After ten days of no talks in the U.S., things have begun to move. President Barack Obama and Republican leader, John Boehner, sat down for talks on Thursday about the partial U.S. government shutdown and the possible debt crisis. Their discussions didn't lead to any certain answers, but analysts are positive because talks are happening. Republican Eric Cantor said the talks were "very useful" and "clarifying." Hopes are that the two sides will agree on a temporary increase to the $16.7 trillion U.S. debt limit. Failure to do this by October 17 could be very bad for the global economy.

A poll found 53 per cent of those surveyed blamed Republicans for the shutdown, while 31 per cent blamed President Obama. Other countries can't understand what is going on in the U.S. The Times of India said it was "chilling" that US politicians are playing "a game of brinkmanship" that is similar to exploding a nuclear bomb over their economy. A UAE businessman commented that there was something badly wrong with a system that "leaves a country without direction, in stagnation, without a budget and potentially without the [ability to pay] its debts."