It’s Wednesday, October 1, 2025, and Washington wakes to a shutdown after Trump and Congress failed to strike a funding deal. At the Pentagon, Hegseth rolled out stricter combat and grooming rules, while Trump tapped General Kenneth Wilsbach as the next Air Force chief. Overseas, Russia bombed Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia’s nuclear plant is on emergency power; Europe piled pressure on Israel as protests spread; and Syria’s Druze turned toward autonomy with Israeli backing. The Taliban denied an internet ban in Afghanistan, Australia clashed with China over iron ore, and South Korea raised defense spending to reduce its reliance on the US.

—US Government Shuts Down as Trump and Congress Fail to Reach Deal

The US government entered a shutdown on Wednesday after President Donald Trump and Congr

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