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Economy
Thousands of Afghans scramble for chance to work in Qatar
When Mohammad Hanif heard Qatar was opening jobs to Afghans, he joined thousands of others to put his name down for a shot to make a living in the gas-rich emirate, his own country wracked by unemployment.
Politics
Trump's envoy arrives in Israel as Gaza criticism mounts
US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday to discuss ways to end the crisis in Gaza, where nearly 22 months of grinding war and dire shortages of food have drawn mounting international criticism.
Sports
McIntosh powers to third gold of worlds, 12-year-old Yu fourth
Canadian swimming sensation Summer McIntosh powered to her third gold of the Singapore world championships with victory in the 200m butterfly on Thursday, falling agonisingly short of a new world record.
Economy
Hong Kong sees 3.1% growth in second quarter
Hong Kong's economy grew by 3.1 percent in the second quarter, according to government estimates released Thursday, beating expectations, with strong exports buoyed by businesses racing to take advantage of US tariff easing.
Stocks, dollar mixed tracking Fed, tariffs, results
Major stock markets and the dollar traded mixed Thursday as traders weighed a cautious Federal Reserve, strong tech earnings and new US tariffs.
Economy
World Athletics brings in gene tests for female category eligibility
Track and field athletes aiming to take part in the female category in elite competitions will have to take a gene test from September, World Athletics has announced.
Politics
Trump says tariffs are making US 'great & rich' again
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that the sweeping tariffs he has imposed on nations around the world were making the country "great & rich again" as governments raced to strike deals with Washington less than 24 hours before an August 1 deadline.
Boulevard
Pakistan opposition leader given 10 years for Imran Khan protests
The opposition leader in Pakistan's parliament was among more than 100 people convicted Thursday over nationwide protests in support of Imran Khan in 2023, his party said.
Sports
India's Bumrah out of Oval finale as England bowl in fifth Test
India star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was left out of the fifth and deciding Test at the Oval on Thursday as stand-in England captain Ollie Pope won the toss and elected to field.
Culture
Rights groups urge Nepal to reverse Telegram ban
Rights groups on Thursday urged Nepal to reverse a ban on the Telegram messaging app, calling the move a serious threat to freedom of expression and digital privacy.
Economy
BMW says can weather tariff storm despite profit plunge
German carmaker BMW stuck to its 2025 targets Thursday despite quarterly profits tumbling a third due partly to US tariffs, insisting its large American operations meant it could weather the storm.
Politics
Zelensky urges allies to push for 'regime change' in Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday urged his allies to bring about "regime change" in Russia, hours after a Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv killed seven people including a six-year-old boy.
Politics
Renault profits slump as competition intensifies
French automaker Renault said Thursday that the tough retail and commercial van market in Europe had squeezed profits although it was able to maintain profitability better than most rivals.
Weather
Beijing officials admit 'gaps' in readiness after rains kill dozens
Beijing city officials admitted on Thursday they had not been prepared for heavy rains that soaked swathes of the capital, killing 44 people and leaving nine still missing.
Boulevard
Macau ex-lawmaker arrested in city's first national security law action
A former Macau pro-democracy lawmaker became the first person to be arrested under the city's national security law, with authorities alleging on Thursday that he had ties to foreign groups endangering China.
Weather
Beijing officials admit 'gaps' in readiness after rain kill dozens
Beijing city officials admitted on Thursday they had not been prepared for heavy rains that soaked swathes of the capital, killing 44 people and leaving nine still missing.
Boulevard
Japan lifts tsunami advisory after Russia quake
Japan's weather office on Thursday lifted a tsunami advisory imposed a day earlier after Russia's Far East was rocked by one of the strongest earthquakes on record.
Economy
Shell net profit retreats on lower energy prices
British energy giant Shell on Thursday said its net profit slid 23 percent in the first six months of the year, hit by lower oil and gas prices.
Economy
Unilever profit slides ahead of ice cream demerger
British consumer goods giant Unilever on Thursday said net profit fell five percent in the first six months of the year, as it prepares to demerge its ice cream business.
Economy
Trump announces new tariffs as deadline nears
US President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs to punish or favor major trading partners Wednesday, as governments raced to strike deals with Washington less than 24 hours before an August 1 deadline.
Politics
US tariffs corrode steelmaker ArcelorMittal's profitability
The world's number two steelmaker, ArcelorMittal, said on Thursday its half-year net profit jumped on exceptional items but US tariffs began to eat into its margin.
Sports
Lions have 'massive responsibility' to finish job against Wallabies
British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell warned Thursday there will be no let-up against the Wallabies in the third Test, with a rare series whitewash a big incentive to finish the job.
Economy
BMW profits slump on China woes, US tariffs
BMW said Thursday its profits slumped by a third in the second quarter as the German premium carmaker was hit hard by falling sales in key market China and US tariffs.
Politics
Russia strikes kill six in Kyiv, Moscow says captured key town
Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least six people, officials said Thursday, as Moscow claimed the capture of a town that had been a key stronghold for the Ukrainian army in the east of the country.
Economy
Firms in Vietnam walk tightrope as Trump's transshipping rule looms
As Donald Trump's eye-watering tariffs on Chinese products passing through Vietnam are set to kick in Friday, companies in the Southeast Asian country are cautiously waiting to see what falls into that category.
Politics
China summons chip giant Nvidia over alleged security risks
Chinese internet authorities summoned Nvidia on Thursday to discuss "serious security issues" over some of its artificial intelligence (AI) chips, as the US technology giant finds itself entangled in trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.
Sports
Veteran White gets fairytale sendoff for 'deflated' Wallabies
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt insisted Thursday on picking retiring scrum-half Nic White for the third British and Irish Lions Test was not a sentimental decision and he was banking on the veteran to help rally his "deflated" team.
Politics
Trump gets his way on tariffs, but global trade system intact for now
President Donald Trump has succeeded in strong-arming nations to accept higher tariffs on US exports, yet for now experts see little threat to the postwar trend of lower duties in the pursuit of greater wealth all around.
Politics
Myanmar junta ends state of emergency in election run-up
Myanmar's junta ended the country's state of emergency on Thursday, ramping up preparations for a December election being boycotted by opposition groups and criticised by international monitors.
Sports
Lions make two changes for final Wallabies Test
The British and Irish Lions made two changes Thursday for the final Test against the Wallabies, with James Ryan in at lock and Blair Kinghorn on the wing as they look to finish their Australia tour on a high.
Culture
Puppet ban in Indonesian capital threatens buskers
In the sweltering streets of Jakarta, buskers carry towering, hollow puppets and pass around a bucket for donations. Now, they fear becoming outlaws.
Sports
White and Tupou to start for Wallabies in third Lions Test
Veteran scrum-half Nic White and hulking prop Taniela Tupou were handed starts Thursday for the Wallabies' third Test against the British and Irish Lions, but influential flanker Rob Valetini was ruled out.