US President Joe Biden and top Republican Kevin McCarthy appear to be inching closer to an agreement over the US debt ceiling - even as Congress breaks up for a holiday weekend. The pair are trying to reach a deal on raising the US borrowing limit so the government can keep paying its bills. Investors' fears of the US defaulting on its debts have grown - despite assurances that talks are progressing. Mr Biden spoke of "several productive conversations" with Mr McCarthy. During a White House event on Thursday, the president said his staff remained in conversation with the team of Mr McCarthy, the House speaker - ... (full story)