According to BBC, a vote on a Republican bill to raise the US debt ceiling, cut spending and avert default has been delayed in the face of conservative resistance. House Speaker John Boehner and Republican leaders were struggling on Thursday to convince rank and file lawmakers to vote for his bill. The plan, however, is almost certain to fail in the Democratic-led Senate, and the White House has warned of a veto. Congress must raise the US debt limit by a deadline of next Tuesday. The US Treasury has warned the government will run out of money to pay all its bills unless a $14.3tn (£8.7tn) borrowing limit is increased by next Tuesday.

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