Nancy Pelosi has been elected as Speaker in the US House of Representatives - the third most powerful role in Washington. But the partial US government shutdown showed no sign of ending as the stand off between President Trump and democrats continued.
From Washington, Harry Horton has this.
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It is a historically diverse US congress, with over 100 women elected including the first Muslim congresswomen and the first Native American women.
After victory in last year's midterm elections - Democrats have regained control in the House of Representatives. They'll be led by the newly elected house speaker: Nancy Pelosi.
NANCY PELOSI CLIP
But this congress begins with the US government partially shutdown after a two-week long standoff between Democrats and President Trump over funding for his controversial border wall.
Late on Thursday, Democrats passed a funding bill that would re-open the government. But President Trump says he won't sign it because it doesn't contain any money for his wall:
PRESIDENT TRUMP CLIP
"I have never had so much support as I have in the last week over my stance for border security, for border control, and for frankly the wall or the barrier."
House Speaker Pelosi is digging in and refusing to back down.
NANCY PELOSI CLIP
"The fact is a wall is an immorality. It's not who we are as a nation. And this is not a wall between Mexico and the United States that the President is creating here. It's a wall between reality and his constituents -- his supporters."
As the standoff continues, some government staff are working without pay, museums in Washington are closed, and rubbish bins in national parks wait to be emptied.
President Trump and congressional leaders will meet again on Friday, but with no sign of compromise - the shutdown could continue for weeks.