US shutdown set to drag through Christmas

A partial US government shutdown is set to continue through Christmas with no deal in sight to break the impasse over budget spending.

The Senate, which must pass a deal, has now adjourned until Thursday, BBC reports. 

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump will stay on in Washington for the festive period, cancelling holidays in Florida.

The shutdown began at midnight on Friday after Democrats resisted Mr Trump's demands for $5bn (£4bn) for his Mexico border wall.

Mr Trump warned there could be "a long stay" in the talks and Democrats told him: "You must abandon the wall."

Vice-President Mike Pence stressed that negotiators were still talking.

Nine of 15 federal departments, including State, Homeland Security, Transportation, Agriculture and Justice began partially shutting down after funding for them lapsed at midnight (05:00GMT Saturday).

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will have to work unpaid or are furloughed, a kind of temporary leave. This is the third time US federal funding has lapsed so far this year, although the other two were brief.