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VILNIUS, Lithuania – March 10, 2026 – Corporate adoption of Bitcoin continues to expand across global public markets, according to a new analysis by digital asset research outlet TechGaged. (ref. https://techgaged.com/148-public-companies-now-hold-bitcoin-with-strategy-accounting-for-63-of-all-corporate-btc/ )

The report finds that 148 publicly traded companies now hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets, collectively controlling 1,162,380 BTC, valued at approximately $82.55 billion at recent market prices.

At current levels, corporate treasuries represented in the dataset collectively hold about 5.54% of Bitcoin's maximum 21 million supply, highlighting the growing role of publicly traded firms in the digital asset ecosystem.

Corporate Bitcoin Ownership Remains Highly Concentrated

Despite the expanding number of companies adopting Bitcoin as part of their treasury strategies, the analysis shows that corporate Bitcoin ownership remains highly concentrated.

Strategy alone holds 738,731 BTC, accounting for approximately 63.6% of all Bitcoin held by the 148 public companies included in the dataset. The company's holdings exceed the combined Bitcoin reserves of the remaining 147 public companies tracked in the analysis.

“The growing number of companies holding Bitcoin shows that the asset is increasingly being viewed as a strategic treasury reserve,” said Rokas Baltrusaitis, Research Analyst at TechGaged. “However, the data also highlights how concentrated corporate ownership remains, with Strategy alone accounting for a majority of publicly reported corporate Bitcoin holdings.”

Strategy's position stems from a multi-year accumulation strategy initiated in 2020 under executive chairman Michael Saylor, which has transformed the firm into one of the largest institutional Bitcoin holders globally.

As previously reported by TechGaged, Strategy's holdings have grown so large that the company now controls nearly 4% of the entire Bitcoin supply, making it one of the most influential institutional participants in the digital asset market.

Beyond Strategy, several companies have accumulated sizable Bitcoin reserves, including MARA Holdings, XXI, Metaplanet, Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company, Bullish, Galaxy Digital, Riot Platforms, Coinbase Global, and Hut 8 Mining.

The data also shows a strong concentration among the largest corporate holders:

Top 10 companies hold 991,080 BTC, representing 85.3% of all Bitcoin held by public companies;

Top 20 companies control 92.9% of corporate BTC holdings;

The median company holds approximately 290.5 BTC, illustrating the wide gap between the largest and smallest corporate allocations

These companies generally fall into three broad categories: Bitcoin mining firms, crypto-native financial companies, and businesses that have intentionally adopted Bitcoin treasury strategies as part of long-term balance-sheet management.

Bitcoin Treasuries Expand Across Public Markets

While the largest firms dominate total holdings, the dataset also highlights a growing “long tail” of smaller public companies experimenting with Bitcoin allocations as part of broader treasury diversification strategies.

The rise of corporate Bitcoin treasuries is occurring alongside broader changes in financial infrastructure. TechGaged previously reported that banks are quietly preparing for a new wave of cryptocurrency compliance frameworks, reflecting expectations that digital assets will increasingly intersect with traditional financial systems.

Corporate adoption is also unfolding amid continued macroeconomic uncertainty. In its latest weekly market recap, TechGaged noted that Bitcoin recently rebounded despite rising geopolitical tensions, reinforcing the asset's perception among some investors as a scarce digital asset capable of weathering periods of market volatility.

Taken together, the emergence of 148 public companies holding Bitcoin represents a significant milestone in the institutional development of the asset. At the same time, the concentration of corporate holdings among a small number of companies suggests that the evolution of corporate Bitcoin adoption may still be in its early stages.

Read the full story with statistics here: https://techgaged.com/148-public-companies-now-hold-bitcoin-with-strategy-accounting-for-63-of-all-corporate-btc/

Methodology

This analysis is based on publicly available corporate treasury data compiled from the CoinGecko Bitcoin Treasury tracker, cross-checked with company disclosures and publicly reported holdings where available.

The dataset ranks publicly traded companies that hold Bitcoin as part of their corporate treasury reserves, ordered from the largest to the smallest holder.

All Bitcoin holdings reflect the most recently available publicly reported figures as of March 9, 2026.

The estimated USD value of holdings is calculated using a Bitcoin reference price of $71,017.93, based on market data recorded March 10, 2026 at 05:00 GMT-4, sourced from CoinMarketCap. Figures may be rounded for readability.

Corporate Bitcoin holdings may change over time as companies acquire or sell Bitcoin or update financial disclosures. As a result, the figures presented represent a snapshot of publicly available data at the time of publication.

About TechGaged

TechGaged is an independent research and media platform covering cryptocurrency markets, blockchain infrastructure, and emerging financial technologies. The publication provides data-driven analysis and reporting on the evolving digital asset ecosystem.

For more information, visit:
https://techgaged.com/about/

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released a rapid analysis – Strait of Hormuz Disruptions – Implications for Global Trade and Development – examining the implications of recent disruptions to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical trade corridors. (ref. https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/osgttinf2026d1_en.pdf )

The Strait carries around one quarter of global seaborne oil trade, as well as significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers. Military escalation in the region has disrupted shipping flows through this narrow passage, raising concerns about ripple effects across energy markets, maritime transport and global supply chains.

Key findings from the analysis:

• Energy markets reacted immediately, with Brent crude rising above US$90 per barrel.
• Freight rates for oil tankers and war risk insurance premiums are surging, while marine fuel costs are also rising, increasing shipping costs across supply chains.
• Around one-third of global seaborne fertilizer trade (about 16 million tonnes) passes through the Strait, raising concerns about fertilizer access for some of the poorest countries.
• Developing economies may be particularly exposed, as high debt burdens and rising borrowing costs limit their ability to absorb new price shocks.
• Past crises – including COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine – showed how disruptions to energy, transport and agricultural inputs can quickly spread across interconnected markets.

**About UN trade and development (UNCTAD): **

UNCTAD is the UN’s leading body on trade and development. Founded in 1964, it supports 195 member states with expert analysis, technical assistance, and serves as a platform for intergovernmental dialogue.

UNCTAD helps developing countries make trade, finance, investment, and the digital economy work for inclusive and sustainable development.

The Global Coincident and Leading Barometers fall in March in a movement of accommodation after rising in previous months. Both indicators remain above the 100‑point mark, still showing moderate growth for the world economy.

In March, the Coincident and Leading Global Economic Barometers fall by 0.3 and 1.4 points, reaching 102.5 and 101.3 points, respectively. Asia, Pacific & Africa and Europe contribute negatively to the result, while the Western Hemisphere moves in the opposite direction.

“Although the global barometers remain above average, we are witnessing a decline in both the leading and coincident versions. As most of the data was collected in February, it is important to note that these indicators do not yet reflect the US/Israeli attack on Iran and its aftermath, including the subsequent increase in oil and gas prices. It will therefore be interesting to see how these new geopolitical developments affect business and consumer sentiment worldwide next month. For now, we cannot read too much into this month's movements”, comments KOF director Jan-Egbert Sturm the latest results.

Coincident Barometer – regions and sectors

The 0.3‑point decrease of the Coincident Barometer in March results from the negative contribution of 0.9 point from Asia, Pacific & Africa and 0.2 point from Europe, while the Western Hemisphere contributes positively with 0.8 point. With this result, the Western Hemisphere returns to having the highest level among the regions, something not seen since September 2025.

Among the coincident sector indicators, all sectors fall in the month, except for Industry, which reaches its highest level since April 2022 (105.0 points), despite registering the strongest decline among the sectors.

Leading Barometer – regions and sectors

The Leading Global Barometer falls by 1.4 points in March, with negative contributions from Asia, Pacific & Africa (2.4 points) and Europe (0.3 point). The Western Hemisphere contributes in the opposite direction, positively with 1.3 points. With this result, the Western Hemisphere reaches its highest level since February 2025 (108.7 points) and the highest among the regions. The Leading Global Barometer leads the world economic growth rate cycle by three to six months on average.

The leading sector indicators fall in the month, except for Wholesale and retail trade, which rises for the fourth consecutive time and reaches its highest level since May 2022 (when it reached 114.4 points).

10 MARCH 2026 – Equinor has discovered oil in the Troll area and gas and condensate in the Sleipner area. Both discoveries are considered commercial and were made in areas with well-developed infrastructure for export to Europe.

The Byrding C discovery was made five kilometres northwest of the Fram field in the Troll area and is estimated to contain 4–8 million barrels of recoverable oil.

The Frida Kahlo discovery was drilled from the Sleipner B platform. The well is located northwest of the Sleipner Vest field and is estimated to contain 5–9 million barrels of oil equivalent of gas and condensate. The well will be brought on stream as early as April.

Discovery in the Troll area

Since 2018, Equinor has participated in the drilling of 26 exploration wells in the extended Troll area, which also includes Fram. Nineteen discoveries have been made, giving a discovery rate of more than 70 percent.

“Near-field discoveries like these are important to maintain high energy deliveries from the Norwegian continental shelf going forward. The oil discovered in Byrding C will be produced using existing or future infrastructure in the area. We are working together with our licensees to identify good area solutions,” says Lill H. Brusdal, senior vice president for exploration and production in the Troll area.

Discoveries in the Sleipner area

The four most recent exploration wells in the Sleipner area have all proven gas and condensate, with combined estimated resources of 55–140 million barrels of oil equivalent. The four discoveries were made over a three-month period and include Lofn, Langemann, Sissel and Frida Kahlo. Lofn and Langemann together represented the largest Equinor-operated discovery on the Norwegian continental shelf in 2025.

“These discoveries are the result of a targeted exploration effort in the Sleipner area. Sleipner is an important hub for gas exports to Europe, and we must do everything we can to identify the remaining resources in the area. The discoveries give grounds for optimism as we plan to drill three additional exploration wells and two new production wells in the area this year,” says Cecilie Rønning, senior vice president for exploration and production in the Sleipner area.

Sleipner is a mature area where the largest volumes have already been produced. The fields in the area therefore depend on new discoveries to maintain profitable production and extend their lifetime. Several years ago, an ambitious exploration programme was established for the area, including the acquisition of new data and improved seismic methods.

The use of Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) seismic, 4D seismic, and reprocessing of existing data has provided a new and improved understanding of the subsurface on the Norwegian continental shelf and has contributed to exploration success in both the Sleipner and Troll areas.

Facts about the discoveries

• Byrding C was drilled by the COSL Innovator rig. The discovery was made in exploration well 35/11-32 S in production licence 090 HS. Partners are: Equinor Energy AS (75%) and INPEX Idemitsu Norge AS (25%).

• The Frida Kahlo discovery was made in production licence 046 (the Sleipner licence). Partners are: Equinor Energy AS (58.3%), Orlen Upstream Norway AS (24.4%) and Vår Energi (17.2%).

• The Lofn and Langemann discoveries were made in production licence 1140 together with partner Aker BP and were announced in December 2025.

• The Sissel discovery was made in production licence 1137 together with partner Orlen Upstream Norway. The discovery was announced in January this year.

• All the Sleipner discoveries were made in the Hugin formation. All discoveries are considered commercial, although estimated volumes still vary.

• The plan for the Frida Kahlo discovery, drilled from the Sleipner B platform, is to bring the well on stream during April.

• The Lofn, Langemann and Sissel discoveries are planned to be developed as subsea tie-backs to existing infrastructure, with the aim of bringing them on stream within two to three years.

• The OBN seismic was delivered by TGS and Axxis and processed by Viridien. The 4D seismic covering the Sleipner area was acquired for the Sleipner Vest Unit partnership and processed by TGS (PGS).

Facts about the Sleipner area

• The Sleipner field complex includes the gas and condensate fields Sleipner Øst, Gungne and Sleipner Vest.

• In addition, the Sleipner installations process hydrocarbons from the tied-in fields Sigyn, Utgard, Gudrun and Gina Krog.

• Sleipner is an important transport and gas hub, delivering dry gas to Europe, while unstable oil is transported to Kårstø for further processing and export.

• Sleipner also functions as a hub for gas from Kollsnes and Nyhamna, which is transported onward to Draupner, Zeebrugge and Easington.

Facts about the Troll area

• The Troll field is developed with the platforms Troll A, B and C.

• The Fram field is located 20 kilometres north of Troll and is developed with two subsea templates tied back to Troll C.

• Both fields are part of what is referred to as the extended Troll area.

• The Troll field contains about 40 percent of the total gas reserves on the Norwegian continental shelf, making it a cornerstone of Norwegian gas production.

March 10 2026 – Markets are already beginning to trade as if the Iran conflict will de-escalate—even though there is no formal resolution yet, warns the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations.

Nigel Green of deVere Group's warning comes as oil prices slipped back below $90 a barrel, from $120 at its peak, after comments from US President Donald Trump suggesting the war with Iran could end “very soon,” although he indicated to reporters the conflict would likely continue beyond the coming week.

The shift in sentiment rippled quickly across global markets.

US stocks closed higher, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both gaining ground as investors moved back into risk assets.

Asian markets followed the move in early trading, with major indices in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong rebounding after several sessions of caution driven by conflict fears.

The reaction across asset classes suggests investors are already positioning for a cooling of tensions in the Middle East, even though there has been no diplomatic breakthrough and fighting rhetoric continues on both sides.

“Markets are beginning to trade the end of the conflict before it has actually happened,” says Nigel Green.

“Oil dropping back below $90 and equities pushing higher tells us investors are already pricing a scenario in which tensions cool and supply disruptions remain limited.

“Financial markets are extremely forward-looking but, in situations like this, they can move ahead of geopolitical reality.”

Energy markets, in particular, have been highly sensitive to the conflict because of Iran's central role in global oil supply. Iran produces roughly 3.2 million barrels of oil per day and sits close to the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow shipping corridor through which around 20% of the world's oil consumption passes.

Any threat to that route drives rapid spikes in crude prices. Earlier stages of the conflict pushed traders to price in the risk of supply disruption, lifting Brent by more than 12% in a matter of days before the latest reversal.

The speed of the price swing illustrates how quickly geopolitical risk premiums can build and disappear in modern energy markets.

Nigel Green says the market response also shows how political signalling now plays a powerful role in shaping investor expectations.

“A single set of comments from the US president was enough to send oil sharply lower and equities higher,” he notes.

“Markets interpret political messaging almost instantly, often adjusting prices well before the underlying situation has materially changed.”

However, the strategic outlook remains uncertain.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded forcefully to Trump's remarks, stating that the end of the war is “in Iran's hands.”

The statement highlights the reality that the conflict's trajectory will ultimately depend on decisions made in Tehran as much as in Washington.

The deVere CEO says investors could also be underestimating the significance of a major political shift inside Iran.

“Markets may be underestimating the influence and decision-making approach of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and his willingness for a longer war to drain American financial and military resource, and those of its allies,” he notes.

“Leadership transitions inside the Iranian system can reshape strategic thinking, military priorities and diplomatic positioning.

“The global investment community has limited experience of how the new Iranian leadership will respond moving forward.”

The Supreme Leader holds ultimate authority over Iran's armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, meaning key decisions around escalation or restraint flow directly through that office.

Uncertainty surrounding the new leadership structure introduces an additional variable that markets may not yet be fully pricing.

Nigel Green adds that the broader geopolitical backdrop has become markedly more unstable in recent weeks, creating conditions where sudden shifts in sentiment can trigger sharp market moves.

“Whatever happens next in this conflict, the global environment has become significantly more unstable and more volatile in a short period of time,” he explains.

“Markets might currently be leaning toward a de-escalation scenario, but investors need to remember how quickly geopolitical realities can change.”

He points out that global investors are increasingly responding to political signals, military developments and diplomatic messaging in real time.

Algorithmic trading systems and high-speed information flows mean geopolitical developments now feed directly into asset pricing within minutes.

The deVere CEO concludes: “The reality is that markets often move first and verify later.”

“Current price action suggests investors believe the worst escalation risks are limited.

“However, if events unfold differently, markets would be forced to reassess those assumptions very quickly.”

Latest CBA Wage and Labour Insights reinforce expectations of a wait-and-see approach from the RBA amid a tight but stable labour market.

Tuesday, 10 March 2026 – The latest CommBank Wage Insights series shows wages growth remained stable in early 2026, despite ongoing tight conditions in the labour market.

CommBank’s internal salary transaction data recorded wages rising by 0.7 per cent over the three months to February 2026, slightly softer than the pace seen in November and December. Annual wages growth was steady at 3.1 per cent, where it has broadly hovered since mid-2025.

CommBank Head of Australian Economics Belinda Allen said the data suggests wages have yet to respond to the tightening in labour market conditions through late 2025 and early 2026.

“The CommBank Wage Insights series slowed in February with the quarterly rate easing to 0.7 per cent. The annual rate was steady at 3.1 per cent,” Allen said.

“Our data is not yet showing any response to the tightening in labour market conditions through late 2025 and into early 2026. But there are often lags from when the labour market tightens to wages growth picking up. With concerns over inflation given the rise in energy prices, stable wages growth will give the RBA some comfort over coming months.”

March 9 2026 – Global stagflation appears almost inevitable and why investors need to ensure now that their portfolios are built for resilience, warns the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organizations.

The stark warning from Nigel Green of deVere Group comes as oil has surged above $120 a barrel in highly volatile trading, after a historic spike of almost 29%—the largest intraday jump since April 2020—as escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupts supply and sends shockwaves through global markets.

The dramatic surge follows attacks on regional energy infrastructure and growing geopolitical tensions that have severely curtailed tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic corridor that normally carries around one fifth of the world's oil exports.

Nigel Green says: “The world is facing the very real possibility of a global stagflation threat.

“Stagflation is the toxic combination of rising inflation and slowing economic growth. Prices climb sharply while economies weaken, leaving policymakers with very few effective tools.”

He continues: “Oil is the ignition point. Energy prices surge this quickly, inflation accelerates almost everywhere. Businesses face higher costs, households face higher bills, and growth is squeezed at precisely the same time.”

Energy markets have been thrown into turmoil as military escalation across the Gulf region disrupts production and shipping routes.

Several major exporters have already curbed output amid security concerns and operational constraints.

At the same time, threats against commercial vessels and attacks on energy facilities have dramatically reduced shipping traffic through one of the most important oil transit corridors in the global economy.

The deVere chief executive: “About 20% of global oil supply normally moves through that narrow stretch of water. Disruption there immediately tightens global supply and sends prices sharply higher.

“Financial markets have already begun reacting to the shock. Asian equities fell sharply as traders reassessed growth prospects and the inflation outlook in the wake of the oil spike.

Governments are scrambling to contain the fallout.

“Finance ministers from the Group of Seven are preparing discussions around a potential coordinated release of strategic petroleum reserves alongside the International Energy Agency, an emergency mechanism intended to stabilise supply during major disruptions.”

Emergency stockpile releases may calm markets temporarily, but they cannot erase the fundamental problem. Global energy supply has just been hit by a geopolitical shock, and those shocks historically take time to unwind.

Nigel green continues: “The scale and speed of this move matters enormously. A near-30% surge in oil in a single trading session is going to ultimately feed into transport costs, electricity generation, food production and industrial supply chains. Inflation pressure builds rapidly across the system.”

The consequences for policymakers are profound.

 “Central banks now face a brutal dilemma. Inflation accelerates because of energy prices, yet economic growth slows because those same price increases act like a tax on consumers and businesses.”

“In a stagflationary environment, interest rates cannot easily solve the problem. Tightening policy can deepen the slowdown, while easing risks fuelling even more inflation. It creates a very uncomfortable economic trap.”

The vulnerability of the global economy stems in part from its ongoing dependence on energy flows from the Gulf. Roughly one fifth of global oil supply and large volumes of liquefied natural gas typically pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day.

Nigel Green says: “Energy security has suddenly become the defining macroeconomic issue again.

“The global economy remains heavily exposed to disruptions in this region, and events there can reprice inflation expectations almost overnight.”

He concludes: “Investors need to respond decisively now. Stagflation changes the investment environment dramatically.

“Portfolios must be built to withstand persistent inflation pressure while growth weakens. Energy exposure, commodities and carefully selected equities linked to real assets become increasingly important.

“Failing to review could be a costly mistake.”

Migrant women in Australia are finding more independence, equality and a healthier and wealthier life with more opportunity than in their home countries, according to a new survey.

An overwhelming majority of women migrants find life in Australia ‘better’ than in their home countries and believe they have more rights than at home.

Most say they have more opportunities here than at home and are more financially independent.

And overwhelmingly they say they have more control over their daily lives here in Australia and believe men and women should have equal access to opportunity.

But a large majority (62 per cent) said that violence against women was an issue in their communities. More than half (57 per cent) said violence against women was more prevalent in their home countries while 31 per cent said it was more prevalent in Australia.

The survey of 150 new women migrants and refugees from non-English speaking countries, commissioned by refugee and migrant settlement agency AMES Australia, also found that migrant women in Australia have more access to a range of services and activities including education, work, women’s health, childcare, driving a car and political and religious activity.

Timed to coincide with International Women’s Day 2026, the survey asked, ‘As a woman is life in Australia better for you than in your home country?’ Seventy per cent of respondents said ‘yes’ and nine per cent said ‘no’ while 21 per cent said there was no difference.

Ninety per cent of women said they had more rights in Australia than in their home country while 7 per cent said they did not.

Seventy-one per cent of the survey respondents said there were more opportunities for women in Australia than at home while 19 per cent disagreed.

Asked about particular services or activities that could be accessed in Australia, more than sixty per cent said both education and women’s health services were easier to access in Australia.

Sixty-seven per cent said work was more accessible in Australia, while 54 per cent cited driving a car as being easier in Australia and 56 per cent said childcare was more accessible.

Meanwhile 28 per cent said religious activities were more accessible in their home countries and 28 per cent said work was easier to come by.

An overwhelming 80 per cent of respondents said Australian women were more independent than women in their home countries.

Sixty-six per cent said they were more financially independent in Australia while 20 per cent said they were less financially independent and 17 per cent said there was no difference.

Seventy-two per cent of women said they had more control over their daily lives and five per cent said they had less control while 20 per cent said there was no difference.

Seventy-one per cent of respondents they believed women should have the same opportunities as men.

AMES Australia CEO Melinda Collinson said the survey showed that women migrants and refugees new to Australia were optimistic about their new country and were striving to become part of the wider society.

“What the survey tells us is that migrant and refugee women who come to this country appreciate the level of equality we have and the opportunities that are available to women here,” Ms Collinson said.

“It shows that most migrants value our services and institutions want to make the most of what this country offers them,” she said.

“But is also tells us that violence against women is an issue in all communities and we still have work to do to eliminate it,” Ms Collinson said.

Nepali migrant Reshma Manandhar said Australia offered opportunity and financial independence for women.

“In Australia women have opportunities for education, employment and personal development that are not available in m any countries,” Ms Manandhar said.

“Women can have serious careers in Australia. While there are barriers and impediments for women, it’s possible to achieve your dreams here,” she said.    

Bangladeshi migrant and student Rupananda Roy, who recently completed a PhD at the University of Adelaide, said attaining higher education would have been much more difficult in her own country.

In doing so, she made history by becoming the first woman from one of Bangladesh’s 50 ethnic minority communities to earn a doctorate.

“My family and my husband and his family have been very supportive. Without this support, it can be quite difficult for women from my culture to pursue higher education,” Ms Roy said.

Brazilian-Australian Thelma Nascimento said educating people in diverse communities was important for future generations.

Ms Nascimento, a community advocate in the prevention of violence against women, said: “Violence against women is an issue in every community including my own”.

“We need to educate people from a young age that everyone deserves to be treated equally and with respect,” said Thelma, who runs an anti-family violence not-for-profit group called ‘Break Boundaries’.          

Beirut, March 8, 2026 – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams across Lebanon have rapidly adapted their activities to respond to the growing humanitarian needs resulting from the escalation of violence and the mass displacement of people due to Israel's relentless bombing. However, addressing such immense needs will require a comprehensive response.

“Our teams are responding, but needs are immense. Tens of thousands are in urgent need of protection, water, basic relief items, and access to healthcare now. A swift mobilisation of emergency and flexible funding must happen immediately to scale up responding to needs at a nationwide level,” says Jeremy Ristord, MSF’s Head of Programmes in Lebanon.

According to Lebanese authorities, more than 217 people have been killed since Monday 2 March and close to 800 have been injured as a result of Israel's relentless bombing. Thousands of families have been displaced as sweeping evacuation orders covering large parts of southern Lebanon, southern Beirut and areas of the Bekaa Valley, forcing people to flee with nowhere safe to go and raising serious concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law.

“This escalation comes after 15 months of a ceasefire that never brought an end to Israeli attacks. Now families are being pushed into impossible choices: flee once again or remain at home under threat. In this environment of relentless bombing of densely populated areas, we call for the protection of civilians, healthcare workers and medical facilities,” adds Ristord.

Since 2 March, MSF teams have been assessing needs and responding in several collective shelters, towns and cities across Lebanon where tens of thousands of displaced people have gathered. Many people have already been displaced multiple times during previous escalations. Shelters are overcrowded, with some people sleeping in their cars or on the streets. Others have remained in their homes despite evacuation orders or returned due to a lack of space in shelters or lack of means to rent accommodation.

Across Lebanon, MSF has deployed several mobile clinics to reach displaced people. A newly established mobile clinic in Saida, Lebanon's third city in the south, provided more than 70 consultations in one day together with psychological first aid.  On 6 March, another mobile clinic was deployed in Barja, in the Chouf area of Mount Lebanon—where an estimated 10,000 people are sheltering—and, in just a few hours, delivered 72 general consultations, 11 sexual and reproductive health consultations, and 13 mental health support sessions. MSF deployed a third mobile clinic in Bebnine in Akkar in northern Lebanon, treating more than 50 displaced people from the south on its first day of activities. On 7 March MSF launched additional mobile clinics in Beirut and the Bekaa region to support internally displaced people, alongside preparing mental health helplines to provide psychological support to people who are on the road or unable to reach services.

In Beirut, Bekaa and Chouf, we have already distributed 350,000L of water and over 7tonnes of essential relief items like blankets and hygiene kits to thousands of displaced people, including children and elderly. While in Nabatiyeh and South governorates, MSF has had to suspend on-ground activities due to evacuation orders issued by Israel and the lack of security guarantees for staff, MSF teams continue to look into avenues of providing support in the area, as well as running our clinics in Bourj Hammoud in Beirut and in Arsal in the governorate of Baalbek-Hermel to ensure continuity of care for patients and continues to support primary healthcare centres in Tripoli.

The scale of the crisis demands urgent and comprehensive action. At a time when the 2026 Lebanon Response Plan is only 14% funded and contingency stocks remain critically low, MSF calls for the immediate mobilisation of emergency and flexible funding to rapidly scale up assistance for displaced people and the communities hosting them.

MSF remains in contact with Lebanese authorities and other actors and is ready to increase its support as needs grow.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation.  MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières  working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

Geneva, Switzerland, Friday 6 March 2026 – As of 1 January 2026, women hold 27.5% of national parliamentary seats worldwide, up modestly from 27.2% in 2025, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) report Women in parliament 2025. This 0.3 percentage point increase matches 2024's rate, marking the slowest growth since 2017 for the second consecutive year.

The report is based on IPU data from the 49 countries that held parliamentary renewals for 62 chambers in 2025.

Women's leadership in parliament drops sharply
The proportion of women Speakers of Parliament has dipped to 19.9% (54 Speakers) compared with 23.7% a year ago.
Of the 75 new Speakers appointed or elected in 2025, only 12 were women (16%).
Regional leaders and biggest increases

The Americas remained the region with the highest representation of women in parliament, with women making up 36.1% of members elected to the 20 chambers in 13 countries that held renewals in 2025.

Overall, women accounted for 35.6% of all parliamentarians in the Americas as of 1 January 2026, across all chambers and countries.

The region is also home to four of the seven countries that have now reached parity, or more women than men, in their lower or single chamber – Bolivia joins Cuba, Nicaragua and Mexico in the Americas– alongside Rwanda, Andorra and the United Arab Emirates elsewhere.

Kyrgyzstan recorded the greatest progress in women's representation in countries that held parliamentary renewals in 2025, with a 12.9 percentage point increase in women in its Parliament. It was followed by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (+12.3 percentage points) and the upper chamber in Saint Lucia (+9.1 percentage points).

Quotas remain decisive

Well-designed and implemented quotas continued to play a critical role in boosting women's representation in parliaments, as demonstrated notably in Kyrgyzstan and Ecuador.

In 2025, chambers with some form of legislated or voluntary quota elected or appointed an average of 30.9% women, compared with 23.3% in chambers without quotas.

Record highs in some countries

Despite the overall slowdown, several countries set new records.

In Australia, 69 women were elected among 150 MPs in 2025, giving women their highest-ever share of seats at 46%.

Czechia also saw a historic result. Sixty‑seven women were elected to the 200-member lower chamber, up from 50 women in 2021, lifting their share from 25% to one third of MPs.

Women's representation in Ecuador's National Assembly reached 45% after the 2025 election, an all-time high.

The year 2025 was a landmark for Japan's political history: for the first time, the country has a woman Prime Minister and, after elections in July, women's overall representation in the upper chamber stands at a record 29.4%.

 Laggards and biggest drops

By contrast, women's parliamentary representation remained lowest in the Middle East and North Africa, where women hold just 16.2% of seats on average.

Three countries, Oman, Tuvalu and Yemen, have no women MPs in their lower or single chambers.

 Violence against women politicians

In early 2025, the IPU released findings from its study of the prevalence of sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments in the Asia-Pacific region. It followed previous similar studies focusing on the African and European regions.

The Asia-Pacific study showed high levels of violence, with 76% of women parliamentarians reporting psychological violence.

And more recently, the 2026 IPU report When the public turns hostile: Political violence against parliamentarians found that women MPs are more affected by intimidation by the public – both online and off – than men, with 76% of women surveyed experiencing violence versus 68% of men.

This growing phenomenon may discourage some women from running for office, an additional obstacle to progress in women's political representation.

Some countries have taken steps to address the violence: the Philippines Electoral Commission intervened when male candidates made disparaging remarks about their female peers, and the Colombian Parliament passed a law to prevent and punish violence against women in politics.

The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 183 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener and more gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.