## DR Congo Enacts Complete Protection of African Gray Parrots

Authored by happyeconews.com

A national decree in the Democratic Republic of Congo has granted full legal protection of African gray parrots, marking one of Africa’s most significant wildlife conservation victories.

On August 13, 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo officially banned the capture, trade, and possession of African gray parrots nationwide.

This landmark decision brings complete protection of African Gray parrots, aiming to end years of exploitation through the international pet trade.

African gray parrots are highly prized in the exotic pet market for their intelligence and extraordinary ability to mimic human speech.

Their cognitive skills make them favorites among collectors and pet owners worldwide, pushing demand and black-market prices to extreme levels.

A single wild-caught parrot can fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars, fueling efforts toward stronger protection of African gray parrots.

The new decree makes it a criminal offense to capture, kill, sell, or transport these endangered birds anywhere within DR Congo, closing the loopholes traffickers had exploited since partial protections were introduced in 2006. »

### Trump holds national address in rally style speech blaming Biden for the state of his nation

Authored by independent.co.uk

Speaking from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House, Trump opened by claiming to have “inherited a mess” that he was now “fixing.”.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump speaks during an address to the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Washington ( AP ).

The BLS report also showed the nation’s unemployment rate climbing to 4.6 percent, marking its highest level since 2021. »

### Couple scoop second lottery win, beating 24 trillion-to-1 odds

Authored by cnn.com

Theirs is a 24-trillion-to-one tale – a Welsh couple who defied astronomical odds to become million-dollar winners not just once, but twice.

Even after their win, the pair continued to buy lottery tickets, nursing a hope that another scoop might be in the cards.

In their own Christmas miracle, the duo scooped another £1 million, astonishing experts who estimate odds of a double win to be one in 24 trillion. »

### Video Game Physical Software and Hardware Sales Just Had the Worst November in the U.S. Since 1995

Authored by ign.com

While we traditionally think of November as a huge sales month what with Black Friday and all, November 2025 was the worst November in video game hardware unit sales, and the worst in physical software dollar sales the U.S. has seen since 1995.

Or perhaps consumers are looking elsewhere for holiday gifting as the prices continue to rise in video game hardware.

Physical software sales, meanwhile, dropped 14% year-over-year to the worst November since 1995, the year Circana began tracking them. »

### Russian border guards crossed into Estonia with unclear motives, minister says

Authored by news.err.ee

Three Russian border guards crossed the Estonian-Russian border in eastern Estonia on Wednesday morning without permission, the minister of the interior said.

Around 10 a.m. on Wednesday (December 17), Estonian border guards using surveillance equipment detected several Russian border guards on a hovercraft on the Narva River near the Vasknarva breakwater in Ida-Viru County.

In doing so, the Russian border guards crossed the border from Russia into Estonia and then returned to the Russian side of the breakwater, a video released by the Estonian Police and Border Guard (PPA) shows. »

## In pictures

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