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By David Morgan, Bo Erickson, Nolan D. McCaskill and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday as deep partisan divisions prevented Congress and the White House from reaching a funding deal, setting off what could be a long, grueling standoff that could lead to the loss of thousands of federal jobs. There was no clear path out of the impasse, while agencies warned that the 15th government shutdown since 1981 would halt the release of a closely watched September employment report, slow air travel, suspend scientific research, withhold pay from U.S. troops and lead to the furlough of 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $400 million. Trump, whose campaign to radically reshape the federal government is already on track to push out some 300,000 workers by December, warned congressional Democrats that a shutdown could clear the path for "irreversible" actions including cutting more jobs and programs. The shutdown commenced hours after the Senate rejected a short-term spending measure that would have kept government operations afloat through November 21. Democrats opposed the legislation over Republicans' refusal to attach an extension of health benefits for millions of Americans that are due to expire at the end of the year. Republicans say the issue must be addressed separately.  At issue on the government funding front is $1.7 trillion for agency operations, which amounts to roughly one-quarter of the government's total $7 trillion budget. Much of the remainder goes to health and retirement programs and interest payments on the growing $37.5 trillion debt. Independent analysts warn the shutdown could last longer than the budget-related closures of the past, with Trump and White House officials threatening to punish Democrats with cuts to government programs and the federal payroll. Trump budget director Russell Vought, who has called for "less bipartisan" appropriations, threatened permanent layoffs last week in the event of a shutdown.    Wall Street futures slipped, gold struck a record high and Asian stocks wavered as investors worried about delays in the release of key data and the impact of job losses. The dollar hovered near a one-week low versus major peers. RECORD DATES TO FIRST TRUMP TERM The longest government shutdown in U.S. history stretched over 35 days during December 2018 and January 2019 during Trump's first term in office, in a dispute over border security.  "All they want to do is try to bully us. And they're not going to succeed," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech a day after a White House meeting with Trump and other congressional leaders that ended with the two parties far apart. Senate Majority Leader John Thune described the failed short-term spending bill as a "nonpartisan" measure devoid of partisan policy riders that Democrats have had no problem accepting in years past.  "What's changed is, President Trump is in the White House. That's what this is about. This is politics. And there isn't any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown," the South Dakota Republican told reporters. Trump's Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, but legislative rules require 60 of the 100 senators to agree on spending legislation. That means that at least seven Democrats are needed to pass a funding bill. DEMOCRATS FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE FUNDING Democrats are under pressure from their frustrated supporters to score a rare victory ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress for the final two years of Trump's term. The healthcare push has given them a chance to unite behind an issue that resonates with voters. Along with the extended health subsidies, Democrats have also sought to ensure that Trump will not be able to undo those changes if they are signed into law. Trump has refused to spend billions of dollars approved by Congress, prompting some Democrats to question why they should vote for any spending legislation at all.  University of Chicago professor Robert Pape said the unusually polarized U.S. political climate in the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination and the growing power on the extreme wings of both parties could make it harder for party leaders to agree on a deal to reopen the government.   "The rules of politics are radically changing and we can't know for sure where all of this is going to end," said University of Chicago political science professor Robert Pape, who studies political violence.   "Each side would have to backtrack against tens of millions of truly aggressive supporters, their own constituents, which is going to be really hard for them to do," he said.   Before the shutdown, Trump reached out to his own supporters with a deepfake video showing manipulated images of Schumer appearing to criticize Democrats while top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries stood next to him, with a crudely drawn sombrero and mustache imposed over his face. "It was childish. It was petty," Schumer told reporters. "It's something that a 5-year-old would do, not a president of the United States. But it shows how unserious they are. They don't give a damn about the harm they will cause with their shutdown."  (Reporting by Richard Cowan, Nolan D. McCaskill, Bo Erickson and David Morgan; additional reporting by Jasper Ward and Katharine Jackson; editing by Scott Malone and Lincoln Feast.)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Ernest Scheyder (Reuters) -Vancouver-based Lithium Americas said on Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has taken a 5% stake in the company, along with a separate 5% stake in its Thacker Pass lithium project joint venture with General Motors. While the total deal value was not disclosed, Lithium Americas confirmed it has finalized an agreement with the DOE to initiate the first $435 million draw from a previously announced $2.26 billion loan to support development of the Thacker Pass site. It will be the latest private sector investment by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration after recent stakes in Intel and MP Materials, seeking to boost industries seen as vital to U.S. national security. Last week, Reuters reported that administration officials were in discussions with Lithium Americas about an equity stake as they renegotiated terms of a $2.26 billion government loan for the Nevada-based mine, which is slated to become the largest source of battery metal lithium in the Western Hemisphere. Representatives for GM were not immediately available to comment. GM, which invested $625 million in the mine last year for a 38% stake, has the right to buy all of the project's lithium from its first phase and a portion from the second phase for 20 years. Administration officials had initially sought a guarantee that GM would buy the metal regardless of market conditions, a request the automaker pushed back on and which led to the equity stake request, Reuters previously reported. The Thacker Pass project has long been touted by both Republicans and Democrats as a key way to boost U.S. critical minerals production and cut reliance on China, the world's largest lithium processor. China plays a dominant role in the global lithium supply chain, producing more than 40,000 metric tons each year, making it the third-largest producer after Australia and Chile. China's influence is far greater in refining, where it processes over 75% of the world's lithium into battery-grade material. The U.S. produces less than 5,000 metric tons of lithium at a Nevada facility owned by Albemarle. Thacker Pass's first phase is expected to produce 40,000 metric tons of battery-quality lithium carbonate per year, enough for up to 800,000 EVs. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder, additional reporting by Angela Christy in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese, Veronica Brown, David Gregorio and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

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By Yantoultra Ngui and Jun Yuan Yong SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Asia excluding China has attracted about $100 billion in capital inflows over the past nine months as global investors diversify beyond the U.S., said Kevin Sneader, Goldman Sachs' president for Asia-Pacific ex-Japan, on Wednesday. “There is incremental flow in this part of the world,” Sneader said at the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2025 in Singapore. “I think it's important to put it in the context of a diversification movement, not an exit movement."  Japan has been a key beneficiary of the trend, while China’s equity rally since late last year has been driven mainly by domestic investors and interest in the technology sector, with foreign funds now taking another look at China, he said.  "I think we should be cautious and not get too excited because part of that money is what I call global hedge fund money, the faster money," he said. "They're operating around the 60th, 65th percentile of their average holdings," he said. "That's not 100%, so they're not back to where they were. The mutual funds, longer investors, that money's still not flowing back into China. But they're certainly taking a hard look at Asia."  Sneader said the technology, consumer discretionary and industrial sectors are attracting strong interest in Asia, with healthcare gaining traction in private markets.  Temasek International Chief Executive Dilhan Pillay, speaking at the same event, said that “globalisation as we have known it is gone,” as geopolitics, tariffs and energy constraints have reshaped returns. "Reconfiguration of supply chains to (prioritise) resilience over efficiency, there's a cost for resilience," he said. "It's like an insurance policy. So that cost doesn't abate over time unless you have a substitution for what you're trying to defend yourself against, (which is) the vulnerability of being reliant on one major supply chain in the world." Pillay added that artificial intelligence is “the most pervasive thing across the political, social and economic spectrum.” Singaporean state investor Temasek, which manages a S$434 billion ($340 billion) portfolio, reported an 11.6% rise in net portfolio value to a record high as of March 31, with the U.S. continuing to be its largest destination for capital. The Americas made up 24% of its portfolio during the financial year, versus 22% a year earlier.  (Reporting by Yantoultra Ngui, Jun Yuan Yong; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)

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By Mohi Narayan NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Oil prices steadied on Wednesday after two days of declines as investors weighed OPEC+ plans for a larger output hike next month and the outcome of a U.S. government shutdown that could impact economic activity and fuel demand. Brent crude futures for December delivery rose 28 cents to $66.31 a barrel by 0500 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose by 26 cents to $62.63 a barrel. On Monday, Brent and WTI both settled more than 3% lower, their sharpest daily declines since August 1. On Tuesday, they each fell 1.5% further. "The weakness stems largely from supply-side developments, with OPEC gradually reviving production … adding to market concerns over a potential supply overhang," Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of SS WealthStreet, a New Delhi-based research firm, said. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known as OPEC+, could agree to raise oil production by up to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in November, triple the increase made for October, as Saudi Arabia seeks to reclaim market share, three sources familiar with the talks said. Eight members of the group, which pumps about half the world’s oil, are considering a hike of 274,000 to 411,000 bpd, two of the sources said. A third source said the increase could reach 500,000 bpd. OPEC wrote in a post on X that media reports of plans to raise output by 500,000 bpd were misleading. Additional pressure on prices followed an industry report showing U.S. crude stockpiles fell while gasoline and distillate inventories rose last week. Crude stocks fell by 3.67 million barrels in the week ended September 26, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute estimates on Tuesday. Gasoline inventories, however, rose by 1.3 million barrels while distillate inventories increased by 3 million barrels from last week, the sources said. "While U.S. crude inventories have been on a declining trend, the pace of drawdowns has slowed, tempering bullish sentiment," SS WealthStreet's Sachdeva said. The U.S. government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday as deep partisan divisions prevented Congress and the White House from reaching a funding deal. Agencies warned that the 15th government shutdown since 1981 would halt the release of a closely watched September employment report, slow air travel, suspend scientific research, withhold pay from U.S. troops and lead to the furlough of 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $400 million. Data on factory activity in Asia, the world's biggest oil-consuming region, also added to concerns about fuel demand. Manufacturing activity contracted across most major economies in September, surveys showed on Wednesday, as weak Chinese demand, softer U.S. growth and looming U.S. tariffs piled pressure on the region. (Reporting by Mohi Narayan in New Delhi, additional reporting by Laila Kearney; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Christian Schmollinger.)

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(Reuters) -BHP said on Wednesday it would invest more than A$840 million ($555.16 million) in its Olympic Dam copper operations in South Australia as the miner prepares to make an investment decision by mid-2027 to double output from the state. South Australia is home to one of BHP's three copper growth projects, including Olympic Dam. The Olympic Dam project holds one of the world's largest deposits of copper, uranium, and gold, making it vital for BHP and Australia's role as a major global supplier of copper, a key metal needed for the transition to a low-carbon world. The project has consistently produced more than 300,000 metric tons of copper annually for the past three years. BHP, the world's largest listed miner, is now preparing to make a final investment decision by mid-2027 for a smelter and refinery expansion at Olympic Dam, with an aim to double copper output in South Australia to 650,000 tons by mid-2030s. The A$840 million investment will fund key initiatives, including an underground access tunnel, a new backfill system, expanded ore pass capacity, and a new oxygen plant to enhance smelter efficiency. "Together, these projects and those underway elsewhere across Copper SA will improve efficiency and support future growth options of South Australia's copper province," BHP said. The investment is expected to create nearly 200 construction jobs, reinforcing South Australia's position as a major global copper supplier, the company said. ($1 = 1.5131 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru and Melanie Burton in Melbourne; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By David Morgan, Bo Erickson, Nolan D. McCaskill and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday as deep partisan divisions prevented Congress and the White House from reaching a funding deal, setting off what could be a long, grueling standoff that could lead to the loss of thousands of federal jobs. There was no clear path out of the impasse, while agencies warned that the 15th government shutdown since 1981 would halt the release of a closely watched September employment report, slow air travel, suspend scientific research, withhold pay from U.S. troops and lead to the furlough of 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $400 million. Trump, whose campaign to radically reshape the federal government is already on track to push out some 300,000 workers by December, warned congressional Democrats that a shutdown could clear the path for "irreversible" actions including cutting more jobs and programs. The shutdown commenced hours after the Senate rejected a short-term spending measure that would have kept government operations afloat through November 21. Democrats opposed the legislation over Republicans' refusal to attach an extension of health benefits for millions of Americans that are due to expire at the end of the year. Republicans say the issue must be addressed separately.  At issue on the government funding front is $1.7 trillion for agency operations, which amounts to roughly one-quarter of the government's total $7 trillion budget. Much of the remainder goes to health and retirement programs and interest payments on the growing $37.5 trillion debt. Independent analysts warn the shutdown could last longer than the budget-related closures of the past, with Trump and White House officials threatening to punish Democrats with cuts to government programs and the federal payroll. Trump budget director Russell Vought, who has called for "less bipartisan" appropriations, threatened permanent layoffs last week in the event of a shutdown.    Wall Street futures slipped, gold struck a record high and Asian stocks wavered as investors worried about delays in the release of key data and the impact of job losses. The dollar hovered near a one-week low versus major peers. RECORD DATES TO FIRST TRUMP TERM The longest government shutdown in U.S. history stretched over 35 days during December 2018 and January 2019 during Trump's first term in office, in a dispute over border security.  "All they want to do is try to bully us. And they're not going to succeed," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech a day after a White House meeting with Trump and other congressional leaders that ended with the two parties far apart. Senate Majority Leader John Thune described the failed short-term spending bill as a "nonpartisan" measure devoid of partisan policy riders that Democrats have had no problem accepting in years past.  "What's changed is, President Trump is in the White House. That's what this is about. This is politics. And there isn't any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown," the South Dakota Republican told reporters. Trump's Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, but legislative rules require 60 of the 100 senators to agree on spending legislation. That means that at least seven Democrats are needed to pass a funding bill. DEMOCRATS FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE FUNDING Democrats are under pressure from their frustrated supporters to score a rare victory ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress for the final two years of Trump's term. The healthcare push has given them a chance to unite behind an issue that resonates with voters. Along with the extended health subsidies, Democrats have also sought to ensure that Trump will not be able to undo those changes if they are signed into law. Trump has refused to spend billions of dollars approved by Congress, prompting some Democrats to question why they should vote for any spending legislation at all.  University of Chicago professor Robert Pape said the unusually polarized U.S. political climate in the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination and the growing power on the extreme wings of both parties could make it harder for party leaders to agree on a deal to reopen the government.   "The rules of politics are radically changing and we can't know for sure where all of this is going to end," said University of Chicago political science professor Robert Pape, who studies political violence.   "Each side would have to backtrack against tens of millions of truly aggressive supporters, their own constituents, which is going to be really hard for them to do," he said.   Before the shutdown, Trump reached out to his own supporters with a deepfake video showing manipulated images of Schumer appearing to criticize Democrats while top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries stood next to him, with a crudely drawn sombrero and mustache imposed over his face. "It was childish. It was petty," Schumer told reporters. "It's something that a 5-year-old would do, not a president of the United States. But it shows how unserious they are. They don't give a damn about the harm they will cause with their shutdown."  (Reporting by Richard Cowan, Nolan D. McCaskill, Bo Erickson and David Morgan; additional reporting by Jasper Ward and Katharine Jackson; editing by Scott Malone and Lincoln Feast.)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Anton Bridge and Miho Uranaka TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's Nomura Holdings plans to beef up its interest rate and currency trading operations globally, believing increased market volatility will lift demand, a senior executive said. The push reflects growing doubts around the longevity of the current equities bull run. When markets become more volatile, interest rate and foreign exchange products typically perform better, as clients hedge risk and rebalance their positions, generating higher trading flows. "Global equity markets are at all-time highs. U.S. markets – and within U.S. markets, a narrow set of stocks – have dominated as drivers of value," Christopher Willcox, the head of the firm's wholesale division, told Reuters in an interview. "You would be wise to assume that can't go on forever and that at some point, there's an adjustment," he said. Nomura declined to provide details on how much hiring would take place or current staff numbers for those operations. NEW HIRES But he noted that the group appointed a new head of U.S. rates in August – Moritz Westhoff, formerly of Bank of America – and a new co-head of its FX and emerging markets business, David Leigh, who joined from Deutsche Bank last November. More personnel and capital will be directed to those teams, said Willcox, a former JP Morgan Asset Management CEO who joined Nomura in 2021 and became head of wholesale a year later. Nomura's interest rate and exchange rate operations form the bulk of its macro products business, which has made up around 30% of the wholesale division's revenue in recent years. In the past business year, the division's revenue topped 1 trillion yen ($6.8 billion). The push also reflects Nomura's efforts to build more diverse sources of income, given that its wholesale unit's performance has seen wild swings along with market conditions in the past. "We view the macro business as counter-cyclical. In the global financial crisis, it was everyone's rates business that made all the money at the time when their securitised products businesses were shut down," Willcox said. The securitisation of mortgage debt into financial instruments was among the core causes of the 2007-2009 global financial crisis. Willcox also said Nomura's advisory business is likely to perform better in the second half of the year compared to the first half, as the public listing market in the U.S. has picked up and there is pent-up M&A demand in Japan. Deals and capital raisings had been held back by uncertainty caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, though this has eased somewhat with the signing of some trade agreements between the U.S. and other countries. The wholesale division does not have planned any major acquisitions along the lines of Nomura's $1.8 billion purchase of Macquarie's U.S. and European public asset management businesses. But it is looking to diversify its business lines in areas where Nomura has existing expertise to make money regardless of market ups and downs. Earlier in September, it launched a U.S. commercial real estate platform with a team hired from Barclays, which Willcox expects will contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the top line over the next few years. "We're asking where logically we can extend pre-existing expertise into new zones," Willcox said. "And there's lots of them, it's not like we're running out of things to do." ($1 = 147.9700 yen) (Reporting by Anton Bridge and Miho Uranaka; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By David Morgan, Bo Erickson, Nolan D. McCaskill and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday as deep partisan divisions prevented Congress and the White House from reaching a funding deal, setting off what could be a long, grueling standoff that could lead to the loss of thousands of federal jobs. There was no clear path out of the impasse, while agencies warned that the 15th government shutdown since 1981 would halt the release of a closely watched September employment report, slow air travel, suspend scientific research, withhold pay from U.S. troops and lead to the furlough of 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $400 million. Trump, whose campaign to radically reshape the federal government is already on track to push out some 300,000 workers by December, warned congressional Democrats that a shutdown could clear the path for "irreversible" actions including cutting more jobs and programs. The shutdown commenced hours after the Senate rejected a short-term spending measure that would have kept government operations afloat through November 21. Democrats opposed the legislation over Republicans' refusal to attach an extension of health benefits for millions of Americans that are due to expire at the end of the year. Republicans say the issue must be addressed separately.  At issue on the government funding front is $1.7 trillion for agency operations, which amounts to roughly one-quarter of the government's total $7 trillion budget. Much of the remainder goes to health and retirement programs and interest payments on the growing $37.5 trillion debt. Independent analysts warn the shutdown could last longer than the budget-related closures of the past, with Trump and White House officials threatening to punish Democrats with cuts to government programs and the federal payroll. Trump budget director Russell Vought, who has called for "less bipartisan" appropriations, threatened permanent layoffs last week in the event of a shutdown.    RECORD DATES TO FIRST TRUMP TERM The longest government shutdown in U.S. history stretched over 35 days during December 2018 and January 2019 during Trump's first term in office, in a dispute over border security.  "All they want to do is try to bully us. And they're not going to succeed," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech a day after a White House meeting with Trump and other congressional leaders that ended with the two parties far apart. Senate Majority Leader John Thune described the failed short-term spending bill as a "nonpartisan" measure devoid of partisan policy riders that Democrats have had no problem accepting in years past.  "What's changed is, President Trump is in the White House. That's what this is about. This is politics. And there isn't any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown," the South Dakota Republican told reporters. Trump's Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, but legislative rules require 60 of the 100 senators to agree on spending legislation. That means that at least seven Democrats are needed to pass a funding bill. DEMOCRATS FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE FUNDING Democrats are under pressure from their frustrated supporters to score a rare victory ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress for the final two years of Trump's term. The healthcare push has given them a chance to unite behind an issue that resonates with voters. Along with the extended health subsidies, Democrats have also sought to ensure that Trump will not be able to undo those changes if they are signed into law. Trump has refused to spend billions of dollars approved by Congress, prompting some Democrats to question why they should vote for any spending legislation at all.  University of Chicago professor Robert Pape said the unusually polarized U.S. political climate in the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination and the growing power on the extreme wings of both parties could make it harder for party leaders to agree on a deal to reopen the government.   "The rules of politics are radically changing and we can't know for sure where all of this is going to end," said University of Chicago political science professor Robert Pape, who studies political violence.   "Each side would have to backtrack against tens of millions of truly aggressive supporters, their own constituents, which is going to be really hard for them to do," he said.   Before the shutdown, Trump reached out to his own supporters with a deepfake video showing manipulated images of Schumer appearing to criticize Democrats while top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries stood next to him, with a crudely drawn sombrero and mustache imposed over his face. "It was childish. It was petty," Schumer told reporters. "It's something that a 5-year-old would do, not a president of the United States. But it shows how unserious they are. They don't give a damn about the harm they will cause with their shutdown."  (Reporting by Richard Cowan, Nolan D. McCaskill, Bo Erickson and David Morgan; additional reporting by Jasper Ward and Katharine Jackson; editing by Scott Malone and Lincoln Feast.)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By David Morgan, Bo Erickson, Nolan D. McCaskill and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday as deep partisan divisions prevented Congress and the White House from reaching a funding deal, setting off what could be a long, grueling standoff that could lead to the loss of thousands of federal jobs. There was no clear path out of the impasse, while agencies warned that the 15th government shutdown since 1981 would halt the release of a closely watched September employment report, slow air travel, suspend scientific research, withhold pay from U.S. troops and lead to the furlough of 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $400 million. Trump, whose campaign to radically reshape the federal government is already on track to push out some 300,000 workers by December, warned congressional Democrats that a shutdown could clear the path for "irreversible" actions including cutting more jobs and programs. The shutdown commenced hours after the Senate rejected a short-term spending measure that would have kept government operations afloat through November 21. Democrats opposed the legislation over Republicans' refusal to attach an extension of health benefits for millions of Americans that are due to expire at the end of the year. Republicans say the issue must be addressed separately.  At issue on the government funding front is $1.7 trillion for agency operations, which amounts to roughly one-quarter of the government's total $7 trillion budget. Much of the remainder goes to health and retirement programs and interest payments on the growing $37.5 trillion debt. Independent analysts warn the shutdown could last longer than the budget-related closures of the past, with Trump and White House officials threatening to punish Democrats with cuts to government programs and the federal payroll. Trump budget director Russell Vought, who has called for "less bipartisan" appropriations, threatened permanent layoffs last week in the event of a shutdown.    RECORD DATES TO FIRST TRUMP TERM The longest government shutdown in U.S. history stretched over 35 days during December 2018 and January 2019 during Trump's first term in office, in a dispute over border security.  "All they want to do is try to bully us. And they're not going to succeed," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech a day after a White House meeting with Trump and other congressional leaders that ended with the two parties far apart. Senate Majority Leader John Thune described the failed short-term spending bill as a "nonpartisan" measure devoid of partisan policy riders that Democrats have had no problem accepting in years past.  "What's changed is, President Trump is in the White House. That's what this is about. This is politics. And there isn't any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown," the South Dakota Republican told reporters. Trump's Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, but legislative rules require 60 of the 100 senators to agree on spending legislation. That means that at least seven Democrats are needed to pass a funding bill. DEMOCRATS FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE FUNDING Democrats are under pressure from their frustrated supporters to score a rare victory ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress for the final two years of Trump's term. The healthcare push has given them a chance to unite behind an issue that resonates with voters. Along with the extended health subsidies, Democrats have also sought to ensure that Trump will not be able to undo those changes if they are signed into law. Trump has refused to spend billions of dollars approved by Congress, prompting some Democrats to question why they should vote for any spending legislation at all.  University of Chicago professor Robert Pape said the unusually polarized U.S. political climate in the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination and the growing power on the extreme wings of both parties could make it harder for party leaders to agree on a deal to reopen the government.   "The rules of politics are radically changing and we can't know for sure where all of this is going to end," said University of Chicago political science professor Robert Pape, who studies political violence.   "Each side would have to backtrack against tens of millions of truly aggressive supporters, their own constituents, which is going to be really hard for them to do," he said.   Before the shutdown, Trump reached out to his own supporters with a deepfake video showing manipulated images of Schumer appearing to criticize Democrats while top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries stood next to him, with a crudely drawn sombrero and mustache imposed over his face. "It was childish. It was petty," Schumer told reporters. "It's something that a 5-year-old would do, not a president of the United States. But it shows how unserious they are. They don't give a damn about the harm they will cause with their shutdown."  (Reporting by Richard Cowan, Nolan D. McCaskill, Bo Erickson and David Morgan; additional reporting by Jasper Ward and Katharine Jackson; editing by Scott Malone and Lincoln Feast.)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Leika Kihara TOKYO (Reuters) -Factory activity shrank in most of Asia's major economies in September, private surveys showed on Wednesday, as signs of a slowdown in U.S. growth and the expected impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs added to pressure from weak Chinese demand. The stress on manufacturers highlights the challenge Asian policymakers face in protecting the export-reliant region from higher U.S. levies, a key policy of the Trump administration that has upended the global trade order and put the brakes on economic growth. Export powerhouse Japan and global tech hub Taiwan saw manufacturing activity shrink in September, the surveys showed, leaving businesses in Asia – heavily reliant on the U.S. market – on a fragile footing. Worryingly, China, a key engine of the global economy, also remained in the doldrums. An official survey released on Monday showed manufacturing activity in the world's second-biggest economy contracted for a sixth month in September, dragged down by weak consumption and the squeeze from U.S. tariffs. The prolonged slump underlines the twin pressures on China's economy: domestic demand has failed to mount a durable recovery in the years since the pandemic while Trump's tariffs have squeezed Chinese factories as well as overseas firms that buy components. "The September PMI readings for most countries in Asia remained weak and we continue to expect manufacturing activity in the region to struggle in the near term," said Shivaan Tandon, emerging markets economist at Capital Economics. "With growth set to soften and inflation likely to remain contained, we expect central banks in Asia to loosen policy further." The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 48.5 in September from 49.7 in August, staying below the 50.0 threshold that separates growth from contraction. It shrank at the fastest pace in six months due to steep falls in output and new orders, the survey showed. "Overall, the data indicate that unless we see a notable improvement in demand at home and overseas, it's likely the sector will struggle to see much growth in the near-term," said Annabel Fiddes, Economics Associate Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, on Japan's PMI. Taiwan's manufacturing PMI fell to 46.8 last month from 47.4 in August. Factory activity also shrank in the Philippines and Malaysia, the private surveys showed. By contrast, South Korea's factory activity expanded for the first time in eight months in September underpinned by improving overseas demand. Manufacturing PMI in Asia's fourth-largest economy, released by S&P Global, rose to 50.7 in September from 48.3 in August, moving above the 50-mark for the first time since January 2025. The outlook for South Korea's exporters, however, hinges on negotiations to formalise a July deal aimed at reducing U.S. tariffs on Korean imports, including automobiles, to 15% from 25%, in return for South Korea's investment of $350 billion in the U.S. The talks have stalled due to Seoul's concerns over foreign exchange implications. (Reporting by Leika KiharaEditing by Shri Navaratnam)

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