The news revolves around the partial shutdown of certain U.S. government agencies. It is a matter of increased concern not just domestically within the U.S., but globally as well. Due to a political stalemate, the funding for a few government offices wasn't approved, leading to a situation of shutdown where operations get severely halted. The situation has rippling effects all across the globe, including Japan, particularly regarding cooperation and shared initiatives.

In Japan, the shutdown of U.S. government offices can significantly affect bilateral relations and joint initiatives. These may include trade, defense cooperation, and other international commitments. Japanese people highly value efficiency and smooth operation of government institutions, which in part explains their concern about the shutdown.

In comparison, while the U.S. government shutdown can occur due to partisan disagreements holding up budget approvals, such scenarios are rare in the EU where measures and structures exist to prevent such occurrences. Also, in many European countries, disruptions to the functioning of government offices are extremely uncommon due to various social and legal backups meant to prevent these situations.