US spending impasse continues

Republicans and Democrats have hit an impasse in the US senate over spending in their last-ditch struggle to avoid a debt default in just four days and end a partial government shutdown that enters its third week.

After inconclusive talks between president Barack Obama and House Republicans, senate majority leader Harry Reid and minority leader Mitch McConnell took charge in a bid to end the crises – although a conversation on Sunday afternoon failed to break the stalemate.