Asia

The first edition of Art Basel Qatar concluded establishing a new long-term platform for artistic exchange, institutional engagement, and market development in the region; the awaited inaugural edition was met with an enthusiastic response from the public

Adana Mayor and eight other local politicians from the main opposition Republican People’s Party were released from prison; Karalar called for the release of other opposition mayors, including Istanbul's mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu

Kabesa Local Area Plan is nearing completion after 15-years due to land disputes and revisions; The plan will regulate zoning and infrastructure in an area long affected by unplanned housing, informal land use and stalled construction near the capital

Sovereign investment fund Danantara, which manages state stakes in strategic sectors will fund a new Krakatau Steel plant, reflecting the recent push to use state capital to revive key industries, cut imports and strengthen industrial self-sufficiency

Azerenerji has started building the Zangezur high-voltage power transmission line to connect the enclave of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to Azerbaijan’s main power grid, as well as to establish the Azerbaijan-Turkey-Europe international energy corridor

Another building has collapsed in Tripoli, leaving at least 2 dead as rescues fear up to 20 people could be trapped under the debris; Qobbeih, where a building collapsed on an entire family last weekend, is among the neighborhoods most at risk

New national planning strategy focuses on relocating government institutions and major investment projects from large cities to districts to ease population density and service pressure in major urban centers, especially Baghdad

Amendments to the Administrative Code introduce an administrative penalty in the form of an administrative warning for minor traffic violations; issued in writing or online, it will be applied once a year per person if the individual is clear of offenses

The UAE is taking part in the Winter Olympics for the very first time, affirming that Emirati sport has neither geographical nor climatic boundaries, but is driven by a clear vision of excellence; one two skiers started skying as a child indoor in Dubai

The implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2030, in line with global Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022, has been launched to strengthen biodiversity protection through an ambitious agenda

The US$500 salary is optional and not a mandatory requirement, the Bahrain Recruitment Offices Association clarified, stressing that setting a domestic worker's salary or establishing an increase must agreed with employer within official frameworks

Nearly five million patients with respiratory illnesses were registered in government hospitals over the past three months according to Minister of Health data, a significant surge from around 3 million last year