Obama signs temporary funding bill to avert shutdown: White House

[WASHINGTON] US President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed emergency legislation to fund the government beyond midnight when existing money expires, the White House said in a statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Senate and the House of Representatives each passed the bill, which extends the temporary appropriations through Tuesday, Dec 22.

The measure gives Congress more time to finish a US$1.15 trillion bill to pay for federal programmes through September 2016.

REUTERS