Chongqing residents seek shelter as heatwave hits China's southwest
As temperatures soared past 40°C in late July, Chongqing residents sought relief in subway stations, rivers, and bomb shelters, prompting a red alert...
Migration offset natural decline for the fourth consecutive year, pushing the European Union’s population to an historic high of 450.4 million in 2024, according to Eurostat figures released on Friday.
For the first time since the pandemic, the EU’s population rose by more than 1 million people last year, despite recording more deaths than births for the twelfth year in a row.
The bloc registered 2.3 million more migrants than emigrants, which outweighed a natural population loss of 1.3 million — 4.82 million deaths versus 3.56 million births.
Eurostat said the rise was mainly due to increased migratory movements following the COVID-19 pandemic. The trend underscores Europe's growing demographic challenge, as an ageing population and declining fertility threaten long-term economic and social stability.
Germany, France and Italy remained the bloc’s most populous nations, together making up 47% of the total EU population. While 19 countries saw population increases in 2024, including Malta (+19.0 per 1,000), Ireland (+16.3), and Luxembourg (+14.7), others such as Latvia (-9.9), Hungary (-4.7), and Poland (-3.4) recorded declines.
Since 1960, the EU has grown by nearly 100 million people, but growth has slowed — from 3 million annually in the 1960s to fewer than 1 million per year in recent decades.
Meanwhile, governments across the bloc have been tightening border controls due to public unease over migration. Temporary checks have returned in countries such as Germany, Belgium, and Poland, straining the passport-free Schengen zone. This comes even as irregular border crossings fell by 38% in 2024, reaching their lowest level since 2021.
To address the pressures, the EU adopted a new migration pact last year aimed at reducing irregular arrivals and accelerating asylum processing.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
As temperatures soared past 40°C in late July, Chongqing residents sought relief in subway stations, rivers, and bomb shelters, prompting a red alert amid record-breaking heat.
President Donald Trump’s decision this morning to impose a new wave of U.S. import tariffs set off a flurry of statements from capitals around the world. While some governments secured last-minute concessions, others blasted the move as a destabilizing shock to the global trading system.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 1st August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Australia will retain the lowest U.S. tariff rate of 10%, a move expected to boost its exports, while neighbouring New Zealand will face a higher 15% duty under President Donald Trump’s new tariff regime.
On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order raising tariffs on Canadian imports from 25% to 35% for goods not covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, citing concerns over drug smuggling. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed disappointment over the move.
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