The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered an immediate halt to all land reclamation, mine-site rehabilitation, dredging and water-body restoration activities being undertaken without the requisite environmental permits across Ghana.

In a public notice issued on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the Authority warned that institutions, companies, contractors and individuals operating without its approval must cease work immediately and report to the nearest EPA regional office or its head office for regulatory assessment.

The directive applies to both public and private projects, including government-sponsored, privately funded and donor-supported initiatives. The EPA specifically mentioned the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Forestry Commission, Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Minerals Commission and Mineral Development Fund among the institutions required to ensure compliance.

Under Regulation 40 of the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2504), reclamation and restoration activities fall within Ghana’s environmental assessment and permitting framework.

The covered activities include rehabilitating abandoned mining sites, backfilling excavated areas, restoring degraded land, revegetation, dredging and desilting rivers, modifying river channels and restoring polluted water bodies, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems.

The Authority stressed that securing a contract, obtaining funding approval, holding a mining lease or receiving authorisation from another public institution does not replace an EPA Environmental Permit. Similarly, consent from traditional authorities, memoranda of understanding and participation in government programmes cannot substitute for the required approval.

Contracting institutions have also been directed to verify the environmental permit status of projects before allowing contractors to mobilise to their sites.

The EPA acknowledged the importance of restoring lands and water bodies damaged by illegal and irresponsible mining but cautioned that rehabilitation efforts must not create further environmental destruction by bypassing regulatory safeguards.

It warned that individuals and institutions that continue unapproved operations after the notice would face action in accordance with applicable Ghanaian laws.

The directive reinforces the Authority’s position that environmental restoration, regardless of its funding source or purpose, must comply with the country’s permitting requirements.

The opening of the long-awaited New Yalu River Bridge marks a significant step towards strengthening cross-border transport and trade between China and North Korea.

China and North Korea have officially opened a major bridge linking the two countries, ending a 12-year delay that kept the infrastructure project unused despite its completion in 2014.

The New Yalu River Bridge connects the Chinese border city of Dandong, in Liaoning province, with Sinuiju in North Korea. The four-lane crossing stretches approximately three kilometres across the Yalu River and is expected to improve the movement of goods between the neighbouring countries.

The project was originally intended to begin operating in 2014. However, the opening was postponed for years as infrastructure on the North Korean side, including connecting roads and customs facilities, remained incomplete. Analysts have also pointed to strained bilateral relations and disagreements surrounding economic cooperation as possible contributing factors.

Trade and economic implications

The new crossing is expected to ease pressure on the older China–North Korea Friendship Bridge, which has served as a major route for official trade between the two countries.

By providing additional road capacity, the new bridge could improve freight transportation, reduce congestion and support the movement of essential goods. Its strategic location is particularly important because China remains North Korea’s principal trading partner.

Nevertheless, the opening does not automatically guarantee a rapid increase in trade. International sanctions imposed in response to North Korea’s nuclear and weapons programmes continue to constrain economic activity, while the scale of future commercial traffic will depend on border arrangements and the two governments’ economic policies.

A signal of closer bilateral engagement

The bridge’s inauguration comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Beijing and Pyongyang. It also highlights China’s continued economic importance to North Korea as the latter seeks to maintain relationships with key regional partners.

For China, improved transport links could facilitate cross-border commerce and support economic activity in Dandong. For North Korea, the bridge offers additional capacity for importing goods and developing commercial infrastructure around Sinuiju.

However, the project’s long delay illustrates how political disagreements and economic considerations can obstruct infrastructure intended to improve regional connectivity.

What happens next?

Attention will now turn to how quickly the bridge becomes an established route for commercial traffic and whether the additional capacity translates into measurable growth in bilateral trade.

While the opening represents an important infrastructure milestone, its longer-term economic and diplomatic impact will depend on the willingness of both governments to sustain cooperation and the restrictions governing North Korea’s international trade.

The opening ends a lengthy wait for the two countries, but the bridge’s ultimate significance will be measured by the trade and cooperation it enables in the years ahead.

NAIROBI, Kenya — October 15, 2026

Kenya has confirmed a second case of Ebola after a close relative of the country’s first patient tested positive while in quarantine, prompting health authorities to strengthen surveillance and containment measures.

The Kenyan Ministry of Health announced the new infection on Wednesday, October 14, identifying the patient as a 39-year-old man who had been under medical monitoring following his contact with the first case. He developed symptoms, including fever, fatigue and joint pain, on October 13 and was subsequently isolated for testing.

The confirmation comes after a 40-year-old Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) died in Nairobi on October 5, shortly after testing positive for the virus. He had travelled through Uganda before arriving in Kenya.

Contact tracing and quarantine efforts

Health authorities identified 128 people who may have been exposed to the first patient. Of these, 108 were reported to be in quarantine in Kenya, while efforts continued to trace other contacts and monitor individuals who may have been exposed.

Officials said the second infection was detected while the patient was already under quarantine, allowing medical teams to isolate him after symptoms emerged.

The Ministry of Health has stressed that there is currently no evidence of wider community transmission linked to the two confirmed cases. However, surveillance and contact-tracing operations remain critical to preventing further infections.

Border screening strengthened

Kenya has stepped up health screening at airports and border crossings as part of efforts to identify possible infections early. The country’s location and travel connections with neighbouring states have also increased the importance of coordination among regional health authorities.

The first patient had travelled from DR Congo, where a major Ebola outbreak is ongoing, through Uganda before reaching Kenya. The case has highlighted the challenges health officials face in detecting infections among people travelling across national borders.

Public urged to remain vigilant

Authorities are urging the public to remain calm, follow official health guidance and promptly report suspected symptoms or potential exposure to health professionals.

Ebola is a serious viral disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, or with contaminated materials. Early identification, isolation, appropriate medical care and effective contact tracing are important measures in controlling outbreaks.

Kenya’s response will now focus on monitoring exposed individuals, containing the confirmed infections and preventing further transmission as health officials continue to assess the situation.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he intends to help restore cooperation between the United States and Ukraine as diplomatic tensions grow following Washington’s reported agreement with Moscow on Russian diesel imports.

Burnham made the remarks ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street, where he sought to reaffirm Britain’s support for Kyiv while avoiding a direct confrontation with US President Donald Trump.

Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions in Parliament, Burnham said his priority was to help rebuild relations so that American support for Ukraine could be restored.

He described the situation facing Zelensky as particularly difficult, pointing to the challenges Ukraine faces as it prepares for another winter amid its ongoing war with Russia.

The British leader said he had spoken with Zelensky over the weekend and intended to listen carefully to the Ukrainian president’s concerns during their meeting.

Britain pledges continued support for Kyiv

Burnham indicated that Ukraine would receive further assistance from Britain, with plans to accelerate military support and pursue additional measures aimed at increasing pressure on Moscow.

The UK government has also signalled plans to speed up deliveries of air-defence missiles to Ukraine and consider further sanctions against Russia. British officials are expected to encourage international partners to strengthen economic pressure on Moscow, including through restrictions targeting Russian energy exports.

The developments come as Ukraine seeks to maintain support from its Western allies while facing continued Russian attacks and uncertainty over Washington’s policy.

Strained US-Ukraine relations

Relations between Trump and Zelensky have come under renewed pressure following the US president’s reported diesel agreement with Russia and disagreements over the direction of efforts to end the war.

The dispute has raised concerns in Kyiv and among European partners about the durability of American backing for Ukraine. Zelensky has continued to stress the importance of maintaining US cooperation, particularly in areas critical to Ukraine’s defence.

Burnham’s approach appears aimed at preserving diplomatic channels rather than escalating the disagreement publicly. His remarks suggest Britain hopes to encourage renewed dialogue between Washington and Kyiv while continuing to provide assistance of its own.

A difficult diplomatic balancing act

For Britain, the challenge is to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine without undermining its relationship with the United States, a key partner in European security.

Burnham has presented himself as a potential intermediary at a time when Ukraine needs sustained military and financial assistance and Western governments face pressure to coordinate their responses to Russia.

Whether his efforts will lead to a meaningful improvement in relations between Trump and Zelensky remains uncertain. However, the meeting at Downing Street highlights Britain’s attempt to keep diplomatic cooperation alive as the war and disagreements over its future continue.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is walking and recovering as expected following surgery, according to his medical team, offering an encouraging update on his health as he continues his post-operative recovery.

The doctors’ assessment indicates that the pontiff is making progress in line with expectations. Walking during recovery can form part of a patient’s rehabilitation, although the pace of activity depends on the nature of the operation and the individual’s overall condition.

The medical update is likely to reassure Catholics and observers around the world who have been following developments concerning the Pope’s health.

The Vatican has continued to provide updates on the pontiff’s condition as he recuperates. His medical team’s assessment remains an important indicator of how his recovery is progressing and what activities he may be able to resume.

Further details about his rehabilitation, including any adjustments to his public schedule, would depend on subsequent medical assessments and official announcements.

The Pope’s recovery also highlights the importance of post-surgical monitoring, with doctors assessing a patient’s mobility and general condition before recommending a return to normal activities.

For now, the medical team’s statement that the Pope is walking and recovering as expected offers a positive sign, while his continued progress remains subject to medical supervision.

The Vatican confirmed on October 14 that Pope Leo XIV had started walking around his hospital room, resumed eating normally and undergone respiratory physiotherapy. Blood tests and a chest X-ray indicated a normal post-operative recovery. The surgery removed the lower lobe of his right lung after doctors identified lung adenocarcinoma. Further tests are needed to determine whether additional treatment will be necessary.