Despite Manchester City's struggles in recent matches, manager Pep Guardiola remains optimistic about their chances of regaining their confidence and climbing the league table. A late goal from Phil Foden was not enough for City to avoid a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, managed by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery. This defeat has also brought attention to the decrease in goal-scoring form of striker Erling Haaland, who believes he and the team need to do better. However, Haaland remains confident in Guardiola to lead them to success.
Germany was shocked over the weekend when a deadly attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg left five people dead and over 200 injured. As details surrounding the attack continue to emerge, the country's interior minister has revealed that the suspect is believed to be Islamophobic, raising concerns about the rise of far-right extremism in the country. The incident has also prompted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to express his worry and attend a memorial service for the victims.
Arsenal's Mikel Arteta expresses concern over the hamstring injury sustained by winger Bukayo Saka during their 5-1 victory against Crystal Palace. Saka was forced off in the first half and had to leave the stadium on crutches. With fellow England player Raheem Sterling also injured, Arteta admits he is worried about the extent of Saka's injury.
The Foreign Secretary has confirmed that the UK has had "diplomatic contact" with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group responsible for overthrowing Syrian President Bashar-al Assad. This comes after a period of uncertainty about whether the UK should engage with HTS due to its designation as a terrorist organization. Despite its proscription, the UK maintains diplomatic contact with HTS as a necessary measure.
Gabriel Jesus' hat-trick against Crystal Palace marks a triumphant return to form for the Brazilian striker, giving Arsenal a much needed boost in their quest for the Premier League title. While it may seem premature to talk about a title bid, the decline of Manchester City and Liverpool's potential to stumble gives the Gunners a glimmer of hope. But with a lack of firepower in their squad, Arteta may need to consider strengthening in the January transfer window to truly solidify their chances.
As Arsenal took on Crystal Palace, their star player Bukayo Saka picked up a fresh injury concern in the first half. This adds to the ongoing injury woes for the Gunners this season. Saka's early substitution leaves a gap in Arsenal's attack and raises concerns about their dependence on the young winger.
Despite being taunted by Aston Villa supporters after their loss to Manchester City, Jack Grealish held up three fingers to remind them of his three Premier League titles since leaving the club. This moment also mirrored Pep Guardiola's gesture to Liverpool fans earlier this month boasting about his six titles. In other sports news, follow along for coverage of three CFP games featuring teams like Penn State, Clemson, Texas, and Ohio State, while the Yankees strengthen their bullpen with signings of pitchers Nelson Cruz and Devin Williams.
K-pop idol Jungkook of BTS surprised his fans with a live session where he showed off his new abode, which was tailored to his style and personality. Despite serving mandatory military duties, Jungkook received special permission to connect with fans and share his new home. Fans were amazed at the bar, DJ area, and sleek black interiors, taking to social media to share their excitement about Jungkook's house.
Saudi anti-Islam activist, Taleb Abdul Jawad, was arrested as the suspect behind a car attack at a Christmas market in Germany. The attacker, who fled Saudi Arabia as a refugee in 2006, had previously been warned to Germany's authorities by the Saudi government for his radical views on social media. The heinous attack resulted in two deaths and up to 80 injuries, sparking concerns about the country's immigration policies.
In order to stay competitive with AI-focused rivals like OpenAI, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces a reduction in Google's managerial workforce during an internal meeting. The decision is part of the company's overall restructuring efforts, with some roles being transitioned to individual contributors and others being eliminated. Pichai also addresses the need to update Google's culture and values to align with modern challenges. The use of AI in consumer products from companies like Google and OpenAI is on the rise, despite concerns about the lack of guardrails in developing this technology.