About this Episode
The European Commission says returns from Ceuta to Morocco are covered by EU law and supports swift repatriation of people who remain after late‑July’s mass crossings. Spokesperson Markus Lammert urged Spanish and Moroccan authorities to maintain control and speed up returns under the EU return directive and forthcoming return regulation, including provisions for unaccompanied minors. Spain estimates about 5,000 people still in Ceuta, nearly 1,900 minors. Madrid vowed none will be moved to mainland Spain and Morocco declared it will cooperate. The Commission also aims to deter smuggling and counter disinformation, closing several accounts linked to trafficking networks, and stands ready to deploy Frontex and Europol to assist border operations.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with at least 2,300 deaths and close to 5 000 confirmed cases, officials say. The epidemic has been accelerating rapidly : 101 cases were reported in the last 24 hours. The WHO warns the outbreak could surpass the 2014–16 West Africa epidemic and has declared it a public health emergency. The strain, Bundibugyo, lacks approved vaccines or treatments, though trials of candidate vaccines and therapies have begun. Response efforts are hindered by attacks on health facilities, misinformation about burials, strikes, and poor infrastructure, leaving many cases detected late and most deaths occurring in the community.
A ferry capsized on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba last week, killing 93 people and becoming the country’s deadliest transport disaster. The vessel, rated for 90 passengers, was carrying at least 168 when a strong wave overturned it. Rescue teams have saved 67 people, whilst divers continue recovery operations as bodies drift toward Zambia. President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster. Survivors say the ferry was overloaded and life jackets were buried under luggage, limiting access. The boat had been a vital transport link for rural communities, carrying traders and families returning for school holidays.
