Briefly

UNITED STATES

Senate approves infrastructure package

The US Senate voted to advance a historic, trillion-dollar infrastructure package late on Wednesday, a breakthrough after weeks of often-bitter negotiations on a bill that President Joe Biden said could "transform America". The deal, if passed by Congress and signed into law, would pump historic levels of federal funding into fixing roads, bridges and waterways, ensuring broadband internet for all US citizens and expanding clean energy programs. The bipartisan measure passed 67-32, with 17 Republicans joining all 50 Democrats to formally begin debate on the bill. The plan, which is part of Biden's sweeping domestic agenda, includes nearly $550 billion in new spending. It came together despite a near collapse of volatile talks, which Biden and his fellow Democrats wanted to see concluded before Congress breaks for its August recess.

AFGHANISTAN

Floods kill at least 40 in north, 150 missing

At least 40 people had been killed with 150 more missing in northern Afghanistan after flash floods ravaged an area northeast of the capital Kabul, officials said on Thursday. A rescue operation was underway to find the missing people after torrential rains overwhelmed Kamdesh district in Nuristan Province－about 200 kilometers northeast of Kabul. Saeed Momand, a spokesman for Nuristan's governor, gave a slightly higher death toll, saying more than 60 people had been killed in the floods. Torrential downpours and flash floods kill scores of people annually in Afghanistan.

Agencies Via Xinhua