, the site of previous protests, some of which turned violent. Citing police sources, ANSAmed reported some protesters carrying weapons and sticks were arrested before they reached the protest area.


Manson Family member could be paroled

SACRAMENTO, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- A California parole panel has found Bruce Davis, a member of the Charles Manson Family in the late 1960s, is suitable for parole.

Davis, 69, is serving a life sentence for killing Gary Hinman and former stuntman Donald "Shortie" Shea in 1969 with other members of the Manson Family. Gov. Jerry Brown has the final say on Davis' parole, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a release Thursday.

The parole board found Davis suitable for parole in January 2010, saying he had no recent disciplinary problems and had participated in educational programs. But then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger rejected him for release, saying he was still dangerous.

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Davis challenged Schwarzenegger's decision in court, winning favorable rulings that returned his case to the parole board. The hearing Thursday was Davis' 27th.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokeswoman Terry Thornton told the Times full Board of Parole Hearings may take 120 days to review the recommendation by the smaller panel that elected to grant Davis parole. When the case reaches the governor's desk, he could order an independent review, Thornton said.

Manson, 78 -- who was sentenced to death for the murders of actress Sharon Tate and six -- remains in prison along with several of his followers.

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