Senate passes budget deal to avert US default

[WASHINGTON] The US Senate early Friday passed a bipartisan, two-year budget deal that boosts federal spending by US$80 billion, reduces a government shutdown threat and raises the debt ceiling through the end of Barack Obama's presidency.

The measure provides lawmakers some fiscal breathing room through the 2016 presidential election after years of bruising spending fights.

Negotiated in secret between then-speaker of the House John Boehner and the White House, the bill passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday and now goes to Obama for his signature.

AFP