Open this photo in gallery: Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy addresses reporters about efforts to pass appropriations bills and avert a looming government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington on Sept. 29, 2023.J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press The threat of a federal government shutdown suddenly lifted late Saturday as President Joe Biden signed a temporary funding bill to keep agencies open with little time to spare after Congress rushed to approve the bipartisan deal. The package drops aid to Ukraine, a White House priority opposed by a growing number of GOP lawmakers, but increases federal disaster assistance by US$16-billion,...