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
Oceania Palau For over three months, families and small businesses across Palau have been unable to ship packages through the mail, sidelined by a U.S. executive order that ended duty-free treatment for low-value imports
Africa Republic of the Congo To raise students' awareness of the ancestral heritage of the country, the National Museum held a workshop at the Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville, showcasing cultural artifacts under the theme "The National Museum Meets its University Audience"
Europe Serbia In a year marked by anti-government protests in Serbia, there have been multiple reports of police taking phones from people detained or even questioned, with or without consent, though police need a court order to confiscate someone’s phone without
Africa Namibia The groundbreaking ceremony of the Ndobe-Eenhana road project was held; it is a critical driver of regional development, said Ohangwena governor Kadiva Hamutumwa, and locals must directly benefit from its implementation
America Jamaica Parrots, hawks, owls, crocodiles, snakes and other animals displaced by Hurricane Melissa have found a home at the Hope Zoo Preservation Foundation; a team of volunteers and veterinarians are helping them recover enough to be released back into the wild
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
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 Senegal Senegal will assume the presidency of the Economic Community of West African States Commission for 2026-2030; decisione was made in the 68th ordinary session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Abuja, Nigeria
Africa Morocco Recent rainfall has boosted the national water supply: between 15 and 17 December, dam reserves increased by 119 million cubic meters, bringing the overall filling rate to 32.2%
America Saint Kitts and Nevis The government’s strategy to address crime from a public health perspective and the commitment of law enforcement have resulted in a sharp decrease in homicides and a reduction in crime, generating a more peaceful environment across most communities
America Barbados Teachers could regain their long-lost term’s vacation leave after years of stalled negotiations; Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced in Parliament that the government intends to restore the benefit from 2026
Europe Ireland Vada and Borgo restaurants have been added to the Michelin Guide, bringing to 112 the number of restaurants in the Republic featured in the listings; both are located in Dublin 7 and both are relatively new openings
Asia Afghanistan A historic landmark, Kabul’s Ariana Cinema has been demolished to make way for a commercial market, sparking concerns over the city’s cultural heritage