US Senate close to passing €880bn spending bill

The US Senate looks set to pass a $1.1tn (€883bn) spending bill in time for a Saturday night deadline, following a narrow House of Representatives vote that averted a government shutdown.

The House passed the bill late on Thursday despite a revolt by Democrats against controversial financial provisions that led to a day of drama on Capitol Hill and exposed fraying unity between President Barack Obama and his party.

A vote on the measure was delayed for hours after Democrats revolted against provisions to roll back part of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law and allow more big money political donations, while conservative Republicans objected because the measure did not block funds for Obama’s immigration order.