Efforts to unseat British Prime Minister Keir Starmer from within his party broke into open rebellion on Thursday (May 15, 2026), with one potential rival resigning from the Cabinet and two others positioning themselves for a future leadership challenge
Jwala Gutta 'donated 60 litres of breast milk to government hospitals in Hyderabad and Chennai' in one year: Here is whyJwala Gutta highlighted the importance of donor milk for infants in NICUs. The badminton champion shared her journey of ‘donating 60 litres of breast milk’
Is pancreatic cancer hiding in plain sight? Gastroenterologist explains the silent red flags most people ignoreDr Saurabh Sethi warns that pancreatic cancer often progresses silently, with vague symptoms like back pain and weight loss easily ignored. Family Published on: May 15
Father breaks laptop, makes student sleep on floor over 57.4% in CBSE examsThe Reddit post has sparked a discussion on the toxic environment created by some Indian households during academic cycles. Published on: May 15, 2026 12:20 PM IST By HT Trending Desk Share via Copy link A heartbreaking
China called on Friday (May 15, 2026) for a lasting truce in the West Asia and for shipping lanes to be reopened “as soon as possible”, as the strategic Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed during the war with Iran. Iran has largely blocked shipping through the vital strait since
Republicans, Democrats trade blame on first day of U.S. government shutdown
Republicans, Democrats blame each other on 1st day of U.S. government shutdown as tourist sites close
Republicans and Democrats spent the first day of the federal government shutdown blaming each other for the dysfunction, as iconic sites representing the nation's core identity — from the Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania to Pearl Harbour in Hawaii — were temporarily closed.
The Trump administration enlisted Vice President J.D. Vance for an appearance in the White House briefing room to argue, falsely, that Democrats refused to keep the government funded because they were trying to extend health coverage to people in the country illegally.
Top Democrats countered that they simply want to renew funding for health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act so that insurance premiums won't spike nationwide for American families.
Neither side said it would budge, but, as the finger-pointing persisted, the economic pain became more likely to spread — potentially putting hundreds of thousands of jobs and basic services at risk.
Callers to the White House comment line heard a recorded message from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating: “Democrats in Congress have shut down the federal government because they care more about funding health care for illegal immigrants than they care about serving you, the American people.” Several federal agencies posted overtly partisan messages on their websites blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
The White House underscored its argument by reviving a deepfake video posted by President Donald Trump of House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries in a fake moustache and sombrero, a meme that Mr. Jeffries described as bigoted. They played it on repeat in the White House briefing room, though Mr. Vance promised that the “sombrero memes will stop” when the government reopens.
Mr. Jeffries responded with a meme of his own superimposing an image of Mr. Vance with a fat head and curly, long hair. “J.D. Vance thinks we will surrender to the Republican effort to gut healthcare because of a Sombrero meme. Not happening Bro,” Mr. Jeffries wrote in a post on X.
Mr. Vance said he couldn't predict how long the shutdown might go on, but also said he didn't believe it would be lengthy because some moderate Senate Democrats might soon vote with GOP colleagues to restore funding.
“Let's be honest, if this thing drags on for another few days or, God forbid, another few weeks, we are going to have to lay people off," Mr. Vance said.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said that Mr. Trump has refused to negotiate in good faith and that the claims of Democrats closing the government for immigrants in the country illegally is a lie.
“Donald Trump says it loud and clear: He is using the American people as pawns, threatening pain on the country as blackmail,” Mr. Schumer said.
Roughly 750,000 federal workers were expected to be furloughed, with some potentially fired. Many offices were being shuttered, perhaps permanently, as the Republican President vows to “do things that are irreversible” to punish Democrats.
The White House's key policy priorities, including an aggressive deportation agenda, may continue with few disruptions. But education, environmental and other services may eventually sputter. The economic fallout could further imperil an already weakening job market, as a jobs report Wednesday by payroll processor ADP showed that private employers cut 32,000 jobs last month.
The Trump administration has also begun targeting funding projects in Democratic states.
White House budget director Russ Vought announced on Wednesday a hold on roughly $18 billion in payments to build the Hudson Rail Tunnel and the Second Avenue subway line in New York City, two projects dear to Schumer. He later announced that almost $8 billion in green energy projects would be withheld for 16 states, all states represented by two Democrats in the Senate.
The last government shutdown came in late 2018 and early 2019, during Mr. Trump's first administration. It centred on a fight between both parties over funding for a wall along the Mexico-U.S. border and lasted more than 30 days. But Congress had already passed separate funding measures then that ensured that shutdown only partially affected government services, and wasn't as widespread as this one might be.
Mr. Trump took most of the blame for the last shutdown, with an AP-NORC poll conducted during it, showing about 7 in 10 Americans said Donald Trump had “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of responsibility.
This time, about two-thirds of registered voters in a recent New York Times/Siena poll conducted before the shutdown said the Democrats should not allow the government to halt even if their demands were not met.
Still, Republicans as the party in power could also face blowback. About one-quarter of registered voters in that poll said they would blame Mr. Trump and the Republicans in Congress if a shutdown happened, while about 2 in 10 said they would place blame on congressional Democrats. About one-third said they'd blame both sides equally.
Federal courts will remain fully operational at least through Oct. 17, and potentially life-saving forecasting by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its National Weather Service haven't been disrupted.
But tours of the Liberty Bell were scrapped, and St. Louis' Gateway Arch and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston closed. Pearl Harbour National Memorial in Hawaii began on Wednesday shuttered, though officials were working with nonprofit partners to get it reopen.
At Acadia National Park in Maine, which gets 4 million visits a year, would-be hikers in search of trail maps checked empty receptacles outside the closed visitors centre. With no park rangers in sight, Jim Feather of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, and his wife were unsure about trying to tackle Cadillac Mountain, with its panoramic views of the North Atlantic coast.
“It's frustrating that they're playing politics in D.C.,” Mr. Feather said. “Their job is to pass a budget. And if they're not doing their job, what are they doing down there?”
Published - October 02, 2025 09:45 am IST
USA / Donald Trump
Source: The Hindu
Related Posts: Syria's defiant Kurds vow to 'fight until last breath' despite government push Indian-Americans donate three times more to Democrats than Republicans Democrats, Republicans fail to agree as US govt shutdown imminent - 10 points Trump’s Immigration Policies Split Republicans After Federal Agent Kills Minneapolis Nurse Republicans turn on POTUS amid shocking feud Republicans unveil plan to end partial US government shutdown US Senators to work through the weekend on shutdown as Republicans and Democrats are still far apart Republicans hyped Epstein files for long Trump calls on Republicans to scrap filibuster rule in shutdown standoff Texas Republicans back Trump over Iran - but some wary of
When world leaders sit across a dining table, the food rarely serves a purely culinary purpose. This familiar setup with a strategic warmth was once again on display in Beijing, where Donald Trump and Xi Jinping sat down for a working lunch shaped as much by politics as palate
1 days ago
India’s AI ecosystem is entering a new phase driven by collaborative platforms connecting builders, enterprises, and innovation communities at scale. As AI experimentation becomes more accessible, ecosystems such as ET AI Hackathon 2.0 are accelerating real-world innovation
1 days ago
Rathindra Bose has been elected unopposed as the Speaker of the West Bengal assembly. He is the first legislator from North Bengal to hold this prestigious position. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari proposed his name. The BJP holds a strong majority in the assembly
1 days ago
PM Modi landed, signed key deals, left UAE - all in 2 hours | Full list of pactsAmong the deals signed between India and the UAE during PM Modi's visit is agreement on framework for strategic defence partnership between both countries. Updated on: May 15
1 days ago
The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday called custodial deaths the “worst kind of crime” and a “profound failure of the constitutional machinery”, while ordering fresh inquiries in 262 cases. The court ordered fresh judicial inquiries after it was informed that the state had bypassed
1 days ago
Karuppu Twitter review: Suriya and Trisha Krishnan’s film gets a thumbs up, fans call it ‘paisa vasool’Karuppu Twitter review: Going by the early reactions, Karuppu seems to have struck the right chord, with many calling it a “solid commercial entertainer”. May 15, 2026
1 days ago
-3 Kaymer (Ger), Scheffler (US), Smalley (US), Potgieter (SA), Jaeger (Ger), Lee (Aus), Hisatsune (Jpn); -2 Conners (Can), Reed (US), Lowry (Ire), Brown (Eng), Theegala (US), Greyserman (US), Schauffele (US) Selected others: -1 Thomas (US); Day (Aus), Smith (Aus), Rahm (Spa)
1 days ago
Antique idol, brass items stolen from Chandni Chowk temple recovered; 2 heldAntique idol, brass items stolen from Chandni Chowk temple recovered; 2 held Published on: May 15, 2026 2:50 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, A 45-year-old burglar and a woman have been arrested for allegedly
1 days ago
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday announced that the NEET UG exam will move to online mode from the next academic year, a move aimed at avoiding a rerun of the paper leak in 2026 that has left lakhs of students in a limbo. Addressing a press conference
1 days ago
In the space of two days, India has crossed two pharmaceutical thresholds—one in the brain, one in the lung. Eli Lilly’s Lormalzi (donanemab), launched Wednesday, is the first drug available in India that goes after Alzheimer’s disease itself rather than just its symptoms
1 days ago
Jaipur, May 15 (PTI) Two Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel and a person they had detained died after a speeding trailer rammed into their motorcycle on the Ajmer-Bhilwara National Highway in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district, police said on Friday.Jaipur
1 days ago
'Why is Bangalore rental situation this bad?': Woman says landlord ‘randomly’ hiked rent by ₹4,000 a montha Bengaluru woman’s video about her landlord allegedly increasing her rent by ₹4,000 a month has sparked a discussion around the city’s rental crisis. Updated on: May 15
1 days ago
JBL at 80: Dave Rogers talks audio revolutions, engineering, India and AI tuningAs it was 80 years ago with innovations that defined the D130 and L100, Rogers insists JBL’s engineers set out to define industry benchmarks Published on: May 15
1 days ago
A viral Reddit post shared shortly after the declaration of Central Board of Secondary Education Class 12 results has triggered discussion online around academic pressure, toxic parenting and mental health among students in India. The post, which included a photograph of a shattered laptop lying on
1 days ago
The US has cleared around 10 Chinese firms to buy Nvidia's second-most powerful AI chip, the H200, but not a single delivery has been made so far, three people familiar with the matter said, leaving a major technology deal in limbo as CEO seeks a breakthrough in China this week.Huang
1 days ago
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (May 14, 2026) announced that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping would be making a reciprocal visit to the White House on September 24. “Thank you again, President Xi, for this beautiful welcome, and tonight, it is my honour to extend an invitation to you
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.This simple travel hack can make sure you stay hydrated during your vacationsA water bottle sling bag keeps hydration close at hand and saves you from carrying a heavy backpack through
1 days ago
CEO spends ₹96 lakh a year for roles that bring ‘zero revenue’, shares whyThe CEO’s post about roles that are important even if they don't generate revenue has resonated with many. Published on: May 15, 2026 8:34 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link Many founders view hiring
1 days ago
' South Korean said on Friday it remained committed to a planned strike starting next week, even after the company proposed resuming without conditions, sending shares down as much as 5.9%.Government-mediated negotiations between the union and the company over pay and bonus schemes collapsed this
1 days ago
NFR installs automatic weather stations to improve railway safety during monsoonNFR installs automatic weather stations to improve railway safety during monsoon Updated on: May 15, 2026 11:11 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Guwahati, The Northeast Frontier Railway on Friday said it has started
1 days ago
Apple’s two-year-old partnership with OpenAI has become strained, with the AI startup failing to see the expected benefits from its deal with the iPhone maker and preparing possible legal action, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday
1 days ago
Indian markets open lower as fuel price hike dampens investor sentimentOn Friday, Indian equity markets opened down amid a national fuel price hike. The BSE Sensex fell 64.22 points, while Nifty IT gained. Published on: May 15, 2026 10:07 AM IST ANI Share via Copy link Indian equity markets opened
1 days ago
Iran’s Foreign Minister accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of direct involvement in military operations against his country during a BRICS meeting in New Delhi on Thursday (May 14, 2026), Iranian state media reported. The spat comes a day after the UAE denied a statement by
1 days ago
Gita Gopinath calls out lack of female representation at US-China high-level talksGita Gopinath's post about the all-male Xi-Trump meet has gone viral. Published on: May 15, 2026 10:06 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link Former first Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary
1 days ago
‘Breach in command chain, we take responsibility’: Govt after NEET paper leakAddressing a press conference, union minister Dharmendra Pradhan vowed strong action against those responsible for the NEET-UG paper leak. Updated on: May 15, 2026 11:13 AM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link Days
1 days ago
WBJEE Admit Card 2026 released at wbjeeb.nic.in, download link hereWBJEE Admit Card 2026 has been released. The direct link to download the hall ticket is given here. Updated on: May 15, 2026 11:03 AM IST By HT Education Desk | Edited by Papri Chanda Share via Copy link West Bengal Joint Entrance
1 days ago
Avocado toast has gained a lot of popularity over the past few years. It has become a breakfast staple, available across several cafes and restaurants. This summer season, give it a seasonal twist by adding another fan-favourite – the mango! This mango‑avocado toast is a sunny
1 days ago
