Five Eyes alliance warns that China is targeting personnel via fake job ads

LONDON (AP) – China is targeting personnel linked to the English-speaking Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance – Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K and the U.S. – on job websites to get access to classified or sensitive information, the group said Wednesday. In a bulletin, the Five Eyes powers highlighted an “aggressive” online recruitment strategy where spies for Chinese military intelligence pose as workers acting on behalf of private businesses or think tanks.

Trump to announce $700 million in new support for struggling coal industry

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump is again seeking to boost the struggling U.S. coal industry, with an announcement expected Thursday to spend nearly $700 million to support ​coal-fired power plants and coal exports.

Average US long-term mortgage rate falls to 6.48%

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate eased this week from its highest level in nine months, welcome relief for prospective homebuyers. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 6.48% from 6.53% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. The average rate remains below 6.85%, where it was a year ago.

Editorials from The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

SpaceX's IPO could make Elon Musk a trillionaire

NEW YORK (AP) – SpaceX says it plans to raise up to $75 billion when it goes public this month, setting the stage for the largest-ever stock market debut and putting Elon Musk on course to becoming the world’s first trillionaire.

Macy's raises annual outlook after ourth straight quarter of sales gains

NEW YORK (AP) – Macy’s reported its fourth consecutive quarter of comparable sales gains as the department store said an overhaul of its merchandise and better customer service is resonating with customers.

EU launches tech sovereignty initiative to boost chips, cloud and AI at home

BRUSSELS (AP) – European Union leaders, worried about the continent relying too heavily on American companies for AI and cloud computing services and Asia for microchips, are pushing back. The 27-nation bloc unveiled a “tech sovereignty” package on Wednesday with measures to promote homegrown European alternatives to Big Tech services and hardware.

General Mills agrees to sell Häagen-Dazs shops in China to investor group

HONG KONG (AP) – General Mills is selling its Häagen-Dazs ice-cream shops in mainland China to an investor group that includes Chinese tea brand Ningji. Minneapolis-based General Mills said in a statement late Monday that the deal will allow the buyers to exclusively sell the Häagen-Dazs brand in ice cream shops and gifting businesses across mainland China.

Report: Disruption of Mideast energy into next year would slam global economy

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – Prolonged disruption of energy supplies from the Middle East due to the Iran war would deal a severe blow to the global economy, sending some countries into recession and spreading inflation and higher unemployment, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said in a report Wednesday.