Congress opens new session as virus and election result dominate

House speaker Nancy Pelosi administers the oath of office to members of the 117th Congress at the US Capitol on Sunday (Erin Scott/AP)

The US Congress convened on Sunday for the start of a new session, swearing in legislators during a tumultuous period as a growing number of Republicans work to overturn Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump and the coronavirus surges.

Democrat Nancy Pelosi was re-elected House speaker by her party, which retains the majority in the House but with the slimmest margin in 20 years after a surprisingly strong GOP performance in November’s election.