Ouidah, the ocean city and departure point for thousands of black slaves, was in the spotlight on January 08, 09 and 10. During these three days, the city once again vibrated to the rhythm of Vodun Days 2026. The historic city, a veritable open-air museum, was decked out in its finest finery to welcome the world. Modernized infrastructures, lively emblematic sites, popular fervor and international crowds. Everything was in place to make this "mature" edition a memorable one. From the very first day, dedicated to a giant open-air concert on the beach, the event lived up to all its promises.

Volunteers from the association Culture en folie, which runs the Micro-Folie in Le Pouliguen, have joined forces with those from AVF (Accueil villes françaises) to organize a year-round lecture series.

After years of waiting, there will soon be a new municipality on the Port-au-Port peninsula in western Newfoundland.

Forty years after the launch of Dôi Moi (Renewal), Vietnam is reaping the rewards of sound urban planning and management, propelling Vietnam into a new era of development and injecting it with unprecedented momentum, said architect Dào Ngoc Nghiêm, vice-president of the Association for Urban Planning and Development of Vietnam, affiliated to the National Union of Scientific and Technological Associations.

Financial assistance of $239,000 has been granted to the municipalities of Saint-Aubert, Sainte-Hélène-de-Kamouraska and the Ville de Saint-Pascal to improve road safety.

Once again this year, eco-delegates from the Germaine-Tillion high school have launched a major donation drive in partnership with five local associations - Restos de cœur, ASL, Secours populaire, Secours catholique and Noël solidarité - which redistribute toys for the benefit of children.

To mark the centenary of the Œuvre des pupilles orphelins des sapeurs-pompiers de France, a number of bakeries are hosting "galettes solidaires" operations in January 2026. In Pluméliau-Bieuzy, L'Adélice is donating one euro to the association for every galette purchased.

As part of the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 (CAF), Africa Global Logistics (AGL), CAF's official logistics partner, has launched the "AGL Moving Tour", an itinerant caravan designed to celebrate African soccer, while generating a concrete impact in local communities.

The commune of Eymoutiers is now twinned with that of Niederbronn-les-Bains (Bas-Rhin), sealing a link dating back to the Second World War.

A meeting ceremony dedicated to the bilingual French teaching program in LV1 and LV2, in Phnom Penh and Kandal province, was held on December 18, 2025 at the Preah Sisowath high school in Phnom Penh.

Lirtuel is an online service that enables anyone registered in a library recognized by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation to borrow novels, comics and other works free of charge from a catalog of over 12,000 titles on electronic media.

Winnipeg may soon offer pedestrians a few extra seconds to cross before vehicles start moving at all city intersections, as part of a plan to improve road safety. The Public Works Committee will discuss this report at its January 8 meeting.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is working on a plan to gradually introduce universal free basic healthcare, with the aim of eliminating out-of-pocket costs for essential medical services covered by health insurance by 2030, officials said.

In Niort, the traditional galette des Rois is adorned with a touch of solidarity. Behind this gourmet initiative lies invaluable support for schoolchildren experiencing difficulties at school.

The Longueville-sur-Scie/Newton Longville twinning association took advantage of its general meeting to launch a recruitment campaign: it is looking for new families.

From December 11 to 14, 2025, Sanaga-Maritime, in the Littoral region of Cameroon, played host to a first-of-its-kind event with the first-ever Christmas Market, dubbed "Lek Ihendel". Organized on the edge of the Massock-Songloulou and Ngambè communes, this festive event is part of the Matemb (the return) project, initially promoted by Logkat nationals and the diaspora. A cultural and commercial event

Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac has earmarked $10 million to build a new fire station by 2027. According to mayor Christian St-Pierre, this will be necessary to meet new standards for decontamination of fire equipment and occupational health and safety.

The Belgian CPVS network will be extended on January 1, 2026. UZ Brussel is one of three new centers to open on this date.

A delegation from Graulhét presented products from the Tarn region at the Prien am Chiemsee Christmas market, reinforcing the Franco-German friendship.

Faced with worsening drought, depleting water resources and disruptions to farming activities caused by climate change in the Centre-Sud and Central Highlands, agriculture is being forced to rethink its use of water, its most precious resource.