AFN NEWS

Thursday, March 21, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. John’s defense spending and the late Senator John McCain, President Trump visited a factory in Lima, Ohio, where he continued to criticize the Republican. The President telling Ohio tank plant workers that they too should be angry with the late Senator John McCain for passing wrong information about Mr. Trump that, he claims, led to the Mueller investigation. “And what did he do? He didn’t call me. He turned it over to the FBI, hoping to put me in jeopardy.” In fact, FBI officials testified that it was not that dossier but one of the President’s own campaign advisers who sparked suspicions that led to the Russia investigation. Andy Field, ABC News. Before he left for Ohio, the President told reporters that he thinks Special Counsel Robert Mueller‘s report on the Russia investigation should be released to the public. He also called it ridiculous.

2) In an address to the nation, British Prime Minister Theresa May says the country won’t leave the European Union on time next week with a deal. “Today I have written to Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, to request a short extension of Article 50 up to the 30th of June to give MPs the time to make a final choice.” And Tusk says the block will grant a Brexit extension if May gets a deal passed in Parliament.

3) Sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News that the FBI has a look working with other federal authorities to look into the certification of the Boeing 737 Max in the wake of two recent plane crashes.

4) Elemental fire at a Texas chemical storage plant is out. Company spokesperson Alice Richardson says firefighters will try to find out what caused it. “Harris County‘s fire investigative team has begun their investigation, and that’s the starting point.” The cleanup efforts have also started at the site of the fire. You are listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street, the major averages closing mixed with the Dow giving back earlier gains on conflicting reports over the progress of U.S.-China trade talks, with the Dow closing down 27 points, the NASDAQ up 10, S&P 500 down a faction. // And shares of FedEx plunging in the extended session after reporting quarterly results in missing earnings and revenue estimate and slashing its full-year earnings forecast for the second time. // And music publishers are suing Peloton, accusing the maker of video-streaming exercise bikes of using more than 1,000 songs of Lady Gaga, Drake, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake and others without permission. The copyright infringement lawsuit is looking for more than $150 million in damages. // And Starbucks is revamping its rewards loyalty program offering a new way for you to get free stuff, starting on April the 16th. Members will earn rewards points sooner and you will be able to use those points to buy more items than before. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, March 14, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. Grounded; President Trump ordering all Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9 planes to stay on the ground effective immediately. ABC’s Alex Stone says this could be why. “In the order grounding the Max jets, the FAA says it is based on new information from the wreckage in Ethiopia concerning the plane’s configuration just after takeoff. Along with newly refined data from satellite-based tracking of the aircraft flight path, the FAA now sees some similarities between the Ethiopia crash and the Lino Air crash of a Max 8 in Indonesia last October. It wants to look into the possibility of a shared cause of the two crashes.” ABC’s Tara Palmeri, she was caught up in the chaos after the announcement. “I was really standing there with a thickening agent when it happened, so I was in locking way. I’m sure it’s black there and I got on the next plane.” The black boxes from the Ethiopian Airlines crash have been sent to France for analysis.

2) Capitol Hill looking to update the Civil Rights Act by including the LGBTQ community. “We’re proud to stand with members from both sides of the Capitol to take a momentous step towards full equality with LGBTQ Americans and for our country.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

3) Will Brexit ever happen? “The ayes have it. The ayes have it. Leaving the European Union without some sort of an exit deal, no longer looks like a viable option for the U.K. Politicians passed a historic measure which, however, is nonbinding. The move strengthens the likelihood now of an extension to the actual European exit date, which is currently coming up fast at the end of the month. Tom Rivers, ABC News, London.

4) Paul Manafort getting more time behind bars will be serving the total of seven and half years on federal charges resulting from the probe. Today Manafort learned he’s also been indicted in New York on charges of mortgage fraud. President Trump says he feels sad for his former campaign chairman. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; a major auto recall, the EPA announced the Fiat Chrysler’s voluntarily recalling nearly 900,000 vehicles that do not meet U.S. emission standards. The company says this is not a safety issue. // Cracking down on e-cigarettes, the FDA proposing new rules trying to curb teenagers from vaping. The plan would limit the sales of fruity flavored cigarettes at certain retail stores. // And we do have some good news for the housing market. The Mortgage Bank Association says loan applications to purchase homes grows by 4% last week. Lower interest rates helped it drive action in the market. // And unhappy with your job or you might wanna help some other people to find a job. That’s because a new survey from Glassdoor ranks recruiting manager No. 1 on the list of the most satisfying jobs, running up top three, dental hygienist and sales operations manager. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Connell McShane.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, March 7, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Scott Goldberg. Congressional Democrats already in a standoff with the White House over Jared Kushner's security clearance now want information on Ivanka. House Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings said his committee wants details about Ivanka Trump’s security clearance. "Of course, we want to know information.” President Trump overruled intelligence professionals concerned about giving his son-in-law Jared Kushner security clearance, and the President also reportedly pressured his staff to give one to his daughter. “We just want to make sure that the process is proper.” The White House has resisted turning over information about security clearances. Cummings said he prefers voluntary compliance to a subpoena. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, New York.

2) During an emotional Senate hearing on sexual assault in the military, Senator Martha McSally revealed what she said was a rape by a superior officer while she was serving in the Air Force. “So this is personal for me too, but it’s personal from two perspectives. As a commander who led my airmen into combat, and as a survivor of rape and betrayal. I share the disgust of the failures of the military system and many commanders who failed in their responsibilities.” The Arizona Republican says she didn’t report being raped because she didn’t trust the system.

3) President Trump was asked in an Oval Office meeting about new satellite images that indicate North Korea’s restoring facilities at the long-range rocket launching site. The facility had been dismantled last year. “I would be very disappointed if that were happening. It’s a very early report. We’re the ones that put it out, but I would be very, very disappointed in Chairman Kim and I don’t think I will be, but we’ll see what happens. We’ll take a look.” This, one week after the second nuclear summit with Kim Jong-un ended without a deal.

4) Singer R. Kelly has been taken into custody in Chicago following a court appearance in his unpaid child support case.

5) On Wall Street, stocks closed lower today. The Dow lost 133 points, the NASDAQ lost 70. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street, the major averages closing lower for a third consecutive session, showing global economic growth in uncertainty about the outcome of continuing trade negotiations looming over Wall Street. The Dow decliners today include Walgreens, Pfizer and Caterpillar, while DowDuPont and Cisco were among the Dow winners, with the Dow closing down 133 points, NASDAQ down 70, S&P 500 down 18. // And the U.S. trade deficit soaring to a 10-year high in 2018 despite the Trump Administration slapping tariffs on a range of imported goods in an effort to shrink the gap. // And an emotional day at the sprawling General Motors assembly plant near Youngstown, Ohio, the Lordstown facility will be idle today after more than 50 years producing cars with the last Chevrolet Cruze coming off the assembly line. Seventeen hundred hourly positions will be eliminated there by the end of the month. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, February 28, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Chuck Sivertsen. A racist, a con man and a cheat as the President Trump’s former personal lawyer describes his ex-boss Michael Cohen at an all-day hearing with the House Oversight Committee, saying the President reimburses him for illegal hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, flaunting a copy of the check allegedly signed by the President. Cohen also said the President implicitly directed him to lie the Congress about the Trump Tower project in Moscow after Mr. Trump guessed wrong about his White House bid. “He never expected to win the primary. He never expected to with the general election. The campaign, for him, was always a marketing opportunity.” Cohen also testified Mr. Trump told him to put the heat on his own matters. “I am talking about a man who declares himself brilliant but directed me to threaten his high school, his colleges and the College Board to never release his grades or SAT scores.” Fordham University confirms they got a letter from Cohen threatening legal action if his records became public. Cohen who reports to prison in May acknowledges he is assisting in other investigations. He would not seek or accept a pardon from the President, who earlier tweeted his former fixer is lying now to cut his prison term.

2) President Trump is in Vietnam, meeting with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un at a second nuclear summit. The President says he hopes to build on the work from last year’s summit in Singapore. Here’s, we hear from ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz in Hanoi. There’s a long way to go. “There has been no significant progress on denuclearization. Kim’s not tested nuclear weapons. President Trump is right about that, but the intelligence community has concluded that the nuclear threat remains and that Kim is unlikely to give up his nuclear weapons.” The two leaders met briefly accompanied only by their interpreters and ate dinner together. Formal talks take place tomorrow. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street, stocks closing mixed as investors digested the latest batch of corporate earnings results and weighed comments from the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer who told lawmakers that much remains to be done with China on the trade deal, but there has been real progress towards that goal. // With the Dow closing down 73 points, the NASDAQ up 5, S&P 500 down 2. Boeing, Exxon and Caterpillar were among the Dow leaders today, while UnitedHeath Group, DowDuPont and Home Depot were among the decliners. // And shares of Best Buy soaring closing 14% higher after the electronics retailer reported some big holiday sales numbers, getting a big boost from the surging popularity of the Fortnite Video Game which spurred purchases of headphones and other accessories. Best Buy delivering a better-than-expected 3% increase in sales at established stores for its fourth quarter. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

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.