Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, becomes world’s most polluted city 

Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, has been covered in thick smog over recent weeks, putting it at the top of a list of the world’s most polluted cities, as the government said it would push for more electric vehicles to alleviate the problem. Speaking at a transport ministry meeting on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha called for an accelerated transition to electric vehicles as part of the efforts to reduce pollution. Levels of hazardous small particles, known as PM2.5, were measured at 266 micrograms per cubic meter in Hanoi early on Friday, the highest reading among a list of most-polluted cities, according to AirVisual, which provides independent global air pollution information.

First in nine years: Turnaround in South Korean births 

The number of babies born in South Korea rose for the first time in nine years in 2024. This is a rare turnaround for the nation grappling with one of the world’s lowest fertility rates. According to resident registration data from the Interior Ministry, 242,334 babies were born last year, up 3.1 percent from a year earlier. It marked the first annual rise in South Korea after eight consecutive years of decline.