Washington Marks Russia Day with Message of Support and Call for Lasting Peace
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended congratulations to the Russian people on the occasion of Russia Day, marked annually on June 12
The US Congress has passed a bill that would end the partial government shutdown and prevent the country from crashing into the debt ceiling, but it’s only a temporary fix, and there are signs of more fights to come.
The GOP-led House gave the final stamp of approval to the Senate-brokered bill, passing it easily late Wednesday night. But it wasn't Republicans who made it happen; a majority of that party's caucus actually voted against the measure, which only passed because of overwhelming Democratic support.
The debt cushion now extends through February 7, with current spending levels being authorized through January 15.
After all, the bill doesn't address many of the contentious and complicated issues -- from changes to entitlement programs to tax reform -- that continue to divide Democrats and Republicans.
"We think that we'll be back here in January debating the same issues," John Chambers, managing director of Standard and Poor's rating service, told CNN on Wednesday night "... This is, I fear, a permanent feature of our budgetary process."
The bill was on its way to President Barack Obama's desk late Wednesday night.
"I will sign it immediately," Obama said Wednesday night, as cited by CNN. "We'll begin reopening our government immediately."
Federal workers should expect to return to work Thursday morning, the director of the Office of Management and Budget said.
"Now that the bill has passed the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, the president plans to sign it tonight and employees should expect to return to work in the morning, director Sylvia Mathews Burwell said.
"Employees should be checking the news and OPM's (Office of Personnel Management's) website for further updates."
The European Commission has confirmed that Bulgaria meets the inflation criterion necessary for joining the eurozone
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stated that Serbia has been secretly rearming its military in recent years
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation on the evening of June 20, focusing on the ongoing Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast and the broader implications of recent statements by Russian officials
At a meeting in Luxembourg on June 19, the finance ministers of EU member states unanimously endorsed the Eurogroup’s recommendation for Bulgaria to adopt the euro starting January 1, 2026
Russia may be heading into a recession, Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov admitted during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
As hostilities between Israel and Iran stretch into their second week, European powers are intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent a broader regional war
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