News
Senate Republicans Reject Democratic Offer to Extend Health Care Subsidies as Shutdown Nears 40 Days
The U.S. Senate remained deadlocked on Friday as the government shutdown approached its 40th day, with Senate Republicans rejecting a Democratic proposal to reopen the government and extend expiring health care subsidies for one year.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune dismissed the offer from Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, calling it a “nonstarter.” The proposal, made during a tense session on the Senate floor, sought to end the shutdown and provide temporary relief for millions relying on Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Schumer’s plan represented a scaled-back version of an earlier Democratic effort to make the health care tax credits permanent and reverse recent Medicaid cuts enacted under President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The new proposal called for simultaneous votes to reopen the government, extend the subsidies for one year, and form a bipartisan committee to review Republican demands for changes to the Affordable Care Act.
“All Republicans have to do is say yes,” Schumer said during his remarks. But GOP leaders quickly rejected the plan. Thune reiterated that Republicans would not engage in negotiations over health care while the government remains closed.
“That’s what we’re going to negotiate once the government opens up,” Thune said. He added that Democrats’ offer suggested they were “feeling the heat” as the shutdown drags on but maintained that it “doesn’t get anywhere close to what we need to do here.”
Republican senators met later on Friday to discuss next steps but failed to reach an agreement. “We’re back to square one,” said Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, noting that he could not predict when the shutdown would end.
As the stalemate continued, pressure mounted on both parties to act. The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay and disrupted vital services. Airlines have canceled more than 1,000 flights due to staffing shortages, and food aid programs for millions have been delayed.
A bipartisan group of senators has been in talks for weeks about advancing a package of funding bills that would restore payments for key government operations, including food assistance, veterans’ programs, and the legislative branch. The tentative plan would extend funding for other federal agencies into December or January, but Democrats say it falls short without a guarantee to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Republican leaders need five Democratic votes to pass a measure to reopen the government. The group of Democratic moderates involved in the talks has fluctuated between 10 and 12 senators.
“Unfortunately, Republicans made it clear they will not go along with Senator Schumer’s offer,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen after a meeting with fellow moderates. “We need another path forward, and we’re working on it.”
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
News
White House Unveils “Media Hall of Shame” Portal as Attacks on Press Intensify
News
Russia Launches Massive Overnight Barrage on Ukraine as Peace Talks With U.S. Continue
-
Entertainment1 year agoMeta Acquires Tilda Swinton VR Doc ‘Impulse: Playing With Reality’
-
Business2 years agoSaudi Arabia’s Model for Sustainable Aviation Practices
-
Business2 years agoRecent Developments in Small Business Taxes
-
Home Improvement1 year agoEffective Drain Cleaning: A Key to a Healthy Plumbing System
-
Politics2 years agoWho was Ebrahim Raisi and his status in Iranian Politics?
-
Business1 year agoCarrectly: Revolutionizing Car Care in Chicago
-
Sports1 year agoKeely Hodgkinson Wins Britain’s First Athletics Gold at Paris Olympics in 800m
-
Business1 year agoSaudi Arabia: Foreign Direct Investment Rises by 5.6% in Q1
