The US Congress has avoided a government shutdown one day before the deadline. The US Senate on Thursday (69-28) voted in favour of a proposal to continue financing the federal government until at least February 18.
The proposal had already been approved by the US House of Representatives (221-212) earlier in the day.
In October, the House of Representatives had approved an increase in the debt ceiling until December 3. Without an extension, a shutdown was threatened. As a result, the US government is close to limiting the total amount it can borrow.
If the ceiling is not raised in time, the country will no longer be able to meet all its financial obligations. Then specific government departments would have to close.