Rwanda and Congo cancel peace talks to end a conflict in eastern Congo

The article reports that Detroit Red Wings' Jonatan Berggren has been fined for a cross-check on Toronto Maple Leafs' Connor Dewar. The incident occurred during a recent game, resulting in disciplinary action against Berggren. The video content of the incident is available for viewing on the website. Full Article

The Red Sox acquired minor league right-hander Joe Vogatsky from the Pirates in exchange for utility player Enmanuel Valdez. Vogatsky, a 22-year-old drafted out of James Madison University, had a successful college career as a reliever with 14 saves and a 3.43 ERA. Valdez, who made his MLB debut in 2023, played 125 games with the Red Sox, hitting .235 with 20 doubles and 12 home runs. Full Article

ECOWAS approved an exit timeline for coup-hit nations Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, setting a transitional period from January 29, 2025, to July 29, 2025. The three countries have decided to leave the bloc, citing sanctions and security concerns. ECOWAS faces its biggest challenge as efforts to reverse the withdrawal have been largely rebuffed, with the risk of losing visa-free movement within West Africa. Full Article

Nizar al-Madani, a resident of Qaboun in Damascus, returns after seven years to find his neighborhood completely demolished by the al-Assad regime, which systematically destroyed areas that opposed it. The regime enacted laws like Law No. 10 of 2018 to confiscate property from Syrian refugees who couldn't prove ownership, leaving many displaced and unable to rebuild. Despite the destruction, residents like Nadeedah Hannawi and Mahmoud Jahbar remain hopeful for the future, determined to rebuild their...

Matildas ace Mary Fowler scored a late penalty for Manchester City, but it wasn't enough as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Everton in the Women's Super League. City missed a chance to gain ground on Chelsea, who drew with Leicester, leaving them six points behind the champions going into the Christmas break. Other Matildas featured in Arsenal's win over Liverpool and Manchester United's victory against Crystal Palace, while Brighton and West Ham suffered...

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged during a press conference in Jordan that the United States has made direct contact with the Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. He emphasized the importance of finding missing American journalist Austin Tice and discussed shared principles for supporting Syria's future. HTS leader Ahmed al-Shara expressed optimism about Syria's future under HTS leadership and emphasized the country's exhaustion from war. Full Article