Africa Benin As part of the Vodun Days 2026 event in Ouidah, in Maro Square paintings of the Egungun are on display, depicting them dancing: the Vodun Days Artistic Direction has chosen to go beyond live performance adding an exhibition of paintings of the Egungun
Europe Slovenia The wine regions of Brda in Slovenia and Collio in Italy have merged into a dispersed open-air museum showcasing natural-material sculptures by artists from both countries in the spirit of the first ever cross-border European Capital of Culture
Asia Laos Female civil servants are now eligible for maternity leave ranging from 4 up to 6,5 months for mothers expecting twins; miscarriages earn one month of leave, with medical extensions as needed
Asia Turkey Several digital streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video, MUBI, Disney XD, HBO Max, have been fined for violating moral and family values and obscenity by Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council, the regulator for TV and radio broadcasts
Asia Oman Muscat Alzheimer's Forum recommended drafting a national Alzheimer's guide, devising science-based diagnostic protocols and establishing a specialised national centre for the treatment of Alzheimer's patients
Asia Mongolia National Library has digitized 4.383 volumes of ancient Tibetan-language manuscripts and woodblock printed books for over 1,43m pages, 77.500 titles; in partnership with US Embassy and Asian Legacy Library, it made inaccessible works publicly available
Europe Malta Valletta and Swieqi will benefit from a new tourism community support pilot project providing resources and administrative support to address locality-specific challenges linked to tourism: waste management, public order, regulation of accommodation
Asia Malaysia Halal exports reached US$7 billion in the first half of 2025, making up 16,1% of Malaysia’s total exports; Main products include food and beverages, halal ingredients, and palm oil derivatives, with key markets in China, the US, and Indonesia
Europe Iceland The possibility of oil extraction in the Dreki area would bring significant benefits for Iceland whether oil is extracted or not, says Iceland Chamber of Commerce, encouraging treasury to tender concessions to explore
Africa Sierra Leone Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has announced that a public consultation on the proposed plans to divide Freetown into two cities with two local councils will be held today at the Freetown City Council Auditorium, encouraging Freetonians to attend
Europe Norway The Sami Parliament Sametinget in Northern Norway won’t go through any major leadership changes: Norske Samers Riksforbund remained its biggest party after last week’s election and leader Silje Karine Muotka will remain Sami president
Europe Ireland Aer Lingus will fly from Dublin Airport to North Carolina from next April, bringing its total number of North American routes to 26, in its largest-ever transatlantic schedule in a bid to make Dublin a hub for connecting passengers
Africa Equatorial Guinea "Vivir en tinieblas" (Living in Darkness), a local cinematography project, will be launched on the big screen on 19 September in Malabo; the film explores themes of hope, empowerment, and justice, generating crucial reflections on social reality
America Saint Lucia The Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited has begun the final, 10-days phase of its Meter Replacement Programme; it will upgrade the metering infrastructure and ensure continued compliance with the highest industry standards for quality and safety