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Building fire in S.Africa kills 64
A fire that engulfed a five-storey building killed more than 60 people including children in central Johannesburg on Thursday, the South African city's emergency services said.
Marathon meet with Macron leaves French opposition cold
French political leaders from left and right were left unconvinced Thursday by marathon 12-hour talks aimed at finding common ground with President Emmanuel Macron.
Markets mostly down ahead of key US inflation report
Markets mostly fell Thursday as investors struggled to keep up with Wall Street's rally, despite fresh data reinforcing optimism the Federal Reserve could hold off any more interest rate hikes this year, while another weak China reading dragged the mood.
Three injured in truck ramming attack at West Bank checkpoint
A truck driver rammed his vehicle near a checkpoint in the West Bank Thursday, injuring three people before he was "neutralised", medics and police said, in the latest attack to rock the occupied territory.
Building fire in S.Africa kills 63
More than 60 people have died in a fire that engulfed a five-storey building in central Johannesburg on Thursday, the South African city's emergency services said.
'Talk about something else': Chinese AI chatbot toes party line
Chinese tech giant Baidu rolled out its ChatGPT-like ERNIE Bot to the public on Thursday.
Building fire in S.Africa kills 52
More than 50 people have died in a fire that engulfed a five-storey building in central Johannesburg on Thursday, the South African city's emergency services said.
Myanmar's landmine clearers working with pliers and bare hands
Six men prod and poke at dense undergrowth in eastern Myanmar with rakes and hoes -- not farmers, but a rebel unit clearing deadly landmines from the war raging between the junta and pro-democracy fighters.
Driver's 'Ferrari' puts Venice race in higher gear
The race for the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion was set to move into higher gear Thursday with a hotly tipped biopic about sports car supremo Enzo Ferrari starring Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz.
UBS to absorb Credit Suisse domestic unit, eyes billions in cost savings
Banking giant UBS said Thursday it would fully absorb the Swiss unit of its recently-swallowed rival Credit Suisse into its operations, without spelling out the implications for job cuts.
German 'cannabis clubs' on high as legalisation looms
Hanover's cannabis club started as a fringe outfit of nine members campaigning for the right to legally light up joints. Now the group, and others like it, are flourishing and mainstream as Germany gears up to legalise marijuana.
Baidu leads public rollout of AI chatbots in China
Tech giant Baidu launched China's first public artificial intelligence chatbot on Thursday, with ERNIE trained to censor highly sensitive topics for the ruling Communist Party such as the Tiananmen crackdown.
Storm Idalia lashes Georgia, Carolinas after slamming Florida
Florida began assessing the damage Wednesday from Idalia's flooding after the powerful storm inundated coastal communities and knocked out power to thousands, as the system advanced up the southeastern US coast bringing additional rain deluges and dangerous storm surge.
New Zealand Rugby 'not fit for purpose' says scathing report
New Zealand Rugby's governing body was branded "not fit for purpose" in a scathing independent report published Thursday into the country's governing body.
First strike in six decades closes famous Japan department store
The shutters were down on one of Japan's best-known department stores on Thursday in the sector's first strike for six decades, sparked by fears that its mooted new US owner will slash jobs.
China basketball fans despair at World Cup 'deepest humiliation'
Chinese basketball fans were in despair on Thursday after the national team crashed out of the World Cup without winning a game, dubbing the dismal performance as "our deepest humiliation."
How climate change boosts hurricanes
Scientists are sounding the alarm on human-caused climate change's impact on hurricanes such as Idalia, which rapidly intensified over a warm Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in Florida on Wednesday.
'Volleyball Day' in US sets women's sports attendance world record
The biggest crowd ever to watch a women's sporting event jammed the University of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium on Wednesday as 92,003 people turned out for the Huskers' victory over Omaha.
Wozniacki stuns Kvitova to reach US Open third round
Caroline Wozniacki's fairytale return to Grand Slam tennis carried her into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday as the former world number one upset 11th seed Petra Kvitova in straight sets.
US approves first arms to Taiwan under foreign aid program
President Joe Biden's administration has for the first time approved direct US military aid to Taiwan under an assistance program aimed at foreign governments, officials said Wednesday, as worries grow over China.
Japan ready to shake off Covid legacy at Rugby World Cup
Japan should have been riding a wave of momentum after hosting a successful 2019 Rugby World Cup but the Covid-19 pandemic has hampered efforts to build on their success.
Italy not daunted by brutal draw at 'magical' Rugby World Cup
Italy have a huge task facing them as Kieran Crowley's talented young team try to reach the knockout stage of the Rugby World Cup for the first time.
Chinese developer Country Garden faces crunch vote on debt repayment
China's biggest developer Country Garden on Thursday faces a crunch vote on extending debt repayment terms that could determine whether it defaults, plunging the country's property market deeper into turmoil.
China factory activity contracts for fifth straight month in August
China's factory activity contracted for a fifth straight month in August, official data showed on Thursday, as pressure mounts on Beijing to offer more policy support to bolster its sluggish economy.
China's Baidu rolls out ChatGPT rival to public
China's Baidu rolled out its ChatGPT rival ERNIE Bot to the public on Thursday, in a major leap for the country's tech sector as it aims to cash in on the global artificial intelligence gold rush.
In Florida, residents grapple with Hurricane Idalia's toll
The hot Florida sunshine is broken by a gentle breeze, carrying with it salty sea air.
'It hurts my heart': Japan's Kanto massacre, 100 years on
This week Japan marks 100 years since the Great Kanto Earthquake that killed 105,000 people. Less well known is the subsequent massacre of thousands of ethnic Koreans that haunts the community to this day.
Asian markets mixed ahead of key US inflation report
Markets were mixed Thursday as investors struggled to maintain momentum from Wall Street's rally, even after fresh data reinforced optimism the Federal Reserve will be able to hold off any more interest rate hikes this year.
'Bigger than basketball': South Sudan win hearts, minds at World Cup
South Sudan has lurched from one crisis to another since winning independence in 2011, but the country's basketball team are determined to "change the narrative" on the world stage.
Blow for Messi, Miami MLS playoff hopes as Cincinnati clinch
FC Cincinnati led the way into the Major League Soccer playoffs on Wednesday as the slim post-season hopes of Lionel Messi's Inter Miami took a hit with a goalless draw against Nashville.
Mexico opposition picks businesswoman Galvez as presidential candidate
Mexico's opposition coalition on Wednesday named Xochitl Galvez, an outspoken senator with Indigenous roots who hopes to be the country's first woman president, as its candidate for next year's election.
In Sudan's east, murky arms trade thrives as war rages
More than four months into Sudan's devastating war, arms dealers are struggling to keep up with demand for a trade that is booming, at a deadly cost.