AFN
NEWS
Thursday, May 2, 2019
1)
From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger.
Testifying about the Russia investigation before Senate panel, Attorney General
William Barr says Congress must stop
using the criminal justice process as a political weapon. “The report is now in
the hands of the American people. Everyone can decide for themselves. There’s
an election in 18 months. That’s very democratic process, but we are out of it.”
Barr also says Special Counsel Robert
Mueller never intended for his report to be a roadmap for Congress. “I
don’t think Bob Mueller was suggesting that the next step here was for him to
turn this stuff over to Congress to act upon. That’s not why we conduct grand
jury investigations.” Barr was scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee
on Thursday, but sources tell ABC News that’s not going to happen.
2)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney calls Riley Howell, one of two students killed yesterday in a UNC Charlotte classroom, a hero for taking
on the gunman. “You’re either gonna run, you’re gonna hide and shield, or you’re
gonna take the fight to the assailant. Having no place to run and hide, he did
the last.” Former student Trystan Andrew Terrell is facing two counts of
murder. The motive isn’t clear.
3)
Hundreds of Google employees taking part in a sit-in to protest alleged
retaliation for last fall’s protest. The November protest was organized after a
report that Google paid a former executive $90 million in a severance following
the sex assault claim.
4)
Interest rates will remain unchanged. “Folk shopping for new homes celebrating
the Fed’s decision to keep interest rates between 2.25 and 2.5%. At a Federal Reserve
meeting, all board members voting to keep rates the same in part because the economy
continues to grow and inflation actually shrank. The Fed Chair saying he sees
the U.S. economy on a good path.” ABC’s Andy
Field in Washington.
5)
Stocks gave up early gains and lowered on Wall Street. The Dow fell more than
100 points today. You’re listening to ABC News.
…………………………………………..
From
the Fox Business Network, stocks ending in the red after the Fed left interest
rates unchanged. However, Fed Chair Jerome
Powell said at a news conference that low inflation may only be transitory,
and that comment may have dashed hopes that the Fed would be lowering rates in
the future with the Dow falling 164 points, the NASDAQ down 46, S&P 500
down 22. // And chipmaker Qualcomm
tanking after hours, after forecasting current quarter revenue largely below
Wall Street target, excluding a settlement payment from Apple. The gloomy
forecast comes a day after Apple said its sales in China, the world’s largest
smartphone’s market, was stabilizing helped by price cut and lower taxes. //
And shares of Square dropping after
the digital payment company beat estimates on its first-quarter financials but
mixed on payment volume and its second-quarter outlook. // And wearable device
maker Fitbit reporting better-than expected
first-quarter results, benefiting from higher sales of its smartwatches and
wearable devices that track daily activities. With the Fox Business Report, I’m
Hilarie Barsky.
