Good morning. A horrific Christmas market attack in Germany killed several people and left hundreds injured. These extremist attacks, unfortunately, are not out of the ordinary in Europe. A similar car attack occurred in Berlin in 2016, and in 2018, a gunman opened fire in a Christmas market in France. Anger over immigration is pervading Europe — we’ll explore that topic and more in today’s newsletter.

Mentioned in this edition: Igor Kirillov, Donald Trump, the French prime minister, the South Korean president, the Brazilian president, Javier Milei, Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre, Keir Starmer, North Korean soldiers, Danish social democrats, a Saudi-born terrorist, ISIS soldiers, and more.

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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

🇩🇪 Saudi doctor arrested after a deadly Christmas market attack in Germany. A Saudi-born doctor living in Germany since 2006 was arrested after driving a car through a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing at least five people, including a child, and injuring over 200. The suspect, a supposed atheist and outspoken critic of Islam, had posted threats online where he held the “German nation and the German citizens responsible” for “Islamizing Europe.”

🇺🇦 Ukraine blew up a Russian general in Moscow. Igor Kirillov, who oversaw Russia’s nuclear and chemical weapons, was killed when an e-scooter exploded near his apartment complex. The day before, he had been charged by Ukrainian prosecutors for using chemical weapons. Kirillov is the highest-ranking general to be killed by Ukraine.

🇸🇾 American officials are concerned that around 9,000 ISIS prisoners could be freed in Syria. After ISIS was pushed back, many of its fighters were imprisoned and guarded by Kurdish forces in Syria. But now that Turkey is accelerating its attacks on the Kurds, Western officials are concerned that those ISIS soldiers could escape due to Kurdish forces being stretched thin and under-armed.

🇪🇺 Trump is demanding the EU purchase American oil to avoid tariffs. President-elect Donald Trump threatened to enact large tariffs on foreign goods if European countries do not increase their intake of American oil and natural gas. Trump suggested it could replace Russian oil and that, if Europe did not comply, it would be “TARIFFS all the way!!!”

🇪🇺 EUROPE

• France’s new prime minister said he would present a new cabinet before Christmas.

• Israel announced it would close its embassy in Ireland after the Irish government announced a spate of pro-Palestine policies.

• America is sanctioning more Russian companies involved in building the Nordstream-2 pipeline.

• The Russians claimed to have developed a successful cancer vaccine, though Western scientists are skeptical.

🌏 ASIA-PACIFIC

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Mentioned behind the paywall: Australia countering China, the largest airport in the world, a Taiwanese brawl, a South Korean impeachment, and North Korean soldiers.

💸 MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

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Mentioned behind the paywall: Biden administration officials, a mass grave, and an African accusation against Apple.

🚢 THE AMERICAS

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Mentioned behind the paywall: Argentinian economic wins, a Bitcoin announcement, and a leader’s emergency brain surgery.

Why incumbent governments are losing across the West

A chart from the Financial Times is currently circulating, which attempts to argue that incumbent governments are losing around the West…

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Time is running out for Justin Trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took office over nine years ago on a promise to modernize Canada…

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