Asia Afghanistan UN stated that Taliban restrictions on the rights of women and girls have 'effectively trapped' most of them in their homes, turning Afghanistan into the 'most repressive' country in the world for women
Asia Turkey President Erdogan, who is seeking to extend his two decades in power, formally scheduled the country's parliamentary and presidential elections for 14 May, a month earlier than expected despite last month's devastating earthquake
Asia Qatar The International Committee of the Red Cross signed an agreement with Qatar to establish headquarters in Doha
Asia Kuwait The country wants to strengthen its female population as "equal partners" to help propel the country towards a sustainable future, the Minister of Social Affairs and Women's Affairs said
Asia South Korea Seoul announced a plan to compensate citizens involved in forced labour during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945); public opinion found the proposal humiliating and disrespectful of the historical truth
Asia Yemen Residents of Sanaa have found a 2.000-year-old mummified body in the rubbish; the discovery has triggered the fury of archaeologists who have long struggled to protect and preserve historical artefacts during the country's long war
Asia Saudi Arabia King Salman has ordered that 11 March each year be celebrated as National Flag Day, marking the same day that the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, approved the flag as we know it today
Asia Syria Aleppo airport reopens after Israeli airstrike: damage caused by Tuesday's raid had forced the diversion of all flights, including aid deliveries to war and earthquake zones, to Latakia and Damascus airports
Asia Afghanistan Afghanistan's exports reached a value of $1,8 billion in the calendar year according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry
Asia North Korea The issue of human rights in North Korea will remain on the agenda of UN Security Council at the request of US and Albania, which submitted a note with the support of dozens of countries - twice as many as received last year
Asia Azerbaijan OThe 10th Baku Global Forum on "Today's World: Challenges and Hopes" kicked off, Organised by the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre under the patronage of the President
Asia Bangladesh The country will import 5.200 tonnes of jute seeds from India this season, by decision by of the National Seed Board
Asia Bhutan The country has reported an outbreak of African fowl pest in pigs in a village near the border with India, Reuters reported, citing the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)