Abdullah Abdullah claims victory in Afghan presidential election

South Korea's presidential candidates formally began campaigning on Tuesday. It's set to be the tightest race in 20 years between the two main parties. The two leading candidates have been dogged by scandals and are plagued with high disapproval ratings.

The Taliban held their first economic conference, claiming wins in some sectors of the economy. But women remain concerned about their jobs and their safety.

South Koreans went to the polls on Wednesday March 9 to elect a new president. Perhaps unsurprisingly for one of the most connected countries in the world, candidates for the top job used technology in a bid to connect with as many voters as possible, especially younger ones. Our correspondents report on the digital tools that have shaped the election campaign, from AI-generated clones of candidates to metaverse virtual reality platforms.

South Korea's opposition conservatives have won the presidency after one of the most bitterly contested campaigns in recent history. Conservative candidate Yoon Suk-yeol took the vote by slightly less than 1%.

With less than four weeks to go ahead of the first round of voting in the French presidential election, we check in on the campaign with contemporary history and politics lecturer Andrew Smith. He explains that Emmanuel Macron's choice not to participate in a debate ahead of the first round is right in line with his strategy to stay above the fray. Meanwhile, right-wing candidate Valérie Pécresse and far-right Eric Zemmour face off in a televised debate hoping to revive their flagging campaigns.

The French presidential election is just around the corner. With the official campaign period in full swing, we explore a particularity of the French electoral system: a candidate's access to mass media. France has a very egalitarian view when it comes to a candidate's access to TV and radio. The idea is for candidates, big or small, to have an equal playing field and for voters to have access to a wide range of ideas. But is this complex system still in step with modern politics?

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Presidential elections happen all over the world, but France has its own, unique way of doing things. While there's always some suspense around who will end up in the Élysée Palace, there are some pretty clear rules about getting there: whether it's campaign financing, how much media access the candidates get and how the vote happens on election day. In this episode of French Connections Plus, Florence Villeminot and Genie Godula take a closer look at the protocol governing the French presidential election.

The Taliban has sparked outrage and concern among rights groups, after it reversed stance and closed secondary schools for girls across Afghanistan. Thousands of young students were sent home, confused and worried about their future.

Two weeks from now, France will know who is into the second round of the presidential election. The candidates will then enter a crucial final two-week period when the gloves are expected to come off in the battle to win votes. This weekend saw a last-ditch attempt by far-right pundit Eric Zemmour to win back support after losing momentum. Meanwhile, the far left’s Jean-Luc Mélenchon is rising in the polls but incumbent Emmanuel Macron, the favourite to win, remains well ahead. Andrew Smith of Chichester University spoke to us about where the campaign stands.

Concerns are growing over rising insecurity in Somalia as the Horn of Africa nation edges closer to a much-delayed presidential election. Al-Shabab militants have warned they will target politicians.

Just over a week before the first round of voting, candidates for France's presidential election are campaigning on marketplaces across France. The so-called smaller candidates are trying to close the gap with the top contenders. FRANCE 24's Campaign Commentator Philip Turle tells us why Marine Le Pen has been eating into Emmanuel Macron's lead in the polls. Plus, our reporters dive into the world of French Trotskyists.