U.S. & China

The U.S. Treasury Department formally removed China’s designation as a currency manipulator in a report released Monday afternoon. The news comes as the U.S. is expected to sign a phase one trade deal with China at the White House on Wednesday.

Tonight’s Democratic Debate

Six presidential hopefuls will take the stage in Iowa at 9 PM ET tonight for the seventh Democratic debate of the election season, broadcast live on CNN. In other 2020 election news - New Jersey Senator Cory Booker dropped out of the race yesterday.

Volcano Eruption in the Philippines

A small volcano near Manila erupted on Sunday, sending a massive cloud of ash and smoke some forty miles north towards the Philippine capital. Schools and business in Manila remained closed on Monday as the volcano continues to spew ash, while seismologists warned a more severe eruption could occur at any time.

There and Back Again

Away co-founder Steph Korey has reportedly reversed her decision to step down as CEO after a report from The Verge last month alleged that she helped to foster a toxic work culture at the company. Korey will now become co-chief executive with her would-be replacement, former Lululemon COO Stuart Halsden.

Earn your Stripes

On Monday, Visa announced a deal to acquire fin-tech startup Plaid for $5.3 billion. Plaid currently provides its services to high-profile apps such as Venmo and Robinhood, and the company has previously said that one in four Americans with bank accounts use their technology through an app.

Good Moon Rising

Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended the day at new record highs ahead of the U.S. and China ‘phase one’ trade deal signing on Wednesday. Another notable performer on Monday was Tesla, whose stock climbed nearly 10 percent on the day as the company’s share price broke $500 for the first time.

Good Shepherd

Patsy, a 6-year-old terrier/shepherd mix, is being hailed internationally as “The Corryong Wonder Dog” for her heroism amidst the widespread brush fires that have devastated Australia. As the flames approached Corryong early New Year’s Eve morning, Patsy’s owner Stephen Hill saw the fire approaching his sister’s nearby farm, and the two quickly ran over to help.

Patsy immediately started herding the farm’s sheep, who were scattered all over a nearby field. Working quickly, she was able to usher the whole herd safely into a barn, while Stephen and his sister fought off the flames with a water pump. Due to Patsy’s timely intervention, 220 sheep were saved from the fires, and one family was especially proud of their good dog.

Walk It Out

In 2005, Adam Gorlitsky became paralyzed from the waist down in a car crash and feared that he would never walk again. But this past Saturday, Adam did the unthinkable - he finished the Charleston Marathon (all 26.2 miles) in record-breaking time. With the help of a robotic ReWalk Exoskeleton, Adam completed the race in 33 hours, 50 minutes, and 24 seconds, beating the previously held Guinness World Record by three hours.

Adam has been walking with the help of an exoskeleton since 2015, and has participated in over 30 races across the nation since then. He created his nonprofit organization - I Got Legs - in 2016 to help those with limited mobility gain access to robotic skeletons. Adam is walking proof that with strength, hope, support, and persistence, anything is possible.