USA

WASHINGTON, May 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Sunday issued a stark warning that a failure by Congress to act on the debt ceiling could trigger a "constitutional crisis" that also would call into question the federal government's creditworthiness.

Yellen sounded the alarm over possible financial market consequences if the debt ceiling is not raised by early June, when she has said the federal government could run short of cash to pay its bills.

WASHINGTON, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Three consecutive shootings happened on Friday and Saturday in the United States have killed at least 11 people and injured dozens.

In a shooting at a Texas outlet mall on Saturday afternoon, at least nine people were killed and seven others injured.

The shooter, who authorities believe was acting alone, was dead at the scene, according to the Collin County Sheriff's Office.

LIBERTY, Ky. (AP) — As Kentucky’s GOP primary campaign sprints toward the finish line, some Republicans are looking ahead to the November election with an eye toward who best can reclaim the governorship — a job that the state’s dominant party has struggled to hold despite its strong showing in other races.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — LaJoia Broughton, a 41-year-old small-business owner, considers herself a fan of President Joe Biden.

He’s provided opportunities for Black-owned business while bringing integrity to the White House, she said. Her decision for 2024 is not in doubt.

“Biden has proven himself in the last few years, and I’ll be voting for him in the next election,” said Broughton, who owns a lobbying and public affairs firm in Columbia, South Carolina’s capital city.

ALLEN, Texas (AP) — Hundreds of terrified shoppers fled in panic after a gunman stepped out of a silver sedan and opened fire at a Dallas-area outlet mall, killing eight and wounding seven before being killed by a police officer who happened to be nearby, authorities said.

The shooting in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was the latest eruption of what has been an unprecedented pace of mass killings in the U.S. Barely a week before, authorities say, a man fatally shot five people in Cleveland, Texas, after a neighbor asked him to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept.

Tehran, IRNA - A senior Russian diplomat has criticized US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan for making what he described as confusing and puzzling comments about Iran.

Addressing the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Sullivan said on Thursday that the US would take all necessary actions, including “recognizing Israel’s freedom of action,” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Contradicting himself, Sullivan, however, said Washington seeks a “diplomatic solution” with Iran.

WASHINGTON, May 6 (Reuters) - A group of 43 Republicans in the U.S. Senate said they oppose voting on a bill that only raises the U.S. debt ceiling without tackling other priorities, in a letter to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, showing they could block such a plan by Democrats.

Citing an economy "in free fall," the Republicans, led by Senator Mike Lee and including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said "substantive spending and budget reforms" need to be "a starting point" for negotiations.

May 6 (Reuters) - At least nine people were shot and wounded by a gunman at a busy mall north of Dallas on Saturday, but police said they were not yet able to confirm how many people may have died in the incident.

The gunman, who authorities said they believe acted alone, was killed by a police officer after he began firing outside of the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas, the city's police chief Brian Harvey said at a press conference.

WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden said on Friday he was not yet ready to invoke the 14th Amendment to avoid the United States defaulting on its debts as early as June 1, comments which for the first time suggested he has not ruled out the option.

"I've not gotten there yet," Biden said in an interview with MSNBC when asked about the possibility of invoking the amendment.

ATLANTA (AP) — Police arrested a man accused of opening fire inside the waiting room of an Atlanta medical practice Wednesday, killing one woman and wounding four. Workers and others in a bustling commercial district took shelter for hours during the manhunt.

Authorities swarmed the city’s midtown neighborhood shortly after noon in search of the shooter. Police said in a statement that the suspect, whom they identified as 24-year-old Deion Patterson, was captured in Cobb County, just northwest of Atlanta.