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This is the world in brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

After days of chaos, America's House of Representatives voted to pass a new spending deal,

averting a government shutdown hours before the midnight deadline. The proposal,

which will fund the government through March and includes a $110 billion disaster aid package,

dropped a provision to extend America's debt ceiling, despite backing from Donald Trump to include

it. Most Republicans supported the deal and no Democrats voted against it.

It now goes to the Senate. At least two people, including a child, were killed and dozens

injured when a car drove into crowds at a Christmas market in Magdeburg in central Germany.

The suspected driver was arrested. He is said to be a doctor

from Saudi Arabia who arrived in Germany in 2006. The premier of Saxony Anolt told German television.

The cause of the apparent attack has not been confirmed.

Russia's central bank surprised markets by keeping its key interest rate at 21%, despite

rates being screwed to their tightest level in decades, annual inflation, stoked by Russia's

invasion of Ukraine, is running at more than double the bank's target of 4%. Still, its policy makers said that markets have reacted better than expected to its last

hike in October, creating promising conditions for resumed disinflation.

Switzerland's Parliament blamed the demise of Credit Suisse on, quote, long-term mismanagement.

...