Australia Confronts Rising Antisemitic Violence After Shooting

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Energy, infrastructure, and technology will require up to $100 trillion to modernize and meet demand. Long-term growth demands long-duration capital. That's where Apollo leads, partnering with companies today to power what's next. Learn more at apollo.com/renaissance.

Luke Vargas (0:18)

Gunmen in Australia kill 15 people at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, the country's worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years.

SPEAKER_3 (0:26)

I'm walking home and I'm looking at people differently and I'm like, I don't know if I trust you or anyone. I'm scared of anyone that I don't know. That's just such a horrible feeling because we're such a tight community.

Luke Vargas (0:39)

Plus, we'll review more bad economic data out of China and SpaceX shops for banks ahead of a possible IPO next year. It's Monday, December 15th. I'm Luke Vargas for The Wall Street Journal and here is the AM Edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories moving your world today. Authorities in Australia are treating yesterday's killing of 15 people at a Hanukkah event on Sydney's Bondi Beach as a terrorist attack. Authorities said the shooting, which was carried out by a father and his son, was designed to target Sydney's Jewish community. And speaking this morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the suspects were driven by an extreme perversion of Islam, but had acted alone, stressing that investigations are continuing. Despite its reputation as a model for multiculturalism, a spate of anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne last year, have marred Australia's legacy as a haven for Jews. The shooting is also kicking off a push to toughen firearms regulations in a country where gun violence is rare, with Albanese saying there should be limits on the number of guns licensed to one person and the periodic review of those licenses.

Hannah Miao (1:56)

People's circumstances change. People can be radicalized over a period of time.

SPEAKER_1 (2:01)

Licenses should not be in perpetuity.

Luke Vargas (2:04)

The father accused of being involved in the shooting had six firearms licensed to him, which were found at the scene and used in the attack, according to police. He was eligible for a firearms license for recreational hunting and was also a member of a gun club. Meanwhile, the manhunt continues for a suspect in Saturday's shooting at Brown University, which left two people dead and nine injured at the Ivy League College. The FBI detained a person of interest yesterday, but later said there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute them. Providence's mayor has appealed for help in its investigation, adding that it's not clear if the perpetrator remained in the city or had fled.

Hong Kong's High Court has convicted Jimmy Lai of violating the Chinese territory's national security law, a verdict which could see the media tycoon spend the rest of his life in prison. Lai is the founder of the Apple Daily newspaper, which angered Beijing with its relentless criticism of China's ruling Communist Party and its support for protest movements in Hong Kong. Earlier this year, President Trump said he'd do everything he could to free the 78-year-old Lai who's become a symbol of Chinese political persecution. Lai was also convicted on the lesser charge of violating Hong Kong's sedition law, with a sentencing to take place at a later date. Chileans have elected their most right-wing president in a generation, with hardline conservative José Antonio Caste winning easily over a Communist Party rival on a promise to crack down on crime and illegal immigration. Speaking to supporters in Santiago, Caste said he'd work to improve security and boost economic growth.

José Antonio Kast (3:47)

Some say you have the easy solution for everything. No, it's very difficult, but it should be clarified that it's not something that happens overnight. We're going to have a tough year, very tough, because the finances are not in good shape.

Luke Vargas (4:03)

The victory for Caste gives President Trump another ally in the region, following an election win for a center-right leader in Bolivia and midterm elections that solidified the leadership of Argentina's president Javier Millet. Coming up, Chinese exports are soaring, but as we'll hear, the good economic news ends there. That story and more, including SpaceX's IPO plans after the break.

SPEAKER_1 (4:30)

Energy, infrastructure and technology will require up to $100 trillion to modernize and meet demand. Long-term growth demands long-duration capital. That's where Apollo leads, partnering with companies today to power what's next. Learn more at apollo.com/renaissance.

Luke Vargas (4:48)

Chinese stocks closed lower today following the release of a raft of economic data that showed the world's second largest economy is deteriorating on several fronts. Hannah Miao covers the Chinese economy for the Wall Street Journal and has been combing through the November figures today.