Chaos Above the Red Sea, Tragedy in Germany, and Tensions Regarding the Panama Canal

Good Morning,

Special Christmas Note: Hey everyone! The Atlas team will be taking off for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but we will be back on the 26th! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Two US pilots were shot down over the Red Sea in a friendly fire incident; a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, left five dead and 200 more injured, sparking demonstrations from the country’s far-right, and president-elect Donald Trump has threatened to reestablish control over the Panama Canal due to being “ripped off.”

Top Stories

• 2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident, US military says (AP)

• Trump threatens to retake control of Panama Canal (RT)

• Congress passes bill to avert government shutdown ahead of holidays (MSNBC)

• Murdoch’s News Corp to sell Foxtel to Britain’s DAZN for $2.1 billion (CNBC)

• At least 2 dead and 60 hurt after a car drives into a German Christmas market in a suspected attack (AP)

• Organized Looting Throws Gaza Deeper Into Chaos (NYT)

• The Not-So-Secret Way Around U.S. Tariffs (WSJ)

• Israel accused of bombing Kamal Adwan Hospital ICU risking patients, medics (AJ)

• Suspect arrested in the killing of a woman who was set on fire on a NYC subway car (CNN)

• German far right brings political edge to Magdeburg attack site (RT)

• Pickup truck driver killed by police after driving through busy mall store is identified (AP)

• Satellite Images Show North Korea Boosting Arms Flow to Russia (WSJ)

• Syria's de facto ruler reassures minorities, meets Lebanese Druze leader (RT)

• Tens of thousands gather in anti-government protest in Belgrade (RT)

United States and Canada

• Trump picks Latin American envoy previously fired for alleged misconduct (RT)

• Luigi Mangione arrives in New York to face federal charges in killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO (AP)

• University of California Resolves Civil Rights Complaints Over Gaza Protests (NYT)

• Trump threatens to designate Mexican cartels as terrorists (RT)

• Naval Academy Can Use Race in Admissions, Judge Rules (WSJ)

• Top-ranking NYPD officer abruptly resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations (CNN)

• China says US ‘playing with fire’ by giving Taiwan more military aid (AJ)

• They Made Over $100,000 in Overtime. Now the N.Y.P.D. Is Cracking Down. (NYT)

• Louisiana often holds inmates past their release date, DOJ lawsuit claims (AP)

Africa

• The $1 billion ‘electricity highway’ that allows Ethiopia and Kenya to share their power (CNN)

• Sudan's RSF says seizes back control of key Darfur base from army allies (RT)

• Burkina Faso adopts amnesty law for 2015 putschists (AN)

• France's Macron backs Ethiopia's debt restructuring efforts (RT)

• Death toll in latest stampedes in Nigeria rises to at least 32 (AN)

• Dozens dead after ferry capsizes in DR Congo: Official (AJ)

• More than 700 killed in siege of Sudan's al-Fashir, UN rights chief says (RT)

Middle East

• Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 22 as Vatican envoy visits Christians for pre-Christmas Mass (AP)

• Turkish foreign minister says no room for Kurdish militants in Syria's future (RT)

• US says it conducted strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen’s capital (AJ)

• Palestinian Authority unable to dislodge militants in sprawling West Bank camp (CNN)

• Iran’s Energy Crisis Hits ‘Dire’ Point as Industries Are Forced to Shut Down (NYT)

• The West Auditions Syria’s New Leaders (WSJ)

• Syria's SDF says five fighters killed in strikes by Turkish-backed forces (RT)

Indo-Pacific

• Australia approves extradition of former US Marine over alleged training of Chinese military pilots (AP)

• Aflac Keeps Eye on Japan Market as Others Turn Overseas for Growth (WSJ)

• Terrorism Roars Back in Pakistan, 10 Years After a Campaign to End It (NYT)

• Dalai Lama seeks to allay health concerns as succession planning looms (RT)

• Three Deals in 12 Days: How Australia Is Countering China in the Pacific (NYT)

• An ethnic armed group in western Myanmar claims to have captured a major regional army headquarters (AP)

• China takes steps against Canada institutions, individuals over Uyghurs, Tibet (RT)

Europe

• Ukrainian drones hit a Russian fuel depot for the second time this month (AP)

• Putin meets Slovak PM as Ukraine gas contract nears end (RT)

• Russia Taps Soviet-Era Stockpiles as Armored-Vehicle Supply Dwindles (WSJ)

• Albania bans TikTok for a year after killing of teenager (CNN)

• A Holy Year is about to start in Rome. Here’s what you need to know (AP)

• Eight convicted in France over murder of teacher who showed Prophet caricature (RT)

• Pope Francis calls for a ceasefire on all fronts in his prayer ahead of Christmas (AP)

Latin America

• Venezuela attorney general says 200 more election protesters to be freed (RT)

• Colombia’s ELN rebels announce Christmas truce (AP)

• Cuba stages protest at US embassy over sanctions (RT)

• ¿Nueva fosa común en el Cauca? 40 jóvenes habrían sido enterrados por las disidencias de las Farc (SM)

• Tensions over Essequibo region resurface as Venezuela completes a bridge to a disputed border base (AP)

• José Mayans defendió la reelección indefinida de Insfrán y dijo que la Corte Suprema es influenciada por sectores políticos (CA)

• María Corina Machado envía mensaje a los familiares de los militares y policías del país (LN)