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 Estonia Principal of Tallinn Central Russian Gymnasium was dismissed and a public competition will be announced for his position; the reason cited is systematic violations in the transition to Estonian-language instruction, not throughly conducted at the school
Asia Thailand As the Southeast Asian Games concluded, Thailand finished top of the medal table, leading on home soil; Host athletes won in multiple disciplines, underscoring the country’s regional sporting strength despite rising competition from Vietnam and Indonesia
Europe Slovenia Urban, a six-year-old boy with a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, is the first patient in the world to have received a pioneering gene replacement therapy for the CTNNB1 syndrome as a clinical trial started at the UKC Ljubljana Medical Centre
Africa Equatorial Guinea Latest Foreign Trade in Goods Report by National Institute of Statistics INEGE shows that exports reached 71 countries in 2024, with China being the main market followed by Italy and UAE; alcoholic beverages for €41million were mainly imported from Spain
Europe Czech Republic After 58 years, the D1 motorway is finally complete with the opening of the last section at Přerov; the new 10km stretch was finished 3 months ahead of schedule and is expected to significantly relieve traffic in the region
Asia Israel Christians in Jerusalem celebrate Christmas facing discrimination and economic burdens, including exorbitant taxes like the “Arnona”, on churches, freezing of bank accounts, seizure of properties and holy sites, and activities by settlement associations
Africa Sudan A measles spread is threatening thousands of children in Central, South, and West Darfur - currently mostly outside State control - as vaccination programs and supply chains collapsed under war and bureaucratic delays, MSF warned
Asia Philippines Temporary maritime restrictions have been announced in parts of the West Philippine Sea ahead of a Chinese rocket launch; Authorities cited safety risks from falling debris, analysts note the move comes amid tensions with Beijing over contested waters
Oceania Solomon Islands Essential school furniture for newly built classrooms and dormitories has been delivered to 14 schools across the country; the initiative aims to build safe, comfortable and practical learning spaces supported by Australia and New Zealand with MEHRD
Africa Tanzania Boundary beacon markers have been installed in Ngezi Vumawimbi Forest Reserve in Pemba, one of the few coastal forest in Africa and a key ecological asset for Zanzibar, to curb encroachment and reduce land use disputes
Asia Bhutan Liquor shops in Phuentsholing face severe shortages ahead of Bhutan’s upcoming alcohol tax hike; Suppliers are unable to meet demand, pushing retailers to the brink as prices rise and stock dwindles, with businesses warning of mounting financial strain
America Trinidad and Tobago A parallel black market for foreign exchange has developed as a result of Trinidad and Tobago official system's inability to supply US dollars, according to the President of Downtown Owners and Merchants Association
Europe Denmark A group of 237 women has completed training in AI, JavaScript, Python, cybersecurity, and cloud computing through a school that helps women and non-binary people with international backgrounds gain digital skills and enter the Danish labor market