A group of 11 students from the Advanced Diploma in Hotel Management (ADHM) Programme at the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) will undergo a six-month internship with Universal Resorts in the Maldives. The students, who will leave Seychelles on Saturday, received their plane tickets and insurance documents in a small sending-off ceremony at the Academy's premises on Wednesday. They will return on January 24, 2025. During the ceremony, the STA's interim director, Richard Mathiot, urged the students to remain disciplined, committed and devoted, to succeed. «Use this opportunity and create a pathway for others who will go to Maldives soon and ensure that you learn as much as you can, so that you can share this knowledge to others later on,» he said. The programme's cohort has 13 students and 11 will head to Maldives, while two students chose to complete their internship locally. The second year of the ADHM programme is a 12-month operative work placement. According to a press release from the STA, overseas placement is an essential part of the programme as it plays a very important role for the student's personal and professional development. The structure of the placement is six months of specialisation overseas and a six-month rotation locally. The learners will cover the following departments - Kitchen, Restaurant and Bar, Housekeeping and Front Office.   The student will be placed in Milaidhoo, Dhigali, Kurumba, Kuramathi, and Baros. They will be accompanied by the industry placement coordinator at the STA, Gemma Camille. Meanwhile, two lecturers from the Academy will benefit from this partnership, with Beryl Cupidon and Jourdanne Solin, set to participate in a two-week cross-exposure programme at Universal Resorts. Universal Resorts operates eight resorts in Maldives and have been present in the country for over 50 years.

Seychelles' Cabinet of Ministers on Thursday approved a proposal to implement stricter measures and enhance regulatory frameworks for the trade of Aldabra giant tortoises, a protected species. As Seychelles has a significant population of Aldabra giant tortoises, the local regulatory framework will be aligned with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) standards. With rising concerns about illegal trade and exploitation of these tortoises, the new measures will include enhanced monitoring and enforcement by the CITES Management Authority, which will impose stricter penalties for non-compliance and illegal activities. With immediate effect, a moratorium will be placed on approving any new licenses for breeding and export of the tortoises. CITES is a global agreement among governments to regulate or ban international trade in species under threat. In Seychelles, it is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and the Environment and part of the ministry's role is to ensure that the trade is legal, sustainable, and can be traced. «We feel that the species are under threat potentially because of illegal poaching and trading of such tortoises,» said Vice President Ahmed Afif, in a press briefing on Friday. «We see that imports in other countries suggest a large number being sent, but our export figures on our side suggest that there is illegal trading,» he said. The Aldabra Atoll, one of Seychelles' UNESCO World Heritage sites, is home to one of the largest Aldabra giant tortoise habitats. The species is listed as vulnerable by the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Afif said if Seychelles does not control the illegal trade and exploitation at the early stages, it risks losing the species, and «the new measures send a clear message to the world that we are serious where conservation is concerned and protecting our heritage.» He added that the officers from the Ministry of Environment will meet with those from the Ministry of Finance to establish the new fines aimed at discouraging people from doing this type of business. The environment officials will decide on the size of tortoises that may be exported and will meet those from finance to agree on the new penalties. Meanwhile, the penalties for poaching and trading of wild animals and birds in Seychelles were increased through an amendment to the Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act last month to protect the diverse wildlife. According to the revised legislation, individuals found guilty of offences against the Act could face a minimum fine of SCR25,000 ($1,700) not exceeding SCR1 million ($67,000), or a maximum of 7 years imprisonment, or both. The previous penalties established in 2001 were considerably lower with a minimum fine of SCR5000 ($334) and a maximum fine of SCR500,000 ($33,400), along with a maximum imprisonment term of two years, or both fines and imprisonment. 

President Mokgweetsi Masisi gave Botswana the afternoon off on Friday to celebrate Letsile Tebogo, the country's first Olympic gold medallist and the first African to be crowned 200-metre champion at a Games. Masisi hailed the 21-year-old sprinter as «Botswana's Sensation» after his outstanding performance on Thursday. «Botswana's finest sporting moment,» beamed the Mmegi newspaper after Tebogo produced a stunning run in the 200m to take gold, leaving pre-race favourite Noah Lyles trailing in third. To add to his performance, he also set an African record of 19.46sec. Tebogo's achievement will be «etched in the annals of the history of the republic», the president said. The Olympic medal is Botswana's third after Nijel Amos won silver in the 800m at the 2012 London Games and the men's 4x400m relay team took bronze in Tokyo in 2020. Videos shared on social media showed students at the University of Botswana dancing and singing into the night, while people across the southern African nation posted their pride on X and Facebook. «History made!» Masisi said on his X account. «My voice is completely gone thanks to the phenomenal #LetsileTebogo.» Masisi also paid tribute to Tebogo's mother, his greatest fan, who died in May. Tebogo is only the second athlete from Africa to win a medal in the 200m and the first ever to take gold. Namibian Frankie Fredericks won silver in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996. Botswana National Olympic Committee senior vice president Tshepo Sitale told AFP that the committee was «happy beyond measure» about Tebogo's achievement. «Letsile is a rare talent and he has put Botswana on the map,» he said, adding that the sprinter would be welcomed home next week with a ceremony at the airport and a motorcade. «Welcome to the club, Letsile Tebogo!» silver-medal winner Amos said on Facebook. «Your achievement is not just a personal triumph; it's a monumental moment for our nation, especially after over a decade without an Olympic medal.» © Agence France-Presse

Crowds fleeing Khan Yunis after an Israeli evacuation order gave way to empty streets on Friday as Palestinian residents tried to escape a new Israeli military operation in Gaza's main southern area. «They threw leaflets at us, ordering us to evacuate», Reem Abu Hayya told AFP, referring to the flyers that Israeli forces drop from planes to order the evacuation of areas ahead of a military operation. The Khan Yunis area had already seen evacuation orders in late July, and heavy fighting that devastated the area earlier this year. «We don't know where we're going, and we have sick and disabled people with us. Where can we go?» Abu Hayya asked AFP as she stood on the street in front of a building reduced to a pile of rebar and broken concrete. In a besieged territory that has been consistently bombed over the past 10 months and where supplies enter with great difficulty, people carried all they could as they fled on Thursday. AFP journalists saw one young man carrying planks of wood loosely tied in bundles, to be used as shelter structure or fuel in the near future. With petrol scarce, only the most fortunate drove, often with mattresses piled high on the car roof. The vast majority walked. They carried their belongings in plastic and garbage bags, on donkey-pulled carts, bikes, strollers or wheelchairs. By dusk, streets of Khan Yunis stood completely deserted and eerily quiet, AFP journalists reported. Only the ruins of buildings damaged in earlier strikes still stood. The flyers dropped Thursday ordered residents to leave eastern towns of Khan Yunis governorate including Al-Salqa, Al-Qarara, Bani Suheila, and neighbourhoods in the city of Khan Yunis. «Hamas and terrorist organisations continue to launch rockets from your areas», read the flyers which echoed past orders and warned that the Israeli army «will act forcefully against these elements». Late last month Philippe Lazzarini, who heads the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said on social media site X that only «14 percent of areas in Gaza» were not subject to evacuation orders. On Friday, the military said it launched a new operation in Khan Yunis following «intelligence indicating the presence of terrorists and terror infrastructure» there. «The troops are engaging in combat both above and below-ground to eliminate terrorists in the area while locating and dismantling weaponry and terrorist infrastructure,» the military said in a statement. - 'We are exhausted' - The military has often returned in Gaza to areas where it had previously completed major operations against Palestinian militants, only to find them resurfacing or to act on intelligence about the location of hostages. «Enough! For both, the Jews and Hamas! Both of them should look at the people of Gaza, have mercy on us for God's sake,» Ahmed al-Najjar, angry at the war and the prospect of yet another displacement, told AFP. War in Gaza began when Hamas Palestinian militants on October 7 attacked southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 39,699 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry of the Hamas-run territory, which does not provide details of civilian and militant deaths. Mohammad al-Farra, from Sheikh Nasser in the east of Khan Yunis, also expressed frustration at the several displacements his family has lived through. «We were the first to return to our home... as soon as the military operation in our area ended, to escape the heat, the displacement, and the hardship», the 46-year-old told AFP. «Then the occupation returned to drive us out again, making us suffer the tragedy multiple times over», he said, referring to Israel. «We are exhausted. The war must end immediately so that we can feel human again, even just a little». © Agence France-Presse

To improve the outcome of the low season, Seychelles' Department of Tourism brought together representatives from the industry to discuss an action plan this week. The principal secretary for Tourism, Sherin Francis, said this event is one of the outcomes of the marketing meeting held last month. The meeting included presentations about statistics and market trends for visitors coming to Seychelles and one key point was the fact that the market trends were changing and evolving. «We have to continually collect and share data with the industry, so the operators can react adequately to the changes happening in the market trends. From what we have gathered, visitors nowadays want experiences, such as cultural experiences or ecological experiences. There is an increase in solo travellers also. These trends are opportunities for our industry, and we must respond to them if we want to expand,» said Francis. «From the discussion we had so far, it is clear that the operators in the industry already have an idea of the issue at hand and what needs to be done. We will also take this opportunity to strategise together as an industry so we can have an action plan for next year,» she added. The principal secretary said the importance of collaborating as an industry and «the key point is that everyone should work together, not just the government but the private sector as well, such as agreeing on some innovative packages or perhaps certain events that we can collaborate on. Of course, there will be follow-ups after this meeting, we want to ensure that everyone is doing their part to improve the outcomes from the low season.» She also talked about other plans that the tourism department is considering and said: «In September, we are planning training for the smaller operators. This will be about revenue management. We have seen that some smaller establishments are having trouble optimising their revenue, such as managing revenue during the high season well, so it can cover the low season. We are also discussing planning several events during these low months.» The Department of Tourism estimates, according to statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), that the low season in Seychelles for visitor arrivals will be the beginning of January, May, June, September and the start of December.   Francis also touched on the subject of airlines and the effect that their schedules can have on the number of visitor arrivals. She said, «We do have representatives from airlines here today, and in fact the conversation with the airlines started well in advance to this meeting. We want to work on a framework or structure where we can encourage the airlines to operate year-round in Seychelles. At the moment several airlines have chosen to fly to Seychelles only during the peak season.»

The Seychelles' Supreme Court set on Thursday morning the trial date of six suspected Somali pirates for mid-January 2025. The five men - who have pleaded not guilty - were involved in an attack on the Marshall Islands-registered tanker Chrystal Arctic on May 10. The six suspected pirates were handed over to the Seychelles authorities on May 14 by EU NAVFOR's Operation ATALANTA.  At the time of their apprehension, the Seychelles Police revealed that the suspects were aged 20 to 40 years and three among them were taken to the hospital for treatment of the injuries on their bodies. Operation ATALANTA has legal agreements with different nations in the Area of Operations, one of them being Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. This allows for the trial of suspected pirates arrested by warships joining the operation.    

The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, will join other heads of state in Kigali, Rwanda, on August 11 for the swearing-in ceremony of President Paul Kagame, State House said on Thursday. Kagame was re-elected after a landslide victory in July, winning  99.18 percent of the vote. The 66-year-old has been the President of Rwanda since April 2000.  

With the FishPath process successfully completed for the lobster fishery in Seychelles, the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA) will be developing a comprehensive harvest strategy for the species. Through a grant from the International Climate Initiative (lKI), the FishPath team in partnership with the SFA, began discussions for the harvest strategy for lobster, and hosted a National Lobster Workshop at Eden Bleu Hotel. Seychellois fisheries specialist and consultant, Dr Ameer Ibrahim said, «When you talk about harvest strategies, people usually think that it's just about control and stopping people from fishing, but it's more than that. It also includes economic, social and biological aspects. It analyses all of that to put in place a more sustainable way of fishing.» He said that the Harvest Strategy Policy was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in August 2023, to ensure that Seychelles can effectively manage individual fisheries based on their unique biological characteristics and socio-economic goals. This project comes at the right time, he concluded. «We hope that the workshop facilitates discussions by fishers concerning the main issues they are encountering today. We completed the first part of the development of a harvest strategy by narrowing the options specific to Seychelles through the FishPath process. We then hope to introduce participants to the harvest strategy concept by engaging participants in activities specifically designed to meet this objective,» Ibrahim stated.  In Seychelles, there has been a tailored approach to the FishPath process, not focusing solely on the tool but identifying the importance of bringing fishers into the discussion and the accompanying capacity-building and technical support it brings. Several lobster fishers were able to participate in the discussions during the workshop. Discussions for the harvest strategy for lobster started in a workshop at Eden Bleu Hotel.  (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY FishPath is an approach to make the fisheries sector sustainable by adopting a bottom-up approach to fisheries management and has so far been applied in 17 countries spanning over 45 fisheries. Seychelles is among other island states in the Indian Ocean that have received a grant from the German government through The Nature Conservancy (TNC), headquartered in Virginia, United States. Speaking to the media, Jude Pool said that they face many challenges such as climate change when fishing for lobster. “We do what we can. Lobster is fished at night, so we leave at around 6 pm and if we find any that’s great but sometimes, we don’t. Sometimes the weather is really bad and the water is too murky so we can’t go out. During the season, oftentimes we can only go out a few times a week. We support the work that is being done because we want to continue fishing in the future.” A lobster fisher from La Digue, Jimmy Mellon, emphasised the many challenges they face and said that over the years fishers have noticed a significant decline in the amount of lobster available for fishing. «One of the issues we face is the period that the season is open, I feel that it should be amended. People want to eat lobster during the festive season but the season is opened after that so it is not worth as much. We mostly sell to hotels but there are also Seychellois who buy directly from us. It is more difficult nowadays, there is not many lobsters available,» he added. The head of fisheries research at SFA, Rodney Govinden, stated that there are measures that have been established for a long time, and «this workshop is meant to formalise this and get input from the fishers themselves. This way they understand what is being done and it will mean an easier implementation of the strategy. We are still in the beginning phases of the development of the harvest strategy, now that FishPath has completed its work we must analyse and put together the harvest strategy.» Ebrahim underlined the importance of dealing with illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as this has become the most significant aspect hindering the effective management of the fishery during the FishPath process. «I have seen it myself. There is a Facebook page that showcases local cuisine and I have seen dishes that include species such as lobster even when it is not in season. Either these people are not aware that recreational fishing for lobster is strictly prohibited and that only licenced fishers are allowed or they are simply not following regulations,» he said In his address, the Minister for Blue Economy and Fisheries, Jean-Francois Ferrari, said, «Managing fisheries is never easy work, there are so many components to be considered such as the social and economic aspects. This workshop will provide a platform for all stakeholders involved to put forward their opinion regarding the harvest strategy for lobster.» 

The Seychelles National Assembly has unanimously approved a new bill to regulate virtual asset providers presented by the Minister for Finance, Economic Planning and Trade, Naadir Hassan, on Tuesday. Hassan said the objective of the bill is to complement a national strategy to combat financial risk associated with virtual assets and virtual asset service providers (VASPs). The bill has many links with the National Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Committee (NAC) and related regulations. The law will also ensure that virtual assets and VASPs can function in a responsible manner and reduce the risk of wrong utilisation by illegal actors. The minister said that to qualify, VASPs, in or outside Seychelles, have to set up a company under the Seychelles Companies Act or the International Business Companies Act (IBC). «For an applicant to qualify for a licence, the principal criteria is to demonstrate a substantial presence in Seychelles, such as having a director who is a resident. They must have an office in Seychelles with enough competent workers and that all records are accessible via that office,» Hassan explained. He added that an individual cannot apply for a licence and that the registered entity regulated by the Central Bank of Seychelles has to get approval from the institution and the applicant will have to go through a risk evaluation to be able to function as a VASP. Hassan emphasised that activities that will need a licence include providers of wallet service providers, virtual asset exchanges, virtual exchanges, virtual asset brokering and virtual asset investment providers. «For an applicant to get a licence, there will be well detailed and strict criteria they will have to follow and meet for them to address identified vulnerability directly linked to the services they offer,» he added. Hassan said, «I want to point out that the proposed bill for virtual asset service providers is balancing innovation with risk mitigation and the measures against money laundering. Seychelles has ensured that it has taken all measures recommended by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), by emphasising risk management.» The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been designated as the regulator responsible for the implementation of the law. Provision has been made to sensitise Seychellois consumers and the regulated entities on the scam and wrongful use of virtual assets. The bill also ensures that sufficient protection is in place for consumers who become victims of illegal activities.

A book detailing some slavery sites in Seychelles, 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, was launched in May. The book, a project of former history teacher and senior government education official, Dr Odile De Commarmond, who was assisted in the research by Colette Gilleaux, gives details of some of the islands' sites associated with the island nation's 65 years of slavery during the French and British colonial periods. From a rock where many slaves were murdered, to the French pirate Jean-Francois Hodoul, who had large concessions of land, to a plantation house with its origin dating to 1792, to an estate with an ox mill still in use today. SNA presents five slavery sites found in Seychelles and featured in the book.   Venn's town Opened in 1875, Venn's Town was a settlement with plantations of vanilla and patchouli, among other things. Located up the hills at Sans Soucis in the northwest of the main island of Mahe, it was established by the Christian Missionary Society and named after Henry Venn, an Anglican evangelist. The institution closed in 1889. The missionaries ran a school  for liberated African slaves' children landing in Seychelles after 1861. The ruins and foundations of these buildings still stand today. A cemetery was also part of the compound. (National Heritage) Photo License: CC-BY   Ros Kriminel (Criminal Rock) Located on the island of Grande Soeur, a rocky island with little flat areas, is a vast rock where it was reported that many slaves were murdered. At the time, the island was inhabited by slaves, and according to records, slaves who rebelled or misbehaved were taken to the top of the rocky hill and thrown down into the sea. (Jean-Marie Hullot, Flickr) Photo Licence: CC BY 2.0   La Plaine St Andre Located in the eastern district of Au Cap on the main island of Mahe, La Plaine St Andre is a plantation that dates back to 1792. It was previously owned by the St Jorre family, who once owned 60 acres of land used as a plantation. Records show that by 1812, the owner of the property, Jean-Francois-Marie Jorre de St Jorre, owned 53 slaves. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY   L'Union Estate Probably the most prized and valued landmark on the third most populated island of La Digue, L'Union Estate still generates a lot of revenue for the island through agricultural activities, which is no different from the days of slavery. The around 300-hectare estate is still well preserved and still has evidence of slavery. These include the ox mill and an old heater used to produce coconut oil. Owned by French Jean-Francois Hodoul, a sea captain, pirate, and plantation owner, who started ship construction, something that is still being done on the island. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY   Jardin Marron - Silhouette Island In a mountainous area of Silhouette, the third largest island of the Seychelles archipelago, lies Jardin Marron, a trail built by the first slaves who lived on the island at the end of the 1700s. The trail bears the name Marron after several slaves made the area their homes after escaping their masters. Some large caves were observed in this area.  (Yashima, Flickr) Photo Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0

Noah Lyles targets the second leg of an Olympic sprint treble in the 200m on Thursday while LeBron James and his band of NBA superstars attempt to edge closer to a 17th basketball gold medal. Lyles ended the USA's 20-year wait for a gold medal in the 100m and goes into the 200m the clear favourite as a three-time world champion in the event. «I spent years working on the 100m, but the 200 is where it's at. This is where I get to show my speed and endurance and my top-end speed,» said Lyles. «This is where I get to show I'm stronger than everybody else.» The American will face competition from team-mates Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo. Reigning champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will battle Femke Bol in a mouth-watering women's 400m hurdles final. McLaughlin-Levrone and Bol go head-to-head in what promises to be one of the races of the Paris Games, pitting the two fastest women in the history of the event against each other. Bol already has one gold after anchoring the Dutch to victory in the 4x400 mixed relay, while McLaughlin-Levrone is the world record holder in the 400m hurdles, which she won three years ago in Tokyo. Bol finished third in that race. Grant Holloway hopes to claim an elusive Olympic gold in the men's 110m hurdles. The 26-year-old is a three-time world champion but had to settle for silver in Tokyo. LeBron James and the United States look to continue their relentless march toward a fifth straight Olympic basketball gold, taking on Nikola Jokic's Serbia for a place in the final. The two teams meet for the third time in as many weeks, beating them in a pre-tournament warm-up and then again to launch their Olympic bid -- winning both games by 26 points. «Serbia is really good,» said US coach Steve Kerr. «We can't get lulled to sleep because we beat them twice.» Hosts France, led by San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, play World Cup holders Germany in the first semi-final. France are also in the driving seat in the women's golf tournament with Celine Boutier going into the second round with a three-shot lead, South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai sits in second place, while reigning champion Nelly Korda battled back from a poor opening stretch to finish on even par, seven strokes behind Boutier. World number seven Boutier, who grew up just 20km from Le Golf National, has not posted a top-10 finish in her last 11 tournaments but found her best at the right time. «It's true that it's nice to be able to post a good first round, and yes super positive for the rest of the week,» said Boutier. In men's hockey, world number one Netherlands take on world champions Germany. The match could be the first part of a golden double for the Dutch whose women's team face China in their final on Friday. The men's javelin final could be a cracking clash between India's defending champion Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan. In the Seine, which runs through the heart of the city, the women's 10km marathon swim is due to take place despite doubts over the quality of the water. Training for the open water swimming was cancelled on Tuesday due to pollution. © Agence France-Presse

Russia on Wednesday battled a major cross-border incursion from Ukraine for a second day, the most serious attack on Russian territory by Kyiv's forces in months that prompted both countries to evacuate several thousand civilians. A local state of emergency was introduced in Russia's Kursk region on Wednesday evening, 36 hours after Ukrainian soldiers, tanks and armoured vehicles stormed into the western border region. Russia said it launched air and artillery firepower to repel the attack throughout Wednesday, after having rushed reinforcements to the region in a bid to halt Ukrainian advances. After two days of fighting, the extent of the damage and the depth of the Ukrainian advance was unclear -- though several reports from Ukrainian and Russian military bloggers suggested the fighters had gained several kilometres. President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine had indiscriminately attacked civilian buildings and ambulances while Russia's top general vowed to crush the incursion. «The Kyiv regime has undertaken another large-scale provocation,» Putin said in a televised meeting with government officials. Kursk governor Alexei Smirnov introduced a state of emergency in the region on Wednesday evening, a move that gives authorities additional powers to bring the situation under control. At least five civilians have been killed and 31 wounded -- six of them children -- since the incursion began, Russian health officials said Wednesday. Witnesses interviewed on Russian television said they had fled border areas in cars under drone fire. Senior Ukrainian officials have not commented directly on the attack. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Washington was «reaching out to our Ukrainian counterparts to get a little better understanding». He added «nothing has changed about our policy» and Ukraine can use US-supplied weapons only «to target imminent threats just across the border». US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said of the Kremlin: «It is a little bit rich, them calling it a provocation, given Russia violated Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.» - 'Not everyone can leave' - Authorities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, just across the border from Kursk, announced they were evacuating about 6,000 people. Several thousand were also evacuated from the Kursk region. Some Russian military bloggers were reporting Ukrainian troops had reached the town of Sudzha, some eight kilometres (five miles) from the border, and were shelling it constantly. The small town of about 5,000 people is home to the Sudzha metering station, the last major transit point for Russian pipeline gas still heading to Europe via Ukraine. A priest in the town, Evgeny Shestopalov, said in a video shared by Russian media that Sudzha was «on fire» and that residents unable to evacuate were sheltering at his church. A local Russian TV station broadcast images from the city centre showing destroyed buildings, debris strewn across the street and large craters in the ground from artillery hits. Russia's National Guard said it was strengthening defences at the Kursk nuclear power station, some 60 kilometres from the border with Ukraine. The Chief of Russia's General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, said up to 1,000 combatants from Ukraine had been involved in the offensive, and that Russian forces had stopped them penetrating deeper into the Kursk region. «The operation will end with the enemy's defeat and them being pushed back to the state border,» he told Putin in a televised meeting. - 'More pressure' - Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the incursion, the most serious cross-border attack in months. President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday thanked Ukrainian troops for their «bravery» in an evening address published on social media. «The more pressure we put on Russia... the closer we will get to peace. A just peace through just force,» he said, without making any specific reference to the fighting in Kursk. A security source in Ukraine told AFP that Kyiv had struck a Russian helicopter using a drone on Tuesday over the Kursk region, but did not explicitly link it to the incursion. Fighters from Ukraine have made several brief incursions into Russia before, some by units of Russians fighting in support of Kyiv -- the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion. Putin in May launched a major new offensive into northeast Ukraine in a bid to create what he called a security buffer to protect Russian border regions. That offensive was focused on Ukraine's Kharkiv region, to the southeast of the Sumy region, from where Tuesday's cross-border raid was mounted. However the attacks on Russian territory have continued, with Russia's Belgorod region declaring more than a dozen villages near the border no-go zones due to bombardment in July. Ukraine has repeatedly said it sees attacks on military and energy infrastructure inside Russian territory as a justified response to Moscow's full-scale military offensive. © Agence France-Presse  

The Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles (ACCS) and the Information Commission of Seychelles signed an agreement to ensure the continuation of their working relationship in exchanging information. The chief executive of ACCS, May De Silva,and her counterpart from the Information Commission, Mumtaz Hassan, signed a memorandum of understanding in a short ceremony on Tuesday at the Regional Centre for Operations Co-ordination (RCOC). The partnership aims to continue working to battle corruption by building capacity and educating the population. De Silva said that this agreement will allow their partnership to continue and the ACCS can use the resources available to the Information Commission to strengthen their work. «The agreement allows us to reinforce the work we are doing, which is why we are pleased with this partnership,» said De Silva. Hassan shared her pleasure at signing this agreement, which can help the Information Commission to continue to enhance their programmes on good governance from which the public can benefit.   The Information Commission has 125 information officers in various ministries, departments and agencies. Hassan said her desire is to continue to sensitise and educate the public on anti-corruption and good governance, starting at the grassroots level. The Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles (ACCS) was established under the Anti-Corruption Act 2016, which gives it authority to investigate, detect and prevent corrupt practices. It is a self-governing, neutral, and independent body that is not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority. The Information Commission enhances transparency, accountability, integrity in public service and administration, and participation of persons in public affairs, including exposing corruption. It also recognises the right to access to information envisaged in Article 28 of the Constitution.

Getting children to take an interest in the rich, diverse marine life of Seychelles, and in its preservation by learning scuba diving, and taking part in coral restorations is the aim of one of the projects submitted for funding under the CONFEJES this year. This innovative project by Vicky Durand is among 10 projects that were submitted at the end of June, compared to one last year.  The record in submission has been attributed to a local training of trainers held in March this year for young people – whom the call is geared for. Two trainers from the organisation delivered the weeklong session attended by around 30 participants, some working directly with young people. CONFEJES - Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports of the Francophonie is an intergovernmental institution based in Dakar, Senegal, working to promote youth, sports and leisure within the French-speaking countries. CONFEJES' focal point for Seychelles, Begitta Jeannevol, said that the training not only strengthened the skills of young entrepreneurs, «but had also opened new perspectives for their professional future. Participants now have valuable tools and renewed motivation to transform their ideas into concrete and innovative projects.» Dingam Donon-Horbe from CONFEJES' head office was one of the trainers who reiterated the organisation's' commitment in promoting entrepreneurship among young people. Donon-Horbe said that it is good to encourage creativity among the youth, especially emerging entrepreneurs. Projects in line with national priorities, sustainable development and those creating wealth were highly encouraged. Durand showcasing some of her work. (Vicky Durand) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  Durand, a diving instructor and coral conservation specialty instructor, based on the second most populated island of Praslin, told SNA that her project is focusing on coral restoration and conservation around the reefs of Praslin. «At the heart of this project lies the creation of an educational artificial reef, designed innovatively using primarily glass bottles,» explained Durand. According to Durand, the project has three core areas, youth engagement and awareness, recycling and environmental protection, and marine ecosystem and enhancement. «By involving young students from Praslin schools in this restoration project, we aim to foster a positive lifestyle among our youth. This engagement will cultivate environmental stewardship and spread awareness throughout the community. Durand added that recycling glass bottles will not only help to reduce waste but also transform these bottles into a valuable resource for marine ecosystems. »When promoting coral growth through the construction of artificial reefs, we are directly contributing to the health and diversity of marine life. These efforts will help sustain and rejuvenate the underwater habitats that are vital to our planet,« she said. The artificial reef will be located within the Curieuse Marine National Park, which is near Praslin.  »Our partnership with the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA) ensures robust scientific development and meticulous data collection to support the success of this endeavor.  We envision this reef becoming a renowned attraction, drawing visitors and marine enthusiasts from around the world, thereby elevating both environmental education and tourism," Durand concluded. 

Seychelles is working on a draft bill to protect whistleblowers and a two-day workshop led by the Anti-Corruption Commission started on Tuesday for representatives from various entities to share their inputs. The Cabinet of Ministers recently approved the introduction of comprehensive legislation to protect whistleblowers, such as a person, often an employee, who reveals information about activities within a private or public organisation that is deemed illegal, immoral, illicit, unsafe or fraudulent. The objective of the proposed legislation is to encourage individuals to disclose any wrongdoing of which they become aware in the context of their professional activity or environment and to offer an adequate protection framework in line with the latest international standards in this matter. In his opening address, the Attorney General, Frank Ally, said, «Public interest disclosure laws are designed to create a safer and more supportive environment for the »courageous communicators of truth« who dare to speak up when they witness corruption or wrongdoing, often at great personal risk.» He explained that at the moment in Seychelles, protection is only granted to individuals who meet certain requirements, such as being identified as a victim, witness, or expert, and who submit complaints with the Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles (ACCS). «Due to this limited focus, many potential whistleblowers are not adequately protected. The rights and responsibilities of whistleblowers are not explicitly outlined in the current laws, nor are the types of protection that are available. There are also no procedures for internal or public reporting; instead, the reporting methods are restricted to external disclosures,» he said. «The absence of a robust whistleblower protection law creates significant challenges. It leads to uncertainty in addressing retaliation, offers limited legal recourse, and fails to require employers to implement necessary disclosure procedures. Protecting whistleblowers is essential for the establishment of a robust and effective system of accountability,» added Ally. Seychelles is getting help in drafting of the legislation from the UNODC, the ACCS and Transparency Initiative Seychelles (TIS). (Seychelles Nation)  Photo License: CC-BY   He said, «By offering legal safeguards, we encourage more individuals to come forward, leading to greater transparency and the exposure of potential risks and malpractices.» Seychelles is being aided in the drafting of the legislation by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the ACCS and Transparency Initiative Seychelles (TIS).   «The protection of reporting persons and whistleblowers is repeatedly referred to as one of the most effective tools to prevent, detect and ultimately prosecute corruption cases,» said Isatou Batonon, the programme officer for the Africa Anti-Corruotion Hub within the UNODC. She said, «A robust reporting and protection system is a cornerstone of the fight against corruption and contributes to institutional accountability in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16» of the United Nations. Batonon explained that the objective of this workshop is to provide in-depth information on the latest international standards applicable to the protection of whistle-blowers and analyse the proposed bill, together with experts and participants, and to finalise its drafting process. The legislation is expected to define the rights and responsibilities of all involved parties, ensuring the effective enforcement of the law.  It will also establish safe and secure mechanisms to allow whistleblowers to disclose information without facing prejudice. 

Both Iran and Israel should avoid escalating conflict, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday, in his most direct wording toward US ally Israel on the Middle East's spiraling tensions. «No one should escalate this conflict. We've been engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners, communicating that message directly to Iran. We communicated that message directly to Israel,» Blinken told reporters. Iran has vowed a response after Israel was suspected of killing Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. President Joe Biden has hinted at frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the assassination, which came just as he hoped to make progress in talks to reach a ceasefire in the 10-month Gaza war. «Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad. We will continue to defend Israel against attacks from terrorist groups or their sponsors, just as we'll continue to defend our troops,» Blinken said. «But everyone in the region should understand that further attacks only perpetuate conflict, instability, insecurity for everyone,» he added. Blinken, speaking after talks with the Australian foreign and defense ministers at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland said the United States was working «intensely to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and to prevent a spread of conflict.» Blinken spoke earlier in the day by telephone to Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. Jordan -- in a delicate spot with its large Palestinian population and peace treaty with Israel -- played a key role in an earlier showdown in April in helping the United States shoot down Iranian missiles and drones, ensuring minimal damage in Israel. Safadi on Sunday traveled to Tehran to discuss the situation. Blinken declined to answer directly on whether Jordan would again support action against an Iranian attack, saying only that US partners wanted an end to conflict. «Further attacks only raise the risk of dangerous outcomes that no one can predict and no one can fully control,» Blinken said. «It's urgent that everyone in the region take stock of the situation, understand the risk of miscalculation and make decisions that will calm tensions, not exacerbate them.» On Monday, suspected pro-Iranian Shiite fighters wounded seven US personnel in rocket fire on a base in western Iraq. «Make no mistake, the United States will not tolerate attacks on our personnel in the region,» Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the news conference in Annapolis. The Biden administration, which has sent additional forces into the Middle East, had been hoping to focus not on an escalating crisis but on a ceasefire plan for Gaza. Hamas on Tuesday named Yahya Sinwar, an alleged mastermind of the October 7 assault on Gaza who is believed to be hiding in tunnels, to be its new political chief to succeed the slain Haniyeh. Blinken played down the impact of appointing a man on the top of Israel's target list, saying Sinwar has always been «the primary decider.» «This only underscores the fact that it is really on him to decide whether to move forward with a ceasefire that manifestly will help so many Palestinians in desperate need,» Blinken said. © Agence France-Presse

The UN Security Council on Tuesday authorized the use of peacekeepers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to provide technical and logistical support to the fight against rebel groups. The Southern African regional force called SAMIDRC, deployed in North Kivu province, has been assisting DRC government forces in combatting the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, a group that has seized vast reaches of territory in the region since 2021. The resolution unanimously adopted on Tuesday allows the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC to support the SAMIDRC through «enhanced coordination, information-sharing and technical assistance.» The resolution also welcomed a ceasefire agreement signed July 30 between the DRC and Rwanda, calling for a «lasting» peace between parties. On Sunday, the day the ceasefire was meant to take effect, an M23 group seized territory on the Ugandan border with North Kivu. The eastern part of DRC, a region rich in minerals and other wealth, has endured violence for over 30 years amid fighting from local and foreign armed groups. Many of them stem from regional wars dating back to the 1990s. The deployment of SAMIDRC follows a year-long mission by the East African Community (EAC) after its mandate ended at the request of the DRC government, which accused the EAC of working alongside M23 rebels instead of fighting them. UN peacekeepers have had a presence in east DRC since 1999 but have been gradually withdrawing from the region, finalizing their departure from South Kivu in June. © Agence France-Presse

The Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) have confirmed that the nine Sri Lankan fishermen, stranded near Seychelles, arrived in Port Victoria late Tuesday morning after being rescued. The SDF public relations officer, Lieutenant Archille Mondon, told SNA that the Sri Lankan fishermen «were in Seychelles undergoing the formalities at the Seychelles Coast Guards before they are handed over to their embassy's representatives.» According to the Sri Lankan Newsfirst network, the two fishing boats carrying nine Sri Lankan fishermen encountered an accident in the Indian Ocean, approximately 300 kilometres from Seychelles. «The vessels, identified as Blue Ocean 02 and Blue Ocean 06, had set sail from Dikowita port on June 30th, destined for Somalia. These boats were part of a fishing operation organised by a Dubai-based businessman, who had purchased the vessels for use by Sri Lankan fishermen off the coast of Somalia,» said Newsfirst. 

Partners involved in environmental issues in Seychelles received on Monday a copy of the third National Communication Report and the First Biennial Updated Report showcasing the island nation's commitment to tackling the challenges of climate change. The documents form part of the global effort to ensure transparency, accountability, and shared responsibility in mitigating and adapting to climate change. UNEP financed the production of the reports at a cost of $500,000. The reports fulfill Seychelles' obligations as a party to the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and demonstrate the country's progress in meeting its international climate change commitments. They also describe Seychelles' greenhouse gas emissions and document the mitigation action of the island nation.   In his address, the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Flavien Joubert, explained that the two documents mark an important update to the small island nation's previous communications in the first and second national communications. He said, «These reports reflect the progress we've made, the challenges we face, and the strategic steps we've taken to enhance our climate resilience.» Joubert added that the reports «provide a comprehensive overview of our national circumstances, including our greenhouse gas inventory, the impact of climate change on our vulnerable ecosystems, and the policies and measures we have implemented.» The project manager who drafted the two reports, Benjamin Vel, told the press that the reports «looked at greenhouse gases and the measures the country has taken where mitigation and adaptation to climate change is concerned.» He said they also deal with the assistance Seychelles will need to achieve its targets where climate change is concerned. It has taken a team of around 20 consultants to produce the report with each one working on specific topics and Vel said, they «also made use of other consultants to complete their work for instance the bigger chapters such as adaptation and greenhouse gases had to employ others.» Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, considers adaptation to climate change a high priority to reduce the country's vulnerability - embarking on a series of measures to tackle the issue. The focal point for the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), Wills Agricole, said the reports provide a good feel as to how «the authorities go about the task of protecting and improving the global climate change environment and doing so effectively at a time when government budgets are under extraordinary pressure.» Agricole added, «The two reports provide a succinct climate change assessment, readable and engaging narrative, and analysis of the past five years climate change assessment in Seychelles.» He added that the report will be presented overseas, especially when environmental meetings and those on climate change our focal points present these findings on an international stage. The third National Communication Report and the First Biennial Updated Report have also been published on the UNFCCC website. 

Two male foreign nationals received prison sentences from the Seychelles' Supreme Court for the importation of a controlled drug, the police said on Monday. According to the police statement, Bashiru Chande, 31, from Malawi, was sentenced to nine years in prison and Francis Williams, 45, from Sierra Leone, was also sentenced to nine years in prison. The police said that Chande was arrested at the Seychelles International Airport following his arrival on an Air Seychelles flight on March 31. Following a body search, 4,953.2 grammes of heroin. The presiding judge of the case ordered that the time Chande spent in remand is deducted from his sentence and that because of the nature and the gravity of the offence no remission will be given. As for William, he was also arrested at the Seychelles International Airport on June 7 in possession of 453.4 grammes of cocaine. His time on remand will be removed from his sentences and no remission will be given.    

Bangladesh's military was in control of the country on Tuesday after mass protests forced longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee. Hasina, 76, had been in power since 2009 but was accused of rigging elections in January and then watched millions of people take to the streets over the past month demanding she step down. Hundreds of people died as security forces sought to quell the unrest, but the protests grew and Hasina finally fled Bangladesh aboard a helicopter on Monday as the military turned against her. Bangladesh army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced Monday afternoon on state television that Hasina had resigned and the military would form a caretaker government. «The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been hit, many people have been killed -- it is time to stop the violence,» said Waker, shortly after jubilant crowds stormed and looted Hasina's official residence. Millions of Bangladeshis flooded the streets of Dhaka after Waker's announcement. «I feel so happy that our country has been liberated,» said Sazid Ahnaf, 21, comparing the events to the independence war that split the nation from Pakistan more than five decades ago. «We have been freed from a dictatorship. It's a Bengal uprising, what we saw in 1971, and now seeing in 2024.» But there were also scenes of chaos and anger, with police reporting at least 66 people killed on Monday as mobs launched revenge attacks on Hasina's allies. Protesters stormed parliament and torched TV stations, while some smashed statues of Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's independence hero. Others set a museum dedicated to the former leader on fire, flames licking at portraits in destruction barely thinkable just hours before, when Hasina had the loyalty of the security forces under her autocratic grip. «The time has come to make them accountable for torture,» said protester Kaza Ahmed. «Sheikh Hasina is responsible for murder.» Offices of Hasina's Awami League across the country were torched and looted, eyewitnesses told AFP. The unrest began last month in the form of protests against civil service job quotas and then escalated into wider calls for Hasina to stand down. Her government was accused by rights groups of misusing state institutions to entrench its hold on power and stamp out dissent, including through the extrajudicial killing of opposition activists. At least 366 people died in the unrest that began in early July, according to an AFP tally based on police, government officials and doctors at hospitals. - Political vacuum - Waker said a curfew would be lifted on Tuesday morning, with the military set to lead an interim government. Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin late Monday ordered the release of prisoners from the protests, as well as former prime minister and key opposition leader Khaleda Zia, 78. Zia, who is in poor health, was jailed by her arch-rival Hasina for graft in 2018. The president and army chief also met late Monday, alongside key opposition leaders, with the president's press team saying it had been «decided to form an interim government immediately». It was not immediately clear if Waker would lead it. Hasina's fate was also uncertain. Hasina, 76, fled the country by helicopter, a source close to the ousted leader told AFP. Media in neighbouring India reported Hasina had landed at a military airbase near New Delhi. A top-level source said she wanted to «transit» on to London, but calls by the British government for a UN-led investigation into «unprecedented levels of violence» put that into doubt. There were widespread calls by protesters to ensure Hasina's close allies remained in the country. Bangladesh's military said they had shut Dhaka's international airport on Monday evening, without giving a reason. Bangladesh has a long history of coups. The military declared an emergency in January 2007 after widespread political unrest and installed a military-backed caretaker government for two years. Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center, warned that Hasina's departure «would leave a major vacuum» and that the country was in «uncharted territory». «The coming days are critical,» he said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of a «peaceful, orderly and democratic transition», his spokesman said. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell echoed that call. Former colonial ruler Britain and the United States meanwhile urged «calm». © Agence France-Presse

Kamala Harris was closing in on her vice-presidential pick Monday, with an announcement expected within 24 hours as she scrambles to introduce herself to the American public with a tour of battleground states just three months out from the election. All paths to the White House run through a handful of swing states, and Harris will kick off her five-day run Tuesday in the largest -- Pennsylvania -- as she builds momentum for her showdown with Republican Donald Trump on November 5. «This election is a fight for our country, our future, and our most fundamental freedoms and rights,» she posted on X on Monday. «We believe in the promise of America -- and we're in this fight because we know what's at stake.» Fresh from winning enough delegate votes to secure the Democratic nomination, the country's first female, Black and South Asian vice president heads into the national convention in Chicago in two weeks in total control of her party. The 59-year-old former prosecutor has obliterated fundraising records, attracted huge crowds and dominated social media on her way to erasing the polling leads Trump had built before President Joe Biden quit the race. Next on the agenda is a vice presidential pick, with an announcement expected on Tuesday, before her evening rally alongside the mystery nominee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's largest city. The Keystone State is the most prized real estate among the closely fought battlegrounds that decide the Electoral College system. It is part of the «blue wall» that carried Biden to the White House in 2020, alongside Michigan and Wisconsin -- two states where Harris is due to woo crowds on Wednesday. Pennsylvania is governed by 51-year-old Democrat Josh Shapiro, a frontrunner in the so-called «veepstakes» shortlist that also includes fellow state governors Tim Walz and Andy Beshear, as well as Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg. - 'Freedom' - Later in the week, Harris will tour the more racially diverse Sun Belt and southern states of Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina, as she seeks to shore up the Black and Hispanic vote that had been peeling away from the Democrats. Just a month ago, Trump was in cruise control, having opened a significant lead in swing state polling after a dismal debate performance by Biden, with the Republican tycoon keeping the country in suspense over his own vice-presidential pick. Trump's White House bid was upended on July 21 when 81-year-old Biden, facing growing concerns about his age and lagging polling numbers, exited the race and backed Harris. Energetic and two decades younger than 78-year-old Trump, the vice president has made a fast start, raising $310 million in July, according to her campaign -- more than double Trump's haul. While Biden made high-minded appeals for a return to civility and the preservation of democracy, Harris has focused on the future, making voters' hard-fought «freedom» the touchstone of her campaign. She and her allies have also been more aggressive than the Biden camp -- mocking Trump for reneging on his commitment to a September 10 debate and characterizing the convicted felon as an elderly crook and «weird.» While she has disavowed some of the leftist positions she took during her ill-fated 2020 primary campaign, Harris hasn't given a wide-ranging interview since jumping into the race, and rally-goers will look for more detail on her plans for the country. Meanwhile, Trump and his Republicans have struggled to adapt to their new adversary and hone their attacks against Harris -- at first messaging that she was dangerously liberal on immigration and crime, before suggesting she was lying about being Black. © Agence France-Presse

The participation of the three Seychellois athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games has ended but they all gave their best in their respective events. In athletics, sprinter Dylan Sicobo Sicobo, one of  Seychelles' flag bearers at the games, finished second in his heat in the preliminary rounds. Sicobo was racing alongside athletes from Suriname, Panama, and Gabon, among others and managed to cross the line in second place with a time of 10.51 seconds. In the first spot was Panama's Arturo Deliser Espinosa, with a time of 10.34 seconds, and in third place was Wissy Moukoula of Gabon, in 10.59 seconds. In the next round, Sicobo found himself against athletes from Great Britain, United States, South Africa and Germany and could only manage a time of 10.62 seconds, leaving him in ninth place. He finished 62nd overall in the first round of the 100m heats.  For Sicobo, 27, this marks the end of his first Olympic Games journey. The Seychellois sprinter who is currently training in Dakar, Senegal, is the holder of  Seychelles' 100m national record. He set the record of 10.33 seconds when he won gold at the Francophone Games in 2017. Great Britain's Louie Hinchliffe finished first with a time of 9.98 seconds ahead of American Noah Lyles in 10.04 seconds. South Africa's Shaun Maswanganyi was third in 10.06 seconds. Before the Games, the sprinter explained that he had struggled with injuries and adapting to training in a new country, but his goal was to at least make out of the preliminary rounds, which he has achieved. Seychelles' other participants in the Paris Olympic Games were swimmers Simon Bachmann and Khema Elizabeth. Bachmann competed in the Heat 1 of the 200m individual medley. The 25-year-old is Seychelles' top male swimmer and finished the race with a time of 2 minutes 6.48 seconds (2:06.48s), ahead of Bolivia's Esteban Nunez Del Prado, but three seconds behind Matheo Mateos of Paraguay. His result was a few seconds off his personal best for the event at 2:05.95 seconds set in 2023 at the French Elite championships. The gold medal was won by Hungary's Kristof Milak with a time of 1:51.25, ahead of Japan's Tomoru Honda (1:53.73) and Federico Burdisso of Italy was third with a time of 1:54.45. Meanwhile, Elizabeth, who was competing in the Olympic Games for the first time, was in heat 5 and alongside her were athletes from Montenegro, Eritrea, Benin, and others in the women's 50m freestyle event. The 19-year-old managed a sixth place finish in 28.18 seconds, to finish ahead of swimmers from Samoa and Tanzania. Elizabeth's personal best time for the event is 27.81 seconds, which she achieved in 2023, at the World Aquatics Junior Championships in Israel. The fastest time in this heat was by Jovana Kuljaca of Montenegro (27.19 seconds), while second place went to Eritrea's Christina Rach, with a time of 27.20 seconds, while in third place was St Vincent and the Grenadines' Kennice Greene, in 27.61 seconds.

Ahmad Moncherry is the third Seychellois to become a professional bodybuilder after winning a pro card at the Gym Angel Classic in Klerksdorp, South Africa, held on Saturday. Moncherry, 29, managed to deliver by not only winning his pro card but claiming three gold medals. He won the Classic Bodybuilding category and clinched gold in the bodybuilding under 90kg category. He also won gold for the best bodybuilder overall. This earned him a spot at the African Championships scheduled for October in South Africa. His performances have secured him a place in the World Championships, which will take place in Bangalore, India, later this year. Moncherry's pro card now puts him as the second active professional bodybuilder from Seychelles. The first one is Savio Larue, who won his pro-card in the Men's Physique category of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) International Grand Prix held in Seychelles last year. The three Seychellois bodybuilders (from right) Moncherry, Valentin and Henriette.  Seychelles' first-ever professional bodybuilder is Ziad Mekdachi, who clinched his pro-card card in 2019 at the 4th Arnold Classic Africa 2019 IFBB pro qualifier. Mekdachi has now retired from the sport. Seychelles was represented at the competition by two other bodybuilders and Rodney Henriette won one gold medal and one silver medal. Henriette's medal came in the master over 50 categories and claimed the silver medal in the under 80kg. Despite missing on a pro card by just one point, Henriette has however, also made it through to the African Championships and the World Championships. Veteran Joelen Valentin also competed at the competition and won two bronze medals. He won bronze in the under 90kg category before going on to win bronze in the master over 50 years group. Valentin will also compete at the upcoming African championships but will miss out on the World Championship. 

The Supreme Court of Seychelles has fined a Sri Lankan national SCR400,000 ($27,000) for fishing in the island nation's territorial waters without a foreign fishing vessel licence. According to the court report, Mawalla Kattadilage Padmasiri, 58, skipper of the vessel Sampath 16 and his crew, were caught on June 9. The vessel was approximately 94 nautical miles southeast of Mahe, the main island in the Seychelles' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The fishing vessel is not licensed nor authorised to fish in the Seychelles' waters. In his ruling on July 29, the presiding judge, Brassel Adeline, said, «The fact that the accused/convict pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, that in itself is a mitigating factor that cannot be ignored and its consideration necessitates a departure from the minimum mandatory sentence towards a lesser sentence.» The judge also ordered that the proceeds of the sale of the frozen sharks, the shark fins, the sailfish, and mixed demersal fish are forfeited to Seychelles. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, has an Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.4 million square kilometres, making surveillance of illegal maritime activities challenging. The island nation has stepped up efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking and illegal fishing in its waters and as part of the measures, the SDF assets are continuously involved in regional operations with partner countries and organisations. 

Urgent calls grew for foreign nationals to leave Lebanon, which would be on the front line of a regional war, as Iran and its allies readied their response to high-profile killings blamed on Israel. While diplomats worked to avert a feared conflagration, France's Emmanuel Macron and Jordan's King Abdullah II said Sunday a regional military escalation must be avoided «at all costs», the French presidency said after they held a telephone call. With major military action from Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and others widely expected, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said: «If they dare to attack us, they will pay a heavy price.» The nearly 10-month-old war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas has already led to a violent fallout which has become routine around the region. In the deadliest incident on Sunday in Gaza, the Civil Defence agency said an Israeli strike hit two Gaza City schools housing displaced people, killing at least 30. This brings to at least 11 the number of schools hit in Gaza since July 6. Israel's army confirmed the latest strike, saying Hamas was using the schools. Near the Israeli commercial hub of Tel Aviv, medics and police said two people were killed in a stabbing attack. The assailant, a Palestinian from the Israeli-occupied West Bank, was «neutralised» by police and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. - 'Highly volatile' - Hezbollah, which has traded near-daily fire with Israeli forces since the Gaza war broke out in October, announced the deaths of two of its fighters without specifying where. The Lebanese health ministry said an Israeli strike on the southern border village of Hula killed two people. Lebanon's official National News Agency had reported Israeli strikes on various areas of south Lebanon, after Hezbollah said it had fired a fresh barrage of rockets at northern Israel. The Israeli military said most of the 30 projectiles launched from Lebanon were intercepted. Sirens sounded again early Monday in northern Israel's Upper Galilee region after «numerous suspicious aerial targets were identified crossing from Lebanon», the Israeli military said. The attack triggered a fire and an officer and a soldier were «moderately injured», it said on Telegram. The cross-border violence since October has killed some 547 people in Lebanon, mostly fighters but also including 115 civilians, according to an AFP tally. Saudi Arabia and France became the latest of several countries calling on their citizens to leave Lebanon. «In a highly volatile security context», the foreign ministry in Paris «urgently asked» its nationals to avoid travelling to Lebanon and suggested those already in the country leave «as soon as possible». France also urged its nationals living in Iran to «temporarily leave». Several Western airlines have suspended flights to Lebanon and other airports in the region. Qatar Airways said the Doha-Beirut route would «operate exclusively during daylight hours» at least until Monday. - Ceasefire hopes dimmed - Wednesday's assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, hours after the Israeli killing of Hezbollah's military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut, has triggered vows of vengeance from Iran and the «axis of resistance» of Tehran-backed armed groups. Israel, accused by Hamas, Iran and others of killing Haniyeh, has not directly commented on the attack. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Militants also seized 251 hostages, 111 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 39 the military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 39,583 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths. Haniyeh was Hamas's lead negotiator in efforts to end the war. His killing, and that of Shukr, «does not suggest Israel is sincerely interested in a ceasefire», said Middle East expert Andreas Krieg. Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators have for months tried to broker a truce and hostage-release deal. - 'Greatest peril' - Analysts have told AFP that a joint but measured action from Iran and its allies was likely, while Tehran said it expects Hezbollah to hit deeper inside Israel and no longer be confined to military targets. Israel's ally the United States said it was moving additional warships and fighter jets to the region. In an interview with ABC News, White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said the United States was «doing everything possible to make sure that this situation does not boil over». As part of those efforts it is «so urgent» that a Gaza ceasefire deal be reached, Finer said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised the need to calm regional tensions in a call with Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani of Iraq, where some Iran-aligned groups targeted US troops earlier in the Gaza war. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi held «consultations» with Iran's acting top diplomat Ali Bagheri and met President Masoud Pezeshkian in a rare visit to Tehran, local media reported. The G7 group of democracies convened by videoconference to discuss the Middle East and expressed «strong concern» over the threat of escalation, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said. Haniyeh's killing «has brought the Middle East to its moment of greatest peril in years», the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank said in a report. The ICG said that securing «a long overdue ceasefire» in Gaza was «the best way of meaningfully reducing tensions in the region». Hamas officials but also some analysts as well as protesters in Israel have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war. «Peace is made with the strong not with the weak,» Netanyahu said Sunday at a ceremony in Jerusalem. © Agence France-Presse

The humanitarian catastrophe in conflict-ravaged Sudan threatens to engulf the entire region, the United Nations warned Friday after famine was declared in the North Darfur region. War between the army and rival paramilitaries has pushed the Zamzam camp near the besieged city of El-Fasher into famine, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) review said Thursday. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, urged international donors to step up support for Sudan, where civil war has raged since April 2023 and left tens of thousands dead according to the UN. «The warning signs were there for months,» said Mamadou Dian Balde, UNHCR's regional refugee coordinator for the Sudan situation. «Displaced women, children and men are dying of hunger, malnutrition and disease,» he said. «With appalling human rights atrocities, the forced displacement of over 10 million people since the start of the war last year, and the lack of the most basic services for a large percentage of the population, the world's most pressing humanitarian catastrophe is growing and deepening every day, threatening to engulf the whole region.» Balde is also UNHCR's East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes regional director. He said the volume of refugees and internally displaced people was stretching host communities to a breaking point. «Urgent action is vital to avert even more death and suffering.» The World Health Organization has meanwhile warned that while the IPC limited its conclusions to Zamzam -- a swelling displacement camp hosting more than 300,000 people -- «other areas of Sudan, both within Darfur and elsewhere, are potentially experiencing famine». A recent UN-backed report said nearly 26 million people, or slightly more than half of the population, were facing high levels of «acute food insecurity». Balde called for an end to the war, and for humanitarians to be given access to deliver life-saving aid, saying «The people of Sudan have suffered enough». © Agence France-Presse

Saint Lucia celebrated Sunday after sprinter Julien Alfred stormed to victory in the women's 100m in Paris for the tiny Caribbean nation's historic first Olympic medal. Alfred upstaged the much-hyped American world champion Sha'Carri Richardson on Saturday, clinching a stunning win in 10.72sec. In the Saint Lucian capital Castries, the 23-year-old became an instant hero. Cuthbert Modeste, who was Alfred's first coach, said he had trained her since she was nine and was impressed to see her «moving so easily» on the track. He told AFP that when he saw her in her heat, on the way to the final, he had said: «Yes, the gold is ours.» Milton Branford Jr, a media production business owner, said the golden moment was simply «awesome». «This is a singular moment in history for Saint Lucia that we will remember for the rest of our lives. I'm so, so proud about everything she has accomplished so far.» Another local, Samantha Agard, said that the landmark gold medal was a «big thing, not only for the country but also for the youth», praising «somebody who started from scratch and made it big». She said the sprinter -- known by her nickname «Juju» -- will inspire younger people to take up sports. Getting to the top of the podium was not a smooth passage for the devout Christian, whose victory came in front of 69,000 spectators in Paris, just 110,000 less than the population of Saint Lucia. At the age of 12 her world was rocked when her father died, and she briefly stepped back from athletics altogether. She has credited coach Modeste with convincing her to return to the sport. Two years later she decided to go to school in Jamaica, the home of her idol Usain Bolt, where she developed into a superb sprinter. The athlete pinpoints winning the 100m silver medal in 2018 at the Youth Olympic Games as a turning point in her career -- also marking another first for the Caribbean island. But her home nation of Saint Lucia has retained a special place in her heart, with the sprinter updating her profile picture on Facebook to show a photo of her post-run with the words: «For St. Luc1a». «She has done us proud and we are absolutely, absolutely, very, very ecstatic about this,» said Branford. © Agence France-Presse  

People and businesses involved in weddings in Seychelles will be able to showcase their services through a newly launched «Marriage Market» online platform. The Marriage Market platform is marketed as a one-stop destination for seamless wedding planning. It eliminates the stress of couples to determine where and how to access the various services needed to make their big day memorable. Dominic and Dominika Bull are the minds behind the global destination wedding platform, which gives prospective married couples access to a diverse array of wedding vendors and services conveniently located in one place. According to the business website, «Whether you are searching for the perfect venue, a talented photographer, exquisite floral arrangements, or delectable catering options, our extensive catalogue has you covered.» Recently, dressmakers, photographers, decorators, caterers and others were able to learn more about Marriage Market at its official supplier launch event at Laila Resort, Anse Royale. «We want to make destination weddings as easy as possible for couples,» said co-founder of Marriage Market, Dominika Bull. She said that together with her husband, they came up with the idea after their struggles in planning their wedding in Greece. The Marriage Market platform is marketed as a one-stop destination for seamless wedding planning. (Dominika Bull) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  «We had our wedding in Greece and we had to research online to find florists, musicians, and all that, and it was so difficult, that Dominic had to fly to Greece himself and go door-to-door in order to find everything that we needed,» added Dominika. The website features 24 categories of businesses, including decorators, hair and make-up, hotels, dresses, cakes, and transport, among others, where clients will be able to choose what they want, get the price and book everything from the comfort of their homes. For Seychelles, this will mean that people involved in the wedding business will be able to advertise their products and services through the site, which would give them more visibility and possibly even more clients. «We love Seychelles. This is our fourth time here and we have spoken to hotel managers, small businesses, and stage directors and asked their opinion about us coming here they all said that this is a great idea, which is why we decided to come here,» Dominika said. She added that through this website, more people could choose Seychelles as their wedding destination, due to how easy it is to plan their wedding. While the website is not completely up and running for potential clients yet, businesses and vendors wishing to register can do so by visiting the website: marriage.market, where registration is as simple as creating a username, and adding your email address and a password. With Marriage Market looking to continue expanding, their next supplier launch event is scheduled for Mauritius, after which they want to go to other destinations, such as the Maldives, Greece, Italy, Bali and the Middle East, among others.  

Fears of a regional Middle East war grew on Saturday after the assassination of Hamas's political leader, blamed on Israel, triggered vows of vengeance from Iran-backed Middle East groups. The United States said it would move additional warships and fighter jets to the region as the Iran-aligned «Axis of Resistance» readied its response to the killing of Ismail Haniyeh. The groups from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria have already been drawn into the nearly 10-month war in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas. Iran on Saturday said it expects one of those groups, Lebanon's Hezbollah, to hit deeper inside Israel and to no longer be confined to military targets. With such talk growing, the Pentagon said it was bolstering its military presence in the Middle East to protect US personnel and defend Israel. An aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln will replace one helmed by the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the region, the Pentagon said. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also ordered additional ballistic missile defence-capable cruisers and destroyers to the Middle East and areas under United States European Command, as well as a new fighter squadron to the Middle East. On Friday, thousands of people in Qatar attended funeral prayers for Haniyeh, who was buried north of the capital Doha two days after his death. Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Saturday said he was killed by a «short-range projectile» fired «from outside the accommodation area» where he was staying. Haniyeh had been in Iran to attend the swearing-in of President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday. Israel, accused by Hamas, Iran and others of the attack, has not directly commented on it. - Tit-for-tat - The killing of the Qatar-based Haniyeh is among a series of tit-for-tat attacks since April that had already heightened fears of a regional conflagration. His death came hours after Israel struck south Beirut, killing the Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr. Haniyeh's deputy was killed in south Beirut early this year in a strike which a US defence official said Israel carried out. In another high-profile killing, Israel's army on Thursday confirmed that an air strike in July killed Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif in Gaza. Israel «delivered crushing blows to all our enemies», said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week. «The risk that the situation on the ground could deteriorate rapidly is rising,» British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant met with his visiting British counterpart John Healey on Friday and called for an international coalition to support «Israel's defence against Iran and its proxies», Gallant's office said. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its October 7 attack which triggered war in Gaza and resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Militants also seized 251 hostages, 111 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 39 the military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory campaign against Hamas has killed at least 39,550 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths. Violence has also surged in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where on Saturday Palestinian official sources said an Israeli drone strike killed five people in a vehicle. The military said it struck «five terrorists» on their way to carry out an attack. Haniyeh played a key role in mediated talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza. His killing raised questions about the continued viability of such negotiations which Qatar, Egypt and the United States have engaged in for months. - Hepatitis A spreading - Hamas officials but also some analysts, and protesters in Israel, have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war. Far-right members crucial to Netanyahu's ruling coalition oppose any truce. The war in Gaza has caused widespread destruction and displaced almost the entire population of the territory where, the UN said on Friday, public health conditions «continue to deteriorate.» It said nearly 40,000 cases of Hepatitis A, spread by contaminated food and water, have been reported since the war began. Since October Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israeli forces, saying it is targeting military positions over the border in support of Hamas. The strike on Shukr changed the calculus, Iran's mission to the United Nations said on Saturday. «We expect... Hezbollah to choose more targets and (strike) deeper in its response,» said the mission, quoted by Iran's official IRNA news agency. «Secondly, that it will not limit its response to military targets.» A Lebanese security source, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media, said a Hezbollah member was killed in an «Israeli drone» strike on a vehicle in south Lebanon on Saturday. Late on Friday, a source close to Hezbollah said Israel carried out strikes on a convoy of trucks entering Lebanon from Syria. Flights to Beirut by Air France and low-cost carrier Transavia France will remain suspended until at least Tuesday, but Tel Aviv-bound flights continue as normal, their parent company said on Saturday. Sweden on Saturday said it was shutting its embassy in Beirut and urged its nationals to leave the country «while they still can.» © Agence France-Presse

Many people in Seychelles, 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, associate Dr Odile De Comarmond with education, as the former teacher who was the principal secretary for education until 2022, spent 44 years in the education profession.  However, De Comarmond, who holds a PhD, has a love affair with history. The educator and historian started her career teaching small children, working in government education management, and spent six years in Moscow, Russia, specialising in history, a passion that led her to write a book, «Slavery Sites of Seychelles,» which was published in May this year.  This was a work of monumental effort as compiling some of the islands' slavery sites took 23 years to complete. African slaves were brought to Seychelles by both French and English colonial masters, before the abolition of the slave trade and system in 1835. De Comarmond, who has a passion for the history of Africa, worked closely with Colette Gillieaux for the realisation of the book. SNA met with De Comarmond to learn more about the need for the book and her plans for future history related projects.    SNA: Why such a book? ODC: Although Seychelles has lived through 65 years of slavery before the abolition in 1835, very little evidence remains on slavery in Seychelles.  Mostly, archives and documents were available in the form of censuses or letters written by government officials.  But most of that does not give a true picture of the living conditions in those days.  The population, in general, also buried this part of our history and did not even want to talk about it until the last decade or so. UNESCO initiated the slavery project in the Indian Ocean in 2001.  First, it was in the form of the slave route project, and then the collection of memories from slave descendants was added. Later, in 2006, the project on sites related to slavery in the Indian Ocean started.  So, I was given the responsibility of working on this as I coordinated the other slavery projects.  Slavery as a subject has been one of my passions since I studied the History of Africa during my first-degree studies. UNESCO allowed me to pursue this further.   SNA: What is the book about? ODC: The book is about the Seychelles' slavery sites. This first edition covers 18 sites located on Mahe, Silhouette, La Digue, Marianne, and Grand Soeur. Many of the sites are located high in the hills on the islands mentioned, and each has a different story to tell. De Comarmond signing copies of her book. (Seychelles Nation)  Photo License: CC-BY    SNA: Tell us about the research work and how long it took to complete the book. ODC: The research started in 2001 and a first draft of the book was produced in 2007, however, the work was put aside during the years of my studies.  Upon my return my new responsibilities left me very little time to re-engage in the project.  It was only after my retirement that I devoted time to complete the book.   SNA: Why dedicate the book to the late Archbishop Chang Him? Was he involved in any way in this project? ODC: Bishop Chang-Him was also working on a project that connected to mine.  We discussed very often what came out of the testimonies and he was mainly interested in the effects of slavery on families in Seychelles. He also accompanied us to Venn's Town and the attached cemetery.  But the dedication is not only for that. I went through a lot of personal problems during the course of the research. The Bishop became this source of encouragement and his constant counsel is what pushed me to get to the end.   SNA: What are the most important facts in the book? ODC: There are many important facts that emerged, even if we could not tell all the stories in this publication, for example, facts on a number of slaves for the landowners and the huge land concessions that were allocated to them - the location of some of these sites that many people did not know.   SNA: Was there anything that shocked you when working on the book? ODC: I must say some of the harsh punishments of slaves in Seychelles really shocked me - especially the atrocities that happened at the Ros Kriminel, where slaves were murdered [as punishment].   SNA: What information from the book do you think we Seychellois must know more about? ODC: Many history books that have been published concerning slavery in Seychelles tend to portray slavery in Seychelles as not too harsh.  They would say that the treatment of slaves in Seychelles was not as bad as in other parts of the world.  However, the information that we have gathered shows a different story. Slaves in Seychelles were very badly treated, probably worse than a lot of places.     SNA: What conclusion did you reach? Must we start thinking of embracing and accepting our slavery heritage to become better humans? ODC: I wanted to highlight a few things in my conclusion: it is important to know our past, our heritage, and our culture.  This will allow us to better understand the qualities that make us human and to value each other as individuals.  Reflecting on what happened in the past will help us to build a more desirable future with no racial discrimination. We need to avoid a similar situation from recurring. The importance of instilling human values and knowledge of our cultural heritage in our children from a very young age. This will help them to build their identity as Seychellois. And finally, we need more efforts for the conservation of our historical sites and artifacts.   SNA: Are there plans for a second edition of the book? ODC: We will explore a number of other sites in the second edition, and people are coming forward with new information on new sites. This is encouraging, and I hope younger Seychellois historians will soon pursue the research further. 

Penalties for poaching and trading of wild animals and birds in Seychelles have been increased through an amendment to the Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act earlier this week in an effort to protect the diverse wildlife. The amendment to the Act, presented to the National Assembly on Wednesday by  the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Flavien Joubert, was approved unanimously. According to the revised legislation, individuals found guilty of offences against the Act could face a minimum fine of SCR25,000 ($1,700) not exceeding SCR1 million ($67,000), or a maximum of 7 years imprisonment, or both. The previous penalties established in 2001 were considerably lower with a minimum fine of SCR5000 ($334) and a maximum fine of SCR500,000 ($33,400), along with a maximum imprisonment term of two years, or both fines and imprisonment. The decision to revise these penalties comes as a response to the alarming rate of poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Seychelles. In his presentation, Joubert emphasised the necessity of these stricter penalties to protect endangered species such as sea turtles, lizards, and various bird species. He also highlighted the disparity between the previous fines and the profits gained from illegal wildlife trade, which rendered the penalties insufficient as a deterrent. Joubert said that according to the records and complaints, both locals and foreigners are still committing illegal offences under the Act in terms of live capture and killing of various local endemic animal and bird species for local consumption and overseas trading. «The Ministry condemns such actions and we are doing everything possible to ensure those responsible for committing those offences are held accountable,» he said. The amendment to the Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act is not only aimed at local offenders but also serves as a deterrent for international individuals who might view Seychelles as a lucrative location for illegal wildlife activities. Joubert stressed the global relevance of these penalties, aligning them with international standards for wildlife protection and said “the amendment will get people to think twice before trying to commit such illegal offences." He added that the amendment is an interim solution while the government undertakes the comprehensive revision of the entire legislation on wildlife protection. As all members approved the proposed changes, Joubert said that the unanimous support was sending a clear message to people who intend to break this law. He added that it was the difference between cases reported and those actually filed that prompted the revision of the penalties and underlined his ministry's commitment to improving enforcement and compliance measures, alongside partners, to reduce the number of people evading conviction.

The Danny Faure Foundation (DFF) received a donation of SCR 100,000 ($7,376) from the Chinese Embassy in Seychelles on Friday to get its new «Youth Coastline Watch Group» project underway. The initiative, due to begin soon, aims to empower a generation of young environmental stewards proficient in scientific methodologies, including the use of technologies and geographic assessments to effectively monitor and map coastal erosion. Both government and private secondary schools in the country bordering on the coast will select four of their students interested in the domain. It will target Secondary Three (S3) students with their science or geography teacher to watch the coast and collect scientific information. The project will be held for a little over five years, ending in time for the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030. A consultant at the DFF, Fatime Kante, revealed that the data collected will be handed over to the Geographical Information System (GIS) department in the Ministry of Housing and Lands and the Environmental Education Unit in the Ministry of Education. «We are targeting S3 students as they will grow with the project and later on they will be adults who can speak about the issue themselves,» she said. The Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles, Lin Nan, handed the cheque to the head of the DFF, former President Danny Faure, at the Link Building at Ile du Port, on the main island of Mahe. The ambassador expressed her country's joy at assisting the project that «will help young people understand more about what the world is facing with climate change.» Faure thanked the Chinese Embassy for its belief in the project that is «preparing the next generation to be at the forefront of knowing what is happening to the coastlines.» The Danny Faure Foundation was founded by former President Danny Faure to contribute towards the sustainable development of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. It also joins the global community in its efforts to achieve a more equitable, just, sustainable and healthy planet, for the present generation and the future generations to come. Launched in June 2021, it focuses on five pillars - the ocean, the Blue Economy, governance, leadership, and the youth.

Three bodybuilders from Seychelles will participate in the Gym Angel Classic tournament scheduled for August 3 in Klerksdorp, South Africa. Jolaine Valentin, Rodney Henriette and Ahmad Moncherry are the three bodybuilders who will be competing in the tournament in which the pro-cards and spots to the World Championship are up for grabs. The Championships will take place in September. The competition will see athletes from various African nations competing, and, in addition, there will be bodybuilders from Italy and the United Kingdom.   Henriette said he is taking this competition very seriously, especially considering the prizes up for grabs. «Like any athlete, the aim is always to achieve the best, so for me of course, I will be gunning for qualification for the World Championship and also hopefully get a pro-card,» he added.   He added that he has been preparing well and continually despite the fact there are not many local competitions. «As a bodybuilder, I have to remain in good condition all the time, and so have been preparing well in advance, even before knowing of this competition,» added Henriette. Moncherry has been training at the Tropical Heat Gym. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  Moncherry, 29, is also aiming high for this competition and said he wants to achieve a good result and added, «I'm definitely going for the win and not just to participate.» He added that this is the first competition he is participating in which a World Championship spot is available, so he will be going for it, as well as chasing his dream of getting a pro-card. «For a bodybuilder, we prepare every day and for me, wherever I am, I always keep myself in good condition, and when this opportunity comes along, I just upped the intensity,» added Moncherry, who has been training at the Tropical Heat Gym, alongside Henriette. 

US journalist Evan Gershkovich and a Russian intelligence colonel jailed for a Berlin murder were among two dozen prisoners freed Thursday in the biggest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War. The intricate multinational deal that freed the Wall Street Journal reporter and others including former US marine Paul Whelan involved months of secret negotiations, and finally ended with a dramatic exchange on the airport tarmac in Turkey's capital Ankara. Overjoyed family members appeared at the White House alongside US President Joe Biden, who said they'd been able to phone their freed loved ones from the Oval Office. «Their brutal ordeal is over,» Biden said. Biden called the leaders of allies Germany, Poland, Slovenia and Norway to thank them for agreeing to free Russian prisoners under the deal, and Turkey for agreeing to host the handover. «They made bold and brave decisions» to release Russians held for espionage and other crimes in return for the Westerners and Russian dissidents and human rights activists, he said. In total, 10 Russians -- including two minors -- were exchanged for 16 Westerners and Russians imprisoned in Russia, said a statement released by the Turkish presidency. Among those returned to Moscow was Vadim Krasikov, a Russian intelligence agent imprisoned in Germany for killing a former Chechen rebel commander in a brazen assassination. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the «difficult» swap had «saved lives.» - 'Biggest hug' - President Vladimir Putin gave the Russian prisoners a red carpet welcome at Moscow airport, embracing them as they descended from their plane, TV images showed. «I want to congratulate you on your return to the motherland,» Putin said. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, were to greet the freed US prisoners outside Washington later in the day. The Wall Street Journal said it was «overwhelmed with relief» at the release of Gershkovich, 32, who was detained in Russia in March 2023 on a reporting trip and sentenced in July to 16 years in prison on spying charges that were denounced by the United States. «We can't wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close,» Gershkovich's family said in a statement. Biden later posted a picture of a smiling Gershkovich and other detainees on a plane. The group also included Whelan, who was detained in 2018 and had previously complained of being abandoned by Washington, and another American journalist, Alsu Kurmasheva. Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian Kremlin critic with US residency, also was among those freed. Biden, notching a major diplomatic success in his last six months in office after ending his reelection bid, described their convictions in Russia as «show trials.» Speculation about a deal had swirled for days after several detainees had disappeared from the prison system, but there was no confirmation until they  switched planes in Ankara. «We held our breath and crossed our fingers,» US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. - Navalny - The White House led months of behind-the-scenes negotiations with Russia despite tensions over Ukraine -- but it also had to lean on European allies reluctant to hand convicted criminals back to Moscow. Biden even called the Slovenian premier an hour before his shock election bow-out on July 21 to push for the release of two Russians. A total of 12 prisoners released by Russia will go to Germany, including opposition politician Ilya Yashin, who had been jailed for criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They also include Rico Krieger, a German who was sentenced to death in Belarus on espionage charges before a reprieve this week. «Many of the prisoners feared for their health and even their lives,» Scholz said. The exchange was the first between Russia and the West since star US basketball player Brittney Griner returned home in return for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December 2022. It was the biggest since 2010, when 14 alleged spies were exchanged. They included double agent Sergei Skripal, who was sent by Moscow to Britain and undercover Russian agent Anna Chapman, sent by Washington to Russia. Before then, major swaps involving more than a dozen people had only taken place during the Cold War, with Soviet and Western powers carrying out exchanges in 1985 and 1986. The White House revealed that an even more ambitious agreement had been on the cards with attempts to negotiate the release of Putin opponent Alexei Navalny, before he died in February this year. © Agence France-Presse