US debt ceiling: Joe Biden expected to sign legislation two days before deadline June 3, 2023 President Joe Biden is expected to sign legislation to raise the US debt ceiling, just two days before the US Treasury warned that the country would struggle to pay its bills. The bipartisan measure, which was approved this week by the US house and senate, eliminates the potential for an unprecedented government default. “Passing this [...]
US Senate approves debt ceiling bill narrowly avoiding traumatic default June 2, 2023 The US Senate approved a deal to lift the debt ceiling yesterday, avoiding a traumatic federal default by a matter of days. 63 senators backed the proposals on Thursday night after the deal secured bipartisan support in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of voting that the Bill’s [...]
US debt ceiling: “Agreement in principle” to end default showdown May 28, 2023 The White House has reached an “agreement in principle” with the Republicans on a deal to limit federal spending and resolve a looming debt crisis, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has confirmed. The deal on a two-year budget is believed to include a debt-limit increase and enhanced work requirements for food aid. Mr McCarthy said he [...]
Mike Lynch: UK tech tycoon who founded software firm Autonomy is extradited to US May 12, 2023 British technology tycoon Mike Lynch has been extradited to the US to face criminal charges. The founder of software firm Autonomy, who was once dubbed the UK’s Bill Gates, will stand trial on charges including fraud, which he denies. It comes weeks after he lost an appeal last month following an almost four-year court battle [...]
Cleverly talks down hopes of US trade deal on Washington trip May 10, 2023 Foreign secretary James Cleverly has talked down hopes of a UK-US trade deal during a visit to Washington DC. Speaking in the US on Tuesday, Cleverly said the government was not “prioritising” a free trade agreement (FTA) but aiming for “real economic coordination” with the superpower. His comments came at a press conference with US [...]
Ukraine ‘downs Russian hypersonic missile’ May 6, 2023 Ukraine’s air force claims to have downed a Russian hypersonic missile over Kyiv using Patriot defence systems recently acquired from allies. It is the first known time the country has been able to intercept one of Moscow’s most modern missiles. Air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said on Telegram that the Kinzhal-type ballistic missile was intercepted [...]
Joe Biden confirms 2024 White House run – meaning oldest president in history would be 86 at end of second term April 25, 2023 US president Joe Biden has confirmed he is running for reelection to the White House in 2024. The announcement came in a three-minute long video posted to Biden’s personal Twitter feed. His pitch to US voters opens with the word ‘Freedom’ and is narrated by the 46th president himself. The Democratic Party is almost certain [...]
Post Brexit UK-US trade deal talks still on ice as Biden visits Northern Ireland April 12, 2023 Talks between the US and the UK on a post-Brexit free trade deal are not expected to resume until 2025, according to reports. Prime minister Rishi Sunak and US president Joe Biden are not said to have discussed the matter during a visit to Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday [...]
‘An evil act of targeted violence’: Five dead after US bank worker livestreams Kentucky shooting spree April 11, 2023 A Louisville bank employee armed with a rifle killed five people at his workplace on Monday morning while livestreaming the attack on Instagram, authorities said. Police arrived as shots were still being fired inside Old National Bank and killed the gunman in an exchange of gunfire, Louisville Metro Police Department chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said. The [...]
China sends warships and jets towards Taiwan April 8, 2023 China has sent warships and dozens of fighter jets towards Taiwan, the island’s government said. The move came in retaliation for a meeting between the US House of Representatives speaker and the president of the self-ruled island democracy claimed by Beijing as part of its territory. The Chinese military announced the start of three-day “combat [...]