Biden expresses optimism as debt ceiling negotiations push toward critical default deadline

Biden expresses optimism as debt ceiling negotiations push toward critical default deadline

Hard-line Republicans in the House of Representatives have threatened to block any bill that does not meet their expectations, including sharp spending cuts. Progressive Democrats have also threatened to withhold support for some of the compromises raised, particularly around imposing new work requirements on federal anti-poverty programmes.

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Britain’s TV station says it probed rumours of cheating gay staffer but found no smoking gun

Britain’s TV station says it probed rumours of cheating gay staffer but found no smoking gun

Schofield, who had co-presented This Morning with Willoughby since 2009, said last week he decided to leave the show because it had “become the story”. He started at This Morning in 2002 as a temporary presenter before becoming a permanent fixture at the show.

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Chelsea is a club where players oversleep, arrive late for bus, but it’s manager who gets the stick  

Chelsea is a club where players oversleep, arrive late for bus, but it’s manager who gets the stick  

At least one player has had a post-training nap and missed the team bus, half of dozen of squad have openly admitted they want to leave and some haven’t bothered to tie their laces ahead of training. The Blues squad is overcrowded, with it revealed that players often have to sit on the floor in team meetings – a situation that contributed to the downfall and eventual sacking of Graham Potter.

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Thousands of exhausted South Sudanese refugees leap ‘out of the frying pan, into the fire’ at home

Thousands of exhausted South Sudanese refugees leap ‘out of the frying pan, into the fire’ at home

Years of fighting between government and opposition forces in South Sudan killed almost 400,000 people and displaced millions until a peace agreement was signed nearly five years ago. Enacting a solid peace has been sluggish: The country has yet to deploy a unified military and create a permanent constitution.

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‘Only an evil state can fight against clinics’, Ukrainian president says of Russian attack on hospitals

‘Only an evil state can fight against clinics’, Ukrainian president says of Russian attack on hospitals

Moscow has dismissed allegations that its soldiers have committed war crimes and denies deliberately targeting civilians although it has bombarded cities across Ukraine since invading 15 months ago. Moscow said earlier on Friday Ukraine had struck two regions in southern Russia with a rocket and a drone, but the missile was shot down.

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De-dollarisation: Why world trade can’t shed King Dollar even as fallout with China, Russia rolls on

De-dollarisation: Why world trade can’t shed King Dollar even as fallout with China, Russia rolls on

Many currencies, from the Hong Kong dollar to the Panama balboa, are pegged against the dollar for similar reasons. The almighty dollar has had a lock on commodity trading, allowing Washington to hinder market access for producer nations from Russia to Venezuela and Iran.

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Rest in power: Glowing tributes flow in as pop idol Tina Turner, 83, returns to the pavilion – forever

Rest in power: Glowing tributes flow in as pop idol Tina Turner, 83, returns to the pavilion – forever

Sometimes nicknamed the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Turner won six of her eight Grammy Awards in the 1980s. In that decade she landed a dozen songs in the Top 40, including “Typical Male,” “The Best,” “Private Dancer” and “Better Be Good to Me.”

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Unstoppable singer and pop icon Tina Turner turns last page of her life at 83, waves goodbye forever

Unstoppable singer and pop icon Tina Turner turns last page of her life at 83, waves goodbye forever

Turner was among the first celebrities to speak candidly about domestic abuse, becoming a heroine to battered women and a symbol of resilience to all. Ike Turner did not deny mistreating her, although he tried to blame Tina for their troubles. When he died, in 2007, a representative for his ex-wife said simply: “Tina is aware that Ike passed away.”

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Trump makes video appearance in New York criminal case, trial date set for primary in March

Trump makes video appearance in New York criminal case, trial date set for primary in March

Trump said little during the hearing, but lashed out afterward on social media, writing: “Just had New York County Supreme Court hearing where I believe my First Amendment Rights, ‘Freedom of Speech,’ have been violated, and they forced upon us a trial date of March 25th, right in the middle of Primary season.”

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Vinícius Júnior: Racism is rife in Spain’s La Liga, rivals think it’s normal as federation and opponents cheer it

Vinícius Júnior: Racism is rife in Spain’s La Liga, rivals think it’s normal as federation and opponents cheer it

Madrid regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who has become a lightning rod for culture war issues before local elections on Sunday, retorted that Spain “is not a racist country,” adding that anyone who said so was “lying.”

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