President Barack Obama has accused Republicans of shutting down the Government over an "ideological crusade" to deny affordable health insurance to millions of Americans.

As dawn broke over Washington yesterday, hours after Congress decided to shut down the US government for the first time in 17 years.

National monuments are barricaded, war cemeteries in Europe closed, 800,000 workers at home with no pay - and the US shutdown has no end in sight.

Across the US national parks and memorial buildings are closed due to a shutdown of the government.

Republican Speaker John Boehner faced a choice between two unappetising gambles on Monday night. He chose the grimmer of the two.

New Zealanders strongly support a move to take 150 refugees from Australian detention centres and resettle them here, a Herald-DigiPoll survey has found.

Japanese manufacturers are increasingly optimistic about the business outlook in the months ahead.

The US Government began a partial shutdown for the first time in 17 years yesterday, putting as many as 800,000 federal employees in limbo.

The US Congress has missed a midnight deadline for blocking a partial government shutdown, after a bitter battle over changes in the nation's health care law.