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.

AFN NEWS 

Thursday, October 11, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. It’s still a dangerous major hurricane and now comes fear that thousands didn’t escape the rough of Hurricane Michael. U.S. Northern Command General Terrence O’Shaughnessy says Hurricane Michael exploded into a Category-4 hurricane so quickly many Florida residents may have never left their homes. “And we're not seeing the numbers in the shelters, and we're not seeing the numbers necessarily going away, so it’s my, my concern right now is there’s many people in harm’s way.” The National Guard prepared to search house by house for people trapped by debris. A fear could be far worse than any recent storms. Andy Field, ABC News, Washington. Michael still Category 3 is moving into Alabama and Georgia with a 125-mile-an-hour wind, and already residents are getting a feel for the destruction that was left behind. As ABC’s Pete Combs reports from Panama City Beach, Florida, “Some people starting to venture out, starting to take a look at the damage. That in itself could be dangerous because powerlines are still down and there are a lot of tree limbs that are just barely hanging onto the trees or stuck in the wires, and that means it’s very, very dangerous for people to be walking around here.” Hundreds of thousands are without power, and some homes have been moved completely off their foundations.

2) The Dow and the NASDAQ losing more than 3% today, market strategist Matthew Miskin with John Hancock says the reason is the declining tech stocks. “These technology companies are hugely dependent on foreign revenues and foreign business and have been performing in the way that’s really showing lack of response to the slowing global growth.” White House Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders says in the statement that the fundamentals of the economy will remain incredibly strong.

3) New York State Police charged the operator of Prestige Limousine with criminally negligent homicide for the weekend crash that killed 20 people. Police say the driver shouldn’t have been behind the wheel and the vehicle shouldn’t have been on the road. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, on Wall Street, the Dow marking its worst day since February with the decline of more than 800 points as investors are worried about rising interest rates and corporate earnings slowing down. Among the biggest decliners today, tech stocks which have been among the biggest winners for the past 12 months. The Dow closing down 832 points. NASDAQ down 315, S&P 500 down for the fifth straight session. It’s the longest losing since November of 2016, closing down 95 points. // And retired Americans who collect Social Security can look forward in 2019 to the biggest increase in benefits in seven years with the benefits likely rising about 2.8% next year, based on the formula that determines annual cost-of-living adjustments in Social Security which would mark the biggest gain since a 3.6% advance back in 2012. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS 

Thursday, October 4, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. The FBI has identified the suspect in Utah tied to the letters that caused a ricin scare. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says William Clyde Allen III is now in custody. “The FBI has made a contact with the suspect and is questioning him. The Pentagon top spokesperson says an analysis of the two envelopes sent to the Pentagon has determined the substance inside was not ricin but castor seeds.” ABC’s luis Martinez.

2) The FBI could finish the background investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as early as today. “Once the Senate receives the FBI’s conclusions on Brett Kavanaugh, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will file, what’s called file cloture, basically taking the first step in the process that gets lawmakers to the Kavanaugh confirmation vote. Once he filed the procedural motion, the Senate and the House will let a day go by before it can hold the actual vote. Stephanie Ramos, ABC News, Washington.”

3) USA Weightlifting CEO Phil Andrews, one of several Olympic sports leaders, to testify before Senate panel about changes being made to protect athletes from abuse. “Weigh-in in our sport can now be done within a singlet or fully closed. That has also been suggested to our international federation for discussing where we’re discussing that in less than a month.” The hearing holds a number of sex abuse scandals across several sports.

4) An effort to raise awareness of what’s been called the silent enemy plaguing veterans. “Covering the National Mall, thousands of small American flags placed by the group of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to bring awareness to veteran’s suicide. More than 5500 flags represent each military and veterans’ suicide so far this year, an average of 20 suicides every day, according to new data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The veterans group hopes this effort will spark action by leaders in Washington. Elizabeth McLaughlin, ABC News, the Pentagon.”

5) Chicago Cubs’ infielder Addison Russell has accepted a 40-game suspension under MLB’s domestic violence policy. You’re listing to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, on Wall Street, the major averages closing slightly higher with the Dow notching its 15th record close of the year. Among the gainers today, banks and big technology companies were high, dividend stocks fell. The Dow closing up 54 points, NASDAQ up 26, S&P 500 up 2. // And shares of Barnes & Noble jumping in the extended session after announcing its foreign strategic alternative has to evaluate selling itself, following interest from multiple parties. // And Eldorado Resorts completing a purchase of Atlantic City’s Tropicana casino. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission still has to approve a full casino license for Eldorado. The deal is part of $1.85 billion acquisition of Tropicana Entertainment that billionaire investor Carl Icahn agreed to back in April. The Tropicana recently improving its performance in Atlantic City to place behind only the Borgata in terms of annual gambling revenue. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS 

Thursday, September 27, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. President Tramp is standing by his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh who appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow with one of three women accusing him of sexual misconduct. Even before the public testimony, the President said he doesn’t believe the sex assault charges against Brett Kavanaugh. “They know it’s a big, fat con job.” Mr. Trump blaming Democrats for smearing Kavanaugh, “and they go into a room and I guarantee you they laugh like hell.” But the President says he is open to withdrawing the nomination if he believes the testimony. “I’m gonna see what happens tomorrow.” Andy Field, ABC News, Washington.

2) Some tech giants appeared on Capitol Hill. Leaders from Google, Apple, Twitter, Amazon, AT&T and Charter Communications testified at the senate hearing calling for increase and registration that would better regulate consumer privacy and make customers feel safer. Google’s Keith Enright has concerns about how his company tracks data. “We acknowledged that we had made mistakes in the past, from which we learned and improved our privacy program.” Facebook which has come under scrutiny in the aftermath of the 2016 election was not at the hearing. Kenneth Moton, ABC News, the Capitol.

3) Chairman Jerome Powell says the Federal Reserve is boosting interest rates 1/4 of a percent to a range of 2 to 2 and 1/4%. “We expect the job market to remain strong, and the median of committee participants’ projections for the unemployment rate later this year is 3.7% and a bit lower than that in 2019.” The increase will make borrowing more expensive.

4) The father of a missing 6-year old autistic boy from North Carolina says it wasn’t unusual for his son to run ahead of him. “He usually runs but he’ll slow down or stop to give me a chance to pick him up.” And Ritch says he panicked when he couldn’t find the son Maddox, who’s been missing since Saturday.

5) And estimated 80,000 Americans died of the flu and its complications last year, the highest death toll in at least four decades. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Report, on Wall Street, the major averages giving up all the year gains with all the major averages closing in the red after the Federal Reserve made its third interest rate hike this year, raising its benchmark rate by a quarter point, indicating another increase is likely before the year’s end. // Financial and industrial stocks were among the laggards today with the Dow closing down 107 points, the Nasdaq down 17, S&P 500 down 10. // And shares of Bed Bath & Beyond tumbling 15% in the extended session after the home goods retailer reported earnings and revenue missing Wall Street estimate. // And Amazon is opening a new store that sells items from its website rated 4 stars or above, the company is saying in a blog post. The store called Amazon 4-star is said to open this Thursday in New York SoHo neighborhood. Amazon Prime members will pay “the Amazon.com price” when they shop there. An Amazon spokesperson said the store is permanent, not a pop-up location. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS 

Thursday, September 20, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. The shooter is dead and the police officer is wounded after a mass shooting at the Pennsylvania courthouse. Attorney Eric Randolph said he came face to face with the gunman at the Fayette County Magistrate Court in Masontown. “Where am I gonna get shot? Is it gonna be the head or the body? I looked back up and he was gone, so I presumed then that he went back, and then he went back into the waiting area.” Police say all four people wounded, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

2) Another mass shooting: this one in Middleton, Wisconsin, where Police Chief Charles Foulke says the suspect opened fire inside the software company where they worked, wounding three people before being shot by officers. “The shooter had a pistol, semiautomatic pistol and we’re told that he had a number of magazines, extra magazines and so on.” Foulke says the suspect died at a hospital.

3) A friend of the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sex assault takes exception to comment on Sen. Orrin Hatch who suggested Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was confused or mixed up in recollections of what happened. “When you have someone’s hand over your mouth and you think that you might die by accident, you know who you are dealing with.” Samantha Guerry says Ford didn’t ask to become political football.

4) President Trump is in the Carolinas surveying the destruction from Hurricane Florence. The President warning those at the Horry County South Carolina Emergency Operations Center. It may be sunny outside but there are still some tough days ahead. “We just left North Carolina. They got hit really, really hard, and they are working. And all of that water is coming your way,” but the President assuring residents and first responders “Washington is with you. Trump is with you. We are always with you 100%.” The President visiting victims of the storm as well as state and federal officials during his two-state visit. Ryan Burrow, ABC News, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Students in North Carolina affected by Florence will get free school lunches through October 26th, courtesy of the government. You are listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, stocks mostly surging today. The Dow up 159 points, the S&P climbing nearly 4, while the NASDAQ fell 6. Financial loss was up that includes Bank of America, City Group, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley. // Delta Airlines join two rivals in raising fees to check a bag on a flight within the U.S. The Airline now says it will cost $30 for checking the first bag and $40 for checking the second. Changes match increases imposed by United Airlines and JetBlue. Last year US carriers raised more than $7 billion from fees on checked bags and ticket changes. // And big pot worth big bucks. Shares of marijuana grower Tilray soaring sky-high, up more than 60% and raising up Wall Street, hitting the market value of nearly $23 billion. That’s more green than American Airlines or the CBS corporation. Shares of the Canadian-based weed firm up tenfold since its debut on the NASDAQ back in July. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Tom Graham.