WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate passed a government funding bill early Saturday that would head to U.S. President Joe Biden's desk for his signature, averting a government shutdown.

The bill, passed 85-11 right after the deadline, would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid, pushing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's demand to raise the debt ceiling into the new year, AP News reported. (U.S.-Funding)

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BERLIN -- At least five people were killed and over 200 others injured after a car rammed into a large crowd at a Christmas market in the central German city of Magdeburg Friday evening, German news agency dpa reported Saturday, citing State Premier Reiner Haseloff.

"We have five deaths and over 200 injuries, many of them serious and severe," Haseloff said, noting that the toll was far worse than initially thought when the incident occurred. (Germany-Attack)

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ABUJA -- At least 10 people, including children, were killed in a stampede during a relief item distribution at a local church in the Maitama district of Abuja, the Nigerian capital, on Saturday, local authorities said.

A church official said that an unspecified number of individuals were also injured when the distribution of relief items, including food and clothing ahead of Christmas celebrations, turned chaotic Saturday morning at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama. (Nigeria-Stampede)

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TEHRAN -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that a staff member of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus has been killed by "terrorists."

In a statement, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei extended condolences for the "martyrdom" of the embassy's staff member, who was killed on Dec. 15 after "terrorists" fired on his car. (Iran-Syria-Embassy Staff) Enditem

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