United States

THE Democratic-controlled US Senate passed a bill to fund the government through mid-february, averting a shutdown after overcoming a bid by some Republicans to delay the vote in a protest against vaccine mandates.

The 69-28 vote gives President

Joe Biden time to sign the measure before funding was set to run out at midnight on Friday.

Congress faces another urgent deadline. The federal government is approaching its $28.9 trillion (about

R462 trillion) borrowing limit, which the Treasury Department has estimated it could reach by December 15. Failure to extend or lift the limit in time could trigger a catastrophic default. |