The shutdown means government funding is cut off, most likely leaving hundreds of thousands of employees on unpaid leave and halting many services.

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.

The standoff is drawing national attention, raising questions about fiscal priorities, governance, and the fate of programs.

Tensions between the two countries have increased after the US Navy targeted boats off the coast of Venezuela.

The U.S. government on Tuesday appeared to be headed for a large-scale shutdown of federal operations starting on Wednesday - including a suspension of economic data publication - as Republicans and Democrats appeared unlikely to reach an agreement that would extend funding past a midnight deadline.

Swells generated by Imelda and nearby Hurricane Humberto have been affecting the Bahamas, and are spreading to much of the East Coast.

The United States announced it would cancel the visa of Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro on Friday, after he publicly called on its soldiers to disobey President Donald Trump, further straining relations between Washington and Bogota.

With U.S. government funding due to expire at midnight on Tuesday, Republicans and Democrats in Congress are showing no signs they will agree to a temporary spending fix that would avert a shutdown.