Description
Added on the 23/05/2023 21:40:49 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
President Joe Biden will still leave Wednesday for the G7 summit in Japan but is reevaluating the rest of his planned tour of Asia, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council John Kirby tells reporters, as the White House negotiates with Republican leaders to avoid a US debt default. Until now the president had planned to also visit Papua New Guinea and Australia after the G7 meeting in Hiroshima. SOUNDBITE
The US House of Representatives votes to raise the federal debt limit, moving the country a step closer to eliminating the threat of a calamitous credit default -- just five days ahead of the deadline set by the Treasury. The deeply divided lower chamber of Congress voted 314 to 117 to suspend the borrowing cap through 2024, and the Senate is expected to follow suit before the end of the week. IMAGES
The White House calls the latest negotiations with Republicans on avoiding a US debt default "productive." "The team has had productive discussions," Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says. The upbeat assessment comes a week before the estimated "X date" when the government will run out of money if Republicans controlling the House of Representatives do not agree to authorizing more borrowing. SOUNDBITE
Republicans in the US House of Representatives pass a bill that will raise the national borrowing limit, but only in conjunction with drastic spending cuts, as they seek to avert a potentially ruinous looming credit default. IMAGES
The White House will not engage in "any negotiation over the debt ceiling" with Congress where Republicans now control the House of Representatives, says press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. SOUNDBITE
Supporters of Zambian President Lungu hold a rally in Lusaka during a tense presidential race, which has been marked by clashes between rival supporters. The presidential election will take place on Thursday. IMAGES.