BBC在线收听下载:特朗普坚持要在美墨边境建墙

BBC news with Stuart Macintosh.

President Trump is due to meet congressional leaders to discuss the budget dispute that closed government departments, leaving 800,000 federal workers without pay. Earlier, Mr. Trump said he was prepared to maintain the shutdown for as long as it took, for the Democratic Party to give in to his demand for $5 billion for his border wall.

The family of a U.S citizen held on spying charges in Moscow have told the BBC he has been visited by consular officials. Paul Whelan's brother David said the family was told he looked healthy. Washington has said it wants to learn more about the charges against Paul Whelan. His family say he is innocent.

Brazil's new economy minister Paulo Guedes has said the new far-right government will start a privatization program which will include the mining and energy sectors. Guedes said he will also introduce austerity measures and cut taxes.

There has been an uneasy start on this year's trading amid continued uncertainty about the global economic outlook. There were falls in Asia, and the downward trend continued in Europe and the U.S, although both have now regained most of the early losses.

A boat carrying New Year revelers has capsized off the coast of Guinea, killing at least 2 people. Officials told the French news agency that at least 30 other passengers are missing.

Greece has conferred citizenship on three migrant fishermen who rescued dozens of people trapped on the shore by a raging wildfire near Athens last July. President Pavlopoulos said the men who are originally from Egypt and Albania exemplified the spirit of European humanism.

NASA revealed the first clear images of Ultima Thule, the most distant object ever visited by a spacecraft. They showed an icy figure of modern appearance which looks a bit like a snowman. The pictures were taken by the space probe New Horizons.

That's the BBC news.