United States Treasury has warned that the US government will be unlikely to meet payment obligations by early June if the debt ceiling is not raised.
The date is earlier than the Treasury estimated in January, indicating that the United States financial situation is more precarious than previously thought.
In a letter to Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, published on Monday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen asked Congress to increase the government's debt ceiling before this date or to suspend its implementation in order to prevent economic turmoil.
After reaching the borrowing cap of $31.4 trillion on January 19, Yellen informed Congress that the Treasury would use cash receipts and extraordinary cash management measures to continue making payments on debt, federal benefits, and other expenditures at least through June 5.
Previously, economists had predicted Washington's debt would increase to the set limit by the end of early August and the collection of less-than-expected tax revenues will speed the process.
Experts believe the US could default on its obligations if the debt ceiling is not raised by the summer, triggering an economic downturn that could result in a recession, create an unemployment crisis, and damage the country's reputation as a safe haven for investors.
The economic outlook is also clouded by a deepening rivalry between Biden and Republican lawmakers, who are demanding drastic spending cuts in exchange for more government borrowing power.
For the past two months, the White House has refused to talk to McCarthy and has demanded that the Republican-controlled Congress unconditionally approve the increase in the debt ceiling.
The president accused Republicans of holding the economy hostage to politically motivated demands and said he would discuss spending issues only in the context of the budget, not in relation to the debt ceiling....more below
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/05/02/702599/US-debt-default-will-cause-economy-crash
The prices of some life-saving medicines have soared to levels that are unaffordable for ordinary people in Venezuela as the United States has ramped up military presence in the Caribbean off Venezuela's coast, alongside escalating sanctions, blockades and military threats against the oil-rich South American nation since late August.
https://www.presstv.ir/default/Embeded/761400
At a northeastern suburb in the capital city Caracas, locals can still purchase most of the commonly used medicines at a major supermarket, where some antibiotics have been sold out, and some first-aid medicines and supplies have become too costly for ordinary residents.
"I'm here mainly to buy antibiotics. I have problems with my lungs. But I can't get all I want, such as vancomycin," said a resident named Alfonso.
"Recent tensions have affected the supplies and prices of drugs. The prices of cancer drugs, insulin drugs and albumin are very high, and most patients here cannot afford them," said Giovanna Gonzalez a ...
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is prepared to use military force to achieve the goals of its special military operation if Ukraine continues to delay peace talks.
During an inspection of a Russian armed forces command post on Saturday, Putin stressed that Moscow will not allow Kiev’s obstruction to prevent progress.
“If the Kiev authorities do not want to resolve the matter peacefully, we will accomplish all the tasks before us in the course of the special military operation by military means,” he said.
The Russian leader noted that the Ukrainian authorities are not moving toward a peaceful resolution, adding, “We see that even today, unfortunately, the leaders of the Kiev regime are in no hurry to resolve this conflict peacefully. I spoke about this a year ago in a speech at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Putin also received reports from Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and commanders of Russia’s “Centre” and “East” military groups.
Meanwhile, ...
