The President of the Court of Appeal of Seychelles declared on Monday that one of the decisions taken by the court is that foreigners who plead guilty to importing large quantities of hard drugs into the country, get light sentences and then if they appeal, will have their sentences enhanced. Justice Anthony Fernando made the announcement in his address for the closing of the Court of Appeal's August session. «We have determined that foreigners who plead guilty to importing large quantities of hard drugs into the country, who have got away with light sentences in the Supreme Court and think that they can appeal and have their sentences further reduced without any legal or factual basis, are mistaken, for they will have their sentences enhanced by this Court,» he said. This follows the Court's decision to dismiss Shabani Kizamba Shabani's appeal to the 12-year imprisonment the Supreme Court had sentenced him to earlier in March. The 50-year-old Tanzanian national was arrested on September 26, 2022 upon his arrival in Seychelles on a Qatar Airways flight by police and airport officials. A total of 984.78 grammes of cocaine was found in his possession after he was searched. He had pleaded guilty to the charges and was granted a lesser sentence.   Fernando explained that this was due to Shabani showing remorse and not wasting the court's time. Under the Misuse of Drug Act, 2016,  the maximum penalty for importing a controlled Class A drug is a term of life imprisonment and a fine of up to SCR 1 million ($74,200). In appealing to the lesser sentence, Shabani showed that the remorse was not genuine, prompting the Court to enhance the judgement given by the Supreme Court and sentence him to 18 years in prison. In another case, the Court dismissed Makavita Dilesh's appeal in its entirety. The 43-year-old Sri Lankan national was found guilty of illegally fishing in the island nation's territorial waters in November 2023. He was convicted to a fine of $41,000 payable within 60 days and if not, serve a term of 18 months in prison. The Court upheld the decision for Dilesh to serve his 18 months in prison with all equipment and gear used in the illegal fishing expedition to be handed over to the government. The fish products and proceeds taken and sold for a sum of SCR 35,320 were also to be given to the small island state's authorities. The Court of Appeal will reconvene in December to hear the remaining 13 cases on its dockets for the year. So far, the Court has cleared the 200 cases in the backlog. Meanwhile, in his conclusion, Fernando expressed the Court's appreciation «to Justice Dr Lilian Tibatemwa for her services to the Seychelles Judiciary and the contribution to our jurisprudence, and bid her farewell as this was her last sitting in our Court of Appeal.» He said that Justice Lilian Tibatemwa was appointed as a non-resident justice of this Court in September 2019 for a period of five years.

Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday accused Ethiopia of not accepting his country as a sovereign state. And he renewed his attack on Addis Ababa's agreement with a breakaway Somali region. «Ethiopia refuses to recognise Somalia as a sovereign neighbouring country,» Somalia president said Saturday during an address to the nation. «Until it recognises the sovereignty of Somalia, we cannot talk about a sea or any other thing. Ethiopia violated international law.» Earlier this year, Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to lease 20 kilometres (12 miles) of coast for 50 years. That would give Ethiopia -- one of the world's largest landlocked countries -- long-sought after access to the sea. Somaliland -- which unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991 -- has said Ethiopia in return will become the first country to formally recognise it, a step Addis Ababa has yet to confirm. The United States, the European Union, China, the African Union and the Arab League have all called on Ethiopia to respect Somalia's sovereignty. Turkey is coordinating indirect talks between Somalia and Ethiopia, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan citing «notable progress» after a second round of talks last Tuesday. A third round is planned for September 17, also in Ankara. With 120 million people, Ethiopia is the second most populated country in Africa. It has been seeking an outlet to the Red Sea ever since losing it in 1993 when Eritrea declared independence after a decades-long war. Somaliland, which is relatively stable compared to the rest of the Horn of Africa region, has its own institutions, prints it own money and issues passports. But it is poor and isolated because of the absence of any international recognition, despite its strategic location on the straits leading to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. © Agence France-Presse

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due to meet Monday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to try to unblock the process for a ceasefire in Gaza, even as the premier and Hamas traded blame for delays in reaching a truce accord. After arriving in Tel Aviv Sunday on his ninth trip to the Middle East since the Gaza war began when Hamas attacked Israel in October, the top US diplomat was set to meet with Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and President Isaac Herzog. Blinken will then travel to Cairo on Tuesday, where ceasefire talks will resume in the coming days. Diplomats say a Gaza deal could help avert a wider conflagration, and a US official speaking on customary condition of anonymity said this is «a particularly critical time». Blinken aims «to press any and all parties that it's important to get the remaining pieces of this across the finish line», said the official. Ahead of truce talks in Qatar last Thursday and Friday, Hamas had called on mediators -- rather than holding more negotiations -- to implement a framework outlined in late May by US President Joe Biden. Biden said Sunday that a ceasefire was «still possible» and that the United States was «not giving up» in brief comments to reporters. After the Qatar talks between US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators, the United States submitted a new compromise proposal, leading Hamas on Sunday to accuse Netanyahu of obstruction. According to Hamas, the proposal «responds to Netanyahu's conditions, especially his rejection of a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and his insistence on continuing to occupy the Netzarim junction, the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi corridor». The latter two places are seen by Israel as important for preventing the flow of any weapons into the Gaza Strip, while the Netzarim junction sits at a strategic point between northern and southern Gaza. Netanyahu was «fully responsible for thwarting the efforts of the mediators, obstructing an agreement, and (bears) full responsibility for the lives» of hostages in Gaza, the Islamist movement said in a statement. Western ally Jordan, hostage supporters protesting in Israel, and Hamas itself have called for pressure on Netanyahu in order for an agreement to be reached. Far-right members crucial to the prime minister's governing coalition oppose any truce. - Stakes have risen - On Sunday Netanyahu reiterated that Hamas must be pressured. «Hamas, up to this moment, remains obstinate. It did not even send a representative to the talks in Doha. Therefore, the pressure should be directed at Hamas and (Yahya) Sinwar, not at the Israeli government,» Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting, referring to the Hamas chief. The plan announced by Biden at the end of May would freeze fighting for an initial six weeks as Israeli hostages are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and humanitarian aid enters the besieged Gaza Strip. On Saturday, Netanyahu's office in a statement said Israeli negotiators have expressed «cautious optimism» about reaching a Gaza truce deal. US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators also reported progress. Months of on-off truce negotiations have taken place, so far without any agreement. But the stakes have risen since the late July killings of Iran-backed militant leaders, including Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, and as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepened with a feared polio outbreak. Israeli evacuation orders have «reduced the safe zone» in the south of the territory, leaving «no more space» for displaced Palestinians, said Samah Dib, 32. Some «are sleeping on the street», while clean water is scarce and food at the markets is «very expensive and we have no money left», said Dib, who like almost all Gazans is among the displaced. As efforts towards a long-sought truce continued, so did the violence in Gaza, but also in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in Lebanon, where Israeli forces and Hamas's Iran-backed ally Hezbollah have traded near-daily fire throughout the war. - The rumble of tanks - Civil defence rescuers in Hamas-run Gaza reported a total of 11 people killed in Israeli bombardment of Deir el-Balah and in air strikes on Jabalia refugee camp. «Are these women and children part of the resistance?» asked Ahmed Abu Kheir, who witnessed a strike that killed a mother and her six children in their apartment in Deir al-Balah. The latest killings helped push to 40,099 the death toll from Gaza's health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths. Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel that started the war resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. The Israeli military said troops continued operations in central and southern Gaza and «eliminated» militants in Rafah, on the territory's border with Egypt. From the Israeli-designated safe zone in southern Gaza's Al-Mawasi, a fearful Lina Saleha, 44, said she could hear «constant artillery shelling» and the rumble of tanks «getting closer.» Iran and its regional allies have vowed retaliation for Haniyeh's death in Tehran -- which Israel has not claimed responsibility for -- and for an Israeli strike in Beirut that killed a top Hezbollah commander. US officials have indirectly heard that Iran «want to see a ceasefire, they don't want to see regional escalation», the US official said. Out of 251 hostages seized during Hamas's attack, 111 are still held in Gaza, including 39 the military says are dead. More than 100 were freed during a one-week truce in November. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club watchdog group said that since the Gaza war began, Israeli forces have detained «more than 10,000 Palestinians» in the West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem, which Israel seized in 1967. © Agence France-Presse

French film legend Alain Delon, a divisive star known to some as a sex symbol and to others as an egotistical chauvinist, has died aged 88, his children announced Sunday. The actor, known for his roles in classics «Purple Noon» (1960) and «Le Samourai» (1967), died in the early hours of the morning, his son Anthony told AFP. He had been suffering with lymphoma. «Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, as well as (his dog) Loubo, are deeply saddened to announce the passing of their father,» Delon's children said in a statement to AFP. «He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family,» said the statement, which came after months of public family feuding over the star's weakening health. Delon had millions of fans around the world but also drew legions of critics, with feminists appalled by the lifetime achievement award the Cannes Film Festival gave him in 2019. In his later years he lived largely as a recluse, his personal life keeping him in the headlines despite being a rarity on-screen since the 1990s. In 2023, his three children filed a complaint against his live-in assistant Hiromi Rollin, accusing her of harassment and threatening behaviour. The siblings went on to wage a public battle in the media and the courts, arguing over the star's state of health, which included a stroke in 2019. He faced lifelong controversy over his relationship with women, with his sons previously accusing him of domestic violence. While Delon denied this, he admitted slapping women who attacked him during quarrels. He had a series of tumultuous affairs, describing German actor Romy Schneider as the «love of my life» after their relationship in the 1960s. German-born Velvet Underground singer Nico claimed he was the father of her son, Christian Aaron Boulogne -- something Delon continually denied up to Boulogne's death in 2023 from a heroin overdose. Delon married Nathalie Delon in 1964 in a stormy relationship that ended in divorce in 1969, with other high-profile relationships including pop diva Dalida and model-turned-actor Mireille Darc. - Instinctive genius - Far from a cerebral actor, Delon was considered an instinctive genius. He prided himself on never having worked on his technique, rather relying on charisma. French President Emmanuel Macron called Delon a «French monument» who «played legendary roles and made the world dream». Fellow 1960s star Brigitte Bardot told AFP his death left «a huge void that nothing and no one will be able to fill». Former president of the Cannes festival, Gilles Jacob, paid tribute to Delon as «a lion... an actor with a steely gaze», while Alberto Barbera, director of the Venice film festival, said he was an «icon» who had climbed «to the Olympus of the immortals». Delon's looks were cinematic gold for filmmakers in the 1960s, playing roles of pretty boy killers and mysterious schemers like in «Purple Noon» -- later remade as «The Talented Mr Ripley». He went on to set the template for one of Hollywood's favourite tropes -- the mysterious, cerebral hitman -- with his staggering performance as the silent killer in Jean-Pierre Melville's «Le Samourai». Directors from Martin Scorsese to Quentin Tarantino all acknowledge a debt to the inner life Delon gave his stylish killer -- although the French actor never made it big in Hollywood. Delon made his last major public appearance on the red carpet to receive an honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019. «It's a bit of a posthumous tribute, but from my lifetime,» he said when receiving the award. Delon lived out his final years at home in a small village in France, surrounded by high walls, where he planned to be buried not far from his dogs. - 'Very sad' - Outside the entrance to his home in Douchy-Montcorbon, fans on Sunday placed flowers and gathered to pay their respects. «It's a part of our youth that is gone, it's very sad,» said Marie Arnold, laying white flowers with her sister Michele. An accordion player, who gave his name as «Titi», said Delon had asked him to play in front of the estate on the day of his death. «Alain is in a deep, chosen solitude, in another world, in the past with people he very much loved,» his former partner Darc told AFP in 2015. Delon also drew criticism for his support of polarising politician Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, who was in favour of the death penalty and spoke against same-sex relationships. But fans who adored him will think back to his opening line in the film «Le Samourai»: «There is no deeper solitude than that of the samurai, except that of a tiger in the jungle.» © Agence France-Presse

Nature Seychelles is recruiting volunteers for the hawksbill turtle nesting season, which will start October 2024 and end in April 2025 on the Cousin Island Special Reserve. The chief executive of Nature Seychelles, Dr Nirmal Jivan Shah, described Cousin Island as one of the most important nesting sites for hawksbill turtles in the western Indian Ocean. «We need a number of dedicated individuals who are collecting data and monitoring this critically endangered species at all times during the breeding season. We just don't have enough staff to do this, especially on the weekends and public holidays. The volunteer programme aims to help bring in enough hands to assist in this vital project to ensure each season is just as successful and productive as the last,» he emphasised. The hawksbill sea turtle is classified on the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a critically endangered species. The species is largely limited to tropical and subtropical marine and estuary ecosystems. The programme is the longest-running hawksbill monitoring programme in the world and Shah said it is highly effective and has been able to intercept about 87-90 percent of all successfully nesting females. «From this, we can get their tag IDs and feed this into the turtle database to estimate the number of nesting females. Nests are marked and excavated to assess hatching success. Nests are translocated when at risk with hatching successes of this activity as high as 96 percent. These three factors alone can act as great indicators for the species as a whole as if there is a sudden drop in nesting females, dropping fertility or, more and more nests at risk due to erosion, we will know about it,» he added. The hawksbill sea turtle is classified on the IUCN Red List as a critically endangered species. (Nature Seychelles) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  He explained the importance that volunteers play in the successful running of the programme and that they «are worth their weight in gold when it gets busy to help share the workload as turtles come up the beach in numbers. They are critically endangered having had populations decimated in the past by human activity so the more we know now, the better our decisions for future protection can be. For people thinking of volunteering, it helps increase the visibility of the programme.» Volunteers will be expected to assist in all aspects of turtle monitoring starting with the basic first steps of walking a turtle patrol on the beaches. As they gain experience, they will learn to observe nesting behaviour, how to take measurements, count clutches and, translocate a nest, and eventually, they might be ready and prepared to tag a turtle. Shah said this volunteer programme is an opportunity for people who are passionate about conservation to develop their skills in a unique environment. «We are after highly motivated, self-reliant individuals. As incredible and breathtaking Cousin Island is and as fascinating as the hawksbill themselves are, it is still hard work in a tropical environment so we need people to be physically fit and motivated to keep pushing to maximise each season. Flexibility is important given the turtles emerge at any time in the day, including when you have just sat down for lunch,» he said. Shah said for those looking at conservation as a career, the volunteer programme is an excellent and unique opportunity to acquire practical skills in turtle monitoring and management. Cousin Island is remote as well, so offers an opportunity for volunteers to develop their skills in self-reliance and life skills.  

Gaza has recorded its first polio case in 25 years, the Palestinian health ministry said on Friday, after UN chief Antonio Guterres called for pauses in the Israel-Hamas war to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of children. Tests in Jordan confirmed the disease in an unvaccinated 10-month-old from the central Gaza Strip, the health ministry in Ramallah said. According to the United Nations, Gaza, now in its 11th month of war, has not registered a polio case for 25 years, although type 2 poliovirus was detected in samples collected from the territory's wastewater in June. «Doctors suspected the presence of symptoms consistent with polio,» the health ministry said. «After conducting the necessary tests in the Jordanian capital, Amman, the infection was confirmed.» The case emerged shortly after Guterres called for two seven-day breaks in the Gaza war to vaccinate more than 640,000 children. Poliovirus, most often spread through sewage and contaminated water, is highly infectious. It can cause deformities and paralysis, and is potentially fatal. It mainly affects children under the age of five. The UN health and children's agencies said they had made detailed plans to reach children across the besieged Palestinian territory and could start this month. But that would require pauses in the 10-month old war between Israel and Hamas, they said. «Preventing and containing the spread of polio will take a massive, coordinated and urgent effort,» Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York. «I am appealing to all parties to provide concrete assurances right away guaranteeing humanitarian pauses for the campaign.» The World Health Organization and UN children's fund UNICEF said they were planning two seven-day vaccination drives across the Gaza Strip, starting in late August, against type 2 poliovirus (cVDPV2). Last month, it was announced that type 2 poliovirus had been detected in samples collected in Gaza on June 23. «These pauses in fighting would allow children and families to safely reach health facilities and community outreach workers to get to children who cannot access health facilities for polio vaccination,» the agencies said in a statement said. - Regional public health issue - After 25 years without polio, its re-emergence in the Gaza Strip would threaten neighbouring countries, it added. «A ceasefire is the only way to ensure public health security in the Gaza Strip and the region.» During each round of the campaign, the health ministry in Gaza, alongside UN agencies, would provide «two drops of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to more than 640,000 children under 10 years of age». More than 1.6 million doses of nOPV2 were expected to transit through Israel's Ben Gurion Airport «by the end of August», the statement added. The war was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. On Thursday, the toll from Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza passed 40,000, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which does not provide a breakdown of civilian and militant casualties. © Agence France-Presse

Three sailors from Seychelles won one silver medal and two bronze medals at the Benghazi International Sailing Opening Regatta 2024, a prestigious event organised by the Libyan Sailing Federation (LSWF) from August 11 to 14 in  Libya. Seychelles participated in the competition with five sailors, namely Dean Mathiot in the International Laser Class Association 7 (ILCA7) category, Sitraka Ramanantsoa and Mervin Constance in kite surfing, and Dominic Esparon and Elisha Moustache in the optimist class, which is for young sailors up to 15 years old. Mathiot won a silver medal in the ILCA7 category and Ramanantsoa was able to claim bronze in kite surfing. For Mathiot, he was able to win three of the nine races, which placed him second behind Tunisia's Hamdi Slimani. Third place went to Morocco's Ilias Kharbouch. Ramanantsoa was up against 10 kite surfers and finished in third place and won a bronze medal. The winner in this event was Morocco's Mohamed Ali Beqqali, and in second place was Libya's Yousef Elwalid. Mervin Constance, also competing in kite surfing, finished in fourth place. Another bronze medal for the Seychelles team was won by Elisha Moustache, who demonstrated great promise to claim third place in the girls' optimist category. Moustache finished the overall optimist category in 9th place, which was enough for bronze, as she finished behind to other female sailors. The winner of the event was Libyan Mayar Elwalid with gold and her compatriot, Mayar Elwalid, won silver. Dominic Esparon also competed in the optimist category and finished fifth overall. Tunisian Yassin Galai won gold followed in second place by Yousif Al Sammarraie from Iraq and Mohamed Elwalidfrom Libya in third place. The Seychelles Yachting Association congratulated the athletes and said, «A huge round of applause to Dean, Sitraka, Elisha, Dominic, and Mervin for representing Seychelles with such excellence and pride. Your hard work and dedication continue to inspire and elevate our sailing community.» 

Mike Tirant is the new second deputy governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) for a six-year mandate with effect as of August 15. President Wavel Ramkalawan presented Tirant with his instrument of appointment in a ceremony held at State House on Friday morning. Tirant, who joined CBS in 2004 as an assistant accountant is replacing Jennifer Sullivan, who held the position for the last six years. He holds a first degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Manchester and his masters from the University of Leicester. «Once I had completed my studies for my degree, I was approached by CBS employees who asked me to join the institution, which I did not hesitate to do,» Tirant told reporters. «I learned a lot in that position and over the years that I have worked for the institution I held it until I was appointed as a head of the Banking Services division,» he added. When asked why he accepted this latest promotion as second deputy governor, Tirant explained he did so because the CBS culture is for employees to take any opportunity presented to help the institution move forward. «Since the board of directors and the governor think I have the ability to successfully fill in the role with their full support, I feel that now is the time when I can also help raise others in the bank as well to continue the good work the governor has already started,» he added. Tirat said, «It was not a difficult decision to make to take the challenge, as I see this role provides room for further development, and I am always ready to learn more despite knowing it will not be an easy task.» Prior to the recent amendments made to the CBS Act, all three members of the senior management's contracts ended on the same day - which Abel said was identified as a weakness. «We did make it known that it would take some time before the post would be filled to ensure there was continuity in the Central Bank's management as the institution is one that is very important to the country, we had to make sure that this was not affected,» explained Abel. The amendment makes provisions for the three positions to be filled at different times, although the length of their appointments remains for six years, with the possibility for renewal. CBS is one of the institutions in the country where the workforce is entirely made up of Seychellois.

With Gaza largely in ruins after more than 10 months of war, the Hamas-run territory's health ministry has struggled to count the death toll, which on Thursday surpassed 40,000. Israel has repeatedly questioned the credibility of the daily figures put out by the ministry and US President Joe Biden did so too in the early stages of the war. But several United Nations agencies that operate in Gaza have said the figures are credible and they are frequently cited by international organisations. - Data collection - Two AFP correspondents witnessed health facilities enter deaths in the ministry's database. Gaza health officials first identify bodies by visual recognition from a relative or friend, or by recovering personal items. The deceased's details, including name, gender, birth date and ID number, are then entered in the health ministry's digital database. If bodies are unrecognisable or unclaimed, staff record the death under a number, noting all available information. Any distinguishing marks that may help with later identification, whether personal items or a birthmark, are collected and photographed. - Central registry - Gaza's health ministry has outlined its procedures for compiling the death toll. In public hospitals under the direct supervision of the territory's Hamas government, the «personal information and identity number» of every Palestinian killed during the war are entered in the hospital's database as soon as they are pronounced dead. The data is then sent to the ministry's central registry on a daily basis. For deaths in private hospitals and clinics, information is recorded on a form that must be sent to the ministry within 24 hours to be included in the central registry, a ministry statement said. The ministry's «information centre» then verifies the entries to «ensure they do not contain any duplicates or mistakes», before saving them in the database, the statement added. Gaza residents are also encouraged by Palestinian authorities to report any deaths in their families on a designated government website. The data is used for the ministry's verifications. The ministry is staffed with civil servants that answer to the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority as well as to the Hamas government in Gaza. - 'High correlation' - An investigation conducted by Airwars, an NGO focused on the impact of war on civilians, analysed the data entries for 3,000 of the dead and found «a high correlation» between the ministry's data and what Palestinian civilians reported online, with 75 percent of publicly reported names also appearing on the ministry's list. The study found that the ministry's figures had become «less accurate» as the war dragged on, a development it attributed to the heavy damage to health infrastructure resulting from the war. For instance, at southern Gaza's Nasser Hospital, one of the few still at least partly functioning, only 50 out of 400 computers still work, its director Atef al-Hout told AFP. Israeli authorities frequently criticise the ministry's figures for failing to distinguish between combatants and civilians. But neither the army nor Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deny the scale of the overall toll. The press office of Gaza's Hamas government had previously estimated that nearly 70 percent of the roughly 40,000 dead are women (about 11,000) or children (at least 16,300). Several UN agencies, including the agency in charge of Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), have said the ministry's figures are credible. «In the past -- the five, six cycles of conflict in the Gaza Strip -- these figures were considered as credible and no one ever really challenged these figures,» the agency's chief Philippe Lazzarini said in October. In a letter published by British medical review The Lancet in July, a group of researchers estimated that 186,000 or more deaths could eventually be attributed to the war in Gaza, based on statistical projections using the Ministry of Health figures. Their estimate would include not only those killed directly by the fighting, but also deaths as a result of the humanitarian crisis triggered by the war. The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. © Agence France-Presse

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris made an upbeat show of unity Thursday as they held their first joint public event since Harris replaced the president as the Democratic Party's candidate in November's election. Chants of «Thank you Joe!» rang out from the audience at a community college in the Maryland suburbs outside Washington. Biden announced a major deal to reduce medication prices for retirees on social welfare programs. But the biggest star was Biden's vice president who has surprised many by uniting the Democratic Party and surging in the polls against Republican Donald Trump since her abrupt entry into the White House race. «She can make one hell of a president,» Biden said of Harris. Shortly after the joint appearance, Trump delivered rambling and often angry remarks from his New Jersey golf club, before taking questions from a handful of journalists. Harris has a «very strong communist lean» and will mean the «death of the American dream,» he said. The real estate billionaire and scandal-engulfed former president has struggled to pivot his campaign since Biden dropped out on July 21 amid Democratic concerns that he lacked the stamina at 81 to do the job. Until then, Trump was rising steadily in the polls, in large part on his message that Biden was losing his mental acuity -- a charge that gained currency when the president badly flubbed a televised presidential debate against his predecessor. At his golf club event, the 78-year-old Trump began by reading lengthy statements from a binder notebook. Ostensibly scheduled to attack Harris on inflation, with household products piled high on a table next to him, he almost immediately veered off into a series of complaints about the media and insults at Harris, who he said is «not smart.» Regarding the Israeli war against Hamas in Gaza, Trump said he'd told Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a July meeting to «get your victory and get it over with... The killing has to stop.» Then at a later event with Jewish supporters, Trump turned his fire on Harris, claiming she has «maneuvered» to get support from «venomous anti-Semites in her party.» Harris is married to a Jew who, if she wins election, would make history as the first Jewish spouse of a US president -- as well as the first man in the role. Using his trademark inflammatory language, Trump claimed that if Harris wins, «the radical left flag burners and Hamas sympathizers will not just be causing chaos on our streets. They'll be running US foreign policy in the White House, and Israel will be gone.» - Biden lame duck - For Biden, Thursday's event was half victory lap, half acknowledgment that he is entering his presidency's lame duck period. Harris, 59, is set to be crowned as Democratic nominee at the party convention in Chicago next week. But she made a display of vice presidential deference, delivering only short remarks to introduce Biden and stressing that it has been her honor to serve under the «most extraordinary human being.» «There's a lot of love in this room for our president,» she said to cheers. Biden appeared energized, drawing cheers when he said the Democrats' plan was to «beat the hell out of» Republican opponents and he prompted laughter on pretending not to know Trump's name -- «Donald Dump or Donald whatever.» The drug prices deal will reduce costs for retirees on 10 key medicines, including treatments for diabetes, heart failure and blood clots. Americans face the highest prescription drug prices in the world, leaving many people to pay at least partly out of their own pocket, despite already exorbitant insurance premiums. On Friday, Harris will for the first time lay out details of her economic platform. The United States' first female, Black and South Asian vice president is expected largely to stick to Biden's economic agenda while trying to differentiate herself, avoiding voter wrath over the post-Covid pandemic surge in inflation. While Trump has long polled more strongly on the economy, a recent poll from the Financial Times and University of Michigan found voters trust Harris more on the issue, by 42 to 41 percent. Trump, who survived an assassination attempt on July 13, is now the oldest presidential nominee in US history. © Agence France-Presse

The Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles (ACCS) has issued an update on its progress on Operation 'Black Iron', the investigation and prosecution of Seychellois businessman Mukesh Valabhji and former First Lady Sarah Zarqani Rene for alleged theft of state assets, corruption and money laundering. Mukesh Valabhji, a former economic advisor of late President France Albert Rene, was arrested in November 2021 together with his wife Laura, following an investigation into the alleged theft of a $50 million loan to Seychelles by the United Arab Emirates in 2002. He is alleged to have used his position to divert funds to bank accounts around the world for his personal benefit. ACCS said in a press statement on Friday that since the arrest of Valabhji, in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies and diplomatic partners,  it has gathered evidence of a more significant network of corruption involving him. «The evidence suggests that the amount unlawfully acquired by Mukesh Valabhji from his activities could amount to as much as $100 million (SCR1,400,000,000), laundered through a network of companies and accounts in locations including Switzerland, the Middle East, the British Virgin Islands, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. One of the alleged recipients of laundered funds is Sarah Rene, who is accused of acquiring substantial funds into bank accounts in Australia,» said ACCS. The Commission has sought permission to file additional charges in relation to Valabhji's alleged corruption in the management of two state-owned agencies between 1992 and 2006 - Compagnie Seychelloise de Promotion Hoteliere (COSPROH) and the Seychelles Marketing Board (SMB). «Mukesh Valabhji is now accused of corruptly obtaining a financial benefit from the sale of luxury hotels on behalf of COSPROH as well as unlawfully removing over $18 million from the SMB,» said ACCS. The Commission has since obtained Seychelles' first global restraint orders to prevent the assets of the defendants from being moved or lost until the conclusion of the trial. It has successfully resisted attempts to amend these orders to allow these assets to be removed and/or spent otherwise than what is permitted by the law. In the event Valabhji and/or Zarqani Rene are convicted, the ACCS will seek the recovery of these funds on behalf of the government of Seychelles and its people. The ACCS said it «is committed to ensuring its prosecution is fair and in accordance with international standards and will continue to support the Court in the protection of the defendants' rights to a fair trial under Seychelles' Constitution.» Valabhji and his wife Laura have been separately charged by the Attorney General's Office with the unlawful possession of firearms and terrorism offences and this trial is ongoing. The corruption and money laundering case will start when the unlawful possession of firearms and terrorism offences ends.

The Minister of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment of Seychelles, Flavien Joubert, will represent Seychelles in the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) on August 17, 2024, to be hosted by India in the virtual format. This unique initiative began as an extension of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas’, and is underpinned by India's philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. It envisages bringing together countries of the Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform across a whole range of issues. India hosted the 1st Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) on January 12-13, 2023, and the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit on November 17, 2023, both in virtual format. Both the previous editions of the Summit saw the participation of over 100 countries from the Global South, including Seychelles. The inputs and feedback received from the leaders of the developing countries in these two Summits were appropriately reflected in the agenda and discussions of the G-20 Summit under India’s Presidency last year, including in the G-20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration. The 3rd VOGSS, with the overarching theme of «An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future”, will act as a platform to expand discussions held in the previous Summits on a range of complex challenges that continue to affect the world, such as conflicts, food and energy security crises, climate change - all of which disproportionately affect developing countries in a severe manner. At the Summit, the countries of the Global South would continue deliberations on challenges, priorities, and solutions for the Global South, particularly in the developmental domain. Similar to the previous two Summits, the 3rd VOGSS will be held in a virtual format and is structured into Leaders’ Session and Ministerial sessions. The inaugural session will be at the Head of State/Government level and will be hosted by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The theme of the Inaugural Leaders’ Session is the same as the overarching theme of the Summit »An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future”.In addition, there will be 10 ministerial sessions, including the Energy Ministers’ Session on "Sustainable Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Future”. Minister Joubert will participate in the Energy Ministers’ Session. He also participated in the first and second VOGSS in January and November 2023. 

The British government is expected to support Seychelles in developing a maritime security strategy, the British High Commissioner to Seychelles, Jeffrey Glekin, said in a reception aboard the UK Navy vessel HMS Lancaster Wednesday.   «This evening, I can announce that my government will launch a project to support Seychelles in developing a maritime security strategy in line with international best practices, but tailored to your unique geography and characteristics as a small island developing state, we want to sail alongside you, to tame troubled waters, to build bridges of trust and respect and to conserve and allow to flourish, the natural beauty that we're proud to call home at sea, and onshore.» Glekin said that this week «we are celebrating the joint exercises held between the cboarding team and the Seychelles Special Forces Unit. I was delighted to witness today the donation of a canine harness to the Seychelles boarding team and meet your brave dog, Nico. I was also honoured to be a part of private meetings with CDF (Chief of Defence Forces) and Minister Fonseka to discuss how we collaborate in the fight against drugs, illegal fishing, and keeping our oceans free from terror, piracy, and geopolitical posturing.» He emphasised the importance of maintaining the link between Seychelles and the United Kingdom and mentioned a recent agreement signed by the two countries relating to hydrography. Also present were Seychellois ministers, members of the National Assembly, and the diplomatic corps. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY  «The UK wants nothing more than to help Seychelles protect her sovereignty and defend her freedom. We believe that our shared stability and prosperity are deeply rooted in the safety of our seas, and that is why I am pleased that following our last visit of the HMS Lancaster, we continue to work closely on hydrographic, following the signature on this ship of a £2.4 million UK government investment with Seychelles' transport ministry,» said the high commissioner. Glekin and other distinguished guests were invited aboard the ship as part of the vessel's crew members' activities in Seychelles during their visit. Also present were several Seychellois ministers, members of the National Assembly, and the diplomatic corps. In his address, the Designated Minister, Jean-Francois Ferrari, emphasised the importance of the two countries working together, especially in the fight against maritime security threats in the region. «Seychelles and the UK remain alert to the threat of piracy, and today work together to address all forms of maritime security threat, most prominently in counter narcotics and against IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated and fishing). Through the defence forces officers deployed on the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain, Seychelles and the UK, as well as the many other nations participating in the Combined Maritime Forces, our defence forces, share intelligence and operate together to ensure maritime security in our region. Trade routes through the western Indian Ocean are important to the UK and other allies, but they are vital to Seychelles, working with our partners such as the UK, is essential, therefore, to securing the maritime space,» said Ferrari. The guests aboard the HMS Lancaster had a guided tour of the ship, where officers described the different features and equipment. This was later followed by a ceremonial 'Sunset ceremony' where the flag was slowly lowered. The HMS Lancaster is expected to leave Seychelles by the end of this week.

An mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 548 people since the start of the year, with all provinces affected by the virus, the health minister said on Thursday in a statement. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared the mpox surge in Africa a global public health emergency, worried by the rise in cases in the DRC and the spread to nearby countries. «According to the latest epidemiological report, our country has recorded 15,664 potential cases and 548 deaths since the beginning of the year,» Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba said in a separate video message seen by AFP on Thursday. The DRC is made up of 26 provinces and has a population of around 100 million. The most affected provinces are South Kivu, North Kivu, Tshopo, Equateur, North Ubangi, Tshuapa, Mongala and Sankuru, Kamba said. «To deal with this crisis, the government has put in place a response structured around three main axes,» Kamba said in the video. The three steps include plans to raise awareness of the virus and a «national strategic plan for vaccination against mpox», as well as improving surveillance of the disease at borders and checkpoints. The minister said that at government level working groups have been set up to boost contact tracing and help mobilise resources to «maintain control of this epidemic». The US Department of Health said on Wednesday it would be «donating 50,000 doses of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved JYNNEOS vaccine to DRC». «Vaccination will be a critical element of the response to this outbreak,» it said in a statement. The UN health agency declaration on the virus came the day after the African Union's health watchdog declared its own public health emergency over the growing outbreak. Formerly called monkeypox, the virus was first discovered in humans in 1970 in what is now the DRC. It is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact. The disease causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions. In May 2022, mpox infections surged worldwide, mostly affecting gay and bisexual men, due to the clade 2b subclade. The WHO declared a public health emergency which lasted from July 2022 to May 2023. The outbreak, which has now largely subsided, caused some 140 deaths out of around 90,000 cases. The clade 1b subclade, which has been surging in the DRC since September 2023, causes more severe disease than clade 2b, with a higher fatality rate. © Agence France-Presse

The Roman Catholic Church of Seychelles has made history this month, by welcoming two new Seychellois priests in their diocese in the space of a week, Christian Toulon and Emmanuel Boniface who became the 20th and 21st Seychellois priests.  Toulon, who was ordained deacon in Seychelles last year, was ordained as a priest on August 5, while Boniface took to the priesthood on August 11. Boniface was ordained as a deacon in Orleans France. Both were ordained deacons within days of each other in December 2023. Toulon and Boniface's ordinations came two years after the ordination of Romeo Bonne into the priesthood. Bonne who was ordained in July 2022, is the first Catholic priest from Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, to join the Spiritan congregation, his ordination came 13 years after the ordination of another Seychellois priest, Father Collin Underwood, in 2009. The island nation is a predominantly Catholic country.  The vicar general of the Roman Catholic Church, Father Eric Leon, said that the two ordinations bring much joy to the diocese and that they are encouraged by the sudden increase in vocations. Toulon was ordained as a priest on August 5. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY  «The church now needs to be more engaged, and to put in place structures and services to work with children so that at a young age, we can help them to discover their vocations and respond to their calls», added Leon. According to Leon «Responding to vocations is something that elevates a country and offers hope to those in need. Our country is in distress and in need of people who are ready to spend their lives to responding these needs.» Weeks before the ordination of Boniface and Toulon, another Seychellois man, Aubrey Pon-Waye was ordained as a deacon, and it is his wish to become a priest too. Something the Church expects to happen in one year's time. Currently, there are two Seychellois in France studying their preparation for a religious role. They are Jean Michel Camille, hailing from the third most populated island of La Digue, for the priesthood and Genevieve Adrien, preparing to be a nun. Although the Catholic Church was brought to Seychelles by the island nation's first French settlers, it was formally established in 1852 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Seychelles. Four decades later it became the Diocese of Port Victoria, in July 1892. Since then, twenty-two Seychellois men have been ordained into priesthood including Father James Chang-Tave - the first Seychellois priest – who was ordained by Cardinal Pietro Fumasoni-Biondi in Rome, Italy, in January 1950. Chang-Tave is the only Seychellois to have been ordained at the Vatican in Rome. Pon-Waye has been ordained as a deacon. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY   The second Seychellois was Father Symphorien Morel, who was born in 1922 on Silhouette island – the third largest island of the archipelago. Because of the unrest in Europe at that time, he attended his theology studies in Mumbai, India. He was ordained in September 1951 at Mont Fleuri in the east of the main island of Mahe. Morel was the first and only Seychellois to be ordained as a Capuchins -- an order within the Catholic Church. Father Morel passed away in 1996, aged 74. Father Gustave  Lafortune, who passed away in October last year at the age of  86, was the longest serving Catholic priest, having dedicated 60 years of his life as a priest. He celebrated his diamond jubilee four months before his demise on June 30. Lafortune was welcomed into the priesthood in June 1963 in Fribourg, Switzerland, where he also did his studies. Currently, the oldest member of the Catholic clergy is Father Edwin Mathiot, now in his 80s, who studied theology in Switzerland and was ordained in July 1966. 

Crew members of the UK Royal Navy vessel, HMS Lancaster, which is visiting Seychelles, joined the environmental organisation, Parley for the Oceans, to clean up the Northeast Point beach on Thursday. This is part of a series of activities the vessel's crew members are doing in Seychelles during their visit. The British High Commission's representative, Josette Larue, explained that the activities were being held to incorporate the crew members while they are in the country. She said that Northeast Point beach was chosen «to facilitate logistics, as it was not far from where the vessel is berthed.» Participating in the event was Jessica Lawen from Parley Seychelles, who told reporters that her organisation is not only environmental but also has links with the fashion industry. «The vests the crew members are wearing as well as the gloves they are using are made out of recycled PET bottles,» she said. The crew members paired up in two's and combed the stretch of the beach to pick up all non-bio-degradable items – which they put in gunny bags. Lawen said, «We are re-using the gunny bags that we buy locally, all in the aim of reducing the amount of waste we produce.» She explained that since Seychelles does not have the facilities to carry out the recycling process, the waste collected will be weighed to keep records updated. «We have had many organisations who contact us to hold clean-up exercises, and most of the time this is done as a team building exercise,» said Lawen. The other activities being done by the crew member of HMS Lancaster include a handover of UK-funded dog harnesses to the Seychelles Defence Forces at Port Victoria. They will also host a reception onboard the ship on Wednesday evening. HMS Lancaster visited Port Victoria in May earlier this year, and at that time the clean-up activity was held at Takamaka.

Seychelles received a donation of medical equipment on Wednesday from a Chinese medical team that is currently in the island nation, which will cater to the needs of the Seychelles Hospital. Dr Zhuo Xiaoqing from the China Medical Team, said, «This donation reflects the friendship between China and Seychelles, and showcases our joint commitment to continue to improve the health of the people of Seychelles.» The equipment varies from those used to monitor the vitals of patients to those that are used in the operations theatre, as well as equipment used in acupuncture, among others. The acting chief executive of the Health Care Agency, Dr Jadhav Chandrashekhar, accepted the donation from the China Medical Team during the ceremony and expressed his gratitude for the continued support. 'We welcome this donation of equipment, as well as the future plans that we have to continue to the development the local health sector,« said Chandrashekhar. The acting director of Community Health Service, Josapha Jouanneau, explained that this equipment will serve to add to what they already have. »Here we have equipment that we can use to monitor patients when they are admitted, a pulse oxymeter, which allows us to measure the oxygen levels in patients, and also instruments that can be used in orthopaedic surgeries," she added.   As a South-South cooperation project, China began to send a medical team to Seychelles in 1985 and over the past 38 years, 18 groups of 108 Chinese doctors from Shandong Province have been serving Seychellois patients with their medical expertise. The current team, which arrived in May 2023, is the 19th cohort sent to Seychelles. It has six doctors,  Dr Zhuo Xiaoqing, a cardiologist, Dr Song Fei, general surgeon, Dr Sun Shining, a radiologist, Dr Wang Tianda, an acupuncturist, Dr Ahu Yanyan, a radiologist, and Dr Zhang Jiuchao, an orthopaedist.  

The Seychelles government has made new amendments to the Stamp Duty Exemption Act that will allow those in a position to buy their own houses can do so.  The director general for the domestic and international tax policy division, Seylina Joymon, told reporters on Tuesday that the main aim for the amendments incorporated was to «ensure that we are always in line with what exists the market at the moment, and we also want to encourage individuals to take it on themselves to go and build their own house.» She said this is because there is now a consideration of partial exemption for first-time owners. «If two or more individuals purchase a single property together, they would have divided share. We do consider those of them that do not own any property, so they would be considered first time owners and they will benefit from the stamp duty exemption,» explained Joymon. In this case, the exemption will be based on the proportion of the ownership of the first-time owner, however, Joymon explained that the exemption is only valid if the property is valued at less than SCR3 million ($224,327). According to the amendment, in such purchasing agreements, those who have owned property in the past will have to pay the stamp duty. The applicable Stamp Duty is currently 5 percent of the market value of the property, which means if the property costs $100,000, the stamp duty would be $5,000. The second major amendment in the Stamp Duty Act concerns the issue of matrimonial property. Joymon said that in situations where the undivided share is not 50 percent, «what we have considered this time around is that the exemption will be based on the proportion of the ownership.» It was furthermore amended to keep abreast with changes in the civil code, which now recognises domestic partnerships. This is when a couple has been living together for a number of years without getting married. In line with the new amendments, applicants must now provide evidence of a domestic relationship, normally an affidavit, to also benefit from the exemption. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance is processing refunds to applicants who were unaware of the amendments and made their Stamp Duty payments. «We are now considering refunds to be made for a period of four years, so for anyone who pays a Stamp Duty and for some reason or another were unaware of the exemption order that exists, they have four years down the line for them to claim for them to claim their refund from the Ministry of Finance,» said Joymon. Those who have paid the Stamp Duty for the period from September 2019, when the Stamp Duty order was gazetted, up until August 21, 2022, have four years from the day which falls on July 28, 2028, to claim their refunds. Those who made payments between September 1, 2022, and July 29, 2024, will have four years from the day that the Stamp Duty was paid. According to the Ministry of Finance's figures, there were 341 applications for Stamp Duty exemption among which 28 were not approved.

US-mediated Sudan ceasefire talks were to kick off in Switzerland on Wednesday, even though the Sudanese government is set to stay away. Tom Perriello, the US Special Envoy for Sudan convening the discussions, insisted they go ahead regardless, saying the suffering people of Sudan, ravaged by the devastating conflict, cannot wait any longer. War has raged since April 2023 between the Sudanese army under the country's de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. But while the RSF delegation is in Switzerland for the talks -- taking place behind closed doors in an undisclosed location -- the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) are yet to accept the invite. The talks, which could last up to 10 days, are being co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, with the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations present as observers. The brutal conflict has triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The fighting has forced one in five people to flee their homes, while tens of thousands have died. More than 25 million across the country -- more than half its population -- face acute hunger. «The time for peace is now,» Perriello said Tuesday. «Thus far, SAF has not agreed to participate. Yet we will proceed with our international and technical partners to explore every option to support the people of Sudan,» he said, urging the government to «seize the opportunity». - 'Sense of urgency' - Previous rounds of talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah have come to nothing. If the SAF chairs remain empty this time, there will be no formal mediation between the warring sides, but other attendees will press on with the talks' agenda. Perriello said there was a «deep sense of urgency to make progress this week towards a cessation of hostilities and expanded humanitarian access», plus ways to uphold agreements. «The Sudanese people cannot afford for us to wait.» A member of the RSF delegation confirmed they were in Switzerland ahead of the talks. «Our delegation has arrived in Geneva to start negotiations; we don't know anything about the army delegation,» the member told AFP on Tuesday. The Sudanese government says more discussions are needed before joining ceasefire negotiations. Sudan's Media Minister Graham Abdelkader said it was rejecting «any new observers or participants» -- notably after Washington «insisted on the participation of the United Arab Emirates as an observer». The Sudanese army has repeatedly accused the UAE of backing the RSF. - Pressure on Burhan - Alan Boswell, the Horn of Africa project director at the International Crisis Group, said Burhan was facing «serious internal divisions» on whether to attend, with some in his camp in favour of talks and others «fiercely opposed». «Restarting the talks at all would be a breakthrough, given that there have not been formal talks since last year,» he told AFP. «The main difference from previous rounds is that the US is firmly in charge of the agenda and that all three of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt are all present as well. That puts all the main outside actors with leverage over the warring parties in one room together.» He said if the government does not attend, Burhan would come under mounting external pressure if he is seen as «the main obstacle to ending the war». - 'Enough is enough' - Sudan is suffering the world's biggest displacement crisis. More than 10.7 million people are internally displaced within the country, while around 2.3 million more have fled abroad. «What was once a land of rich culture, history, and hope has become a battlefield of despair, where millions of families are trapped in a living nightmare,» said Mohamed Refaat, the UN migration agency's Sudan mission chief. «Without a ceasefire... every day we delay, more lives are lost, more dreams are shattered, and more futures are stolen,» Refaat said, adding: «Enough is enough.» James Elder, spokesman for the UN children's agency UNICEF, said he had spoken to a surgeon operating on boys injured Saturday in the fatal shelling of a football field in Khartoum State. «He said to me: If those people behind this war could just see these injuries, could see these children who have been killed, they would find a way to sit and talk.» © Agence France-Presse

Food parcels dished out by a New Zealand charity unknowingly contained pineapple sweets laced with potentially lethal amounts of methamphetamine, police said Wednesday. The charity Auckland City Mission raised the alarm after discovering a batch of the sweets was contaminated with the highly addictive illegal drug, police said. «An investigation is under way and police are treating the matter as a priority given the risk to the public.» The New Zealand Drug Foundation said a test sample of an innocuous-looking piece of white candy in a bright yellow wrapper indicated methamphetamine. Foundation spokeswoman Sarah Helm said the tested sweet contained approximately three grams of meth -- up to 300 times greater than the common dose taken by users. «Swallowing that much methamphetamine is extremely dangerous and could result in death.» Helm urged people who had received any confectionaries from the Auckland charity not to consume them. «We don't know how widespread it is.» The candy was donated anonymously by a member of the public, the charity said, in a sealed branded package. A contaminated sweet was taken for testing when a person felt strange after starting to eat it and noticed a bitter taste. Methamphetamine can cause chest pain, racing heart, seizures, delirium and loss of consciousness, the drug foundation warned. Helm told Radio New Zealand that it is common for drug smugglers to hide illegal narcotics in food form. «We suspect somebody hasn't intentionally sought to poison children. It will be up to police to determine,» she added in the interview. © Agence France-Presse

A sixth political party has been officially registered in Seychelles ahead of the upcoming presidential and National Assembly elections set for September 2025. The Mouvman Lavwa Seselwa (MLS), or Movement of Seychellois Voices in English, received its registration certificate from the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Seychelles, Danny Lucas, and will now be able to participate in the next national elections. The party's leader, Keith Andre, said, «Today we are really proud and emotional to receive this certificate, that makes us a legal political party. We are now able to share our programmes and objectives with the people of Seychelles.» Andre said, «What makes us different from other political parties, is that we are focusing our efforts on the National Assembly.» He added that the party does not intend to put forward a candidate for presidential elections and is inviting members of the public with an interest in representing the respective districts to come forward and join them. The Electoral Commission received the application to register the party, then known as «Lavwa Seselwa» in May and after much deliberations, the party has now been registered. However, there has been a change in its name. «We worked closely with the Commission throughout this process and saw that our previous acronym LS was identical to that of two parties that had been registered with the Commission before. We were advised to make a change, which is when we decided to go with the new name, which now has the acronym of MLS,» explained Andre. (From left) The members of the MLS party - Keith Andre, Barry Nourrice, Holbert Jean and Guynemer Corgat - were present at the ceremony. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  The current party leader explained that the current executive committee has only been put in place to carry out the registration process. The party will soon host its national congress, where everyone will be invited to elect a proper executive committee to carry the party into the upcoming elections and campaign. Lucas welcomed the new party to the Seychelles' political landscape and said that this is a sign of the development of the Seychelles' democracy, which is something the Commission hopes will continue. «It is important for all political parties registered with the commission, to engage with all partners to ensure there is a programme to clearly educate the people on how their party can make Seychelles better and what makes them different from other parties, without resorting to slandering, insulting and blaming each other,» said Lucas. MLS joins five other parties that are now registered with the Electoral Commission. These are the ruling party, the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) or Seychellois Democratic Union, followed by the main opposition party,  United Seychelles (US), as well as One Seychelles, Seychelles United Movement (SUM), and the Seychelles National Alliance Party (SNAP). Furthermore, the Electoral Commission received the application to register a new political party, under the name of Laliberté, or Freedom, on July 31.  The Electoral Commission recently cancelled the registration of three parties, namely «Lafors Sosyal Demokratik», «Linyon Sanzman» and the Independent Conservative Union of Seychelles (ICUS), after failure to comply with the provisions of the Political Parties Act. 

The Seychelles Special Forces Unit (SFU) and the Royal Marine Boarding Team from HMS Lancaster took part in three days of joint training exercises aimed at strengthening the cooperation between the two units, ahead of the ship's second visit to the island nation. According to a press statement from the British High Commission in Seychelles, over the first two days, the two groups conducted 'green-skills' training at the Cap Ternay training area. This included jungle patrolling, observation drills, reaction to ambush drills and close target reconnaissance. The last day of the exercise saw the Royal Marine Boarding Team move to the SFU's Barbarons ranges for familiarisation with their weapons and tactical live firing exercises on both 9mm and 7.62mm weapons.   The training exercise provided the first opportunity for many years for the UK and Seychelles to work together on basic soldiering skills, enabling closer collaboration in a tropical jungle environment warfare.     Ambush drills at Cap Ternay. (British High Commission) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  British High Commissioner Jeff Glekin had the opportunity to observe the training on August 12 where he met with both teams. The SFU Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Didace Hoareau, as well as the Land Forces Commander of the Seychelles Defence Force, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hollanda, were also able to visit and view the training.    Commenting on the UK-Seychelles collaboration, Hoareau said, «The joint interactions between the SFU personnel and the British Royal Marines is a great opportunity for the SFU because modern warfare is always changing. The British commando has more exposure and experience in warfare, and they bring new knowledge and techniques, which will be a plus for our Special Forces. The interactions help in sharing knowledge in various tactics from both forces. We welcome more of those interactions in the near future.» High Commissioner Jeff Glekin met with the teams at the training exercise. (British High Commission) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  Major Richard Kettle, a Royal Marine and the UK International Liaison Officer at the Regional Coordination Operations Centre in Seychelles highlighted, «The collaborative training between the Royal Marines and the Seychelles SFU serves as a continuation of the UK's ongoing partnership in Seychelles in building regional stability and security. This exercise provided the Seychelles SFU with a great opportunity to enhance their ground warfare operations and advance their capabilities.» Glekin said, «I am proud to have brought the Royal Marines to Seychelles again. The UK and Seychelles are maritime nations – we understand that our safety and economic security starts at sea. I am impressed by the young men and women in the SFU, and I am committed to continue to support people-to-people partnerships such as these.»

The United States insisted Monday it would press ahead with convening talks this week on the devastating conflict in Sudan, even without the Sudanese government. The US-mediated talks in Switzerland are scheduled to start on Wednesday, but Washington has had no confirmation from the Sudanese armed forces that they are intending to take part. Sudan's government, whose army has been at war with paramilitaries for nearly 16 months, has voiced concerns over the US approach. «We've had extensive engagement with the SAF (Sudanese armed forces), but they have not yet given us an affirmation» on coming to the planned talks, said Tom Perriello, the US special envoy for Sudan. However, «we will move forward with this event this week, and that has been made clear to the parties», he told a press conference at the US mission in Geneva. Perriello said this round of negotiations could last up to 10 days. He did not specify the location in Switzerland, citing security reasons. The US last month invited Sudan's warring sides to ceasefire talks, co-hosted with Saudi Arabia and the Swiss, more than a year after fighting broke out between the regular army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, swiftly accepted the US invitation. «The RSF gave an unconditional agreement to participate,» Perriello confirmed. There cannot be «formal mediation between the two parties if SAF does not attend -- in which case, we continue to focus on the international and technical elements,» he said. - Quibble over UAE - Earlier talks had taken place in Saudi Arabia between a Sudanese delegation and US mediators on conditions for the government's participation. They ended «without agreement», Sudan's Minerals Minister Mohammed Abu Namo, the head of the delegation, said on Sunday. The Sudanese government said late Sunday that «more discussions» were needed to join the upcoming ceasefire negotiations. Sudan's Media Minister Graham Abdelkader said the Sudanese delegation noted the US's «failure to push the rebel militia to commit to implementing the Jeddah Declaration», which was negotiated last year to protect civilians. The US delegation in Jeddah, led by Perriello, also «did not provide justification for establishing a new platform» outside of the former US and Saudi-led negotiation track, which only yielded short-lived ceasefires last year, being immediately broken by both sides. Abdelkader said the government «rejects any new observers or participants» -- notably after Washington «insisted on the participation of the United Arab Emirates as an observer». The Sudanese army has repeatedly accused the UAE of backing the RSF. «Having Egypt and UAE at the table is an incredibly important potential tool for ensuring not just there's a deal on paper, but if those are present... they can become more like guarantors for the kinds of outcomes the Sudanese people ask for,» said Perriello. «This is a tremendous gathering of experts and we are going to move forward. If SAF changes its mind and wants to participate, we will then be able to have... that mediated component.» © Agence France-Presse

High temperatures which scientists say are being worsened by human-driven carbon emissions caused nearly 50,000 deaths in Europe last year, a study published Monday found. The study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health estimated that 47,690 died in connection with heat during the world's warmest year and Europe's second-warmest year on record. In the past decade, only 2022 was deadlier, the annual report found, with more than 60,000 heat-related deaths. Published in the journal Nature Medicine, the study took in temperature and mortality records from 35 countries across the continent. The authors highlighted that older people were most at risk, with countries in southern Europe worst affected by the heat. More than half the deaths occurred during two periods of high heat in mid-July and August, when Greece battled deadly wildfires. The mercury hit 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) on July 18 in Sicily. The report cautioned that the headline figure was an estimate, adding it was 95 percent confident the mortality burden was between 28,853 and 66,525. But it also found that heat-related deaths would have been 80 percent higher were it not for action taken by European governments in the 21st century to adapt to hotter summers. «Our results highlight the importance of historical and ongoing adaptations in saving lives during recent summers,» said the authors. The report also showed the «urgency for more effective strategies to further reduce the mortality burden of forthcoming hotter summers», they added, urging more proactive measures to combat global warming. Europe, where the United Nations says temperatures are rising quicker than the rest of the globe, has experienced a growing number of often deadly heatwaves since the turn of the century. Scientists say that climate change is making extreme weather events like heatwaves more frequent, longer and more intense. © Agence France-Presse

Four German nationals, who are crew members onboard the vessel S/Y Moana, were rescued by the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) in a search and rescue mission. According to a press release from the SDF on Monday, the operation was a collaborative effort involving the Seychelles Coast Guard, the National Information-sharing and Coordination Centre (NISCC), and the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA). SDF said that on August 9, the Seychelles Coast Guard Maritime Operations Centre (MOC) received an emergency report from the German Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre regarding an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alert from the German-flagged vessel. «The sailing yacht had departed from Port Victoria on August 7, 2024, en route to Sri Lanka. At the time the distress signal was received, the vessel was located approximately 305 nautical miles northeast of Mahe Island,» said SDF. It added that preliminary information from local agencies indicated that the vessel was experiencing engine failure, and there were no other vessels in the vicinity able to assist. «The Seychelles Coast Guard promptly deployed Patrol Ship Zoroaster to the scene. Upon reaching S/Y Moana, it was confirmed that the vessel had suffered engine failure, as well as damage to its mast and rudder. Due to adverse weather conditions and the severity of the damage, the SCG vessel was unable to tow S/Y Moana back to Port Victoria,» said SDF. All four crew members were safely transferred to Patrol Ship Zoroaster and brought to Port Victoria, and arrived safely at 8 am on Monday. The Seychelles Defence Forces commend the coordinated efforts of all agencies involved in ensuring the safety of the crew and the successful completion of the operation.

Seychelles is sending a team to the inaugural Benghazi International Sailing Opening Regatta 2024, a prestigious event organised by the Libyan Sailing Federation (LSWF) from August 11 to 14, in Benghazi, Libya. The Seychelles delegation, which includes five athletes and two officials, will represent the nation across various sailing categories showcasing a diverse range of sailing talents. The athletes competing are Dean Mathiot, who will compete in the International Laser Class Association 7 (ILCA7) category, while Sitraka Ramanantsoa and Mervin Constance compete in kite surfing. Dominic Esparon and Elisha Moustache will be racing in the optimist class, which is for young sailors up to 15 years old. The delegation will be led by team leader and coach Roy Govinden, accompanied by Jeffrey Moustache. The Libyan Sailing Federation is covering most costs related to the competition, with additional support provided by the Seychelles Yachting Association. This collaborative effort underscores the strong international ties and support within the sailing community, according an official. The regatta marks an exciting opportunity for Seychelles to showcase its sailing prowess on an international stage and engage in meaningful competition with peers from around the world. «We are thrilled to participate in the Benghazi International Sailing Opening Regatta,» said Chantal Hoffman from the Seychelles Yachting Association. She said, «This event not only highlights the talent of our athletes but also strengthens our international relationships in the sailing community. We are grateful for the support from the Libyan Sailing Federation and look forward to representing Seychelles with pride.» Windsurfers Kandasamy, Gardette and Languila. (Seychelles Yachting Association) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  Meanwhile, three other sailors have also left Seychelles to compete in the Turkish National Championship League and the International Funboard Class Association (IFCA) FIN & FOIL Slalom European Championship, also taking place in Turkey from August 14 to 18. The three athletes are Jean-Marc Gardette, Jules Kandasamy, and Jacquelin Languila. The IFCA, formed in 1985, is a Class Member of World Sailing and has the rights to award World and Continental Championship titles. It is also involved in the development of all the funboard disciplines – racing, expression and speed and organises championships all over the world.

The SWIOFish3 project has significantly contributed to the development of entrepreneurship and increased business ventures in the Blue Economy sector in Seychelles over the past five years. The six-year project, which ended on June 31, provided the foundation for the Blue Investment Funds, which supported innovations in the Blue Economy. Its objective was to improve the management of marine areas and fisheries in targeted zones and strengthen fisheries value chains in the Seychelles, a 115–island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. The Third South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth Project (SWIOFish3) was part of the wider World Bank SWIOFish programme, which aimed to increase the economic, social, and environmental benefits of marine fisheries in the southwest Indian Ocean. SWIOFish3, a government-funded project, was financed by loans and grants from the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project became effective in April 2018. It was planned to end in June 2023, but it was extended for another year to ensure the implementation of planned activities, which was delayed primarily due to COVID-19 restrictions. Danielle Jupiter, the project's local manager, told SNA that SWIOFish3 was the project framework for the Blue Bond proceeds issued by the government of Seychelles in 2018. «Our country made history by issuing the world's first Blue Bond, which is $15 million and has a maturity of 10 years. The proceeds of the Blue Bond are being used to capitalise a Blue Grants Fund ($3 million) and a Blue Investment Fund ($12 million), each of which is providing financing for marine and ocean-related activities that contribute to the transition to sustainable fisheries,» explained Jupiter. Jupiter added that the two funds were designed to complement each other. «For example, an individual can apply for a Blue Grant Fund to test a business idea, and if it works, that person can apply for a Blue Investment Fund loan.» «The Blue Bond really helped put Seychelles on the international map as an innovation hub for new forms of sustainable financing, favouring the environment, conservation, and climate adaptation. Following our example, countries like Belize and Fiji have issued their own Blue Bonds,» said Jupiter. When Seychelles launched the world's first sovereign Blue Bond, it raised $15 million from international investors, demonstrating the potential for countries to harness capital markets to finance the sustainable use of marine resources. The World Bank assisted in developing the bond and reaching out to the three investors: Calvert Impact Capital, Nuveen, and Prudential Financial, Inc.  Proceeds from the bond support the expansion of marine protected areas, improved governance of priority fisheries, and the development of the Seychelles' Blue Economy. Grants and loans provided through the Blue Grants Fund are managed by the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT), while the Blue Investment Fund is accessed through the Development Bank of Seychelles (DBS). The SWIOFish3 project also brought many other benefits to the islands, including funds for research, which provided data and findings, and critical inputs for the development of fact-based policies and decisions, which were crucial for the project objective. It also provided capacity building for Seychellois in various fields. Through the SWIOFISH3, the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) managed to acquire a surveillance vessel at the cost of $920,000 to help with monitoring and surveillance of the Mahe Plateau. Furthermore, through the project, the first aquaculture containerised echinoderm hatchery was opened this year at the aquaculture facility located at Providence on the east coast of the main island of Mahe. The SWIOFish3 project was implemented in four components: expanded sustainable-use marine protected areas, improved governance of priority fisheries, sustainable development of the Blue Economy, and project management and coordination.

Hollywood star Tom Cruise abseiled from the roof of the Stade de France as Paris said farewell on Sunday to an Olympics hailed as one of the most successful in history. Cruise descended on a wire in front of 71,500 spectators, grabbed the Olympic flag and jumped on a motorbike, to the delight of athletes and fans. In a preview of what the world can expect when the Games head to Los Angeles in 2028, the «Mission Impossible» star was then shown boarding a plane and skydiving into the Californian city before adorning the iconic Hollywood sign with the Olympic rings. Los Angeles band Red Hot Chili Peppers, singer Billie Eilish and rappers Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre then performed a mini-concert on a beach framed by the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean. The closing spectacle marked the beginning of the four-year countdown to the LA Games, and American gymnastics icon Simone Biles joined Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass as the Olympic flag was formally handed over. Earlier, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said the Paris Games had been «sport at its best». «These were sensational Olympic Games from start to finish,» Bach said. «Or dare I say: Seine-sational Games,» the IOC chief quipped in a pun about the river flowing through Paris which was the scene of the opening ceremony. «Dear French friends, you have fallen in love with the Olympic Games. And we have fallen in love with all of you,» Bach added. Around 9,000 athletes had flooded into the stadium to be entertained by 270 performers and artists in a ceremony billed as a celebration of humanity and the unifying power of sport. «We knew you would be brilliant, but you were magic,» Paris 2024 organising chief Tony Estanguet told athletes. «You made us happy, you made us feel alive -- the world needed this moment so much.» - Athletes party - The ceremony began when France's swimming hero Leon Marchand -- winner of four gold medals at these Games -- collected the Olympic flame from the cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens to begin its journey to the stadium. Local rugby hero Antoine Dupont -- who led the host nation to a rugby sevens gold medal in one of the early highlights of the Games -- carried a French flag into the stadium as partying athletes swarmed the field. The ceremony followed 17 days of frequently breathtaking sporting action set against the backdrop of iconic Parisian landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Chateau de Versailles. In contrast to the rain-soaked opening ceremony, Sunday's festivities began as a golden sunset bathed the French capital. The last day of sporting action saw the United States pip China for top spot in the battle for medals after the US women's basketball team squeezed past France 67-66 to clinch the last gold of the Games. The win -- the eighth consecutive Olympic women's basketball title won by the USA -- ensured the Americans finished level with China on 40 golds each. The USA however finished on top of the overall medal table with a total of 126 medals, with China in second place on 91. - Marathon magic - Sunday began with a gripping women's marathon victory by Dutch long-distance running star Sifan Hassan. Hassan had taken on what many considered to be a crazy gamble in Paris, competing in the 5,000m, the 10,000m and the marathon. But in a jaw-dropping sprint finish, Hassan overhauled Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa to take gold by three seconds in an Olympic record of 2hr 22min 55sec. She fell to the ground on the blue carpet in front of the golden dome of the Invalides memorial complex in the heart of Paris before grabbing a Dutch flag to celebrate an extraordinary achievement. Hassan was presented with her gold medal at the closing ceremony. © Agence France-Presse

Moscow on Sunday acknowledged Ukrainian troops had pierced deep into the Kursk border region in an offensive that a top official in Ukraine said aimed to «destabilise» Russia and «stretch» its forces. Later Sunday, each country blamed the other for a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine occupied by Russian forces, though both sides -- and the UN nuclear watchdog -- said there was no sign of a nuclear leak. Kyiv has deployed thousands of troops to the surprise operation, a Ukrainian security official told AFP, seizing the battlefield initiative after months of slow Russian advances across the east. «The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border,» the security official said on condition of anonymity. The assault appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard, with Moscow's army rushing in reserve troops, tanks, aviation, artillery and drones in a bid to quash it. But the army on Sunday appeared to concede that Ukraine had been able to penetrate its territory by up to 30 kilometres (20 miles) in places. In a daily briefing on the situation in the western Kursk region, the defence ministry said it had «foiled attempts» by Ukraine's forces to «break through deep into Russian territory» using armoured vehicles. But it said some of those forces were near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez, some 25 kilometres and 30 kilometres from the Russia-Ukraine border. The Ukrainian official also said Russian claims that Kyiv had deployed 1,000 troops were a serious underestimate. «It is a lot more,» he said. «Thousands.» - Helicopters 'over your head' - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later blamed Russia for a fire at a cooling tower at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which Russia claimed had been caused by Ukraine shelling. Zelensky said in a social media post that «Russian occupiers have started a fire» at the plant, accusing them of trying to «blackmail» Kyiv. «No impact has been reported for nuclear safety,» said a statement from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has experts at the site. Both Kyiv and Moscow said there had been no rise in radiation levels. In a later statement, the IAEA said it had requested that its team get «immediate access to the cooling tower to assess the damage». A Moscow-installed official, Vladimir Rogov, said the blaze has been «completely extinguished» in a Telegram post Monday. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has waged an unrelenting campaign, occupying swathes of the east and south and subjecting Ukrainian cities to daily missile and drone attacks. After re-capturing large areas in 2022, Kyiv has largely been on the back foot, struggling with manpower and arms supplies. The assault on the Kursk region has been the largest and most successful cross-border offensive by Kyiv so far -- and the most significant attack by a foreign army on Russian territory since World War II. Russia said Saturday that more than 76,000 civilians had been evacuated from border areas, with more leaving Sunday. Russia's rail operator has put on emergency trains from Kursk to Moscow, around 450 kilometres away, for those looking to flee. «It's scary to have helicopters flying over your head all the time,» said Marina, refusing to give her surname, who arrived by train in the Russian capital on Sunday. «When it was possible to leave, I left.» Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov conceded on Sunday that the situation was «difficult». Across the border in Ukraine's Sumy region, from where Ukraine launched the incursion, AFP journalists on Sunday saw dozens of armoured vehicles daubed with a white triangle -- the insignia apparently being used to identify Ukrainian military hardware deployed in the attack. - 'Taste' of war - Ukraine's Sumy region has also come under retaliatory fire, and authorities there plan to evacuate some 20,000 people from the border zone. At an evacuation centre in the regional capital of Sumy, 70-year-old retired metal worker Mykola, who had fled his village of Khotyn some 10 kilometres from the Russian border, nevertheless welcomed Ukraine's push into Russia. «Let's let them find out what it's like,» he told AFP. «They don't understand what war is. Let them have a taste of it.» Analysts think Kyiv may have launched the assault to try to relieve pressure on its troops in other parts of the sprawling front line. But the Ukrainian official said: «Their pressure in the east continues, they are not pulling back troops from the area,» even if «the intensity of Russian attacks has gone down a little bit». Russia has announced a local state of emergency in the Kursk region, as well as a «counter-terror operation» there and in two other border regions. The Ukrainian official said he expected Russia would «in the end» manage to stop the incursion. Ukraine was bracing for retaliation with a large-scale missile attack, including «on decision-making centres» in Ukraine, the official added. © Agence France-Presse

Rwanda's all-powerful President Paul Kagame was sworn in on Sunday for a fourth term after sweeping to victory in elections last month with more than 99 percent of the vote. Several dozen heads of state and other dignitaries from African nations joined the inauguration ceremony at a packed 45,000-seat stadium in Kigali, where crowds had started gathering from the early morning. Kagame took the oath of office before Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo, pledging to «preserve peace and national sovereignty, consolidate national unity». The outcome of the July 15 poll was never in doubt for the iron-fisted Kagame, who has ruled the small African nation since the 1994 genocide, as de facto leader and then president. He won 99.18 percent of ballots cast to secure another five years in power, according to the National Electoral Commission. Rights activists said the 66-year-old's overwhelming victory was a stark reminder of the lack of democracy in Rwanda. Only two candidates were authorised to run against him out of eight applicants, with several prominent Kagame critics barred. Democratic Green Party leader Frank Habineza scraped into second place with 0.5 percent of the vote against 0.32 percent for independent Philippe Mpayimana. - DRC ceasefire talks - Kagame is credited with rebuilding a ruined nation after the genocide, when Hutu extremists unleashed 100 days of vicious bloodletting targeting the Tutsi minority, killing around 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis but also Hutu moderates. But rights activists and opponents say he rules in a climate of fear, crushing any dissent with intimidation, arbitrary detentions, killings and enforced disappearances. Kigali is also accused of stoking instability in the east of its much larger neighbour the Democratic Republic of Congo. Angola's President Joao Lourenco, among those attending Sunday's ceremony, was due to have private talks with Kagame on a DRC ceasefire deal, the Angolan presidency said. Luanda brokered the agreement last month after a meeting between the foreign ministers of DRC and Rwanda, which is accused of backing the M23 rebel group fighting Kinshasa's armed forces. But on August 4, the day the deal was supposed to take effect, M23 rebels -- who have seized territory in the east since launching a new offensive at the end of 2021 -- captured a town on the border with Uganda. With 65 percent of the population aged under 30, Kagame is the only leader most Rwandans have ever known. «I proudly cast my vote for president Kagame and made it a priority to be here today to witness this historic inauguration,» said Tania Iriza, a 27-year-old trader, one of the tens of thousands who turned out for the ceremony. «His leadership has been transformative for our nation. Under his leadership, Rwanda has risen from our tragic past and forged a path towards prosperity, unity and innovation.» Kagame has won every presidential election he has contested, each time with more than 93 percent of the ballot. In 2015, he oversaw controversial constitutional amendments that shortened presidential terms to five years from seven but reset the clock for the Rwandan leader, allowing him to potentially rule until 2034. © Agence France-Presse

Reggae music, an internationally known genre made popular by singers like Jamaican Bob Marley, is also well known in Seychelles and one businessman and artist from Praslin, has named his bar after it. Andy Niole, from Grand Anse Praslin, and his brother-in-law, Rhiarde Balette, decided to venture into a business last year that they named Zilwa Reggae Bar (Islander's Reggae Bar). The Zilwa Reggae Bar is not just the usual takeaway outlet with a fixed menu but has a different feel with a Creole touch and is one of the tourist attractions in the district. The place is a piece of art with vibrant colours used for the architecture and furniture while giving visitors from all over the world a chance to feel like a local at the same time enjoying the reggae vibes. «We wanted to create a business with a clear vision. We have risen above all obstacles and kept our minds focused on this vision. This has allowed us to find new ways forward, adopt an innovative approach and seek new strategies. Our vision is to provide food to the locals and visitors to the island but to make them feel that they are truly experiencing Seychelles,» said Niole. He said that Grand Anse is usually the quiet part of Praslin, the second most populated island, so he is working together with other artists and artisans to liven up the community.  Andy Niole, from Grand Anse Praslin and his brother-in-law, ventured into the business in 2023. (Mandy Bertin) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  «We have added entertainment not just when serving food, and have live bands playing. People see it as a place where they can socialise, chill and some even hold their short meetings here.» The Reggae theme Niole said that «Although Reggae is not entirely part of our heritage and traditions, it is now part of our culture. The messages of peace, tranquillity, love and respect radiate in this place. This is why we have chosen the red, gold and green colours. It is all about the messages behind,» he concluded. In the world of reggae, the three colours each have a meaning -  red represents the blood of martyrs, green for the beauty of Africa, and gold for the wealth of Africa. Niole added the use of natural materials such as wood, shells and coconut shells has helped greatly and of the woodwork, such as the tables and shelves, which he made himself. Creating business success «You have to do something that you truly want not just because others are doing it and you want to follow the same trend. I believe you have to be consistent in business and know how to properly manage you finances,» said Niole. The place is a piece of art with vibrant colours used for the architecture and furniture.  (Mandy Bertin) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  He said that one important asset to a successful business is the staff.  You need to take care of your employees so that they can radiate the same energy back to your clients. «When I started it was not easy especially when it came to manpower but we persevered. We want to promote the image of Seychelles by offering top quality service at all times. Businesses need to realise that we are all helping to keep the country's visibility out there, so we must all play our roles. A simple smile goes a long way,» said Niole. «There are many constraints to face when in business, but you need to stand firm and bring in new ideas. Competition is healthy in a business environment but you always have to be focused on your business vision and you should believe in your potential and not being afraid of your competitors. Innovation is the key to propel your business forward,» he emphasised. Niole told SNA that the aim is «to have locals working in this business. When tourists come to Zilwa Reggae Bar, we want them to be served and greeted by locals. We want this place to reflect Seychelles as a whole. The people, the smiles, the ambiance and the food.»

Air Seychelles will set off on its first-ever flight to Reunion, a French Overseas Department, on December 30, as part of seasonal direct flights between the two destinations to bolster connectivity and promote tourism exchange. According to Tourism Seychelles, the national carrier will operate one weekly direct flight to Reunion on December 30, 2024, January 6, 13, 18, 2025 which will include a technical stop in Mauritius. The inaugural flight on December 30 will depart from Roland Garros Airport at 2.50 pm and arrive in Seychelles at 5.25 pm. Seychelles' national carrier will fly to the Reunion on January 6, 13, and 18 in 2025. The flights on January 6, 13 and 18 in 2025 will depart Seychelles at 8 am and land in Reunion Island at 10.35 am.  Air Seychelles' chief executive officer, Sandy Benoiton, said, “Building on the positive response received upon announcing the signing of the SPA agreement with Air Austral last month, we are delighted to launch this seasonal service to coincide with the holidays and offer a hassle free journey to the Seychelles in time for the new year.«  On her side, Bernadette Willemin, director general for Destination Marketing at Tourism Seychelles, expressed excitement about the new flights. “The introduction of Air Seychelles flights to Reunion marks a significant milestone that is set to boost visitor arrivals to Seychelles. This strategic initiative promises Reunionais tourists enhanced accessibility to our pristine beaches, vibrant cultural experiences, and unparalleled attractions, reinforcing Seychelles' position as a premier tourism destination in the Indian Ocean region,» she said. This new route underscores the commitment of Tourism Seychelles and Air Seychelles to facilitate seamless travel experiences and foster greater cultural exchange between Seychelles and Reunion. Meanwhile, Air Seychelles and Air Austral have a partnership through a special prorate agreement (SPA) allowing their respective customers to travel between Seychelles and Reunion on one ticket. This was agreed after the decision by Air Austral to cancel their nonstop route between Seychelles and Reunion. Discussions were initiated with Air Seychelles to offer continuity of service between the two islands. Under the agreement, Air Seychelles flies travellers going to Reunion to Mauritius while Air Austral makes the trip from Mauritius to Reunion.   Air Seychelles currently operates between Seychelles and Mauritius three times a week - Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays - offering passengers a range of dates to plan their holidays and connections. Air Seychelles operates regionally to Colombo in Sri Lanka, Tel Aviv in Israel, Johannesburg in South Africa, Mumbai in India, and Mauritius, with its Airbus A320NEOs.  

About 20 residents and business owners, who were affected by the major explosion in Seychelles that took place on December 7, 2023, at the Civil Construction Company Limited (CCCL) quarrying headquarters at Providence, took to the streets on Saturday morning to protest what they describe as a lack of accountability on the part of the CCCL. According to statistics the government authorities provided in February this year, 531 houses were affected by the blast of a CCCL explosives store among which 354 are privately owned and 177 are managed by the state-owned Property Management Company (PMC). Furthermore, the majority of businesses of the Providence Industrial Estate were damaged. The government provided financial aid, for example, the Agency for Social Protection (ASP) paid households a sum of SCR25,000 ($1871.35) each for repairs of damaged houses, while for those houses that need to be demolished, the government put aside SCR1 million ($75,000) per house for people to rebuild their houses. A few households had insurance payouts.  However, CCCL has not yet been held accountable for this disaster and only recently the official policy inquiry report into the incident was provided to the Attorney General's Office, to decide on how to respond further on behalf of the state and residents. The government said the report will not be made public.  A peaceful protest  The peaceful protest was held near a bus stop on the opposite side of the CCCL site. The protesters’ point of contention was the way that the situation was being handled. About nine months later, these residents felt that not enough had been done.  Melissa, a resident of Cascade said, “In my case, my mother chose not to ask for assistance. However, I’m here today to support the others who have been affected. It’s not right. Some of them still have not been helped.”  A business owner, Pascal Leonnel, said “I am here to support the residents of Petit Paris and Cascade. They said they’ve assisted, but you can go around in the area and see how many people are still struggling to fix their house, me included. Every day I talk to many people in the same situation. They are afraid to speak.”  Leonnel further added that while they received some funds for repair, it was not enough. “We discover new issues during reconstruction, even if a contractor assessed the damage. New cracks in the walls, tiles cracking.”  Protesters ask CCCL to be accountable (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  Samia Volcy, a resident of Petit Paris, expressed her dissatisfaction stating, “For eight months, my five kids and I have been sleeping among plywood. We are not here for political reasons; we simply want justice. Everywhere we go, we are dismissed, and nobody will speak or listen to us. We are frustrated. We will be here every Saturday until a solution is found.”  Another business owner, Petrina Labonte, said “My business is here. I was told that I wouldn’t get assistance for the damage to my business. I wasn’t working for three months because of this incident. I was only given assistance for my house and my mother’s house. They gave me only SCR 700,000 ($49,000). This is not enough to fix everything. We are not asking for money out of nowhere, we want to be able to get back to how our lives were.”    Another resident, Julianna Jules, put forward her grievances by explaining that “We were fine. Now we have to deal with dust, and rainwater leaking inside all the time. We have our rights. A lot of people want to come forward, but they are afraid of repercussions.”  These residents started protesting last week, however at the time they were asked to leave by the Seychelles Police. For their protest this week, they sought the assistance of newspaper editor and social activist, Ralph Volcere.   Present at the protest, Volcere explained that “last week they had not given proper notice, that is why the police asked them to leave. They asked for my help, so I informed the Commissioner of Police, five days in advance, of their intent to protest peacefully in accordance with the law.”  Volcere added that they had received a reply from the police recommending that they have the protest at the Cascade District Administration office instead. However, the residents were against this stating that it is the CCCL that they have an issue with not the District Administration. Therefore, the protestors chose to hold the protest near the CCCL.  At several instances during the protest today, officers from the police force did show up to speak to the protestors. Interceding on their part, Volcere explained that they had followed all procedures according to the law; that they would protest peacefully until noon and that they would not be moving until then. Each time the officers emphasised that they should remain peaceful and then left.  After the protest ended, the residents vowed to keep protesting every week until their voices were heard. 

An airplane carrying 57 passengers and four crew crashed Friday in Brazil's Sao Paulo state, killing everyone on board, the airline said. The aircraft, an ATR 72-500 operated by Voepass airline, was traveling from Cascavel in southern Parana state to Sao Paulo's Guarulhos international airport when it crashed in the city of Vinhedo. Voepass initially said the plane was carrying 58 passengers, but a statement on the airline's website later revised the figure to 57. Images broadcast on local media showed a large plane spinning as it plummeted almost vertically, while other footage showed a large column of smoke rising from the crash site in what appeared to be a residential area. «There were no survivors,» the city government in Valinhos -- which was involved in the rescue and recovery operation in nearby Vinhedo -- said in an to AFP. Vinhedo, with about 76,000 residents, is located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Sao Paulo. Recovery of the victims' remains for «identification» has begun and «will continue throughout the night,» Sao Paulo State Governor Tarcisio de Freitas told reporters at the scene. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared three days of mourning. Voepass said it was cooperating with authorities to «determine the causes of the accident,» while giving full assistance to families of the victims on flight 2283. The plane, a twin-engine turboprop, took off «without any flight restrictions, with all its systems operational,» the company said. Brazil's CENIPA aviation accident agency has launched an investigation. ATR, a Franco-Italian aircraft maker and Airbus subsidiary, said its experts were working to help investigators. - 'Terrifying' - Truck driver Martins Barbosa, 49, was working when he learned of the plane crash, which occurred 150 meters (500 feet) from his home. «I thought it might have fallen on my house, with my son inside,» he told AFP, adding he felt despondent before learning his family was okay. Nathalie Cicari, who lives near the crash site, told CNN Brasil the impact was «terrifying.» «I was having lunch, I heard a very loud noise very close by,» she said, describing the sound as drone-like but «much louder.» «I went out on the balcony and saw the plane spinning. Within seconds, I realized that it was not a normal movement for a plane.» Cicari was not hurt but had to evacuate her house, which was filled with black smoke from the crash. «I arrived at the scene and saw many bodies on the ground -- many of them,» another witness, Ricardo Rodrigues, told local Band News. Firefighters, military police and state civil defense were deployed at the scene. Military police told local media the accident had not caused any casualties on the ground, and that the fire sparked by the crash had been brought under control. The plane's black box «has already been found, apparently preserved,» Sao Paulo state security official Guilherme Derrite told reporters at the scene. The doomed plane recorded its first flight in April 2010, according to the website planespotters.net. Air safety has improved dramatically in recent decades, with deadly passenger plane crashes becoming ever-more rare worldwide, though more frequent in developing nations. Excluding Friday's crash, CENIPA data shows Brazil has recorded 108 aircraft accidents so far this year, resulting in 49 deaths. Over the last ten years, 746 people have died in 1,665 accidents in the country. In January 2023, another ATR 72 operated by Yeti Airlines crashed after stalling in Nepal, killing all 72 on board. Nepalese authorities attributed the incident to pilot error. © Agence France-Presse

Air Seychelles will set off on its first-ever flight to Reunion, a French Overseas Department, on December 30, as part of seasonal direct flights between the two destinations to bolster connectivity and promote tourism exchange. According to Tourism Seychelles, the national carrier will operate one weekly direct flight to Reunion on December 30, 2024, January 6, 13, 18, 2025 which will include a technical stop in Mauritius. The inaugural flight on December 30 will depart from Roland Garros Airport at 2.50 pm and arrive in Seychelles at 5.25 pm. Seychelles' national carrier will fly to the Reunion on January 6, 13, and 18 in 2025. The flights on January 6, 13 and 18 in 2025 will depart Seychelles at 8 am and land in Reunion Island at 10.35 am. It will then Air Seychelles' chief executive officer, Sandy Benoiton, said, “Building on the positive response received upon announcing the signing of the SPA agreement with Air Austral last month, we are delighted to launch this seasonal service to coincide with the holidays and offer a hassle free journey to the Seychelles in time for the new year.«  On her side, Bernadette Willemin, director general for Destination Marketing at Tourism Seychelles, expressed excitement about the new flights. “The introduction of Air Seychelles flights to Reunion marks a significant milestone that is set to boost visitor arrivals to Seychelles. This strategic initiative promises Reunionais tourists enhanced accessibility to our pristine beaches, vibrant cultural experiences, and unparalleled attractions, reinforcing Seychelles' position as a premier tourism destination in the Indian Ocean region,» she said. This new route underscores the commitment of Tourism Seychelles and Air Seychelles to facilitate seamless travel experiences and foster greater cultural exchange between Seychelles and Reunion. Meanwhile, Air Seychelles and Air Austral have a partnership through a special prorate agreement (SPA) allowing their respective customers to travel between Seychelles and Reunion on one ticket. This was agreed after the decision by Air Austral to cancel their nonstop route between Seychelles and Reunion. Discussions were initiated with Air Seychelles to offer continuity of service between the two islands. Under the agreement, Air Seychelles flies travellers going to Reunion to Mauritius while Air Austral makes the trip from Mauritius to Reunion.   Air Seychelles currently operates between Seychelles and Mauritius three times a week - Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays - offering passengers a range of dates to plan their holidays and connections. Air Seychelles operates regionally to Colombo in Sri Lanka, Tel Aviv in Israel, Johannesburg in South Africa, Mumbai in India, and Mauritius, with its Airbus A320NEOs.