Fear abounds as M23 fighters close in on DR Congo's Goma

Goma (DR Congo) (AFP) – Luggage on their backs, they trudged all Wednesday morning along the road leading to downtown Goma, fleeing the advancing fighters in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Displaced people drag their possessions with them as they flee advancing M23 fighters in eastern DR Congo

Musk bashes Trump

Washington (AFP) – Tech titan Elon Musk cast doubt Wednesday on a $500 billion AI project announced by US President Donald Trump, saying the money promised for the investment actually wasn’t there.

US President Donald Trump announced a major investment to build infrastructure for artificial intelligence led by Japanese giant SoftBank and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI

Hundreds to wed as Thai same

Bangkok (AFP) – A high-profile gay couple married in Thailand on Thursday as the kingdom’s same-sex marriage law went into effect, an AFP journalist saw, among the first of hundreds expected to do so.

Thai actors Apiwat 'Porsch' Apiwatsayree (L) and Sappanyoo 'Arm' Panatkool pose after registering their same-sex marriage Thursday

Musk seeks Trump pardon for 'Bitcoin Jesus,' charged with fraud

Washington (AFP) – Elon Musk said Tuesday he was exploring a presidential pardon for “Bitcoin Jesus,” who was arrested last year on fraud and tax evasion charges, after applauding Donald Trump for exonerating the founder of a dark web drug marketplace.

Elon Musk shares Donald Trump's hard-right politics and is a key advisor to his new administration.

Shakhtar deal blow to Brest's Champions League last

Gelsenkirchen (Germany) (AFP) – Shakhtar Donetsk eased to a 2-0 win against Brest in the Champions League on Wednesday, denting the high-flying French side’s hopes of earning an automatic spot in the last-16.

Georgiy Sudakov (L) dinked home a penalty to double Shakhtar Donetsk's lead against Brest in the Champions League

Does China control the Panama Canal, as Trump claims?

Panama City (AFP) – US President Donald Trump’s threat to seize the Panama Canal over alleged undue Chinese influence may really be aimed at limiting Beijing’s growing diplomatic and economic presence in Latin America, experts say.

The canal was administered by America until 1977, when treaties were signed under then-US president Jimmy Carter for its handover to Panama

Mel B, Trump and Milei: What happened at Davos Wednesday

Davos (Switzerland) (AFP) – Even when Donald Trump wasn’t in the room or even the main theme, the US president kept coming up again Wednesday at the gabfest of global elites in the Swiss resort of Davos.

Ex-Spice Girl Melanie Brown described the 'shame' she felt as she was physically and mentally abused