JUDY WOODRUFF: In the day's other news: Despite a dramatic surge in COVID-19 infections, the
U.S. labor market is showing some signs of healing; 709,000 more Americans filed for
unemployment benefits last week.
That's the lowest level since March and the fourth straight drop. Still, numbers remain
-- excuse me -- at historic highs. Overall, 6.8 million people continue to receive jobless
aid.
The U.S. Treasury Department today reported that the federal government ran up a record
$284 billion budget deficit just for the month of October. That shortfall was nearly double
what it was in October of last year.
Meanwhile, on Wall Street, stocks plummeted amid the record-shattering surge in COVID-19
infections. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 317 points to close at 29080. The Nasdaq
fell 77 points, and the S&P 500 slipped 35.
In Egypt, a helicopter carrying multinational force and observers peacekeepers crashed today,
killing at least eight people, including six American service members. It went down off
the Sinai Peninsula. Authorities said it appeared to be an accident. The multinational force
monitors a 40-year peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.
The United Nations Migration Agency says at least 74 migrants drowned after a Europe-bound
ship broke down and capsized off the coast of Libya. It's the latest tragedy in a series
of at least eight shipwrecks in the Central Mediterranean since October. So far this year,
at least 900 people have drowned in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe.
Pro-democracy legislators in Hong Kong officially handed in their resignation letters today.
It was a mass protest after Beijing kicked out four of their colleagues this week. The
15 opposition lawmakers refused to attend this morning's legislative session, leaving
their seats empty.
They insist that Hong Kongers must continue to stand for autonomy from Beijing.
CLAUDIA MO, Hong Kong Legislative Council: So, what's left for Hong Kong's democracy
fight? That's the most valid question.
But it doesn't mean that, oh, so that's the end of it, and we all go home, and forget
about democracy or human rights or any core values. We do not underestimate Hong Kong
people, especially our young.
JUDY WOODRUFF: The mass resignations come as Beijing continues its crackdown on the
semiautonomous region.
The Legislative Council is now left with 43 lawmakers, 41 of whom are considered pro-Beijing.
In the Philippines, the aftermath of a destructive typhoon has left the country reeling. At least
13 people died and 15 others are still missing. Floodwaters completely submerged some northeastern
towns, forcing people to climb on their rooftops. Rescue efforts are under way, as many residents
remain trapped. Some 200,000 people were forced to evacuate.
Back in this country, heavy rains pummeled Florida's western coast today, after Tropical
Storm Eta crashed ashore for a second time. It happened before dawn just north of the
Tampa Bay Area, packing maximum sustained winds of 50 miles an hour. Now out to sea,
Eta is forecast to lose strength as it moves northeast over the Atlantic.
And a federal appeals court in Boston has ruled that Harvard University's admissions
policies do not discriminate against Asian Americans. An affirmative action group had
argued the school went too far in using race to consider students. But two judges today
upheld a lower court decision that rejected those claims. Today's ruling paves the way
for a possible review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Still to come on the "NewsHour": social media companies combat disinformation in the wake
of the election; the world responds to Joe Biden's defeat of Donald Trump; and more.