we're watching two major stories at this hour. here in washington, the us government looks set to avoid a shutdown, just before a looming deadline, after the house passed the latest version of a spending bill. you can see live pictures there from the floor of the us senate, where senators are preparing to take their own vote on the bill. the bill will need to pass in the senate and be signed by presidentjoe biden before midnight tonight to avoid a shutdown. we'll have more on that later. but first, our other top story: in germany, authorities are investigating a deadly incident at a christmas market. that is where a car ploughed through crowds, leaving at least two people dead, including a small child, and injuring more than 60. this is the scene live there now. emergency services and police are still in the area and hospitals are preparing for a mass casualty event. the suspect is said to be a 50—year—old doctor who is a saudi national and who has been in germany since 2006. saudi arabia's government has just come out with a strong

statement condemning the attack and expressing solidarty with germany. the incident took place in a market in the centre of the city of magdeburg in east germany. here is our correspondent frances read. confusion, chaos. there are passers—by tending to those injured on the ground, what sounds like children crying, and adults too. people are looking round, bewildered at what has just happened. eyewitnesses say a car drove at speed straight into dozens upon dozens of people. just a few hours ago, this market was bustling with people, shopping and socialising in the days before christmas. ambulances and emergency services scramble to help those they can, taking people

to hospital and treating at the scene, hospitals in the area told to deal with a mass casualty event. translation: this is a terrible tragedy. - it's a catastrophe for the city of magdeburg and for germany in general. for this to happen at a christmas market is hard to comprehend. attacks on citizens in germany are nothing new. eight years ago, an articulated lorry ploughed into a busy christmas market in the heart of berlin, killing 12 people and injuring many more. tonight, german police have arrested a doctor from saudi arabia who has been in germany since 2006. they believe an explosive device was in the car, and investigators are now on site. but now they work to save lives, in what has become another scene of horror. frances read, bbc news. 0ur security correspondent frank gardner has this analysis. it's been a major incident.

before first responders, they were on the scene, if you look at the footage of his actual arrest, i'm sure you will have access to that, it's been playing on local television and internationally, you'll see that there is a relatively undecided response by the german police. they approached the man, they are ordering him to get on the ground, but they seemed at one point to pull back because they are clearly afraid that he might have an explosive vest. there is talk of possibly explosives being in his car. they weren't detonated if they were. this is a very unusual situation. if they were. this is a very unusualsituation. not if they were. this is a very unusual situation. not because of what happened — is not the first time that somebody has rammed a carat first time that somebody has rammed a car at high speed into a christmas market in germany, nor, indeed, in europe. something similar happened in nice, in france. but it's unusual that he is 50 and a

doctor and a saudi. usually, when these things happen and if terrorism is involved, it's normally a north african individual, much younger, in their20s, individual, much younger, in their 20s, at the most in their 30s. but we simply do not know the motive. there could be mental health involved. he could have been fired at work. his partner could have left him. there could be all sorts of things. he could have been given some horrendous medical diagnosis, none of which excuses what he did. but we are going to have to give an open mind on what the motive is. inevitably, people will be looking, though, at terrorism as a possibility, because isis, so—called islamic state, has often called and its followers, dwindling as they are, to do something like this. they have been attacks similar to this in several european countries, and it's always a risk. i think the

thing that is strange here is that, given how popular these german christmas markets are in germany, that more precautions haven't been taken. this man was able to drive his dark bmw through the crash barriers and career through hundreds of shoppers, injune dozens and killing at least two before he was stopped and arrested. and we have more developing news to bring you from here in washington. in the last couple of hours, members of the house of representatives approved a spending bill which would avert a threatened government shutdown. the vote was passed with the support of democrats. more than 30 republicans voted against it. the measure would fund government operations until march, and it was passed only a few hours before the deadline of midnight on friday. the bill still needs the approval of the senate. there had been a bipartisan agreement earlier this week, but it was derailed by criticism from president—elects trump and elon musk, who suggested a new deal. but dozens of republicans joined democrats to reject

the trump—backed idea as it included a plan to increase the debt limit. after the bill passed the speaker of the house, republican mike johnson, says he was grateful it could be done in a bipartisan fashion. we are excited about this outcome tonight. we're grateful that everyone stood together to do the right thing. and having gotten this done now, as the last order pf business for the year, we are set up a big and important new start in january. we can't wait to get to that point. we encourage swift passage in the senate now. they need to do theirjob, as the house just did, and we will all go home. i want to wish everybody a merry christmas, happy hanukkah, happy holidays and a happy new year, because they hope not to see you until we get back. we heard there from the republican house leader. here is what the house's top democrat, minority leader hakeem jeffries, had to say

shortly after the bill passed. house democrats have successfully stopped the billionaire boys club, which wanted a $4 trillion blank check by suspending the debt ceiling in order to enable them to cut social security, cut medicare and cut nutritional assistance, while providing massive tax breaks for the wealthy, the well off and the well—connected. this is a victory for the american people. stephanie lai is a white house reporterfor bloomberg. i spoke to her about the feeling on capitol hill following a chaotic 48 hours. certainly there is a lot of relief among republican lawmakers that this is behind them. they've averted a government shutdown. they've successfully pared down

the spending bill in a way that satisfies those such as elon musk and vivek ramaswamy. a lot of those close to trump's orbit are touting this as a success, the republican administration, the incoming congress, has proven that they can cut government spending by doing this sort of legislation or making this push, even amongst an impending deadline. in the end, the house bill was 366 in favour, 34 against. all 34 were republicans. what does that tell you? it does definitely indicate that it won't be as easy as perhaps the trump team is hoping to corral every member. it is not the anointment

that they are looking for, but it is reflective ofjust how washington works. it is very difficult to be able to get every single congress member on the same page, and given their different districts in the different demands on each member it is certainly expected that there will be some descents, especially given such a close margin. it does show what congress might look like, given the small margin they might have with a two or three seat majority, that sort of thing will come up again and again. there will have to be more deals made with the support of democrats to be able to push forward with certain aspects of legislation. so this sort of chaotic negotiation style is something we can perhaps look forward to more of in the incoming administration in the next session. yes, the next session, of course, beginning in january. we've been hearing some democrats talking about this. they clearly helped push this across the line. they're framing this a bit as a win for them, especially over elon musk and donald trump, who were, in the end, the ones that really than the first bipartisan bill. do you think they'll be able to sell that argument to the voting public — that they kind of triumphed over some outside influence

by a billionaire and by donald trump, who is not yet president? that is definitely a good question. one thing senatorjd vance, and incoming vp—elect, is trying to paint this as is democrats are slowing things down in washington and trying to cause a government shutdown. so the fact that this didn't quite happen or is moving towards that part give them a way out to sort of avoid that attack line, that they're the reason why this government shutdown happened. so this definitely is a win for democrats as well, and the fact that they're able to push back on some aspects of the bill — you know, there is still $100 million dedicated to disaster relief. that is also a win for a lot of these members. what about republican house speaker mikejohnson? he came under a lot of pressure, a lot of criticism, after that initial bill collapsed. what you think comes next for him? there will be a new vote to elect a new speaker coming up next month. it is too soon to say exactly

what that might look like, but before this bill even came to the floor, it did get the support of elon musk. donald trump had been truthout out earlier, as well, some things that were favourable about speaker johnson. so it does seem like he has the support of the upper brass, and perhaps they could trickle down to some of the rank—and—file members. but, of course, we can never guess what this conference is going to do. but it does seem like he still maintains the support of trump and musk. after months of negotiations, a ceasefire and hostage release deal in gaza could be nearing the finish line. and for the families of those still held captive by hamas, it can't come soon enough. this week, the brother of an israeli man held captive by hamas, criticized the united nations security council for what he says is its lack of action. on wednesday, michael levy became the first relative of an israeli hostage to address the council.

his brother or was taken, and his wife killed, when hamas attacked israel on october 7. the council has demanded the release of the hostages, but has yet to pass a unanimous resolution condemning the militant group's attack on israel. i spoke with michael levy earlier. michael, this week you were the first family member of an israeli hostage to officially address the un security council. just walk us through what you said. what was your message? my message was focused on the personal side of things. i wanted them to know there are people behind this story that they see as political, and family members — that there is a real boy who has lost his mum and is looking for his father, over 440 days now. and the second part was me mentioning or reminding them of their duty

and what they need to do. what and what they need to do. what more would _ and what they need to do. what more would you _ and what they need to do. what more would you like _ and what they need to do. what more would you like to - and what they need to do. what more would you like to see - and what they need to do. what more would you like to see the united nations security council do? i united nations security council do? ~ , , united nations security council do? “ , , ~ ~ do? i think it is very clear. to begin _ do? i think it is very clear. to begin with, _ do? i think it is very clear. to begin with, they - do? i think it is very clear. to begin with, they need i do? i think it is very clear. | to begin with, they need to address the fact that hamas is address the fact that hamas is a terror organisation. they need to condemn it and demand the immediate release of all the immediate release of all the hostages. they can do it. why do you think, in your mind, there has been a lack of progress within the united nations? �* ., ., ., nations? i'm not naive and i know most _ nations? i'm not naive and i know most of _ nations? i'm not naive and i know most of it _ nations? i'm not naive and i know most of it is _ nations? i'm not naive and i know most of it is political l know most of it is political anyway. but for me, it was important to say and to remind them what they need to do and to show them that there are faces and families behind what they see as a simple hostage

situation. i want them to be aware of the fact that hamas is committing crimes against humanity, which they practically ignored up until now. although that's exactly the job that this council was intended to do, they are still not doing it. intended to do, they are still not doing it— intended to do, they are still not doing it. michael, we can see there _ not doing it. michael, we can see there over— not doing it. michael, we can see there over your - not doing it. michael, we can see there over your shoulder| not doing it. michael, we can | see there over your shoulder a picture of your brother 0r. he was kidnapped from the nova music festival on the seventh of october. his wife was killed by hamas. have you heard anything from your brother since then? do you have any sense right now of his condition? ., ., , condition? unfortunately, the only thing _ condition? unfortunately, the only thing we _ condition? unfortunately, the only thing we know _ condition? unfortunately, the only thing we know for - condition? unfortunately, the only thing we know for sure . condition? unfortunately, the l only thing we know for sure was that he was kidnapped alive and that he was kidnapped alive and that he was kidnapped alive and that he wasn't injured. 0ther that he wasn't injured. other than that, the assumption or

the idea that he is still alive, we have nothing. you mentioned _ alive, we have nothing. you mentioned earlier _ alive, we have nothing. you mentioned earlier the - alive, we have nothing. you mentioned earlier the number of days it's been. 0bviously mentioned earlier the number of days it's been. obviously you are quite aware of that. negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage release deal have been going on for many months now. does the pace of this process and these talks worry you at all?— you at all? every second that the are you at all? every second that they are still _ you at all? every second that they are still there _ you at all? every second that they are still there is - you at all? every second that they are still there is a - they are still there is a second that can be their last. and obviously i'm worried about it. i also mentioned in my speech to the un that i wonder every morning if my brother managed to survive another day, and that's the feeling every second, every minute, every hour and every day. so obviously the fact that they haven't reached a deal yet is worrying.

haven't reached a deal yet is worrying-— haven't reached a deal yet is wor inc. ~ . , , worrying. we have seen these rotests worrying. we have seen these protests within _ worrying. we have seen these protests within israel - protests within israel continuing to bring the hostages home. there's a lot of pressure right now and the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. do you think that the minister has done enough to bring the hostages like your brother home? i bring the hostages like your brother home?— bring the hostages like your brother home? . ., , ., ., brother home? i am a big fan of bottom lines. _ brother home? i am a big fan of bottom lines. the _ brother home? i am a big fan of bottom lines. the fact - brother home? i am a big fan of bottom lines. the fact that - bottom lines. the fact that they are not here means that we are not doing enough. not me personally, not prime minister netanyahu, not the israeli government, not the international community, and not the media. we all need to do more in order to put an end to it and put an end to the suffering for both sides. find to it and put an end to the suffering for both sides. and i have to ask — suffering for both sides. and i have to ask you, _ suffering for both sides. and i have to ask you, before - suffering for both sides. and i have to ask you, before i - suffering for both sides. and i have to ask you, before i let l have to ask you, before i let you go, we know that there is a process happening right now. the us is involved in negotiations to try to broker a deal. how much confidence do you have on the president, joe biden, and his team to get a deal done? i

biden, and his team to get a deal done?— biden, and his team to get a deal done? i guess i have no choice but — deal done? i guess i have no choice but to _ deal done? i guess i have no choice but to put _ deal done? i guess i have no choice but to put my - deal done? i guess i have no i choice but to put my confidence in them. that's my only option at the moment. i know that they really want to seal a deal before they leave the presidency, so i trust them and i hope they will reach a deal before president trump starts his presidency. malaysia's government says it has agreed to resume the search for a passengerjet that vanished 10 years ago in one of aviation's greatest mysteries. with 239 people on board, malaysia airlines flight mh370 disappeared in march 2014 on its way from kuala lumpur to beijing. efforts to find the wreckage stalled over the years, leaving the families of those lost without closure. it has been established that the plane crashed in the indian ocean, with debris found on east african shores. 0ur correspondent jonathan head has more.

the plane, carrying 239 passengers and crew, left kuala lumpur 41 minutes past midnight on 8 march en route to beijing. about an hour into the flight, one of the plane's vital communication systems, known as acars, sent what would be its last message. 12 minutes later, someone believed to be the co—pilot told air traffic control, "goodnight, malaysian 370." it wasn't long before the plane's transponder, which communicates with ground radar, stopped. the plane did not check in with vietnamese air traffic control. it was then detected by malaysian military radar flying west, before heading out over the indian ocean. that was the last time flight 370 was seen. despite disappearing from radar, the plane continued to ping its location to a satellite every hour for seven hours after the final communication

with ground control. this suggested the plane travelled in one of two flight corridors, north or south — one north between thailand and kazakhstan, the other south between indonesia and the southern indian ocean. recent analysis suggests there was one last partial handshake with the satellite eight minutes later. by crunching the numbers, engineers concluded that the plane ended its journey in the southern indian ocean. one of the passengers on board flight mh370 was anne catherine daisy. joining me now is her daughter, grace nathan. she is the chief spokesperson for voice 370, the official association for the families of mh370's crew and passengers. we thank you for taking the time to speak with us tonight. i'm sure this announcement of now and you search must be bring up all sorts of emotions for you and otherfamily for you and other family members. for you and otherfamily members. what's your reaction

to this? . ~ members. what's your reaction to this? ., ~ , ., members. what's your reaction to this? ., ~ ., ., to this? thank you for having me, to this? thank you for having me. and _ to this? thank you for having me, and where _ to this? thank you for having me, and where very, - to this? thank you for having me, and where very, very - me, and where very, very grateful with the new announcement, because the search last stopped in 2018, some six years ago, so it's really great news that we finally have hope on the horizon that a search might resume in the nearfuture, the very near future. resume in the nearfuture, the very nearfuture. is resume in the near future, the very near future.— very near future. is this something _ very near future. is this something that - very near future. is this something that you - very near future. is this something that you and very near future. is this - something that you and your group have been pushing for? have you been advocating the malaysian government to pick up the search once again? yes. the search once again? yes, we've been _ the search once again? yes, we've been advocating - the search once again? yes, we've been advocating for. the search once again? yes, i we've been advocating for this, actually, since the plane disappeared. they have been many searches that have started and stopped and we have continued our advocacy because we have always believed that the search should go on until the search should go on until the plane is found.— the search should go on until the plane is found. how much contact have _ the plane is found. how much contact have you _ the plane is found. how much contact have you had with - the plane is found. how much contact have you had with thej contact have you had with the malaysia government? have they reached out to the families? we don't have _ reached out to the families? we don't have a _ reached out to the families? - don't have a lot of contact with them, but the current government in the current transport minister have been somewhat approachable compared to the previous transport minister. we've been able to minister. w