Syrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed skepticism about the implementation of a temporary ceasefire agreed upon by world powers, stating that a ceasefire does not equate to the cessation of weapon use and doubted any group's ability to secure conditions within a week. Despite the ceasefire agreement in Munich, Syrian army offensives and Russian airstrikes have persisted. Assad outlined that a ceasefire would involve stopping terrorists from strengthening positions and that no movement of weapons, equipment, or terrorists would be allowed. He also reiterated that his government is not planning to work towards a power transition in Syria, insisting that any political transition must adhere to the current Syrian constitution.

Yemen, facing a civil conflict and a blockade on imports, is experiencing severe water shortages. With an annual rainfall of only 900 cubic meters, Yemen falls short of its water needs by 25 percent. However, Yemenis are utilizing fog as a resource by using mesh screens to condense and collect water from the air. A project managed by the UNDP and Yemen's National Foundation for Watershed Management installed 200 screens in the Manakha Mount area, and the local community now harvests over 40 liters of water per screen each day. These fog condensing screens, costing $15 each, offer an affordable solution to improve living conditions.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has warned Egypt that the bilateral friendship hinges on the truth about the torture and killing of Italian PhD student Giulio Regeni in Cairo. Renzi emphasized Italy's demand for participation in the investigation, noting Egypt's cooperation thus far. Regeni's body was found on February 3, showing signs of torture. His disappearance on January 25 led to speculation of involvement by Egyptian security forces, which Egypt denies. Academics worldwide have called for an independent investigation, citing increased abuses by Egyptian security forces. Regeni's funeral is set in his hometown of Fiumicello, attended by friends from around the globe.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized EU leaders for expecting Turkey to accept more refugees while threatening to send millions of refugees currently in Turkey to Europe if the international community does not increase support for Turkey. Erdogan referenced past actions where Turkey stopped refugees at the gates to Europe and suggested that Turkey could 'open the gates' for refugees to enter Europe. The EU and Turkey had previously reached a deal for the EU to provide $3.2 billion in support for refugees in Turkey in exchange for Turkey halting the refugee flow to Europe.

Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour has warned that without significant foreign aid and easier access to European markets, Jordan will struggle to continue accepting Syrian refugees. During a visit to Azraq refugee camp, he highlighted the upcoming Syria conference seeking $9 billion in pledges. Jordan, which hosts about 630,000 Syrian refugees according to the UN, has tightened border restrictions and currently allows only about 50 Syrians to enter per day due to security concerns.