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
Africa Togo Lomé will expand its addressing system, updating street names and the numbering of land parcels and buildings, including residential properties, businesses, and public services, and incorporating newly developed areas across the metropolitan region
Europe Ukraine During the visit of Portugal PM Montenegro, the two countries have agreed on the joint production of underwater drones, planned to hold a joint ‘economic forum’ next year and called the meeting “a turning point” in economic relations
Asia Cyprus The women of Kalavasos are coming together this holiday season to create a marketplace where each woman participating showcases handmade creations: designers, artists, painters, healers and community weavers join forces for solidarity
Europe Croatia Members of the opposition party met with the My Voice My Choice movement, which has collected 1,2 million signatures in EU, prompting to vote on a resolution that would guarantee the right of every woman in member states to accessible and safe abortion
Asia Singapore Over 2.700 people have been fined for vape-related offences since tougher penalties took effect on Sept 1; Authorities report higher enforcement action as part of efforts to curb vaping, especially among youths, amid growing public health concerns
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
Asia Myanmar Junta is pushing to revive the long-stalled, China-backed Myitsone Dam, despite public opposition over environmental and cultural risks; The move signals growing reliance on Beijing for political and economic support amid escalating domestic conflict
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
America Dominican Republic The newly introduced Dominican Republic’s e-passport features a secure microchip that stores biometric data such as fingerprints and facial recognition and 70 security elements integrated into a durable polycarbonate data page to prevent tampering
Oceania New Zealand A judge voided a South Auckland election result over voter fraud claims and the private company running the polls has admitted to a separate privacy breach; the Electoral Services MD released to councillor election results with confidential information
Africa Gambia BSIC, Banque Sahélo-Saharienne pour l’Investissement et le Commerce, has donated essential sanitary and personal care items to female inmates at the Mile II Central Prison, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives
Africa Ivory Coast Measures to upgrade farming while maintaining sustainability and expanding domestic agro-processing are a priority of 2026-2030 budget; Agricultural Commodities Exchange, a market platform bringing more structure to how produce is priced, was set in 2025