USA

Washington, Dec 28 (PTI) US President Donald Trump has signed into law a massive USD 2.3 trillion spending bill that includes a USD 900 billion coronavirus relief package, averting a government shutdown and extending coronavirus aid to millions suffering from the economic impact of the pandemic.

Trump initially refused to approve the legislation for days after receiving it. He had called the bill a disgrace .

ATLANTA (AP) — When Georgia Republican Kelly Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock advanced to the Jan. 5 U.S. Senate runoff, they faced the immediate challenge of winning over the 2 million voters who chose one of the 18 other candidates in November’s election.

Polls show they have largely succeeded, and that could give Loeffler, the incumbent, a small advantage.

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — A U.S. Army special forces sergeant based in Florida has been charged in an apparently random shooting at an Illinois bowling alley that left three people dead and three wounded, authorities said Sunday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials believe the coronavirus mutation that set off alarms in parts of Britain is no more apt to cause serious illness or be resistant to vaccines than the strain afflicting people in the United States but it still must be taken “very seriously,” the government’s top infectious disease expert said Sunday.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The man believed to be responsible for the Christmas Day bombing that tore through downtown Nashville blew himself up in the explosion, and appears to have acted alone, federal officials said Sunday.

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for peaceful and safe legislative and presidential elections in Niger, said his spokesman.

Recalling the peaceful conduct of the Dec. 13 local elections, the secretary-general called on all national stakeholders to ensure that Sunday's polls are conducted in an inclusive, peaceful and safe manner, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

NEW YORK, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- New York City's COVID-19 test positivity rate on a seven-day average went up to 6.78 percent, compared with 6.69 percent one day earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted on Saturday.

There were 180 new hospitalizations and 3,203 new cases of the coronavirus in the city, said de Blasio, adding that "Don't let up this weekend. Avoid holiday travel and social gatherings. Practice social distancing. Wear a mask."

NEW YORK, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Global COVID-19 cases surpassed 80 million on Saturday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

The global case count reached 80,070,327, with a total of 1,753,839 deaths worldwide as of 12:22 p.m. local time (1722 GMT), the CSSE data showed.

ATLANTA (AP) — Changes to the way millions of Americans voted this year contributed to record turnout, but that’s no guarantee the measures making it easier to cast ballots will stick around for future elections.

Republicans in key states that voted for President-elect Joe Biden already are pushing for new restrictions, especially to absentee voting. It’s an option many states expanded amid the coronavirus outbreak that proved hugely popular and helped ensure one of the smoothest election days in recent years.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet lapsed overnight as President Donald Trump refused to signed an end-of-year COVID relief and spending bill that had been considered a done deal before his sudden objections.

The fate of the bipartisan package remained in limbo Sunday as Trump continued to demand larger COVID relief checks and complained about “pork” spending. Without the widespread funding provided by the massive measure, a government shutdown would occur when money runs out at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.