TRUMP FAILS TO SIGN ECONOMIC RELIEF BILL INTO LAW

Millions of Americans have temporarily lost their unemployment benefits after President Donald Trump failed to sign the COVID relief bill into law.

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US President-elect Joe Biden had warned of “devastating consequences” if Trump continued to delay signing but the Saturday deadline has now passed.

Unemployment benefits and a ban on evictions will be affected.

The package worth $900bn (£665bn) was approved by Congress after months of difficult negotiations and compromises.

Trump says he wants to give people bigger one-off payments.

The bill includes the payment of $600 to Americans earning less than $75,000 a year. Trump says he wants Americans to receive $2,000 but Republicans in Congress refused to agree to the change.

In a tweet late on Saturday evening local time, Trump again defended his position on the issue, blaming China for the coronavirus outbreak.

The coronavirus economic relief comes with a $1.4tn federal budget attached. A partial government shutdown will begin on Tuesday unless legislators pass a stopgap bill before then – but this would not include coronavirus aid and Trump would still have to sign it.

Source: BBC