Biden Falsely Claims Boilermakers Union Endorsed Him

Beijing Views US Consulates as ‘Hostile Forces,’ Orders Monitoring of Diplomats: Leaked Documents

Chinese authorities see U.S. consulates as “hostile forces” that conduct “infiltration and sabotage” activities on Chinese soil and have ordered officials to monitor key U.S. diplomats, according to a leaked document obtained by The Epoch Times. At a time when bilateral relations hit a historical low, the document from Leizhou city of China’s southeastern Guangdong Province offers a rare glimpse into how the Chinese regime deals with American diplomats. In a four-page “work plan” dated April 2018, the Leizhou Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau described the “U.S. and other Western consulates in China” as key targets that could threaten the region’s political and social stability. All departments and units within the bureau must work to counter such influences, by effectively “blocking [the consulates] from establishing connections with key [Chinese]…

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has falsely claimed that the boilermakers union endorsed him for the November election.

The former vice president said that the boilermakers are overwhelmingly endorsing him during a town hall with ABC News when he was pressed to clarify his stance on fracking.

“I’m telling [you] the boilermakers overwhelmingly endorse me, OK, so the boilermakers union has endorsed me because I sat down with them and went into great detail earlier to show their leadership exactly what I would do,” he said.

However, the boilermakers union said they haven’t endorsed any presidential candidate for the 2020 election.

“The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers has not endorsed any U.S. presidential candidate for the 2020 election,” according to a statement on the union’s website.

The union, which represents 50,000 workers in heavy industry or related industries, encouraged members to vote based on “where candidates stand on issues that are important to you and your family” instead.

Meanwhile, the Boilermakers Local 154 Union in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in September endorsed President Donald Trump for his reelection.

“Your administration has convinced my members that you will protect the future of our industry,” business manager John J. Hughes wrote in a letter (pdf) on Sept. 3.

“Boilermaker jobs specifically rely on coal-fired power generation and we strongly encourage the advancement of carbon capture technologies which can secure jobs for our members,” he added.

The Trump campaign and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers didn’t respond to requests for comment.

A fracking rig in rural country, Pennsylvania, on July 11, 2013. (James Smith/The Epoch Times)

Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, involves deeper drilling with higher pressure and volume than conventional wells to access oil and natural gas. It has become a hot campaign topic in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state.

The Appalachian states including West Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio are regarded to have potential in fracking. However, Pennsylvania is reported to represent the largest natural gas reserves in the world.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, there are 10,000 natural gas wells in the state employing the technology of fracking.

Biden has had an inconsistent stance on fracking during his bid for the White House.

He said during a July 2019 Democratic presidential debate that he would ban fracking, but recently walked back his statement.

During the Thursday town hall, he told host George Stephanopoulos that he will not ban fracking, but will stop subsidizing the industry instead.

“I would stop giving tax breaks and subsidizing oil,” he said.

Focus News: Biden Falsely Claims Boilermakers Union Endorsed Him

Tuberculosis Outbreak Infects Dozens at Chinese College

While the COVID-19 pandemic is still ravaging the world, a series of tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks at a major Chinese university was revealed via social media posts and local media reports. The Epoch Times has also interviewed a few students and obtained internal government documents that indicate local authorities attempted to cover up the TB epidemic. Tuberculosis is a respiratory infectious disease that usually causes lung infection. Those with latent TB infection do not have symptoms. Without proper treatment in time, 10 percent of patients with latent infection will progress to active TB, with a fatality rate of 50 percent, according to the World Health Organization. Jiangsu Normal University Conceals TB Cases Jiangsu Normal University issued a notice on the evening of Oct. 14, stating that from Oct. 10 to 11,…