Marketplace Morning Report

(U.S. Edition) Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR) last month to keep the government funded, but it'll come at a cost. On today's show, we'll look at how CRs can be a headache for some agencies. Afterwards, we'll discuss how Alex Azar — the next head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services —  differs from his predecessor, Tom Price. Plus: we talk to University of Chicago professor Cathy Cohen about the attitudes that millennials have toward the direction our country is heading in. (Hint: They're not exactly pleased.)

(Markets Edition) Following the recent release of the December jobs report, we'll talk to economist Diane Swonk about what's in store this year. Unemployment might drop even further and wages could (finally) start accelerating. Afterwards, we'll look at how two big Apple investors have called on the company to address the issue of "smartphone addiction." Finally, we'll discuss how big data might be able to improve cyclist safety.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … French President Emmanuel Macron kicks off a tour of China, with the goal of getting the nation to open up more on trade. Afterwards, an Iranian oil tanker burned in the East China Sea after colliding with a Chinese freight ship over the weekend. We’ll discuss whether that could give the U.S. new reasons to push for a fresh round of sanctions against the Middle Eastern nation. Then, we’ll tell you why there’s unrest in Sudan as hundreds protest the rising price of bread.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service ... For years, stock exchanges around the world have been jockeying to attract the potential public stock market debut of Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Aramco. Today, a key legal hurdle was passed, inching the estimated $100 billion listing, expected to be the biggest in history, closer to a reality. Afterwards: we're only five days into 2018 and yet markets around the world, from Tokyo to London to New York, are hitting record highs. What’s behind the rally, and can it last? Then, around 58 billion disposable coffee cups are used worldwide every year, creating mountains of waste. A U.K. government committee report out today is calling for a 25 pence ($0.34) "latte levy" on disposable cups. Will British coffee addicts stage a revolt?

(Markets Edition) The December jobs report has just been released,  revealing that the economy added 148,000 jobs and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1 percent. We'll evaluate these numbers with Jay Bryson, managing director for Wells Fargo Securities, and then take a closer look at the report's data on the retail sector and wages. Afterwards, we'll discuss the Trump administration's proposal to give leases for offshore oil and gas exploration in places where it's currently banned, and then talk about the rise of natural gas prices following the East Coast's winter storm.

(U.S. Edition) More than 200,000 jobs were added to the economy in both October and November, but that streak might not continue in 2018. On today's show, we'll discuss what job growth might look like in the upcoming year. Afterwards, we'll look at the the high costs of flu care as hospitals across the country see a spike in the number of flu hospitalizations, and then examine why the skills that workers pick up in retail might not translate to fulfillment centers.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service...Meltdown and Spectre — those are the two bugs you need to know about today. Intel confirmed that its chips are vulnerable to the security flaw, and security experts have said firms using cloud computing services might be particularly hard hit. We tell you what you need to know to protect yourself. Afterwards, the U.S. and Turkey finally reinstated travel visas this week, but the diplomatic standoff continues after a Turkish banker was convicted in New York in connection with a massive scheme to help Iran evade U.S. sanctions. We get the view from Ankara, Turkey's capital. Then, a new report out today in Britain warns that rising minimum wages could harm workers. How can countries raise wages for the lowest paid workers while also ensuring jobs aren't destroyed in the process?

(Markets Edition) With news that there are two vulnerabilities affecting nearly all of the world's computers, we'll talk to a security expert about possible remedies. Afterwards, we'll look at what the December jobs report — set to be released tomorrow — might look like, and then discuss how states as far south as Florida and Texas have been dealing with the icy, snowy weather.

(U.S. Edition) Security researchers have been scrambling for months to fix flaws in microprocessors inside almost every computer you touch. We'll discuss why the two bugs— Meltdown and Spectre — are vulnerable to hackers. Afterwards, we'll look at whether Americans really want to know how the products they purchase are made, and then explore what's known as "Fat Cat Day" in the U.K. — the point in time when the average British CEO has already earned what the average worker makes in a year.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service ...Today has been dubbed the "Day of the MIFIDs"  in the U.K. — when the biggest changes to European financial regulation since the financial crisis come into effect. So will it actually make investing in Europe safer for consumers? Afterwards, it's the biggest Chinese acquisition that the Trump administration has blocked yet. What's behind the decision to prevent the Chinese internet giant Alibaba from buying the U.S. money transfer service MoneyGram? Then, on New Year's Day, President Trump vowed to cut aid to Pakistan if authorities there didn't stop playing what the U.S. calls a "double game," sometimes helping, sometimes harming U.S. troops. The reaction in Pakistan has been defiant so far, but if the president follows through with action, how will that affect a country that's been reliant on U.S. aid since the 1980s?