The United States started the week with the government in shutdown. The closure is only the fourth in 25 years and the first to occur when one party -- the Republicans -- controls both houses of Congress and the White House.

US senators are struggling to agree on a bill to fund the government. Under Senate rules, the law needs 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to overcome blocking tactics by opponents. The Republicans currently have 51 senators and would need some Democratic support to pass a budget. Democrats want President Trump to protect 800,000 “Dreamers” – people brought to the US illegally as children, who face deportation.

 Trump has responded, calling for the “nuclear option” in a simple-majority vote to end the impasse.

 
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