Medals are up for grabs in track cycling, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo when the action begins on Thursday at the Paris Paralympics, which opened in a colourful and hope-filled ceremony ahead of 11 days of competition. The action also begins in sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, badminton, archery, goalball -- a form of football for the visually impaired -- and boccia, a version of bowls. French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open on Wednesday during a ceremony in a balmy Place de la Concorde in central Paris -- the first time a Paralympic opening ceremony has taken place away from the main stadium. The 4,400 competitors from 168 delegations paraded into the arena as the sun set with host nation France entering last to a standing ovation from 30,000 spectators. The fine weather was in sharp contrast to the heavy rain which fell throughout the Olympics opening ceremony on July 26. International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Andrew Parsons told the athletes and spectators he hoped for an «inclusion revolution», before Macron officially declared the Games open. The Paralympic flag was carried into the square by John McFall, a British Paralympic sprinter who has been selected by the European Space Agency to be the first 'parastronaut'. French Olympian Florent Manaudou brought the flame into the arena to complete the four-day torch relay. Five French Paralympians, including 2020 gold medallists Alexis Hanquinquant and Nantenin Keita, lit the already-iconic cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens. Of the 35 Olympic venues, 18 will be used for the Paralympics including the ornate Grand Palais and the Stade de France. Ticket sales had been sluggish for the Paralympics, which run until September 8, but they have accelerated since the Olympics and organisers say more than two million of the 2.5 million available have been sold, with several venues sold out. - Ukraine send strong team - Riding the wave of their Olympic team's success, host nation France are aiming for a substantial improvement on the 11 golds in 2021, which left them 14th in the medals table. Paralympic powerhouses China dominated the last Paralympics in Tokyo with 96 golds and have again sent a strong delegation. Ukraine, traditionally one of the top medal-winning nations at the Paralympics, have sent 140 athletes to compete in 17 sports despite the challenges they face in preparing as the war against Russian forces rages at home. A total of 96 athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete under a neutral banner but are banned from ceremonies because of the invasion of Ukraine. American above-the-knee amputee sprinter/high jumper Ezra Frech, who is 19, has been tipped as a potential new star at these Games. Away from the track, more established names go in search of glory. Iranian sitting volleyball legend Morteza Mehrzad, who stands 8ft 1in (2.46m) tall, will attempt to take gold again. Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio, the Italian fencer who had all four limbs amputated when she contracted meningitis at the age of 11, is aiming for a third Paralympic Games gold. © Agence France-Presse

The death toll climbed Thursday as Israel pressed a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank for a second day, despite UN concerns it is «fuelling an already explosive situation». The operation was launched as violence raged on in the other main Palestinian territory, the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by war since Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attacks. Israel began coordinated raids in the northern West Bank cities of Jenin, Tubas and Tulkarem early on Wednesday, in what the military called a «counter-terrorism» operation. Columns of Israeli armoured vehicles backed by troops and warplanes were sent in before soldiers encircled refugee camps in Tubas and Tulkarem, as well as Jenin, and exchanged fire with Palestinian militants. The army said it killed five militants in Tulkarem during the latest operations in the West Bank on Thursday, bringing the overall toll to 14 dead. «Following exchanges of fire, the forces eliminated five terrorists who had hidden inside a mosque» in Tulkarem, the military said in a statement. Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad confirmed the death of Muhammad Jabber, also known as Abu Shujaa, its commander in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem. The violence has caused significant destruction, especially in Tulkarem, whose governor described the raids as «unprecedented» and a «dangerous signal». AFPTV footage showed bulldozers ripping up the asphalt from streets in the city as a precaution against concealed explosives. Authorities reported widespread damage to infrastructure, including to water and sewage networks. The Palestinian health ministry said 12 Palestinians were killed on the first day of the operation. Witnesses said the Israeli forces had withdrawn from Al-Farra refugee camp in Tubas where several Palestinians were killed on Wednesday. - 'Explosive situation' - An AFP photographer said clashes were still taking place in Jenin, where a drone was seen flying overhead. Another AFP journalist said Israeli soldiers were still operating in Tulkarem. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club said at least 45 people had been arrested since the start of the Israeli operation in the northern West Bank. The United Nations expressed concern over the Israeli operations in the West Bank. UN chief Antonio Guterres, in a statement, called for an «immediate cessation of these operations». Guterres condemned the use of air strikes on civilian targets and «the loss of lives, including of children». «These dangerous developments are fuelling an already explosive situation in the occupied West Bank and further undermining the Palestinian Authority,» the UN statement said. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday cut short a visit to Saudi Arabia to address the crisis, while Jordan's King Abdullah II appealed for a ceasefire in Gaza to stop the spread of violence. Since the war began, at least 637 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli troops or settlers, according to the United Nations. Nineteen Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during army operations, according to Israeli official figures. - 'Don't know where to go' - Violence also raged in Gaza, where the Israeli military on Thursday said it «eliminated dozens» of militants during the past day in close-quarters combat and air strikes. The army said one of those killed in the Khan Yunis area was a militant who took part in the October 7 attack. The war in Gaza erupted after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,199 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Militants also seized 251 people, 103 of whom are still captive in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 40,602 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children. The war has devastated Gaza and triggered a humanitarian crisis. The United Nations said it was continuing to deliver humanitarian assistance despite the upheaval to civilians and aid teams caused by repeated Israeli evacuation orders and military operations. «It's just catastrophic,» said Louise Wateridge, a spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestine refugees, or UNRWA. «What we're seeing now is families, mothers, children dragging their belongings,» she said on social media platform X. «There's very limited access to any kind of vehicles for this kind of displacement now, and people just don't know where to go.» © Agence France-Presse

Israel launched a large-scale operation Wednesday in the occupied West Bank, where the army said it killed Palestinian fighters, as the nearly 11-month-old Gaza war showed no signs of abating. The military said its forces killed nine militants while the Palestinian Red Crescent reported 10 deaths in the West Bank, where violence has surged during the war sparked by Gaza rulers Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. The war has killed more than 40,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, and caused widespread destruction and displacement. Early Wednesday, Israel launched coordinated raids across four northern West Bank cities -- Jenin, Nablus, Tubas and Tulkarem -- where the military has focused much of its recent operations against armed groups. Columns of armoured vehicles entered two refugee camps, in Tulkarem and Tubas, as well as Jenin. By midday, they were blocking entrances to the towns and camps, AFP photographers said, with soldiers firing at the camps from which gunfire and explosions were heard. The Red Crescent said Israeli forces killed 10 people and wounded 22 others in the raids. The medical organisation's West Bank chief Younes al-Khatib said ambulances came under Israel fire and «one of our staffers was hit». Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas cut short a visit to Saudi Arabia and headed home to «follow up on the latest developments in light of the Israeli aggression», Palestinian official media said. Jordan's King Abdullah II told visiting US lawmakers a Gaza truce was needed «to stop the cycle of violence in the region», according to a royal statement. Violence meanwhile raged in the Gaza Strip, where the civil defence agency reported at least 12 dead in Israeli strikes, and in Lebanon where the Israeli military said it killed a «significant» Palestinian militant. Mediation efforts seeking an end to the Gaza war continued in Qatar where an Israeli delegation was present Wednesday, said a source close to the negotiations. - Israeli minister declares 'war' - In the West Bank, a Tulkarem municipality official told AFP the scale of the destruction was «very big». Israeli forces «attacked the infrastructure, in particular in the city of Tulkarem and the Nur Shams camp» and «destroyed» water and sewage systems, Hakim Abu Safiyeh said. Israeli bulldozers dug up asphalt from the streets, with the army saying it was looking for roadside bombs. A spokesman said troops were exchanging fire with militants. The army reported no casualties on its side. The military carries out daily raids in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, but it is rare for these to happen in multiple cities simultaneously. Wednesday's operation, according to army spokesman Nadav Shoshani, was not «extremely different» from regular activity. But Foreign Minster Israel Katz said the military was «operating in full force since last night» in what he called «a war» aiming to «dismantle Iranian-Islamic terror infrastructure». In a post on X, he accused Iran -- Israel's main regional foe which backs Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon -- of seeking to «establish an eastern front against Israel» in the West Bank. Since October 7, Israeli troops or settlers have killed more than 650 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry figures, and Palestinian attacks have killed at least 19 Israelis, officials say. The United States on Wednesday announced sanctions on an Israeli settler group that the State Department said was involved in violence against Palestinians and had a role in the forced displacement of some 250 villagers earlier this year. The UN Human Rights Office said the latest Israeli raids risk «deepening the already catastrophic situation» in the West Bank. - Fleeing Gaza hospital - Last week, the army announced it had killed a senior Palestinian militant in Lebanon, accusing him of «directing attacks and smuggling weapons» to the West Bank. Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian Islamist movement allied with Hamas which has a strong presence in the northern West Bank, early Wednesday denounced an «open war» by Israel. «With this aggression... the occupier wants to impose a new state of affairs on the ground to annex the West Bank,» a statement said. Israel's military later said a strike in the Syria-Lebanon border area killed a «significant» Islamic Jihad operations officer. A Syrian war monitor reported four dead. Hamas late Tuesday reiterated a call for Palestinians in the West Bank to «rise up» following widely condemned comments by a far-right Israeli minister. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a settler and proponent of West Bank annexation, said he would build a synagogue at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound if he could. In Gaza, Palestinians were on the move following Israeli evacuation orders. One of the latest targeted the area around Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Hospital in Deir el-Balah, from which «nearly 650 patients have fled», Doctors Without Borders said. The charity said it «opened a field hospital and started receiving patients amid a severe lack of supplies and resources». Hamas's October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,199 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 40,534 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children. The remains of Shaked Dahan, an Israeli soldier killed on October 7, have been recovered from Gaza, his family's hometown said Wednesday. He was one of 251 people seized by Palestinian militants during the attack, 103 of whom are still captive in Gaza including 33 the military says are dead. © Agence France-Presse

The WHO on Tuesday said droplets were a minor route of transmission for mpox compared to physical contact, adding that more research was needed to understand how the outbreak is spreading. The World Health Organization declared an international emergency over mpox on August 14, concerned by the surge in cases of the Clade 1b strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its spread to nearby countries. The UN health agency says on its website that mpox spreads between people mainly through close physical contact with someone who has the virus. «Close contact includes skin-to-skin (such as touching or sex) and mouth-to-mouth, or mouth-to-skin contact (such as kissing),» it says. It can also include «being face-to-face with someone who has mpox (such as talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate infectious respiratory particles)». WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said Tuesday that if a person with the virus had lesions, «if you're talking closely to someone, breathing on them, physically close, face-to-face, there is a possibility» of viral spread, «but this is a minor source». Instead, «what we're seeing is the close, physical skin-to-skin» contact as the chief route of transmission, she told a briefing in Geneva. «When you're talking to somebody, you're spitting out droplets,» but «it's not a very major form of transmission -- and it's not a... through-the-air, long-distance sort of transmission». «More research is needed to fully understand the transmission dynamics,» Harris added. The WHO recommends the use of facemasks for those with mpox, their close contacts and health workers treating them. - Studies into new strain - There are two subtypes of mpox: Clade 1, endemic in the Congo Basin in central Africa; and Clade 2, endemic in West Africa. The surge in the DR Congo is being driven by surges of two different Clade 1 strains. The first is an outbreak in northwest DRC of what was previously known as Clade 1, now called Clade 1a. The second, in northeastern DRC, is a new offshoot of Clade 1 called Clade 1b, which was first detected in September last year and is spreading rapidly. The spread of Clade 1b, and its detection in nearby countries, were the main reasons behind the WHO sounding its top emergency alarm. Clade 1 mpox is known to be more virulent than Clade 2 mpox and has a higher fatality rate. As for whether Clade 1b is more dangerous than Clade 1a, Harris said: «We don't have that data.» «Studies are under way to understand the properties of the new strain. But available epidemiological data doesn't really suggest that the clade 1b variant causes more severe cases and deaths.» The WHO said Tuesday that it needed $87.4 million from September to February to implement its plans to contain the mpox outbreak. Meanwhile the UN refugee agency warned that displacement camps in the DRC and other impacted countries in Africa could be severely affected. «Without additional, urgent support, the recently declared mpox outbreak could become devastating for refugees and displaced communities,» said UNHCR's public health chief Allen Maina. He said implementing mpox prevention measures among those fleeing violence was a «tremendous challenge», with people driven into overcrowded shelters with poor sanitation, while others were cut off from humanitarian assistance. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles and Algeria will reinforce their existing relationship by further cooperation in key sectors such as education and health, said the newly accredited Algerian ambassador on Tuesday. Filali Ghouini made the announcement after presenting his credentials to President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House. He told reporters that the two countries are looking to facilitate students from Seychelles to obtain Algerian university scholarships. The two countries will also continue to work together in the areas of capacity building and exchanging expertise in the tourism and agriculture sectors. Ghouini said the two countries had «solidarity in cooperation on different issues and have similar positions in African and international issues.» They also discussed the newly signed Bilateral Air Service Agreement between the two countries. On Monday, Ghouini made a courtesy visit to the principal secretary for Foreign Affairs, Vivianne Fock-Tave.   Fock Tave conveyed the appreciation of Seychelles' government for the support from Algeria since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in September 1976. Discussions also focused on issues related to the African Union, cooperation in the health sector, and possible exchanges of expertise, notably in the fields of agriculture and tourism. Ghouini will be based in Antananarivo, Madagascar.   

Popular Seychellois reggae artist, Golty Farabeau, who moved to the United Kingdom some 20 years ago is appealing to fans and well-wishers in the country to help him raise much-needed funds to return to Seychelles. Farabeau, 62, has been diagnosed with terminal progressive kidney cancer, and late last month, the singer with the help of his friend Linda Smith, set up a GoFundMe to raise the money needed for his travel expenses, medical care and to ensure the artist may spend his remaining days in his native land. Speaking on his live feed on FaceBook on Sunday night, Farabeau said  that since “I can no longer breathe properly, I am being assisted by a tube, I feel that I do not have long before I go.” He revealed to his followers that he would need around SCR2 million ($ 149,288) to get to Seychelles.  The initial GoFundMe page has raised £8,576 donated as of midday on Monday, exceeding the initial £6,000 it had targeted. Farabeau said this would not be sufficient for his flight and other expenses. “I have friends in the country who have contacted the authorities to help me, however, the amount of time it will take for them to complete the formalities is not time that I have right now,« he said. The artist, well-known for songs such as 'An Avan' in English “Let’s Move Forward’ and Larout I Long “The Road is Long, » said, "Despite the many challenges I've faced throughout my life, nothing could prepare me for this battle. As the disease progresses, my strength is fading, and I realise that my time is running short.” Farabeau, a singer, composer and musician, has been performing in bands in the UK, after moving there in 2003 to further his career. He performed in two bands – Jahmadou and the Red Head Band – the first mainly playing soul, funk and blues music while the former mostly reggae. He said, “More than anything, I want the place where I recover to be what I've always called home— the Seychelles. Being surrounded by my family's love and the ocean's familiar sounds would mean the world to me.” 

Although the fleet of Spanish purse seiners registered in Seychelles have noted a drop in catch for the yellowfin tuna in 2023, the first half of 2024 seems to be back to the normal average, said the deputy manager of OPAGAC, Miguel Herrera. The OPAGAC-AGAC group represents the interests of six Spanish seiners out of the 13 seiners registered in Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. OPAGAC is an organisation of producers of frozen tuna recognised in Spain by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, while AGAC is the Association of Large Tuna Freezers and currently has nine groups of shipowners. Every year, the Seychelles-flagged vessels are legally required to declare their catch for the year on December 31, and usually, vessels start reaching their limit towards the end of October or the beginning of November. This is, however, vessel-specific as each one manages its quota differently. Last year, since the vessels were behind on their quota, they were still at sea until the end of December. To ensure that these vessels did not miss the start of the season at the beginning of January, they were allowed to remain at sea and granted permission to declare their catch for 2023 two weeks later on January 15.   Herrera said, «Yes, there were vessels from AGAC that remained at sea over the end of the year, as they had not reached their YFT catch limits. All Seychelles-flagged purse seiners have logbooks onboard and skippers are obliged to report catches in those logbooks, per fishing set and species. Therefore, the SFA (Seychelles Fishing Authority) can monitor the catches in near-real time and assign them to the year in which the catch limit applies.» Herrera highlighted the country's privileged position in the Indian Ocean, being at the centre of purse seine activity. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  He noted that «this has been the system used by other members of IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission), like Spain and France, since the implementation of catch limits for the monitoring of catches against the limits assigned to each purse seiner. This system assists Seychelles to fully utilise its catch limits, reducing the time in the port of purse seiners and ensuring a longer economic activity and supply to the canning factory in Seychelles.» Herrera surmised that the drop last year may have been due to natural phenomena such as El Nino, but for this year, they were maintaining the normal average so far. «The fleet has noted a drop in catchability of yellowfin tuna during 2023, which was very likely driven by oceanographic conditions. During 2023, the thermocline was allegedly deeper, and the fish targeted by surface fisheries was more spread over the water column, some beyond the range of purse seine nets, which may reach depths of around 150-200m, depending on the currents. However, in 2024 everything seems to be back to normal, with catches of YFT at normal average levels according to skippers.» Yellowfin tuna in the Indian Ocean is currently the most overfished tuna stock in the world. In 2016, the IOTC adopted a resolution reducing the fishing allowance of the species by 15 percent to help rebuild the population. Given these limits and the possibility of catchability being affected by natural phenomena, Herrera said, «The fleet tries to adapt to the circumstances as they come, using the technology at hand. Fishing is always subject to management rules and the availability of tuna schools, which may be caught as either free-swimming schools or associated with fishing objects. In recent years, shipowners and skippers have been obliged to plan properly their fishing activities, bearing in mind the catch limits in place. The recent adoption by the IOTC of catch limits for the bigeye tuna may also bring changes in the future, as the fleet adapts to both yellowfin and bigeye catch limits.» Given Seychelles' position geographically, Herrera highlighted the country's privileged position in the Indian Ocean, being at the centre of purse seine activity. He emphasised the importance of maintaining a fine balance between further investments as well as certain challenges that may arise on the horizon. «Most of the purse seine fishing occurs in the western central Indian Ocean, in waters within or neighbouring the Seychelles EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). Regarding investments, it is a delicate balance, and we believe that there will be increased competition in the region, as some other coastal countries are trying to develop infrastructure and services for fishing vessels. Considering that Seychelles has been the most important tuna hub in the region for many years, we are confident that the government will keep using their savoir-faire to keep levels of activity where they are now,» he added. Herrera concluded that while the rest of the year is still uncertain regarding the catch levels, they are still hopeful for the future and that «2024 seems to be a normal year, with catches at levels similar to those before 2023. However, it is too early to say whether this will be the situation by the end of the year as this is a very changing world.» «We hope that we will be able to make the best of our fishing opportunities, within the margins established by the IOTC, and the Seychelles government, to ensure the long-term sustainability of our vessels and the resources they depend on. We are also hopeful that the IOTC will be able to resolve all the issues identified at previous YFT assessments and reach a consensus on a fully inclusive YFT management measure. In this regard, we fully appreciate the active role that the Seychelles government has been playing at the regional level and hope that efforts to bring everybody on board will continue,» he said. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke with US President Joe Biden about his visit to Ukraine, with the White House voicing hope that he embraced Kyiv's view on ending Russia's invasion. Modi, who angered Ukrainians by hugging Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow recently, visited Kyiv on Friday and told President Volodymyr Zelensky that «no problem should be solved on the battlefield.» Speaking to Biden by telephone, Modi «reiterated India's consistent position in favor of dialogue and diplomacy and expressed full support for (an) early return of peace and stability,» an Indian foreign ministry statement said. Asked about Biden's response, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the United States supported all countries listening to Zelensky's perspectives on ending the war. «We welcome any other country that wants to help President Zelensky work towards this just peace,» Kirby told reporters. The White House later released a readout of the call that said Biden «commended the prime minister» for «his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine, including its energy sector.» Modi and Biden «affirmed their continued support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with international law, on the basis of the UN Charter,» the White House said. Zelensky has called for the return of all territory seized by Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. India has not explicitly backed Zelensky's stance. Despite increasingly close relations with Washington, India has refused to join US sanctions on Moscow, with which it has historic relations, and instead has embraced Russia as a cheaper source of oil. India said that Modi and Biden also discussed Bangladesh, where leader Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi, resigned and fled earlier this month after mass protests against her increasingly authoritarian rule. The Indian statement said that Modi and Biden «emphasized restoration of law and order and ensuring safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.» In the immediate aftermath of Hasina's fall, attacks on Hindus across Muslim-majority Bangladesh were reported. The security situation has since far improved. The United States had repeatedly criticized Sheikh Hasina for backsliding on democracy but, knowing that India was far more invested in Bangladesh, had been careful not to clash openly with New Delhi. © Agence France-Presse

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced a global climate «SOS» at a Pacific islands summit on Tuesday, unveiling research that shows the region's seas rising much more swiftly than global averages. «I am in Tonga to issue a global SOS -- Save Our Seas -- on rising sea levels. A worldwide catastrophe is putting this Pacific paradise in peril» he said. Sparsely populated and with few heavy industries, the Pacific islands collectively pump out less than 0.02 percent of global emissions every year. But this vast arc of volcanic islands and low-lying coral atolls also inhabits a tropical corridor that is rapidly threatened by encroaching oceans. The World Meterological Organisation has been monitoring tide gauges installed on the Pacific's famed beaches since the early 1990s. A new report released by the top UN climate monitoring body showed seas had risen by around 15 centimetres in some parts of the Pacific in the last 30 years. The global average was 9.4 centimetres, according to the report. «It is increasingly evident that we are fast running out of time to turn the tide,» said the forecasting agency's top official Celeste Saulo. Some sites, particularly in Kiribati and Cook Islands, measured a rise that matched or was just under the global average. But other sites, such as the capital cities of Samoa and Fiji, were rising almost three times higher. In low-lying Pacific nation Tuvalu, land is already so scarce that throngs of children use the tarmac at the international airport as their own makeshift playground. Scientists have warned that, even under some moderate scenarios, Tuvalu could be almost entirely wiped off the map within the next 30 years. «It's disaster after disaster, and we are losing the capacity to rebuild, to withstand another cyclone or another flood,» Tuvalu Climate Minister Maina Talia told AFP on the summit's sidelines. «For low-lying island states, it's a matter of survival for us.» The plight of Pacific islands has been easily overlooked in the past, given their relative isolation and lack of economic might. But the region is increasingly seen by scientists as a climate canary in the coal mine, hinting at the troubles possibly facing other parts of the planet. «This new report confirms what Pacific leaders have been saying for years,» Australian climate researcher Wes Morgan told AFP. «Climate change is their top security threat. Pacific nations are in a fight for survival, and cutting climate pollution is key to their future.» Surrounded by millions of square miles of tropical ocean, the South Pacific is uniquely threatened by sea-level rise. The vast majority of people live within five kilometres of the coast, according to the United Nations. Rising seas are swallowing up scarce land and tainting vital food and water sources. Warmer waters are also fuelling more intense natural disasters, while ocean acidification slowly kills the reefs that nourish key marine food chains. © Agence France-Presse

Seychellois sailor Jean-Marc Gardette is once again the winner of the Mahe-Praslin windsurfing race, which took place on Monday morning. The popular event saw participants compete in windsurfing, kite surfing and wind foiling. They had to complete a 44km crossing from Seychelles' main island of Mahe to the archipelago's second largest island, Praslin. Gardette, a well-known windsurfer, was the first to complete the journey, and reached the finish line on the west coast of Praslin, in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 9.72 seconds. His time was over two minutes quicker than he did it in the last race in 2022. «To start we thought the wind would not be too strong and we all stopped close to Ste Anne island, but then the wind was mostly on and off, and so we tried our best with that,» said Gardette after the race. The time, however, remains some way off the record set in 2002 by Stephen Stravens, which remains at 57 minutes and 51.62 seconds Taking second place was Jacquelin Languila in 1 hour 4 minutes and 23 seconds followed by Bertrand Lablache in 1 hour 7 minutes 14.99 seconds. The record holder Stravens came in sixth place, completing the race in 1 hour 11 minutes 53.83 seconds. Nine windsurfers competed in the event, all of them Seychellois, with only one of them not making it to the finish line. The foreign participants were in kite surfing and they were from Mauritius, Russia, and Poland and out of 10 only one did not finish the race. A Mauritian, Jean Leopold, won the event in 1 hr 13 minutes 20 seconds. Leopold took second place in the last event in 2022. He told reporters, «The conditions were very difficult with unpredictable winds, but it was good even though my legs started to hurt, but it was great.» Leopold added that this was a preparation for the Mauritius-Reunion race that he will soon compete in. Taking second place was Seychellois Neddy Radegonde in 1 hour 21 minutes 37.12 seconds and third was Sitraka Ramanantsoa, in a time of 1 hour 22 minutes and 22.95 seconds. New this year was wind foiling and the participants struggled in the waters of Seychelles. Both competitors in this category were the last to arrive at Grand Anse Praslin, where the races concluded. British participant Edward Paxton finished the race in 2 hours 47 minutes 51.58 seconds and South African Adam Delport was second, with a time of 3 hours 47 minutes 43.29 seconds.

Japan will have a fully-fledged embassy and a resident ambassador in Victoria, the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kamikawa Yoko, said during bilateral talks with  Seychelles' Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde. According to Seychelles' Foreign Affairs Department in a press release on Monday, this is part of the government of Japan's reaffirmation of its commitment to strengthen cooperation with Seychelles by upgrading its embassy in the island nation.  Japan's embassy is currently headed by a charge d'affaire. The bilateral talks between Radegonde and Kamikawa Yoko took place on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Japan from August 24 to 25. Discussions centered on shared interests, particularly in maritime security, Blue Economy, fisheries, and connectivity. Kamikawa highlighted the support provided by Japan in recent years, which included maritime law enforcement facilitated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) to enhance maritime connectivity in the region. Radegonde welcomed Japan's commitment to remain a key partner in the various key sectors important to Seychelles and the Indian Ocean Commission. He also called on the Japanese government to continue to support Seychelles' capacity building through scholarships. Radegonde emphasised the importance of Japan's support for Seychelles in the areas of climate adaptation and resilience and requested Japan's assistance in advocating for the plight of small island developing states (SIDS). Since 1993, Japan has organised the TICAD international conference jointly with the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and the African Union Commission. The TICAD9 will be held in August next year. Meanwhile, as the President of the Council of Ministers of the Indian Ocean Commission,  Radegonde held discussions with the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Comoros, Mbae Mohamed. The two ministers reviewed the status of the bilateral relations between the Comoros and Seychelles and agreed to work together to continue to enhance those relations.  

An initiative to improve healthy marine life and ecosystems of wetland areas, by ensuring the flow of fresh and sea water in wetland areas, as a way of preventing pollution, has resulted in signs of recovery of the Baie Ternay wetland in the western part of the main island of Mahe. The rehabilitation works, aimed at diversifying the freshwater marsh ecosystem by reopening channels, improving the flow and exchange of salt and freshwater, and creating additional habitats for various species to thrive, have been completed after four months. Part of the government of Seychelles-GEF-UNDP «A Ridge to Reef Approach for the Integrated Management of Marine, Coastal, and Terrestrial Ecosystems in Seychelles» project, the rehabilitation work aims at improving the overall condition of the Baie Ternay Marine National Park. «The wetland area was not healthy because it had only one dominant species, and that is a clear indication that the area is not a healthy habitat.  There were also signs of low oxygen levels in the water, hypoxic water, in some areas in the marsh, which posed a major threat to the wildlife in the marsh,» explained Didier Dogley, the consultant overseeing the project, and also former environment minister. Under Dogley's guidance, a 6,000-square-meter wetland section underwent rehabilitation work.  «Projects like these are easy to plan on paper, but the final product needs to be adapted as you do the work. For instance, we had thought the wetland area would be flat, but with Cap Ternay, it was different,» added Dogley. Preliminary hydrological studies conducted before the project began also indicated that the water in the area was partially polluted, suggesting that it was not flushing out correctly. To tackle this issue, a 160-metre channel was dug to facilitate proper water circulation between the hills and the sea. Additionally, ferns were cleared to create more space for better water flow. The channel installed to facilitate proper circulation. (Programme & Development Coordination Section) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  Speaking on behalf of the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA), a partner that facilitated the project, Nassirah Dorby said, «As the area falls under the Baie Ternay Marine National Park, we ensured compliance with our laws and regulations. The project has proceeded smoothly and aligns well with SPGA's conservation efforts.» The Baie Ternay Marine National Park is situated on the northwestern coast of Mahe in the Port Glaud district and borders the Morne Seychellois National Park. The park is a living national treasure containing an array of ecosystems, from wetlands, seagrass beds, mud flats, rocky shores, and coral reefs. Designated as a marine national park in June 1979, Baie Ternay also has one of the largest shallow seagrass beds on Mahe – the main island of Seychelles' archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. The seagrass beds act as a nursery for many species, including squid, a staple food for many fish, and a favourite resting place for the feathertail stingray. Other species that can be found in the park include lemon sharks, sea anemone fish, whale sharks, and pearl bubble coral. The next phase of rehabilitation involves replanting the coastal marsh area with native and endemic plants. In collaboration with the Seychelles Prison Services, an additional 6,000 square metres of ferns in and around the mangrove are expected to be cleared, creating better conditions for the reproduction, harvesting, and propagation of new mangrove seedlings. According to Dogley, the fruits of the project's labour are already evident, with various marine life emerging within the wetland area, signalling the positive impact of rehabilitation efforts. 

Australia gave millions of workers the legal right to «disconnect» on Monday, allowing them to ignore unreasonable out-of-hours contact from employers, to the distress of big industry. People can now «refuse to monitor, read, or respond to» their employers' attempts to contact them outside work hours -- unless that refusal is deemed «unreasonable». The law is similar to legislation in some European and Latin American countries. Unions welcomed the legislation, saying it gave workers a way to reclaim a level of work-life balance. «Today is a historic day for working people,» said Michele O'Neil, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. «The union movement has won the legal right for Australians to spend quality time with their loved ones without the stress of being forced to constantly answer unreasonable work calls and emails,» she said. «Australian unions have reclaimed the right to knock off after work.» But the reforms got a cool welcome from Australian industry. «The 'right to disconnect' laws are rushed, poorly thought out and deeply confusing,» the Australian Industry Group said in a statement. «At the very least, employers and employees will now be uncertain about whether they can take or make a call out of hours to offer an extra shift,» said the country's peak industry group. The law, enacted in February, came into force for medium-sized and large companies as of Monday. Smaller companies with fewer than 15 employees will be covered from August 26, 2025. «We encourage workplace participants to educate themselves on the right to disconnect and take a commonsense approach to applying it within their workplace,» said the head of Australia's workplace relations regulator, Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth. Under the law, workers may be ordered by a tribunal to stop unreasonably refusing out-of-hours contact, and employers likewise may be ordered to stop unreasonably requiring employees to respond, it said. The question of what is reasonable will «depend on the circumstances», the Fair Work Ombudsman said in a statement. Deciding factors may include the reason for the contact, the nature of the employee's role, and their compensation for working extra hours or being available, it said. France introduced the right to disconnect in 2017, hoping to tackle the «always on» culture facilitated by smartphones and other digital devices. © Agence France-Presse

Emissions-belching nations were challenged to stump up for climate-related damage as a key Pacific islands summit opened on Monday, with low-lying Tuvalu declaring: «If you pollute, you should pay.» The Pacific Islands Forum got underway in Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa, with leaders hoping to draw global attention to the region's worsening climate plight. «We really need to ensure that we continue to push for action from countries that are the most polluting,» Tuvalu Climate Minister Maina Talia told AFP on the sidelines of the summit. «Polluter pays should be on the table.» Pacific leaders will mount a renewed push later this week for a homegrown climate adaptation fund, an idea that largely hinges on financial contributions from foreign nations. They will also push to speed the transition away from oil, gas and other highly polluting fuel sources. «We cannot address climate change without addressing the root cause, which is the fossil fuel industry,» Talia said. «It's disaster after disaster, and we are losing the capacity to rebuild, to withstand another cyclone or another flood.» That is awkward terrain for forum member Australia, a coal-mining superpower belatedly trying to burnish its green credentials. Australia wants to co-host the COP31 climate conference alongside its Pacific neighbours in 2026. But first, it must convince the bloc it is serious about slashing emissions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is making a rare appearance at the summit, in a trip designed to highlight the Pacific's myriad climate threats. «The decisions world leaders take in the coming years will determine the fate, first of Pacific Islanders, and then everyone else,» Guterres said. «If we save the Pacific, we save the world.» - Security split - Foreign dignitaries were briefly sent scuttling for cover when a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off Tonga's coast early Monday. But no major damage or injuries were reported, and no tsunami warning was issued. The summit had earlier kicked off with melodic Tongan choir singers and dancing schoolchildren in traditional dress. Beneath the bonhomie, however, rare fissures have been forming in the 18-member bloc, with Pacific nations torn over China's security ambitions in the region. «We gather at a pivotal time in our region's history,» said forum secretary Baron Waqa, a former president of Nauru. «We are at the centre of global geopolitical interest.» China's interest, specifically, was evident long before Waqa's opening speech. Large «China Aid» signs were installed outside the newly built conference venue, a $25 million gift from Beijing. The United States, meanwhile, has dispatched senior diplomat Kurt Campbell to lead its forum delegation. Campbell has been one of the key figures behind a US-led push to keep China's Pacific ambitions in check. «We need to remain vigilant on issues of regional security,» warned Waqa, who has taken a dim view of the escalating Beijing-Washington rivalry in the past. - New Caledonia crisis - The other pressing security challenge facing Pacific leaders is the unresolved crisis in French territory New Caledonia, which reared its head on opening day. «We must reach consensus on our vision for a region of peace and security,» said Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni. «We must honour the vision of our forefathers regarding self determination, including in New Caledonia.» Much of New Caledonia's ethnically Melanesian Kanak population fears that recent voting reforms put forward by Paris could crush their dreams of independence. It is a cause that resonates widely in the Pacific bloc, which is stacked with former colonies now fiercely proud of their hard-won sovereignty. The fractious topic of deep-sea mining does not sit on any official agenda, but will likely be a topic of heated debate behind closed doors. Forum host Tonga sits at the vanguard of nations eager to open up the emerging industry, joined by fellow forum members Nauru and the Cook Islands. But others such as Samoa, Palau and Fiji see it as an environmental catastrophe in the making, giving their full-throated backing to an international moratorium. © Agence France-Presse

Israel launched air strikes into Lebanon on Sunday, saying that it had thwarted a large-scale Hezbollah attack, while the Lebanese group announced its own cross-border raids to avenge a top commander's killing. The Israeli military said its fighter jets had destroyed «thousands» of Hezbollah rocket launchers «aimed toward northern Israel and some were aimed toward central Israel», far from the border. Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed Lebanese armed group, countered that Israel was making «empty claims» of having thwarted a larger attack, and said its own operation for Sunday «was completed and accomplished». The office of the United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the UNIFIL peacekeeping force urged «all to cease fire and refrain from further escalatory action». Hezbollah said its leader Hassan Nasrallah was due to speak on the «latest developments» at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT). The group has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces throughout the Gaza war, in a campaign Hezbollah says is in support of Palestinian ally Hamas. But fears of a wider regional conflagration soared after attacks in late July blamed on Israel killed Iran-aligned militant leaders, including Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, prompting vows of revenge. Hezbollah, which last fought a major war against Israel in 2006, said its militants launched «a large number of drones» and «more than 320» Katyusha rockets targeting «enemy positions» across the border. The Lebanese movement said its attack was an «initial response» to Shukr's killing, adding that it had «ended with total success», although the extent of the damage on the Israeli side was not immediately clear. Lebanon's health ministry reported at least three dead in Israeli strikes in the country's south. No casualties were immediately reported in Israel. - 'Larger attack' - Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said his country's strikes were meant «to remove the threats aimed at the citizens of Israel». Another military spokesman, Nadav Shoshani, said Hezbollah's strikes were «part of a larger attack that was planned and we were able to thwart a big part of it this morning». Israeli authorities declared a 48-hour state of emergency but later relaxed most of the restrictions. By 7:00 am (0400 GMT) flights had resumed at Israel's main international airport after a brief suspension, the aviation authority said. In Lebanon, Beirut airport did not close but some airlines, including Royal Jordanian and Etihad Airways, cancelled flights. Air France said it was suspending flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut for at least 24 hours. The United States, Israel's top arms provider, said its military was «postured» to support its ally. The Israel-Hamas war, triggered by Hamas's October 7 attack, had already drawn in Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah and Yemen's Huthi rebels. The Huthis hailed the Hezbollah attack and declared that their own response for an Israeli strike on a key Yemeni port on July 20 was «definitely coming». The fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah has killed hundreds, mostly in Lebanon, and displaced tens of thousands of residents in both southern Lebanon and northern Israel. Some 605 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, mostly Hezbollah fighters, but including at least 131 civilians, according to an AFP tally. On the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan Heights, authorities say 23 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet and vowed «to do everything to... return the residents of the north safely to their homes» after more than 10 months of violence. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati told an emergency cabinet meeting he was in contact with «Lebanon's friends to stop the escalation». In a call with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, his US counterpart Lloyd Austin reaffirmed «ironclad commitment to Israel's defence against any attacks by Iran and its regional partners and proxies», the Pentagon said. - Gaza talks - Shukr's death last month and an attack hours later that killed Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran ratcheted up concerns that the Gaza war could spiral into a broader conflict. Hamas said Hezbollah's Sunday attack was «strong», hailing it as «a slap in the face» for Israel. In recent weeks, Western and Arab diplomats have sought to head off a broader response to the killings, as mediators were making their latest push towards a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. An official from Netanyahu's office said a decision would be made later about whether Israeli spy chiefs would attend planned talks in Cairo on Sunday. Hamas has said a delegation would go to Cairo but only to meet Egyptian officials, rather than participate in the discussions. On the ground in the besieged Palestinian territory, an AFP correspondent reported strikes and shelling in Gaza City, where rescuers said at least three people were killed. Witnesses said battles raged in the area of Deir al-Balah, further south. Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,199 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 40,405 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, which does not break down civilian and militant deaths. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children. Out of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants in their attack, 105 remain in Gaza including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. © Agence France-Presse

Since the time of the first French colonial settlers in the islands of Seychelles, the pirogue - a traditional vessel used with oars - was the key to the livelihood of many generations of fishermen and a means of transportation for some, but this is now almost extinct. Many of the Seychellois youngsters have either never seen one or do not know these boats' importance. Jonas Albert Victor, from Praslin, the second most populated island of Seychelles, used to earn his living by making pirogues for many years. SNA met Victor at his house to learn more about this part of Seychellois heritage, which is disappearing. The resident of St Joseph, a small community in the Grand Anse Praslin district, who celebrated his 85th birthday on August 3, recalled how growing up, life was very difficult so he pushed himself to acquire skills that could help him make a living at an early age. He is the eldest from a family of four but Victor did not live with his parents. Since he was three months old, he lived with his grandmother and her husband. «My adopted grandfather was a pirogue maker and since I grew up with him, I admired his skills and was fascinated by his work, thus I decided to try it.  I started making fish traps at the age of nine and accompanied him when he went fishing. It was fun and since we lived by the sea, I loved the sea,» Victor said. Aside from being a carpenter, Victor is also a mason and has done most of the work on his house himself. He has worked on a number of housing projects on the island. Victor, from Praslin, used to earn his living by making pirogues for many years. (Mandy Bertin) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  Building the pirogues Victor said he used any type of wood to build these boats as there were high demands for pirogues long ago. «At that time, it took me around one month or two to make a pirogue. I was employed at that time so I had to make these boats after my working hours. But after things in the country evolved and we started getting electrical tools, then it took me only around 11 days to make one on my own,» he explained. The size of a pirogue depended on the client and some wanted those of 15ft pirogues while others 12ft. It all depended on what they were going to use their pirogues for, some only for fishing and others for transportation only. Victor said that at the time day, a pirogue used to cost SCR100-SCR150 but then with much development and the introduction of fiberglass, the demand for pirogues reduced. «For raw materials needed to construct these boats, I did not find it difficult to get them compared to nowadays. There were special nails that we used and as for the wood, I preferred to use the Takamaka wood because it was found to be more durable,» he added. The last pirogue he made was almost 10 years ago, and it is now at Juan Pillay's residence at Grand Anse. Most pirogues were painted using a special black paint and at times white paint would be used to paint a thin layer on the upper part of the boat. Inside, there were two small decks at each end where people could sit and there were also two bench-like seats as well. Underneath them, people used to store their fish or other items. There were two holes in which the long paddles were inserted when they rowed their boats. «If we are at sea during a storm and you are in a fibreglass boat and I am in my pirogue, the pirogue will save your life. It is because the fibreglass boat will sink to the bottom while our good old pirogue even if it capsizes, it will not go down,» Victor said. Asked whether he was willing to make the pirogues today, he said, «Even if I could still be making these boats, I know I would have to face a few challenges such as finding a person to assist and availability of resources. Long ago, you could go and cut a tree at a neighbour's place and you did not have to pay for it or maybe for a very cheap price, but nowadays it will cost you quite a bit.» He added that materials «such as the nails we used back then are not readily available as there are no demands for them nowadays. But the truth is, I do miss making these boats. They were special to us and it is sad that along the way, we have forgotten about them. Pirogues were not just the boats we used to go fishing but they were also a helpful means of transportation for us islanders.» He said when larger vessels brought merchandise from Mahe to Praslin, pirogues were used to unload the goods to shore and they were used to transport people from Praslin to nearby islands such as Cousin, Cousine and Aride. «We have allowed it to fade away and it is sad that we have forgotten the useful and important position that these small boats played in our past,» Victor remarked. Many people who have visited the popular cultural site Domaine de Val des Pres on Mahe, the main island, might have seen a long black pirogue there built by the Praslinois himself. Victor still has many of his tools which he used over many decades to construct these pirogues. 

Sudan's de facto ruler, army chief  Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said Saturday his government would not join peace talks with rival paramilitaries in Switzerland, vowing instead to «fight for 100 years». «We will not go to Geneva... we will fight for 100 years,» Burhan, whose troops have been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for over 16 months, told reporters in Port Sudan. The United States opened talks in Switzerland on August 14 aimed at easing the human suffering and achieving a lasting ceasefire. While an RSF delegation showed up, the Sudanese armed forces were unhappy with the format and did not attend, though they were in telephone contact with the mediators. The talks were co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, with the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations completing the so-called Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan Group (ALPS). They wrapped up on Friday without a ceasefire but with progress on securing aid access on two key routes into the country, which is gripped by one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The brutal conflict has forced one in five people to flee their homes, while tens of thousands have died. More than 25 million across Sudan -- more than half its population -- face acute hunger. © Agence France-Presse

The popular Mahe-Praslin windsurfing race in Seychelles is set for Monday, August 26, and will feature 30 competitors eager to brave the waves between the Seychelles' two largest islands. Alain Alcindor, the chairman of the organising committee, said, «We had originally scheduled it for this Saturday, but predictions show that they will now be enough wind on that day and so, we have moved it to Monday, where it is set to be more favourable for such as race.» For this year, there are three categories instead of two and aside from windsurfing, there will also be kitesurfing and windfoiling.  Wind foiling is a new form of windsurfing, in which the windsurfing board floats about 50 cm above the water instead of over the water. The race is expected to begin at 11 a.m. and participants will be hoping to beat the 22-year-old record of 51 minutes 62 seconds set by Stephen Stravens in 2002. Stravens will be one of the competitors for this year's event, and he could be the one to break his record. The last time the race was held was in 2022 and the winner was Jean-Marc Gardette who won the 44km race in 1 hour, 5 minutes and 19 seconds. Jacquelin Languilla finished second, and Jules Kandasamy, who was 13 years old then, was third. This year's race will again see participants from Mauritius competing in the event, after which they will also be able to compete in the Praslin Slalom. The Praslin Slalom will take place at Grand Anse Praslin in the area where the Mahe to Praslin race will end. It will take place for three days, from Wednesday to Friday, and on Saturday the prize giving and closing ceremony will take place. As always, safety remains a priority for the event, with various partners aiding the Seychelles Yachting Association (SYA) in ensuring that everything runs smoothly and that the event is again a success. Cable and Wireless Seychelles is sponsoring the SIM cards that will used in the Grade Point Average bracelets, which will give the location of each athlete. The event began in 1982 when a group of six windsurfers, which included Patrick Lablache, Gerard Lafortune, Evans Calva, Bernard Sanders, Jimmy Mein and Marc Magnan, decided to attempt the crossing. Since then, it has been a major highlight of local surfing, with many surfers taking on the challenge.   

The Seychelles Port Authority (SPA) is now responsible for managing the plots of reclaimed land  that the Ile Du Port Handling Services (IPHS) operates on. This comes after the Cabinet of Ministers approved finalising the lease agreement that exists between the company and the government, in its last meeting - including the sub-leases for four specific plots of land. IPHS came about in 2014 as a public-private partnership entity with the Seychelles' government, the foreign investor Jaccar Holdings and Seychellois investors as shareholders. The company started its operations two years later. The original arrangement was to have it in the fishing port offering services to fishing vessels such as utilities, stevedoring services and net repairs among others. However, despite operations taking off, the lease for the land IPHS was located on was yet to be signed. Vice President Ahmed Afif said in a press briefing on Thursday that IPHS had gone on to reclaim two additional plots of land. Presently the area is around 15,000 square metres and this includes the land that the government has reclaimed together with that of IPHS. «We agreed to finalise an issue that has been dragging on for the last seven years, what we have seen is that the investors have reclaimed land while there is no lease between the IPHS, the Seychelles Port Authority and the government,» explained Afif. He added that this was due to the parties concerned not agreeing on a tariff. The Vice President said the Cabinet's decision to take the measures is «crucial for resolving ongoing legal and operational challenges, allowing IPHS to expand its infrastructure, improve staff welfare, and potentially reduce costs for the Seychelles' fishing sector». «We felt it important to establish a sense of order in the situation, which is why we have decided that all the land is SPA's responsibility,» he added. The new agreement ensures that the authority is responsible for the technical aspects that were causing confusion to all those involved in the deal, such as who was responsible for security in the area and utilities supply. «Today we find ourselves in a situation where there are certain expenses IPHS should pay for that it has withheld payment for,» expanded Afif. As a result of formalising the agreement, IPHS will only pay a nominal charge for the first 15 years of its lease - of which it has already paid seven. After that, all parties concerned will negotiate a commercial rate for IPHS to pay for the remaining 15 years of its lease. Its activities in the port will remain the same, which is mainly unloading fishing vessels, repairs and net repairs. «However the company has said it wants to modernise its services and use the land it is leasing to the maximum,» added Afif. The formalisation of the lease also makes it easier for IPHS to look for financing for its projects at a favourable rate.

Seychelles has been ranked as the most attractive country for investors on the African continent for 2024 on the 'Where To Invest In Africa' report published by the investment department of South Africa's second largest bank, First National Bank (FNB), earlier this month. The ranking is based on the investigation of 20 indicators that are divided into four groups. These are the current economic performance and economic potential, market accessibility and level of innovation, economic stability and investment climate and the social conditions and human capital development. The experts at FNB studied the investment opportunities of 31 out of the 54 nations that make up the continent, and Seychelles has ranked first ahead of its neighbour Mauritius, which is in second place. Egypt, South Africa and Morocco make up the top five, from third to fifth respectively. It was in these three nations who topped the list in 2021. The two island nations managed to take over the top spot, after the focus turned away from population size and overall wealth, to focus more on personal freedom and human development. According to the report, Seychelles leads the ranking because of its high level of personal freedom, human development and economic environment, scoring high also due to its connectivity and economic stability. Mauritius scored the most points for its innovations and growth opportunities. The top 10 list also features from sixth to 10th, respectively, namely Ghana, Tunisia, Senegal, Nigeria, and Algeria. Based on common traits found in the four measuring pillars, Invest in Africa offers five possible investment archetypes. «Highflyers» are big, established economies like Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia that provide stability and a variety of investment prospects. Senegal and Ivory Coast are among the nations that are considered «Cleared for Take-off» because of their youthful populations and wealth of natural resources. These nations have strong potential for economic growth and innovation. «People Potential» markets, like Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda, have a young and expanding population that will provide a sizeable consumer base and a future labour force. «Global Connectors» include nations like Morocco, Mauritius, Tunisia, and Seychelles that have more developed economies and a significant global footprint. «Low-Base Boomers» refers to tiny markets, such as Rwanda, Mozambique, and Benin, that have a higher degree of risk but also a significant potential for explosive expansion. 

The number of usage of a digital wallet called «eboo,» launched in Seychelles in January by Nebula FinTech Limited, has surpassed expectations, said a top official of the company. Eboo is an instant payment service based in Seychelles and offers an eWallet service that allows users to make instantaneous payments. It is a digital platform designed to facilitate both customer and merchant transactions, providing a convenient alternative to cash and traditional banking methods. The chief technology officer at Nebula Fintech Limited, Nicholas Cetoupe, told SNA that at the moment the number of usage of the app within the population is more than what they expected, and they are hopeful that more people will start using eboo regularly. Cetoupe said, «The app allows you to make payments to friends and businesses, split bills and even pay your Cable and Wireless (CWS) bills. If you use CWS as a mobile network provider, it does not use any of your data consumption and it even clears your bill instantly. All you have to do is dial #155*4# and it will provide you with your customer number and bill amount, which is all the information you need to put into the eboo app.» He explained that eboo works as an eWallet in a closed loop system accessed via the app on a smartphone and that the app is simple so anyone above the age of 18 with a smartphone can use it.  «We have one app for individuals - who have no fees and another for merchants who carry a competitive rate. Since eboo is in a closed loop, the payments are truly instantaneous and allows the recipient to receive the money within seconds of tapping pay. It does not matter what bank you are or what telephone provider you use,» he added. Cetoupe emphasised that security is a priority for them and eboo is a secure digital payment platform that prioritises user protection through advanced security measures. It employs encryption, two-factor authentication, and secure login options like biometric verification to safeguard user data and transactions. Additionally, he said that eboo continuously monitors for suspicious activity and complies with financial regulations, ensuring a safe environment for digital payments in Seychelles. On the usage so far, he said, «It is going well. We had anticipated a learning curve for the population, but activity on our app shows that people are using it. We have over 30 merchants now and conducting testing with the biggest supermarket in Seychelles. We believe that the usage of eboo is on the rise. We even have promotions with merchants such as WiFi Plus, Vitality and Non-Stop Supply, who are offering promotions only if you pay through the eboo app.» Moving forward the company has several huge projects and is «liaising with the government to see how we can contribute to them achieving the digital mandate, with big supermarkets and small businesses alike. We have new features coming out and some big collaborations to look out for. We are very excited for our people in Seychelles to understand how eboo can change their lives and efficiency in their businesses.» 

Kamala Harris on Thursday accepted the Democratic presidential nomination, telling a roaring crowd of supporters that she would chart «a new way forward.» «On behalf of the people, on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender or the language your grandmother speaks... I accept your nomination,» the vice president said. Acknowledging that not all people listening were supporters, Harris said the November election against Donald Trump is «a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past, a chance to chart a new way forward -- not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.» «I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations,» she said. «The future is always worth fighting for. And that's the fight we are in right now. A fight for America's future.» © Agence France-Presse

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday, a historic visit in which he is expected to push a settlement to end the war with Russia. Modi is casting himself as a possible peacemaker, two and a half years after Russia invaded and weeks into a major Ukrainian counter-offensive into Russian territory. «No problem can be resolved on a battlefield,» Modi said ahead of his visit, adding that India supports «dialogue and diplomacy for restoration of peace and stability as soon as possible». He is the first Indian premier to visit Ukraine. A diplomatic breakthrough between Moscow and Kyiv looks more elusive than ever following Ukraine's shock offensive into Russia's western Kursk region. It is also unclear whether Modi himself could be an effective dealmaker, seen by many in Ukraine as too close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He recently drew fresh condemnation in Kyiv for hugging the Russian leader during a visit to Moscow in July. Modi said he planned to «share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict» with Zelensky, as well as discuss «deepening the India-Ukraine friendship». He was in Poland on Thursday before departing for Ukraine. «As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region,» Modi said on social media ahead of the visit. Zelensky has said that «a number of documents are also expected to be signed» during the meeting with Modi. - Indian diplomacy - While India has historically warm ties with Russia, it also courts closer security partnerships with Western nations as a bulwark against its regional rival China. New Delhi has avoided explicit condemnation of Russia's 2022 invasion and has abstained on UN resolutions that criticise the Kremlin, instead urging both sides to resolve their differences through direct dialogue. But a peace deal now appears further away than ever before. Ukraine in 2022 passed a decree ruling out direct talks with Putin, and Moscow recently said it would not countenance talks with Kyiv amid its surprise counter-offensive on Russia's Western Kursk region. Putin earlier this year demanded Kyiv withdraw its troops from four Ukrainian regions that Moscow claims to have annexed -- despite not having full control over them -- as a precondition to negotiations. Kyiv says any temporary pause in the fighting would only give Moscow time to regroup and rearm for a future attack. Modi's previous diplomatic forays have drawn condemnation from Kyiv. His visit to Moscow in July came hours after a Russian missile attack hit a children's hospital in Kyiv, one strike in a nationwide missile barrage that killed at least 39 people. Modi was pictured hugging Putin at his country residence during that trip. India has also been accused of profiting from Russia's invasion. Cut-off from Western markets, Russia has become a major supplier of low-priced crude oil to India. That arrangement has dramatically reconfigured their economic ties, saving India billions on fuel while drawing accusations from the West of bolstering Moscow's war coffers. The two countries' close links date back to the Cold War, when the Kremlin was a key arms provider. But ties have also been strained over the conflict, with Putin in 2022 publicly acknowledging that Modi had «concerns» over Russia's invasion. More recently they have clashed over allegations Indian citizens were duped into fighting with Russian soldiers on the frontlines. New Delhi has pushed Moscow to return several of its citizens who signed up for «support jobs» with the Russian military but were later sent into combat. At least five Indian fighters have been killed in the war. © Agence France-Presse

A moratorium imposed in Seychelles in August 2023 on the importation and chartering of longline fishing vessels for use in the semi-industrial tuna fishery has been extended to mid-2026.   The announcement was made by Vice President Ahmed Afif in a cabinet decision press briefing on Thursday. The Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday approved the two-year extension of the moratorium following a detailed review of the sector's sustainability and management challenges. Afif said that according to the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA) in the past two years, the vessels in that sector are not being used that much for the simple reason that there are fewer fish. He said vessels are now spending 10 to 15 percent more time at sea and coming back with 10 to 15 percent less fish. «What SFA is telling us is that the situation has not changed. However, those who started building and investing in new boats before the moratorium last year are allowed to have their boats. We will not give permits for new boats to be built or new financing for boats from now for the next two years,» the Vice President emphasised.   The Cabinet made the decision in response to the findings from a recent memorandum, which highlighted persistent issues such as misreporting of fishing statistics, reliance on foreign crews, limited infrastructure capacity, and the increasing threat of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The moratorium will allow time for the development of comprehensive policies and strategies to ensure the long-term sustainable growth of Seychelles' small-scale longline fishery, including the finalisation of a national plan for fleet capacity management and local employment incentives. Afif said, «The two years will allow SFA to work with all partners including scientists to establish what will be the tendencies, and in 2026, SFA can review the situation and take a decision then.» He added that the moratorium will help the industry and those who have already invested in this sector with all those offering a service to the industry.  Fisheries is the second top contributor to the economy of Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the processing of 23 pending import authorisations for vessels, subject to stringent conditions and oversight by the SFA. 

A business incubation centre will be established in Seychelles next year through a virtual signing of a memorandum of understanding between the COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) Seychelles Chapter and the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI). The agreement, signed on Wednesday, proposes a partnership to deliver business incubation and apprenticeship programme for young men and women across Seychelles. COMFWB Seychelles will front the youths and women-led enterprises for mentorship. KIRDI on the other hand will bring on board its expertise in product development, product standard certification, and quality and further leverage current partnerships to better the capacity of SMSEs in Seychelles. The chairperson of the COMFWB Seychelles Chapter, Claudette Albert, said, «This is a milestone for us, in terms of capacity building we will be able to develop our support and incubation programme by next year. We are already providing some training programmes for incubation such as the project to develop products from fish skin.» Albert shared that the «MOU will help us with expertise from Kenya where they can support us with training. Furthermore, while we wait for our centre to be built, we can also send entrepreneurs interested to Kenya where they can follow different training on a paying basis.» Seychelles COMFWB is also being assisted by the Citizenship Engagement Platform Seychelles (CEPS). The chief executive of CEPS, Alvin Laurence, said they agreed to build the Incubation Centre on the same land next to the CEPS House on the man-made island of Ile du Port. «There is already a plan to build the CEPS House and it includes an environmental and economic component. This lab will be built as the first incubation centre and will answer these components. Entrepreneurs will be able to gain access to equipment and space without needing major installation costs initially,» said Laurence. «The CEPS House itself is already in an advanced phase and we expect to begin before the end of this year. The property is located just after the Trotters Stop School at Ile du Port.» Albert confirmed that the building will be modular to speed up the building time. She added that they are also receiving assistance from several other donors for other components related to the project. «The European Union is helping with the equipment needed at SCR2 million ($142,000). COMESA (Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa) is also helping support the project through the technical assistance programme,» she added.  She confirmed that they expect to establish a separate incubator to deal specifically with Blue Economy projects under the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Seychelles will be the first in the Business Incubator for African Woman Entrepreneurs (BIAWE) group in the region to implement such a project. Signing the agreement on behalf of KIRDI, the director general of KIRDI, Dr Calvin Onyango said, «We as KIRDI are ready and willing to transfer skills and technologies to others to boost their SME profile and productivity.»

The Israeli military killed a senior Palestinian militant in Lebanon on Wednesday, leading to accusations from the Fatah movement that Israel was trying to ignite a regional war. The strike that killed Khalil Maqdah, described by Fatah as «one of the leaders» of its armed wing in Lebanon, came hours after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended a tour of the Middle East aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and «made clear that we must bring the ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure,» the president wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Fatah, which is based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and rivals the Gaza Strip's Islamist rulers Hamas, said Maqdah was killed near the southern Lebanese city of Sidon. Israel accused him of «directing attacks and smuggling weapons» to the West Bank and collaborating with Iranian forces. His killing marked the first time Israel has targeted a senior Fatah member in more than 10 months of cross-border clashes with Lebanese militants, mostly from Hezbollah, during the Gaza war. Tawfiq Tirawy, a member of Fatah's central committee, told AFP that the «assassination... is further proof that Israel wants to ignite a full-scale war in the region». Blinken, who left Qatar late Tuesday apparently empty-handed, appealed to Hamas to urgently accept a US-drafted truce proposal, while also publicly disagreeing with Israel over its future presence in the besieged Gaza Strip. «Time is of the essence,» Blinken said before flying out of Doha after stops in Egypt and Israel. A ceasefire «needs to get done, and it needs to get done in the days ahead,» he said. - Father mourns - On the ground, Gaza was again rocked by air strikes, according to AFP reporters, first responders, witnesses and the Israeli military, which also issued fresh evacuation orders. The civil defence agency in the Hamas-run territory said at least three people were killed and 10 children wounded in an Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City. Israel's military said the «precise strike» targeted Hamas militants based in the school compound. A father told AFP his child was killed in the strike while playing in the schoolyard. «What did this child do to deserve this?» he said, declining to give his name. Israeli bombardment elsewhere in Gaza killed at least 24 people on Wednesday, the civil defence agency said. Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for delays in agreeing a deal to end fighting, triggered by Hamas's October 7 attack, as well as freeing Israeli hostages and allowing vital humanitarian aid into Gaza. The United States has presented ideas to bridge gaps and, through mediators Qatar and Egypt, pressed Hamas to return to talks this week in Cairo. But a day after Blinken said US ally Israel was on board, Netanyahu was quoted by Israeli media as disagreeing on a key sticking point. Netanyahu insisted Israel maintain control of the Philadelphi Corridor, the border between Gaza and Egypt that Israeli forces seized from Hamas, which Israel says relies on tunnels to bring in weapons. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant toured Philadelphi on Wednesday, his office said. Since the war began, it was made «very clear that the United States does not accept any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel», Blinken said when asked about Netanyahu's remarks. But he added that Israel had already agreed on the «schedule and location» of troop withdrawals from Gaza in the talks. Details have not been made public. Hamas said it was «keen to reach a ceasefire» but protested «new conditions» from Israel in the latest US proposal. - 'Bring them all back' - The October 7 attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,199 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed 40,223 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths. The UN rights office says most dead are women and children. Palestinian militants also seized 251 hostages, of whom 105 remain in Gaza including 34 the military says are dead. The military's latest evacuation orders, including for parts of central and southern Gaza previously designated «safe» by Israel, affect some 150,000 displaced Palestinians who had sought shelter there, the United Nations' humanitarian agency OCHA said. A UN official said death «seems to be the only certainty» for Gaza's 2.4 million people, with no way to escape Israel's bombardment. «Absolutely nowhere is safe,» Louise Wateridge, a spokeswoman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), told AFP from Gaza. In Lebanon, Hamas ally Hezbollah claimed attacks on Israeli military positions across the border including in the annexed Golan Heights, after several Israeli strikes that the health ministry said had killed five people. Fears of a wider regional conflagration soared after the late July killings, blamed on Israel, of Iran-aligned militant leaders in Tehran and in Beirut. Netanyahu, at an airbase in northern Israel, said «we are ready for any scenario.» Mourners meanwhile gathered in southern Israel to bury one of six dead hostages recovered from Gaza by Israeli forces this week. Yagev Buchshtab's mother Esther, echoing calls for Netanyahu to secure a hostage release deal, said: «In what world must families beg, scream and cry for the return of their loved ones, alive or murdered? Bring them all back.» © Agence France-Presse

Divers searching for six people missing after a superyacht sank off Sicily, including UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch, on Wednesday pulled four bodies from the wreck and reportedly found a fifth. The grim development, after three days of searches since the «Bayesian» went down early on Monday morning, brings the death toll to six -- with one person still missing. There was no official identification of the bodies but Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah are among those missing since the yacht was scuppered in a storm off the Italian island. The 56-metre (185 feet) British-flagged sailing boat had been anchored some 700 metres off Porticello, east of Palermo, when it was struck by a waterspout -- akin to a mini-tornado. It sank within minutes. Fifteen people were rescued, including Lynch's wife and a woman with a one-year-old baby. But the body of a man, believed to be the yacht's chef, was found several hours later. Lynch and his daughter, his lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda, and Jonathan Bloomer, the chair of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife Judy, were all reported missing. AFP journalists in Porticello saw emergency workers moving four body bags from boats returning from the sea into a tent on the quay, or into waiting ambulances. Several different media outlets later said a fifth body had been found but not yet brought to shore. In an update late Wednesday, the coastguard confirmed four bodies had been recovered in an «extremely delicate operation». The depth of the yacht -- which is largely intact and resting on the seabed some 50 metres down -- had been a challenge, it said. It also noted «the narrowness of the spaces they were exploring and the presence of numerous objects». «The operation is continuing for the search and recovery of the last two missing,» it added, a process that would resume on Thursday morning. - Five minutes - Lynch -- an entrepreneur sometimes referred to as Britain's Bill Gates -- had invited the guests onto the yacht to celebrate his acquittal in a massive US fraud case. The 59-year-old was acquitted on all charges in a San Francisco court in June after he was accused of an $11 billion fraud linked to the sale of his software firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard. Among the survivors was Charlotte Golunski, board director of a company founded by Lynch, who has described how she briefly lost hold of her one-year-old daughter before grabbing her again. Both were plucked to safety. Fabio Genco, a member of the Palermo Emergency Medical Services who was among the team that treated the child, described the «apocalyptic» situation he found on arriving at the scene. «The word that the mother and all the injured kept repeating was 'darkness', the darkness that they experienced during the shipwreck,» he told the BBC's Newsnight programme. «They spoke of about five minutes, maybe from three to five minutes, from the moment the boat was lifted, raised by the waves of the sea, until it sank.» He said the survivors rescued had been in shock: «There were truly apocalyptic scenes where everyone was searching and hoping to find the people who at that moment, were not present or just missing.» All the survivors treated in hospital have been discharged, he confirmed. - Anarchic sea conditions - The speed with which the yacht sank, and the fact that other boats around it were unaffected, was extraordinary. Despite eyewitness testimonies that the 75-metre mast had snapped, reports on Wednesday suggested that it was intact. Some key questions remain, including whether the keel, which provides a counterbalance to the towering mast, was down when the storm hit. Italian authorities have opened an investigation into what happened and are interviewing all the survivors, including captain James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, according to Italian media. The UK's marine accident investigation branch also sent four inspectors. Matthew Schanck, from the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, told AFP what happened was a «pretty unprecedented». UK meteorologist Peter Inness described a waterspout as a «narrow column of rotating air below a thunderstorm that occurs over water». Like tornadoes, they suck up air in a rotating motion. Many are fairly inconsequential, but some can pack winds of more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour, said Inness. Jean-Marie Dumon, a former naval officer now with the GICAN, the French maritime industry association, added that conditions with winds of 100kph or more can «create completely anarchic sea conditions which can cause capsizing». © Agence France-Presse

The Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA) confirmed that the general quota for yellowfin tuna catch was not reached for the year 2023 after compiling all the information received from active vessels last year. The head of the Department for Fisheries Resource Management and Technical Coordination at SFA, Vincent Lucas, told SNA that a quota of 37,782 tonnes was allocated to Seychelles for 2023. Only 34,028 tonnes were consumed by the various fleets, which include purse seine, industrial and semi-industrial longline fishers, making Seychelles short by 3,704 tonnes. This includes the 13 Seychelles-flagged purse seiners and industrial longliners and semi-industrial longliners. «The purse seine fleet is allocated a higher proportion of the quota with an average of 2,500 tonnes per vessel totaling 32,500 tonnes. Out of the 13 purse seiners, only six managed to consume all of their allocated quota for 2023,» he added. Lucas described 2023 as an odd year for fishing given that the effect was felt across various sectors. He explained that temperature changes in the ocean determine where the tuna schools are located. The El Nino effect and other natural phenomena caused the tuna to go deeper in the ocean. «Purse seine fishing operations rely on tuna schools located near the surface of the water. They also rely on a shallow thermocline, a layer in a body of water where the temperature changes rapidly with depth, which prevents tuna schools from diving deep. The El Nino effect, coupled with high sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean, resulted in a deeper thermocline. This effect was particularly prominent in the western Indian Ocean where Seychelles is located. Consequently, tuna schools were deeper and could not be detected by the purse seine fleet which relied on schools near the surface. Catchability in the western Indian Ocean was therefore low,» Lucas explained. He mentioned that such an occurrence is not unheard of, however, its intensity varies whenever it happens depending on different factors, and similar situations were reported in 1998, 2008, 2016, 2020, and now in 2023. «However, across the years the intensity varies. The highest intensity was felt in 1998, when many purse seine vessels moved over to the eastern part of the Indian Ocean, resulting in reduced catch in Seychelles' EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) and reduced revenue for the country. Although to a lesser extent, a 40 percent reduction in catches in Seychelles' EEZ was reported in 2023. It should, however, be noted that 2022 was an exceptional year in terms of tuna catches in Seychelles' EEZ, whereby we recorded a 170 percent increase over 2021,» said Lucas. On the status of the fishing operations so far, he said that while it is still a bit early to confirm, there has been a noted improvement but in the first quarter of 2024, the impact of elevated sea surface temperature was still evident. «However, the situation has gradually improved and we are noticing an increase in catches in quarter 2 and even greater improvement during quarter 3. It is still a bit early to say whether the 2024 quota will be met, however, the improvement is very promising,» said Lucas. Fishing is the second top contributor to the economy of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean.  

Starting next year, the school curriculum in Seychelles will include a digital skills component, said a top government official on Tuesday after handing over the kits and tools to the team participating in the First Global Robotics Challenge this year. The principal secretary for Education Sector Development, John Lesperance, told reporters that this competition fits the government's plan to promote the digital economy, especially digital skills. «The Ministry of Education is currently developing frameworks and tools that will be used to include this subject in the curriculum in schools at primary and secondary levels next year in 2025. It will be based on digital skills and robotics will be one of the elements taught. There has been a lot of interest already. We've been approached by quite several students who wish to join such a programme,» he explained. Team Seychelles will be participating in the First Global Robotics Challenge held in Athens, Greece, from September 26 to 29. The competition brings together school students of 14-17 years from around the world to participate in a STEM - science, technology, engineering, and mathematics - challenge. It aims to inspire youth to pursue careers in STEM fields, promote cultural exchange, and foster a global community of young innovators who can address global challenges through technology and collaboration. Each year, the competition focuses on a specific theme related to real-world issues, such as energy efficiency, water quality, or pollution. The selection process for the First Global Robotics Challenge 2024 was done on June 11 and 12, and 31 students from state and private schools were part of the selection process. Members of the core team will represent Seychelles at the Challenge, whereas members of the Supporting Team will have the valuable opportunity to assist the team locally in mounting and working on the robot, but will not be travelling for the competition. Members of the team with high level officials. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  This structure ensures that a broader group of students can engage with and benefit from the project, gaining practical experience and contributing to the success of the core team. The team will be accompanied by a representative from the Ministry of Education and a representative from the Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI).  As the team captain for the core team that will be going to Athens in September, Gabriel Suzette emphasised the advantage of having several students on the team as repeat participants, this being the second time he is also participating. «We have noticed that this is not the case for most other teams, they will be there for the first time. I feel that this is a good advantage for us. I am expecting to perform better than last year where we ranked 37 out of 171 countries. Hopefully this year we will succeed,» he said. Suzette outlined their strategy for the competition this year, stating that they will be optimising their robot to efficiently rack up enough points to make it to the top 10. «One of the tasks the robot needs to complete is picking up different coloured balls. This year we will be focusing on this because you can get quite a bit of points just by collecting the balls. Hopefully, through this, we will be able to get into the top 10,» he added. Team Seychelles received their kit to build their robot on Tuesday and apart from this kit of parts that they have to build into a functioning robot, they were also given several tools that they will need to make this happen. These tools were donated to them by Space 95 and in her address, the company's sales and marketing manager, Ana-Maria Suzette said, «Today we are not just handing over a set of tools, we are handing over a key to unlocking your potential and facilitating the transformation of your ideas into reality. In addition to the tools needed to construct the robot, we are also providing the protective gear needed to ensure the safety of the team while working with these tools. Space 95 will also offer training to show how to use the tools effectively.»

The United Nations expressed concern on Tuesday about the rapid deterioration of the economic and security situation in Libya, denouncing the «unilateral» moves by Libyan actors that have «increased tension.» The country of 6.8 million people has struggled to recover from years of conflict after the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, and remains divided between a UN-recognised government based in the capital Tripoli and a rival administration in the east, backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar. Now, reemerging bloodshed and power struggles in the vast North African nation have raised fears of a broader escalation, threatening to deal a fatal blow to the UN-brokered political transition and push the war-torn country deeper into turmoil. «Over the past two months, the situation in Libya has deteriorated quite rapidly in terms of political, economic and security stability,» Stephanie Koury, acting head of the UN's political mission in Libya (UNSMIL), told the Security Council. «Unilateral acts by Libyan political, military and security actors have increased tension, further entrenched institutional and political divisions and complicated efforts for a negotiated political solution,» she added. She cited a number of events since the beginning of August, including fighting between armed groups on the outskirts of Tripoli and attempts to forcibly expel the governor of the central bank. The American diplomat is acting head of UNSMIL pending the appointment of a successor to Abdoulaye Bathily, who threw in the towel in April, condemning a «lack of political will and good faith» by Libyan leaders. «In the absence of renewed political talks leading to a unified government and elections, you see where this is heading: greater political, financial and security instability, entrenched political and territorial divisions, and greater domestic and regional instability,» warned Koury. «Libyans are frustrated with the status quo and the toll it is taking on their lives. People struggle to withdraw money from the banks and to meet their daily needs. Many express fear about war once again erupting,» she said. © Agence France-Presse

Several local entities are attending a four-day workshop to develop comprehensive witness protection guidelines consistent with national laws, regional and international legal frameworks, and best practices. The workshop opened in a short ceremony on Tuesday at the Reflex3 at Bois De Rose Avenue. It is organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA), in coordination with the Seychelles Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Secretariat. Over four days, participants will enhance their capacity and knowledge of human-rights-based approaches to witness protection. The workshop features representatives of immigration, employment, education, foreign affairs, social services, the Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles (ACCS), and the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit (FCIU), among others.   The workshop is facilitated and led by UNODC staff and experts from the International Criminal Court (ICC). During the opening ceremony, the UNODC representative, Carmen Corbin, said having a good witness protection programme is key to encouraging people to come forward and report crimes. She highlighted that it is so important to have mechanisms that support witnesses throughout the legal process because they are not lawyers or police officers, who are directly involved in the criminal justice system. «It is so important that we have standards protocols and rules to support those people to allow them to feel safe in the criminal justice system and to help us build our cases,» added Corbin. She said the workshop is very important, as it will allow participants to build knowledge and share ideas, so that witnesses will feel safe to come forward, to help stop various crimes from happening in Seychelles, especially those related to human trafficking. The Minister for Internal Affairs, Errol Fonseka, said that this initiative is timely in Seychelles' collective efforts to enhance justice and ensure the safety of those who play a crucial role in our legal processes. «The development of these witness protection guidelines is of paramount importance for Seychelles. Witnesses play a pivotal role in the justice system by providing crucial information and testimony that help uphold the rule of law and combat all sorts of crime. Protecting these individuals is not just a matter of safety; it is essential for the integrity of our legal processes and the trust our citizens place in the justice system,» he said.   Fonseka stressed that the benefits to Seychelles are profound and that «we will not only enhance the safety and well-being of witnesses but also reinforce our commitment to upholding justice and human rights. This initiative will contribute to a more resilient legal framework, capable of addressing the complexities of modern challenges while adhering to the highest standards of protection and fairness.» He added that strengthening witness protection will bolster Seychelles' capacity to combat organised crime, trafficking in persons, and other serious offences. It will also enforce the country's commitment to human rights and the rule of law, fostering a safer and more just society for all, he concluded. The workshop is being organised within the framework of the UNODC project on «Enhancing Effective and Victim-Centered Criminal Justice Responses to Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in Eastern Africa» and is funded by the U.S. Department of State. It aims to reduce Trafficking In Person in Eastern Africa by enhancing the strategic and operational capacity of member states to prevent, suppress, and punish TIP. It will help to effectively protect and support victims through the development and strengthening of national legislation, standardised operating procedures, and national plans of action in line with the Palermo Protocols. 

Key players in the cruise tourism sector in Seychelles are meeting the representatives of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) until Thursday to provide input to a study being carried out to understand the cruise sector. The project aims to evaluate the cost-benefit aspects of this burgeoning cruise tourism sector in Seychelles and following the situational analysis conducted by UNECA delegates in April, the consultants have compiled a preliminary analysis report based on their findings. «This is the chance to present the information gathered in April to the partners to get their feedback,» said Paul Lebon, director general for Destination Planning and Development in the Department of Tourism. The information collected in the situational analysis held in April was presented to the stakeholders in the workshop held at the Olympic House at Roche Caiman. At the time of the initial study, UNECA representatives collected data to analyse on a socio-cultural, environmental and economic basis. Among the areas highlighted are market trends and forecasts, current policies affecting the cruise sector in Seychelles and policy updates and future directions. The sector's important stakeholders such as destination management companies (DMC), shipping agencies and the Seychelles Ports Authority, were given a platform to not only provide feedback but to also make realistic comparisons of the statistics and the data collected as well as determine areas that there is lack of information. Lebon revealed that once the consultation phase is completed, the UNECA team will go back to work on the new information they have collected during the workshop, to draft a plan. «In a few months we will have a plan that will be validated and authenticated which will lead us towards having an action plan after which we can develop a strategy, » he said. However, Lebon explained that before the strategy is developed, there will be a series of surveys carried out. He added that once UNECA completes the study will put the island state «in a better position to know who does what in the scheme of things and who will lead to achieve our objectives.» The data being used dates back to 2019 and Lebon said, «The statistics reflect a time when cruise tourism was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic - this was a time of quarantine on board vessels and a time when cruise ships were not coming into the country.» He added that the chosen year provides a good starting point because cruises experienced a good year back then. On his part, UNECA consultant Dr. Pius Obunga said that the cruise industry in Seychelles is «positive, I would say it contributes to the economy, but we need to minimise the costs and maximise the profits as we move on.» For its 2022-2023 cruise season, Seychelles - an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean - welcomed 38 vessels with around 68,000 visitors.

Chinese and Philippine vessels «collided» Monday during a confrontation near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, Beijing's state media said, citing the Chinese coast guard. «Despite multiple warnings from the Chinese side, the Philippine vessel 4410 deliberately collided with China's 21551 vessel,» state broadcaster CCTV said, citing China Coast Guard spokesperson Geng Yu. Beijing has continued to press its claims to almost the entire South China Sea despite an international tribunal ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. China and the Philippines have had repeated confrontations in the South China Sea in recent months, including around a warship grounded years ago by Manila on the contested Second Thomas Shoal that now hosts a garrison. «Philippine Coast Guard vessels... illegally entered the waters near the Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government,» the CCTV report said, using the Chinese names for the Sabina Shoal and the Spratly Islands. «The China Coast Guard took control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law.» China accused the Philippine vessels of acting «in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, resulting in a glancing collision». «We sternly warn the Philippine side to immediately cease its infringement and provocations,» Geng was quoted as saying. State news agency Xinhua reported that the incident took place at 3:24 am local time (1924 GMT Sunday). It also said the Philippine coast guard ship had then entered waters near the Second Thomas Shoal around 6 am. © Agence France-Presse

Nigeria's president headed to France on Monday dogged by a row over jet planes impounded by a French court in a dispute pitting Abuja against a Chinese company. An airport source told AFP that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was flying on the presidential Airbus A330 -- which until a few days ago was impounded by a court in France. The plane was one of three seized on behalf of Chinese company Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment as part of a long-running trade and legal dispute between the firm and authorities in Nigeria. But on Friday, Zhongshan said it had released the jet as a goodwill gesture. Online flight tracker Flight Radar 24 showed an Airbus A330 operated by the Nigerian Air Force left the capital Abuja shortly after 4:00 pm (1500 GMT) for the southern French city Nice. President Tinubu was making a «brief work stay in France,» his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement, without specifying which plane he was travelling on. French President Emmanuel Macron is also in the south of France this week. The Elysee palace told AFP no meeting was planned between the two leaders. The original row between Nigerian authorities and the Chinese company concerns a 2007 contract for Zhongshan to develop a free trade zone in southwestern Ogun state. Nigerian officials said it was terminated because Zhongshan had not delivered on the agreement. «When the contract with Ogun State was revoked in 2015, the company had only erected a perimeter fence on the land earmarked for a free trade zone,» presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga said. In a strongly-worded statement last week, he accused the company of using «unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets.» Zhongshan secured two French court orders to seize Nigerian assets earlier this year following an award of more than $60 million at a London arbitration tribunal. In a statement carried by Nigerian newspapers, Zhongshan said: «Far from being just a fence, the Ogun Free Trade Zone was featured as a significant international investment by the Economist Intelligence Unit,» a research group. The company has said it hopes to reach a «reasonable compromise settlement rapidly», according to Nigerian media. Tinubu often visits France and made a private visit earlier this year. The Nigerian presidency has not responded to AFP's request for comment. © Agence France-Presse

Climate-smart farming education in Seychelles has received a long-awaited and overdue boost with the installation of the first hydroponic smart-farming system at the Seychelles Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (SIAH). The new infrastructure will serve as a practical demonstration site for climate-smart agriculture for learners at the institute and will facilitate educational workshops for other established farmers, advancing critical knowledge and skills for sustainable farming practices. The system, installed under a greenhouse, which materialised after training, is expected to strengthen Seychelles' food system resilience through sustainable practices and climate-smart agriculture in the archipelago in the western Indian Ocean.  The project was made possible through collaborations and support from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Programme of the UNDP, UN Women, the Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the joint programme of the government of Seychelles, Global Environment Facility (SEF) and UNDP, known as «A Ridge to Reef (R2R) Approach for the Integrated Management of Marine, Coastal, and Terrestrial Ecosystems in Seychelles,» as well as the agriculture department of the Ministry for Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment. Barry Nourrice, the technical consultant overseeing the installation of the greenhouse, equipment and hydroponic system installation spoke on the need and importance for Seychelles to adopt climate-smart farming. «Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants or crops without the need for soil and instead growing your plants in aqueous media. Through the training, we found it essential to provide the trainees with basic knowledge of the technology installed on their premises. The system provides the possibility of all-year-round food production, which is protected from flooding and soil-borne diseases, as the crops are not grown on the ground. In this setup, the netting of the greenhouse will also protect the crops from pests, reducing the need for pesticides,» he said. According to Nourrice, two different types of hydroponics systems have been set up within the greenhouse, namely the nutrient film technique and the grow bag system «with the grow bag system, although you will not be using soil, you will be using material such as perlite or coco peat, providing an ecosystem where the plant can sit and the root can develop. The real work is being done by the water.»  The greenhouse and high-tech system – a practical resource for both students and farmers alike - will allow SIAH, located at Anse La Mouche in the west of the main island of Mahe, to instruct students on hydroponic techniques and advocate for their adoption across Seychelles' agricultural landscape. This innovative set-up will allow students to continue learning the benefits of hydroponic systems and learn about their important role in addressing the challenges posed by climate change, especially for small island developing states (SIDS) like the Seychelles. The Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment, Flavien Joubert, said that the SIAH, which is undergoing transformations to become a leading professional centre, will continue supporting students in developing competencies to integrate Seychelles' agriculture and embrace new technologies to ensure sustainable livelihoods in the sector.