NEW YORK (AP) - Sharp drops hit Wall Street as technology stocks sank even more and bitcoin's price plunged again to roughly half its record set in the fall. The S&P 500 fell 1.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.6%. Bitcoin fell below $65,000, while gold and silver prices resumed their sharp slides.

PRAGUE (AP) – A new Czech coalition government led by populist billionaire Andrej Babiš took office on Monday with an agenda to steer the country away from supporting Ukraine and reject some key European Union policies.

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the situation in Iran in a wide-ranging call as the U.S. administration pushes Beijing and others to further isolate Tehran. Trump said the two leaders also discussed a broad range of other critical issues in the U.S.-China relationship.

PRAGUE (AP) – Populist billionaire Andrej Babiš was sworn in Tuesday as the Czech Republic’s new prime minister, following October’s parliamentary election, as the next government is expected to steer the country away from supporting Ukraine and reject European Union policies on issues like the environment.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says it would be “up to the president” whether or not to sue Kevin Warsh, if he fails to lower interest rates. During remarks at a private black-tie dinner of the elite Alfalfa Club on Saturday night, Trump said he might sue his newly selected Fed chair nominee if he didn’t lower interest rates.

PRAGUE (AP) – Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines said on Monday it has signed an agreement to acquire the biggest Czech airline, Smartwings, along with its owner, Czech Airlines, from Prague City Air.

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

PRAGUE (AP) – Populist billionaire Andrej Babiš said on Thursday he would get rid of his major businesses by moving them to an independent trust in order to be able to become the prime minister again.