"The net effect is that the US economy is better than we thought, less close to recession, but recession is not being taken off the table."

 

The overall figure got a big boost from the return of 45,000 striking Verizon Communications workers. They had dropped out of the unemployment market in an August strike. Also, there were upward revisions in some unemployment reports. Gene Sperling, the head of the National Economic Council, says there's not enough good economic news today for Congress to reject President Obama's jobs bill.

 

"We're obviously pleased that the job numbers were better than expected. But let's be clear: they're not nearly strong enough for us to be successfully climbing out of the worst financial recession since the Great Depression." 

 

He says without the jobs bill, the economy could stall.

 

In a foreign policy speech today, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney laced into Obama administration foreign policy. NPR's Ari Shapiro has details.

 

Romney has limited foreign policy experience, and this speech was an effort to show competence on the key issues. He laid out some specific steps he would take in office. But on some of the thorniest problems, such as the war in Afghanistan, he spoke in more general terms, saying he would order a thorough review of US policy.

 

"I'll speak with our generals in the field and receive the best recommendations of our military commanders. The force level necessary to secure our gains and complete our mission successfully is a decision I will make free from politics."

 

Romney hammered President Obama repeatedly, describing him as a president who does not want America to be the strongest nation on Earth. Ari Shapiro, NPR News, Charleston, South Carolina.

 

This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been shared by three women. NPR's Philip Reeves says the award's intended to recognize the importance of the rights of women and their role in peacemaking.

 

The Nobel Committee says it hopes it will help end the suppression of women and realize the great potential for democracy and peace that women can represent. They split the prize three ways. It's going to Africa's first democratically elected female head of state, Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She's widely credited with rebuilding Liberia after the civil war there. Also honored is another Liberian, Leymah Gbowee, who led thousands of women campaigning for gender rights and peace, and Tawakkol Karman, whose long battle for human rights and democracy in Yemen. Karman's dedicated her prize to those killed and injured struggling for their rights during the so-called Arab Spring. Philip Reeves, NPR News, London.

 

On Wall Street, approaching the close, the Dow was down four at 11,119.

 

This is NPR News.

 

The American Chemistry Council is asking federal regulators to phase out the rules that allow the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) to be used in baby bottles and sippy cups due to consumer demand that children's products are no longer containing the plastic-hardening ingredient. The industry though is facing the potential of tough laws that could ban the chemical from some types of packaging because of health worries.

 

Environmental and labor activists are facing off over a proposed oil pipeline between Canada and the Gulf Coast. NPR's Jeff Brady has more on the State Department's final hearing on the Keystone XL Pipeline.

 

Jeanne DeMarino is with the Laborers' International Union, which supports the Keystone pipeline, and the estimated 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs building it would create.

 

"So this is a good opportunity to get jobs that you can sustain a family, so that's why we're here. We think and we believe that this is a good start for us."

 

The pipeline would carry oil from Alberta's tar sands. Producing it emits more pollution than traditional means. Carol Gate traveled from New Jersey to encourage the State Department to reject the pipeline.

 

"And I support jobs in clean green energy, not in the dirty industry."

 

A decision on the permit for the pipeline is expected by the end of the year. Jeff Brady, NPR News,Washington.

 

A truckload of fruits and vegetables en route to North Carolina from Florida never got to its commercial destination because of an accident in South Carolina. The driver wasn't hurt. The shipping company decided to give the produce to local charities in Chester County. The truck was carrying apples, bananas, potatoes and dozens of other foods.