(Indonesia) – US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned that any prolonged shutdown of the government could affect the US internationally. Speaking at the Apec forum in Indonesia, he said any impact was “momentary” and Washington’s commitment to Asia was “undiminished”. President Barack Obama cancelled his Asia visit because of the shutdown.
The US government closed non-essential operations after Congress failed to agree a new budget. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees have been sent home, and the House of Representatives voted unanimously to pay them retroactively once the shutdown ends.