US shutdown starts, 1 million workers on unpaid leave

US shutdown to impact nearly $300 billion worth outbound shipments from India: Exporters body
The US government began a partial shutdown on 1.10.2013 for the first time in 17 years, potentially putting up to 1 million workers on unpaid leave, closing national parks and stalling medical research projects.

Federal agencies were directed to cut back services after lawmakers could not break a political stalemate that sparked new questions about the ability of a deeply divided Congress to perform its most basic functions.