Europe Netherlands Equal opportunities are under scrutiny on Women's Day, as government plans to reduce parental leave benefits for higher income earners: the measure would disproportionately affect men, who often earn more than women, discouraging fathers from taking leave
Oceania Kiribati Kiribati signed with New Zealand a new partnership agreement, signalling a warming of relations that had cooled last year when New Zealand announced a review of its development program on the Pacific island nation
Europe Luxembourg Plans for unisex toilets and shared changing rooms in schools have encountered the public's resistance and were countered by fourteen petitions to the Chamber of Deputies; following parliament rules mean only one can be formally taken into consideration
America Bahamas Grand-Bahama first temporary shelter has been inaugurated in Pine Forest, Eight Mile Rockfirst; comprising 10 fully-equipped units, the shelter is designed to provide holistic support and help residents transition from need to long-term self-sufficiency
Africa Sudan The Central Bank of Sudan has directed the Bank of Khartoum to refund amounts deducted from customer accounts as fees for the Deposit Insurance Fund and ordered that the situation be rectified within 48 hours
Asia Syria Women's Protection Unit, an all-female militia within the Syrian Democratic Forces, decided they will keep their armed presence despite the recent integration agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF
Asia Tajikistan Preparations for a gradual shift to a 12-year general education system have started: activities incluse include developing new curricula, preparing schools, training for teachers, awareness campaigns with the goal of aligning with international standards
Europe Poland Polish free-ride skier Zuzanna Witych, 33, has made history winning gold at the first ever Freeride Championships held in Ordino Arcalís in the Andorran Pyrenees; an extreme form of skiing, it involves descending off-piste on wild mountain slopes
Oceania Palau Legislator Marie A. Nabeyama was selected as Speaker of the 13th Legislature, becoming the first woman to hold the position in Koror State’s history
America Haiti Two Haitian athletes are competing in the Winter Olympics in Italy wearing highly symbolic uniforms by Stella Jean; athletes and officials say Haiti’s presence in the Games is a powerful message of resilience and visibility to residents and the Diaspora
Europe Spain Telegram founder has strongly criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for the "dangerous" new regulations on the digital environment; he warns they are a "red flag for freedom of expression and privacy" and could turn Spain into a "surveillance state"
America Saint Kitts and Nevis St Kitts Tourism Authority has met travel advisors, travel agents, operators and held marketing and outreach events to promote incoming tourism from Florida and Puerto Rico
Africa Tunisia Revising a number of internal regulations to encourage students to better express themselves and develop their talents within the school environment has been stressed as a mean to prevent violence in a conference meeting on education held in Tunis
Europe North Macedonia A recently proposed government-backed legislation would drastically tighten restrictions on the use of tobacco and vapes, causing widespread discontent in citizens; as nearly half of adult population smokes, health officials say stricter rules are vital