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An East African force set up to thwart insurgents in Democratic Republic of Congo has for months been proclaiming progress, saying the rebels have quit key strongholds and been replaced by its troops.

China's "godfather of baijiu" launched Hong Kong's largest IPO of the year on Thursday, with the holding company for four of his liquor brands raising around HK$4.5 billion despite a rocky start to trading.

Formula One returns this weekend after a one month break. AFP Sport takes a look at five talking points ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix:

Asian shares were mixed in early trade on Thursday, following a session on Wall Street that saw major indices sink despite a surge in tech.

Energy giant BP on Thursday faces a shareholder revolt over its decision to slow its energy transition, with activist investors promising to block the re-election of the head of the board of directors.

Joe Biden is set to become the first sitting US president in at least a century to visit Papua New Guinea, Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko said Thursday, revealing plans for a brief but symbolic trip.

Pope Francis is set to meet refugees in Hungary this weekend, shedding light on the plight of Ukrainians trying to rebuild their lives in a state that offers a frosty reception.

As Pope Francis gears up to visit Hungary for the second time in less than two years on Friday, he is being awaited by the country's Catholics and its nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

At four in the morning outside a Yangon monastery, Shwe Lei and her team were wrestling 30 writhing pythons into old rice sacks and loading them into a van.

Ja Morant led a superb second half rally as the Memphis Grizzlies kept their NBA playoff campaign alive with a 116-99 victory over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

The European Union will support upcoming peace talks between the Colombian government and dissident factions of the disarmed FARC guerrillas, the bloc's diplomacy chief said Wednesday.

The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-95 to complete a 4-1 series victory and advance to the NBA Eastern Conference playoff semi-finals on Wednesday.

Guiding her brown mare around the arena at breakneck speed, 16-year-old Morissa Hall is extremely focused as she takes on the barrel racing course in the eastern US state of Maryland.

The US company Orbit Fab is aiming to produce the go-to "gas stations" in space, its CEO tells AFP, hoping its refueling technology will make the surging satellite industry more sustainable -- and profitable.

Samsung Electronics on Thursday reported its worst quarterly profits in 14 years, blaming slowing consumer spending on electronics and a global microchip glut that hit its core memory business.

Shares in Facebook parent Meta surged Wednesday after the internet titan reported it made a profit of $5.7 billion in the first quarter of this year, beating forecasts after a massive wave of cost-cutting and layoffs.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday replaced seven of his ministers, hours after asking his entire cabinet to resign due to his difficulties in pushing ambitious reforms through Congress.

US Republicans voted Wednesday to raise the national borrowing limit, but only in conjunction with drastic cuts, as they sought a showdown with President Joe Biden over "excessive" spending with a potentially ruinous credit default looming.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, who was ruled out of the team's last three games as they bowed out of the NBA playoffs, has a torn meniscus in his right knee, US media reported Wednesday.

Billed as a Premier League title decider, it was barely even a contest as Manchester City thrashed Arsenal 4-1 on Wednesday to close in on becoming English champions for the fifth time in six years.

Rayo Vallecano stunned impotent La Liga leaders Barcelona on Wednesday with a 2-1 win, outplaying the Catalans at a rowdy Vallecas.

US Republicans voted Wednesday to raise the national borrowing limit, but only in conjunction with drastic cuts, as they sought a showdown with President Joe Biden over "excessive" spending with a potentially ruinous credit default looming.

Rayo Vallecano stunned impotent La Liga leaders Barcelona on Wednesday with a 2-1 win, outplaying the Catalans at a rowdy Vallecas.

Aaron Rodgers was unveiled as the new quarterback for the New York Jets on Wednesday and quickly made clear his aim is to end the franchise's long wait for a second Super Bowl triumph.

Pras Michel, a rapper in the 1990s hit trio The Fugees, was found guilty Wednesday of helping funnel money from a billion-dollar Malaysia scam into US politics.

"Pele," arguably the best footballer in history, is now also an adjective.

Rayo Vallecano stunned impotent La Liga leaders Barcelona on Wednesday with a 2-1 win, outplaying the Catalans at a rowdy Vallecas.

New Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka reiterated his apology and said on Wednesday that he'd learned from the scandal that cost him his job as head coach of the Boston Celtics.

Pep Guardiola labelled Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland as "extraordinary" after the Manchester City stars destroyed Arsenal in a 4-1 victory that put the champions in control of the Premier League title race.

Holders Inter Milan reached the Italian Cup final on Wednesday after beating Juventus 1-0 to go through to next month's showpiece 2-1 on aggregate.

Sheffield United were planning to party long into the night after clinching promotion back to the Premier League with a 2-0 win against West Bromwich Albion at jubilant Bramall Lane on Wednesday.

Blockbuster tech earnings lifted the Nasdaq on Wednesday, but recession fears weighed on other major United States and European indices while pushing oil prices lower.