Briefly

RUSSIA

Economy expands by 5.5% in 3rd quarter

Russia's economy grew for a second consecutive quarter, official data showed on Wednesday. The economy expanded by 5.5 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, according to the federal statistics agency. Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said last week annual growth should come in at 3 percent. Russia's central bank will be ready to raise the key interest rate again if there are no signs that inflation is slowing down, the bank's Deputy Governor Olga Polyakova said on Wednesday. Russia last raised the key interest rate by 2 percentage points to 15 percent at the end of October.

UNITED STATES

Congress passes stopgap spending bill

The US Congress on Wednesday approved a stopgap spending bill, averting a government shutdown just two days before funding expires for federal agencies. The Senate voted 87-11 to pass the bill, one day after the measure cleared the House in a 336-95 vote. The bill would extend funding for some agencies and programs at current levels until Jan 19 and others through Feb 2, without major funding cuts that Republican conservatives had demanded. The bill does not include additional aid for Israel or Ukraine, which has been a point of contention among lawmakers. The bill will next go to President Joe Biden.

INDIA

36 killed, 19 injured as bus falls into gorge

At least 36 people were killed and 19 others injured, some of them critically, on Wednesday after a passenger bus skidded off a mountainous road and fell into a deep gorge in India-controlled Kashmir, Xinhua quoted officials as saying. The accident took place in the Assar area of the Doda district, about 150 kilometers south of Srinagar city. According to officials, the locals were the first to reach the spot and help the injured. The cause of the accident was not immediately known. Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have offered their condolences to the families.

Agencies - Xinhua