Daily Archives: 12/23/2018


US Treasury Chief Calls Top Bank CEOs Amid Market Plunge

U.S. President Donald Trump’s Treasury secretary called top U.S. bankers on Sunday amid an ongoing rout on Wall Street and made plans to convene a group of officials known as the “Plunge Protection Team.” U.S. stocks have fallen sharply in …


Trump Aide: White House, Central Bank Tension not Unusual

A White House official says tension between a president and the interest-rate setting Federal Reserve is “traditional as part of our system.” Acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney says it should come as no surprise that President Donald Trump is unhappy …


China Holds Second Vice Ministerial Call with US on Trade

China and the United States held a vice ministerial-level call on Friday, the second such contact in a week, achieving a “deep exchange of views” on trade imbalances and the protection of intellectual property, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said. …


Transitions of Power in Africa Bring Spark Hope, Worry

In 2018, sitting leaders relinquished power in South Africa and Ethiopia. Zimbabwe elected a new leader after 37 years of rule by former President Robert Mugabe. Peaceful power transitions were also seen in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mali. But while …


A Small Device with a Big Impact for Blind and Visually Impaired

Some 1.3 billion people live with some form of vision impairment, according to the World Health Organization. A team of innovators at an Israeli technology company has developed a small device to help them. As Laura Sepulveda reports from Jerusalem, …


Federal Shutdown Compounds Risks for US Economy 

Now in its 10th year, America’s economic expansion still looks sturdy. Yet the partial shutdown of the government that began Saturday has added another threat to a growing list of risks.    The stock market’s persistent fall, growing chaos in …