President Barack Obama and his Democrats and opposition Republicans have yet to reach a deal on how to end the government shutdown, now in its 12th day, or raise the debt limit, but they have agreed to keep talking. <img alt="" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/oct/Obama_1.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 514px;" /> Barack Obama &ldquo;We&rsquo;re obviously in a better place than we were a few days ago in terms of the constructive approach we&rsquo;ve seen,&rdquo; White House spokesman Jay Carney said after a series of meetings this week between Obama and lawmakers of both parties. Obama and John Boehner, Speaker of the Republican controlled House, spoke on the phone after a meeting with Senate Republicans at the White House following one with House Republicans. &ldquo;The two of them agreed all sides need to keep talking on the issues here that -- have led to the shutdown of the government and the situation that has put us on the precipice of potential default,&rdquo; Carney said. Obama reiterated that ongoing budget negotiations could and would cover all potential Republican concerns -- but only after the default and shutdown issues were resolved. Cannot pay ransom Obama &ldquo;appreciates the constructive nature of the conversation and the proposal that House Republicans put forward,&rdquo; said Carney. However, &ldquo;he has some concerns with it&rdquo;. &ldquo;The president&rsquo;s position is that the US should not, and the American people cannot, pay a ransom in exchange for Congress doing its job remains as true today as it has throughout this period,&rdquo; he said. Meanwhile, the finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of 20 world&rsquo;s largest economies pressed the US to head off a potentially devastating default. The US &ldquo;needs to take urgent action to address short-term fiscal uncertainties&rdquo;, the group, which accounts for 90 per cent of world output and two-thirds of its population, said a communiqu&eacute; issued at the end of a meeting here. Solving the impasse is crucial for a global economy that is showing signs of improvement but still facing &ldquo;downside risks,&rdquo; the G20 said.

Obama reiterated that ongoing budget negotiations could and would cover all potential Republican concerns -- but only after the default and shutdown issues were resolved

Day 12: US stays 'shut'

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Day 12: US stays 'shut'

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