AFN NEWS

Thursday, February 21, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Scott Goldberg. Next week, President Trump heads to Vietnam for a second sit-down with the leader of North Korea. President Trump said he is optimistic about his upcoming summit with Kim Jong-un predicting next week in Vietnam. “I think we’ll accomplish a lot. We started off with a very good meeting. I think we’ll continue that long.” The President insists that there has been progress since their first summit in Singapore last June. “There is no nuclear testing, no missiles going up and we have a good relationship, very good relationship.” President Trump predicted it wouldn’t be the last meeting he has with the North Korean leader. Karen Travers, ABC News at the White House.

2) The President says it’s possible while he’s in Vietnam the special council could release his report on the Russia investigation and the President says his new Attorney General William Barr will decide that. The American people see it. “That’ll be totally up to the new attorney general. He is a tremendous man.” Barr told Congress during his confirmation hearing he will make it as much public as legally required.

3) The President has now tweeted he told Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to allow a woman back into the U.S. after she went to Syria to become an ISIS bride. Now the woman’s attorney is responding “Hoda Muthana is not a U.S. citizen and will not be admitted into the country. According to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Muthana left Alabama four years ago to join ISIS and now wants to return home. Her lawyer says she’s ready to face justice. Currently she is at a refugee camp in eastern Syria and her lawyer responded to the State Department’s claims saying, quote, the Trump Administration continues its attempts to wrongfully strip citizens of their citizenship.” ABC’s Serena Marshall. Muthana was born in New Jersey and her lawyer says she had a U.S. passport.

4) An attorney for drug lord Joaquín Guzmán known as “El Chapo” says Guzmán may challenge his conviction. His attorney told Vice News some of the jurors read news coverage of the case during the trial which would be a violation of the judge’s instructions. The attorney claims others also discussed the case.

5) On Wall Street today, stocks finished slightly higher. The Dow picked up 63 points. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street, the major averages closing in the green after minutes from the Fed’s latest meeting in January showed officials expressed greater concern about risks to economic growth prompting them to cause interest-rate increases. With the Dow closing up 63 points, the NASDAQ closing up 2, notching its eighth straight day of gains, the S&P 500 up 5. Among the Dow leaders today, Boeing, DowDuPont and Caterpillar. The laggards include Walmart and Walgreens. // And Samsung celebrating its 10th anniversary added the Galaxy line, unveiling its highly anticipated smartphone with a foldable screen. The Galaxy Fold will be available on April the 26th for a starting price of close to 2,000 bucks. Samsung is hoping that the Galaxy Fold will spur more people to upgrade their phones and reverse its sales up for the smartphone maker. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, February 14, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Scott Goldberg. President Trump spoke to a group of the nation’s sheriff and police chiefs today and told them he will get border security. Despite getting billions less than he requested for border barrier and no new wall since he took office, the President told law enforcement officials “The wall is very, very on its way. It’s happening as we speak. We’re building as we speak.” In fact, the U.S. has only replaced and repaired existing walls, and the budget deal covers only 55 miles of metal fencing. Andy Field, ABC News, Washington.

2) Still unclear if the President will sign a bipartisan deal to avert another shutdown at the end of the week as it falls far short of the $5.7 billion he demanded for his border wall.

3) The President also sat down with the leader of Colombia today to talk about Venezuela. Asked if he sees a military solution for what he calls turmoil there, the President says he has a number of options but wouldn’t talk about sending troops to neighboring Columbia. The Trump Administration backed recent efforts by Venezuela’s opposition to force out President Maduro and instead opposition leader Juan Guaido as Interim President. ABC’s Karen Travers.

4) The head of FEMA Brock Long has announced he’s leaving the agency. He oversaw the federal response to six major hurricanes and five wildfires last fall, and the investigation concluded wrong, misused government resources to commute to his home in North Carolina.

5) There is a major headache for travelers in Dallas and it is not related to the weather. “They tell us not to take any departures. We will deal with the problem __ __. They had a fire,” the audio from LiveATC.net. The facility handling flights to DFW and Dallas Love Field was evacuated while smoke was investigated. The issue has been resolved but it will take hours before all the disrupted flights are back on truck. Jim Ryan, ABC News at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

6) On Wall Street today, stocks posted gains once again. The Dow rising 117 points, the NASDAQ up 5 points. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; stocks kicking upward today amid optimism over trade talks between the Trump Administration and China. On Wall Street, the Dow finishing up 118 points, the S&P adding 8, while the NASDAQ gained 6. // The fashion brand Prada forming a new, so-called, diversity council that __ clothing maker faced a heavy __ backlash over a black sweater with a pullover neck featuring a cutout slandered by what looked like red lips. Critics say it looks similar to blackface. // And Amazon’s plan to open another headquarters in New York City falls through. Tennessee appears poised a swooping with open arms. The state commissioner of Department of Economic and Community Development telling Fox Business they will be very interested. Amazon is facing mounting opposition by local politicians in New York over tax incentives offered to the e-commerce giant. Amazon claims the opening up another headquarters would create 25,000 high-paying jobs in the Big Apple. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Tom Graham.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, February 7, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Scott Goldberg. President Trump sent a warning today to one of the high-powered people investigating his administration. President Trump warning House Democrats not to investigate him, or they may not get anything done in the next two years. “No other politician has to go through that. It’s called presidential harassment.” House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff says Mr. Trump wants to delay his financial conflicts investigation. “We are not going to be intimidated or threatened by the President to withhold any legislative advancement.” Andy Field, ABC News, Washington.

2) Speaking at the State Department this afternoon, the President also praised the U.S.-led fight against ISIS. “The ISIS caliphate has been decimated. Nobody thought it was possible to do it this quickly.” But he stopped sort of repeating that ISIS has been defeated as he said last December. This morning Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the terror group is alive and well. “We must recommit ourselves to the goal of permanently defeating ISIS.” And the United Nations’ report calls ISIS the world’s main and best resource to terror threat.

3) The President nominated David Malpass to head the World Bank. Malpass currently is Under Secretary for International Affairs of the Treasury. He’s been critical of the World Bank in the past.

4) Virginia’s Attorney General Mark Herring has stepped down as the leader of the Democratic Attorney Generals Association after he admitted wearing blackface at a college party in 1980. He’s second in line to be governor as Ralph Northam steps down. Northam also is involved in the blackface scandal.

5) Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has apologized for not being more sensitive when she identified herself as an American Indian on a Texas bar registration. “There really is an important distortion of tribal citizenship. I am not a member of a tribe. And I have apologized.” The Democrat’s expected very soon to announce officially she is running for president.

6) The Dow lost 21 points today. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street, the major averages closing in the red as investors reacted to a mixed batch of earnings results. Among the laggards today, communication services and real estate companies, while healthcare and tech were among the gainers. The Dow snapping a three-day winning streak, closing down 21 points, NASDAQ down 27, S&P 500 down 6. // And shares of General Motors closing higher after the automaker reported the blockbuster 4th quarter. Strong sales in its home U.S. market were offset by weaker results in China. The largest U.S. automaker says strong pricing on pickup trucks and crossover SUV in North America helps drivers resolve. // And if you’re looking for a job, Lowe’s hosting National Hiring Day will be adding more than 50,000 store associates for either full-time, part-time or seasonal work. Candidates can apply in-person at Lowe’s stores nationwide on February the 13th. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, January 31, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Scott Goldberg. House and Senate members passed with reaching a deal on border security and facing another fast approaching budget deadline are now worked on Capitol Hill. “Republicans on the committee were insisting on a solution that includes funding physical barriers. Democrats are putting emphasis on other measures like technology, but there is at least one area of consensus. ‘We can all agree that we must do everything we can to prevent another unnecessary and destructive government shutdown.’ That’s House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey, one of eight Democrats on the 17-member Panel.” ABC’s Ali Rogin.

2) Head of the Federal Reserve, they should have positive outlook for the U.S. economy. Fed Chair Jerome Powell says, “U.S. economy is in a good place and we will continue to use our monetary policy tools to help keep it there.” He says the unemployment rate remains near historical low and inflation is right near their 2% target, but Powell did warn about what he says crosscurrents they had developed. “Growth has slowed in some major foreign economies, particularly China and Europe.” Brexit and weakening business and consumer sentiments are also among those crosscurrents. Powell says in response Fed decided to be patient on interest rates. Mark Remillard, ABC News, New York. The Dow like that gained 434 points straight.

3) The measles outbreak in southern Washington State has grown again. There are now 38 confirmed cases. Officials say the exposure may have happened at the fitness center. Three cases also been reported in Atlanta. We are now four days away from the Super Bowl in Atlanta and DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen says the game will be under tight security. He says 600 officers will be on patrol and they could use some help. “Fans continue to be our greatest resource to ensure safe and secure game day. They serve as eyes and ears of the public safety officials supporting Super Bowl 53.” She says there is no credible threat that has been made. *DHS = Department of Homeland Security

4) The FBI is now excavating underground tunnel in Pembroke Pines, Florida, leads up to a bank. They think it was for heist. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; the major averages rallying and closing in the green on strong earnings report, and after the Federal Reserve kept benchmark interest rates unchanged as was widely expected, the Central Bank signaling that it will be patient on future rate hikes. Strong results from Boeing and Apple also helping lift the Dow higher. Among the leaders today, tech companies, the Dow closing up over the 25,000 mark up 435 points, NASDAQ up 155, S&P 500 up 41. // And shares of Boeing soaring around 6% with the aerospace giant forecasting clear skies ahead. Boeing crashing Wall Street expectations for the greatest quarterly results with annual revenue of more than $100 billion for the first time. Boeing expects sales to rise as much as 10% this year as it ramps up production to meet global demand for air travel. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.