The US Senate has passed President Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare overhaul in a climactic Christmas Eve vote, extending medical insurance to 30 million Americans.

Landmark US health care legislation backed by President Barack Obama passed its sternest Senate test in the pre-dawn hours early today, overcoming Republican delaying tactics on a 60-40 vote that all but assures its passage this week.

THE governor of Massachusetts has named former Democratic Party chairman Paul G Kirk Jr to temporarily fill the late Senator Edward Kennedy’s seat.

President Barack Obama today urged the US Congress to enact sweeping health care legislation, declaring the "time for bickering is over" and the moment has arrived to help millions who have insurance and many more without it.

SENATOR Edward M Kennedy walked out of the hospital yesterday after being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour, giving a thumbs up to well-wishers and kisses to his relatives before driving off for his Cape Cod home.