US clears first hurdle in bid to avert government shutdown

[WASHINGTON] The US House of Representatives voted on Thursday to keep federal agencies running for another 11 weeks and avoid a costly holiday-season government shutdown, although the stop-gap measure faces a thorny path in the Senate.

With the cash due to dry up at 11.59 pm on Friday, the Democratic-controlled lower chamber passed temporary legislation to keep the lights on until February 18.

AFP