Good morning, readers!

Maybe you know what the “D-word” is, or maybe you don’t. But I assure you it’s not that.

Here’s a sneak peek:

• 🇩🇪 Calling Xi the “D-word”

• 🇺🇸 5 US prisoners are now free from Iran.

• 🇹🇼 103 Chinese warplanes invade Taiwanese airspace.

• 🇨🇦 Canada expels a top Indian diplomat for the assassination of a Canadian citizen.

• 🇺🇦 Ukraine sues countries that banned its grain.

Today’s geopolitics hotspots

Calling Xi the “D-word”

What happens when you call the leader of China a dictator? Well, you get summoned to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

That’s what happened to the German ambassador to China, after German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called Xi Jinping a “dictator” during her recent trip to the US.

🎙️ Saying the quiet part out loud.

Baerbock was on Fox News on September 14, talking about Russia’s war against Ukraine.

She said:

🤬 China’s furious reaction.

• China did not take kindly to Baerbock’s remarks. It called them “extremely absurd” and “an open political provocation.”

• It also summoned the German ambassador in Beijing late on Sunday to express its displeasure. China said that Baerbock’s comments seriously infringed on its dignity and sovereignty.

🇩🇪 Germany’s awkward position.

Germany is in a tricky spot when it comes to China.

• On one hand, China is its top trading partner and a key player in global issues.

• On the other hand, Germany has concerns about China’s human rights record and its growing assertiveness.

Germany’s new policy on China, released in July, tries to balance these interests by describing Beijing as a "partner, competitor, systemic rival."

👩‍💼 Who is Baerbock?

• She is a Green politician, known for her critical stance on China and its human rights record.

• She also voiced support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, another “dictator” in her view.

• Her remarks contrast with the more trade-friendly approach of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat.

🌟 Today’s gem

This very recent interview between President Zelensky and 60 Minutes begs the question: What would you do if you were in President Zelensky’s shoes?

• His people are dying.

• His country doesn't have the means to supply its own troops.

• People around the world are slowly becoming wary of sending blank checks to Ukraine.

Whatever your answer may be, it is heart-wrenching to watch President Zelensky's sudden withdrawal into inner darkness after smiling mere seconds before.

Quick updates

Click the country's name for more.👇🏻

🇺🇸 United States:

Five Americans prisoners now breathe the air of freedom.

Five Americans got off in Doha, Qatar, where they are thought to be processed and sent to the United States. Yet, this deal has sparked a fiery debate back home. Critics argue it’s a risky move that could embolden a terrorist state to capture more hostages for bargaining, and also pursue nuclear weapons.

✱ ALSO: President Biden released nearly $6 billion in frozen Irani

an assets as part of the deal, with the stipulation that Iran can only use the money for humanitarian purposes. However, Iranian President Raisi has previously stated that Iran will use the unfrozen funds “wherever we need it.”

🇹🇼 Taiwan:

China invades Taiwan’s airspace with record-breaking fleet.

Taiwan is on high alert as China sends 103 warplanes to fly near the island in a show of force. The 40 planes entered Taiwan’s self-declared air defense identification zone. Taiwan’s defense ministry says it scrambled jets and deployed missiles to intercept the intruders.

✱ ALSO: China’s upping the ante with increased military aggression and economic incentives, seemingly in response to Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election in January.

🇨🇦 Canada:

Canada kicks out top Indian diplomat over alleged assassination of a Canadian activist on Canadian soil.

Canada is not happy with India right now. The reason? A Canadian citizen and Sikh activist was gunned down in June, and Canada suspects India had something to do with it.

The victim, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was a supporter of Khalistan, a separatist movement that wants to create an independent Sikh state in India. Canada says it has credible evidence that Indian agents were involved in the murder.

✱ ALSO: Trudeau confronted Modi at the G-20 and demanded cooperation in the probe. But India denies any wrongdoing and says the Khalistan movement is a threat to its national security.

🇺🇦 Ukraine:

Grain war: Ukraine sues EU trio for blocking imports.

Ukraine is also not happy with its neighbors. Poland, Hungary and Slovakia have banned Ukrainian grain from entering their markets, defying a European Commission order to lift the restrictions.

The bans are meant to protect their own farmers from the cheap and abundant Ukrainian grain.

✱ ALSO: The lawsuits were filed with the World Trade Organization.