Asia Jordan A project to develop affordable housing solutions in high-density areas facing service challenges has been passed by Cabinet; state-owned land will be provided with fully developed infrastructure with Housing and Urban Development Corporation oversight
Asia Brunei An integrated approach to improve the well-being of senior citizens was presented, aligned with the three objectives of the Special Commission on Older Persons: Development, Welfare and Support Systems
Asia East Timor The Timor-Leste Housing Market Development Forum was organised by the Ministry of Planning and Strategic Investment and the Central Bank to promote reflection on the development of the housing sector and identify solutions to the existing challenges
Asia Palestine The Arab plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza includes removal and recycling of 50 million tons of rubble in 6 months in phase 1, while phases 2 and 3 are fully dedicated to reconstruction; comprehensive and detailed, it covers five years
Asia Lebanon Ambassador for a Day initiative was launched: a national essay competition for girls 15-18 years of age where winners will shadow an Ambassador or senior UN Official in Lebanon for one day to see first-hand they can become leaders and advocates for change
Asia Bangladesh The Bangladesh police have launched a hotline at police headquarters to promptly address incidents of violence against women; the numbers are 01320002001, 01320002002 and 0132000222
Asia Syria Clashes between government security forces and supporters of ousted former president Bashar al-Assad have made at least 800 civil victims in Syria in 4 days, one of the highest tolls since 2011; transitional President called for unity and pledged justice
Asia Bahrain Startup Bahrain, a Tamkeen-supported platform for Bahraini start-ups, has kicked off a new season of its StartUp Bahrain Pitch entrepreneurship series highlighting Bahrain's most promising founders
Asia Kazakhstan Oil production will be reduced in March to meet OPEC+ obligations following the January excess, Minister of Energy said at a press conference; overproduction was caused by an early start at the Tengiz oilfield, originally scheduled for production in June
Asia Cambodia Defense Minister inspected the construction of the Win-Win Memorial in Pailin, commemorating the end of Cambodia’s civil war; Win-Win Policy, introduced in the 1990s, aimed to reintegrate former Khmer Rouge into society through security guarantees
Asia Nepal Shepherds in Rukum are preserving centuries-old traditions of sheep herding and wool craftsmanship, vital to their culture and economy: men graze flocks in the highlands, women weave durable goods; modern competition challenges this heritage's survival
Asia Japan A bill to tighten regulations on host clubs was approved, aiming to curb abusive practices that force female patrons into prostitution and will now be submitted to parliament; 2.776 official reports in 2024 of such exploitation have drawn public outcry
Asia South Korea South Korea and the US held joint live-fire drills near the inter-Korean border ahead of the Freedom Shield exercise with over 160 military assets, including F-35A jets and Apache helicopters; North Korea condemned the drills as invasion rehearsals