America is inching closer to default after the latest effort to reach agreement on raising the debt ceiling failed.
The White House has rejected a new plan by Republican House leaders to avoid a disastrous debt default - calling it a "ransom" demand.
The US must raise its 16.7 trillion dollar debt limit by midnight tonight or risk defaulting on payments.
Republicans and Democrats have been accused of playing politics - as the country is in its third week of shutdown.
Juliette Gash reports;
