AFN NEWS 

Thursday, October 18, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Chuck Sivertsen. State Department affirms to ABC News that the same day Secretary of State Pompeo arrived in Saudi Arabia’s capital. That nation transferred $100 million to the U.S. for what was called stabilization projects in Syria. The Saudis agreed to provide the funds in August but the timing is raising questions because of allegations that the Saudis killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Saudi consulate in Turkey. That’s what Pompeo went to Riyadh to talk about it. Whereas reporters asking the president how can the world learn the truth about Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance if Saudi Arabia is investigating itself. “No, they’re just, they’re great, very talented people. They’re not investigating themselves.” Turkey’s officials indicating evidence that the Saudis murdered Khashoggi inside the Istanbul Consulate. President Trump saying this is like the Kavanaugh hearings, saying the Saudis are guilty until proved innocent. Andy Field, ABC News, Washington.

2) More than 2,000 Honduran migrants traveling through Guatemala are headed to the U.S. the day after President Trump warned Central American governments they risk losing aid if they don’t do something to stop them. “People coming up in caravans. We have to stop them even though the laws are terrible. The laws are terrible. Our laws are terrible. They’re laughingstock all over the world.”

3) President Trump at today’s Cabinet meeting also asking all to come to the next meeting with proposals for 5% budget cuts, saying he believes the reductions could be done easily.

4) California officials are announcing the rollout of an earthquake early-warning system called ShakeAlert to warn people across California, Oregon and Washington about a significant earthquake before the shaking starts. Alerts to go out to public transportation systems, schools, hospitals, utilities and more. Congressman Adam Schiff, California, Democrat. “We feel those systems will work on the extensive urgency. We don’t want to have to wait until there’s a collapse or tragedy to get this done.” Ultimately, officials want the system to mass-alert everybody on their cellphones. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, the major averages closing in the red for another wobbly session on Wall Street, the Dow taking a hit from losses by IBM and Home Depot. IBM’s shares funking as a result of the company missing revenue expectations for its third quarter while Home Depot was downgraded by Credit Suisse. The Dow closing down 92 points, the NASDAQ down 3, S&P 500 down a point. // And shares of Caesars Entertainment soaring around 11% on heavy volume after a report that Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire owner of Golden Nugget Casinos and the NBA’s Houston Rockets, is interested in a merger deal. // And Netflix stocks shooting up around 5% after the company reported a big increase in subscribers, which relieved investors after the stock has plumped over the summer. The video-streaming service adding 7 million subscribers worldwide from July through September, far above the company’s expectations. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.