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Faced with ageing population, Vietnam seeks to curb falling birthrate
Vietnam, a country of more than 100 million people, is facing a sharp decline in its birthrate. Once known for large families, the nation's fertility rate has fallen to just 1.9 children per woman. This figure worries the government, which for decades was obsessed with controlling population growth – for more than 40 years, a two-child policy was the norm in Vietnam. But in June 2025, that restric...
Lebanese parliament passes sweeping amnesty law to reduce overcrowding in prisons
Lebanon's parliament on Wednesday passed a general amnesty law reducing sentences for inmates and people detained for more than 12 years without charges in a bid to reduce prison overcrowding. The legislation was passed a day after Lebanon became the first Middle Eastern country to abolish the death penalty.
Parts of Spain plunged into darkness as eclipse moves across Europe
Parts of Spain were briefly plunged into darkness on Wednesday as a solar eclipse that began in Iceland and the Arctic progressed across the continent. It was the first total eclipse to be seen from mainland Europe in two decades. Read our blog to see how the event unfolded.
Live: Parts of Spain plunged into darkness as eclipse moves across Europe
Parts of Spain were briefly plunged into darkness on Wednesday as a solar eclipse that began in Iceland and the Arctic progressed across the continent. It was the first total eclipse to be seen from mainland Europe in two decades. Follow our liveblog for updates.
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Live: Parts of Spain plunged into darkness as eclipse progresses across Europe
Parts of Spain were briefly plunged into darkness on Wednesday as a solar eclipse that began in Iceland and the Arctic progressed across the continent. It was the first total eclipse to be seen from mainland Europe in two decades. Follow our liveblog for updates.
Live: Parts of Spain in darkness as solar eclipse progresses across Europe
A solar eclipse that will briefly plunge a small part of Europe into darkness began Wednesday in Iceland and the Arctic before becoming visible in regions of France and Spain, where it will be the first total eclipse seen from mainland Europe in two decades. Follow our liveblog for updates.
Live: Solar eclipse visible in parts of France and Spain
A solar eclipse that will briefly plunge a small part of Europe into darkness began Wednesday in Iceland and the Arctic before becoming visible in regions of France and Spain, where it will be the first total eclipse seen from mainland Europe in two decades. Follow our liveblog for updates.
Live: Solar eclipse becomes visible in parts of France and Spain
A solar eclipse that will briefly plunge a small part of Europe into darkness began Wednesday in Iceland and the Arctic before becoming visible in regions of France and Spain, where it will be the first total eclipse visible on mainland Europe in two decades. Follow our liveblog for updates.
Live: Solar eclipse begins in parts of France and Spain
The total solar eclipse, which will briefly plunge a small part of Europe into darkness in broad daylight, began Wednesday in regions of France and Spain. It is the first total eclipse – the moment when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun – in mainland Europe in two decades. Follow our liveblog for updates and reactions.
Live: Solar eclipse begins in parts of the Arctic
The total solar eclipse, which will briefly plunge a small part of Europe into darkness in broad daylight, began Wednesday in a remote region of Russia on the edge of the Arctic, the Russian space agency Roscosmos has announced. It is the first total eclipse – the moment when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun – in mainland Europe in two decades. Follow our liveblog for updates...
Live: Millions of skywatchers in Europe prepare for total solar eclipse
Millions of people are set for a rare celestial treat as they prepare to view the total solar eclipse on Wednesday evening. It is the first total eclipse – the moment when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun – in mainland Europe in two decades. Follow our liveblog for all the updates and reactions.
What can we learn from eclipses?
A total solar eclipse will sweep across northern Spain on August 12 in one of Europe's most anticipated astronomical events of the decade. From the Sun's corona to animal behaviour and human emotions, these rare celestial events continue to provide scientists with valuable insights more than two millennia after they were first observed. Head of Space Science at the Centre National d'Études Spatial...
Solar eclipse: A rare show that reveals scientific secrets
Parts of northern Spain are set to turn from day to night as the Moon blocks out the Sun. Millions more will see a partial eclipse across Europe, Canada, the northern US and northwest Africa. But beyond the spectacle, eclipses also offer scientists valuable insights into the Sun and our universe. Ellen Gainsford has more.
Solar eclipse: A rare show with scientific secrets
We’re just hours away from a rare total solar eclipse, with parts of northern Spain set to briefly turn from day to night as the Moon blocks out the Sun. Millions more will see a partial eclipse across Europe, Canada, the northern US and northwest Africa. But beyond the spectacle, eclipses also offer scientists valuable insights into the Sun and our universe. Ellen Gainsford has more.
Ukraine seeks closer cooperation with South Korea
Earlier this week, Zelenskyy accused North Korea of stepping up its support for Russia, with ballistic missiles from Pyongyang reportedly used in another deadly attack on Zaporizhzhia. Let’s get more on this from France 24’s correspondent in South Korea, Chloe Borgnon.
Meta group is accused of intentionally designing addictive platforms
$1.4 trillion in fines… That’s the astronomical sum four US states are seeking from Meta, the company founded by Mark Zuckerberg. California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey accuse the company of deliberately making Instagram and Facebook addictive for minors. Wassim Cornet reports from Los Angeles.
Solar eclipse: "Never look at it without eye protection"
We’re just hours away from a rare celestial event, a total solar eclipse. Day will briefly turn into night across parts of northern Spain as the Moon completely blocks out the Sun. Beyond Spain, millions more will see a partial eclipse across Europe, Canada, the northern US and northwest Africa. And we’ll have plenty of coverage for you throughout the day. Francis Monte reports.
Meta faces new high-stakes trial
It’s being described as social media’s “Big Tobacco moment”, with a major trial against Meta opening today. Mark Zuckerberg’s company is defending itself against allegations that it harmed children by designing addictive features for young users on Instagram and Facebook. France 24 journalist Delano D'Souza shares further insights.
Millions gear up for first total eclipse since 2006
A total solar eclipse will sweep across northern Spain on August 12 in one of Europe's most anticipated astronomical events of the decade. From the Sun's corona to animal behaviour and human emotions, these rare celestial events continue to provide scientists with valuable insights more than two millennia after they were first observed. Selina Sykes reports.
Key US primary races take shape
Tuesday was primary election day in six US states, with both major parties holding runoffs in several races. In Minnesota, the progressive Lieutenant Governor defeated Representative Angie Craig in the Democratic Senate primary, while Wisconsin’s Republican gubernatorial primary remains too close to call. Also in Minnesota, eccentric Donald Trump-endorsed businessman Mike Lindell lost the Republic...
Death toll rises after Colombia earthquake
The death toll is rising in Colombia following the country’s worst earthquake in decades. At least 240 people have been confirmed killed in the west of the country, many of them found beneath the rubble of their homes. But the painstaking search for survivors continues, with some stories of hope, including that of a 32-year-old woman who was pulled alive from a collapsed apartment on Tuesday. Morg...
Moderate Crowley beats democratic socialist Hong in Wisconsin governor's primary
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on Wednesday eked out a stunningly narrow win against democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the Democratic party primary for the Wisconsin governor's race. Crowley's win by less than a percentage point comes as the party faces a divide between establishment candidates and an insurgent progressive movement ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections.
Moderate Crowley beats democratic socialist Hong in Wisconsin gubernatorial primary
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on Wednesday eked out a stunningly narrow win against democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the Democratic party primary for the Wisconsin governor's race. Crowley's win by less than a percentage point comes as the party faces a divide between establishment candidates and an insurgent progressive movement ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections.
Moderate Crowley beats democratic socialist Hong in Wisconsin's gubernatorial primary
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on Wednesday eked out a stunningly narrow win against democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the Democratic party primary for the Wisconsin governor's race. Crowley's win by less than a percentage point comes as the party faces a divide between establishment candidates and an insurgent progressive movement ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections.
Moderate Crowley beats progressive Hong in Wisconsin Democratic primary
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on Wednesday eked out a stunningly narrow win against democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the Democratic party primary for the Wisconsin governor's race. Crowley's win by less than a percentage point comes as the party faces a divide between establishment candidates and an insurgent progressive movement ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections.
Wisconsin Democrats choose moderate Crowley for governor's race in US battleground state
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on Wednesday eked out a stunningly narrow win against democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the Democratic party primary for the Wisconsin governor's race. Crowley's win by less than a percentage point comes as the party faces a divide between establishment candidates and an insurgent progressive movement ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections.
Europe braces for another heatwave
Repeated heatwaves this summer have had severe consequences across Europe, scorching grasslands and causing rivers to fall so low that they’ve revealed secrets dating back to the Second World War. July was the hottest month on record for nearly 120 million Europeans, and Europe remains the fastest-warming continent. Here’s Emerald Maxwell with a snapshot of what that looks like.
Russia's only anti-war party banned
Russia’s only anti-war party has been barred from taking part in next month’s parliamentary elections, after the country’s Supreme Court handed down the decision. It’s the latest sign of the Kremlin’s efforts to silence criticism of the war in Ukraine, launched by Vladimir Putin more than four years ago. Monte Francis has the story.
Donald Trump says he faced ‘greater risk’ on swapped plane
Donald Trump reportedly took a secret military flight out of Turkey last month in an undercover operation prompted by fears that Iran was planning an assassination attempt against the US president. The operation reportedly involved Trump being transferred between aircraft inside a catering truck.