Despite ailing economy and faltering war in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin remains determined to press on.

Sources close to the Russian leader describe him as increasingly isolated, with his elite becoming disillusioned with his policies.

A business leader noted a shift in mood among the elites this year, citing 'profound disappointment' in Putin and a growing sense of a looming catastrophe.

Ten years have passed since a deadly Al-Qaida attack in Grand Bassam, a historic port town near Abidjan.

On March 13, 2016, three gunmen killed 19 people, including nine foreigners, in a 45-minute shooting spree.

The attack was claimed by Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb in retaliation for the arrest and extradition of its members to Mali.

In December 2022, an Abidjan court sentenced 11 men to death for their roles in the attack.

Today, the Ivory Coast defence minister emphasizes the strengthening of operational vigilance to prevent similar tragedies.

Meanwhile, the threat of jihadism persists in the north, along the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, where French and American troops have been expelled in recent years.

A new strain of the Ebola virus has been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, prompting warnings from aid groups and healthcare workers.

The fragile healthcare system in the country is struggling to cope with the outbreak, which has seen nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths recorded since April 24.

The virus is spreading rapidly, with experts citing cultural norms around burials and touch as contributing factors to its spread.

Aid groups are calling for coordinated international action to stem the outbreak.

The US has temporarily suspended the removal of refugees to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

This decision may not prevent the spread of the disease, according to experts.

A US judge had ordered the return of a 55-year-old woman, Adriana Zapata, who was deported to Kinshasa despite her complex medical needs.

However, American officials cannot bring her back due to the travel ban.

Immigration agents may be at risk of contracting the virus during removal trips, and the virus could spread closer to the US.

The decision is partly motivated by legal concerns, as removal to a third country with an active Ebola outbreak could be used in an immigrant's defense.