President Wavel Ramkalawan has expressed satisfaction that Seychelles has been ranked first in the continent on the Mo Ibrahim Index African Governance Report of 2024. «We received good news, with Seychelles being ranked first in Africa on the Index, which is very important as it is an authority about Africa,» said Ramkalwan in a press conference on Thursday. This year's report gathers data over 10 years from 2014 to 2023. This includes the years under the leadership of three presidents, namely former President James Michel, former President Danny Faure and the incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan. The Index was released on Wednesday and Seychelles is ranked first in the Overall Governance category with a score of 75.3 out of a possible 100 points in the category ahead of Mauritius with 72.8 out of 100.  At the other end of the ranking, in second before last and last place, are Somalia and South Sudan. Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, also ranks among the top 10 most improved countries between 2014 and 2023, along with The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Angola, Mauritania and Djibouti. Ramkalawan explained that despite it being a great source of pride, there is also room for improvement. «We as an administration are telling the people that we must improve in the areas that we can do better in,» he stated. Among areas Seychelles has not scored highly are law enforcement with 36 points, sustainable use of land and forests with 54.7 points, ranking it 37th on the continent, and health quality with 45.3. The President noted that where law enforcement is concerned the country is ranked 26th despite a 9.6 increase in points. «This means all agencies concerned with law enforcement will have to work to rectify this and everyone must play their part,» he added. Ramkalawan said that the categories «we have been ranked lower than 10th are areas that we have to work harder to improve our scores. In the case of quality of health, the minister concerned has certain questions that need to be answered.» The Mo Ibrahim Foundation said on its website that the 2024 report «shows that Africa's overall governance progress came to a halt in 2022, following four years of almost complete stagnation, as substantial advances in both human and economic development are undermined by the ongoing deterioration of the security and democratic landscape.» It added that Africa's governance landscape should not be summarised under a single average. «Ours is a huge continent of 54 countries, with highly diverging trends, some with strikingly successful trajectories, others with concerning warning signs,» said the report. The Mo Ibrahim Index is the most comprehensive assessment of governance performance in 54 African countries, incorporating an expanded governance scope, including environment and equality; strengthened indicators, and a section fully dedicated to Africa's Citizens' Voices. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation was established in 2006 with a focus on the critical importance of political leadership and public governance in Africa. By providing tools to support progress in leadership and governance, the foundation aims to promote meaningful change on the continent.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday told leaders of BRICS emerging economies the world was facing «serious challenges» and urged the group to be a «stabilising force». Xi was speaking on the final day of the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan, a forum Moscow hopes will help forge a united front of nations against the West. Addressing assembled leaders, Xi said the «common march of the global South towards modernity is a major event in world history». «We must be a stabilising force for peace, strengthen global security governance and explore solutions to hotspot issues that address both the symptoms and the root causes,» Xi said. «The world still faces serious challenges to its peaceful development,» he warned. He also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the prevention of further conflict in Lebanon. «We need to continue to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, relaunch the two-state solution and stop the spread of war in Lebanon,» Xi said. «There should be no more suffering and destruction in Palestine and Lebanon,» he said. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles and The Bahamas formalised diplomatic relations through the signing of a joint communiqué in Apia, Samoa, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday. The agreement was signed by Sylvestre Radegonde, Seychelles' Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, and Frederick A. Mitchell, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Both are in Samoa for meetings leading up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Seychelles and The Bahamas share several common priorities, particularly in addressing climate change, advocating for the unique challenges of small island developing states (SIDS), and strengthening their participation in international organisations such as the Commonwealth and the United Nations, according to the statement. «The establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries paves the way for increased bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including people-centered development, environmental protection, and sustainability,» said the Department of Foreign Affairs.  

Thousands of people living along India's eastern coast fled to inland storm shelters on Wednesday ahead of the expected arrival of a powerful cyclone later this week. Cyclone Dana is likely to hit the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha states -- together home to around 150 million people -- as a «severe cyclonic storm», India's weather bureau said. It is forecast to make landfall near Puri, a popular tourist destination, late on Thursday night. «Authorities have begun evacuating more than 100,000 people in coastal areas,» West Bengal state government minister Bankim Chandra Hazra told AFP. «Authorities have ordered the shutdown of all educational institutions» in nine districts of the state until Sunday, he added. The Indian Meteorological Department warned fishing crews to stay off the water, and authorities in Odisha state cancelled around 200 trains, according to local media reports. A senior official at the international airport in Kolkata, India's third-biggest city by population, said authorities there were weighing whether to stop all air traffic from Thursday. Tourists in coastal areas of both states were told to leave beach resorts and move to safe shelters. «There was a rush of tourists at the railway station in Puri to leave,» railway spokesman Kaushik Mitea told AFP. Cyclones -- the equivalent of hurricanes in the North Atlantic or typhoons in the northwestern Pacific -- are a regular and deadly menace in the northern Indian Ocean. Powerful Cyclone Remal killed at least 48 people in India in May, according to government figures. While better forecasting and more effective evacuation plans have reduced death tolls, scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer with climate change. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles is among the member states that are yet to officially submit their revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) that was given as a task at the  United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in December 2022. At the COP16 taking place in Cali, Colombia, a number of pertinent subjects are being discussed, including the submission of the member states' revised NBSAP. Only around 18 percent of the member states have officially submitted theirs. Speaking to SNA in Colombia, the CBD Focal point for Seychelles, Indira Gamatis, said one of the issues was a delay in receiving funding that was earmarked for the development of the country's action plan. «Seychelles is being supported under the GEF (Global Environment Fund) project to develop the national targets and the NBSAP. There were delays there,» she said. Gamatis stated that Seychelles had previously two other NBSAPs in place - the last one being from 2016 until 2020 and it was in line with the Aichi biodiversity targets which had been adopted in Japan in 2010. «Following a review during the last COP in 2022, it was recommended that we come up with another NBSAP. This NBSAP process itself involves a lot of stakeholder consultation with the whole society approach, including the government, private sector, individuals and communities to ensure that everyone is represented in this action plan,» she explained. Gamatis added that the NBSAP will not only focus on ecosystem and species conservation, it will also detail how to use resources in a more sustainable manner. It will also look at other factors that affect biodiversity as a whole, resource mobilisation and capacity building. «The NBSAP will have countries actually deliver on their commitments with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and support the implementation of the new global framework for biodiversity,» said Gamatis.  She confirmed that Seychelles' NBSAP will be ready by next year, and clarified that even though the action plan is not complete, that does not mean that nothing is being done for biodiversity conservation. «For example, Seychelles had already completed the 30 by 30 target by 2020. This is a worldwide initiative for governments to designate 30 percent of Earth's land and ocean area as protected areas by 2030. In fact, in our case, this number is around 32.6 percent of our ocean and around 48 percent of our land mass. There are also several other projects being done that already align with the global framework. Now we need to focus on implementation and ensuring that these protected areas are being effectively managed and protected.» «In addition, with the new NBSAP, we are supposed to conduct a comprehensive biodiversity assessment and in fact, this is being done currently. This is being done by a consultant, who is looking at the status of biodiversity in Seychelles, the gaps, issues as well as impacts on biodiversity,» she said. Gamatis said the next crucial step will be implementation and mentioned the Biodiversity Finance Plan being developed under the GOS-GEF-UNDP «Prioritising Biodiversity Conservation and Nature-based Solutions as Pillars of Seychelles' Blue Economy.» This Blue Economy project is administered by the United Nations Development Programme and the Seychelles' Ministry responsible for the environment is is implementing it. The project manager, Victoria Alis, said, «Under this project, there are funds allocated to support the Biodiversity Finance Unit, or BFU, to develop the biodiversity finance plan -BFP- as well as supporting the Ministry of Environment in implementing a biodiversity needs assessment. That is doing the costing of the NBSAP. Some funds have already been secured under this project to essentially support the NBSAP.» Alis is also in Colombia to learn more about the GBF and CBD reporting requirements and also innovative ways to report and monitor the BFP and NBSAP. This story was produced as part of the 2024 CBD COP16 Fellowship organised by Internews' Earth Journalism Network.

Seychellois Jade Micock and Wes Jean-Charles are participating in the International Boxing Association (IBA) Youth World Boxing Championships 2024 in Budva, Montenegro. The two young boxers are competing alongside some of the top young boxers in the world in the competition, which is taking place from October 22 to November 3. The boxers had intense preparation for the tournament and trained twice a day with breaks on Sundays only.   Micock, 17, has not lost in six bouts this season, and speaking to the media recently, he shared his desire to keep that streak going and look for a win in Montenegro.   He shared that in boxing, only winning matters, and that is what he will aim for. Meanwhile, Jean-Charles has fought three times this year and won only one. He shared that this will not be an easy competition, as boxers worldwide will be competing and will use this opportunity to do their very best.   The Seychellois boxers will be accompanied by coach Jerry Legras, who said that he expects them to do well even if it is the first time Seychelles takes such an elite level challenge. The competition is reserved for boxers under the age of 18 and brings together the best boxers from around the globe. In the last edition in 2022, over 600 boxers took their talents to the ring. In that tournament, held in La Nucia, Spain for both male and female boxers,  Uzbekistan dominated, winning five gold medals, three silver, and two bronze. They led the medals table, ahead of India and England. The tournament is one at which many people scout for the next generation of top boxers. When Budva, Montenegro, was announced as the host of the competition, IBA president Umar Kremlev mentioned that the event is crucial for the next generation of elite boxers. «The names we hear at the Budva event will soon become well-known in the world of elite boxing, as we already know some stories of success based on La Nucia 2022 and Kielce 2021 championships. I am extremely looking forward to the highest standard of event in Montenegro,» he added. 

World leaders called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine at the BRICS summit in Russia on Wednesday, as President Vladimir Putin told them he welcomed offers to mediate in the Ukraine conflict. The Russian leader is casting the gathering as a sign that Western attempts to isolate Moscow have failed, but faced direct calls to end the Ukraine conflict from some of his closest and most important partners. The meeting of around 20 world leaders in the central city of Kazan is the largest diplomatic forum in Russia since Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in 2022. Starting in 2009 with four members -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- BRICS has since expanded to include other emerging nations such as South Africa, Egypt and Iran. Chinese President Xi Jinping told the summit there must be «no escalation of fighting» in Ukraine. «We must adhere to the three principles of 'no spillover from the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no adding oil to the fire by relevant parties', so as to ease the situation as soon as possible,» Xi said. Russia and China signed a «no limits» strategic partnership days before Moscow ordered troops into Ukraine and Putin and Xi both hailed close ties in a bilateral meeting on Tuesday. Without referring to any specific conflict, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also issued a call for peace. «We support dialogue and diplomacy, not war,» he said. - Mediation offers - On the Middle East, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian urged BRICS members to «use all their collective and individual capacities to end the war in Gaza and Lebanon». Xi repeated his call for a ceasefire, saying: «We need to... stop the killing and work tirelessly for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue.» Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also called for escalation in both the Middle East and Ukraine to be avoided. «As we face two wars that have the potential to become global, it is essential to restore our ability to work together toward common goals,» he said in an address to the summit via video conference. In private talks, Putin welcomed offers by several of the BRICS leaders to mediate in Ukraine, even as he told them his forces were advancing, his spokesman said Wednesday. Many countries «expressed a desire to contribute more actively» to resolving the conflict, state media cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as telling reporters. Putin had also used the meetings to tout «the very positive dynamics on the front for the Russian armed forces,» Peskov said. Russia's troops have been slowly advancing in eastern Ukraine for much of 2024, though neither side has been able to make a decisive breakthrough and the conflict appears locked in an attritional phase. «Avoiding escalation and initiating peace negotiations is also crucial in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia,» Brazil's Lula said. - Multipolar order - Xi and Modi have previously touted their own peace initiatives for Ukraine, though there has appeared to be little progress. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also at the summit, is another casting himself as a possible peacemaker. He will hold direct talks with Putin later on Wednesday. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was also at the summit, his first visit to Russia for more than two years. He will on Thursday hold talks with Putin over Ukraine. Moscow promotes the BRICS platform as an alternative to Western-led international organisations like the G7. «The process of forming a multipolar world order is underway, a dynamic and irreversible process,» Putin said at the official opening of the summit. He also blasted the West for hitting BRICS members, including Russia, with sanctions, saying they could trigger a global crisis. «Significant crisis potential also remains. And it is not only about the ever-increasing geopolitical tensions, but also ... the practice of unilateral sanctions, protectionism and unfair competition is expanding,» Putin said. Putin also called on the leaders of emerging economies to explore alternative payments and trading platforms to reduce their reliance on Western infrastructure. © Agence France-Presse

A global treaty to curb plastic pollution will be secured at a summit in South Korea next month, the chair of the talks pledged Wednesday, although he cautioned there were still complex disputes and the time frame was a «big challenge». Ecuador's Luis Vayas Valdivieso said the clock was ticking if nations are to seal a potentially groundbreaking agreement at final UN-convened talks in South Korea late November, adding that divergences remain between countries. Vayas Valdivieso said his mandate is «to achieve an effective treaty, an effective legally binding instrument» and «we're going to deliver on that mandate at the end of Busan». However, «I am in the hands of the members,» he told a lecture in Japan. «We do have divergences still in our negotiation, still some complex issues that still need to mature a bit more.» Negotiators have met several times to discuss a deal that could include production caps, rules on recyclability, and bans on certain plastics or chemical components. At previous talks, oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia objected to limiting plastic production, wanting to instead focus on recycling. Meanwhile, dozens of countries in a «high-ambition» coalition, including the majority of the European Union, are calling for tougher measures. Vayas Valdivieso said that with only seven days of negotiations in Busan, time will be a «big challenge». But he expressed hope for a deal «with credible rules to end plastic pollution». «We must succeed in Busan for the wellbeing of our planet, for the wellbeing of human health,» he said. Plastic production has doubled in 20 years and at current rates it could triple by 2060, according to the OECD. Yet over 90 percent of plastic is not recycled, with much of it dumped in nature or buried in landfills. In an attempt to whittle down the unwieldy draft document and speed up negotiations in Busan, Vayas Valdivieso has been producing so-called «non-papers» based on talks with countries. The papers have no legal basis as negotiating documents but could serve as a starting point for the last round of talks if the parties agree to accept them. Vayas Valdivieso said on Wednesday he hoped to publish a third non-paper in the coming days with «as much text as possible». But Busan does not mark the end of efforts to tackle plastic pollution, he added, as any treaty should be «a living convention that will get stronger and stronger in the future.» © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles and Malaysia are working on diplomatic agreements in air services, according to a press statement from the Ministry of Transport on Tuesday. This was one of the main topics of discussions between the Seychelles' Minister for Transport, Antony Derjacques, and his counterpart from Malaysia, Anthony Loke. Discussions were held at the Global Air Services Negotiation event (ICAN-2024), taking place in Kuala Lampur. In order to provide insightful information as Seychelles proceeds with its proposed airport master plan, Loke also invited Derjacques and his delegation to tour Malaysia's airports. The purpose of the tour was to exchange design and best practices with Seychelles in order to modernise the Seychelles International Airport. The Seychelles Airport Masterplan was completed earlier this year and the last presentation was made to the Cabinet on June 26. As the Cabinet still had some reservations about certain infrastructures and the financial plans, these two components are being explored further. The major upgrade for the Seychelles International Airport to accommodate the increase in traffic was unveiled in 2022 by Garry Albert, chief executive of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), on the 50th anniversary of the airport's existence. In November 2022, EGIS Emirates was appointed to review and prepare an updated 30-year airport master plan for the Seychelles International Airport. Aside from discussions relating to air travel, both ministers stressed the value of people-to-people exchanges, highlighting the growing number of Seychellois students pursuing their studies in Malaysia. The ministers agreed that this academic engagement represents a vital avenue for capacity building in Seychelles, contributing to the nation's future development. To conclude their meeting the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and continuing to engage on issues of common interest in the transportation and aviation sectors.

Seychelles has received approval of $2.76 million for a project proposal by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to advance its National Adaptation Planning (NAP) process. In a press release on Monday, the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment (MACCE), said this landmark project, approved on October 10, will be implemented over the next three years. It will focus on enhancing the island nation's capacity to respond to the growing challenges of climate change. The project aims to address key barriers hindering effective adaptation planning, developed with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH). These include limited institutional capacity, insufficient collaboration, and inadequate funding mechanisms. By building on the progress made in national strategies such as the Seychelles National Climate Change Policy and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), this project will ensure that Seychelles is equipped to plan for a sustainable, climate-resilient future. Flavien Joubert, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change, said access to climate finance is one thing but the implementation and execution of the project is another milestone that the country has to achieve. «The project represents a significant step forward for Seychelles in our journey toward climate resilience. It will enable us to build the necessary structures and engage stakeholders across all sectors to ensure that climate adaptation is integrated into our national development planning,» he said. The MACCE will serve as the executing entity, while UNEP will be the implementing partner. Seychelles, as a small island developing state, faces unique vulnerabilities to climate change, with vital sectors such as tourism, fisheries, and agriculture directly affected by rising sea levels, changing weather patterns, and extreme climate events. This project will ensure a comprehensive approach to adaptation planning, benefitting both government institutions and communities at all levels. Key outcomes of the project will include, strengthening adaptation planning governance and institutional coordination as well as developing a robust evidence base to design impactful adaptation solutions, catalysing private sector engagement in climate adaptation and increasing adaptation finance to support resilience efforts. The NAP project will also engage the private sector and civil society to foster investment in adaptation-related initiatives, ensuring that all stakeholders are equipped to contribute to building resilience to climate change. Additionally, it will focus on building resilience in the country's health systems through health adaptation planning and creating awareness on the three main islands, with a special focus on vulnerable communities.

Seychelles and India have signed an agreement for better training opportunities and information sharing between the Auditor General's Offices of the two countries. The agreement was signed on Monday by the Seychelles' Auditor General, Gamini Herath, and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Chandra Murmu. The agreement will provide the two institutions with a collaboration platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience amongst auditing professionals to develop the capacity for carrying out audits Speaking to those attending the event, Herath stated that it was his «sincere hope that the MoU we are signing today will pave the way for better training opportunities, information sharing, exchange of fruitful ideas and sharing resources between our two SAIs (supreme audit institutions).» The two entities have been working together for over 40 years and over 50 auditors from Seychelles have been trained through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme (ITEC). Herath added that many of those trained have shared their expertise in both the public and private sectors. Furthermore, Murmu stressed the importance of audit institutions and their adherence to international standards. Both countries are members of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) as well as the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). Chandra, who has been on an official visit to the small island state, also met the Speaker of the National Assembly, Roger Mancienne, and the head of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) in the National Assembly, Sebastien Pillay, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the institution. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel Tuesday to push for a ceasefire in Gaza after his administration called for an end to the war in Lebanon «as soon as possible». It is his 11th trip to the Middle East since Hamas's attack on Israel more than a year ago triggered the Gaza war, and his first since Israel's conflict with Hezbollah escalated late last month. He is due to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials, as Israel weighs its response to Iran's October 1 missile attack. In Lebanon, Israel hit an area of south Beirut housing the country's largest public health facility, killing 13 people, according to the health ministry. The Rafic Hariri Hospital, located outside Hezbollah's traditional strongholds, sustained minor damage in the strike which flattened four buildings in its vicinity, said an AFP correspondent in the area. Previous US efforts to end the Gaza war and contain the regional fallout have failed, as did a bid spearheaded by President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to secure a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon. After Israel, Blinken will visit Jordan on Wednesday and discuss humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip, an official on the plane with him said. Blinken also plans to speak to Israeli leaders about the expected strike on Iran and discourage any move that could massively escalate regional conflict, the official said. - Night of strikes - On Monday, US envoy to Lebanon Amos Hochstein said his administration was seeking an end to the war «as soon as possible» as he pushed for a ceasefire based on a UN resolution that had ended an earlier Israel-Hezbollah war. Under resolution 1701, Hezbollah should have withdrawn from areas in south Lebanon near the Israeli border, leaving only the country's weak military and UN peacekeepers deployed there. But Hezbollah remained south of Lebanon's Litani River, and in October last year began launching low-intensity cross-border strikes into Israel, in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas. After nearly a year of war in Gaza, Israel shifted its focus to Lebanon, vowing to secure its northern border to allow tens of thousands of Israelis displaced by the cross-border fire to return to their homes. Israel ramped up its air strikes on Hezbollah strongholds around the country and on September 30 sent in ground troops, in a war that has killed at least 1,489 people since September 23, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry figures. The strike on Monday night came as Israel targeted Beirut's southern suburbs with heavy fire following evacuation warnings. The densely populated Ouzai neighbourhood a few kilometres (miles) from the city centre was hit for the first time in the conflict, sparking an exodus of residents. The Israeli military said it was targeting Hezbollah's naval unit, and that it had issued an evacuation warning. A Lebanese security official told AFP that the country's national airline had to switch landing strips after Israeli strikes near Beirut's only international airport hit close to the main runway. Hezbollah on Tuesday said it launched rockets targeting two positions in the suburbs of Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv, including an intelligence base. It also said it targeted Israel's «Stella Maris naval base» near the northern city of Haifa, and that its militants had clashed with Israeli troops near a village at the border. In a war-hit area along the Lebanese border, AFP footage showed huge clouds of smoke rising following Israeli strikes on the village of Khiam, as trails of smoke from Hezbollah rockets fired towards Israel could also be seen. The wars in Gaza and Lebanon have also drawn in other Iran-aligned armed groups, including in Yemen, Syria and Iraq. Iran on Tuesday said it had received assurances from its neighbours that they would not allow the use of their airspace for any attack against it, after Israel pledged to hit back against its October 1 missile attack. - 'We will die of hunger' - In the Gaza Strip, Israel launched a major air and ground assault in northern Gaza earlier this month, vowing to stop Hamas militants from regrouping in the area. Gaza's civil defence agency said four Palestinians were killed in strikes on Monday, while several homes were blown up in the northern area of Jabalia, a focal point of the recent fighting. A displaced resident said Jabalia «is being wiped out». «If we don't die from the bombing and gunfire, we will die of hunger,» said 42-year-old Umm Firas Shamiyah, demanding aid be sent to the north. Tens of thousands of people are estimated to have fled the assault on northern Gaza, and according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees around 400,000 people were trapped in the area last week. The UN has warned of the risk of famine in Gaza, its figures showing that 396 aid trucks have entered the territory so far this month -- far below the 3,003 seen in September. The war was sparked by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 last year, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures. Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed 42,718 people, a majority civilians, according to data from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures the UN considers reliable. © Agence France-Presse

 Joyce Lakela runs a nursery in Tembisa, a Johannesburg township, but these days she spends most of her time trying to find water. «It's been going on for five days,» she said, lamenting shortages affecting South Africa's largest city where temperatures are rising with the beginning of summer. «This is a big challenge,» the elderly woman said, after filling up a large bin with water from a tanker. «The kids have to wash their hands, we have to flush the toilets, and we also have to wash the kids.» The crisis is the result of daily restrictions imposed by the city to stop what they say is over-consumption and to allow maintenance work. While there is enough water in the country's reserves, for individuals like Lakela, who already faced months of electricity shortages last year, the reality is that taps are going dry for hours and sometimes days. Last week, residents of Westbury and Westdene, suburbs to the west of the central business district, blocked the streets in protest against water outages. They burned tyres and blocked a road with rocks and debris. Businesses and services have also been affected, including at least one hospital in northern Gauteng, the province of 16 million people which includes Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria. - Delays, leaks - This comes after Rand Water, the water supplier for Gauteng, this month warned over high water consumption and instructed municipalities to impose daily limits. «Water storage could soon be depleted if municipalities do not implement our recommendations. It is essential to act now to prevent the impending disaster,» Rand Water said in a statement on October 12. The water company is not just worried about consumers leaving taps on. There are also leaks and «illegal connections», or theft by individuals who divert pipelines and do not pay bills. «We are losing an average of over 40 percent (of our water) if you look at it in Gauteng,» Makenosi Marooa a spokeswoman for the utility told AFP. Leaks are often cited by the municipalities as a reason for maintenance-related outages. «We're not replacing anywhere near as much infrastructure as we should be,» said Craig Sheridan, director of the Centre in Water Research and Development at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. For Chris Herold, another water expert, «one of the main problems is that they (the municipalities) are incompetently run, and there's also a lot of corruption which is hindering the efficient running of water systems.» Municipalities insist that they are doing what they can with the resources they have. According to at least one city in the province, Ekurhuleni, it is the utility that is not providing enough water and leaving the reservoirs empty. But Rand Water is only licensed to withdraw a fixed amount approved by the Department of Water and Sanitation. Already back in 2009, it was clear that more was needed as Gauteng's population was rapidly expanding. The government made a deal with neighbouring Lesotho to expand the bulk water supply to Rand Water. The project initially meant for 2018 has been delayed until 2028 and as a result, sporadic restrictions to reduce demand are likely to continue. - Climate change - The rules could become more severe if South Africans do not change their habits, authorities have warned, adding that there could also be «financial implications». The country is already considered water scarce, with an average annual precipitation of 450mm per year compared to the global annual average of 786mm per year, and a warming planet will exacerbate the issue. Under a moderate climate change scenario, in which global emissions peak around 2040 and then decline, the amount of precipitation could fall by as much as 25 percent in South Africa by the end of the century. The estimates were released in a report published this month by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water. «There's definitely a sense of urgency,» said Sheridan, who is particularly concerned by the health risks linked to turning water systems on and off, which has been South Africa's short term solution. «When a pipe is full of water, the water leaks out of it. If the pipe is empty, then a leaking sewer next to it can potentially contaminate the supply.» © Agence France-Presse

Peace with Nature is the overarching theme chosen for the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) being held in Cali, Colombia of which plenary discussions and working groups began on Monday. Around 23,000 pre-registered delegates representing almost every country on Earth are attending. The COP16 follows the COP15's historic adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) in 2022. The two-week meeting in Cali is expected to be a defining event in the implementation of the framework's ambitious goals and 23 targets for 2030. This includes the protection of 30 percent of the world's land and seas by 2030, reducing harmful subsidies and restoring degraded ecosystems. Seychelles is also represented in Colombia with the local CBD focal point Indira Gamatis.  Gamatis told SNA, «So far there has not been much consensus on quite a few of the main important topics such as mobilistion of resources, digital sequence information (DSI), capacity building or means of implementation for the KMGBF. The negotiations will be intense over the next few days.» Gamatis added that apart from the main plenary, the Seychelles' delegation will be taking part in side events as well as engaging with international partners. The delegates at the event have significant work ahead of them as countries are expected to demonstrate progress in the implementation of the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). They will negotiate to operationalise the multilateral mechanism established by COP15. This is for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on genetic resources (DSI), including a global fund.  Negotiators are also expected to find common ground on how to mobilise additional resources for biodiversity protection and ensure they are delivered in a timely fashion where they are most needed. The focus will also be on recognising and leveraging the contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities as custodians of biodiversity and key partners in its conservation, restoration, and sustainable use. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, stated: «For humanity to thrive, nature must flourish. Destroying nature inflames conflict, hunger and disease; fuels poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis; and damages sustainable development, green jobs, cultural heritage, and GDP. The Global Biodiversity Framework promises to reset relations with Earth and its ecosystems. But we are not on track. Your task at this COP is to convert words into action.» The Colombian Environment Minister, Susana Muhamad, and current COP President said, «Under the legacy of the Kunming-Montreal Framework, we must therefore take a step further. It is not just about implementation mechanisms, it is about fundamentally recomposing the way we live, recomposing the development model, recomposing, rethinking, and rediscovering how we live together in diversity, in a system that does not permanently make nature a victim of development, but rather our own reproduction as a society reproduces life.» This story was produced as part of the 2024 CBD COP16 Fellowship organised by Internews' Earth Journalism Network.

Seychelles aims to be better equipped to deal with bacteria that are resistant to medicines, such as antibiotics, which can cause threats to both humans and animals through a workshop taking place this week. The Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) workshop being held at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel, is organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment and the Ministry of Health. Aside from Seychelles, nine other countries from the region are also participating in the workshop that will end on Friday. The event is a key initiative under the RAF5089 project of the IAEA to focus on enhancing the capacity of national veterinary laboratories to detect and manage AMR. During the five-day discussions, participants will take part in technical sessions and hands-on training, designed to strengthen regional and national efforts to combat this growing global health threat. «Over the years, research has shown that a lot of people are becoming anti-microbial resistant, where even if they are taking antibiotics, they are not being cured, and that is not only in humans but in animals also,» said Sheriffa Joubert from the Biosecurity Agency in Seychelles. She said, «Because we need to be mindful of what we eat, it is then important to diagnose animals that are resistant, to ensure that our livestock remain healthy and safe for consumption.» The workshop involves mostly laboratory technicians from Seychelles and other regional countries, where they will be able to better learn how to do the necessary tests. The focus is on key areas such as antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular characterisation of resistant bacteria, and the latest control strategies, aligned with global guidelines. Experts will also provide laboratory training to enhance participants' practical skills in AMR detection and prevention. The Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment, Flavien Joubert, opened the workshop and said in his address that the topic of AMR is of critical importance. He said it is affecting not only the health of humans and animals but also the sustainability of our ecosystems. «The rise of resistant bacteria has placed an immense burden on global health systems, threatening to reverse decades of medical progress. Now, more than ever, the need for collaborative, innovative approaches to manage and combat AMR is urgent. This workshop comes at a pivotal time in global health, and I am proud that Seychelles is at the forefront of hosting such an event,» said Joubert. «Over the next five days, you, our distinguished participants, will engage in comprehensive discussions and hands-on training sessions, designed to deepen your understanding of antimicrobial resistance detection, control strategies, and laboratory practices,» he added. 

The world's biggest nature protection conference opened in Colombia on Monday with calls for urgent action and financing to reverse humankind's rapacious destruction of biodiversity. With about a million known species worldwide estimated to be at risk of extinction, Colombian Environment Minister and COP16 president Susana Muhamad warned delegates: «The planet doesn't have time to lose.» «We all agree that we are underfunded for this mission, we all agree that we need further sources of funding,» the minister told delegates from nearly 200 countries as she opened the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). About 23,000 delegates, including some 100 government ministers and a dozen heads of state were accredited for the largest-ever biodiversity COP, running until November 1 in the Colombian city of Cali. Themed «Peace with Nature,» the summit has the urgent task of coming up with monitoring and funding mechanisms to ensure 23 UN targets agreed at COP15 two years ago can be met by 2030 to «halt and reverse» the loss of nature. The high-stakes conference opened under the protection of more than 10,000 Colombian police and soldiers after the EMC guerrilla group told foreign delegations to stay away and warned the conference «will fail.» - 'Words into action' - The delegates have their work cut out for them, with just five years left to achieve the target of placing 30 percent of land and sea areas under protection by 2030. A report by Greenpeace on Monday found that only 8.4 percent of the global ocean has been designated a Marine Protected Area (MPA). «We are six years from the end of 2030 and yet almost no progress has been made towards protecting 30 percent of the world's ocean. At the current rate, we won't hit 30 percent protection at sea until the next century,» said Greenpeace policy advisor Megan Randles. CBD executive secretary Astrid Schomaker told delegates Monday that 34 of the 196 countries signed up to the UN's biodiversity convention have so far submitted National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans to achieve the UN goals. Progress was being made, but «not yet at the rate we need,» she said. On Sunday, UN chief Antonio Guterres urged countries to «convert words into action» and fatten the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) created last year to meet the UN targets. So far, countries have made about $250 million in commitments to the fund, according to monitoring agencies. It is part of a broader agreement reached in 2022 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to mobilize at least $200 billion per year by 2030 for biodiversity, including $20 billion per year by 2025 from rich nations to help developing ones. A collapse in natural processes and resources, such as pollination and clean water, could see the global economy lose «trillions of dollars a year,» said Guterres. - Species dwindling - According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which keeps a red list of at-risk animals and plants, more than a quarter of assessed species are threatened with extinction. Monitored wildlife populations have decreased by 73 percent on average between 1970 and 2020, according to the Living Planet Index, the most comprehensive measure of vertebrate population trends worldwide. A key goal of the meeting is to agree on a mechanism for sharing the profits and other benefits of genetic information taken from plants and animals, for medicine for example, with the communities they come from -- often in lower-income countries. Every new drug discovered in a tropical forest is worth tens of millions of dollars to a pharmaceutical company, according to scientific estimates. Host Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, and Gustavo Petro, its first leftist president in modern history, has made environmental protection a priority. But the country has struggled to extricate itself from six decades of armed conflict involving leftist guerrillas such as the EMC, right-wing paramilitaries, drug gangs, and the state. Cali is the nearest large city to territory controlled by the EMC, which has been engaged in fraught peace negotiations with the government. © Agence France-Presse

The Seychelles Port Authority (SPA) conducted a successful operation to remove a cargo vessel, MV Spil Ningsih, that was grounded near Ste Anne Island on Saturday. President Wavel Ramkalawan has issued a message of appreciation and encouragement to everyone who was involved in the operation. In a press statement on Monday, the Authority said when the incident happened, the harbour master, the chief executive and the deputy chief executive of SPA were immediately informed. According to the press statement, «The Harbour Master activated the emergency response team of approximately 30 members of the operations team and all available marine assets were mobilised to assist in the operation.» The Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA), Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG), and National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre (NISCC) were also alerted. By the time these authorities were notified, SPA pilots, tugs, and mooring personnel were already on-site, initiating efforts to free the vessel. The Authority said given that the grounding occurred within the Ste Anne Marine Park, a protected area, all resources needed to be mobilised swiftly. «Due to the vessel's size and location, time was of the essence to prevent the ship from turning parallel to the land, which could have increased the risk of pollution and complicated recovery efforts. SPA deployed all available marine assets and resources to manage the situation,» added the statement. A preliminary risk assessment of the vessel and its surroundings showed no visible signs of pollution or leakage. The vessel remained stable, which helped mitigate the risk of an oil spill during recovery operations. After several attempts, the vessel was successfully refloated at 1.10 am on Sunday during the early stages of the rising tide. It was then towed to a safe anchorage for further inspections before being cleared to dock at Mahe Quay. The SPA personnel continued to monitor the vessel's draft for an hour after the operation to ensure there was no water ingress and MV Spil Ningsih was safely docked at Mahe Quay at 5.47 pm. 

Cubans expressed rage and disappointment in their government on Sunday, as they dealt with day three of a near-total nationwide power outage, with residents of the island nation running short on cash, watching their food spoil and carrying water in buckets. «What is going to happen to my daughter?» asked a desperate Adismary Cuza, worried for the 21-year-old whose medication for a chronic kidney disease needs to be chilled. «My refrigerator has been down for three days and I am afraid everything is going to go to waste,» she said on her way to work in Havana's old quarter. «What is going to happen in this country?» asked Cuza. Residents of Communist-run Cuba have grown used to sporadic blackouts, but Cuza questioned how authorities could have allowed the entire grid to go down. The power grid failed in a chain reaction Friday due to the unexpected shutdown of the biggest of the island's eight decrepit coal-fired power plants, according to the head of electricity supply at the energy ministry, Lazaro Guerra. Crews have been scrambling to restore power, but while some customers were back online, the blackout remained near total on Sunday, according to officials. - 'No life here' - Serguei Castillo, a 68-year-old retired construction worker, was as worried as Cuza. He went out in search of cigarettes, although he had no cash since banks had been closed since Friday and ATMs were down. «There is no life here. This country gives nothing,» said Castillo, who retired three years ago and receives a monthly pension that is equivalent to about $38. He said he had been living on junk food for two days. Cuba was already dealing with its worst economic crisis in 30 years, battling sky-high inflation and shortages of food, medicine, fuel and water, plus increasingly frequent power outages. «Two days without electricity? What is this, sir? What is going to happen? Cubans are tired of so many problems,» said Castillo. In recent months some provinces have had to put up with blackouts lasting as long as 20 hours per day. - 'Paralyzed' - The blackout has had knock-on effects, too. Among other things, no electricity means many buildings cannot pump water. In the Vedado neighborhood, Isabel, 51, said her husband had just carried 20 buckets of water up to their second-floor apartment. She said they were able to tolerate power outages that lasted a few hours, but the extended blackout was unacceptable. «This is a lack of respect for people. I have no other way to describe what is happening,» said Isabel, who declined to give her last name. «A country paralyzed for three days is too much,» she said. Luis Jimenez, a 22-year-old university student, said he frets over the future -- the next few days, and over the longer term. «If this is not resolved soon I don't know how we will live in the next few days,» he said. «This is a country in ruins. It is destroyed,» said Jimenez. © Agence France-Presse

Air Seychelles has announced several new flights as part of its service expansion for the busy upcoming festive season to provide passengers with even more options when choosing their holiday destinations. Starting in December and continuing to early January, Air Seychelles will add a new flight on Wednesday resulting in an average of four flights per week. The Seychelles' national carrier will also increase its services to Johannesburg to meet the high demand during peak travel times. A fourth weekly flight will include a new Saturday evening departure with a return journey available early Sunday morning. There will be an expanded schedule for Mumbai in India from December 18 to January 1st next year. Three additional flights on Wednesdays will be added, facilitating a twice-weekly service to Mumbai. Additionally, the Saturday flight to Colombo in Sri Lanka will now depart Seychelles at 5.30 pm to provide a significantly faster connection to multiple destinations offered by Air Seychelles' codeshare partner SriLankan Airlines. Air Seychelles said this will be particularly beneficial for visitors exiting Bangkok in Thailand as it allows for a quick one-hour connection without the need for a visa. A seasonal service to Reunion Island, a French overseas department, will be launched from December 30 to January 18 next year. Charles Johnson, chief commercial officer of Air Seychelles, said, «We are excited to announce additional flights for the upcoming festive season, allowing passengers even more options for their favorite destination. Additionally, our new nonstop flights to La Reunion provide significant time savings over previous indirect flight options. As this will be a very busy holiday period, we recommend everyone to book their flights as soon as possible.»

The winners of the Antoine Abel Prize, a writing contest that encourages the production of literature in the Seychellois Creole language, were rewarded on Friday at the International Conference Centre of  Seychelles  (ICCS). Marie Clarisse, Aneesa Vel, Rita Julie, Lourra Barra and Marie Hoareau produced the best works this year, while Robert Mondon received his prize posthumously. The prize-giving ceremony allowed the authors to sign copies of their books on sale in local book outlets. The Antoine Abel Prize is named after Seychelles' renowned poet and writer Antoine Abel, who passed away in 2004. The literary contest was first launched by Seychellois artist Leon Radegonde, as a regional competition in 1997, promoting literary works in the Indian Ocean region. The competition encourages Seychellois writers to submit work in various categories, in the native Seychellois Creole language. The fourth edition of the literary contest saw the participation of writers in five categories: short story, poetry, novel, translation and play. The prize-giving ceremony allowed the authors to sign copies of their books on sale in local book outlets. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  This year the prize-giving ceremony coincides with the 39th edition of the Creole Festival, a month-long event, which is an annual celebration of the various aspects of the country's culture. An assistant researcher at the Literature Unit at the Creole Academy, Jenny Saminadin, told SNA that the quality of work received this year has been very good. «Usually the literary contest is held every two years, however, we launched this one last year as we are catching up with the delay caused by COVID,» she said. While all the given categories open to prospective writers had submissions, Saminadin explained that it was only for translated works that they did not receive enough submissions. The winners received monetary prizes for their efforts - SCR 20,000 ($1,500) for the first prize, SCR 15,000 ($1,100) for the second, and SCR 10,000 ($700) for the third. The entries for the sixth edition of the Antoine Abel competition have already been submitted to the Creole Academy, while Saminadin explained that they have already launched the seventh. 

The Seychelles' honorary consul general in Bulgaria, Maxim Behar, visited the Beau Vallon Administration office last week and presented on his behalf an expensive, super–powerful laptop with all necessary software preloaded, sports equipment, footballs, tennis rackets, balls, and specially produced t-shirts for the children with the sign «Mon Kontan Beau Vallon.»  Behar, together with the Seychelles' honorary consuls in Israel, Jordan, and Bangladesh, had «adopted» the district as part of a programme initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism. The donation was accepted with thanks by the elected member of the National Assembly for the Beau Vallon district, John Hoareau, and also by the district administrator, Mirenda Cardovillis, at a special ceremony in the building of the Administration office. «This is an honour and responsibility to be able to donate such useful equipment to my lovely Beau Vallon district where I come for decades and I think I know personally almost all inhabitants. I am really sorry that my other three colleagues could not join me on this visit, but I am sure that their donations will be presented soon,» Behar said. Two years ago, Behar also donated a huge quantity of sports equipment to Marie-Celine Zialor, the Minister for Youth, Sports Family to help the preparation of the Seychelles football team for the Indian Ocean Games. Years before he also donated a set of musical instruments to the Seychelles School of Music, Dance and Drama. Last week also, Behar was awarded a special plaque for his long-term service to Seychelles by President Wavel Ramkalawan.

Pope Francis created a new group of saints on Sunday, canonising 14 individuals including the «martyrs of Damascus», killed in Syria during the Ottoman Empire and symbols of Christian persecution. Francis presided over the canonisation ceremony in Saint Peter's Square in the presence of thousands of Catholic faithful from around the world. «We enrol them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole Church,» proclaimed Francis, after reciting each name. Canonisation is the final step towards sainthood in the Catholic Church, following beatification. Three conditions are required -- most crucially that the individual has performed at least two miracles. He or she must be deceased for at least five years and have led an exemplary Christian life. Among the group are 11 individuals known as the «martyrs of Damascus», who have become saints some 160 years after their death. The eight Franciscan friars and three lay Maronites -- all siblings -- from a monastery were assassinated by Druze militants in July 1860 in the Syrian capital, then under Ottoman rule. They were beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1926. Damascus is home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world but its Christian population has dwindled to only about two percent today, according to the Vatican. Many citizens, Christian and otherwise, have left the city since the start of Syria's civil war in 2011. The martyrdom of the Damascus group canonised on Sunday «is not very different from the situation of many Christians in the Middle East today», wrote Vatican News, the official news portal of the Vatican. The other three individuals, who died early in the 20th century, founded religious communities. They are Italian missionary Giuseppe Allamano, Italian nun Elena Guerra and the Canadian Marie-Leonie Paradis. In May, Pope Francis announced he would canonise Italian teenager Carlos Acutis. The London-born adolescent spent his life spreading his faith online, earning the moniker «God's Influencer», before dying from leukaemia in 2006. The date of that canonisation has not yet been set but it could take place in 2025, the Church's Jubilee year, when more than 30 million pilgrims are expected to descend on Rome. © Agence France-Presse

Art lovers in Seychelles were treated to the «Kouler Kreolitid» (Colours of Creole culture) exhibition at L’Alliance Francaise, in time for the 39th edition of the Creole Festival, currently taking place.  The artist, Ambassador Francesca Alexandra Azais Tatistscheff of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, who is a dean of the diplomatic corps, is one of the most respected artists in Seychelles and has lived in the islands since 1999.  The Italian-born artist, for her sixth exhibition, worked on still life painting depicting the various aspects of Seychellois culture.  The paintings on display show everything from fishermen coming in from sea with their daily catch to a scene of a group of people dancing Moutya on a beach.  Speaking to the press at the opening of the exhibition on October 12, Azais told the press that it has taken her six months to prepare the works on display.  The artist, Ambassador Francesca Alexandra Azais Tatistscheff of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY  She said that she tried to show positive emotions in her work and that there are no sad paintings.  “Up to now we have seen many paintings of the landscape, and I myself have painted sunsets, we are always showing palm trees, the spectacular rocks and fishermen, although no-one has tackled the still life surrounding us,” she explained the theme for her exhibition.  “As I am someone who is always forward thinking, and who loves to inspire people instead of copying them, and I saw that no-one has tackled the subject of still life, this is why I have decided to address the topic in my exhibition,” she added.  Kouler Kreolitid is a collection of 24 oil paintings on canvas, which Azais said she hoped would inspire the thinking about this aspect of Seychellois culture.  The paintings depict the various aspects of Seychellois culture. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY  “They are very good at what they do, I have seen their work, and I have had the chance to talk to them, but they have to develop their creativity and try to move away from standard subjects like landscapes,” she said.  Azais is also known for her paintings of the small island state’s previous and current presidents as well as former British governors and figures of French colonialists hanging in State House.  Her artworks can also be found today in the Vatican as well as in the White House in Washington.  When asked if she would be working on another exhibition in the coming future, she said that “I don’t know, as we as artists only produce work when we are inspired to do so.”  Kouler Kreolitid is open to the public from October 13 - November 9. 

King Charles was granted five-star rank in each branch of Australia's armed forces Saturday, a ceremonial gesture to mark the first full day of his landmark tour Down Under. Charles, in addition to being king of realm can now call himself field marshal of Australia's army, marshal of its airforce and admiral of the fleet. It was not a bad day's work for the 75-year-old monarch, who spent Saturday recuperating and without public engagements after a marathon flight from London to Sydney. The monarch -- who received the life-changing cancer diagnosis just eight months ago -- and Queen Camilla have begun a nine-day visit to Australia and Samoa, the first major foreign tour since being crowned. They landed in Sydney on Friday and were greeted by local dignitaries and posy-bearing children, before a quick private meeting with Australia's staunchly republican Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiancee. «We are really looking forward to returning to this beautiful country to celebrate the extraordinarily rich cultures and communities that make it so special,» the royal couple said in a social media post ahead of their arrival. Royal tours to far-flung domains are a vital way of kindling local support for the monarchy, and the political stakes for the royals are high. A recent poll showed about a third of Australians would like to ditch the monarchy, a third would keep it, and a third are ambivalent. Visiting British royals have typically embarked on weeks-long visits to stoke support, hosting grand banquets and parading through streets packed with thrilled, flag-waving subjects. This visit will be a little different. The king's health has caused much of the usual pomp and ceremony to be scaled back. A planned stop in New Zealand was cancelled altogether, and he will be in Sydney and Canberra for just six days before attending a Commonwealth summit in Samoa. There are few early morning or late night engagements on his schedule and aside from a community barbecue in Sydney and an event at the city's famed Opera House, there will be few mass public gatherings. There had been rumours that he may attend a horse race in Sydney on Saturday, but he was not to be seen. When the time came the well-hydrated crowd belted out Australia's anthem «Advance Australia Fair» rather than the royal anthem «God Save the King». - 'Old white guy vibes'- It is not just age, jetlag and health worries that the king has to contend with Down Under. Australians, while marginally in favour of the monarchy, are far from the enthusiastic loyalists they were in 2011 when thousands flocked to catch a white-gloved wave from his mother Queen Elizabeth II. «I think most people see him as a good king,» said 62-year-old Sydney solicitor Clare Cory, who like many is «on the fence» about the monarchy's continued role in Australian life. «It's a long time. Most of my ancestors came from England, I think we do owe something there,» she said, before adding that multi-cultural Australia is now more entwined with the Asia-Pacific than a place «on the other side of the world». Some are less charitable, seeing no reason to retain a king whose accent, formal get-up and customs have little to do with the daily lives of easygoing antipodeans. «He just gives old white guy vibes,» said home school teacher Maree Parker. «We don't need a king and queen, we can just do our own thing.» - The lucky country - Still, Australia is a land of many happy memories for Charles, and he can be sure to find some support. He first visited as a gawky 17-year-old in 1966, when he was shipped away to the secluded alpine Timbertop school in regional Victoria. «While I was here I had the Pommy bits bashed off me,» he would later remark, describing it as «by far the best part» of his education. Bachelor Charles was famously ambushed by a bikini-clad model on a later jaunt to Western Australia, who pecked him on the cheek in an instantly iconic photo of the young prince. © Agence France-Presse

Wallace Dorasamy’s and Rodney Henriette’s year continues to improve as both bodybuilders claimed their pro-cards at the United Intercontinental Bodybuilding Fitness Federation (UIBFF) Africa Cup in Bedford, South Africa, this month. Dorasamy was placed first in Classic Bodybuilding and second in open bodybuilding under 80kg, which allowed him to be awarded a pro-card. The pro-card win meant he qualified for the Pro Show at the same competition, in which he claimed second place. He also finished first overall in Classic Bodybuilding. Dorasamy said, “It is a great honour to win a pro-card with any federation as it helps me a lot with my development.” He added that having a pro card with UIBFF does not limit him to only competing for them, as he still wants to claim his International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) pro card. Dorasamy is in Sheffield in the UK for the British Championship, which is a pro qualifier for IFBB and later he will travel to Bucharest in Romania for another competition. Dorasamy is also the reigning bodybuilder of the year in Seychelles and in 2023 he won gold at the National Physique Committee (NPC) Worldwide African Pro Qualifier held in Cape Town. He also won a gold medal in the open bodybuilding middleweight class at the Ryan Terry British Championships in Manchester, UK, held from October 14 to 15, 2023. Wallace Dorasamy and Rodney Henriette at the UIBFF Africa Cup with winning medals. Henriette claimed three gold medals. Photo License: All Rights Reserved   For Henriette, he claimed three gold medals; first in the master over 50 years old category, while he also claimed gold in bodybuilding under 80kg and overall bodybuilding. Henriette is having a good year and was a medallist in the Gym Angel Classic, in South Africa, in August, in which he won one gold medal and one silver medal. His medal came in the master over 50 categories where he claimed the silver medal in the under 80kg. The result also means that Henriette gets his pro-card, making him the third UIBFF pro from Seychelles, after Dorasamy, and Ahmad Moncherry, who won his pro-card in August. Seychelles was also represented at the competition by Jeolen Valentin, who was fourth overall in the bodybuilding under 90kg category. Valentin qualified for the Africa Cup and won a bronze medal in the under 90kg category before winning bronze in the master over 50 years group, at the Gym Angel Classic. 

Seychelles and South Africa are exploring opportunities for cultural exchange programmes for artists to participate in festivals and exhibitions in both countries and share expertise in arts, crafts, fashion and performance. According to a press statement from the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts (SNICHA) the discussion took place on the sidelines of the 11th Golden Shield Heritage Awards recently at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town, South Africa. A delegation from the SNICHA led by the permanent secretary for Culture, Cecile Kalebi, participated in the award ceremony. The visit is part of the ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Seychelles and South Africa's National Heritage Council, to enhance cultural collaboration and exchange. In her remarks at the ceremony, Kalebi reflected on the deep cultural and historical ties between Seychelles and the African continent. She also acknowledged the Golden Shield Heritage Awards as a beacon of excellence in recognising the dedication of heritage activists and practitioners. «Coming from Seychelles, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean with deep cultural and historical ties to the African continent, I am deeply inspired by the achievements being honoured today,» she said. Kalebi revealed that the SNICHA is organising its own Heritage Awards next year, taking inspiration from South Africa's commitment to honouring cultural preservation. She expressed her optimism for the continued collaboration between Seychelles and South Africa, particularly in exchanging expertise and building upon their common history. Beyond the award ceremony, the Seychelles delegation held a series of meetings aimed at strengthening cultural cooperation between cultural institutions in South Africa and Seychelles. Among the key engagements was a meeting at the National Arts Council of South Africa. Discussions centered on the renewal of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the National Arts Councils of South Africa and Seychelles. The renewal would focus on enhancing artistic collaboration, facilitating cultural exchanges, and jointly promoting both nations' rich artistic traditions. Also discussed were initiatives to exchange knowledge and expertise in the areas of arts management and ways to provide more support for artists, helping them gain international exposure and access to resources and networks. Another highlight of the visit was a tour of the Cape Heritage Museum at the Castle of Good Hope, where the Seychelles delegation discussed future collaborations in museum management, exhibitions, and cultural preservation.

The EU-Seychelles Partnership Dialogue has concluded with a firm commitment to continue collaboration in critical areas for the island nation such as the fight against the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, according to a joint statement from the two parties. The EU further confirmed an additional grant to be allocated to Seychelles for the extension and modernisation of Port Victoria, a project supported under a Team Europe approach to the amount of €77 million. The first Partnership Dialogue, as provided for under the Samoa Agreement between the two parties, took place on Thursday in Victoria, Seychelles, co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Seychelles, Sylvestre Radegonde, and the Ambassador of the European Union to Seychelles,Oskar Benedikt. This was the first partnership dialogue held under the new Samoa Agreement between the EU and Seychelles. It took place at the Eden Bleu Hotel, with the participation of nine members of the EU, the EU Investment Bank, eight ministers from Seychelles, and representatives from local agencies. According to Radegonde, who co-chaired the event, this dialogue will shape the partnership between the EU and the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) over the next twenty years. Minister Radegonde co-chaired the event. (Foreign Affairs Department) Photo License: CC-BY  He added that it is a crucial framework for building a sustainable, peaceful, and inclusive future. «Seychelles sees the EU as a key partner in promoting sustainable development, regional stability and Blue Economy initiatives within the Indian Ocean Commission. Through increased collaboration on maritime safety, climate resilience and sustainable fisheries, we aim to strengthen regional prosperity while protecting our marine resources,» said Radegonde. Meanwhile, Benedikt said that in an ever-changing world, mutually fruitful cooperation is not an option but that it is a must. «We have to work together, join efforts and put solidarity at the top of our agenda. As we strive to secure the future of the forthcoming generations, let us work together to give them a healthy, fairer and safer planet where everyone can live in peace, free from any form of violence. We will continue to stand for multilateralism and a rules-based order with the UN Charter and international law at its core,» he added. Benedikt said the EU has an ongoing constructive partnership with Seychelles in economic development, security, climate change and environment as well as governance and human rights. Benedikt said that in an ever-changing world, mutually fruitful cooperation is not an option but it is a must. (Foreign Affairs Department) Photo License: CC-BY  «In all these areas, our cooperation with various stakeholders in Seychelles is effective and is delivering concrete results to the benefit of populations in Seychelles and beyond. I look forward to scaling up our partnership to address current challenges and prepare for the future ones,» he stated. Security was one of the subjects covered in the dialogue and both sides recalled their steadfast commitment to addressing maritime threats in the region, building on the operations of the two regional centres based in Seychelles and Madagascar and their solid alliances with regional and international organisations. Both sides also welcomed the signature of the new EU-funded Safe Seas Africa programme in July 2024, to scale up their action for regional maritime security building on the achievements of the Maritime Security Programme (MASE).   On the subject of the economy, Seychelles and the EU highlighted the importance of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in support of their solid trade relations and a dynamic fisheries sector. On climate and environment, the EU commended Seychelles' vision to develop a circular economy and was ready to assist as part of the new bilateral cooperation programme - ENSEL. Seychelles called for further efforts to be undertaken at the international level to scale up funding for climate crisis mitigation and that the same level of importance should be placed to halt the loss of biodiversity as it is being placed towards climate action. Consequently, Seychelles called for a wider commitment of the EU member states to support the implementation of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) and amplify the efforts to accelerate the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund. On governance, the EU confirmed that work is ongoing with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to provide Seychelles with the necessary support to implement necessary reforms for the supplementary review scheduled in 2025. Seychelles welcomed the EU's support. Underlining the importance of gender equality, the EU congratulated Seychelles on the appointment of the first female Commissioner of the Seychelles Prison Service and the island nation's action to promote the rights of LGBTIQ people.

Thousands of delegates from around the world are descending on Colombia for a summit on halting humankind's rapacious destruction of nature, with host city Cali on high alert after threats from guerrilla groups. The high-stakes UN biodiversity gathering is set to start Monday under the protection of some 11,000 Colombian police and soldiers, aided by UN and US security personnel. About 12,000 delegates including 140 government ministers and seven heads of state are due to attend the world's biggest nature protection conference, held every two years. The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will run to November 1. Themed «Peace with Nature,» it has the urgent task of coming up with monitoring and funding mechanisms to ensure that 23 UN targets agreed in 2022 to «halt and reverse» species destruction can be met by 2030. Colombia's EMC left-wing guerrilla group has cast a shadow over the event by warning foreign delegations to stay away. The group issued the threat after being targeted by military raids in the southwest Cauca department, where the group is accused of engaging in drug trafficking and illegal mining. Cali is the closest big city to EMC-controlled territory. President Gustavo Petro has insisted security for the COP16 is «guaranteed,» and Cali's mayor Alejandro Eder also has assured that the city is «ready» for the event. - Natural system 'in peril' - The delegates have their work cut out for them. There are just five years left to achieve the UN goal of placing 30 percent of land and sea areas under protection by 2030. So far, only 29 of 196 countries signed up to the UN biodiversity convention have submitted national strategies by the COP16 deadline, and funding is falling far short. A report Thursday by a group of non-governmental organizations revealed that just 2.8 percent of the world's oceans were protected «effectively.» At current rates, the figure would not reach 10 percent by 2030. The IPBES inter-governmental science and policy body says three-quarters of Earth's land surface has been significantly altered since 1970 and 66 percent of oceans degraded. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which keeps a red list of threatened animals and plants, more than a quarter of assessed species are threatened with extinction. «Our system is in peril,» WWF's senior director of global policy and advocacy, Lin Li, told AFP ahead of the talks. «The system that is... supporting us as a human species, which is the natural system, ecological systems, are being attacked.» To try to reverse the trend, the so-called Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022 lists 23 ambitious targets for 2030. They include restoring 30 percent of degraded ecosystems, stopping destructive farm subsidies, reducing pesticide use and tackling invasive species. COP16 will assess progress made towards the targets, which also include rich countries forking out $20 billion per year by 2025, rising to $30 billion by 2030, to help the developing world -- which hosts most of the world's biodiversity -- save its ecosystems. «We are hoping to hear a lot more pledges at this COP,» IUCN senior program manager for conservation action Dao Nguyen told AFP. «If there are none, it's going to be quite a deflated COP.» A key goal of the meeting is to agree on a mechanism for sharing the profits and other benefits of genetic information taken from plants and animals, for medicine for example, with the communities they come from. Host Colombia is one of the most biodiverse in the world, and Petro has made environmental protection a priority. But the country has struggled to extricate itself from six decades of armed conflict between leftist guerrillas such as the EMC, right-wing paramilitaries, drug gangs, and the state. © Agence France-Presse

Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was ousted from office on Thursday after being impeached in an unprecedented political saga that has gripped the nation. In a historic move, the Senate voted to impeach Gachagua on five of 11 charges, after a similar motion was overwhelmingly approved by the lower house National Assembly last week. The vote capped a day of high drama which saw the embattled 59-year-old known as «Riggy G» fail to testify in his defence after being admitted to hospital with severe chest pains. He is the first deputy president to be sacked in this manner since impeachment was introduced in Kenya's revised 2010 constitution. His downfall is the culmination of a bitter falling out with President William Ruto, who he helped win a 2022 election by rallying support from the vote-rich Mount Kenya region. «The Senate has resolved to remove from office, by impeachment, his excellency Rigathi Gachagua, the deputy president of the Republic of Kenya,» Senate speaker Amason Kingi said after the vote. «Accordingly his excellency Rigathi Gachagua ceases to hold office.» Gachagua was found guilty on charges of «gross violation» of the constitution, including threatening judges and practising ethnically divisive politics, but cleared of others including corruption and money-laundering. Gachagua had denied all allegations against him as «nonsensical» and «outrageous» and claimed he was being treated like a «spent cartridge». - Lawyers walk out - The process has created a mood of political uncertainty in a country regarded as a stable democracy in the volatile East Africa region. While his fate was being determined in parliament, Gachagua underwent tests in hospital in the Nairobi suburb of Karen. «He came in with a lot of chest pain,» Karen Hospital's chief cardiologist Dan Gikonyo told reporters, adding that Gachagua was in a stable condition but would remain in hospital for at least 48-72 hours. The Senate's decision not to postpone its hearing after Gachagua fell ill prompted his lawyers to walk out in protest. They argued that he had a constitutional right to testify in his defence. No criminal proceedings have been launched against him, and Gachagua could fight his impeachment in the courts now the parliamentary process is completed. The 349-member National Assembly had voted by an overwelming 282 votes on October 8 to impeach him, more than the two-thirds required. Unlike the process in the lower house, where MPs delivered their verdict on the entire motion, senators needed to back just one charge, by at least two-thirds of the votes, for the impeachment to succeed. The Senate trial went ahead after Gachagua failed in multiple court challenges to halt the process, the last one just hours before the Senate trial began on Wednesday. Ruto had not made any public comment on the impeachment, but Gachagua has said the process could not have gone ahead without his boss's blessing. «This is what we call political deceit, conmanship and betrayal,» Gachagua had said of the process, insisting that it violated the will of Kenyans who voted for the Ruto-Gachagua ticket in the 2022 election. - 'Maintain peace' - Ruto has 14 days to choose a new deputy, but could nominate someone as early as Friday. Among the names of possible successors floated by the Kenyan media are Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki, Foreign Minister and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and a county governor, Anne Waiguru. A powerful businessman from Kenya's biggest tribe, the Kikuyu, Gachagua had weathered previous corruption scandals to become deputy leader as Ruto's running mate in the tightly fought 2022 election. But in recent weeks, he had complained of being sidelined by the president, while also being accused of supporting youth-led anti-government protests that broke out in June. Political tensions have run high since the sometimes deadly demonstrations erupted over unpopular tax hikes, exposing divisions in the top echelons of power and the ruling party. Addressing churchgoers in his central Kenya sstronghold on Sunday, Gachagua had nevertheless called on his supporters to remain calm. «Let's preach and maintain peace irrespective of the outcome. Kenya is our country,» he said. © Agence France-Presse

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has removed several high-ranking defence and security officials from their posts, days after dismissing the security minister. A presidential decree declared late Wednesday that the director generals of both the police and military police, the chiefs of general staff of the armed forces as well as the commanders of the national nomadic guard had all been «called to other functions». It follows Saturday's announcement on state television that Security Minister Mahamat Charfadine Margui had been replaced by a general, Ali Ahmat Akhabache. The reshuffles come against the backdrop of a deteriorating political and security climate in the central African country. The killing of a former commander of general intelligence and his son by unidentified armed men prompted an official order last week «to secure the city of N'Djamena» and carry out «systematic searches» for weapons. Heavily armed soldiers were deployed in parts of the capital to conduct the searches. Opposition parties also announced last week that they would refuse to take part in parliamentary and local elections on December 29, denouncing a «harmful climate of dictatorship and of terror». General Deby Itno was proclaimed transitional president in April 2021 by a junta of 15 generals after his father, iron-fisted president Idriss Deby Itno, had been shot dead by rebels following 30 years in power. After a new constitution was approved in a referendum in December, Deby Itno, 40, was elected president in May in elections that the opposition boycotted and international observers said were not credible. © Agence France-Presse

President Volodymyr Zelensky told allies Thursday Ukraine must be in a position of strength before any peace talks with Russia, as he explained his «victory plan» to EU leaders and NATO defence chiefs in Brussels. More than two and a half years into the war, Kyiv is slowly but steadily losing new territory in its eastern Donbas region and under mounting pressure to forge an exit strategy -- which it says must start with ramped-up Western support. «Ukraine is ready for real diplomacy, but for it, we must be strong,» Zelensky said as he headed into talks with the EU's 27 leaders. «A forcefully imposed truce instead of fair peace never provided security.» «Russia will resort to diplomacy only when it sees that it cannot achieve anything by force,» Zelensky added. «This is the plan. This is exactly what's needed, and we must create the right conditions to end this war.» After the EU summit Zelensky was to join defence ministers for the first of two days of talks between NATO's 32 member states, holding a joint press conference with Alliance chief Mark Rutte. While calling it a «strong signal,» the NATO secretary-general cautioned ahead of time he was not endorsing Zelensky's «whole plan» -- which calls first and foremost for an immediate invitation to join the US-led alliance, a plea widely seen as unrealistic. Zelensky's plan also rejects any territorial concessions, calls for Western allies to lift restrictions on using donated long-range weapons to target Russian military sites, and suggests deploying a «non-nuclear strategic deterrence package» on Ukrainian territory. The Ukrainian leader has traveled in recent weeks to Washington, Paris, Berlin, Rome and London to defend his plan -- unveiled to Ukrainian lawmakers Wednesday -- but it has yet to earn backing from Western capitals. - 'Position of strength' - NATO countries have declared Ukraine to be on an «irreversible path» to membership. But the United States and Germany have led opposition to immediate entry, believing it would effectively put the alliance at war with nuclear-armed Russia. Rutte reiterated the Alliance line on Thursday saying only that «Ukraine will be a member of NATO in the future.» Washington's ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, was blunter ahead of the Brussels talks, saying: «We are not at the point right now where the alliance is talking about issuing an invitation in the short term.» The US position is unlikely to shift whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the White House on November 5 -- though there are fears a second Trump term could upend the support Ukraine receives from NATO's biggest power. Insiders agree the elephant in the room at the NATO talks will be the contest playing out across the Atlantic, with one diplomat saying the Alliance was in «waiting mode.» But Ukraine's allies are well aware that time is of the essence, with the outlook on the battlefield bleak. Rutte said NATO's focus remained on keeping «massive military aid moving into Ukraine» in order «to make sure that if ever one day Zelensky and his team decide to discuss with Russia how to end this, that he will do this from a position of strength.» But despite Ukraine's plea for stepped-up air defence systems -- as Russian forces pound its cities and infrastructure -- no new announcements were expected from NATO this week. - 'Various ways to define victory' - Some at NATO argue the setbacks inflicted on Russian President Vladimir Putin since the invasion are already sufficient to justify seeking a negotiated outcome -- rather than letting the war drag on indefinitely. «There are various ways to define victory or to define defeat,» said one NATO official. On the eve of the NATO meeting, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for exploring ways to end the war -- potentially including talks with Putin. But according to an alliance diplomat, other voices still fear that anything short of an outright victory for Kyiv would spell «disaster» -- ensuring that an emboldened Russia does not stop there. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles is celebrating the 39th Edition of the Creole Festival from October 5-31. The festival is a month-long celebration of the island nation's Creole culture and way of life. Despite the activities being held on a lower scale, due to the organisers giving deference to the festival's 40th anniversary next year - a series of activities are highlighted on the calendar this year. This week's buzz brings you five main activities of this year's Creole festival.   Moman Kreativite Moman Kreativite (Creative Moments) is an evening of songs, storytelling, traditional dance and theatrical performances from school children. It is an event where the students are able to showcase their creative talents. The initial show was held on October 5 at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles (ICCS). If you missed that one, do not worry, there is another show coming up on Saturday, October 19, at ICCS as of 2 pm. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY    Batenm Poupet Literally translated to mean 'a doll's christening', this event is organised by the Seychelles Heritage Foundation at the Domaine de Val des Pres in the eastern Mahe district of Au Cap.  The event is a ceremony that used to be popular in the past in the days of today's grandparents. It was organised when a child received a new doll that was very rare during those days. So the event was the opportunity for the girls to show their new dolls while the adults were able to meet. The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 19, at 2 pm. This was a well-known activity held in the past by neighbours to meet when there was no television.   (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY    Selebo - Creole Music Show One of the highlights of the Creole Festival in Seychelles, Selebo, celebrates the rich traditions of the Seychellois people with a fusion of music, dance, and storytelling. It brings together locals and visitors to enjoy the sounds and rhythms of Moutya and Sega dances while tasting the Seychellois Creole cuisine. The music festival will be held on October 25 at the car park of the Stad Popiler in Seychelles' capital of Victoria. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY    Zenn artis Kreolofonn (Young Creolophone Artists) This is an exhibition in which young artists from Creole-speaking countries who participates in a competition showcase their works. The competition is open to children and young people aged between 4 and 21 from Creole-speaking islands, territories and countries or with a Creole tradition. It takes place every year in the Seychelles during the Creole Festival. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY    Bal Bobes (Creole Ball) As is customary, the Creole Festival ends on October 31 with a Creole Ball or as is commonly called «bal bobes,» which ends at six in the morning. This year to cater to the overwhelming demand, there will be Bal Bobes - one at the International Conference Centre Seafront Restaurant, another at the Vye Marmit restaurant, and one at the Nation Sports Council (NSC) Hall at Roche Caiman.   All three are paying activities and will start at 9 pm. (Creative Seychelles Agency) Photo License: CC-BY 

An exhibition featuring pictures and information about a number of castles from the Czech Republic  organised by the office of the Czech Ambassador to Seychelles and the Honorary Consul and the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts (SNICHA), was launched on Wednesday. Speaking to SNA, the Czech Ambassador to Seychelles, Miroslav Kosek, said, «We are displaying a small sample of the Czech national heritage. They are pictures of the chateaux and castles that are interesting. This exhibition is to show the beauty of the country. It was prepared by the National Museum of the Czech Republic. They are interested in developing a closer relationship with the Museum of Seychelles.» Kosek added that the exhibition is being done to commemorate the Czech National Day on October 28. The exhibition will remain open to the public until October 25. The permanent secretary for Culture, Cecile Kalebi, explained that «It is an exchange, they have taken the first step with this exhibition about their castles. Many of them are World Heritage sites; for us, this is an opportune moment to learn how they preserve their monuments.  Among the visitors to the exhibition was Madeleine Maier who said, »It was amazing to see all those pictures of castles and to get the pictures as well. It is very interesting.« A Czech national, Marcela Tvrdikova, said, »I was born in the Czech Republic, I am happy that we have an event here to show European culture." Apart from the exhibition of the castles, there was also a performance from the Epoque Quartet, a Czech musical ensemble. They also played a concert on Tuesday night at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles (ICCS). According to ambassador Kosek, the concert coincided with the Seychelles-EU Political Dialogue taking place in the island nation. The group has been performing in many countries across Europe, Africa, Latin America, the United States, and Asia. Its next performance will be in Bangkok, Thailand. 

The stunning beauty and diverse tourism offerings of Seychelles were showcased at the 61st edition of TTG Travel Experience in Italy, Tourism Seychelles, the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism, said in a press statement on Wednesday. The TTG Travel Experience, a prestigious event in the Italian travel industry calendar, was held from October 9 to 11 in Rimini. The annual event brings together industry leaders, travel professionals, and international exhibitors, providing a unique platform for promoting destinations to the Italian and broader European markets. At this year's event, the stand design reflected the essence of Seychelles, inviting visitors to explore the country's unique combination of natural splendour, cultural richness, and sustainability. From the postcard-perfect beaches and world-class luxury resorts to the growing focus on eco-tourism and cultural experiences, the stand was designed to represent Seychelles' holistic approach to tourism. The director general for Destination Marketing at Tourism Seychelles, Bernadette Willemin, said that their participation reaffirms Seychelles' strong ties with the Italian market and its position as a top choice for Italian travellers looking for an exotic yet sustainable travel experience. «Our presence at TTG is vital in reinforcing Seychelles as a top travel destination. The enthusiasm and collaboration from our trade partners inspire confidence in the future of Seychelles tourism. Together, we are not only promoting our beautiful islands but also building lasting relationships that will drive growth and innovation in our market,» she added. Attendees had the chance to explore the unique selling points that make Seychelles an irresistible destination, whether for relaxation, adventure, or cultural immersion. The island nation's dedication to sustainable tourism and its rich cultural initiatives were key highlights, showing that as a destination, Seychelles offers not only natural beauty but also meaningful, eco-friendly experiences intertwined with its vibrant heritage. The 2024 edition of TTG Travel Experience saw a 9 percent increase in participation overall in attendance and a 15 percent boost in international attendees compared to 2023. As Italy's premier business event for the tourism industry, it brought together 2,700 exhibitor brands, 1,000 buyers from around the world, 55 start-ups, and 683 journalists from both Italy and abroad in Rimini. Throughout the event, the Seychelles' delegation met with various travel partners to strengthen existing relationships and forge new partnerships. These interactions included productive discussions with major Italian tour operators, airlines, and travel agencies, alongside many trade press interviews. Part of the Seychelles' delegation was the STORY Seychelles resort and the 7°South destination management company. «TTG is the place to target the Italian market, which is one of the most important markets for us in the Seychelles. We've seen good numbers and growth from the Italian market over the last two years, and we're hoping to continue to grow as we attend events such as this one in Rimini. We come in contact with tour operators, partners, and potential new partners, and we try to bring new business to Seychelles,» said Nives Deininger from STORY Seychelles. Anna Butler Payette, managing director of 7°South said, «I have seen steady growth from Italy, and for my company, I think it is very important that we attend TTG. I have met a lot of valuable buyers, and I believe that Italy is going to deliver results, though a direct airline connection would have helped enhance the growth of the market.»

A fuel tanker explosion in northern Nigeria has killed almost 100 people and left 50 injured, police said on Wednesday. Many of the victims had been trying to collect fuel spilt on the road after the tanker crashed in northern Jigawa state late on Tuesday, police spokesman Lawan Shiisu Adam told AFP. The tanker had veered to avoid colliding with a truck in the town of Majia, he said. «We have so far confirmed 94 people dead and around 50 injured,» he said, warning the death toll could rise. Following the crash, residents crowded around the vehicle, collecting fuel that had spilt on the road and in drains, Adam said. He said the residents had «overwhelmed» officers trying to stop them. The Nigerian Medical Association has urged doctors to rush to nearby emergency rooms to help with the influx of patients. Fuel tanker explosions are common in Africa's most populous nation, where roads can be poorly maintained and residents often look to siphon off fuel following accidents. Fuel has become an even more precious commodity as Nigeria suffers its worst economic crisis in a generation. The price of petrol has soared fivefold since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu scrapped subsidies last year, and there are often shortages. Desperation rose further last week after the state oil company hiked prices for the second time in just over a month. - Dangerous roads - Accidents involving tankers are frequent in the country, with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) recording 1,531 in 2020, causing 535 deaths. Last month, at least 59 people died when a fuel tanker collided with a truck carrying passengers and cattle in northwestern Niger state. The FRSC said more than 5,000 people died in road accidents in Nigeria in 2023, compared to nearly 6,500 the previous year. But according to the World Health Organization, the figures do not include accidents that are not reported to the authorities. It estimates annual road accident deaths in Nigeria to be closer to 40,000, it said in a report published last year. Deadly fires and explosions also take place across fuel and oil infrastructure in Nigeria, one of the continent's largest crude producers. © Agence France-Presse