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☆ Biden says Sweden will 'soon' join NATO at U.S. Air Force address
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/7] U.S. President Joe Biden attends the graduation ceremony at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S., June 1, 2023. Biden, in a flag-waving commencement address in Colorado Springs, Colorado, warned graduates they will enter service in an increasingly unstable world, citing challenges from Russia and China. Biden told reporters Erdogan repeated Ankara's desire to buy F-16 fighter jets from the United States, while Biden urged Ankara to drop its objection to Sweden's joining NATO. Biden made clear the United States would not back down from the challenge posed by China amid deep strains in the relationship. China and the United States should be able to work together where we can to solve some global challenges, like climate," he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan, Sweden's, Vladimir Putin's, Antony Blinken, Steve Holland, Caitlin Webber, Heather Timmons, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Air Force Academy, REUTERS, Sweden, NATO, U.S . Air Force Academy, Nordic, F16s, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Colorado Springs , Colorado, U.S, Kevin Lamarque COLORADO SPRINGS , Colorado, Russia, China, United States, Ankara, Ukraine, Finland, Sweden, Vilnius, Lithuania, Turkey

☆ Biden trips and falls during graduation ceremony, recovers quickly
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the graduation ceremony at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 1 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden tripped and fell after handing out the last diploma at a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday, but got up quickly and walked back to his seat. The 80-year-old U.S. president fell forward, caught himself with his hands, then got up on one knee helped by three people. After Biden was helped up, he pointed behind him, seeming to indicate what he tripped over. Biden fell as he was dismounting his bicycle last June, after snaring a foot in a toe clip, but was uninjured.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Ben LaBolt, Donald Trump, Doctors, Steve Holland, Doina Chiacu, Heather Timmons, Tim Ahmann, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Air Force Academy, REUTERS, U.S . Air Force Academy, White House, Twitter, Republican, Thomson Locations: Colorado Springs , Colorado, U.S, Kevin Lamarque COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo, Russia, China

The White House, which said in January that it had received the application to jointly produce the engines in India, declined to comment. Washington maintains strict controls over what domestic military technology can be shared or sold to other countries. India is keen to get the know-how to make aircraft engines. Though it can manufacture fighter jets domestically, it lacks the ability to produce engines to power them. However, India intends to produce more than 350 fighter jets for its air force and navy over the next two decades, which could be powered by the GE 414.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Trevor Hunnicutt, Krishn Kaushik, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Heather Timmons, Jamie Freed Organizations: WASHINGTON, General Electric Co, Indian, GE, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, HAL, U.S . Congress, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, Washington, Russia, New Delhi, Ukraine, India's, United States, Chicago

☆ US does not know who is behind Moscow drone attack, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, May 31 (Reuters) - The Biden administration does not know who is responsible for a drone attack in Moscow this week, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Wednesday. The U.S. does not have "specific information that tells us who is responsible" for an attack on an apartment building in Moscow, Kirby said, adding that Ukraine had denied responsibility. Asked whether the attack was part of the Ukrainian spring offensive, Kirby said, "It is up to the Ukrainian military to explain when and how their counteroffensive starts. "We don't tell them where to strike," Kirby added, but said the U.S. does not support attacks inside Russia. Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; writing by Heather Timmons; editing by Rami Ayyub and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Biden, John Kirby, Kirby, ”, Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Rami Ayyub, Leslie Adler Organizations: White House, Thomson Locations: Moscow, U.S, Ukraine, Russia

WASHINGTON, May 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday finalized a budget agreement with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling until Jan. 1, 2025, and said the deal was ready to move to Congress for a vote. The deal, if approved, will prevent the U.S. government from defaulting on its debt and comes after weeks of heated negotiations between Biden and House Republicans. "I strongly urge both chambers to pass that agreement," Biden said, adding that he expected McCarthy to have the necessary votes for the deal to pass. The deal has drawn fire from hardline Republicans and progressive Democrats, but Biden and McCarthy are banking on getting enough votes from both sides. McCarthy dismissed threats of opposition within his own party, saying "over 95%" of House Republicans were "overwhelmingly excited" about the deal.

☆ Poor GenXers without dependents targeted by debt ceiling work requirements
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The deal targets recipients of the Supplementary Nutrition Program, or SNAP, between the ages of 50 and 54, adding new requirements that they work 20 hours a week to receive the aid. Previously, work requirements to receive SNAP ended at age 50. People who have dependents, including children under age 18 or elderly people who rely on them, or people with disabilities, are already exempt from these work requirements, and will remain so. Republicans argue that the work requirements encourage people to get back to work. However, hundreds of thousands of GenXers living below or near the poverty line are likely to be impacted by the new work requirements.

☆ Biden and McCarthy's bumpy journey to a debt ceiling deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

During months of tense exchanges over the U.S. debt ceiling, McCarthy has also taken some swipes at Biden. Arguing that Biden should meet him to discuss his demands for lifting the debt ceiling in March, McCarthy made fun of the 80-year-old president's advanced age. "I would bring lunch to the White House. But it also preserves much of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and punts the next debt ceiling showdown into 2025, which Republicans hate. Although he initially called for the debt ceiling to be raised without negotiations, he ended up making compromises.

WASHINGTON, May 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Sunday he had finalized a budget agreement with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling and that the deal was ready to move to Congress for a vote. "I strongly urge both chambers to pass that agreement," Biden said, adding that he expected McCarthy to have the necessary votes for the deal to pass. The deal has drawn fire from hardline Republicans and progressive Democrats, but Biden and McCarthy believe they have enough votes from moderates on both sides. [1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on his deal with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to raise the United States' debt ceiling at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 28, 2023. But McCarthy dismissed threats of opposition within his own party, saying "over 95%" of House Republicans were "overwhelmingly excited" about the deal.

☆ Texas Senate to deliberate on impeached AG Ken Paxton
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Rich Mckay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After hours of debate on Saturday, the House voted 121-23 to impeach Paxton, which immediately suspended him from office awaiting a final decision from the Texas Senate, where his wife, Angela Paxton, is a senator. "The ugly spectacle in the Texas House today confirmed the outrageous impeachment plot against me was never meant to be fair or just," he said, calling it a political sham. "I look forward to a quick resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have full confidence the process will be fair and just," he said. Trump, on his social media platform Truth Social, defended Paxton and wrote: "Free Ken Paxton." Paxton, who had previously served in the House and Senate, has staked out a position on the far right on divisive cultural issues.

Hours later, the Democratic president said he was confident the legislation would pass both chambers of Congress to avoid a U.S. government default. Biden and McCarthy were due to speak later on Sunday to finalize the agreement, which has drawn fire from hardline Republicans and progressive Democrats. House Republicans expected on Sunday to unveil legislation to pass the deal. But McCarthy dismissed threats of opposition within his own party, saying "over 95%" of House Republicans were "overwhelmingly excited" about the deal. The deal would also impose a 1% across-the-board spending cut should Congress fail to enact 12 appropriations bills by Oct. 1.

[1/3] U.S. President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2023. Here's what we know so far:A CAP ON DISCRETIONARY SPENDINGThe deal would suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling until January of 2025, allowing the U.S. government to pay its bills. Republicans have told their members that non-defense discretionary spending would be cut to 2022 levels, apart from veterans' healthcare, which would remain fully funded. The U.S. government will spend $936 billion on non-defense discretionary spending in 2023. However, other sources say the deal codifies relief from student loan payments while Biden's executive action providing up to $20,000 of debt relief per borrower is under review by the Supreme Court.

WASHINGTON, May 28 (Reuters) - Republican U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Sunday dismissed vehement opposition among party hardliners to a new agreement with President Joe Biden to suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, predicting that most House Republicans would support the deal. House Republicans expected to unveil legislation to pass the deal later on Sunday. But McCarthy dismissed threats of opposition within his own party, saying "over 95%" of House Republicans were "overwhelmingly excited" about the deal. "This is a good strong bill that a majority of Republicans will vote for," the California Republican told reporters in the U.S. Capitol. Progressive Democrats in both chambers have said they would not support any deal that has additional work requirements for food and healthcare programs.

A failure by Congress to deal with its self-imposed debt ceiling before June 5 could trigger a default that would shake financial markets and send the United States into a deep recession. Hours before the deal was announced, some hardline Republicans balked at McCarthy cooperating with the White House. Progressive Democrats in both chambers have said they would not support any deal that has additional work requirements. This deal does, sources say, adding work requirements to food aid for people aged 50 to 54. But Republicans and Democrats will need to battle over which ones in the months to come, as the deal doesn't specify them.

WASHINGTON, May 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy reached a tentative deal to suspend the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling on Saturday evening, ending a months-long stalemate. Biden and McCarthy held a 90-minute phone call earlier on Saturday evening to discuss the deal, McCarthy briefed his members later in the evening, and the White House and the House leader spoke afterward. [1/6] General view of the U.S. Capitol after U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) reached a tentative deal with President Joe Biden to raise the United States' debt ceiling and avoid a catastrophic default, in Washington, U.S. May 27, 2023. The long standoff on raising the debt ceiling spooked financial markets, weighing on stocks and forcing the United States to pay record-high interest rates in some bond sales. The work to raise the debt ceiling is far from done.

☆ Reaction: Biden, McCarthy debt ceiling deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, May 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy have reached a tentative deal to raise the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, ending a months-long stalemate. DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE TED LIU"Tonight, I have been informed that there is an agreement in principle between the White House and House Republicans. This was a House Republican manufactured crisis. REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BOB GOOD "I am hearing the 'deal' is for a $4 trillion increase in the debt limit. "If we didn't reach a deal … the average American person would clearly see a hit ... we had to reach some kind of conclusion here."

[1/3] U.S. President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2023. REUTERS/Leah MillisWASHINGTON, May 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and House Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Saturday reached an agreement in principle to lift the debt ceiling that would trim some U.S. federal spending. Here's what we know so far:A CAP ON DISCRETIONARY SPENDINGThe deal would suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling until January of 2025, allowing the U.S. government to pay its bills. In exchange, non-defense discretionary spending would be capped at current year levels in 2024 and increased by only 1% in 2025. INCREASED DEFENSE SPENDINGThe deal is expected to boost defense spending to around $885 billion, in line with Biden's 2024 budget spending proposal.

However just ahead of the expected call between Biden and McCarthy, Republican deal negotiator Patrick McHenry told reporters "major disagreement" remained between his party and Biden's Democrats. That's what we've offered with our approach to raising the debt ceiling, with work requirements for able bodied folks to get back in the workforce. The two sides have tentatively reached an agreement that would raise the debt ceiling by enough to cover the country's borrowing needs through the November 2024 presidential election. Republican Representative Dan Bishop reacted with anger to the idea of extending the debt ceiling through the next presidential election. A failure by Congress to raise its self-imposed debt ceiling before June 5 could trigger a default that would shake financial markets and send the United States into a deep recession.

☆ Factbox: What's in the debt ceiling deal Biden, McCarthy are negotiating?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, May 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and House Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy are nearing a deal to lift the debt ceiling that would trim some U.S. federal spending. Here's what we know so far:A CAP ON DISCRETIONARY SPENDINGThe deal under consideration would lift the debt ceiling in exchange for holding non-defense discretionary spending around current year levels. INCREASED DEFENSE SPENDINGThe deal under consideration could boost defense spending to around $885 billion, in line with Biden's 2024 budget spending proposal. COVID CLAWBACKBiden and McCarthy are expected to agree to clawback unused COVID relief funds as part of the budget deal, including funding that had been set aside for vaccine research and disaster relief. ENERGY PERMITTINGA plan to make it easier for energy projects - including fossil-fuel based ones - is expected to be part of any budget deal.

Here's the latest:ELECTRIC VEHICLE FRICTIONBiden's domestic policy is embodied in working to electrify roadways across the United States. Getting more electric vehicles on the roads is central to his climate change agenda, ensuring the vehicles are "Made in America" is part of his commitment to restore manufacturing jobs. But the IRA's consumer tax credits are tightly linked to the cars' and batteries being made in the U.S., roiling allies in Europe and Asia whose companies sell into U.S. markets. Instead, Japanese and U.S. officials struck a trade deal on electric vehicle battery minerals that expands eligibility for the $7,500 per vehicle EV tax credits in the IRA. NEW RACE FOR SUBSIDIESThe promise of corporate tax credits has renewed interest in investing in the U.S., and Europe has responded with subsidies of their own.

G7 leaders are gathering in Hiroshima on Friday with the invasion of Ukraine, now in its second year, high on the agenda. The U.S. has spearheaded tough sanctions on Russian companies, banks and individuals, and the coming announcement is designed to reaffirm world powers' resolve to support Ukraine and squeeze Moscow. "Our commitment to continue tightening the screws on Russia remains as strong as it was last year," the official said. The United States and its allies, including the European Union and Britain, have continued to ratchet up sanctions and export-control pressure on Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Thousands of targets hit with sanctions by Washington so far have included Russian President Vladimir Putin, the financial sector and oligarchs.

☆ Factbox: Biden, McCarthy debt ceiling deal - what's in, what's out
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PERMITTING CHANGESA compromise is possible on reforming the process for energy permits and White House officials say it is being actively discussed. The White House has called on Congress to pass permitting legislation that would help speed up clean energy and fossil fuel projects. The White House has for the most part ruled out Republican spending cuts. But Republicans are insistent that any debt ceiling deal will have to including spending cuts, and negotiations continue on this front. The White House has countered with a proposal for capping spending for two years.

☆ Tighter work requirements for welfare programs on table in debt ceiling talks - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The federal SNAP program helped 41.2 million Americans pay for food and groceries in 2022, costing taxpayers $119.4 billion, according to government data. The TANF program helps fewer than a 1 million families and costs about $16.5 billion a year, federal data shows. "The President has also been clear that he will not accept policies that push Americans into poverty. He will evaluate whatever proposals Republicans bring to the table based on those principles," White House spokesman Michael Kikukawa said in an email on Tuesday. Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Heather Timmons and Doina Chiacu;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/2] The United States Department of the Treasury is seen in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 30, 2020. In her second letter to Congress in two weeks, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen confirmed that the agency will be unlikely to meet all U.S. government payment obligations by early June, triggering the first-ever U.S. default. The debt ceiling could become binding by June 1, she said. She said she will provide an additional update to Congress next week as more information becomes available. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office last week said the United States faces a "significant risk" of defaulting on payment obligations within the first two weeks of June without a debt ceiling hike, with payment operations uncertain throughout May.

☆ Biden's budget vs. House debt limit bill on spending, deficits, taxes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his fellow Republicans' "Limit Save and Grow Act" is a spending reduction bill that would cut 2024 federal discretionary spending to fiscal 2022 levels and rescind signature Biden programs already approved by Congress. Republicans: The House bill would cut 2024 U.S. discretionary spending back to the 2022 level of $1.664 trillion and limit subsequent annual increases to 1% for a decade. The discretionary spending proposals would add $2.23 trillion to deficits over 10 years, offset by tax increases. Biden: Full enactment of the fiscal 2024 budget request would reduce deficits by $2.857 trillion, according to the White House. Estimates for Biden's budget request are from the White House, as CBO has not yet issued a score.

☆ Exclusive: G7 summit statement to target China's 'economic coercion'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The main G7 statement is set to include "a section specific to China" with a list of concerns that include "economic coercion and other behavior that we have seen specifically from the [People's Republic of China]," the official said on Friday. A separate "economic security statement will speak more to tools" used to counter coercive efforts from any countries responsible, including planning and coordination, the person said. The joint statement issued by all the G7 leaders every year is intended to signal that the powerful countries are aligned on a range of political and economic issues. CHINA TESTS G7 ALLIANCEThe G7 meeting will be a test of how much the members, all rich democracies, can agree on a common approach to China, the world's second largest economy. Traveling for the G7 finance meeting in Japan, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday that China had clearly used economic coercion with Australia and Lithuania.

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