Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan received the 2024 Africa Freedom Prize of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF)  for his exemplary leadership in advancing democracy and freedom in a Wednesday ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa. The award was presented by the regional director for the FNF, Inge Herbert. In his address, Ramkalawan said that receiving the award is indeed an honour for him and that «to me, it means a lot. It also means that when we do what is right we are recognised.» The award was presented by the regional director for the FNF, Inge Herbert. Ramkalawan spoke about his political journey, his election victory in October 2020, and the upcoming elections in September 2025. «Elections will be held next year in my country. The people will decide whether they want me back for a second and final term or whether they want somebody else. But I can tell you if I lose I will leave quietly. [...] I will not take up arms and fight to try and get back into office,» he added.   Ahead of receiving the award,  Ramkalawan engaged with the press at a briefing hosted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) Sub-Saharan Africa at their headquarters in Johannesburg. The event offered an opportunity for the President to discuss his leadership philosophy and the remarkable trajectory of Seychelles' economic and social transformation. President Ramkalawan had the opportunity to discuss his leadership philosophy. (State House) Photo License: CC-BY  Ramkalawan said that leadership is about believing in principles and with those principles one can persist and go on. «You can fall when you don't win an election but that doesn't matter because your principles are there and you will pick yourself up from where you fell and you will continue,» he said. «The vision was one of democracy, one where the country could go much further and people would be respected because the background from which I came is very important to understand. It was a one-party system where democracy was not allowed to function. [...] I felt duty-bound to help bring about the change. So we stood up against what was affecting the people and we did not choose any shortcuts. [...] I remained steadfast in what I believed and this is what I want you young leaders of Africa to stick to,» he shared. State House said in a press release that since its transition from a socialist one-party state to a multi-party democracy in 1993, Seychelles has emerged as a trailblazer in economic liberalization and sustainable development. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, is ranked first in governance on the African continent on the Mo Ibrahim Index. 

Seychelles has made a pivotal step towards advancing from its current 'meaningful progress' status to 'full compliance' with the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) Standard, which will further strengthen its dedication to sustainable fisheries management following the successful completion of the second validation process. The announcement was made by FiTI and the Department of the Blue Economy in a joint press statement after the second validation was completed with an independent validator, Stefaan Depypere, during his visit to Seychelles between October 21 to 26. During this visit, Depypere conducted comprehensive stakeholder consultations across various sectors in Seychelles. His objective was to verify the initial assessment conducted by the FiTI International Secretariat led by Seychellois Yannick Memee, and identify both the progress achieved and opportunities for further enhancing the national FiTI implementation.  Depypere met with key stakeholders, including the Minister of Fisheries, Jean-François Ferrari, the principal secretaries of the Blue Economy and Fisheries and representatives from the Civil Society, among others. This collaborative approach is vital for ensuring that the feedback gathered reflects the diverse perspectives necessary for effective governance of Seychelles' marine resources. As part of the validation process, Depypere's findings will be reviewed by the FiTI International Board which will assess whether the individual requirements of the FiTI Standard have been met and determine Seychelles' overall level of compliance. This process provides a unique opportunity to conduct an objective evaluation of past performances, underscoring the initiative's commitment to supporting Seychelles in its journey toward greater transparency and accountability in fisheries management, according to the statement. 

In a dramatic turn of events a Chinese wildlife convict Lin Yunhua’s daughter has allegedly come in the limelight to process formal registration of her father’s controversial big piece of land he acquired dubiously from the village without the knowledge of chiefs in village headman Gumulira in Lumbazi, Lilongwe. Chiefs and villagers have since demanded […] The post Gomulira villagers demand Govt intervention in Lin’s dubious land occupation appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) call for construction firms to conduct a two-week safety timeout is an opportunity for all parties to «self-reflect», said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad. On Thursday (Nov 7), MOM said that the Multi-Agency Workplace Safety and Health Taskforce (MAST) and industry associations are strongly encouraging construction companies to initiate a safety timeout from Nov 8 to Nov 22. This timeout is a reminder to companies to make sure they have safety procedures in place and enforce them. The 10 deaths between July to October this year also suggest a reduced emphasis on workplace safety and health in the sector.

[New Times] President Paul Kagame on November 6 congratulated Donald Trump on winning the 2024 United States presidential elections.

[New Times] If you're among the many people working remotely or travelling as a digital nomad, internet speed and affordability are likely at the top of your list when picking a destination.

[Egypt Online] Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty said on Wednesday 6/11/2024 relations with Cameroon are strong, and historic, extending over several decades.

Oyem, le 5 Novembre 2024-En prélude au référendum à venir, les membres chargés des femmes au sein de la coordination provinciale du Woleu-Ntem ont organisé une rencontre avec des femmes leaders d'associations de la commune d'Oyem dans un hôtel de la place. Cette organisation a pour mission de coordonner la campagne référendaire dans la province du Woleu-Ntem. Placé sous le signe de l'engagement et de l'action collective, cette réunion qui a vu la participation de quatre vingt femmes (...) - POLITIQUE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

The Zaporozhye NPP, located in Energodar, has six power units with a total capacity of 6 GW

Nicolas Maduro expressed hope for improved relations between the two governments and recalled that «it was not all quiet» during the first Trump administration

AstraZeneca's new $2 billion facility in Tuas, when completed in 2029, will be the company's first end-to-end antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) production site globally.  Unlike conventional chemotherapy drugs which are unable to distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells, ADCs are next-generation treatments that deliver highly potent cancer-killing agents directly to cancer cells through a targeted antibody.  Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony on Thursday (Nov 7), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said that the new facility will «be a significant boost to Singapore's biopharmaceutical industry» and will help build up Singapore’s competitive advantage in ADC manufacturing .  He added that “this facility will provide a shot in the arm for Singapore’s biopharmaceutical industry with world-leading ADC technological capabilities”. AstraZeneca’s 58-acre (about the size of 31 football fields) greenfield facility in Tuas South will incorporate all four steps of the manufacturing process in one site, and it will also utilise artificial intelligence and digital platforms.

SINGAPORE — The National Parks Board (NParks) is looking into a case of a dog handler kicking a dog at Coney Island Park. A five-second clip that surfaced on social media sites on Wednesday (Nov 6) shows two women walking side by side, each handling four leashed dogs. One of the women is seen kicking one of the dogs in the face. The video was uploaded by @sgfollowsall on Instagram, with a caption stating that the individual who filmed it had witnessed the incident at 10.57am on Nov 6 while on a stroll at Coney Island Park. In response to queries by The Straits Times, Jessica Kwok, NParks' group director of enforcement and investigation, said the organisation had received feedback on the incident and was looking into it.

A body was recovered from the waters near Woodlands Waterfront Jetty on Nov 7, after search-and-rescue operations were conducted in response to a report that a man had fallen into the water earlier that morning. A blue police tent, used to cover a human body in a public place, was spotted at the scene at around 4.27pm, reported The Straits Times.  The incident occurred at approximately 10am where the man was discovered missing by his employer, leading to suspicions that he had fallen into the waters, according to Lianhe Zaobao. The man was reportedly doing cleanup work at the jetty then. In response to AsiaOne's queries just before 5pm, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said that it had received a report that a crew member onboard a flotsam retrieval craft had fallen into the water near Woodlands Waterfront Jetty. MPA said then that it deployed its craft to the area and search efforts were underway. They added that they were also coordinating with the Police Coast Guard and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

In the Belgorod district, 13 flats in two apartment buildings, 16 private houses, 12 outbuildings, 25 passenger cars, and 6 commercial facilities—one of which caught fire when hit—were damaged

Western investors are considering whether Russian assets are back in play after Donald Trump’s election victory, the Financial Times reports Read Full Article at RT.com

Donald Trump’s victory triggered a $26.5 billion net worth gain for his biggest financial backer Elon Musk, Bloomberg has said  Read Full Article at RT.com

NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- Kenya's counter-terrorism police unit said its special forces carried out intelligence-led operations on the border with Somalia, destroying two al-Shabab makeshift camps.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has announced the arrest of two individuals linked to the militant group Al-Shabaab following an extended surveillance operation that tracked their intelligence-gathering efforts aimed at civilian targets.

Mogadishu (HOL) — In Saudi Arabia, nearly 50 Somali nationals face execution for drug trafficking, prompting urgent appeals for clemency from their families and the Somali government. Many of these young detainees, originally seeking work, were reportedly coerced or deceived into smuggling illegal substances across the Saudi border.

Moscow is interested in developing various forms of interaction with Astana, the top Russian diplomat said

On June 13, the Moscow Exchange suspended trading in the dollar and euro after the US Treasury imposed sanctions against it and the National Clearing Center, part of the Moscow Exchange group

Among the targets hit, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also listed «dozens of terror targets,» including a launcher used to fire projectiles at Israel, as well as weapons depots

Sergey Lavrov stated that the two sides were working on «major arrangements ahead of the Russian president’s state visit to Kazakhstan on November 27»

According to Ivan Bigma, over the past day, the enemy lost 13 pieces of equipment, including a T-64 tank, a self-propelled artillery system, and 3 motor vehicles as a result of the battlegroup's operations

The BJP criticized Congress for distributing blank copies of the Constitution at Rahul Gandhi's event in Nagpur. They accused Congress of insulting the Constitution and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, highlighting past instances where Congress leaders opposed reservations and allegedly removed historical figures from the Constitution.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has accused the BJP of using central agencies to tarnish his image and challenged them to a fair fight in the upcoming assembly elections. Soren criticized the BJP's performance during their tenure, highlighting issues like school closures, ration card cancellations, and lack of JPSC exams.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated US President-elect Donald Trump, highlighting the deep trust Americans have in his leadership. Both leaders fondly recalled past interactions like the 'Howdy Modi' and 'Namaste Trump' events, emphasizing the importance of the Indo-US partnership. They pledged to strengthen ties in technology, defense, and other sectors.

The Supreme Court has scrapped the Jalan-Fritsch consortium's resolution plan for Jet Airways, leading to the airline's liquidation. The court overturned the NCLAT's decision, citing the consortium's failure to infuse funds as a key reason. The court criticized the NCLAT's ruling and deemed liquidation as the best course of action for creditors and stakeholders.

The news comes three weeks after Liam died at the age of 31 on October 16 when he fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Russian president has taken part in the club’s meetings every year since it was established in 2004

Xinhua also reported that the Chinese President Xi «expressed the hope that the two sides will uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences and expand mutually beneficial cooperation»

The aid was delivered on instructions from the Russian president

In October, trade turnover between the two countries totaled $21.8 bln, flat month-on-month

In the area of Rafah in south Gaza, the IDF eliminated several armed radicals and «conducted targeted raids during which they located weapons» in central Gaza, the press service added