Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe 
International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran 
The Trump administration is preparing for potential mass layoffs of federal employees as the partial government shutdown entered its fifth day, according to White House officials. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told CNN’s State of the Union that President Donald Trump may order layoffs if negotiations with congressional Democrats “go absolutely nowhere.”
Hassett said Trump and Acting Budget Director Russell Vought are “lining things up” for possible action, though they hope to avoid layoffs. Later that day, Trump told reporters layoffs were already “taking place right now,” signaling escalating pressure on Congress to reach a deal.
The shutdown, which began October 1 at the start of the 2026 fiscal year, followed Senate Democrats’ rejection of a short-term funding bill extending government operations through November 21. So far, talks between the White House and Democratic leaders have stalled. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer accused Republicans of refusing to negotiate, stating that only renewed talks among top congressional leaders and the president could resolve the impasse.
Democrats are demanding a permanent extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and assurances that Trump will not cancel future spending agreements. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune has urged Democrats to reopen the government first before addressing healthcare concerns.
Trump expressed willingness to “fix” the ACA, calling Obamacare “a disaster for the people,” while maintaining Republicans’ goal of reforming the healthcare system.
The Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on competing short-term funding bills — one backed by the GOP-controlled House and another proposed by Democrats. However, neither is expected to secure the required 60 votes. With Republicans holding a slim 53-47 majority and one member opposed, at least eight Democrats would need to support the House bill to pass it.
Thune summarized the situation bluntly on Fox News: “It’s open up the government or else.”
