US House of Representatives passes debt-limit bill

The US House of Representatives has passed by 269 votes to 161 a last-gasp deal to avoid a federal debt default. The bill is expected to be approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Barack Obama on Tuesday. It raises the debt limit by up to $2.4tn (£1.5tn) - from $14.3tn - making savings of at least $2.1tn in 10 years. There were cheers as Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords made her first appearance on Capitol Hill since she was shot in Tucson in January.