Democrats demanding action on gun control continue to stage a sit-in on the floor of the US House of Representatives with one saying she would stay "until hell freezes over".

A last-minute deal to avoid the US “fiscal cliff” sent world stocks climbing today but did not solve the massive budget deficit, meaning other battles on deep spending cuts are looming.

THE US House of Representatives voted 269-161 last night to keep the government from defaulting on its debts.