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South Africa's biggest mobile operator Vodacom said Thursday it had agreed to take control of East Africa's largest telecoms firm, Safaricom, in a deal worth $2.1 billion.

Four days after beating Palmeiras to win their fourth Copa Libertadores, Flamengo secured the Brazilian title with a 1-0 success against Ceara at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium on Wednesday.

The fallout from the shutdown of Serbia's only oil refinery could last years, experts told AFP, putting thousands of jobs and the state's budget at risk -- as well as exposing the country to further sanctions.

Joe Root edged closer to his maiden Test century in Australia as England reached 196-4 at dinner on the first day of the day-night second Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday.

South Africa said Thursday it was prepared to wait out next year's G20 after being barred by the United States and did not expect other countries to lobby for its inclusion.

PGA Tour winner Ryan Fox, Australian Elvis Smylie and LIV golfer Carlos Ortiz upstaged Rory McIlroy to share the lead at the Australian Open Thursday as the Masters champion struggled with his putter on Royal Melbourne's tricky greens.

Israel awaited the return of the last hostage remains held by Palestinian militants in Gaza, as the military said on Thursday that those of a Thai national had been identified after they were handed over.

Gucci, Prada, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent are among 13 luxury brands suspected of using subcontractors who exploited Chinese workers in Italy, according to documents issued Thursday by a Milan prosecutor.

Asian and European markets were mixed Thursday after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates for a third successive time next week.

Australian veteran Mitchell Starc became the most prolific left-arm paceman in Test history on Thursday, surpassing Pakistan great Wasim Akram.

French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to Xi Jinping to help end the war in Ukraine and to tackle trade deficits as the two leaders met in Beijing on Thursday.

Turkey warned Russia and Ukraine against targeting energy infrastructure following several Black Sea drone attacks claimed by Kyiv on Russia-linked tankers, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.

India are all in a spin after losing a scarcely believable 20 coin tosses in a row in one-day internationals -- at odds of more than a million-to-one.

Asian markets struggled to maintain their early momentum Thursday, even after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates for a third successive time next week.

Zak Crawley and Joe Root led an England recovery to 98-2 at the first tea break of the day-night second Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane on Thursday after Mitchell Starc took two early wickets.

On the windswept hills overlooking Turkey's vast southeastern plains, new archaeological discoveries are revealing how life might have looked 11,000 years ago when the world's earliest communities began to emerge.

Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest will be debated at a two-day meeting of member broadcasters in Geneva starting Thursday, following calls to exclude the country over its Gaza war tactics.

French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to Xi Jinping to help end the war in Ukraine and tackle trade deficits as the two leaders met in Beijing's Great Hall on Thursday.

Big centuries by Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra put New Zealand firmly in control of the first Test against the West Indies with a lead of 481 at stumps on day three in Christchurch on Thursday.

South Korea's presidential office confirmed Thursday that six of its citizens have been captive in North Korea for years, after President Lee Jae Myung appeared unaware of their plight during a briefing with foreign media.

Experts appointed by the Trump administration's vaccine-skeptic Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr are expected to review newborn hepatitis B vaccines on Thursday, considering whether to delay the shots despite opposition from many doctors.

A majority of citizens across nine EU countries see a high risk of war breaking out between the bloc's members and Russia, according to a survey by polling group Cluster 17 published Thursday in the French international affairs journal Le Grand Continent.

Jamal Murray poured in 52 points to propel Denver to a 135-120 NBA victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday as the Nuggets continued to thrive on the road.

French President Emmanuel Macron told Xi Jinping that France and China must overcome their "differences", as the two leaders met in Beijing on Thursday.

AFP Sport assesses how the 2025 Formula One drivers' title can be won at the season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend:

Like a ghost in the night, Bilal Shorba, the artist they call the "Syrian Banksy", slipped through the rubble of Daraya to paint his murals, praying that Bashar al-Assad's gunners wouldn't spot him.

Forecasts of fresh rain on Thursday raised fears of more damage in flood-hit Indonesia and Sri Lanka, after earlier deluges killed more than 1,500 people in four countries.

Japan's Yuki Tsunoda said that it was "incredibly tough" to lose his Red Bull seat for next season but has vowed to return to the Formula One grid.

Under a scorching sun, Nur Apsyah waited in line with hundreds of others, hoping to secure some of the food aid in short supply in Indonesia's flood-hit Sumatra.

Staring at a pile of freshly cut beechwood, forestry manager Johannes Brodowski wonders if he is looking at the future of Germany's chemicals industry.

Tom Latham scored his 14th Test century as New Zealand stretched their lead to 297 over the West Indies at tea on day three of the first match in Christchurch on Thursday.

Asian markets struggled to maintain their early momentum Thursday, even after the latest batch of US data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates for a third successive time next week.