Will the US Government shut down on October 1 if the congress fails to pass federal spending bills? That is the question on everyone's mind. But shutdown is not a new phenomena for the federal government. In fact, it has shut down at least 14 times since 1981.

Decoding the first shutdown in the US

The House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, will be trying to advance steep spending cuts this week which appears to have no chance of becoming a law and can lead to the US government's partial shutdown by next Sunday. 
 
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tried to avoid that scenario by attempting to finalise a spending agreement with United States President Joe Biden this spring. However, some members of his own party issued threats of deposing him if he fails to extend support to deeper cuts, which are set to get rejected by the Democratic-dominated Senate. 
 
If Congress fails to provide funding for the new fiscal year, which starts on October 1, thousands of federal workers will be furloughed and multiple services, ranging from medical research to financial oversight, will be suspended. 
 
Generally, Congress misses that deadline and approves stopgap spending bills to avoid disruption in services while they finish their official work.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-presidential-elections-2024-new-poll-shows-joe-biden-trailing-10-points-behind-donald-trump-639409">US Presidential elections 2024: New poll shows Joe Biden trailing 10 points behind Donald Trump</a>

However, McCarthy so far has not been able to gather support for a temporary spending extension in the wake of the refusal of a group of Republicans to go along. The House is being controlled by Republicans by a narrow 221-212 majority. 
 
The stopgap bill has been put on hold by McCarthy and he will instead advance legislation which reflects conservative priorities.

<h2>House to take up four spending bills on Tuesday</h2>

On Tuesday when the House returns, four spending bills will be taken up by the lawmakers for the fiscal year ahead, which would place new restrictions on abortion access, resume construction of the Mexico-US border wall and undo a Biden administration climate initiative worth $11 billion. 
 
McCarthy said that the lawmakers, who were against the spending bills last week, are now willing to cooperate. "Apparently they're willing to work now. So we could have an opportunity," he said while speaking to the reporters on Monday (September 25). 
 
The Senate is certain to reject those spending bills, and the White House stated that Biden will veto two of them. McCarthy stated that he thinks the efforts will lead to goodwill and he will be allowed to pass a stopgap which would in turn avoid a shutdown.

WATCH |&nbsp;US: Mexico suspends main cargo train system due to migrant crisis

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However, Representative Matt Gaetz, a prominent antagonist of McCarthy, on Sunday said that he will not support a stopgap, even if it leads to a government shutdown. 
 
"If the departments of Labor and Education have to shut down for a few days as we get their appropriations in line, that's certainly not something that is optimal. But I think it's better than continuing on the current path," he stated while speaking to Fox News.

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The House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, will be trying to advance steep spending cuts this week which appears to have no chance of becoming a law and can lead to the US government's partial shutdown by next Sunday.

The House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, will be trying to advance steep spending cuts this week which appears to have no chance of becoming a law and can lead to the US government's partial shutdown by next Sunday. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tried to avoid that scenario by attempting to finalise a spending agreement with United States President Joe Biden this spring. However, some members of his own party issued threats of deposing him if he fails to extend support to deeper cuts, which are set to get rejected by the Democratic-dominated Senate. If Congress fails to provide funding for the new fiscal year, which starts on October 1, thousands of federal workers will be furloughed and multiple services, ranging from medical research to financial oversight, will be suspended. Generally, Congress misses that deadline and approves stopgap spending bills to avoid disruption in services while they finish their official work. ALSO READ | US Presidential elections 2024: New poll shows Joe Biden trailing 10 points behind Donald Trump However, McCarthy so far has not been able to gather support for a temporary spending extension in the wake of the refusal of a group of Republicans to go along. The House is being controlled by Republicans by a narrow 221-212 majority. The stopgap bill has been put on hold by McCarthy and he will instead advance legislation which reflects conservative priorities. House to take up four spending bills on Tuesday On Tuesday when the House returns, four spending bills will be taken up by the lawmakers for the fiscal year ahead, which would place new restrictions on abortion access, resume construction of the Mexico-US border wall and undo a Biden administration climate initiative worth $11 billion. McCarthy said that the lawmakers, who were against the spending bills last week, are now willing to cooperate. "Apparently they're willing to work now. So we could have an opportunity," he said while speaking to the reporters on Monday (September 25). The Senate is certain to reject those spending bills, and the White House stated that Biden will veto two of them. McCarthy stated that he thinks the efforts will lead to goodwill and he will be allowed to pass a stopgap which would in turn avoid a shutdown. WATCH | US: Mexico suspends main cargo train system due to migrant crisis However, Representative Matt Gaetz, a prominent antagonist of McCarthy, on Sunday said that he will not support a stopgap, even if it leads to a government shutdown. "If the departments of Labor and Education have to shut down for a few days as we get their appropriations in line, that's certainly not something that is optimal. But I think it's better than continuing on the current path," he stated while speaking to Fox News. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US House to go ahead with spending cuts amid shutdown risk

The abrupt resignations of several of the pilots at Indian low-cost airline Akasa Air have forced the firm to temporarily reduce its flight schedule. This has led to a legal conflict, and the airline has threatened to shut down if there are any more resignations.

Flights were disrupted because a number of pilots "abandoned their duties" and left without giving the required contractual notice period, but the airline is still on track to make investments in expanding its operations and acquiring more aircraft, CEO Vinay Dube wrote in an email to staff on Tuesday.

According to a source with direct knowledge of the proceedings, Dube's email was sent on the same day the airline's attorney warned a Delhi court that Akasa was in "crisis" and would shut down as a result of the sudden resignations.

According to the source, Akasa informed the court that it had to cancel 600 flights in August and that if the resignations continue; it may have to cancel up to 700 more in September.

"We have chosen to fly less and give up market share ... these are only short-term constraints," Reuters quoted him as saying. He also mentioned that the airline had "strong finances" and was positive about its future.

To enforce the notice period, Akasa has taken the pilots, many of whom have joined rival Air India Express, to court and filed a lawsuit against the aviation authority.

According to the aviation regulation, the notice term varies depending on the rank of the pilot and spans from 6 to 12 months.

In a statement, Akasa stated that “all our actions are aimed at creating a durable and reliable airline for the long run.”

Akasa Air’s distress call comes at a moment of extreme polarisation in India's aviation sector, where IndiGo, the largest airline in the nation, and Tata-owned Air India dominate roughly two-thirds of the market, while SpiceJet struggles to raise money and Go Air struggles to emerge from bankruptcy.

Akasa, which was established in 2022 by Dube and former IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh, had its market share decline to 4.2 per cent in August from 5.2 per cent a month earlier, according to official data.

In order to expand its international flying plans, Akasa, which has 72 Boeing planes on order, bought four more 737 MAX aircraft in June. Before the end of the year, it is expected to announce a fresh three-digit aircraft order, according to Dube.

According to Dube, Akasa received approval from India's civil aviation ministry last week to launch foreign flights. The government is currently addressing the airline's request for traffic rights, following which the company can decide on its initial destinations.

"Akasa is a well-run airline with strong finances and a solid plan," Reuters quoted him as saying.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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The abrupt resignations of several of the pilots at Indian low-cost airline Akasa Air have forced the firm to temporarily reduce its flight schedule. This has led to a legal conflict, and the airline has threatened to shut down if there are any more resignations.

The abrupt resignations of several of the pilots at Indian low-cost airline Akasa Air have forced the firm to temporarily reduce its flight schedule. This has led to a legal conflict, and the airline has threatened to shut down if there are any more resignations. Flights were disrupted because a number of pilots "abandoned their duties" and left without giving the required contractual notice period, but the airline is still on track to make investments in expanding its operations and acquiring more aircraft, CEO Vinay Dube wrote in an email to staff on Tuesday. According to a source with direct knowledge of the proceedings, Dube's email was sent on the same day the airline's attorney warned a Delhi court that Akasa was in "crisis" and would shut down as a result of the sudden resignations. According to the source, Akasa informed the court that it had to cancel 600 flights in August and that if the resignations continue; it may have to cancel up to 700 more in September. "We have chosen to fly less and give up market share ... these are only short-term constraints," Reuters quoted him as saying. He also mentioned that the airline had "strong finances" and was positive about its future. To enforce the notice period, Akasa has taken the pilots, many of whom have joined rival Air India Express, to court and filed a lawsuit against the aviation authority. According to the aviation regulation, the notice term varies depending on the rank of the pilot and spans from 6 to 12 months. In a statement, Akasa stated that “all our actions are aimed at creating a durable and reliable airline for the long run.” Akasa Air’s distress call comes at a moment of extreme polarisation in India's aviation sector, where IndiGo, the largest airline in the nation, and Tata-owned Air India dominate roughly two-thirds of the market, while SpiceJet struggles to raise money and Go Air struggles to emerge from bankruptcy. Akasa, which was established in 2022 by Dube and former IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh, had its market share decline to 4.2 per cent in August from 5.2 per cent a month earlier, according to official data. In order to expand its international flying plans, Akasa, which has 72 Boeing planes on order, bought four more 737 MAX aircraft in June. Before the end of the year, it is expected to announce a fresh three-digit aircraft order, according to Dube. According to Dube, Akasa received approval from India's civil aviation ministry last week to launch foreign flights. The government is currently addressing the airline's request for traffic rights, following which the company can decide on its initial destinations. "Akasa is a well-run airline with strong finances and a solid plan," Reuters quoted him as saying. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India's Akasa Air reduces flights as pilots leave, warns of a possible shutdown: Report

Owing to unprecedented heat, the Iranian government on Tuesday (August 1) announced a two-day public holiday, ordering all schools, banks and government agencies to shut down. The authorities also advised the elderly and people with health conditions to stay indoors, according to Iranian state media.&nbsp;

"The cabinet agreed to the health ministry proposal to declare Wednesday and Thursday public holidays all over the country to protect public health,"&nbsp;government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi was quoted as saying by IRNA.&nbsp;

Over the past 24 hours, the city of Dehloran in western Iran recorded the highest temperature of 50 degree Celsius. Meanwhile, in the southern city of Ahvaz, the temperatures exceeded 123&nbsp;degrees Fahrenheit (51 Celsius) last week.

In the&nbsp;southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, around 1,000 people have received hospital treatment in recent days because of the rising temperatures and dust storms.&nbsp;

The health ministry has stated that the risk of heatstroke from over-exposure to the Sun is high and thus outdoor workers must attempt to stay indoors, especially between 10 am and 4 pm.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-deadly-heatwaves-across-europe-us-would-be-virtually-impossible-without-climate-change-619402">Explained | Why deadly heatwaves across Europe, US ‘virtually impossible’ without climate change</a>

Prior to the total shutdown, in June, the working hours for government employees were changed. The workers now start early, in order to save electricity in offices and protect the grid from getting fried.&nbsp;

Despite hot summers being the typical feature of&nbsp;Iran, this is the first time that the government has been forced to order a shutdown. Last year, the neighbouring country of Iraq extended public holidays after temperatures breached the 125-degree barrier.&nbsp;

<h2>July, the hottest month ever recorded</h2>

The rise in temperature inclines with the records that emerged last month. Scientists declared July as the hottest month ever recorded, with continents of Asia, Europe and North America - all battling the ferocious heat. According to experts, human-induced climate change has greatly exacerbated the global warming effect, leading to sky-high temperatures.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-tries-to-fight-the-heat-with-cool-gadgets-621313">Watch |&nbsp;Japan tries to fight the heat with cool gadgets</a>

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UN Secretary-General, António Guterres warned the world saying "the era of global warming has ended" and that "the era of global boiling has arrived".&nbsp;

“Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning.&nbsp;It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C [above pre-industrial levels] and avoid the very worst of climate change. But only with dramatic, immediate climate action," said&nbsp;Guterres.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Owing to unprecedented heat, the Iranian government on Tuesday (August 1) announced a two-day public holiday, ordering all schools, banks and government agencies to shut down.

Owing to unprecedented heat, the Iranian government on Tuesday (August 1) announced a two-day public holiday, ordering all schools, banks and government agencies to shut down. The authorities also advised the elderly and people with health conditions to stay indoors, according to Iranian state media. "The cabinet agreed to the health ministry proposal to declare Wednesday and Thursday public holidays all over the country to protect public health," government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi was quoted as saying by IRNA. Over the past 24 hours, the city of Dehloran in western Iran recorded the highest temperature of 50 degree Celsius. Meanwhile, in the southern city of Ahvaz, the temperatures exceeded 123 degrees Fahrenheit (51 Celsius) last week. In the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, around 1,000 people have received hospital treatment in recent days because of the rising temperatures and dust storms. The health ministry has stated that the risk of heatstroke from over-exposure to the Sun is high and thus outdoor workers must attempt to stay indoors, especially between 10 am and 4 pm. Explained | Why deadly heatwaves across Europe, US ‘virtually impossible’ without climate change Prior to the total shutdown, in June, the working hours for government employees were changed. The workers now start early, in order to save electricity in offices and protect the grid from getting fried. Despite hot summers being the typical feature of Iran, this is the first time that the government has been forced to order a shutdown. Last year, the neighbouring country of Iraq extended public holidays after temperatures breached the 125-degree barrier. July, the hottest month ever recorded The rise in temperature inclines with the records that emerged last month. Scientists declared July as the hottest month ever recorded, with continents of Asia, Europe and North America - all battling the ferocious heat. According to experts, human-induced climate change has greatly exacerbated the global warming effect, leading to sky-high temperatures. Watch | Japan tries to fight the heat with cool gadgets × UN Secretary-General, António Guterres warned the world saying "the era of global warming has ended" and that "the era of global boiling has arrived". “Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning. It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C [above pre-industrial levels] and avoid the very worst of climate change. But only with dramatic, immediate climate action," said Guterres. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Unprecedented' heat forces Iranian government to order nationwide shutdown

Ukraine’s nuclear energy agency has put the last operating reactor at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, which is deemed Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, into a "cold shutdown" as a precautionary move after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, the agency said in a statement on Friday.

As per AP reports, five out of six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, are already in a cold shutdown state.

The Ukrainian nuclear power agency Energoatom&nbsp;released a statement on Friday saying that there was "no direct threat" to the Zaporizhzhia plant due to the breach of the Kakhovka dam, which has forced mass evacuations due to flooding and has also sharply reduced water levels in a reservoir used to help cool the facility.

Energoatom said that the last reactor was put into cold shutdown on Thursday because of several other&nbsp;factors, including shelling near the site which damaged the overhead lines connecting the plant to Ukraine's energy system.

<h2>Reservoir water still cooling Ukraine nuclear plant</h2>

The UN nuclear agency on Thursday said that Europe's largest atomic power plant is still receiving water from a dam after it was breached in the fighting in Ukraine.

"Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is continuing to pump cooling water from the Kakhovka reservoir," the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement.

Earlier, on Thursday, dam operator Ukrhydroenergo's chief said that the "water level at the reservoir had gone below the critical point of 12.7 metres (42 feet)".

"This means it could no longer supply the ponds at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station to cool the plant,"&nbsp;he said on Ukrainian television.

The IAEA said in a statement that its experts were informed that the plant had estimated after a review "that it should be able to pump water from the reservoir also after its level falls below 12.7 metres".

"So far, the results indicate that the pumps can likely still be operated even if the level drops to around 11 metres or possibly lower," the IAEA said.

The agency said the review included interviews with those "who have experience and expertise".&nbsp;

"In these difficult and challenging circumstances, this is providing some more time before possibly switching to alternative water supplies," AFP quoted IAEA head Rafael Grossi as saying.

"Nevertheless, the general nuclear safety and security situation remains very precarious and potentially dangerous," added Grossi, who plans to travel to the plant next week.

He said the extent of the damage remained unknown, and it was also not clear "when and at what level the reservoir will stabilise".

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ukraine’s nuclear energy agency has put the last operating reactor at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, which is deemed Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, into a "cold shutdown" as a precautionary move after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, the agency said in a statement on Friday.

Ukraine’s nuclear energy agency has put the last operating reactor at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, which is deemed Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, into a "cold shutdown" as a precautionary move after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, the agency said in a statement on Friday. As per AP reports, five out of six reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, are already in a cold shutdown state. The Ukrainian nuclear power agency Energoatom released a statement on Friday saying that there was "no direct threat" to the Zaporizhzhia plant due to the breach of the Kakhovka dam, which has forced mass evacuations due to flooding and has also sharply reduced water levels in a reservoir used to help cool the facility. Energoatom said that the last reactor was put into cold shutdown on Thursday because of several other factors, including shelling near the site which damaged the overhead lines connecting the plant to Ukraine's energy system. Reservoir water still cooling Ukraine nuclear plant The UN nuclear agency on Thursday said that Europe's largest atomic power plant is still receiving water from a dam after it was breached in the fighting in Ukraine. "Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is continuing to pump cooling water from the Kakhovka reservoir," the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement. Earlier, on Thursday, dam operator Ukrhydroenergo's chief said that the "water level at the reservoir had gone below the critical point of 12.7 metres (42 feet)". "This means it could no longer supply the ponds at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station to cool the plant," he said on Ukrainian television. The IAEA said in a statement that its experts were informed that the plant had estimated after a review "that it should be able to pump water from the reservoir also after its level falls below 12.7 metres". "So far, the results indicate that the pumps can likely still be operated even if the level drops to around 11 metres or possibly lower," the IAEA said. The agency said the review included interviews with those "who have experience and expertise". "In these difficult and challenging circumstances, this is providing some more time before possibly switching to alternative water supplies," AFP quoted IAEA head Rafael Grossi as saying. "Nevertheless, the general nuclear safety and security situation remains very precarious and potentially dangerous," added Grossi, who plans to travel to the plant next week. He said the extent of the damage remained unknown, and it was also not clear "when and at what level the reservoir will stabilise". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Ukraine's nuclear agency puts last reactor at Zaporizhzhia plant on cold shutdown

Operations across the Pakistan and Afghanistan border crossing, Torkham, fully resumed on early Saturday (February 25). Over a thousand trucks carrying food and pharmaceuticals crossed the key border opening nearly a week after Taliban authorities shut the busiest trading waypoint. This comes amid tensions which have frequently flared up between Kabul and Islamabad as the latter has accused the former of harbouring militants carrying out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban have denied.&nbsp;

The Torkham border crossing was reopened as of 6:00 am (local time), said Afghan customs official Muslim Khaksar, as per AFP. According to reports, previously, the Pakistan government had only opened the border to pedestrians. The border crossing in question is a key point of transit for people and goods between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan.&nbsp;

This comes after the Taliban authorities shut the border last week, on Sunday, and&nbsp;claimed that a new document by the Pakistan government restricts attendants of medical patients from entering Islamabad. However, the Pakistani government has neither confirmed nor denied this rule change.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabul-pakistan-taliban-officials-talk-on-terrorism-threat-following-deadly-attacks-564937">Afghanistan: Pakistan, Taliban officials hold talks on 'terrorism threat' following deadly attacks</a>

Director Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi also confirmed that all vehicular movement including that of cargoes has started.&nbsp;Earlier,&nbsp; Sarhadi had said that this closure has led to enormous losses to exporters and businessmen. Furthermore, reports suggest that the Afghan side opened the gate on Thursday, while the Pakistan side remained closed.&nbsp;

“Trucks carrying rice, cement, construction material, medicines and other edibles were sent to Afghanistan,” a Pakistani customs official told AFP. While lorries loaded with coal, vegetables and fruits have entered Pakistan, he added. The Pakistani official also said that around 1,400 trucks on the Pakistan side were still waiting to cross into Afghanistan.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/cash-strapped-pakistan-government-halts-clearance-of-bills-salaries-report-565831">Cash-strapped Pakistan government halts clearance of bills, salaries: Report</a>

This also comes after a gunfight erupted between Afghan Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards, last Monday, which left&nbsp;one Pakistani soldier injured. On February 22, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asid and the Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan (ISI) Nadeem Anjum held talks with the Taliban government to counter the “threat of terrorism” in Kabul.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Operations across the Pakistan and Afghanistan border crossing, Torkham, fully resumed on early Saturday (February 25). Over a thousand trucks carrying food and pharmaceuticals crossed the key border opening nearly a week after Taliban authorities shut the busiest trading waypoint.

Operations across the Pakistan and Afghanistan border crossing, Torkham, fully resumed on early Saturday (February 25). Over a thousand trucks carrying food and pharmaceuticals crossed the key border opening nearly a week after Taliban authorities shut the busiest trading waypoint. This comes amid tensions which have frequently flared up between Kabul and Islamabad as the latter has accused the former of harbouring militants carrying out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban have denied. The Torkham border crossing was reopened as of 6:00 am (local time), said Afghan customs official Muslim Khaksar, as per AFP. According to reports, previously, the Pakistan government had only opened the border to pedestrians. The border crossing in question is a key point of transit for people and goods between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan. This comes after the Taliban authorities shut the border last week, on Sunday, and claimed that a new document by the Pakistan government restricts attendants of medical patients from entering Islamabad. However, the Pakistani government has neither confirmed nor denied this rule change. ALSO READ | Afghanistan: Pakistan, Taliban officials hold talks on 'terrorism threat' following deadly attacks Director Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi also confirmed that all vehicular movement including that of cargoes has started. Earlier, Sarhadi had said that this closure has led to enormous losses to exporters and businessmen. Furthermore, reports suggest that the Afghan side opened the gate on Thursday, while the Pakistan side remained closed. “Trucks carrying rice, cement, construction material, medicines and other edibles were sent to Afghanistan,” a Pakistani customs official told AFP. While lorries loaded with coal, vegetables and fruits have entered Pakistan, he added. The Pakistani official also said that around 1,400 trucks on the Pakistan side were still waiting to cross into Afghanistan. ALSO READ | Cash-strapped Pakistan government halts clearance of bills, salaries: Report This also comes after a gunfight erupted between Afghan Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards, last Monday, which left one Pakistani soldier injured. On February 22, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asid and the Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan (ISI) Nadeem Anjum held talks with the Taliban government to counter the “threat of terrorism” in Kabul. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan, Afghanistan reopen Torkham border crossing after week-long shutdown amid tensions

Pakistani traders have rejected government’s decision to shut malls and markets by 8:30 pm. This decision came after a new energy conservation plan and called for the revocation. Watch further to know more.

WION Dispatch: Karachi malls and restaurants stay open despite Government order

The latest cost-cutting measure taken by the online retail giant Amazon is the closure of a company that has been selling fabrics for close to 30 years.

Fabric.com announced its decision to stop selling goods on its website and advised users to make purchases on Amazon in its place. The final day for clients to place orders on the fabric website is Thursday.

“As part of our regular business planning, we continually evaluate the progress and potential of our offerings and have made the decision to close Fabric.com,” <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-to-face-uk-class-action-lawsuit-for-dominating-market-using-secretive-algorithm-527098">Amazon</a> spokesperson Betsy Harden said in a prepared statement.

It’s unclear how many employees will be impacted by the closure. Harden said Amazon will work with staff to help them “identify other opportunities” at the company, including at nearby warehouses. Employees who do not stay with Amazon will be given severance, she said.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-workers-in-albany-reject-unionisation-labour-leader-calls-it-sham-election-526579">&nbsp;Amazon workers in Albany reject unionisation, labour leader calls it ‘sham election’</a>

Craft Industry Alliance was the first to break the news of the closure.

Georgia-based Phoenix Textiles Group, the predecessor to Fabric.com, was established in 1993. Before it started selling products directly to customers and launching its own website, it worked as a wholesale distributor of clothing materials for a number of years.

In 2008, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-leaked-documents-show-why-its-attrition-rate-is-so-high-526390">Amazon</a> bought the business. At the time, it was stated that doing so would enable Amazon to provide its consumers with additional sewing and craft supplies while also assisting the fabric site in growing its product variety.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The latest cost-cutting measure taken by the online retail giant Amazon is the closure of a company that has been selling fabrics for close to 30 years. Fabric.com announced its decision to stop selling goods on its website and advised users to make purchases on Amazon in its place.

The latest cost-cutting measure taken by the online retail giant Amazon is the closure of a company that has been selling fabrics for close to 30 years. Fabric.com announced its decision to stop selling goods on its website and advised users to make purchases on Amazon in its place. The final day for clients to place orders on the fabric website is Thursday. “As part of our regular business planning, we continually evaluate the progress and potential of our offerings and have made the decision to close Fabric.com,” Amazon spokesperson Betsy Harden said in a prepared statement. It’s unclear how many employees will be impacted by the closure. Harden said Amazon will work with staff to help them “identify other opportunities” at the company, including at nearby warehouses. Employees who do not stay with Amazon will be given severance, she said. Also read | Amazon workers in Albany reject unionisation, labour leader calls it ‘sham election’ Craft Industry Alliance was the first to break the news of the closure. Georgia-based Phoenix Textiles Group, the predecessor to Fabric.com, was established in 1993. Before it started selling products directly to customers and launching its own website, it worked as a wholesale distributor of clothing materials for a number of years. In 2008, Amazon bought the business. At the time, it was stated that doing so would enable Amazon to provide its consumers with additional sewing and craft supplies while also assisting the fabric site in growing its product variety. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Amazon shuts online store fabric.com in cost-cutting move

Sri Lanka has been experiencing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948 and the country started its two-week shutdown on Monday in order to preserve its already-depleting fuel reserves. The country has been experiencing fuel shortages, food shortages and record inflation and with the government holding talks with the International Monetary Fund after a possible bailout, it has become significant for the island nation to keep their existing reserves intact. As a result, the government decided to close all public sector offices and also instructed the teachers in all government schools to conduct online classes for the next two weeks at least.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-legislative-polls-french-president-emmanuel-macron-loses-majority-in-parliament-489775" hreflang="en">In legislative polls, French President Macron loses majority in parliament</a>

In the last couple of weeks, Sri Lanka has seen a number of protests and clashes between motorists and the police as fuel became scarce. There were huge queues outside petrol stations as the government said that they will be rationing the fuel reserves for the time being.

According to AFP, the schools in Sri Lanka were shut on Monday while few government offices functioned with bare minimum staffing. However, all hospitals and medical services were functioning as usual and there was normal activity in the main seaport of the capital Colombo.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/agneepath-scheme-indian-army-issues-notification-for-agniveer-recruitments-489894">Agneepath scheme: Indian Army issues notification for Agniveer recruitments</a>

The current situation in Sri Lanka makes the talks with IMF even more important after the country defaulted on its US$51 billion foreign debt in April. The talks between the IMF and the government started on Monday and according to an AFP report, they will continue for 10 more days.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will also hold talks with Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil to "deepen cooperation and assist Sri Lanka as the country faces very difficult economic times," according to an official statement released by the Australian government.

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Sri Lanka has been experiencing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948 and the country started its two-week shutdown on Monday in order to preserve its already-depleting fuel reserves.

Sri Lanka has been experiencing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948 and the country started its two-week shutdown on Monday in order to preserve its already-depleting fuel reserves. The country has been experiencing fuel shortages, food shortages and record inflation and with the government holding talks with the International Monetary Fund after a possible bailout, it has become significant for the island nation to keep their existing reserves intact. As a result, the government decided to close all public sector offices and also instructed the teachers in all government schools to conduct online classes for the next two weeks at least. Also read | In legislative polls, French President Macron loses majority in parliament In the last couple of weeks, Sri Lanka has seen a number of protests and clashes between motorists and the police as fuel became scarce. There were huge queues outside petrol stations as the government said that they will be rationing the fuel reserves for the time being. According to AFP, the schools in Sri Lanka were shut on Monday while few government offices functioned with bare minimum staffing. However, all hospitals and medical services were functioning as usual and there was normal activity in the main seaport of the capital Colombo. Also read | Agneepath scheme: Indian Army issues notification for Agniveer recruitments The current situation in Sri Lanka makes the talks with IMF even more important after the country defaulted on its US$51 billion foreign debt in April. The talks between the IMF and the government started on Monday and according to an AFP report, they will continue for 10 more days. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will also hold talks with Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil to "deepen cooperation and assist Sri Lanka as the country faces very difficult economic times," according to an official statement released by the Australian government. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sri Lanka in talks with IMF about possible bailout as nation-wide shutdown begins

Is the U.S. government headed towards a shutdown? With just 2 days left for the fiscal year to end & a funding bill blocked in the senate, a shutdown looks all but imminent. Molly Gambhir has a report.

Gravitas: Is U.S. headed towards a shutdown?

Children in Bangladesh flooded back into classrooms on Sunday as schools reopened after 18 months, one of the world's longest coronavirus shutdowns.

The resumption came after UNICEF warned that prolonged school closures during the Covid-19 crisis were worsening inequities for millions of children across South Asia.

In the capital Dhaka, students at one school&nbsp;were welcomed with flowers and sweets, and told to wear masks and sanitise their hands. Some hugged each other in excitement.

"We are really excited to be back at school," 15-year-old Muntasir Ahmed told AFP as he entered the campus.

"I am hoping to physically see all of my friends and teachers, not through a laptop window today."

At the gate, school officials checked the body temperatures of students before allowing them to enter.

The school's vice principal, Dewan Tamziduzzaman, said he "didn't expect such a big number to be turning up on the first day".

Only 41 percent of Bangladesh's 169 million population have smartphones, according to the country's telecom operators' association, which means millions of children cannot access online classes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/unaccompanied-children-evacuated-from-afghanistan-in-qatar-limbo-412300">Also read |&nbsp;Unaccompanied children evacuated from Afghanistan in Qatar limbo</a>

Even with smartphones, students in many of Bangladesh's rural districts do not have the high-speed internet access usually required for e-learning.

'Enormous setbacks'

UNICEF warned in a report released Thursday that the pandemic has accentuated "alarming inequities" for more than 430 million children in the region.

"School closures in South Asia have forced hundreds of millions of children and their teachers to transition to remote learning in a region with low connectivity and device affordability," UNICEF's regional director, George Laryea-Adjei, said in a statement.

"As a result, children have suffered enormous setbacks in their learning journey."

In India, 80 percent of children aged 14-18 years said they learnt less than when they were in a physical classroom, according to UNICEF.

Among children aged between six and 13 years, 42 percent said they had no access to remote learning.

"Their future is at stake," Deepu Singh, a farmer in India's Jharkhand state, said last week of his children aged nine and 10.

The pair have not been to school in a year and have no internet access at home, Singh told AFP, adding: "I do not know English. I cannot help him (my son), even if I want to."

Students in the rest of the region were similarly impacted, UNICEF reported.

In Pakistan, 23 percent of young children had no access to any device for remote learning.

Some towns in Nepal have been broadcasting radio lessons due to the lack of internet access.

"We are (in) a dangerous situation," Nepalese schoolteacher Rajani K.C. told AFP last week.

"If the pandemic continues and the academic sector loses more years, what kind of human resource will the country have in the future?"

Children in Bangladesh flooded back into classrooms on Sunday as schools reopened after 18 months, one of the world's longest coronavirus shutdowns. The resumption came after UNICEF warned that prolonged school closures during the Covid-19 crisis were worsening inequities for millions of children across South Asia.

Children in Bangladesh flooded back into classrooms on Sunday as schools reopened after 18 months, one of the world's longest coronavirus shutdowns. The resumption came after UNICEF warned that prolonged school closures during the Covid-19 crisis were worsening inequities for millions of children across South Asia. In the capital Dhaka, students at one school were welcomed with flowers and sweets, and told to wear masks and sanitise their hands. Some hugged each other in excitement. "We are really excited to be back at school," 15-year-old Muntasir Ahmed told AFP as he entered the campus. "I am hoping to physically see all of my friends and teachers, not through a laptop window today." At the gate, school officials checked the body temperatures of students before allowing them to enter. The school's vice principal, Dewan Tamziduzzaman, said he "didn't expect such a big number to be turning up on the first day". Only 41 percent of Bangladesh's 169 million population have smartphones, according to the country's telecom operators' association, which means millions of children cannot access online classes. Also read | Unaccompanied children evacuated from Afghanistan in Qatar limbo Even with smartphones, students in many of Bangladesh's rural districts do not have the high-speed internet access usually required for e-learning. 'Enormous setbacks' UNICEF warned in a report released Thursday that the pandemic has accentuated "alarming inequities" for more than 430 million children in the region. "School closures in South Asia have forced hundreds of millions of children and their teachers to transition to remote learning in a region with low connectivity and device affordability," UNICEF's regional director, George Laryea-Adjei, said in a statement. "As a result, children have suffered enormous setbacks in their learning journey." In India, 80 percent of children aged 14-18 years said they learnt less than when they were in a physical classroom, according to UNICEF. Among children aged between six and 13 years, 42 percent said they had no access to remote learning. "Their future is at stake," Deepu Singh, a farmer in India's Jharkhand state, said last week of his children aged nine and 10. The pair have not been to school in a year and have no internet access at home, Singh told AFP, adding: "I do not know English. I cannot help him (my son), even if I want to." Students in the rest of the region were similarly impacted, UNICEF reported. In Pakistan, 23 percent of young children had no access to any device for remote learning. Some towns in Nepal have been broadcasting radio lessons due to the lack of internet access. "We are (in) a dangerous situation," Nepalese schoolteacher Rajani K.C. told AFP last week. "If the pandemic continues and the academic sector loses more years, what kind of human resource will the country have in the future?"

Bangladesh schools reopen after 18-month COVID-19 shutdown

UN nuclear watchdog&nbsp;chief&nbsp;Rafael Grossi will fly to Tehran this weekend for&nbsp;talks&nbsp;that may ease a standoff between&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and the&nbsp;West&nbsp;just as it threatens to escalate and scupper negotiations on reviving the&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;nuclear deal.

Three diplomats who follow the International Atomic Energy Agency closely told Reuters that Grossi's trip&nbsp;before&nbsp;next week's meeting of the&nbsp;IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors was confirmed. Two said he would meet the new head of the Atomic Energy Organization of&nbsp;Iran, Mohammad Eslami, on Sunday.

The&nbsp;IAEA&nbsp;and&nbsp;Iran's envoy to the agency later confirmed the trip and the meeting.

"Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will meet with Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and Head of the AEOI, Mohammad Eslami, in Tehran on Sunday," the&nbsp;IAEA&nbsp;said, adding that Grossi was expected to hold a news conference at Vienna airport around 8:30 pm on Sunday.

The&nbsp;IAEA&nbsp;informed member states this week that there had been no progress on two central issues: explaining uranium traces found at several old, undeclared sites and getting urgent access to some monitoring equipment so the agency can continue to keep track of parts of&nbsp;Iran's nuclear programme as provided for by the 2015 deal.

Separate, indirect&nbsp;talks&nbsp;between the United States and&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;on both returning to compliance with the deal have been halted since June. Washington and its European allies have been urging hardline President Ebrahim Raisi's administration, which took office in August, to return to the&nbsp;talks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/even-as-houthi-attacks-continue-us-removes-missile-defences-in-saudi-arabia-412347">Also read |&nbsp;Even as Houthi attacks continue, US removes missile defences in Saudi Arabia</a>

Under the 2015 deal between&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and major powers, Tehran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

Sanctions

President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the deal in 2018, re-introducing painful economic sanctions.&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;responded as of 2019 by breaching many of the deal's core restrictions, like enriching uranium to a higher purity, closer to that suitable for use in nuclear weapons.

Western powers must decide whether to push for a resolution criticising&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and raising pressure on it for stonewalling the&nbsp;IAEA&nbsp;at next week's meeting of the agency's 35-nation Board of Governors. A resolution could jeopardise the resumption of&nbsp;talks&nbsp;on the deal as Tehran bristles at such moves.

Iran's Foreign Ministry warned against any such resolution.

"I hope the Board of Governors, under the influence of certain pressures, will not take any action that would destroy the process of customary cooperation between&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and the agency," said spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh, the Fars news agency reported.

The European parties to the 2015 deal&nbsp;Britain, France and Germany held a meeting with the United States in Paris on Friday to discuss how to react at the&nbsp;IAEA&nbsp;board and to review options if&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;continues to stall on returning to negotiations. But diplomats said no decisions had been taken as of yet.

Countries on the&nbsp;IAEA&nbsp;Board of Governors will be watching Grossi's visit to see whether&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;yields either on granting access to the monitoring equipment to service it or offers the prospect of answers on the uranium particles found at the undeclared former sites.

Moves on those issues would make it less likely that a resolution is brought against&nbsp;Iran, diplomats say.

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi will fly to Tehran this weekend for talks that may ease a standoff between Iran and the West just as it threatens to escalate and scupper negotiations on reviving the Iran nuclear deal.

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi will fly to Tehran this weekend for talks that may ease a standoff between Iran and the West just as it threatens to escalate and scupper negotiations on reviving the Iran nuclear deal. Three diplomats who follow the International Atomic Energy Agency closely told Reuters that Grossi's trip before next week's meeting of the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors was confirmed. Two said he would meet the new head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Eslami, on Sunday. The IAEA and Iran's envoy to the agency later confirmed the trip and the meeting. "Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will meet with Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the AEOI, Mohammad Eslami, in Tehran on Sunday," the IAEA said, adding that Grossi was expected to hold a news conference at Vienna airport around 8:30 pm on Sunday. The IAEA informed member states this week that there had been no progress on two central issues: explaining uranium traces found at several old, undeclared sites and getting urgent access to some monitoring equipment so the agency can continue to keep track of parts of Iran's nuclear programme as provided for by the 2015 deal. Separate, indirect talks between the United States and Iran on both returning to compliance with the deal have been halted since June. Washington and its European allies have been urging hardline President Ebrahim Raisi's administration, which took office in August, to return to the talks. Also read | Even as Houthi attacks continue, US removes missile defences in Saudi Arabia Under the 2015 deal between Iran and major powers, Tehran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Sanctions President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the deal in 2018, re-introducing painful economic sanctions. Iran responded as of 2019 by breaching many of the deal's core restrictions, like enriching uranium to a higher purity, closer to that suitable for use in nuclear weapons. Western powers must decide whether to push for a resolution criticising Iran and raising pressure on it for stonewalling the IAEA at next week's meeting of the agency's 35-nation Board of Governors. A resolution could jeopardise the resumption of talks on the deal as Tehran bristles at such moves. Iran's Foreign Ministry warned against any such resolution. "I hope the Board of Governors, under the influence of certain pressures, will not take any action that would destroy the process of customary cooperation between Iran and the agency," said spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh, the Fars news agency reported. The European parties to the 2015 deal Britain, France and Germany held a meeting with the United States in Paris on Friday to discuss how to react at the IAEA board and to review options if Iran continues to stall on returning to negotiations. But diplomats said no decisions had been taken as of yet. Countries on the IAEA Board of Governors will be watching Grossi's visit to see whether Iran yields either on granting access to the monitoring equipment to service it or offers the prospect of answers on the uranium particles found at the undeclared former sites. Moves on those issues would make it less likely that a resolution is brought against Iran, diplomats say.

Iran invites IAEA chief for talks before showdown with West

United Nations member states agreed on Tuesday to a budget of some $6 billion for the world body's 12 peacekeeping missions for the next year, diplomats said, narrowly averting a possible shutdown of the operations.

The 193-member UN&nbsp;General Assembly budget committee agreed to the peacekeeping budget for the year through June 30, 2022. It will be formally adopted by the General Assembly on Wednesday.

Top UN&nbsp;officials said on Monday that UN&nbsp;peacekeeping missions, most of which are in Africa and the Middle East, had been advised to start putting contingency plans in place in case a new budget was not adopted by June 30.

Some diplomats said changes to negotiating procedures, issues with logistics and tough talk pitting China against Western countries had threatened to delay an agreement.

"Our chronic inability to respect deadlines puts the entire peacekeeping architecture in unprecedented jeopardy," European Union diplomat Thibault Camelli told the budget committee on Tuesday. "Going forward, and for the future negotiations, we owe it ... to the women and men in the field who carry out the peacekeeping mandates to finish our work in a timely fashion."

Catherine Pollard, the UN&nbsp;head of management strategy, policy and compliance, told reporters on Monday that if the June 30 deadline was missed then Secretary-General Antonio Guterres could only spend money to safeguard UN&nbsp;assets and ensure the protection of the staff and the peacekeepers.

The United States is largest assessed contributor to the peacekeeping budget, responsible for about 28%, followed by China with 15.2% and Japan with 8.5%.

(With inputs from agencies)

United Nations member states agreed on Tuesday to a budget of some $6 billion for the world body's 12 peacekeeping missions for the next year, diplomats said, narrowly averting a possible shutdown of the operations.

United Nations member states agreed on Tuesday to a budget of some $6 billion for the world body's 12 peacekeeping missions for the next year, diplomats said, narrowly averting a possible shutdown of the operations. The 193-member UN General Assembly budget committee agreed to the peacekeeping budget for the year through June 30, 2022. It will be formally adopted by the General Assembly on Wednesday. Top UN officials said on Monday that UN peacekeeping missions, most of which are in Africa and the Middle East, had been advised to start putting contingency plans in place in case a new budget was not adopted by June 30. Some diplomats said changes to negotiating procedures, issues with logistics and tough talk pitting China against Western countries had threatened to delay an agreement. "Our chronic inability to respect deadlines puts the entire peacekeeping architecture in unprecedented jeopardy," European Union diplomat Thibault Camelli told the budget committee on Tuesday. "Going forward, and for the future negotiations, we owe it ... to the women and men in the field who carry out the peacekeeping mandates to finish our work in a timely fashion." Catherine Pollard, the UN head of management strategy, policy and compliance, told reporters on Monday that if the June 30 deadline was missed then Secretary-General Antonio Guterres could only spend money to safeguard UN assets and ensure the protection of the staff and the peacekeepers. The United States is largest assessed contributor to the peacekeeping budget, responsible for about 28%, followed by China with 15.2% and Japan with 8.5%. (With inputs from agencies)

UN member states agree to $6 billion peacekeeping budget, averting shutdown

Pakistan&nbsp;on Saturday began a nine-day&nbsp;shutdown&nbsp;affecting travel and tourist hotspots in a bid to prevent a surge in Covid-19&nbsp;cases&nbsp;during the Muslim&nbsp;holiday&nbsp;of&nbsp;Eid&nbsp;al-Fitr.

Already battling a third wave of infections and increasingly nervous about the crisis across the border in India, the government has imposed the most severe restrictions since a one-month lockdown in April last year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="Mosques full despite Pakistan's Covid third wave">Mosques full despite Pakistan's Covid third wave</a>

"These measures have been necessitated by the extremely dangerous situation which has been created in the region with the spread of virulent mutations of the&nbsp;virus," tweeted planning&nbsp;minister Asad Umar, who has been leading the government response to the outbreak.

Eid, which comes at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, usually sees the mass movement of people around the country and tourist spots crowded with Pakistanis.

Last year the country saw a spike in&nbsp;cases&nbsp;in the weeks after the celebrations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="Pakistan to receive 45 million doses of 'Made in India' Covid-19 vaccines">Pakistan to receive 45 million doses of 'Made in India' Covid-19 vaccines</a>

Businesses, hotels and restaurants as well as markets and parks will be closed, while public transport between provinces and within cities has been halted.

The military has been mobilised to monitor the restrictions.

Mosques, however, which have been packed each night throughout Ramadan -- with few people wearing masks -- will remain open. Authorities fear curbs on places of worship could ignite confrontation in the deeply conservative Islamic republic.

Impoverished&nbsp;Pakistan&nbsp;has recorded more than 850,000 infections and 18,600 deaths, but with limited testing and a ramshackle healthcare sector, many fear the true extent of the disease is much worse.

Health officials have warned that hospitals are operating at close to capacity and they have rushed to increase the number of intensive care beds.

International flights have been slashed and border crossings with Iran and Afghanistan closed, except for trade.

Flights and land crossings with neighbouring India -- reeling from a devastating outbreak with hundreds of thousands of new&nbsp;cases&nbsp;a day -- were closed before the pandemic because of political tensions.

Pakistan, which has so far vaccinated only a fraction of its population, received its first batch of 1.2 million AstraZeneca doses Saturday under the delayed Covax global vaccine sharing scheme.

Pakistan on Saturday began a nine-day shutdown affecting travel and tourist hotspots in a bid to prevent a surge in Covid-19 cases during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

Pakistan on Saturday began a nine-day shutdown affecting travel and tourist hotspots in a bid to prevent a surge in Covid-19 cases during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Already battling a third wave of infections and increasingly nervous about the crisis across the border in India, the government has imposed the most severe restrictions since a one-month lockdown in April last year. Also read | Mosques full despite Pakistan's Covid third wave "These measures have been necessitated by the extremely dangerous situation which has been created in the region with the spread of virulent mutations of the virus," tweeted planning minister Asad Umar, who has been leading the government response to the outbreak. Eid, which comes at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, usually sees the mass movement of people around the country and tourist spots crowded with Pakistanis. Last year the country saw a spike in cases in the weeks after the celebrations. Also read | Pakistan to receive 45 million doses of 'Made in India' Covid-19 vaccines Businesses, hotels and restaurants as well as markets and parks will be closed, while public transport between provinces and within cities has been halted. The military has been mobilised to monitor the restrictions. Mosques, however, which have been packed each night throughout Ramadan -- with few people wearing masks -- will remain open. Authorities fear curbs on places of worship could ignite confrontation in the deeply conservative Islamic republic. Impoverished Pakistan has recorded more than 850,000 infections and 18,600 deaths, but with limited testing and a ramshackle healthcare sector, many fear the true extent of the disease is much worse. Health officials have warned that hospitals are operating at close to capacity and they have rushed to increase the number of intensive care beds. International flights have been slashed and border crossings with Iran and Afghanistan closed, except for trade. Flights and land crossings with neighbouring India -- reeling from a devastating outbreak with hundreds of thousands of new cases a day -- were closed before the pandemic because of political tensions. Pakistan, which has so far vaccinated only a fraction of its population, received its first batch of 1.2 million AstraZeneca doses Saturday under the delayed Covax global vaccine sharing scheme.

Pakistan imposes Eid holiday shutdown as virus cases soar

Germany on Wednesday backtracked on its plan to impose strict Easter weekend shutdown after opposition from the public. Germany on Wednesday said it would scrap plans to close most shops in the country over Easter from April 1 to 5 after facing stinging criticism of the plan.&nbsp;

The government instead asked people to stay home over the holiday and Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a mea culpa after reversing the measures.

"This mistake is mine alone," Merkel said. "The whole process has caused additional uncertainty, for which I ask all citizens to forgive me."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the European Union said it was going to tighten vaccine export controls in a bid to give boost to its stuttering.

'Big lesson in humility'

Elsewhere on the continent, Belgium said it would bring in a new partial lockdown for four weeks, closing schools and limiting access to non-essential shops as it sought to quell a third wave.

The pandemic "is a big lesson in humility for politicians, for everyone," Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in announcing the measures. 
Poland meanwhile recorded its highest daily infections with nearly 30,000 new cases, while the Netherlands extended coronavirus restrictions until April 20.&nbsp;

And Norway said it would roll out new restrictions this week, including banning alcohol sales at bars and restaurants.&nbsp;

Vaccines are seen as the way out of the pandemic that has now killed more than 2.7 million people around the world and plunged the global economy into a recession not seen in decades.&nbsp;

(With AFP inputs)

Germany on Wednesday backtracked on its plan to impose strict Easter weekend shutdown after opposition from the public. Germany on Wednesday said it would scrap plans to close most shops in the country over Easter from April 1 to 5 after facing stinging criticism of the plan.

Germany on Wednesday backtracked on its plan to impose strict Easter weekend shutdown after opposition from the public. Germany on Wednesday said it would scrap plans to close most shops in the country over Easter from April 1 to 5 after facing stinging criticism of the plan. The government instead asked people to stay home over the holiday and Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a mea culpa after reversing the measures. "This mistake is mine alone," Merkel said. "The whole process has caused additional uncertainty, for which I ask all citizens to forgive me." Meanwhile, the European Union said it was going to tighten vaccine export controls in a bid to give boost to its stuttering. 'Big lesson in humility' Elsewhere on the continent, Belgium said it would bring in a new partial lockdown for four weeks, closing schools and limiting access to non-essential shops as it sought to quell a third wave. The pandemic "is a big lesson in humility for politicians, for everyone," Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in announcing the measures. Poland meanwhile recorded its highest daily infections with nearly 30,000 new cases, while the Netherlands extended coronavirus restrictions until April 20. And Norway said it would roll out new restrictions this week, including banning alcohol sales at bars and restaurants. Vaccines are seen as the way out of the pandemic that has now killed more than 2.7 million people around the world and plunged the global economy into a recession not seen in decades. (With AFP inputs)

Germany backtracks on Easter shutdown plans

After 16 years of observations that helped paint a more accurate picture of the universe, one of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/glimpse-of-nasas-private-space-home-unveiled-277215">NASA's greatest</a> telescopes will go offline. The Spitzer Space Telescope, which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/space-cookies-take-2-hours-to-bake-double-the-time-on-earth-276275">allowed scientists</a> to view objects that are cooler than stars that emit visible light, was launched in 2003 to observe the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum of the universe.

Paul Hertz, Director of Astrophysics at NASA issued a statement about the mission saying, "The advances we make across many areas in astrophysics in the future will be because of Spitzer's extraordinary legacy."

Operations of the Spitzer came to an end on January 29 and the mission team will be putting the spacecraft into a permanent hibernation mode, after which the Spitzer will continue its trajectory and travel <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-spacex-launch-with-nasa-most-probably-to-take-place-between-april-and-june-this-year-elon-musk-275498">further away from Earth</a> over time. Team members have reason to believe that it will eventually crash into a debris field.

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The legacy of <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAspitzer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASASpitzer</a> will live on! After more than 16 years of studying the universe in infrared, the space telescope's mission has come to an end. One of our greatest observatories will be remembered for its discoveries: <a href="https://t.co/SUYSh0m6nD">https://t.co/SUYSh0m6nD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpitzerFinalVoyage?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpitzerFinalVoyage</a> <a href="https://t.co/M8rL7pfszD">pic.twitter.com/M8rL7pfszD</a>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1223049026171539458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beyond-earth-designers-give-a-peek-into-what-life-could-look-like-on-mars-275336">Beyond Earth: Designers give a peek into what life could look like on Mars</a>

Interstellar dust was the Spitzer's primary concern, which cocoons baby stars and provides the building blocks for planets, thereby creating an invisible skeleton of galaxies across the universe. A technique called spectroscopy was used by Spitzer which allowed scientists to measure the chemical composition of space dust to learn more of the ingredients of the universe.

NASA stated that Spitzer was instrumental in revealing that galaxies in the early universe were heavier than was previously postulated, thus deepening our understanding of how galaxies evolve over time. Spitzer had to balance between being cool enough to not emit heat while travelling through space and to be far enough away from the Earth to get images without interference from the infrared environment around the planet and the moon.

The Spitzer Mission was not designed to function for 16 years, nor was it designed to be operational at its current distance from Earth. Joseph Hunt, the Project Manager issued a statement saying, "The team has had to adapt year after year to keep the spacecraft operating. But I think overcoming that challenge has given people a great sense of pride in the mission. This mission stays with you."

After 16 years of observations that helped paint a more accurate picture of the universe, one of NASA's greatest telescopes will go offline. The Spitzer Space Telescope, which allowed scientists to view objects that are cooler than stars that emit visible light, was launched in 2003 to observe the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum of the universe.

After 16 years of observations that helped paint a more accurate picture of the universe, one of NASA's greatest telescopes will go offline. The Spitzer Space Telescope, which allowed scientists to view objects that are cooler than stars that emit visible light, was launched in 2003 to observe the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum of the universe. Paul Hertz, Director of Astrophysics at NASA issued a statement about the mission saying, "The advances we make across many areas in astrophysics in the future will be because of Spitzer's extraordinary legacy." Operations of the Spitzer came to an end on January 29 and the mission team will be putting the spacecraft into a permanent hibernation mode, after which the Spitzer will continue its trajectory and travel further away from Earth over time. Team members have reason to believe that it will eventually crash into a debris field. The legacy of @NASASpitzer will live on! After more than 16 years of studying the universe in infrared, the space telescope's mission has come to an end. One of our greatest observatories will be remembered for its discoveries: https://t.co/SUYSh0m6nD #SpitzerFinalVoyage pic.twitter.com/M8rL7pfszD — NASA (@NASA) January 31, 2020 × Also Read: Beyond Earth: Designers give a peek into what life could look like on Mars Interstellar dust was the Spitzer's primary concern, which cocoons baby stars and provides the building blocks for planets, thereby creating an invisible skeleton of galaxies across the universe. A technique called spectroscopy was used by Spitzer which allowed scientists to measure the chemical composition of space dust to learn more of the ingredients of the universe. NASA stated that Spitzer was instrumental in revealing that galaxies in the early universe were heavier than was previously postulated, thus deepening our understanding of how galaxies evolve over time. Spitzer had to balance between being cool enough to not emit heat while travelling through space and to be far enough away from the Earth to get images without interference from the infrared environment around the planet and the moon. The Spitzer Mission was not designed to function for 16 years, nor was it designed to be operational at its current distance from Earth. Joseph Hunt, the Project Manager issued a statement saying, "The team has had to adapt year after year to keep the spacecraft operating. But I think overcoming that challenge has given people a great sense of pride in the mission. This mission stays with you."

NASA shuts down Spitzer Space Telescope after 16 years of commendable service

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-senate-passes-bill-supporting-human-rights-in-hong-kong-263243">US lawmakers</a> moved to prevent a crippling government shutdown Tuesday as the House of Representatives passed a short-term spending bill that funds federal operations until December 20.

The Senate is expected to clear the measure later this week and send it to the White House before agencies run out of funding at midnight on Thursday.

The administration has signalled that President Donald Trump will sign the so-called continuing resolution.

Congress has been unable to secure a long-term deal. Democrats and Republicans have negotiated for months, but they remain at odds over the funding of Trump's long-sought wall on the US border with Mexico, among other issues.

With Washington consumed by the Trump impeachment inquiry, lawmakers have expressed concern about the ability to finalize a deal in the run-up to the Christmas break.

The measure gives the US military a 3.1 per cent pay raise, funds the 2020 census, and keeps critical public health programs going for another month.

"While short term measures are never ideal, this extension of funding is necessary to ensure that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-policy-shift-united-states-backs-israeli-settlements-on-west-bank-263029">House and Senate</a> can continue to negotiate and reach agreement on full-year appropriations for the fiscal year 2020," House Republican Tom Cole told colleagues.

The bill passed 231 to 192, with 12 Republicans supporting it in the Democratic-controlled House.

Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell said he expected a vote in coming days, saying that "failing to secure funding for the federal government before the end of the year is not an option."

Two government shutdowns have occurred during Trump's administration, including a 35-day shutdown from late 2018 to early 2019,&nbsp;the longest in US history,&nbsp;over disagreements on border security.

US lawmakers moved to prevent a crippling government shutdown Tuesday as the House of Representatives passed a short-term spending bill that funds federal operations until December 20.

US lawmakers moved to prevent a crippling government shutdown Tuesday as the House of Representatives passed a short-term spending bill that funds federal operations until December 20. The Senate is expected to clear the measure later this week and send it to the White House before agencies run out of funding at midnight on Thursday. The administration has signalled that President Donald Trump will sign the so-called continuing resolution. Congress has been unable to secure a long-term deal. Democrats and Republicans have negotiated for months, but they remain at odds over the funding of Trump's long-sought wall on the US border with Mexico, among other issues. With Washington consumed by the Trump impeachment inquiry, lawmakers have expressed concern about the ability to finalize a deal in the run-up to the Christmas break. The measure gives the US military a 3.1 per cent pay raise, funds the 2020 census, and keeps critical public health programs going for another month. "While short term measures are never ideal, this extension of funding is necessary to ensure that the House and Senate can continue to negotiate and reach agreement on full-year appropriations for the fiscal year 2020," House Republican Tom Cole told colleagues. The bill passed 231 to 192, with 12 Republicans supporting it in the Democratic-controlled House. Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell said he expected a vote in coming days, saying that "failing to secure funding for the federal government before the end of the year is not an option." Two government shutdowns have occurred during Trump's administration, including a 35-day shutdown from late 2018 to early 2019, the longest in US history, over disagreements on border security.

United States House passed a short-term spending bill to avert government shutdown as deadline looms

London airport was braced for disruption on Thursday after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sorry-this-is-an-emergency-climate-protesters-block-streets-around-the-world-254412">climate-change protesters</a>&nbsp;"Extinction Rebellion"&nbsp;vowed to occupy its terminal and shut down operations for three days as part of its action in the British capital.

London City is the capital's fifth-biggest - and most central - airport, popular with business travellers, bankers and politicians for short-haul and regional routes.

On Thursday, 18,000 passengers are due to arrive or depart from the airport, with 286 flights scheduled.

Extinction Rebellion, which has targeted government buildings over the last few days, said protesters would lie, sit or glue themselves to "nonviolently use their bodies to close the airport."

They said they were protesting plans to expand the airport, which aims to have 6.5 million passengers a year by 2022, compared to the 4.8 million in 2018, and which has said there could be demand for as many as 11 million a year by 2035.

"Air travel is an icon of our fragile 'just-in-time' economic system. That system will break, as Climate Chaos hits," group spokesman Rupert Read said in a statement.

"By non-violently shutting down this airport... we are demonstrating the utter frailty of the transport systems that countries such as ours, unwisely, have come to depend upon."

London police have made hundreds of arrests as the protesters, labelled "unco-operative crusties" by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/johnson-faces-cabinet-revolt-over-no-deal-brexit-report-254678">Prime Minister Boris Johnson</a>, began two weeks of civil disobedience.

London City Airport said it was working with police to prepare for the protests.

"Our shared priority is the safe operation of the airport and to minimise disruption for passengers using the airport over the coming days," a spokesman said.

All passengers travelling for the rest of this week will have to show their boarding passes to access the terminal.

Extinction Rebellion said that if protesters do not make it into the airport itself, they will occupy the neighbouring Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station and access road to blockade it from the outside.

The airport said it is "committed to building a more sustainable future for the airport and the aviation industry" and has said that it will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

London airport was braced for disruption on Thursday after climate-change protesters "Extinction Rebellion" vowed to occupy its terminal and shut down operations for three days as part of its action in the British capital.

London airport was braced for disruption on Thursday after climate-change protesters "Extinction Rebellion" vowed to occupy its terminal and shut down operations for three days as part of its action in the British capital. London City is the capital's fifth-biggest - and most central - airport, popular with business travellers, bankers and politicians for short-haul and regional routes. On Thursday, 18,000 passengers are due to arrive or depart from the airport, with 286 flights scheduled. Extinction Rebellion, which has targeted government buildings over the last few days, said protesters would lie, sit or glue themselves to "nonviolently use their bodies to close the airport." They said they were protesting plans to expand the airport, which aims to have 6.5 million passengers a year by 2022, compared to the 4.8 million in 2018, and which has said there could be demand for as many as 11 million a year by 2035. "Air travel is an icon of our fragile 'just-in-time' economic system. That system will break, as Climate Chaos hits," group spokesman Rupert Read said in a statement. "By non-violently shutting down this airport... we are demonstrating the utter frailty of the transport systems that countries such as ours, unwisely, have come to depend upon." London police have made hundreds of arrests as the protesters, labelled "unco-operative crusties" by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, began two weeks of civil disobedience. London City Airport said it was working with police to prepare for the protests. "Our shared priority is the safe operation of the airport and to minimise disruption for passengers using the airport over the coming days," a spokesman said. All passengers travelling for the rest of this week will have to show their boarding passes to access the terminal. Extinction Rebellion said that if protesters do not make it into the airport itself, they will occupy the neighbouring Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station and access road to blockade it from the outside. The airport said it is "committed to building a more sustainable future for the airport and the aviation industry" and has said that it will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

London airport braces for possible shutdown by climate protesters

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/air-indias-operations-hit-globally-due-to-technical-glitch-official-213832">five-hour shutdown of Air India's check-in software</a>, which occurred Saturday morning, is still causing its ripple effect as the airline said 137 flights will be running with a delay on Sunday.

The average duration of delay -- on these 137 flights of Sunday -- would be of 197 minutes, the airline's spokesperson said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/155-flights-delayed-as-air-indias-check-in-software-shuts-down-for-more-than-5-hours-213892">Thousands of passengers had a harrowing time Saturday morning</a> at&nbsp;airports across the world as Air India's passenger service system (PSS) software, which looks after check-in, baggage and reservation, did not function from 3.30 am to 8.45 am due to a technical glitch.

The spokesperson said total 149 flights were delayed on Saturday because of the software shutdown.?

When asked about its effect on Sunday, he said, "Due to delay in first sector, 137 flights are delayed by 197 minutes (average)."

Once an aircraft is delayed in first sector, it is bound to be delayed in the second and third sectors as well. An aircraft generally goes from one sector to another during the day. For example, while Delhi-Mumbai is one sector, Mumbai-Bengaluru is another sector and Bengaluru-Chennai is the third sector.

The average number of flights that Air India group, which also includes subsidiaries Alliance Air and Air India Express, flies daily is 674.

The five-hour shutdown of Air India's check-in software, which occurred Saturday morning, is still causing its ripple effect as the airline said 137 flights will be running with a delay on Sunday.

The five-hour shutdown of Air India's check-in software, which occurred Saturday morning, is still causing its ripple effect as the airline said 137 flights will be running with a delay on Sunday. The average duration of delay -- on these 137 flights of Sunday -- would be of 197 minutes, the airline's spokesperson said. Thousands of passengers had a harrowing time Saturday morning at airports across the world as Air India's passenger service system (PSS) software, which looks after check-in, baggage and reservation, did not function from 3.30 am to 8.45 am due to a technical glitch. The spokesperson said total 149 flights were delayed on Saturday because of the software shutdown.? When asked about its effect on Sunday, he said, "Due to delay in first sector, 137 flights are delayed by 197 minutes (average)." Once an aircraft is delayed in first sector, it is bound to be delayed in the second and third sectors as well. An aircraft generally goes from one sector to another during the day. For example, while Delhi-Mumbai is one sector, Mumbai-Bengaluru is another sector and Bengaluru-Chennai is the third sector. The average number of flights that Air India group, which also includes subsidiaries Alliance Air and Air India Express, flies daily is 674.

Air India software shutdown effect: 137 flights to be delayed today

Normal life was hit in Kashmir on Wednesday due to a shutdown called by separatists to protest against the legal challenge to Article 35-A and Article 370 of the Constitution, which grant special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutional validity of the articles.&nbsp;

The two-day shutdown, which began on Wednesday, has been called by the Joint Resistance Leadership, comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik.

Shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut in Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, while public transport was off the roads, the official said. However, private vehicles could be seen plying in several areas of the city, they said.

The separatists, under the banner of JRL on Tuesday, called for the shutdown, saying the legal challenge to the articles is an “extremely critical issue” of the very existence as a people and of “our disputed status”.&nbsp;

The officials said reports of the shutdown were received from other district headquarters in the Valley.

Articles 35-A and 370 grant special status to Jammu and Kashmir and special rights and privileges to its “permanent residents”, respectively. The JRL in a statement has said,“People of Jammu and Kashmir will forcefully resist every challenge by New Delhi to change the demography of the state by rolling back hereditary state subject laws of 1927 (protected by Article 35-A of the Constitution), being contested in the Supreme Court of India through their agents.”

They warned the authorities that “if anything adverse to the interests of the people of J&amp;K and its disputed status is announced through the courts, a mass people’s agitation will be started instantly across the state and the responsibility of the consequences of that will be entirely on those forcing us to react”.

Normal life was hit in Kashmir on Wednesday due to a shutdown called by separatists to protest against the legal challenge to Article 35-A and Article 370 of the Constitution, which grant special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir.

Normal life was hit in Kashmir on Wednesday due to a shutdown called by separatists to protest against the legal challenge to Article 35-A and Article 370 of the Constitution, which grant special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir. Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutional validity of the articles. The two-day shutdown, which began on Wednesday, has been called by the Joint Resistance Leadership, comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik. Shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut in Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, while public transport was off the roads, the official said. However, private vehicles could be seen plying in several areas of the city, they said. The separatists, under the banner of JRL on Tuesday, called for the shutdown, saying the legal challenge to the articles is an “extremely critical issue” of the very existence as a people and of “our disputed status”. The officials said reports of the shutdown were received from other district headquarters in the Valley. Articles 35-A and 370 grant special status to Jammu and Kashmir and special rights and privileges to its “permanent residents”, respectively. The JRL in a statement has said,“People of Jammu and Kashmir will forcefully resist every challenge by New Delhi to change the demography of the state by rolling back hereditary state subject laws of 1927 (protected by Article 35-A of the Constitution), being contested in the Supreme Court of India through their agents.” They warned the authorities that “if anything adverse to the interests of the people of J&K and its disputed status is announced through the courts, a mass people’s agitation will be started instantly across the state and the responsibility of the consequences of that will be entirely on those forcing us to react”.

Separatists’ call for shutdown on legal challenge to Article 35-A, Article 370 hits normal life in Kashmir

The top four Democratic and Republican negotiators in the US&nbsp;Congress on border security funding plan to meet on Monday in a bid to reach an elusive deal by a Friday deadline <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/no-more-us-congressional-talks-scheduled-to-avert-shutdown-196466">to avert another partial government shutdown</a>.

The talks were scheduled to resume in Washington hours before Republican President Donald Trump plans a rally in the Texas border city of El Paso, where he is expected to promote his long-promised wall along the US-Mexico border.

An anti-wall protest will greet the Republican president, led by hometown Democrat Beto O'Rourke, the former congressman who is considering running for his party's 2020 presidential nomination after gaining national prominence last year by nearly upsetting Republican Ted Cruz in a US&nbsp;Senate race in Texas.

In Washington, the lawmakers hope to reach an agreement on Monday to allow time for the legislation to pass the House of Representatives and Senate and get Trump's signature by Friday when funding is due to expire for the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department and several other federal agencies.

Negotiations broke down during the weekend over funding for immigrant detention beds and physical barriers along the US-Mexico border.

House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, a Democrat, and the panel's top Republican, US&nbsp;Representative Kay Granger, will attend the meeting with Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, a Republican, and the panel's senior Democrat Patrick Leahy, according to congressional aides. They were tentatively set to meet at 3:30 p.m. (2030 GMT).

Trump's December demand for $5.7 billion to help construct a border wall triggered a 35-day partial government shutdown that ended last month without the president getting wall funding. Trump agreed to reopen the government for three weeks to allow congressional negotiators time to find a compromise on government funding for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30, to avert another shutdown on February 15.

The disagreement over border barriers and making detention facilities able to hold more immigrants to be deported are at the heart of the dispute between congressional Democrats and Trump, who has sought to crack down on illegal and legal immigration.

Campaign promise

Trump made a border wall one of his central campaign promises in 2016, saying it is needed to curb illegal immigration, drug trafficking and other crimes. Democrats, who assumed control of the House last month from Trump's fellow Republicans, oppose a wall as ineffective, expensive and immoral.

A sticking point in the border security talks has been a Democratic demand for funding fewer detention beds. Democrats oppose the Trump administration expanding its capacity to hold more people arrested by US&nbsp;Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for eventual deportation.

Democrats generally push for less use of detention, arguing it is much cheaper to release some immigrants but require restrictions on them such as wearing ankle bracelets that track their location. Republicans want to increase the number of beds in detention facilities to enable holding more people to speed up and expand deportations.

Trump has called the situation at the border a national security crisis and deployed an extra 3,750 US&nbsp;troops there this month.

His 2020 re-election campaign made a wall the centrepiece of a fundraising drive seeking contributions of $5 or more from supporters by midnight on Monday.

California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, was poised to withdraw all 360 of his state's National Guard troops from the border to counter Trump's claim of a national security crisis, according to US&nbsp;media reports. Democratic-governed New Mexico made a similar move last week.

&nbsp;

The top four Democratic and Republican negotiators in the US Congress on border security funding plan to meet on Monday in a bid to reach an elusive deal by a Friday deadline to avert another partial government shutdown.

The top four Democratic and Republican negotiators in the US Congress on border security funding plan to meet on Monday in a bid to reach an elusive deal by a Friday deadline to avert another partial government shutdown. The talks were scheduled to resume in Washington hours before Republican President Donald Trump plans a rally in the Texas border city of El Paso, where he is expected to promote his long-promised wall along the US-Mexico border. An anti-wall protest will greet the Republican president, led by hometown Democrat Beto O'Rourke, the former congressman who is considering running for his party's 2020 presidential nomination after gaining national prominence last year by nearly upsetting Republican Ted Cruz in a US Senate race in Texas. In Washington, the lawmakers hope to reach an agreement on Monday to allow time for the legislation to pass the House of Representatives and Senate and get Trump's signature by Friday when funding is due to expire for the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department and several other federal agencies. Negotiations broke down during the weekend over funding for immigrant detention beds and physical barriers along the US-Mexico border. House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, a Democrat, and the panel's top Republican, US Representative Kay Granger, will attend the meeting with Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, a Republican, and the panel's senior Democrat Patrick Leahy, according to congressional aides. They were tentatively set to meet at 3:30 p.m. (2030 GMT). Trump's December demand for $5.7 billion to help construct a border wall triggered a 35-day partial government shutdown that ended last month without the president getting wall funding. Trump agreed to reopen the government for three weeks to allow congressional negotiators time to find a compromise on government funding for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30, to avert another shutdown on February 15. The disagreement over border barriers and making detention facilities able to hold more immigrants to be deported are at the heart of the dispute between congressional Democrats and Trump, who has sought to crack down on illegal and legal immigration. Campaign promise Trump made a border wall one of his central campaign promises in 2016, saying it is needed to curb illegal immigration, drug trafficking and other crimes. Democrats, who assumed control of the House last month from Trump's fellow Republicans, oppose a wall as ineffective, expensive and immoral. A sticking point in the border security talks has been a Democratic demand for funding fewer detention beds. Democrats oppose the Trump administration expanding its capacity to hold more people arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for eventual deportation. Democrats generally push for less use of detention, arguing it is much cheaper to release some immigrants but require restrictions on them such as wearing ankle bracelets that track their location. Republicans want to increase the number of beds in detention facilities to enable holding more people to speed up and expand deportations. Trump has called the situation at the border a national security crisis and deployed an extra 3,750 US troops there this month. His 2020 re-election campaign made a wall the centrepiece of a fundraising drive seeking contributions of $5 or more from supporters by midnight on Monday. California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, was poised to withdraw all 360 of his state's National Guard troops from the border to counter Trump's claim of a national security crisis, according to US media reports. Democratic-governed New Mexico made a similar move last week.

US lawmakers to hold border security talks in bid to avert shutdown

The Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway connecting Uttar Pradesh with the national capital was shut on Friday evening as a huge mass of farmers marched on the road in a rally, officials said.

The Delhi Traffic Police cautioned commuters asking them to take alternate routes between Delhi and Noida suggesting usage of NH-9 instead of the DND to those moving to Ghazipur via Mayur Vihar.

"Due to the rally/protest by farmers, the DND road between Noida and Delhi has been shut," the Delhi Traffic Police tweeted at 5 pm.

&nbsp;Earlier in the day, it issued an advisory stating traffic movement on NH-24, Kalindi Kunj, Sarita Vihar, Mathura Road, and from DND to Ashram was likely to be impacted due to the rally.

The Noida Traffic Police said there could be diversions made on the route as per requirements.

"People are advised to use alternate roads via Mayur Vihar and Kalindi Kunj for movement between Noida and Delhi to avoid inconvenience," it had said in the advisory.

Vehicular movement on the crucial route had come to a crawl this evening, with several commuters sharing their agony on social media.

"Coming back to Delhi from Noida, Avoid roads. Take the metro. The traffic is insane. 2 hours for a 35 min route. And I have still not reached," said a Twitter user.&nbsp;

The Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway connecting Uttar Pradesh with the national capital was shut on Friday evening as a huge mass of farmers marched on the road in a rally, officials said.

The Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway connecting Uttar Pradesh with the national capital was shut on Friday evening as a huge mass of farmers marched on the road in a rally, officials said. The Delhi Traffic Police cautioned commuters asking them to take alternate routes between Delhi and Noida suggesting usage of NH-9 instead of the DND to those moving to Ghazipur via Mayur Vihar. "Due to the rally/protest by farmers, the DND road between Noida and Delhi has been shut," the Delhi Traffic Police tweeted at 5 pm. Earlier in the day, it issued an advisory stating traffic movement on NH-24, Kalindi Kunj, Sarita Vihar, Mathura Road, and from DND to Ashram was likely to be impacted due to the rally. The Noida Traffic Police said there could be diversions made on the route as per requirements. "People are advised to use alternate roads via Mayur Vihar and Kalindi Kunj for movement between Noida and Delhi to avoid inconvenience," it had said in the advisory. Vehicular movement on the crucial route had come to a crawl this evening, with several commuters sharing their agony on social media. "Coming back to Delhi from Noida, Avoid roads. Take the metro. The traffic is insane. 2 hours for a 35 min route. And I have still not reached," said a Twitter user.

DND shut due to farmers' rally in Delhi

The five-week US government shutdown subtracted <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-signs-deal-ending-longest-government-shutdown-in-us-history-192857">$11 billion from the economy</a>, about twice the amount President Donald Trump sought to fund a border wall, a congressional body said Monday.

However, all but $3 billion, or 0.02 per cent of GDP, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/delays-at-new-york-airport-due-to-shutdown-staff-shortages-192835">will eventually </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/delays-at-new-york-airport-due-to-shutdown-staff-shortages-192835">recovered</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/delays-at-new-york-airport-due-to-shutdown-staff-shortages-192835"> as the</a> government resumes operations, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said in a report.

"Underlying those effects on the overall economy are much more significant effects on individual businesses and workers," the report said.

"Some of those private-sector entities will never recoup that lost income."

Growth in subsequent quarters this year should see a small bounce, compensating for the losses in the final quarter of 2018 and the start of 2019, the report said.

The partial shutdown, the longest in US history, left some 800,000 federal workers either working without pay or furloughed although they are due to receive back pay this week.

With public services including aviation safety beginning to buckle under the strain of withheld wages, Trump agreed Friday to reopen the federal government temporarily, with no additional funding for the wall. The border wall to stem illegal immigration was a signature pledge from his 2016 campaign.

Funding for the government is due to run out by mid-February and Trump told The Wall Street Journal on Sunday that the odds were below 50 percent that lawmakers would reach a deal on border security he would find acceptable.

The border wall to stem illegal immigration was a signature pledge from his 2016 campaign. 
&nbsp;

The five-week US government shutdown subtracted $11 billion from the economy, about twice the amount President Donald Trump sought to fund a border wall, a congressional body said Monday.

The five-week US government shutdown subtracted $11 billion from the economy, about twice the amount President Donald Trump sought to fund a border wall, a congressional body said Monday. However, all but $3 billion, or 0.02 per cent of GDP, will eventually recovered as the government resumes operations, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said in a report. "Underlying those effects on the overall economy are much more significant effects on individual businesses and workers," the report said. "Some of those private-sector entities will never recoup that lost income." Growth in subsequent quarters this year should see a small bounce, compensating for the losses in the final quarter of 2018 and the start of 2019, the report said. The partial shutdown, the longest in US history, left some 800,000 federal workers either working without pay or furloughed although they are due to receive back pay this week. With public services including aviation safety beginning to buckle under the strain of withheld wages, Trump agreed Friday to reopen the federal government temporarily, with no additional funding for the wall. The border wall to stem illegal immigration was a signature pledge from his 2016 campaign. Funding for the government is due to run out by mid-February and Trump told The Wall Street Journal on Sunday that the odds were below 50 percent that lawmakers would reach a deal on border security he would find acceptable. The border wall to stem illegal immigration was a signature pledge from his 2016 campaign.

US government shutdown subtracted $11 billion from economy: Congressional report

The US Senate on Thursday blocked dueling plans to reopen shuttered federal agencies, a fresh setback in efforts to end a month-long government shutdown, but President Donald Trump signalled he could back a new proposal if it includes border security.

The legislative deadlock left Congress and the president red-faced and adrift as thousands of federal workers, some reliant on food banks to make ends meet, are about to miss a second paycheck.

But shortly after the votes, a possible way out of the deepening crisis began to take shape, when Senate leaders huddled in private to discuss a proposal to fund lapsed federal agencies for three weeks, to allow for negotiations over border security.

Asked if he would support the plan, discussed in private by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, Trump was noncommittal, saying he would still want funding for his wall.

"If they come to a reasonable agreement, I would support it," he said, but added: "We have to have a wall in this country."

Trump had backed a Senate measure which would have reopened the government, funded the wall and included some immigration policy changes. It earned 50 votes to 47 against, but it needed 60 to advance.

A competing proposal by Senate Democrats that would open government through February 8 without funding Trump's wall, and leave room for border security negotiations, also failed to move forward by a similar tally.

Trump was already smarting, after being forced into shelving his annual State of the Union address by top Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives, until the government is fully operational.

Though politically bruised, Trump stood firm on his demand for billions of dollars in funding for a border wall as part of an overall budget package. 
"We will not Cave!" he tweeted at Pelosi before the Senate votes.

The shutdown is now in its 34th day, with some 800,000 federal workers left unpaid across the country and in US installations abroad -- and the knock-on effects affecting millions more. As acrimony in Washington grew, lawmakers across the political spectrum were left scrambling for an exit strategy for the longest-ever halt to federal operations.

"I don't know what's going to happen next. Nobody knows," warned Senate Republican Richard Shelby. But Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator who often has the president's year, said he discussed with Trump the new proposal gaining traction: a continuing resolution that funds government for three weeks.

"All of us believe that if we had three weeks with the government open, with all the discord coming from a shutdown, that we could find a way forward to produce a bill that he would sign," Graham said on the Senate floor. He added in a tweet that Democratic priorities for disaster relief were also included, "showing good faith from both sides".

The White House stressed the need for at least some money for Trump's border plan. "The three-week CR would only work if there is a large down payment on the wall," press secretary Sarah Sanders said.

Trump has repeatedly called for $5.7 billion in border wall funding, a demand consistently rejected by Democrats including Pelosi. Shortly before the Senate vote she urged Republicans to back the Democratic bid to temporarily open lapsed agencies, allowing for a border security negotiation to proceed. 
"Who can say no to that?" she said. But many did say no, it turns out.

Senator Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, was one of a handful of Republicans who voted for both bills, and he called on congressional leaders and the White House to thrash out their differences quickly. "We can't just have the lack of communication that prevents us from getting to a deal," Romney told reporters.

The air travel industry issued dire warnings, including one from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. "In our risk-averse industry, we cannot even calculate the level of risk currently at play, nor predict the point at which the entire system will break," NATCA president Paul Rinaldi said in a statement. "It is unprecedented."

Most Democrats oppose direct funds for wall construction, but some have begun publicly advocating for negotiating a solution that includes boosted border funding, including for border structures.

And Pelosi herself said Thursday that "we will have some of our proposals for what comes next" in upcoming legislation offerings.

The US Senate on Thursday blocked dueling plans to reopen shuttered federal agencies, a fresh setback in efforts to end a month-long government shutdown, but President Donald Trump signalled he could back a new proposal if it includes border security.

The US Senate on Thursday blocked dueling plans to reopen shuttered federal agencies, a fresh setback in efforts to end a month-long government shutdown, but President Donald Trump signalled he could back a new proposal if it includes border security. The legislative deadlock left Congress and the president red-faced and adrift as thousands of federal workers, some reliant on food banks to make ends meet, are about to miss a second paycheck. But shortly after the votes, a possible way out of the deepening crisis began to take shape, when Senate leaders huddled in private to discuss a proposal to fund lapsed federal agencies for three weeks, to allow for negotiations over border security. Asked if he would support the plan, discussed in private by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, Trump was noncommittal, saying he would still want funding for his wall. "If they come to a reasonable agreement, I would support it," he said, but added: "We have to have a wall in this country." Trump had backed a Senate measure which would have reopened the government, funded the wall and included some immigration policy changes. It earned 50 votes to 47 against, but it needed 60 to advance. A competing proposal by Senate Democrats that would open government through February 8 without funding Trump's wall, and leave room for border security negotiations, also failed to move forward by a similar tally. Trump was already smarting, after being forced into shelving his annual State of the Union address by top Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives, until the government is fully operational. Though politically bruised, Trump stood firm on his demand for billions of dollars in funding for a border wall as part of an overall budget package. "We will not Cave!" he tweeted at Pelosi before the Senate votes. The shutdown is now in its 34th day, with some 800,000 federal workers left unpaid across the country and in US installations abroad -- and the knock-on effects affecting millions more. As acrimony in Washington grew, lawmakers across the political spectrum were left scrambling for an exit strategy for the longest-ever halt to federal operations. "I don't know what's going to happen next. Nobody knows," warned Senate Republican Richard Shelby. But Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator who often has the president's year, said he discussed with Trump the new proposal gaining traction: a continuing resolution that funds government for three weeks. "All of us believe that if we had three weeks with the government open, with all the discord coming from a shutdown, that we could find a way forward to produce a bill that he would sign," Graham said on the Senate floor. He added in a tweet that Democratic priorities for disaster relief were also included, "showing good faith from both sides". The White House stressed the need for at least some money for Trump's border plan. "The three-week CR would only work if there is a large down payment on the wall," press secretary Sarah Sanders said. Trump has repeatedly called for $5.7 billion in border wall funding, a demand consistently rejected by Democrats including Pelosi. Shortly before the Senate vote she urged Republicans to back the Democratic bid to temporarily open lapsed agencies, allowing for a border security negotiation to proceed. "Who can say no to that?" she said. But many did say no, it turns out. Senator Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, was one of a handful of Republicans who voted for both bills, and he called on congressional leaders and the White House to thrash out their differences quickly. "We can't just have the lack of communication that prevents us from getting to a deal," Romney told reporters. The air travel industry issued dire warnings, including one from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. "In our risk-averse industry, we cannot even calculate the level of risk currently at play, nor predict the point at which the entire system will break," NATCA president Paul Rinaldi said in a statement. "It is unprecedented." Most Democrats oppose direct funds for wall construction, but some have begun publicly advocating for negotiating a solution that includes boosted border funding, including for border structures. And Pelosi herself said Thursday that "we will have some of our proposals for what comes next" in upcoming legislation offerings.

Dueling plans to end US shutdown fail in Senate, talks resume

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