US unemployment benefits for millions in limbo as midnight deadline for Donald Trump to sign relief bill approaches

Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet are set to lapse at midnight Saturday night (US time) unless President Donald Trump signs an end-of-year COVID-19 relief and spending bill that had been considered a done deal before his sudden objections.

Mr Trump stunned Republicans and Democrats alike when he said this week he was unhappy with the US$2.3 trillion ($3.02 trillion) pandemic aid and spending package, which provides $892 billion in badly needed…