标签： North America

A federal judge has intervened to halt the mass layoffs of government employees during the ongoing US government shutdown, which has now entered its third week. The decision came after President Donald Trump’s administration announced plans to terminate up to 10,000 federal workers. District Judge Susan Illston issued a temporary restraining order in San Francisco, responding to a lawsuit filed by labor unions alleging that the layoffs are unlawful. The judge criticized the government for exploiting the shutdown to bypass legal obligations, stating, ‘The evidence suggests that the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management have taken advantage of the lapse in government spending to assume all bets are off.’ The shutdown stems from a deadlock in Congress over spending, with Trump threatening aggressive cuts to the federal workforce. Court documents revealed that over 4,000 employees were already dismissed last week, primarily affecting the US Treasury and departments of health, education, and housing. Meanwhile, the Senate has repeatedly failed to pass a funding bill, leaving 1.4 million federal employees either working without pay or on unpaid leave. Trump has accused Democrats of ‘playing politics’ and warned of further layoffs targeting opposition-aligned workers. Despite the crisis, the administration has prioritized military pay, ensuring 1.3 million personnel receive their checks on time. However, Capitol Police missed their full paycheck for the first time on Tuesday. As the shutdown drags on, calls for immediate negotiations to resolve the impasse have grown louder, with Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer urging the administration to ‘stop playing politics with people’s livelihoods.’

Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has called for a pragmatic approach to managing US-China relations, emphasizing the potential for global progress through effective interaction between the world’s two largest economies. Speaking at the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington on October 15, 2025, Tharman highlighted the need to transform competition into a shared space of innovation and mutual benefit. Drawing an analogy from ecology, he described the US-China relationship as an ‘ecotone’—a dynamic interface where different systems interact, adapt, and create new opportunities. Tharman warned against the dangers of decoupling, which could lead to bifurcation in technology, supply chains, and AI ecosystems, resulting in a ‘more profoundly dangerous’ world. Instead, he urged both nations to manage interdependence through trade, investment, and technological collaboration, particularly in areas like health, AI, and climate technologies. He also called on smaller nations to play intermediary roles in stabilizing relations and fostering innovation. Tharman stressed the importance of long-term thinking, urging policymakers to look beyond short-term tensions. He concluded with a call for renewed multilateralism and moral leadership, emphasizing that history shows breakthroughs are possible even in times of crisis. His remarks resonated with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva’s emphasis on ‘enlightened self-interest’ as a driver of international cooperation. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also reiterated the US’s commitment to ‘de-risk’ rather than decouple from China.

The race for New York City’s next mayor has captured national attention, with three distinct candidates set to face off in a live televised debate at Rockefeller Plaza on Thursday. The contenders represent a wide spectrum of political ideologies, making this election one of the most unpredictable in recent history. Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic socialist and state assemblyman, has emerged as the frontrunner, shocking his party by winning the Democratic primary by a significant margin in June. His progressive platform, which includes free bus service and city-owned grocery stores, has resonated with young voters and garnered endorsements from prominent figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. However, his candidacy has also sparked controversy, with former President Donald Trump labeling him a ‘communist’ and threatening to withhold federal funding if he is elected. Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who resigned in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal, is running as an independent. Despite his years of experience and legislative achievements, including marriage equality and gun control, Cuomo faces skepticism from voters disillusioned with the political establishment. Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate and founder of the Guardian Angels, remains a wildcard in the race. Known for his crime-fighting efforts and signature red beret, Sliwa could influence the outcome by drawing voters who are wary of Mamdani’s progressive policies. The debate is expected to focus on critical issues such as affordable housing and the city’s $4 billion budget deficit. As New Yorkers prepare to cast their votes in early November, the election represents a pivotal moment for the city’s future, with each candidate offering a vastly different vision for its direction.