This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Danny Cox, and in the early hours of Saturday the 21st of December, these are our main stories.

German media reports say a number of people have been killed and many others injured

after a car drove into a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg.

A top U.S. diplomat has described Syria's new Islamist ruler after a car drove into a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg.

A top U.S. diplomat has described Syria's new Islamist ruler as pragmatic after their first meeting and expressed hope for a sovereign Syria

that respects the rights of all its citizens.

Japan says it's coming up with the plan to dispose of 14 million cubic meters of radioactive soil.

Some may be used in road embankments.

Also in this podcast, scientists in Peru have discovered 27 new species in the northwest of the country,

including an extremely rare type of amphibious mouse.

It belongs to this group of carnivorous semi-aquatic rodents.

On past expeditions, we always search for this group of rodents,

and they're almost mythical because they're just so difficult to find.

Just days before Christmas, and what should have been a festive event,

a Christmas market in the East German city of Magdeburg has ended in tragedy

as a car drove into the crowd at top speed.

Dozens of ambulances were on the scene shortly after the incident.

As we record this podcast, officials say a number of people have been killed, including a young child.

Dozens of others were injured.

The German state premier, Raina Haslov, had this to say.

This is a terrible tragedy.

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