President Donald Trump concluded his state visit to China. He met with President Xi Jinping. The visit featured business deals and discussions. President Xi issued a strong warning regarding Taiwan. Trump expressed hope for a stronger relationship. China agreed to purchase Boeing jets
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly rejected a resolution to halt the Iran war without congressional approval. The vote was tied, failing to pass. This marks the third such attempt this year, with votes becoming increasingly close. Democrats argue the Constitution requires Congress to
Canon launches full-frame EOS R6V camera with built-in cooling fan in India: Price and availabilityCanon has launched the EOS R6V camera and RF 20–50mm power zoom lens in India, targeting filmmakers, wedding shooters, and video creators. Updated on: May 14
A notice issued by the state school education department said that the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ should be made mandatory during morning assembly prayers prior to the start of classes in all schools with immediate effect. In a major move, the West Bengal government
Pop star Delta Goodrem has dramatically increased Australia's odds of winning the Eurovision Song Contest, after a stunning performance of her power ballad, Eclipse, at Thursday's semi-final. The singer is now second favourite for the competition, and is rapidly closing in on Finland
NEET UG 2026 cancelled amid paper leak row, students, parents and educators react stronglyNEET UG 2026 was cancelled amid paper leak row on May 12, 2026. CBI is currently investigating the matter. Students, parents and educators have reacted. Updated on: May 14
The airline said the move is aimed at maintaining operational stability, controlling costs and avoiding last-minute disruptions for passengers. New Delhi: Amid rising fuel costs, ongoing tensions in West Asia and continued airspace restrictions across several regions
Britney Spears’ rep reacts to claims singer was walking around a restaurant in LA with a knife: ‘She was simply…’On May 14, it was reported that Britney Spears was sharing a table at a Los Angeles restaurant when she allegedly began "screaming" and "barking." May 15, 2026
Jobs, travel, national parks - what impact will US shutdown have?
Jobs, travel, national parks - what impact will US shutdown have?
The US federal government has shut down after Republican and Democratic lawmakers failed to resolve a budget standoff.
The impasse affects the of funding government operations through October and beyond and is poised to cause widespread disruption for Americans in areas ranging from air travel to zoo visits.
The political gridlock is also expected to put 40% of the federal workforce – about 800,000 people – on unpaid leave.
Here's how its impact will be felt across the country.
A federal shutdown will hit flyers in a variety of ways, potentially leading to long security queues, and delays caused by unpaid air traffic controllers choosing to stay home rather than work for free.
Air traffic control and Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) workers are considered "essential", so they will continue to go to work in the event of a shutdown.
But they will not be paid until the shutdown ends. During the last shutdown in 2018-2019, these workers increasingly began to call in sick, leading to airport delays.
Impact will also be felt by Americans planning to travel abroad, with US passport agencies warning that it could take longer than usual to process travel documents.
Federal employees are expected to be hardest hit, as they will not receive any pay cheque while the shutdown continues.
Some workers may choose to take second jobs, as they have during previous shutdowns. Employees that are not deemed to be essential will be forced to stay home. In the past, these workers have then been paid retrospectively.
Several agencies, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health are likely to furlough many workers, affecting ongoing research and experiments already in progress.
President Donald Trump, who has slashed government spending and cut federal jobs since taking office, warned repeatedly that a shutdown could accelerate further layoffs and allow him to cut services and programs he says are important to Democrats.
Contractors, who work for federal agencies but are not directly employed by the government, will miss out on work, too. These workers historically have not received any backpay, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Federal lands, including National Parks and National Forests, have been closed off to visitors during past shutdowns, since the rangers and other employees were asked to stay at home.
During the last shutdown, the Trump administration made the decision to leave parks open, with few to no federal workers there to staff them.
According to park advocates, the decision led to vandalism in parks, as visitors drove through protected landscapes, looted historical sites, and rampantly littered.
A group of more than 40 former park superintendents have appealed to the White House to completely close parks down in the event of a shutdown.
"We don't leave museums open without curators, or airports without air traffic controllers - and we should not leave our national parks open without National Park Service workers," said Emily Thompson of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks.
Washington DC's famous Smithsonian Institution museums will stay open until at least next Monday, 6 October.
On the Smithsonian website, the organisation said it had money available from years prior to help it stay open.
Animals at the National Zoo "will continue to be fed and cared for," according to the Smithsonian, which runs the zoo.
But the popular webcams will be shut off, as they have been deemed non-essential by zoo staff.
The suspension of the broadcasts will disrupt viewers peek at the zoo's pandas, lions, elephants and naked mole rats.
Medicare and Medicaid, social health programmes for the elderly and poor, will continue, but staffing shortages could lead to some interruptions for certain services.
Emergency disaster relief is also expected to be largely unaffected, however other work done by disaster agencies will be affected.
The National Flood Insurance Program will be closed, delaying some mortgages on properties that require policies from the government-run programme.
But if the shutdown drags out, it is possible that the Federal Emergency Management Administration (Fema) could run out of money for its Disaster Relief Fund.
Food assistance programmes will also be impacted, with the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) expected to rapidly run out of funds.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps) is expected to continue for longer, but is also at risk of running out of funding.
Are you a federal worker in the US? Get in touch at this link here
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Trump administration plans to hold back grant money for some Democratic-led states Why the US government might shut down and what to know Trump likely to fire ‘thousands’ of federal workers amid government shutdown Trump to meet Monday with top four congressional leaders as federal government shutdown risk looms What happens to Trump's tariffs now that a federal appeals court has knocked them down The influential Republican who helped lead Republican leader slammed over ‘false Hindu God’ remark on Hanuman statue Republican leader slammed over ‘false Hindu God’ remark on Hanuman statue Was Thomas Jacob Sanford a Democrat or Republican Trump releases ex-Republican George Santos from jail
Spotify has always been boasted as one of the best music streaming platforms. However, the pricing of the same has always been a concern in India. To tackle this situation, Spotify has finally changed the way the Premium plan works. And no kidding, you can also get the same for as low as Rs 69
2 minutes ago
PAN Card Mobile Number Change: The PAN card has become an essential document today. Without it, no financial transactions can be carried out. All necessary information on a PAN card must remain up-to-date; otherwise, difficulties may arise when attempting to use it in the future. Today
2 minutes ago
Mohali: Air India fined ₹50,000 over last-minute cancellationAirline cites runway maintenance by Airports Authority of India, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission says basic assistance not provided Published on: May 15, 2026 7:54 AM IST By HT Correspondent
2 minutes ago
Xi Jinping threw a grand welcome for Donald Trump on the first day of a visit that could reset ties between the rival superpowers. The military honour guard lined up outside the Great Hall of the People to welcome Trump, complete with a gun salute and a band playing the US national anthem
2 minutes ago
Reigan Heskey smashed home a late winner as Manchester City claimed bragging rights over bitter rivals Manchester United by winning the FA Youth Cup for the fifth time. In a repeat of the two-legged showpiece from 40 years ago, which City also triumphed in
1 minutes ago
Summer Special Trains: Ahead of the summer vacation rush, trains heading towards eastern India are witnessing heavy passenger traffic. To ease congestion and improve travel convenience, the Railways has announced several summer special trains for destinations including Dankuni and Howrah in West
1 minutes ago
Election Commission begins third phase of SIR across 16 states, 3 UTsThe SIR exercise sparked controversy after 2.71 million people were removed from voter rolls in West Bengal during last month’s assembly poll Updated on: May 15, 2026 7:52 AM IST By Harsh Yadav Share via Copy link The Election
2 minutes ago
When travelling, using pee sprays on the toilets can add an extra layer of hygiene, along with the use of disposable urination devices for women. People often control their urine for several hours a day when they have a busy work schedule, meetings or school or if they are travelling long distances
2 minutes ago
The prices of petrol and diesel were on Friday increased with immediate effect amid rising global oil prices and supply concerns amid the conflict in West Asia. In Delhi, the price of petrol increased by Rs 3 per litre to Rs 97.77 per litre from Rs 94.77 per litre. Diesel will cost Rs 99
2 minutes ago
Angel Reese opens up on Paige Bueckers friendship amid Atlanta's win vs WingsAngel Reese and Paige Bueckers, rivals on the court, share a strong friendship off it. Reese talked about their relationship before the Wings vs Dreams game. Updated on: May 15
2 minutes ago
The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation rises to 8.3% in April 2026 on an annual basis, compared with 3.88% in March and 2.26% in February. WPI Inflation Data for April 2026: India’s wholesale price inflation accelerated sharply in April 2026
1 minutes ago
Mexico City gears up for the World Cup this summer. Visitors can explore historical sites like Zocalo and Chapultepec Park. The city boasts a diverse food scene from street tacos to fine dining. Eighteen public fan zones will broadcast matches for free
2 minutes ago
Finally, a high stakes Kolkata derby in ISLWin on Sunday and the title is all but theirs, lose and they could slip to fifth Published on: May 15, 2026 8:00 AM IST By Dhiman Sarkar Share via Copy link Proof of how little separates Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal this season lies not only in
2 minutes ago
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is expected to activate e-admit card links this week for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026. With the high-stakes exam scheduled for 24 May, lakhs of aspirants are awaiting access to the official portals—upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic
1 minutes ago
OAKLAND, Calif. — Lawyers for Elon Musk and OpenAI began closing arguments Thursday in the landmark trial whose outcome could shape the future of artificial intelligence. Musk, the world's richest man, was a co-founder of OpenAI, the company that launched in 2015 and went on to create ChatGPT
1 minutes ago
Crew member dies due to electrocution on Rajinikanth's Jailer 2 set in Chennai, police launch investigationA crew member working on the set of Rajinikanth's upcoming actioner, Jailer 2, died on Thursday in a freak accident. May 15, 2026, 07:58:56 IST Written by Abhimanyu Mathur Share via Copy link
2 minutes ago
WASHINGTON, May 14 (Reuters) - Meta and Google enlisted trusted children's brands such as Sesame Street, Girl Scouts and Highlights magazine to teach kids to use technology in moderation - even as the companies designed apps that made it difficult for those same young users to unplug
2 minutes ago
The Delhi High Court’s Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Thursday initiated contempt of court proceedings against Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and several others for allegedly defaming and vilifying her on social media in connection with the liquor policy case
2 minutes ago
Going into this week's US PGA Championship, there was a fascination with how Aronimink would play and what challenge it would present. There was a strong feeling the Pennsylvania course might be ripe for being tamed. Instead of having its belly tickled and rolling over
2 minutes ago
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. The meeting comes amid a delay in portfolio allocation after the Cabinet expansion. The Public Works Department is a key point of discussion. The central leadership wants a new minister to get the influential
2 minutes ago
Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan on Thursday announced that the new Congress-led government in Kerala will be sworn in on May 18. The announcement comes days after the alliance registered a decisive victory in the Assembly elections, paving the way for a change in leadership and formation of
2 minutes ago
The Indian government on Thursday described as “unacceptable” an attack on an Indian-flagged vessel off the coast of Oman a day earlier. While the attack took place amid the war in West Asia, it was not immediately clear who carried out the strike. The dhow, or a mechanised wooden vessel
2 minutes ago
Madonna, Shakira and K-pop boy band BTS will co-headline the Super Bowl-style half-time show at this summer's World Cup final. The tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, concludes with the final in New Jersey on 19 July.Madonna
2 minutes ago
Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appeared at the Calcutta High Court to make submissions regarding post-poll violence. Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee highlighted widespread hooliganism and targeting of TMC workers. Petitioner Bikash Bhattacharya drew attention to the demolition of Muslim
2 minutes ago
Love Horoscope Today for May 15, 2026: Clear communication may begin a relationshipEmotional healing is essential; do not isolate yourself. Surround yourself with supportive people. Softness signifies strength. Published on: May 15, 2026 7:37 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link Aries Love
2 minutes ago
Prepare for an AI jobs apocalypseIt is not here yet. But governments should lay a safety-net Published on: May 14, 2026 8:52 PM IST The Economist Share via Copy link The launch of ChatGPT in 2022 ignited the artificial-intelligence boom—and elicited a chorus of warnings from AI bosses of an
2 minutes ago
Mumbai Indians secured a six-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in their IPL clash. Tilak Varma's unbeaten 75 guided MI to chase down 201 with one ball remaining. Will Jacks also contributed with a quickfire 25. Earlier, Shardul Thakur took four wickets for MI, but Punjab Kings still posted 200 for 8
2 minutes ago
