US House of Representatives passes debt-limit bill

The US House of Representatives has passed by 269 votes to 161 a last-ditch deal to avoid a federal debt default.

The bill would raise the debt ceiling by $2.4tn (£1.5tn) - from $14.3tn. It would also make budget savings of $2.3tn over 10 years.

Republican House leader John Boehner declared the bill had been passed.