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 Tanzania Main opposition party Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo, banned from October's elections, is now calling for a transition government as a state of uncertainty spreads across Tanzania
America Suriname A national soil monitoring system, in collaboration with FAO and the Green Climate Fund, will support climate-smart agriculture aiming to combat land degradation and secure food supply amid growing urbanization and climate change impacts
America Panama A 2025–2030 trade facilitation plan with five strategic pillars has been launched to modernize foreign trade, enhance digitalization, and strengthen Panama's position as a competitive regional logistics hub
America Venezuela A Venezuelan-linked oil tanker has been seized by US forces near the Caribbean coast, claiming it supported terrorist networks, prompting Venezuela to denounce the act as piracy and vow to defend its sovereignty internationally
Africa Kenya After Amnesty International made public that Kenyan women working as domestic laborers in Saudi Arabia face extreme exploitation bordering slavery, the New York Times set out to investigate, recently exposing a net of corruption and human trafficking
Africa Ethiopia Copper cables, plastic tubes and metal components have been looted along an under-construction road in Addis Ababa, running from Edna Mall to Haya Hulet; thefts have occurred in full view, according to eyewitnesses
America Paraguay The world's best World Rally Championship event in 2025 was hosted in Paraguay, the FIA recognized, highlighting its ability to organize top-tier international motorsport competitions
America Guyana Guyana has announced plans to pursue legal reforms, including modern copyright laws, to protect its creative industry and attract investment, replacing outdated regulations from 1956
Africa Malawi Malawi Broadcasting Corporation’s 2025 Entertainers of the Year Awards have been cancelled, citing limited time to plan and prepare the ceremony; stakeholders in the entertainment industry regretted the decision that will cancel the expected gains
Africa Ivory Coast Fitch Ratings has raised Côte d'Ivoire's long-term sovereign foreign currency credit rating from BB- to BB with a stable outlook, confirming the country's position as the second-best credit rating in sub-Saharan Africa, just under "Investment Grade"
Africa Eritrea Eritrea announced its withdrawal from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development IGAD, a regional body in the Horn of Africa focused on peace, security and economic integration, citing the fact that the body is acting against interests of some members
Africa Djibouti A US medical research team visited Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti to find a better treatment for diarrhea to bolster troop combat readiness and reduce the amount of medicines that troops have to carry; the naval team is developing a single, low-dose treatment
Asia Israel Israeli-founded startup Believer Meats, a biotechnology firm that creates chicken, lamb and beef products from animal cells, has ceased operations in Israel and the US for running out of funds; it faces a lawsuit over $34 million in unpaid bills