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Europe: Raging wildfires scorch large swaths of the continent
France 24

Europe: Raging wildfires scorch large swaths of the continent

Firefighters across Europe battled multiple fires August 14 as a new wave of record-breaking heat baked a swath of the continent. The historic temperatures are linked to human-caused climate change, and are hitting countries better suited for long cold seasons and ill-equipped for such extreme heat, with limited air conditioning.  

France wildfire forces 520 to evacuate
France 24

France wildfire forces 520 to evacuate

Around 520 residents in France’s southwestern Landes region have been evacuated as a raging wildfire has burned through more than 1,000 hectares since Thursday. Significant reinforcements have been mobilised, while authorities warn that the fire’s trajectory remains unpredictable. Simon Moritz has the story.

France blocks under 15 social media ban

France blocks under 15 social media ban

France 24

France’s Constitutional Council has blocked a bill that would have banned social media access for under-15s, ruling that it infringed on freedom of expression. It’s a setback for President Emmanuel Macron, who has championed the legislation and has now asked his prime minister to rewrite the bill. The Élysée says Macron remains determined to have the reform in place before next year’s presidential...

Birthrate drop in North Africa

Birthrate drop in North Africa

France 24

The Maghreb region is experiencing a dramatic decline in birth rates, with most women now having fewer than three children, compared with seven or eight on average in the 1970s. Ellen Gainsford looks at what is driving this major demographic shift.

World Bank to fund 645-metre bridge linking Bangui and Zongo

World Bank to fund 645-metre bridge linking Bangui and Zongo

France 24

The Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo are set to build a new bridge linking their two major cities, Bangui and Zongo. The 60-million-dollar project will see the construction of a 645-metre bridge across the Congo River, aimed at strengthening trade and transport links between the two countries.

Mount Etna continues to erupt in Italy

Mount Etna continues to erupt in Italy

France 24

Flights at Catania airport in Sicily remain suspended because of ongoing volcanic activity from Mount Etna. But for those already on the island, the spectacular lava flows have become a major attraction, drawing crowds of tourists to safe viewing points. Companies organising guided nighttime hikes say they have been flooded with calls from visitors hoping to see the eruption up close. Etna is Euro...

Chadian President Déby pardons jailed main rival and 8 opposition leaders

Chadian President Déby pardons jailed main rival and 8 opposition leaders

France 24

Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Déby on Friday pardoned the jailed ex-prime minister and leader of Chad’s main opposition party Succès Masra, along with eight other party leaders. Masra had been serving a 20-year sentence, convicted of hate speech, xenophobia and inciting a massacre, in what Human Rights Watch called a politically motivated trial.

France's top court blocks Macron's social media ban for under-15s

France's top court blocks Macron's social media ban for under-15s

France 24

France's constitutional council struck down a proposed ban on social media for children under 15 on Friday, citing freedom of expression. President Emmanuel Macron tasked Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu with re-working ​the draft legislation to take the Constitutional Council's concerns into account, the Elysée said in a statement.

Mount Etna's ongoing volcanic activity disrupts summer travel

Mount Etna's ongoing volcanic activity disrupts summer travel

France 24

Ash spewing from Sicily's Mount Etna has closed the Italian island’s largest airport for the fifth consecutive day, stranding hundreds of summer holiday travellers during the busiest travel week of the year. Catania’s airport will remain closed until early August 15. While Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, often disrupts airport operations, this marks the longest emergency since 2002. 

Ferry sinking kills 46 in rural Zimbabwe

Ferry sinking kills 46 in rural Zimbabwe

France 24

In Zimbabwe, hundreds of people have attended a memorial service following a ferry disaster on Lake Kariba that claimed at least 46 lives. The boat was a vital link for villagers and fish traders around the vast lake, but was reportedly overloaded when it ran into trouble on Tuesday. Laurent Berstecher has the details.

Europe swelters under fifth heatwave of summer

Europe swelters under fifth heatwave of summer

France 24

A large part of Europe is in the grip of its fifth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures in parts of France soaring to 40 degrees Celsius. And the extreme weather is also taking a toll on the world’s oceans: last month, average global sea temperatures reached a record high of 21 degrees Celsius. Chair of the National Heat Risk Commission at Grantham Research Institute, at LSE, Emma Howard Boyd...

West Bank: Palestinians families trapped in home

West Bank: Palestinians families trapped in home

France 24

Israeli settlers are carrying out a campaign of violence and intimidation against the Palestinian village of Qusra in the occupied West Bank, where families have had their electricity and water supplies cut off, in what residents say is an attempt to force them from their homes. France 24 Senior Reporter Catherine Norris Trent recalls reporting from Qusra in 2023, when villagers told her that Isra...

West Bank: Palestinians families trapped in homes

West Bank: Palestinians families trapped in homes

France 24

Israeli settlers are conducting a campaign of violence and intimidation against the Palestinian village of Qusra in the occupied West Bank. Families have had their electricity and water supplies cut off, in what residents say is an attempt to force them from their homes. According to France 24 correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky, Israel’s Defence Minister is using settler violence for political propa...

Ukraine war: Grain attacks raise food price fears

Ukraine war: Grain attacks raise food price fears

France 24

Ukraine and Russia have been trading attacks on each other’s grain warehouses, raising concerns that the damage to food supplies could push global food prices higher. France 24 International affairs editor Philippe Turle shares more insights on the subject. 

Global sea temperature reach 21 degrees amid heatwaves

Global sea temperature reach 21 degrees amid heatwaves

France 24

A large part of Europe is in the grip of its fifth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures in parts of France soaring to 40 degrees Celsius. And the extreme weather is also taking a toll on the world’s oceans: last month, average global sea temperatures reached a record high of 21 degrees Celsius. Antonia Kerrigan has the details.

Europe swelters under new heatwave

Europe swelters under new heatwave

France 24

A large part of Europe is in the grip of its fifth heatwave of the summer. That includes France, where temperatures in parts of the country have soared to 40 degrees Celsius, triggering a wildfire in the southwest. Monte Francis has the details.

Earthquake in Colombia: Nearly 300 people trapped in rubbles

Earthquake in Colombia: Nearly 300 people trapped in rubbles

France 24

In Colombia, hopes are fading of finding survivors after Monday’s powerful earthquake. Rescue teams are now turning their focus to recovering bodies, but families are still holding out hope of finding their loved ones alive beneath the rubble. Many have taken matters into their own hands, as our reporters found when they visited Cali, a city near the quake’s epicentre.

UK: Farage wins controversial by-election

UK: Farage wins controversial by-election

France 24

In the UK, far-right politician Nigel Farage has won a victory of sorts in a by-election on the English coast, securing 63 percent of the vote. But all the major parties boycotted the vote, calling it a stunt by Farage. His closest challenger was a joke candidate who campaigns wearing a rubbish bin on his head. Emily Boyle has the details.

In Nepal, residents learn how to live alongside wild animals

In Nepal, residents learn how to live alongside wild animals

France 24

Over the past five decades, Nepal has established itself as a model for wildlife conservation. Nearly 20 percent of the country’s territory has been designated as protected areas. An effective anti-poaching policy has helped save iconic species such as the one-horned rhinoceros and the gharial crocodile, which were once on the brink of extinction. But this success also comes with tragic consequenc...

Nolan's Odyssey grossed over $1 billion

Nolan's Odyssey grossed over $1 billion

France 24

There has been a sharp increase in sales of Homer’s The Odyssey in the UK, with purchases up more than 1,400 percent in the first four weeks of July. Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of the epic may be behind the surge, as the film stormed the global box office, taking in 264 million dollars during its opening weekend. Miles Osgood, from Standford University, joins us for more details.

Colombia: Hundreds still missing as earthquake resue effort continues

Colombia: Hundreds still missing as earthquake resue effort continues

France 24

In Colombia hopes are fading of finding survivors after Monday’s powerful earthquake. Rescue teams are now turning their focus to recovering bodies, but families are still holding out hope of finding their loved ones alive beneath the rubble. Many have taken matters into their own hands, as our reporters found when they visited Cali, a city near the quake’s epicentre. A report by R. Sedano, M. Plu...