The number of babies born in South Korea rose at the fastest pace in seven years in January, government data showed Wednesday. In this file photo, a nurse cares for a newborn at a hospital in Goyang on Dec. 26, 2025. File Photo by Yonhap The number of babies born rose at the fastest pace in seven y»»»

Two years ago, Dutch schools banned smartphones to reduce distractions, enhance student concentration, and encourage better academic performance. Since then, mobile phones, smartwatches and tablets have been exiled from classrooms, corridors and canteens in schools across the Netherlands. Now the D»»»

Doha, Qatar: Advisor to Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari has said Qatar is not involved in mediation between the US and Iran and is keeping focus on protecting its country. “Qatar’s position has been clear that this war mu»»»

Saudi Arabia’s ADES Holding Company announced it has temporarily suspended some of its offshore drilling rigs in the Gulf Cooperation Council due to ongoing regional tensions. ADES said in a statement that the suspensions are expected to be short-term. The group also said it is working closely with»»»

SeviM dance ensemble represented Kyrgyzstan with distinction at the Dance Fusion International Choreographic Art Competition, held in Tashkent, winning two Grand Prix. Ensembles from various countries participated in the competition, and the high score from the jury was a significant achievement fo»»»

Joanna Harrison never wanted to speak about the abuse she faced at the hands of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Like many survivors, she says Epstein's assault filled her with shame and embarrassment. But after her name was unintentionally made public in the release of millions of files by »»»

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., seen here at the White House in July, has signed an executive order declaring a national energy emergcy over the threat posed to its fuel supply by the war in Iran. File Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo March 25 (UPI) -- President Ferdinand Marcos »»»

At the campaign rally in Nagykanizsa, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned that the upcoming election will decide whether Hungary remains on a path of peace and sovereignty or shifts toward what he described as a pro-Ukrainian direction that would bring war and financial burdens to the country. Addre»»»

Doha, Qatar: In a move to streamline labour mobility and enhance user experience, the Ministry of Labour Qatar has expanded its digital offerings, making it easier for workers to change employers through its integrated e-services platform. The Ministry said its Employer Change Service simplifies th»»»

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Tuesday asked his ⁠Omani counterpart for support ⁠on crude oil ⁠and LNG supplies, Cho's office said, due to shipment disruptions linked to the ⁠conflict ⁠in the Middle East. According to the Foreign Ministry, Cho made the request during a phone call with Om»»»

The Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, will make a working visit to Kazakhstan on March 26–27. During his visit, he will participate in narrow and expanded meetings of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. The agenda includes trade and economic cooperation and»»»

The Monetary Policy Council cut the reference rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%, its first reduction since December, citing easing inflation and softer wage growth. January CPI slowed to 2.2% year-on-year, creating room for looser policy. Backed by updated National Bank of Poland projections and the»»»

Raben Group delivered solid growth in 2025 despite a difficult operating environment shaped by geopolitical tensions, rising costs, regulatory pressure, and labour shortages across Europe’s logistics sector. Revenues exceeded €2.3 billion, up more than 6%, while shipment volumes rose by 5.1%, under»»»

Applications are now open for the 13th edition of the FLB Mentoring Program, a 10-month development initiative aimed at leaders and professionals seeking to strengthen leadership skills, clarify career direction, and benefit from one-on-one guidance with experienced mentors. The application deadlin»»»

LOT Polish Airlines has suspended flights to key Middle Eastern destinations amid escalating regional tensions following US and Israeli strikes on Tehran. Services to Dubai are halted until March 11, Riyadh until March 16, and Tel Aviv until March 23, after several countries closed airspace. The ca»»»

An Israeli strike on Bshamoun, a town south of Beirut, killed at least two people. It also continued strikes on the southern suburbs of the capital. Since the start of Israeli strikes on the country, at least 1,039 people have been killed. FRANCE 24's Claire Paccalin is in Beirut, and tells us more»»»

Iran continues to strike Israel, with several missiles managing to pass through the country's air defences. More than a million people are in bomb shelters, while six people were injured in multiple sites in Tel Aviv. This shows 'Hezbollah and Iran are still able to coordinate strikes', says FRANCE»»»

Israel said on March 24 that its military would take control of south Lebanon up to the Litani River, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border, as deadly strikes pounded the country. The day before, Israel's finance minister had said Israel should annex the region. This comes as Israel conti»»»

Getting a sense of the real death toll and the psychological toll of the war in the Middle East is a real challenge. According to estimates, at least 1,500 Iranians have died since the start of the US-Israeli military campaign. We spoke to a sociologist on how it is effecting civilians. Please be w»»»

US President Donald Trump walked back his own deadline for escalating attacks on Iran on Monday, citing "productive" talks with Tehran – but Iranian officials deny those talks took place. So what is really happening? Here is a look at the facts and speculation. US President Donald Trump has execute»»»

The Israeli Defence Forces are setting a military zone in south Lebanon of about 30 kilometres between the border and the Litani river. The military also said it had destroyed a bridge across the river overnight, which it says was used by Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah "for transferr»»»

While U.S. President Donald Trump projects optimism that an end to the war with Iran can be negociated soon, Israel seems determined to keep up the fight. The possibility of the US ending or even withdrawing from the conflict poses a significant risk to Israel's own goals.»»»

Delano D'Souza is pleased to welcome Scott Lucas, Professor of American Studies and International Politics at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin. Mr. Lucas warns there has been no breakthrough whatsoever in diplomacy: An improvised and reactive process shaped by market pressures,»»»

Since the start of the war in the Middle East, over one million people in Lebanon have been displaced. In the southern suburbs of Beirut, Israeli strikes have become a daily part of life. But in this neighbourhood FRANCE 24 went to, where refugees reside, few are those who decided to leave. FRANCE »»»

Iranian drone strikes battered Tel Aviv, damaging apartments and injuring several people. The attacks put into question whether Iran's military capabilities have truly been weakened by US-Israeli attacks. It has been launching sporadic strikes to preserve its arsenal while letting its enemies' stoc»»»

Israel shows no signs of slowing down its military campaign in Lebanon. It has so far killed at least 1039 people and displaced more than a million in more than three weeks of fighting with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Instead,Tel Aviv said on March 24 its military will seize control o»»»

US President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that the United States had been negotiating with an unnamed Iranian leader whom he described as a "top person". Media reports have since speculated that the Iranian interlocutor could be 64-year-old pilot and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher G»»»

Carys Garland is pleased to welcome Barbara Slavin, Author and Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center. According to Slavin, the war on Iran is not a coherent strategic endeavour, and reflects a pattern in which rhetoric trumps reality. Rather than emerging from necessity, diplomatic alternative»»»

Are diplomatic talks to end the Iran conflict actually happening? Trump hinted at “major” progress, but the White House downplayed it. Iran says no, Qatar says they're not involved, while there's increasing speculation that Pakistan could be the host of talks later this week. Yet all of this as Isr»»»

The New York Times reports on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been pushing President Trump to continue the war against Iran, arguing that the U.S.-Israeli military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East. FRANCE 24's Ho»»»

The United States is planning to send some 3,000 soldiers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to support operations against Iran, US media reported Tuesday. They would join thousands of Marines due to arrive in the Middle East by Friday, the latest deadline set by President Don»»»

Donald Trump said Tuesday he had sent a peace plan to Iran, expressing cautious optimism about ending nearly a month of war even as fresh violence underscored the fragility of the moment. In a potential sign of de-escalation, Tehran announced it would allow “non-hostile” vessels to pass through the»»»

Dubai: The Indian rupee slipped further against the UAE dirham on Wednesday morning, adding to a steady stretch of weakness that is beginning to reshape remittance value for UAE residents. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.At around 9:12 am, Dh1 was valued at 25.57, mark»»»

Abu Dhabi: A new wave of rainfall moving in from Al Dhafra and the Arabian Gulf is expected to spread across most parts of the UAE in the coming hours, with heavy showers and possible hail forecast in some areas. According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), the unstable weather conditions»»»

In tonight's edition: Nigeria's Dangote Refinery says it's stepped up exports across Africa as the war in Iran squeezes traditional fuel supply routes and disrupts energy flows. Also, 76 percent of births in sub-Saharan Africa occur in healthcare facilities without basic water, sanitation and »»»

At least 64 people, including 13 children, were killed when a strike hit a hospital in Sudan’s East Darfur state, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Saturday. The total number of people killed in attacks on health care during Sudan's civil war has now surpassed 2,000, noted WHO chief Tedros A»»»

Nigeria's Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stepped up gasoline exports across Africa as disruptions to energy flows due to the Iran conflict squeeze traditional ​fuel ‌supply routes, curbing the cheap imports that long dominated West African ⁠markets. As the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, the refin»»»

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine said he intends to return to his country, days after resurfacing in Washington following nearly two months in hiding in Uganda. "I am still under threat," Wine warned, calling for international sanctions against Ugandan Presid»»»

In the Ivory Coast, archaeologists are sounding the alarm as coastal heritage sites are threatened by urbanisation and soil exploitation. These areas have no special protection despite significant artefacts being uncovered during earlier excavations - later halted due to a lack of funding. FRANCE 2»»»

Easter is just around the corner, and that means chocolate is taking centre stage. In this edition of Entre Nous we're pleased to welcome back Eugénie Pont from the magazine Fou de Pâtisserie. She tells us why we traditionally offer chocolate at Easter and shows us what French chocolate makers have»»»

The French government has announced steps to limit the impact of rising crude oil prices on consumers and businesses, including extending deadlines for tax payments and asking refineries to boost output. The moves came amid the virtual shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, the transport link for 20 per»»»

Doha, Qatar: Weather inshore until 6pm on Wednesday will be hazy and partly cloudy to cloudy at times with a chance of scattered rain, maybe thundery at places, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report, warning of thundery rain associated with strong wind and poor horizontal v»»»

Iraq said late on Tuesday it would summon the US charge d'affaires and the Iranian ambassador after deadly strikes blamed on their countries, as Iraqi authorities granted targeted former paramilitary groups the "right to respond". Iraq has been pulled into the war sparked by US and Israeli strikes »»»

Iraq arrested four people in connection with an earlier rocket attack launched against a military base in neighboring Syria, officials said late Tuesday. "Our security forces, supported by intelligence efforts, moved swiftly and succeeded in arresting four of the perpetrators," a short statement fr»»»

Osh Mayor Zhanarbek Akayev proposed building a pedestrian and bicycle path that would completely encircle Suleiman-Too Mountain and landscape the surrounding area. He announced the initiative at a meeting devoted to issues related to the mountain. The meeting was attended by Minister of Culture, In»»»

First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Daniyar Amangeldiev chaired a meeting of the Export Development Council, where measures to increase export potential and support businesses were discussed. According to him, developing national production and supporting exporters remai»»»

Afghanistan’s Taliban government said on Tuesday it had released American academic Dennis Coyle after more than a year in detention. Coyle was arrested in January 2025 on allegations he violated laws, although Afghan authorities never publicly stated what laws he was accused of violating.  Afg»»»

Dubai: Grey skies and good moods across the city this week. In the UAE, rain doesn’t come often, so when it does, the city can’t help but take notice. Suddenly umbrellas appear, phones come out, and even those who rarely post online are snapping puddles and grey skies like it’s a moment worth remem»»»