US debt default, buying houses for staff, and the return of push buttons

Business Today: the best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk

US president Joe Biden.
US president Joe Biden.

Business Today

Business Today

Get the latest business news and commentary from our expert business team in your inbox every weekday morning

“The United States is not a deadbeat nation; we pay our bills,” US president Joe Biden has said in advance of crucial talks with congressional leaders this week about raising the country’s debt ceiling.

The new negotiations come as the White House has warned that any US debt default – caused by a standoff with Republicans who control the House of Representatives – would have catastrophic consequences for the economy. Martin Wall reports.

At home, Prem Group, the Dublin-based hotel operator behind the Premier Suites brand of serviced apartments, is “actively looking” to buy properties to house its staff to attract and retain workers amid soaring rents and elevated house prices, its chief executive Jim Murphy has said.

Meanwhile, Irish company Amara Therapeutics has raised €3 million in funding to help further develop its bladder health technology.

READ MORE

Finally, FT columnist Pilita Clark tells us that in some parts of the car industry, push buttons are coming back.

“I remembered this the other week when I rented a car in which nearly every button had been replaced by a touchscreen so baffling I nearly ran off the road trying to change the radio station,” she says.

Stay up to date with all our business news: sign up to our Business Today daily email news digest.

News Digests

News Digests

Stay on top of the latest news with our daily newsletters each morning, lunchtime and evening