The morning began with Israeli strikes on Gaza schools drawing coverage, while Putin's comments about Ukraine negotiations generated skepticism. The government secured a confidence vote on the budget with 211 votes, though divisions emerged over no-vax fines.
The afternoon centered on Salvini's Open Arms trial verdict, with prosecutors maintaining their request for a 6-year sentence. The evening brought his full acquittal with the court ruling "the fact does not exist," marking a significant shift in the migration policy narrative.
By late evening, attention shifted to Magdeburg, Germany, where initial reports of 11 deaths in a Christmas market attack were later revised to 2 confirmed fatalities with 68 injured. The suspect, identified as a 50-year-old Saudi-born doctor, was described by German authorities as a "lone wolf." The incident drew immediate comparisons to previous European Christmas market attacks.
