Not Your Casual News Week 36: Boat carrying migrants capsizes in the English Channel
A weekly read to keep you in the loop on international news and climate issues
A boat carrying migrants capsized in the English Channel off the French coast on 3 August, killing at least 12 people, including three minors, two of whom are still missing.
The boat, carrying dozens of people trying to reach Britain, ran into difficulties off Wimereux, France. French and British authorities have launched a major rescue operation involving helicopters, naval vessels and emergency services to search for survivors and treat the injured.
This tragedy is the deadliest migrant disaster in the Channel this year, bringing the total number of migrant deaths in 2024 to 25.
The French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said on Twitter (X) that rescuers had saved 51 people from “a ‘boat’ less than 7 metres long in which 70 people were crammed together by criminal smugglers.”
Migrant crossings across the Channel have soared, with more than 21,000 people attempting the journey this year despite the perilous conditions, according to the United Kingdom statistics on small boat crossings.
Humanitarian organisations blame increased security measures for encouraging migrants to take greater risks.
British and French leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, have vowed to increase cooperation to stop the smuggling operations that facilitate these dangerous crossings.
But critics argue that the lack of safe migration routes continues to fuel such tragedies.
What Else Happened?
Prison escape attempt in Kinshasa. At least 129 people have been killed in a botched escape attempt from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest prison, Makala, in Kinshasa. Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani said that “24 were shot after being warned, while the other victims died as a result of being pushed or suffocated” in the chaos. A fire in the prison’s administrative buildings triggered the mass escape attempt, injuring 59 others. The overcrowded prison, which was built for 1,500 inmates but holds around 12,000, has a history of jailbreaks, including a major escape in 2017. The authorities have attempted to tackle overcrowding by releasing some inmates and planning to build a new facility.
Boko Haram rampages through Nigerian village. More than 100 villagers were killed when Boko Haram militants attacked Tarmuwa local government area in north-eastern Nigeria’s Yobe state. On 1 September, about 50 extremists on motorcycles opened fire on a market, worshippers and homes before setting buildings ablaze. “This is the first time our community has faced such a devastating attack,” Buba Adamu, a local chief, told the Associated Press. “We never imagined something like this could happen here,” he added. Residents confirmed 102 deaths, although officials initially put the death toll at 34. Boko Haram, which has been waging an insurgency since 2009 to impose its strict interpretation of Sharia law, is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and mass displacement.
Out of Yuan. Russian companies are experiencing significant delays and rising costs in payments to Chinese trading partners, with transactions worth billions of yuan left in limbo, reveals Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter. The problem intensified in August after “Chinese banks tightened compliance following Western threats of secondary sanctions for dealing with Russia,” writes the outlet. As a result, Chinese state-owned banks have curtailed cross-border transactions, with smaller Russian companies being hit harder. Larger commodity exporters remain less affected, but smaller companies face higher transaction costs and possible shutdowns.
Climate News
A massive wildfire destroyed 20% of Brasilia’s National Forest, a protected area vital to the city’s water supply, as firefighters battled the blaze for two days. “We are sure this was an environmental crime, but we haven’t confirmed if it was intentional or not,” Fabio dos Santos Miranda, who manages the forest, told Reuters. Three suspected arsonists were seen near the site of the fire, though no arrests have been made. The forest, already reduced by deforestation under former President Bolsonaro, is at greater risk as Brazil experiences record droughts and wildfires, exacerbated by climate change. August 2024 saw the highest number of fires in the Amazon since 2010.
Overcooked in Arizona. The United States city of Phoenix has recorded its 100th consecutive day of temperatures above 100°F (37.8°C), beating the previous record of 76 days set in 1993. The unrelenting heatwave, part of an unprecedented hot summer across the western US, has been blamed on climate change. As temperatures soared, the city also saw 37 nights when the mercury didn't drop below 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 degrees Celsius). Maricopa County, the hottest region in Arizona, has reported 150 heat-related deaths so far in 2024. Neighbouring states have not been spared: Nevada and California have ongoing excessive heat warnings and are also setting records.
Picture of the Week
The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, and the Grand Imam of Jakarta, Nusaruddin Umar, met on 5 September during the Pope’s grand tour of the world’s most populated Muslim country, Indonesia.
In addition to this heartwarming picture, the two leaders signed a joint declaration calling for peace, the fight against religious violence and the protection of the environment.
A pleasant surprise. Thanks for reading, take care!