US government shuts down after Senate fails to advance both parties’ bills

Democrats and Republicans blame each other for failure to extend funding, resulting in first shutdown in nearly seven years

• US government shutdown - live updates

The deadlock in Washington continued Wednesday, after the government hurtled to shut down at midnight, as senators once again rejected competing stopgap funding bills as they returned to work on Capitol Hill.

Lawmakers failed to pass a GOP-drafted short-term extension in a 55-45 vote, with three Democratic senators voting yes", and breaking ranks with their party to join Republicans. This version would keep the government funded until 21 November. Only one Republican, senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted no".