The US Senate is due back in session to try to end a budget impasse before the start of the working week when the shutdown of many federal services will be felt around the country. On Saturday, recriminations flew around over the Senate's failure to pass a new budget and prevent the shutdown. A bill to fund the federal government for the coming weeks did not receive the required 60 votes by Friday. This is the first time a government shutdown has happened while one party, the Republicans, controls both Congress and the White House. With a 51-seat majority in the Senate, the Republicans do not have enough votes to pass the bill without some support from the Democrats.

Source: The Star January 21, 2018 09:45 UTC