[AIM] Maputo -- Tropical cyclone Chido is heading for the coast of the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado and could make landfall on Sunday.
[allAfrica] Cape Town -- Tropical Cyclone Chido is affecting multiple countries in Southern Africa, potentially impacting approximately 2.5 million people across Mozambique, Malawi, and the Comoros. The cyclone already hit Mayotte with extreme wind conditions and is expected to make landfall in northern Mozambique on December 15.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unveiled its final list of 38 candidates for the Delhi Assembly elections. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will seek re-election from New Delhi, while Atishi will contest from Kalkaji. Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai will compete from Shakur Basti and Babarpur, respectively.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged Naxalites to surrender and embrace mainstream life during a ceremony honoring the Chhattisgarh police. He praised their bravery in combating Naxalism and expressed confidence in eradicating the menace by 2026. Shah highlighted the significant decline in Naxal-related deaths and the surrender of numerous Naxalites.
WE ARE again celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Sure, Christmas is the most celebrated day in the world today. In fact, some people begin to plan for it as soon as they go into a new year. In some countries, like the USA,...
IT IS Christmastime again, time for The Salvation Army to put out its kettles at strategic points to collect money to help support its social outreach. It is perhaps one of the few religious movements to use this method to get money for social...
ON THE second Sunday of Advent, last week, Christ Church hosted the annual human rights service ahead of International Human Rights Day. On that Sunday when we lit the candle of peace, the sounds of Peter Tosh blared from the holy place: “...
Hello mi neighbour, Drawing your attention today to a few things that we must pay attention to. Draw a bench and siddung a likkle. I once gave a mango to a former coworker and her gratitude made me feel that if it were possible, I’d give her the...
WHEN THE African Methodist Episcopal Church, arguably the world’s largest independent Black Protestant denomination, held its quadrennial General Conference in Ohio in August, among the agenda items was an issue that the Rev Jennifer S. Leath had...
A Russian officer was killed and his wife wounded last week after a bomb planted under his car detonated, the FSB has said Read Full Article at RT.com
The father and brother of a Bengaluru techie who died by suicide are pleading for the return of his missing son. They expressed gratitude to the police for arresting the techie's estranged wife and her family members, who are accused of abetment to suicide, but voiced concern over their grandson's whereabouts.
In a parliamentary address, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the misuse of religious history and criticized laws targeting minorities. He highlighted the erosion of constitutional rights, citing cow vigilantism, lynchings, and hijab bans. Owaisi questioned the government's role in rising communal tensions and its impact on the nation's progress.
Insiders say the new team, to be established in the heart of the Cabinet Office, will aim to ensure that any concessions yielded to Brussels will be almost impossible to undo by a future Tory government.
A source said that, despite his frustration with the Duke of York, Charles has accepted that he can't 'divorce or sack' his younger brother, as 'there will always be a bond of blood'.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Deputy Prime Minister Saleh Ahmed Jama chaired a Council of Ministers meeting on Saturday night to discuss the ongoing revisions to the country's provisional constitution, focusing on Chapters 5 and 9.
If you're wondering why this weekend's Manchester derby feels a bit, well, different, it's probably because there is so little jeopardy riding on the result.
Kismayo (HOL) — Jubbaland intelligence forces on Saturday presented Ali Shidad Ayub, a suspected al-Shabab operative, accused of throwing a hand grenade at Kismayo Hospital.
Working in the tourism industry can be very demanding but when there are leaders who can motivate and inspire their teams to deliver, and who do not only show but go all the way, giving them a better feeling for it. Lucas D'Offay, 38, the son of the late Louis d'Offay, who was a well-known tourism personality in Seychelles, is following in his father's footsteps. He is now the general manager of Hotel L'Archipel on Praslin Island, the second most populated island of the archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. The hotel is a 4-star boutique hotel on a secluded beach. D'Offay is the youngest Seychellois general manager leading a Seychellois-owned hotel on the island. SNA met with D'Offay to learn more about his plans for the tourism establishment. SNA: How did your journey in the tourism industry begin? LD: My journey into the tourism industry began in 2002, when I spent most of my school holidays working at Hotel L'Archipel as a trainee. During these holiday jobs, I gained valuable insights into hotel operations, including stocktaking, restaurant and bar management, housekeeping and reception, kitchen work, customer service, and marketing. In 2005, I also had the chance to assist our sales and marketing manager in representing the hotel and promoting Seychelles at one of the world's leading travel trade fairs, «Top Resa,» in Deauville, France, organised by the Seychelles Tourism Board at that time. From the very beginning, I knew this was what I wanted, and my dream was to become a general manager just like my father. I have always enjoyed talking to guests whenever the opportunity presented itself. Providing personalised service to our guests has always been my focus. I spent three years in Reunion for my bachelor's degree in catering and hotel management (BTS Mercatique et Gestion en Hôtellerie et Restauration) at the Lycée Professionnel Hôtelier «La Renaissance.» D'Offay and his family. (Mandy Bertin) Photo License: All Rights Reserved SNA: Tell us more about the hotel you are now managing. LD: I am currently the general manager and a shareholder of Hotel L'Archipel on Praslin with 82 staff members, local and expatriate. Hotel L'Archipel is a small Seychellois-owned hotel that has been in operation since 1987. It was officially opened by my late father, Louis d'Offay, known for being one of Seychelles' tourism pioneers. The hotel features 32 rooms and suites, two restaurants, a diving centre, a watersport centre, and a swimming pool. I have been in this position for 15 years, starting as an assistant general manager, then moving to resident manager, and now general manager. SNA: How do you manage to balance your professional and personal life? LD: Balancing professional and personal life in the tourism industry can be very challenging, especially if you are passionate about your work. I consider myself fortunate to have a wonderful wife who is very understanding and supportive. The hardest part is when I am at home to rest before the night shift, and my children ask if I will be going to work. You can see the disappointment on their faces if the answer is yes. At the end of the day, you must always find a balance. You need to define your working hours and your relaxing time. When you are with your family, you should make the most of that precious time. You never know what the future holds. SNA: What are your current aspirations for the hotel and for the island's tourism? LD: My current aspiration for the hotel is to enhance the high level of service that we offer to our guests, make them feel at home and exceed their expectations through personalised service and give them value for their money. My late father worked tirelessly for the hotel to reach its current standing, and he was very proud of what he had achieved. With the level of competition today, differentiation matters. We must always think ahead, act smarter, and be more proactive in decision-making. Replicating what others are doing or offering is not enough. We must provide unique experiences and offer better services that set us apart. SNA: Your father was a great tourism pioneer who left a legacy. What have you learned from him about building a career in this industry? LD: My father was not only a great tourism pioneer but also my mentor, and I am sure he was a mentor to many others who worked with him. He was strict and disciplined, and he would always speak his mind if he was not happy with something. He was an outgoing individual with a good heart; he would never say no to helping the community or a staff member. I owe my current position to him. He encouraged me to grow into the person I am today. I still remember the day when I told him that I would further my studies in hospitality management, he was so proud because I was the only child who wanted to follow in his footsteps. He gave me all the advice and support needed to pursue my studies and career. He would always speak highly of me to his entourage. Many would think that because he was my father, I would get easy treatment in employment. However, I received the same treatment as any other employee when I was on duty. When he did not like something or was not in favour of my decision, he would call me into the office, and we would exchange our thoughts. Strangely enough, today I find myself in similar situations that I encountered in the past with him, and for me, it is like déjà vu. I can say that I have learned the hard way. I wish he was still around so I could learn more from him. D'Offay said his father was not only a great tourism pioneer but also his mentor. (Lucas D'Offay) Photo License: All Rights Reserved SNA: What do you think is needed to help propel the island's tourism businesses forward? LD: Propelling an island's tourism businesses forward involves a multi-faceted approach that addresses various aspects of the industry. The focus should be on marketing and promotion. We should not solely depend on the Tourism Seychelles Department [of the government] to do all the marketing. Each business must have its own marketing strategy to attract guests and increase profit margins. Infrastructure development is another crucial aspect. Businesses should ensure that their buildings and facilities are clean and up to standard so that customers get value for their money. Government support is also essential, including constantly revising policies, providing tax incentives, and easing GOP [gainful occupation permits for foreign workers] formalities. SNA: How do you see your future unfolding and do you see yourself remaining in the industry? LD: I cannot see myself in any other industry apart from tourism and hospitality. In the tourism industry, you learn new things every single day. Nothing is repetitive. This is what makes it fun and challenging at times. I have an approachable attitude towards everyone. The staff at the hotel always describe me as someone who is very open-minded, as I believe in an open-door policy. I believe in firmness and discipline but with an amicable and understanding approach. SNA: What advice do you have for the youth aspiring to manage a hotel in Seychelles? LD: Hotel management is not only a career but also a vocation. You cannot be part of it if you do not have the patience and passion for it. You must be comfortable with working long hours, as is often the case, and be prepared to work split shifts and on public holidays. Understanding your staff and every respective department is also very important. You must always lead by example and you will encounter many obstacles along this journey, but remember that the grass is not always greener on the other side. You must always keep pushing your limit, do not give up. The more obstacles along the way the stronger and wiser you become. Promotions do not come overnight, take one step at a time. As the saying goes 'Rome was not built in a day.'
UP CM Yogi Adityanath lauded the BJP's respect for labor. He compared PM Modi's honoring of Ram Mandir workers with the alleged historical severing of Taj Mahal workers' hands. He criticized opposition impeachment notices against the Rajya Sabha chairman and a judge advocating for a Uniform Civil Code. Yogi highlighted India's historical economic influence and the Sanatan religion's non-aggressive nature.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla showed off his cricketing skills in a friendly match against the Rajya Sabha Chairman XI. The match, part of the TB Mukt Bharat campaign, saw MPs from across parties participate. Meanwhile, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju urged MPs to embrace PM Modi's 11 resolutions for India's development.
Local Jewish groups had expressed interest in erecting the traditional nine-branched candelabra near a M&S store in Epping over the eight-day holiday at the end of this month.
It's the long-running soap which, since its earliest days in 1985, has seen murders, fires and more than its fair share of cliff-hangers.
Bala Trichy Iyer, 56, gives back to his community by offering basic coding classes at Changi Simei Community Club (CC). The entrepreneur, who founded technology start-up The Walnut, has held three Python lessons so far. To his surprise, residents in their 70s with no tech background showed up and kept coming back. «Most of them say: 'I have no idea. Looks like I have missed the boat.' But we say: 'No... we'll teach you today. And not only will you do it effortlessly, you'll be enjoying it also,'» he said. Such community spirit is important as Singapore embarks on a new phase of nation-building in a troubled time, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Dec 14. «You can see it around the world when you read the news. The world is becoming more troubled. There are wars in Europe, in the Middle East,» he said at a community event in Bedok. «Society is becoming more divided, trust being eroded.» But Singapore can be a «beacon of light» and come together to face challenges, he said. «We can be stable, secure, reliable and trusted.»
One woman died after a family of three from Singapore got into a car accident in Miaoli, Taiwan on Saturday (Dec 14) afternoon. A Singaporean man, 36, and his three-year-old daughter sustained minor injuries from the crash, reported Taiwan news publication TVBS. His wife, a 33-year-old Chinese national, died from her injuries, SETNews reported. The man had driven a rental car, taking his family to pick strawberries in a farm that day. While en route to their next destination, he lost control of the vehicle. Instead of making a right turn like other motorists, the white car was veering towards the left and ended up crashing into a power pole, CCTV footage of the area showed. The power pole collapsed onto the road, blocking traffic across three lanes. While the man and his daughter were able to exit the vehicle, his wife was trapped back seat, local police said. She showed no signs of life after first responders extricated her from the wreckage. The woman was taken to hospital where she was subsequently pronounced dead.
Lithuanian fitness athlete Kornelija Dudaite has been disqualified for displaying an anti-Russian slogan Read Full Article at RT.com
Ben Affleck reunited with his exes Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner to watch their children perform together in a school play in Los Angeles , California on Friday.
«We hold the Israeli occupation, the US administration, and the countries complicit in this crime of genocide,» the media office said
The military made searches using stun grenades and tear gas against local residents
The inexplicable issue has reached a boiling point as President Joe Biden remains silent - refusing to address the mounting crisis , fueling country-wide fear and confusion.
The comedian, 47, pipped fellow finalists Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill and Sarah Hadland to the post in the show's 'best ever' final as his inspiring story was said to have saved the show.
Muhammad Sharif, 69, claims the five children are not willing to go back to Britain despite the UK government 's best efforts to have them.
Baroness Ann Mallalieu has become one of the most vocal critics of Chancellor Rachel Reeves 's ill-conceived plan, likely to affect more than 50,000 farms across the country.
Marcus Fakana, the British teenager who was convicted in Dubai after having sex with a 17-year-old girl, is now facing the prospect of seeing his one-year sentence increased to 20 years.
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