Congress

With only three days left to avoid a potential default,world leaders are urging American lawmakers to reach a deal to extend the debt ceiling.

Since Congress first passed a law that set a cap on how much debt the Treasury could accrue, it has had to raise that limit more than 100 times. And 40 of those times, lawmakers have tried to tie strings to the vote. But veterans of past fights say they have gotten more intense in recent years.

President Obama hosted the Senate's leading Democrats at the White House for more than an hour Saturday afternoon, in a session that came the same day that Majority Leader Harry Reid met with Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell.

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Authorities detained about 200 protesters, including members of Congress, at a demonstration on the National Mall on Tuesday. Rally organizers demanded that lawmakers make immigration reform a top priority amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Yellen currently serves as the Federal Reserve's vice chairwoman. If confirmed she will take over for Ben Bernanke, with whom she has worked hand-in-glove with over the past few years.

Republicans are calling for a new special panel to work out a deal to reopen government and raise the debt ceiling. Its prospects aren't very good.

President Obama said he's willing to talk about anything, as long as Republicans reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling. He took questions for more than an hour about the standoff, which has led to a partial government shutdown and has now transitioned into a fight over the debt ceiling.

There are signs that a measure to raise the limit on government spending could be introduced as early as Tuesday.