As the partial U.S. government shutdown enters a second day, and with both Republicans and Democrats firmly entrenched in their positions, any movement from either party to break the spending impasse seems unlikely in the days ahead.

It's one of the dirty little secrets of American politics, Neil Macdonald says, and a big reason why Republicans feel they can shut down the federal government with relative impunity. Having done a much better job than Democrats at gerrymandering their districts, they are more immune to broad public opinion.

We are led by a bunch of cheapskates. That's if the newly disclosed list of MPs' expenses is anything to go by. Not one of the main party leaders could spring for more than a fraction of their allowance for hospitality — even when it's on the taxpayers' bill and not their own.

Canadian Scott Cairns was among the group of UN chemical weapons inspectors in Damascus when that horrendous attack occurred in August. He goes back in today to help begin the process of dismantling Syria's now-acknowledged chemical stockpile, and spoke to the CBC's Nahlah Ayed about the challenges ahead.

The Conservative Party of Canada has launched a new fundraising drive that amounts to saying, 'Give us money so we can protect you from the government.' Odd, coming from the governing party until you consider: Conservatives want smaller government — and are setting the table for success.

For the past couple of years, the prime minister has made the point of visiting New York at the same time as the opening session of the UN and spending his time elsewhere, like meeting with Bill and Melinda Gates. The timing says all you need to know about his view of the United Nations.

CBC News has learned the Harper government intends to announce reforms to Canada's troubled military procurement system and, as early as next month's throne speech, could create a new agency under a single minister or a secretariat that takes politicians out of the equation.

The U.S. government is on the brink of shutting down Tuesday unless Republicans and Democrats can reach an agreement on a spending bill. If no deal is struck, it could put hundreds of thousands of people out of work and put a dent the country's economic recovery.

It's become an axiom of free market economies that governments should just keep their hands off business. But the tough new fuel-economy directives issued by the U.S. (and Canada) have created a renaissance in car company R&D and prove regulation works, Don Pittis writes.

Despite all the high profile media campaigns, government programs and school initiatives addressing bullying, tragic stories continue to emerge about teenagers continuing to suffer. Much government and schoolboard attention is being devoted to delivering an anti-bullying strategy, but how effective is the message?

Eyes will be on the UN today as Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani, takes his more conciliatory approach to the West to the world stage, and perhaps even directly to Barack Obama. As Brian Stewart writes, it could be one of those moments that changes the entire tone of global affairs.

Having tried, and failed, on 40 previous occasions to vote away Barack Obama's signature health-care act, the Tea Party-led Republicans are making their most audacious play yet, Neil Macdonald writes: Defund Obamacare or we shut down the government. The funding deadline is just over a week away.

There is a jousting match going on in the cellphone market and Canadians must choose their champion, writes Don Pittis. On one side are Bell, Telus and Rogers, who warn of job losses, and on the other, the government, which wants to lower phone rates. On the day the bidders for the wireless spectrum auction were announced, Ottawa took the first shot - but this will be a long battle.

When al-Shabaab launched its deadly attack on the Westgate Mall in Kenya's capital of Nairobi, it brazenly and boastfully live-tweeted the assault, a move that revealed how social media savvy the al-Qaeda-linked organization has become.

The seemingly well-publicized trial last month and conviction on the weekend of Chinese party princeling Bo Xilai were really about two things, Patrick Brown writes. First, muzzling, probably for good, a powerful Communist Party rival to the existing leadership and sending a message about the limits of populist politicking and internet campaigns.