US Domestic News Roundup: Top Trump aide says government shutdown may go into New Year; Actor Kevin Spacey charged with indecent assault

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

U.S. military tracking Santa despite partial government shutdown

The partial U.S. government shutdown is not preventing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) from tracking Santa Claus as he embarks on his global trek to deliver Christmas gifts to children across the world, the command said on Monday. A holiday tradition, which allows parents and children to track Santa Claus online on his globe-trotting journey, will continue on Christmas Eve even though NORAD receives funding from the Department of Defense.

Early winter weather puts U.S. safe-haven corn planting in doubt

Illinois farmer Brent Johnson had planned to bump up his corn acreage by 10 percent in 2019 and plant fewer soybeans as a way to shelter himself from the lower soy prices caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war with China. But some early winter storms caused him to abandon the late autumn fieldwork necessary to seed the yellow grain in the spring. That will force him and other farmers to devote more of his acreage to soybeans than expected next year.

U.S. authorities must probe migrant girl's death, stop child detentions: U.N.

A United Nations human rights expert called on U.S. authorities on Monday to conduct a full and independent investigation into the death of a seven-year-old Guatemalan migrant girl in U.S. custody and to stop detaining children. Felipe González Morales, U.N. special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, also said the family of Jakelin Caal, from the Mayan indigenous community, should be given access to legal representation in the proceedings in a language they understand.

North Carolina affidavits released in alleged election fraud case

The North Carolina Board of Elections has released affidavits from voters who told investigators of fraud allegations that a Republican campaign worker collected their absentee ballots in a U.S. congressional race in which the Democrat lost. It is illegal in North Carolina for anyone except the voter or a near relative to deliver an absentee ballot in person.

Actor Kevin Spacey charged with indecent assault in Massachusetts

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has been charged in connection with an allegation that he sexually abused an 18-year-old boy at a Nantucket, Massachusetts, bar more than two years ago, the local district attorney said on Monday. Spacey is scheduled to be arranged at Nantucket District Court on Jan. 7 on a single charge of indecent assault and battery on a person who is least 14 years old, according to court documents and a statement issued by Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe.

Top Trump aide says government shutdown may go into New Year

U.S. President Donald Trump's budget director and chief of staff on Sunday said the partial U.S. government shutdown could continue to Jan. 3, when the new Congress convenes and Democrats take over the House of Representatives. "It's very possible this shutdown will go beyond (December) the 28th and into the new Congress," Mick Mulvaney said on Fox News Sunday.

U.S. court orders North Korea to pay $501 million in U.S. student's death

A U.S. court on Monday ordered Pyongyang to pay $501 million in damages for the torture and death of U.S. college student Otto Warmbier, who died in 2017 shortly after being released from a North Korea prison. Warmbier's parents sued North Korea in April over their son's death. The 22-year-old student died days after he was returned to the United States in a coma, and an Ohio coroner said the cause of death was lack of oxygen and blood to the brain.

(With inputs from Reuters)