The government shutdown that has hobbled Washington, risks mass disruption to flights and has brought misery to hundreds of thousands of federal workers is now the longest in US history.
On Wednesday, the shutdown marked 36 days since it went into effect on October 1, passing the previous longest government closure of 2018-19 that lasted 35 days.
US President Donald Trump accused “kamikaze” Democrats of being prepared to destroy the country as the shutdown continues and demanded Republican senators end the filibuster, a Senate rule that requires 60 of the 100 members to pass most legislation.
Ending the filibuster has long been known as the “nuclear option” in US politics as it would mean ruling parties have zero need to form consensus with the opposition. Most senators are against the move because they fear what would happen when the opposing party eventually reclaims power.
About 1.4 million federal workers, from air-traffic controllers to park wardens, remain on enforced leave or are working without pay. Some courts are using emergency funds to stay open, and warning that operations could slow if the shutdown drags on.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration sounded the alarm over turmoil at airports nationwide if the crisis drags on until next week.
“You'll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don't have the air-traffic controllers,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told a news conference in Philadelphia.
More than 60,000 air-traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are working without pay and many airport workers calling in sick. Similar disruption was a major factor in Mr Trump bringing an end to the 2018-19 shutdown in his first term.
Federal agencies have ground to a halt since Congress failed to approve funding past September 30, and the pain has been mounting as welfare programmes – including assistance for millions of Americans to buy food – hang in the balance.
The shutdown fight centres on federal subsidies for certain types of health insurance. The Republicans want to end pandemic-era help; the Democrats want to keep it in place. If the cuts happen, as many as four million people could lose their coverage as insurance premiums rocket, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans seem willing to compromise but pressure is mounting to get something done, particularly ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday later this month that is expected to bring record air travel.
Mr Trump sees ending the filibuster as a way out of the crisis. He has held firm on refusing to negotiate, telling CBS News in an interview broadcast on Sunday that he would “not be extorted”.
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Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
RESULTS
Tottenham 1
Jan Vertonghen 13'
Norwich 1
Josip Drmic 78'
2-3 on penalties
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
MATCH DETAILS
Barcelona 0
Slavia Prague 0
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Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
MATCH INFO
Argentina 47 (Tries: Sanchez, Tuculet (2), Mallia (2), De La Fuente, Bertranou; Cons: Sanchez 5, Urdapilleta)
United States 17 (Tries: Scully (2), Lasike; Cons: MacGinty)
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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