The Seychelles' Tang Soo Do team has won five gold medals, two silver and nine bronze at the World Tang Soo Do Championship, which took place in Greensboro, North Carolina, in the United States recently. The gold medallists were Hershall Belle, with two gold medals, Kyan Francourt also picked up two gold medals, and another gold medal was won by Jonathan Volcere. The silver medals were won by Alain Murzalin, who claimed two silver medals, and Ashwin Rangupathy, who won one silver. Volcere and Rangupathy also won a bronze medal each. Other winners of the bronze medals were Tahsin Shah-Faure, Jishin Jins and Mastura Shah-Faure. On their Facebook page, the Northern Tang Soo Do Seychelles said, «Despite the obstacles in trying to make it to the world championship, we did not give up and we made it, and as always, we have proven to be excellent ambassadors to the country.» Seychelles qualified for the World Championships after excellent performances at the African Championship last year, in Maputo, Mozambique, in which they won 14 medals; five gold, five silver, and four bronze. The Seychellois team secured the overall best in the 14 to 15-year-old male category. Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art based on karate and can include fighting principles from taekkyeon, subak, as well as northern Chinese martial arts. The techniques of what is commonly known as Tang Soo Do combine elements of Shōtōkan, Subak, Taekkyon and Kung Fu. 

Substitute Mikel Oyarzabal scored a dramatic late winner as Spain triumphed in Sunday's Euro 2024 final, beating England 2-1 to confirm their re-emergence as a force on the international stage. England had been dreaming of winning a first title in almost six decades and it looked as if it could be their night as Spain lost influential midfielder Rodri to injury at half-time. Yet Spain shrugged that off to take the lead within two minutes of the restart through Nico Williams, who was set up by his fellow star winger, Lamine Yamal. England came from behind as they have done so often at this Euros, substitute Cole Palmer driving in the equaliser on 73 minutes, moments after entering the fray. But their resurgence in the game was cut short when Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad forward, turned in a cross in the 86th minute to hand Spain a record fourth European Championship crown, and a third in the last five editions. «It has been a marvellous day in which a team has been deservedly crowned champions of Europe,» Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told broadcaster TVE. They previously won in 1964, 2008 and 2012, the last two titles coming either side of their triumph at the 2010 World Cup during the golden era of Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso and Andres Iniesta. Whether this generation, led by the brilliant Yamal playing here a day after his 17th birthday, manage to repeat the achievements of that magnificent side remains to be seen, but theirs was a fitting victory. Spain have been comfortably the best team over the last month in Germany and were not intimidated by the atmosphere at the Olympiastadion, where the majority of the crowd were given over to England's cause. England had hoped to finally claim a first men's international title since their fabled victory at the 1966 World Cup, but fell just short in their first ever final on foreign soil. «To lose the final is incredibly tough,» said their manager, Gareth Southgate. «Congratulations to Spain, they were the best team in the tournament and the best team tonight.» After the agony of their defeat on penalties to Italy three years ago, England are the first side ever to lose back-to-back Euros finals. Captain Harry Kane, meanwhile, is left at the age of 30 still looking for the first trophy of a career so rich in goals. - Spain overcome Rodri injury - It was always likely that Spain would control this game, and England spent most of the first half chasing the ball. Despite Spain's domination, it took until first-half stoppage time for either team to manage a shot on target, with Phil Foden's effort from a Declan Rice free-kick being saved by goalkeeper Unai Simon. But it was just before that chance that Rodri hurt himself, sliding into teammate Aymeric Laporte as he blocked a Kane shot. Spain's outstanding holding midfielder was unable to continue, and made way for Martin Zubimendi at the restart. It felt like the loss of such a presence in the middle could completely throw Spain off course, and yet they wasted no time in opening the scoring. England were braced for the danger to come from Spain's two wingers, and it was they who combined for the goal, as Yamal collected Dani Carvajal's pass and darted inside. He released Williams, who scored with a controlled, low shot into the far corner. England would now need to come from behind, but that was what they had done in their three previous knockout games. Southgate took off his talisman Kane on the hour mark and sent on Ollie Watkins, a repeat of the substitution that won the semi-final against the Netherlands. Spain had chances to increase their lead and their fans began to greet every pass with an 'ole', as Southgate decided to send on Palmer for Kobbie Mainoo. Within three minutes of that England were level when Bukayo Saka's ball from the right was laid off by Jude Bellingham for Palmer, who found the net with a low first-time effort into the corner. However, Spain grabbed the winner with four minutes to go thanks to their own super-sub. Oyarzabal played the ball to Marc Cucurella on the left before racing into the middle to turn his teammate's cross into the net, staying just onside in the process. Spain then held on, although only after a vital clearance off the line from Dani Olmo to deny Marc Guehi. © Agence France-Presse  

A school in central Nigeria collapsed on Friday killing at least 21 people, mostly pupils as they were sitting their exams, the Red Cross and witnesses said. Trapped pupils cried for help under the rubble as desperate parents looked for their children after the Saint Academy school in Jos North district of Plateau State fell in on classrooms, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene. Rescue workers tried to reach the victims with heavy machinery and images from the scene showed crowds gathering around a caved-in concrete building and heaps of debris. Red Cross spokesman Nuruddeen Hussain Magaji told AFP there were «21 fatalities, and 69 injuries all in admission at various hospitals». Earlier, AFP saw 16 bodies in two hospital morgues in Jos. All were wearing school uniforms. With his mother at his hospital bedside, injured pupil Wulliya Ibrahim, 15, told AFP: «I entered the class not more than five minutes, when I heard a sound, and the next thing is I found myself here.» «We are many in the class, we are writing our exams,» he said. Earlier, the National Emergency Management Agency said the two-storey building housing Saint Academy collapsed killing «several students». Chika Obioha, a resident at the scene, told AFP he saw at least eight bodies at the site and that dozens more had been injured. «Everyone is helping out to see if we can rescue more people,» he said. AFP's correspondent said he saw 11 bodies in the morgue at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital and that five dead were taken into the mortuary at the Our Lady of Apostles Hospital in Jos. At least 15 rescued and injured pupils were admitted, officials at the Our Lady of Apostles Hospital said. Officials at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital did not comment. It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse but residents said it came after three days of heavy rains. «Devastated by the tragic loss of young lives at Saint Academy,» UNICEF Nigeria representative Cristian Munduate wrote on X. «Children, full of dreams were writing exams when the school building collapsed. Deepest condolences to families affected.» Building disasters are fairly common in Africa's most populous nation because of lax enforcement of construction standards, negligence and low-quality materials. At least 45 people were killed in 2021 when a high-rise building under construction collapsed in the upscale Ikoyi district in Nigeria's economic capital Lagos. Ten people were killed when a three-storey building collapsed in the Ebute-Metta area of Lagos the year after. Since 2005, at least 152 buildings have collapsed in Lagos, according to a South African university researcher investigating construction disasters. Bad workmanship, low-grade materials and corruption to bypass official oversight are often blamed. © Agence France-Presse

Donald Trump was hit in the ear in an assassination attempt by a gunman at a campaign rally Saturday, in a chaotic and shocking incident set to supercharge political tensions ahead of the polarising US presidential election. The 78-year-old former president was rushed off stage with blood streaked across his face after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, while the shooter and a bystander were killed and two spectators critically injured. The Republican candidate raised a defiant fist to the crowd as he was bundled away to safety, and said afterward: «I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.» President Joe Biden, who is set to face Trump in November's deeply polarized election, said the incident was «sick» and added that there was «no place in America for this kind of violence.» Biden later spoke to Trump, the White House said. The FBI has identified the gunman, who was shot dead, as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, US media reported early Sunday. His motive remains unknown. The US Secret Service said earlier the shooter «fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally» before being «neutralized» by agents. Unconfirmed images appeared to show the assailant's body lying on the sloping roof of a low building from where he had fired, plunging the rally filled with Trump supporters into screams and panic. The FBI confirmed in a press conference that the shooting was being treated as «an assassination attempt against our former president, Donald Trump.» The shooter was believed to be working alone, but law enforcement officials said they would not release any details yet. After multiple witnesses said they saw the gunman before the shooting and alerted authorities, Butler police said they had «responded to a number of reports of suspicious activity» but gave no further details. - 'Ripping through the skin' - Trump, wearing a red «Make America Great Again» cap, had just started speaking at his final rally before the Republican National Convention when multiple bangs ran out. He grimaced and clutched his ear, with blood visible on his ear and cheek, then ducked to the floor as Secret Service agents swarmed onto the podium, surrounding him and escorting him roughly off the stage to a nearby vehicle. «It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country,» Trump said on his Truth Social network hours later, in remarks sure to stoke the political hostility already engulfing the United States. «I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,» Trump said. «Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.» He later could be seen walking unaided from his plane, though his wounded ear was not facing the camera, in video footage posted by his deputy communications director. The New York Times reported that he was staying the night in New Jersey. Police confirmed that a male spectator was killed and two critically injured in the shooting, both of them male adults. The attack sent shock waves around the world, with the leaders of Britain, Israel, Japan and a host of other countries expressing outrage. Biden cut short a weekend trip to his Delaware beach house to return to Washington. He will receive an updated briefing from security officials on Sunday morning, the White House said. The attack has already stoked political tensions, with some Republicans pointing the finger at Biden and right-wing conspiracy theories flooding social media. Possible Trump vice presidential pick J.D. Vance said Biden's «rhetoric» had «led directly» to the Trump attack. Trump's campaign said he would still attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, after he was reported to have had a precautionary hospital checkup. - Screams and panic - But the convention will now be dominated by the shooting at the rally, which descended into panic with screams and shouts ringing out after the gunshots. «Let me get my shoes,» Trump was heard saying on the microphone, as security agents helped him back to his feet. He turned back to the crowd and repeatedly raised his fist, as well as mouthing words that weren't immediately discernible, in what instantly became an iconic image. Agents bundled the tycoon into an SUV, as he once more shook his fist. «We saw a lot of people go down, looking confused. I heard the shots,» said John Yeykal from Franklin, Pennsylvania, who was attending his first Trump rally. US political figures including former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton lined up to condemn the attack and say there was no place for violence in politics. Billionaire Elon Musk meanwhile reacted by quickly endorsing Trump. The United States has a history of political violence, and presidents, former presidents and candidates have tight security. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 while riding in his motorcade, and his brother Bobby Kennedy was shot dead in 1968. President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt in 1981. © Agence France-Presse

Stunning beaches, breathtaking viewpoints and tranquility have all made Praslin, Seychelles' second largest island, one of the most popular tourist destinations, and a new venture, Orique, is keeping local traditions and culture alive.  The island is also well known for the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is home to the world's largest seed, the coco de mer. However, the islanders are working to preserve and protect the island's rich heritage in their own ways through cultural tourism. This allows visitors to experience and appreciate the island nation's history, traditions, arts, people and the people's ways of life and has benefits for the local communities and the economy. Terry Philoe has joined the quest to put the spotlight on the Seychelles' traditions and culture through his venture called Orique. The owner of Orique, Terry Philoe. (Mandy Bertin) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  «Take a look around you. What I have built here has given birth to the name Orique, derived from the words original and unique. Orique is my brand,» Philoe told SNA. «I want people to experience and be reminded of our ways of living many years ago. Let us be proud of our traditions and uniqueness, of how we used to live, eat, and celebrate life,» he added. Tucked away within the green mountains of Praslin is a place called Zimbabwe, and a very steep and narrow road leads visitors to the most breathtaking viewpoint on the island. At the top of the mountain, Orique is nested. Philoe has not only built the place of his dreams but has turned the once dry and deserted area into a dream come true for many islanders and tourists. So what makes Orique unique and original? I visited Orique to discover that for myself. The freshness of the air there welcomes visitors to a distinctive architecture set in the middle of a neat garden. Visitors can relax and enjoy the magnificent view of the neighbouring islands, the calm sea, and the local communities. There are benches made of dried bamboo poles and granite and centrepieces on wooden tables are simply cast-iron pots known as a potis or marmit in Creole. These pots are part of the Seychelles' history and heritage as they serve as a reminder of the island nation's traditional cooking. Decades ago, the elders used these pots to cook food either outside or in the traditional kitchen. Amazed and curious, I took a few steps further up to see more of his creations. Philoe has taken his creativity to another level and has used a rusty old metal bed and turned it into a swing and two white enamel chamber pots sit underneath the bed. These pots were kept under the beds at night as toilets were not necessarily found inside houses. A rusty old bed turned into a swing. (Mandy Bertin) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  My tour outside led me to the far right end of the place where Philoe has kept the outdoor bathroom and toilet concept but has just added a slight touch of modernity to it. Showering under the stars is simply majestic. Visitors are left in awe as they walk into the house with walls that can barely be seen as they are aligned with so many collected items or crafts made by Philoe. The house is a museum in itself as visitors can get the chance to enjoy something different to modern life. «I collect things that people want to throw away, maybe because of rust or out of style, and I turn them into artworks. These old artefacts are valuable and are needed to be preserved, so for me, they are treasures as they are part of our cultural identity,» said Philoe. From enamel plates, old kettles, lanterns, baskets and cupboards that you would typically have seen in houses here decades ago to an antique chest, the house has it all. The Orique experience Imagine proposing under the golden rays of sunset, on top of the world, with the glistening ocean as your backdrop. Orique offers the ideal location for your marriage proposal and why not even have your wedding in this little corner of paradise? Orique can even transform into a party venue, or you can go there to spend the day in tranquility. It can also cater for private and romantic dinners while enjoying a stunning sunset. Dishes were then served in containers made out of dried coco de mer husks. (Mandy Bertin) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  After the tour, I was treated to lunch, compliments of Chef Philoe. I was shown the step-by-step process of how to prepare one of our traditional dishes - fried fish coconut curry - which was by far the most scrumptious curry I have ever tasted. «Long ago, we used to fry our fish and keep them in a cupboard. We did not have refrigerators back then, so today for this meal, I am using fried fish which I have kept in the cupboard since last night. All the spices and other ingredients are fresh from my garden,» said Philoe. The aroma of the fried fish blended with the coconut milk and an assortment of spices filled the air.  «This is what the visitors like, and sometimes they do not wait for me to bring more to the table, they come to the kitchen themselves for a second serving,» he added. The prepared dishes were then served in containers made out of dried coco de mer husks, which used to be vital kitchen utensils back in the day. I was then given a cream enamel plate so that I could finally enjoy the flavours of the dishes. Also on the menu was Katkat dou, a sweet dessert made using plantains, coconut milk, and other ingredients. My journey up in the Zimbabwe mountainside ended with a cup of lemongrass tea just before sunset. 

The Kremlin on Saturday warned the deployment of US missiles in Germany could make European capitals targets for Russian missiles in a repeat of Cold War-style confrontation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke of a «paradox» in which «Europe is a target for our missiles, our country is a target for US missiles in Europe.» «We have enough capacity to contain these missiles but the potential victims are the capitals of these countries,» he said, speaking to Russian state television channel Russia 1. Peskov also hinted that such a confrontation could undermine Europe as a whole. «Europe is not living its best moment. In a different configuration, a repeat of history is inevitable,» he said when the channel's anchor Pavel Zarubin pointed out that the Cold War had ended with the Soviet Union's collapse. The White House announced on Wednesday during a NATO summit that it would periodically station long-range weapons including Tomahawk cruise missiles in Germany from 2026 as a deterrent. «Exercising these advanced capabilities will demonstrate the United States' commitment to NATO and its contributions to European integrated deterrence,» the White House said. The Kremlin criticised the move, accusing Washington of taking a step towards a new Cold War and of directly participating in the conflict in Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said on Friday that Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov held a telephone call with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin where they discussed lowering the risk of «possible escalation». NATO countries -- spearheaded by the United States -- have bolstered their defences in Europe following the start of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine in 2022. © Agence France-Presse

Safeguarding the endemic and indigenous orchid populations of Seychelles is one of the aims of a newly created Orchids Collection Greenhouse at the National Biodiversity Centre at Barbarons. The Greenhouse was opened recently and houses a collection of 10 types of orchid endemic and native to the island nation. More orchid species are expected to be added in the future namely Orkid Payanke, Orkid Fler de Kouler, Orkid Grand Fey, among others.   «The orchids in the Greenhouse at the moment are not all that we have. We currently have 42 orchid species in Seychelles, with four of them being endemic to the Seychelles,» said Damien Doudee, senior horticulturist at the National Biodiversity Centre. The Greenhouse is solar-powered and will provide the orchid species with the best conditions for growing, which will aid in ensuring the continued survival of the species in Seychelles. Additionally, the Orchids Collection Greenhouse will enable members of the public to have a chance to see these species up close, as they are often rare to find, because they grow at high, hard to reach places on the island. Doudee said however for the moment the Greenhouse is not open to the public as they continue their work to populate it. «People don't know of these species of orchids in Seychelles, so having a greenhouse that has a collection of all of them will help them know more,» added Doudee. Seychelles' national flower is the tropicbird orchid, which is native to the island nation and generally grows up to 2 metres in height and grows 10 to 15 flowers per plant. Apart from the Indian Ocean islands, the orchid can also be found in Kenya and Tanzania.

The Tourism Department is calling on the actors in the industry to embrace the seasonality that Seychelles, like many other destinations, experiences annually. Speaking to SNA at the Department's bi-yearly marketing meeting, the director general for Destination Marketing, Bernadette Willemin, emphasised the importance of working with market fluctuations instead of against them. Traditionally, Seychelles experiences a drop in visitor numbers around the May-June period every year. This year for the week ending July 7, the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show only a one percent growth during this period compared to last year. «In terms of marketing, we have not stopped promoting the versatility of Seychelles. We intend to have a meeting where we will rally everyone concerned, airlines, hotels, DMCs (destination management companies) and others around one table where we will address this subject of seasonality. We do not want to face the same issue next year,» she said. Willemin said next year «collectively as an industry, we can have offers that we can send to the different markets abroad well in advance. It's true that today, some hotels are reducing their prices, but isn't it a little too late? Especially for those who sell through distribution channels such as travel agencies and tour operators abroad, it's already late because they have many other countries to offer their clients to sell, they are not waiting for your offer and by the time it comes in it's too late.» Had the offers come at the start of the season these agencies would have been able to sell it easily and Willemin said this is what the Department wants from the industry, early bookings and the earlier the better.  She stressed the importance of adapting to the market and having a low and high season offer and that «we cannot have a flat rate throughout. If it is the low season and we are pricing ourselves more than our competitors, naturally the visitors will choose the other country.» The director general said the Department found that the large establishments are familiar with the yielding, and perhaps some small establishments are still new and unaware. «As a facilitator, we want to ensure that they get access to this kind of expertise. For example, recently we organised a meeting with booking.com to explain to the small establishments the complexities of using this platform. We are also planning more workshops with different experts in the future,» she added. She said that airlines also have an impact, especially since several airlines have stopped their flights to Seychelles until later this year.   The participants of the bi-yearly meeting met with Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House on Friday. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY   The marketing meeting is an opportunity for marketing managers and representatives of Seychelles, who are based around the world, to touch base and discuss the way forward in promoting the island country. The participants of the bi-yearly meeting met with Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House on Friday. The principal secretary for Tourism, Sherin Francis, told reporters, «This meeting was an opportunity for the President to gain more insight into the work that the representatives do abroad. They talked about their accomplishments as well as the challenges they face. This work is very hectic with irregular hours and frequent events over the weekend. They are often away from their families so it is very challenging. They are usually a one-man team.»  Tourism is the top contributor to the economy of Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean. 

Kenyan President William Ruto announced Thursday the dismissal of almost his entire cabinet and consultations to form a «broad-based government», as he scrambled to contain the fallout of deadly protests against his administration. The East African nation was left reeling after peaceful rallies last month over steep tax increases escalated into violence with police firing at crowds who stormed parliament, leaving it partly ablaze. Organised online and led largely by young, Gen-Z Kenyans, the protests plunged Ruto's administration into the most serious crisis of his presidency, forcing him to abandon the finance bill containing the tax hikes. In the latest move to defuse tensions, Ruto said his decision would extend «with immediate effect» to all ministers including the attorney-general, but excluded prime cabinet secretary and foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The president said he decided on the dismissals «upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my cabinet and its achievements and challenges». Prominent Gen-Z protester Hanifa Adan welcomed the announcement, writing on X: «THE PRESIDENT OF KENYA HAS DISSOLVED THE CABINET!!! THE POWER LIES WITH THE PEOPLE ALWAYS!!!!!» The rallies have widened into a broader campaign against Ruto and his government, with some demonstrations degenerating into violence that has left 39 dead, according to rights groups. While large street protests have subsided, anger against the government has not, and hundreds of Kenyans attended a memorial concert in Nairobi Sunday, chanting «Ruto must go». Analysts said Ruto's decision to sack allies including former interior minister Kithure Kindiki offered the possibility of a fresh start, but warned of further risks. «The challenge that Ruto now faces is forming a new cabinet that includes various vested interests, whilst simultaneously calming popular anger in the face of an explicitly leaderless movement,» Gabrielle Lynch, professor of comparative politics at the University of Warwick, told AFP. Declan Galvin, managing director of Exigent Risk Advisory, told AFP that «a clean slate will be good for him... There is no crisis without opportunity so maybe Ruto can get this right the second time.» - Debt rating downgraded - Last week, the Kenyan leader announced sharp cuts to government spending, including travel and refurbishment costs. Ruto's frequent high-profile trips abroad, as well as news that the deputy president's office spent over $70,000 on curtains, have infuriated ordinary citizens burdened with a cost of living crisis. Ruto said borrowing would have to increase to pay for some services even as Kenya grapples with massive foreign debt equivalent to roughly 70 percent of GDP. He said the fiscal deficit would rise from 3.3 percent to 4.6 percent. The crisis led US-based Moody's to downgrade Kenya's debt rating further into junk territory, warning of a negative outlook, which will make borrowing even more expensive for the cash-strapped government. The ratings agency said it was cutting the ratings for Kenyan government debt to Caa1 -- considered to have «very high credit risk» -- with the move reflecting Ruto's «significantly diminished capacity» to raise taxes and reduce debt. - 'Radical programmes' pledged - The businessman-turned-politician, who won elections in 2022 on the promise to lift the fortunes of the common man, was caught off guard by the depth of public anger over the proposed tax hikes, which followed an earlier round of increases last year. Ruto said Thursday that he would «immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government». This government would, he said, help him to develop «radical programmes» to deal with the country's huge debt burden, increase job opportunities, eliminate government waste and «slay the dragon of corruption». Ruto has sought to engage with some of the protesters, hosting an event on X with young Kenyans last week. But this has failed to appease some demonstrators, who are calling for him to step down, using the hashtag #RutoMustGo and staging smaller rallies across Kenyan cities. © Agence France-Presse

Covid-19 is still killing around 1,700 people a week around the world, the World Health Organization said Thursday, as it urged at-risk populations to keep up with their vaccinations against the disease. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sounded a warning on declining vaccine coverage. Despite the continued death toll, «data show that vaccine coverage has declined among health workers and people over 60, which are two of the most at-risk groups,» the UN health agency's chief told a press conference. «WHO recommends that people in the highest-risk groups receive a Covid-19 vaccine within 12 months of their last dose.» More than seven million Covid deaths have been reported to the WHO, though the true toll of the pandemic is thought to be far higher. Covid-19 also shredded economies and crippled health systems. Tedros declared an end to Covid-19 as an international public health emergency in May 2023, more than three years on from when the virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. The WHO has urged governments to maintain virus surveillance and sequencing, and to ensure access to affordable and reliable tests, treatments and vaccines. © Agence France-Presse

The outgoing Canadian High Commissioner to Seychelles, Kyle Nunas, has expressed satisfaction at successful collaborations in maritime security, providing technical support in the fight against crimes and the introduction of electronic travel authorisation. Nunas made the statement following his farewell visit to President Wavel Ramkalawan on Thursday. The two nations have consistently worked in maritime security, with some members of the Canadian Coast Guard coming to the island nation to offer capacity-building training as part of the United States-led Cutlass Express military exercise, earlier this year. «We have a proud history of working with Seychelles on improving maritime security and improving Seychelles' ability to ensure its territorial integrity where there are bad actors in the areas of human trafficking or various types of smuggling,» said Nunas. He revealed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police personnel have also provided important technical assistance in fighting crimes to the local police force. Nunas mentioned the introduction of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), which allows Seychellois citizens holding a Canadian temporary resident visa in the past 10 years, or a valid U.S. visitor visa, to enter Canada their country when travelling by air. Canada and Seychelles established diplomatic relations in 1976 and both are members of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the Commonwealth and the United Nations. Nunas explained that through these organisations, the two countries have also worked closely on the issue of climate change as «both countries share a very realistic view of climate change and we're together in seeking solutions there.» Canada is also the eighth largest contributor to the Global Climate Fund of which four projects are taking place in Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. The island nation also faces vulnerability from external sources and Nunas said his country is working with the small island state and others like it «to improve how the international financial institutions work with countries like Seychelles.» Montreal is home to the third-largest Seychellois diaspora after London, United Kingdom and Perth in Australia, estimated at 740 according to the 2016 Census. In this area, Nunas said there has been an increase in the number of tourists visiting the archipelago as part of their people-to-people relations.

Seychelles and France will have a better exchange of information in legal matters after the two nations signed the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Treaty on Thursday. The agreement was signed at the headquarters of the Foreign Affairs Department by Seychelles' Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, and French Ambassador to Seychelles, Olivia Berkeley-Christmann. The bilateral mutual legal assistance between states allows countries to combat crime and corruption effectively, and work together to uphold the rule of law by assisting with criminal investigations and preparation of cases for prosecution, among other matters. The treaty allows both states to harmonise their legal assistance framework to facilitate the provision of information. Formal talks between Seychelles and France started in 2019 on how to better cooperate when it comes to the mutual legal help in criminal cases that they provide to one another through the negotiation of an MLA agreement. Cooperation is permitted under the «Seychelles Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act.» This is permitted when there is a bilateral treaty between the Seychelles and a foreign state for mutual assistance in criminal matters, or when the foreign state and the Seychelles are parties to an international treaty. With this agreement, the two countries will be able to help each other with matters such as the exchange of evidence, the execution of searches and seizures, and the service of documents, among others. The Foreign Affairs Department said in a press statement that the formalised procedures when requesting and providing legal assistance require a high level of communication and cooperation between specific institutions from the respective states. «As a result, this cooperation will preserve the important diplomatic partnership between France and Seychelles and will contribute to a more globalised approach towards the fight against cross-border crimes,» added the Department. It stated further that the differences in the legal systems of France and Seychelles can create many challenges and subsequently impede the process of preparation for trials. The agreement, therefore, allows France and Seychelles, to harmonise their legal frameworks and streamline procedures, to obtain the common goal of prosecuting crimes. «As we find our way through the complexities of our world, it is important to find solutions to strengthening MLA mechanisms, as this agreement does, to allow Seychelles to effectively address the challenges relating to transnational and cross-border crimes,» said the Department.   

Seychelles has begun implementing the Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) project led by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), according to a top official. The system addresses the issues associated with flash floods, especially the lack of capacity to develop effective flash flood warnings. To start the implementation, a group of experts from the WMO held a week-long meeting with relevant local authorities such as the Seychelles Meteorological Authority (SMA), where they introduced the project. The chief executive of the SMA, Vincent Amelie, told SNA, «Our previsions were traditionally based on computer models and atmospheric predictions, so we weren't sure when any floodings would happen, now this system blends atmospheric predictions with readings from the soil conditions, which is called impact-based forecasting.»   He emphasised the importance of additional stations in the country especially for data that is accurate and up to standard and that this will be another component of the FFGS project.   «To do climate research you must have at least 30 years of data, and the one at the airport meets all standards. To be fair, we also had small stations around the island, where volunteers only recorded the daily amount of rainfall using a rain gauge. It didn't include parameters such as temperature or humidity,» said Amelie.  He added that last year, the Seychelles Meteorological Authority «installed 15 automatic stations and this year we are planning on procuring 15 more for other islands. We believe in also helping ourselves so these automatic stations are part of a project that the Seychelles Meteorological Authority is financing apart from the FFGS project component.»   The Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) was designed and developed for interactive use by meteorological and hydrologic forecasters worldwide. The World Meteorological Organisation, the United States National Weather Service, the Office of the United States Foreign Disaster Assistance, and the Hydrologic Research Centre initially developed it. The partnership was formed in 2007 to create and implement an early warning flash flood forecasting system for global application. The FFGS has been described as an important tool necessary to provide operational forecasters and disaster management agencies with real-time informational guidance products about the threat of small-scale flash flooding. The implementation phase of the project in Seychelles is expected to last around two years and be done in phases - deployment of equipment, installation as well as a training component for local forecasters. A project management officer from the WMO, Fatih Kaya, said this training provided by the WMO will be a comprehensive one comprising different levels over two years. «After the first introductions and online training programmes, they will also go through an extensive training programme that takes around one month to graduate, receiving a certificate from the Hydrological Resource Centre in San Diego. After this training is finalised, people come to a level that they can operate, and then design the system for the country based on the needs and resources of the country, meaning the system is flexible, and tailored by local forecasters,» she explained. «We understand what is available in the country if, let's say, internet bandwidth or storage facilities for purpose, together with countries involved. But we either go for Institute hardware, additional servers, which is creating this product, or we go for cloud-based solutions to have reliable solutions,» added Kaya. She said the last component is to ensure that Seychelles responds to the results given by the system, especially in ensuring that the Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD) has procedures in place for any eventual flash floods that may occur. The FFGS participated in a side event at the fourth small island developing state conference held in Antigua and Barbuda in May. The benefits of properly using this system were discussed and two case studies were presented. The chief of Hydrological Forecasting and Water Resources Division at WMO, Dr Hwirin Kim, highlighted certain challenges that they face especially when implementing this project. «The members' honesty is so important, and maybe some countries feel that this project is not that important to do it before they experience difficulties. I mentioned during the session, that there are a lot of issues with data sharing and cooperation between the stakeholders in the country. In the beginning, it is important that they by themselves are engaged,» he told SNA. «In the case of Seychelles, even if it is not a poor country it became one of the 30 top priorities under the early warning for all initiative. The project is still at the beginning, we first started with small online meetings, with Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius, those are our target small islands in the SWIO (south western Indian Ocean). During the first in-person meeting we will now see the priorities of the country,» he added.  

Over 4,000 people in Seychelles have been seen by doctors and treated by the Chinese Navy Hospital Ship, Peace Ark, since the vessel berthed at the IPHS Quay on July 5. With a full-service hospital on board, the ship has many departments that the public has been able to access, such as cardiology, general surgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, dentistry, paediatrics, dermatology, traditional Chinese medicine, physical therapy, among others. There is also a special examination room for ultrasound and ECG and an imaging department.   The Seychelles Health Care Agency chief executive, Dr Danny Louange, told SNA, «This ship is equipped with the latest technology. It has also brought together 51 specialists in 35 different specialities, nurses, paramedics and radiologists from different provinces in China, all under one roof. This is ideal because they have all these specialists in one place. In Seychelles, we don't have the resources to put all specialists in one facility at the same time. It is a good opportunity for Seychellois to explore another option.» Louange said, «They have organised their flow and processes because of the lack of time, they have prioritised efficiency. So, when a patient comes, because this patient has to be seen within the day, they ensure that all necessary tests are done in a short amount of time or they see another specialist at the same time.» The CEO said there have been discussions between Peace Ark and the Seychelles' Ministry of Health. «We had several meetings with them and I believe that this will change the direction that we are heading in the health sector, especially for the different specialities and what new specialities that we will introduce. We have also also discussed about future collaborations.» Louange said that the Health Care Agency had various discussions with the medical personnel aboard and has established links with hospitals from different regions in China. SNA spoke to several patients who accessed the services on the vessel and expressed their satisfaction with the standard and level of care they received from on the ship, especially with full corridors every day, several people have stated that the medical personnel aboard the vessel have been very efficient. Over 4,000 people in Seychelles have been seen by doctors. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY   Joshua Pillay was being treated at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department and he told SNA, «I was in an accident where I broke my leg and I had to have a metal piece installed inside. My leg is painful, so I decided to come here. I do not know what this treatment is exactly, but the service has been really good so far, very fast.» To ensure efficient communication, the medical personnel aboard the ship were being helped by over 50 volunteers rallied by the Ministry of Local Government. Saviona Louise, who received treatment of muscle pain said,  «They used some kind of machine on my back, massaging my muscles. It's my first time trying this kind of treatment.» There were also health volunteers from Seychelles including nurses and students from the National Institute of Health and Social Studies (NIHSS). One of the NIHSS students, Solana Marie said, «This is a good experience for me. I am currently studying environmental health science. I started on Saturday, the doctors have these small devices that they can speak into and translate into English, which I then have to explain to the patients. I've also been accompanying some patients for their scans and ECGs.» Maggy Morel, as senior nursing officer from the Oncology Unit at the Seychelles Hospital, told SNA, «We are here mainly for translation, and there are also certain basic procedures that we are helping with like, checking blood pressure and blood sugar levels.» The demand to see doctors was very high on Wednesday with many people waiting in a long line for several hours. Some were unable to access the ship as the limit for the day had been reached, however women and small children were given priority. Apart from the medical services that they are providing, medical personnel and officers on board the ship have also been participating in different activities. On Saturday, they participated in a cultural performance at the National History Museum. There was also a reception held aboard the ship attended by Seychelles' Vice President Ahmed Afif, the Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles, Lin Nan, several ministers and high-level government officials. 

Rwandans will vote in elections on Monday, with President Paul Kagame widely expected to extend his iron-fisted rule and sweep to victory in a race featuring the same candidates he defeated seven years ago. Rwanda's de facto ruler since the end of the 1994 genocide, Kagame faces rival bids by Frank Habineza, leader of the Democratic Green Party -- the only authorised opposition -- and Philippe Mpayimana, who is running as an independent. The 66-year-old Kagame is credited with Rwanda's economic recovery after the genocide, with annual GDP growth averaging 7.2 percent between 2012-2022. But his regime is widely criticised for stifling political opposition at home, while a UN report has accused Rwandan troops of fighting alongside the M23 rebel militia in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Kagame has won three elections with more than 93 percent of the vote in 2003, 2010 and 2017, taking home nearly 99 percent in the most recent poll. Habineza secured just 0.48 percent of the vote in 2017, with Mpayimana edging past him with 0.73 percent. Rwandan courts rejected appeals from prominent opposition figures Bernard Ntaganda and Victoire Ingabire to remove previous convictions that effectively barred them from standing. The election commission also barred high-profile Kagame critic Diane Rwigara, citing issues with her paperwork -- the second time she was excluded from running. The daughter of industrialist Assinapol Rwigara, a former major donor to Kagame's Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) before he fell out with its leaders, she was accused of forging documents and arrested in 2017 before being acquitted by the courts a year later. A total of 9.01 million Rwandans are registered to vote, with the presidential poll being held at the same time as legislative elections for the first time. - 'President forever' - The imbalance between Kagame and his rivals has been evident during the three-week campaigning period, as the well-oiled RPF PR machine swung into high gear. Pennants on cars, flags, posters and banners displayed along roadsides, the red, white and blue colours of the ruling party and its slogans «Tora Kagame Paul» («Vote Paul Kagame») and «PK24» (for «Paul Kagame 2024») are everywhere. In contrast to the thousands-strong crowds attending his rallies, his rivals have struggled to make their voices heard, with barely 100 people showing up to some events. «I came here to listen what he says but I will vote for Kagame... regardless of the others,» Beatrice Mpawenimana, 30, told AFP at a meeting organised by Habineza's party in the eastern village of Juru. «He has given us women a voice, he has brought roads, hospitals, so many things... I want him to be president forever, nobody can replace him.» Like most Rwandans -- 65 percent of the country's population is aged under 30 -- she has only ever known Kagame as leader. The bespectacled politician has been in charge of the landlocked nation since his RPF militia routed Hutu extremists responsible for the genocide which left 800,000 dead, mainly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus. - 'No real opponent' - Initially serving as vice-president and defence minister, Kagame was elected president by parliament in 2000 after the resignation of Pasteur Bizimungu. Since then, he has won elections by universal suffrage three times: 95.05 percent in 2003, 93.08 percent in 2010, and 98.79 percent in 2017. «The RPF ruling party is quite popular across the country, this is undeniable,» Rwandan constitutional lawyer and political analyst Louis Gitinywa told AFP. «As for the election, it is like an exercise that must be done simply to tick a box. There is no real opponent against Kagame.» Rights groups accuse the government of abuses including repressing freedom of expression and stamping out dissent. Amnesty International said this week that Rwanda's political opposition faces «severe restrictions... as well as threats, arbitrary detention, prosecution, trumped-up charges, killings and enforced disappearances.» Kagame presided over controversial constitution amendments in 2015 which shortened presidential terms from seven to five years and reset the clock for the Rwandan leader, potentially allowing him to rule until 2034. © Agence France-Presse

NATO allies on Wednesday announced they had started transferring F-16 jets to Ukraine while stepping up promises to Kyiv on eventual membership in the alliance, at a 75th anniversary summit clouded by political uncertainties in the United States. With the pomp of the three-day gathering in the US capital, President Joe Biden is aiming to rally the West and also reassure voters amid pre-election scrutiny of whether at 81 -- six years older than NATO itself -- he remains fit for the job. Biden individually welcomed the other 31 leaders of the alliance before urging them to keep pace with Russia's military production, which has stepped up sharply in the two years since President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. «We can -- and will -- defend every inch of NATO territory and we'll do it together,» Biden told the North Atlantic Council, the formal decision-making body of the alliance, at Washington's convention center as the city sweltered under a heat wave. Biden announced that Denmark and the Netherlands had begun sending US-made F-16 jets to Ukraine -- making good on a key promise last year to Kyiv, which has struggled to gain parity in the air with Russia. He earlier announced new air defense systems for Ukraine and said the United States had agreed to place long-range missiles periodically in Germany. In the evening Biden hosted the NATO leaders for a gala dinner, marked by storm clouds that forced the cancellation of a planned flypast. Biden compared the alliance to his childhood neighborhood, saying: «When a neighbor needed help, you pitched in. When the bullies threatened the block, you stepped up.» US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the F-16 transfer «concentrates Vladimir Putin's mind on the fact that he will not outlast Ukraine, he will not outlast us.» But White House challenger Donald Trump, who is edging out Biden in polls leading up to November's presidential election, has mused about bringing a quick peace settlement by pushing Ukraine to surrender territory to Russia. The Republican mogul has repeatedly questioned the utility of NATO -- formed in 1949 as collective defense against Moscow -- which he sees as an unfair burden on the United States. - 'Terror must fail' - On the eve of the summit, Russia fired a barrage of missiles on Ukraine, killing dozens, including in Kyiv where a children's hospital was reduced to debris. Biden invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the summit, who voiced gratitude for the F-16s. The new aircraft will «bring just and lasting peace closer, demonstrating that terror must fail,» Zelensky wrote on social media. The summit aimed in part to «Trump-proof» the alliance including by giving NATO a greater role, rather than the United States, in coordinating arms delivery into Ukraine. In a joint declaration, NATO leaders promised to give Ukraine 40 billion euros ($43 billion) in military aid «within the next year» -- part of efforts to increase stability after Trump's allies in Congress held up US assistance for months. Trump's aides have also discussed conditioning aid to Ukraine on forcing Kyiv to the negotiating table and said that China, not Russia, is a larger concern to US interests. The NATO leaders' statement took aim at China as well, voicing «profound concern» over its industrial support to Russia. China's reaction was swift. «NATO should stop hyping up the so-called China threat and provoking confrontation and rivalry, and do more to contribute to world peace and stability,» a spokesman for Beijing's mission to the EU said, adding that «China's position on Ukraine is open and aboveboard.» Biden invited four key Pacific partners to the summit -- Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand -- as he seeks to increase NATO's role in Asia. - 'Irreversible' Ukraine path to NATO - The summit also stepped up promises to Ukraine, saying that it was on an «irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership.» Ukraine has for years sought but failed to win membership in NATO, which as an alliance considers an attack on one an attack on all. But Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have led concerns that bringing in Kyiv now would effectively be entering war with nuclear-armed Russia as it occupies swathes of Ukrainian territory. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, visiting days after his Labour Party swept to power, promised Zelensky that Britain -- unlike the United States -- was united across partisan lines on supporting Ukraine. Starmer made clear he had no issue with Ukraine using UK missiles to strike into Russian territory, remarks that drew a rebuke from Moscow. The summit, Starmer told reporters, is showing Putin that NATO is «bigger now than it's ever been, more united than it's ever been, and absolutely clear-eyed about the threat of Russian aggression.» © Agence France-Presse

As part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the current leaf beetle situation in Seychelles, the Department of Agriculture is continuing to enhance various measures in a strategic approach to combat the infestation. It was revealed in a workshop on Wednesday, that the infestation, which is affecting golden apple trees, has now reached La Digue.    The leaf beetle was first reported in Seychelles in November 2023 and has been attacking golden apple trees on the main island of Mahe, prompting the Department of Agriculture to establish a rapid response team to deal with the infestation. It is now affecting golden apple trees on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, the three most populated islands of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean.   The beetle is brightly coloured - usually yellow or salmon pink- with an antenna of 11 segments and as an adult it can measure up to 5 millimetres in length. In the workshop held at the STC conference room, various presentations were made to give an overview of how the current situation is being managed, the emergency response programme and the monitoring and control methods. «The role of biosecurity services cannot be overstated. Today's workshop aims to sensitise all stakeholder groups about the vital activities and responsibilities of our Biosecurity Services,» said the principal secretary for Agriculture, Keven Nancy. He said these services are frontline defences against the introduction and spread of pests and diseases that threaten the country's crops, environment, biodiversity, and even its economy. Presentations also included the works done by the pre-border, border and post-border services. «Pre-border bio-security involves stringent measures and inspections that are conducted even before goods and plants reach our shores, through Pest Risk Analysis( PRA), where the Approximate Level of Risk (ALOR) or protection is identified,» said Nancy. Technicians from the environment department after examination are fumigating the affected areas. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY   He highlighted that these proactive measures are critical in identifying and mitigating potential risks at the source, reducing the likelihood of pests and diseases entering our country. Border services are the entities dealing with a consignment when reaches the port of entry - the airport, the seaport and now the post office, which is used for parcels coming in through online shopping. The post-border service focuses on monitoring and managing any threats that do make it through our pre-border and border defences. Over the years, new pests such as the melon fly, fruit fly, the tortoise beetle, spiraling whitefly, the papaya mealy and the hairy caterpillar have all found their way into Seychelles and posed significant threats. Nancy said, «Now one of the pressing issues that we are currently facing is the infestation of the leaf beetle attacking the golden apple. This pest poses a significant threat to one of our important crops, and our emergency management programme is crucial in addressing this challenge.» He said that as the country develops and prospers «trade, travel and tourism are the main threat to biosecurity. However, the success of our biosecurity initiatives depends not just on the efforts of the Biosecurity Services alone but on the collaboration and active participation of all stakeholders.» This is the third workshop done in the wake of the lead beetle infestation, although not many entities turned up.   Nancy said he was not satisfied with the turnout and «although we got the presence of some entities, including Seychelles Revenue Commission, the Seychelles Ports Authority and the Department of Environment, which are key sectors for us, we really wanted the presence of others such as the Department of Education, wildlife clubs and others.» Since the discovery of the beetle in Seychelles, the Department of Agriculture has sent its technicians to examine the situation as well as fumigate the areas it was found on all affected golden apple trees. 

Cyclone Freddy, which crossed the entire southern Indian Ocean before wreaking devastation on southeastern Africa last year, was the longest-lasting tropical cyclone ever recorded at 36 days, the UN confirmed Tuesday. A panel of experts has been poring over the data surrounding the storm since its remarkable journey in February and March last year. The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed Freddy's 36 days «at tropical storm status or higher» overtook tropical cyclone John's 29.75 days in 1994. However John still travelled the furthest distance. It barrelled across the north Pacific Ocean, travelling nearly a third of the Earth's circumference -- covering 13,159 kilometres (8,175 miles) to Freddy's 12,785 kilometres. «Freddy was a remarkable tropical cyclone, not only for its longevity but also for its ability to survive multiple land interactions, which unfortunately had significant consequences for southeast African populations,» said panel member Chris Velden, a tropical cyclone and satellite expert from the University of Wisconsin in the United States. The Freddy announcement comes as Hurricane Beryl -- the earliest top-level Category 5 storm in the Atlantic on record -- hurtled towards Jamaica after sweeping across several islands in the southeastern Caribbean. Though the WMO has not linked Freddy's exceptional longevity to climate change caused by human activity, it says climate change is linked to the increased likelihood of major hurricanes, while rising ocean temperatures increase their destructive power and energy. WMO spokeswoman Clare Nullis told reporters that keeping records is therefore important «to inform policy-making, to understand our changing climate and the impact of extreme weather». - Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique hit - Freddy caused major human and economic losses in the worst-affected countries due to its prolonged passage near and over land, the WMO said. It developed off northwestern Australia, becoming a named storm on February 6. It then made landfall in Madagascar on February 21 and reached Mozambique on February 24, claiming lives and bringing heavy rains and floods to Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It then looped back towards the coast, regained strength and hit Madagascar again before heading back over Mozambique and Malawi, where floods and mudslides swept away homes, roads and bridges. Tropical storms derive their power from warm water and therefore weaken over land, so Freddy ultimately dissipated. More than 1,200 people were reported as dead or missing and more than 2,100 were injured in Malawi. In Mozambique, more than 1.3 million people were affected, with more than 180 deaths, the WMO said. In Madagascar, nearly 200,000 people were affected by the first and second landfall, it added The damage caused by Freddy is estimated at $481 million, according to the African Union's African Risk Capacity. - Value of early warnings - The WMO said that without advance warnings of the incoming danger, «the casualty toll would have been even higher». The agency wants to have everyone on the planet covered by first-class early warning systems for incoming weather hazards, within the next five years. Freddy will now go into the WMO's World Weather and Climate Extremes Archive, which contains a variety of records including temperature, air pressure, rainfall, wind speed, hail and lightning. A panel of world-leading experts is assembled for each new potential record -- in this case, 12 experts based in the United States, Canada, France, Australia, Spain and Hong Kong. The extremes presented for adjudication for the archive are «snapshots» of the current climate, said Randall Cerveny, who heads the archive. «It is possible, and indeed likely, that greater extremes will occur in the future,» he said. © Agence France-Presse

French former first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was charged Tuesday in connection with an investigation into the alleged Libyan financing of her husband Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign, a judicial source told AFP. The 56-year-old was charged with hiding evidence and associating with wrongdoers to commit fraud, the source said. She was placed under judicial control and barred from being in contact with all those accused except her Nicolas Sarkozy, the source said. The singer is suspected of concealment of witness tampering and involvement in an attempt to bribe Lebanese judicial personnel, among other violations. Her lawyers, Paul Mallet and Benoit Martinez, did not immediately comment when contacted by AFP. Sarkozy, 69, was charged in October 2023 with illegal witness tampering, as part of a probe into whether he took money from late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi to fund his 2007 election campaign. Investigators suspect that several people, some close to Sarkozy, were involved in paying a key witness in that case to retract a statement he made incriminating the former president. Bruni-Sarkozy could be charged or given the status of assisted witness, which under the French legal system falls short of being formally charged. She has already been questioned twice by investigators, first as a witness in June 2023, then as a suspect in early May. An investigation showed Bruni-Sarkozy deleted all messages exchanged with French «paparazzi queen» Michele Marchand on the day Marchand was charged with witness tampering in June 2021. Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine had claimed several times that he helped deliver up to five million euros ($5.4 million at current rates) in cash from Kadhafi to Sarkozy and his chief of staff in 2006 and 2007. But in 2020, Takieddine suddenly retracted his incriminating statement, raising suspicions that Sarkozy and close allies may have paid the witness to change his mind. Authorities took an interest in Bruni-Sarkozy when Marchand justified her trips to the Sarkozy home as social calls with the singer. Sarkozy is set to stand trial in 2025 over the allegations that he conspired to take cash from the Libyan leader to illegally fund his subsequently victorious 2007 bid to become French president. The right-wing politician, who ran France from 2007 to 2012, has faced a litany of legal woes since leaving office. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles and Mozambique are to work on collaborating more in the areas of tourism, the fight against piracy, and agriculture, said the newly accredited high commissioner of Mozambique. Maria dos Santos presented her credentials to President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House on Tuesday morning. She told reporters that other areas discussed with the President is Mozambique and Seychelles cooperating in environment, climate change and fisheries. Dos Santos also stressed that culture and art are also very important areas for her country. «I conveyed the message from the government as far as the support the Seychelles has given us with the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), that helped us fight terrorism in the Northern Part of Mozambique, in the Cap Delgado,» she said. The SAMIM was a peacekeeping mission in the Cabo Delgado Province in July 2021 to fight terrorism and acts of violent extremism. Dos Santos also met the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, on Monday and the discussion was centred on regional matters, which concern both countries. Among them is the upcoming election for a new chairperson of the African Union Commission and other issues related to the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The Mozambican High Commissioner to Seychelles is based in Pretoria, South Africa. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, and Mozambique, established diplomatic relations in 1983. Also accredited on Tuesday was the new Spanish Ambassador to Seychelles, Guillermo Antonio Lopez Mae. Guillermo Antonio Lopez Mae is the new ambassador for Spain. (State House) Photo License: CC-BY  The new ambassador told reporters that one of the most important issues discussed was fisheries as Spain has been a partner in the fishery sector to Seychelles, especially in the tuna sector. «There are many Spanish companies that are based here and they work here not only on the fishing but also on the transformation of the trade of canned and fresh tuna to Europe,» he said. Since Spain comprises two archipelagos - the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands - Mae, said they discussed common problems they faced with Seychelles such as the impact of climate change, water supply, tourism and the repercussions of insularity on the economic field. The two countries have also recently completed negotiations on a memorandum of understanding for how Spain may support the tourism sector in Seychelles. Tourism is the top contributor to the Seychelles' economy. «Spain transformed its economy 50 years ago, now we are currently a hub for tourism not only for European tourism but we also became a sort of bridge between Europe and South America and also Africa,» said the ambassador. Other areas the two countries will also be working closely on will be matters concerning the African Union, where Spain is involved in the peace and security field, as well as social aspects, among others. Seychelles and Spain established diplomatic relations on November 3, 1978, and Mae is the 16th Spanish Ambassador to be accredited to Seychelles. The ambassador will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

Three athletes will represent Seychelles at the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris scheduled for July 26 to August 11, a top government official said on Tuesday.   The announcement was made by the Minister responsible for Sports, Marie-Celine Zialor, when answering a private notice question (PNQ) from the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Sebastien Pillay. «Our athletes this year received invitations to compete, or as we call it, wild cards, and according to the National Olympic Committee, there are three. Two in swimming and one in athletics, and when we spoke to them yesterday (Monday), they were still awaiting invitees for two other athletes, one in judo and the other in canoeing,» said Zialor. In the swimming competition, Seychelles will be represented by Simon Bachmann, and Khema Elizabeth and Dylan Sicobo will compete in athletics. For the Paris Olympics, no Seychellois athletes qualified, while for the last 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, two athletes booked their place, sailor Rodney Govinden and swimmer Passon. According to the Seychelles Aquatics Federation (SAF) in a recent press conference said that Passon has retired from swimming. This will be Khema's first participation at the Olympic Games while for Bachmann, this will be his second outing at the games. He competed in the 2020 games in Tokyo in 200m butterfly race.   Sprinter Sicobo will also be representing Seychelles at the Olympic Games for the first time.   To date, Seychelles has never won an Olympic medal, although boxer Roland Raforme came extremely close in the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Spain, where he lost in the quarter-final to Hungary's Zoltán Béres, to miss out on the semi-final and a guaranteed medal. Four years later, Seychelles went close again, through its legendary boxing team of the time, with Rival Payet losing in the quarterfinal to Karim Tulyaganov, of Uzbekistan. The 2024 Games in Paris will feature 329 events in 32 sports, with 10,672, split equally between male and female representation. 

Bernadin Renaud and Elvis Julie were sworn in as the chairman of the Seychelles Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and a member of the Electoral Commission, respectively, at State House on Monday. Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan congratulated the two appointees, saying he has «no doubt that you will do a great job. I believe the two appointments today go well together keeping in mind the work that both Commissions do.» The first to take the judicial oath of allegiance was Renaud, who was the Commissioner of SHRC until 2019, and was first appointed chairman of the institution the same year when he retired as justice of the Court of Appeal. The Seychelles Human Rights Commission is a self-governing, neutral, and independent body that is not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority. Its role is to investigate alleged violations of human rights and to assist victims of such violations to seek redress. The institution was set up to carry out its mandate under the Seychelles Human Rights Commission Act 2018. Renaud said that during his first mandate, SHRC has mainly worked to establish the entity. However, he told the press that «the strategy now is more to strengthen our structure and focus more on media and education. We believe that once people understand - not only those on the streets - but the institution of government ministries, departments and agencies, people will understand the aspects of human rights as set out in Chapter Three of the Constitution.» He said, «We have to live and give life to what is written in Chapter Three of the Constitution.» Renaud became the country's first Ombudsman in November 1993. Among his other positions, he was also the Chairman of the Constitutional Commission that drafted the Constitution - which remains the country's Supreme Law to date, in 1992 and 1993. In his address, Ramkalawan said that institutions had to work with Renaud to ensure that the experience and knowledge he has, are kept and shared with others.   Julie is the 5th member of the Electoral Commission. (State House) Photo License: CC-BY Elvis Julie also sworn in the fifth member to the Electoral Commission of Seychelles, the body that organises, oversees and regulates political elections in the island nation. The Commission, which is in charge of registering political parties in Seychelles, comprises a chairperson and six other members appointed for a seven-year term as per Article 115 of the Constitution. Julie replaces Veronique Bonnelame-Alcindor, who had been in the position until the end of her mandate. With over 15 years of working experience with the Electoral Commission, Julie told reporters that with this new appointment, his role is different as he is now part of the decision-making team. He said this appointment is complementary to his current role as the chief executive of the SHRC. «When you have someone who understands human rights and is also working in the Electoral Commission, it makes me more sensitive when making decisions, and I can also contribute where individual rights are concerned,» said Julie. Julie held several positions with the Electoral Commission, including an assistant electoral officer, a deputy and the electoral officer for the St Louis district in the last presidential elections held in 2020. He revealed that the EC is already working on the 2025 elections and holding a series of consultations in different regions of the country until July 15. «My work is to go out there and sensitise people about the amendments the Electoral Commission wants to bring forward and ensure that the laws are passed in time for the coming elections in September 2025,» he added. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was set to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, a day after the Indian leader arrived in Moscow amid global outcry over Russian strikes in Ukraine. Modi, visiting Moscow for the first time since Russia launched its campaign in Ukraine in February 2022, will seek to nurture New Delhi's long-standing relationship with Moscow. At the same time, he is courting closer Western security ties after being returned to power last month as leader of the world's most populous country. «There are no surprises in preparation. The main thing is to create an atmosphere for meaningful interaction,» Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state TV when asked about the talks. Modi landed in Moscow hours after Russia launched a massive barrage targeting cities across Ukraine Monday that killed more than three dozen people and heavily damaged a children's hospital in Kyiv, sparking condemnation from governments in Europe and North America. Russia is a vital supplier of cut-price oil and weapons to India, but Moscow's isolation from the West and growing ties with Beijing have impacted its partnership with New Delhi. Western powers have in recent years also cultivated stronger relations with India as a hedge against China and its growing influence across the Asia-Pacific, while pressuring New Delhi to distance itself from Russia. The United States on Monday urged Modi to make clear in his talks with Putin that «any resolution to the conflict in Ukraine must... be one that respects the UN Charter with respect to Ukraine's territorial integrity». Modi last visited Russia in 2019 and hosted Putin in the Indian capital two years later, weeks before Russia began its offensive against Ukraine. India has largely shied away from explicit condemnation of Russia ever since and abstained on United Nations resolutions targeting the Kremlin. - Arms, oil and China - But Russia's fight with Ukraine has also had a human cost for India. New Delhi said in February it was pushing Moscow to return several of its citizens who had signed up for «support jobs» with the Russian military, following reports some had been killed after being forced to fight in Ukraine. Moscow's relationship with China has also been a cause for concern. Washington and the EU accuse China of selling components and equipment that have strengthened Russia's military industry -- allegations Beijing denies. China and India remain intense rivals competing for strategic influence across South Asia. India is also part of the Quad grouping with the US, Japan and Australia that positions itself against China's growing boldness in Asia. New Delhi and Russia have maintained close links since the Cold War, which saw the Kremlin become a key arms provider to the country. But Ukraine has stretched Russia's weapons supplies thin, pushing India to look for other sources for arms -- including growing its own defence industry. Russia's share of Indian imports of arms has shrunk considerably in recent years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. At the same time, India has become a major purchaser of Russian crude, providing a much-needed export market for Russia after it was dropped by traditional buyers in Europe. That has dramatically reconfigured their economic ties, with India saving itself billions of dollars while bolstering Moscow's war coffers. India's month-on-month imports of Russian crude «increased by eight percent in May, to the highest levels since July 2023», according to commodity tracking data compiled by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. But this has also resulted in India's trade deficit with Russia rising to a little over $57 billion in the past financial year. From Russia, Modi will travel to Vienna for the first visit to the Austrian capital by an Indian leader since Indira Gandhi in 1983. © Agence France-Presse

Last month was the hottest June on record across the globe, the EU's climate monitor said Monday, capping half a year of wild and destructive weather from floods to heatwaves. Every month since June 2023 has eclipsed its own temperature record in a 13-month streak of unprecedented global heat, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said. «This is more than a statistical oddity and it highlights a large and continuing shift in our climate,» said the service director, Carlo Buontempo. «Even if this specific streak of extremes ends at some point, we are bound to see new records being broken as the climate continues to warm.» This was «inevitable» as long as humanity kept adding heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, he said. The global average temperature notched last month broke the previous June record set in 2023. The fresh high came at the midway point of a year marked by climate extremes. Scorching heat has blanketed swathes of the world from India to Saudi Arabia, the United States and Mexico in the first half of this year. Relentless rain, a phenomena scientists have also linked to a warmer planet, caused extensive flooding in Kenya, China, Brazil, Afghanistan, Russia and France. Wildfires have torched land in Greece and Canada and last week, Hurricane Beryl became the earliest category five Atlantic hurricane on record as it barrelled across several Caribbean islands. - Warmer oceans - The streak of record-breaking temperatures coincided with El Nino, a natural phenomenon that contributes to hotter weather globally, said Julien Nicolas, a senior scientist at C3S. «That was part of the factors behind the temperature records, but it was not the only one,» he told AFP. Ocean temperatures have also been hitting new highs. Record sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic, the Northern Pacific and Indian Ocean also contributed to the soaring heat across the globe. Sea surface temperatures hit a separate milestone in June -- 15 straight months of new highs, an occurrence Nicolas described as «striking». The oceans cover 70 percent of the Earth's surface and absorb 90 percent of the extra heat associated with rising climate-warming emissions. «What happens to the ocean surface has an important impact on the air temperature above the surface and global average temperature as well,» he said. However, the world is about to transition into a La Nina phase, which has a cooling effect. «We can expect the global (air) temperature to taper down in the next few months,» said Nicolas. «If these record (sea surface) temperatures persist, even as La Nina conditions develop that might lead to 2024 being warmer than 2023. But it's too early to tell,» he added. Global air temperatures in the 12 months to June 2024 were the highest in the data record -- on average 1.64C above pre-industrial levels, Copernicus said. This doesn't mean the 1.5C warming limit agreed by 196 countries in Paris in 2015 has been breached, because that goal is measured in decades, not individual years. But last month, Copernicus said there was an 80 percent chance that Earth's annual average temperatures would at least temporarily exceed the 1.5C mark during the next five years. © Agence France-Presse

Entrepreneurs in Seychelles are attending a training in which they are being introduced to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) Impact Standards to help them align their operations with the United Nations SDGs. This will help them contribute to national development goals and global sustainability objectives. The two-day training taking place at the Savoy Resort and Spa was officially launched on Monday and is being conducted by two experts from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Amit Achameesing and Yugen Pillay. It is being done in collaboration with the Seychelles Investment Board (SIB). The UNDP is partnering with SIB to prepare selected enterprises to increase the likelihood that they are operating sustainably and contributing positively to the SDGs. Utilising the SDG Impact Standards, as voluntary management standards designed to guide organisations on their sustainability journeys, will prepare them for the forthcoming SDG Impact Assurance Framework and SDG Impact Seal. «Our goal is to underscore the importance of collective action in driving sustainable development. It is heartening to see strong representation from both the public and the private sectors, demonstrating a shared commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices,» said the UNDP resident representative, Amanda Serumaga UNDP launched the SDG investor map for Seychelles in 2023, which provides insights into investment opportunities and their potential returns, and highlights the private sector's role in financing sustainable development. To build on the investor map findings, UNDP will implement an SDG investment pipeline programme to facilitate capital deployment into scalable SDG-aligned opportunities. The Minister of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry, Devika Vidot, said this initiative is aimed at unlocking further capital in aligning business operations with SDGs. «This effort is part of a broader movement to transform the global financial system and the ways in which public and private sectors interact across economic, social and environmental SDGs,» she added.   During the training, those present will learn how their respective companies can effortlessly align their corporate strategies and goals, through their internal operations to support the country in attaining its SDGs. «These standards are voluntary but they are designed to guide enterprises on their sustainability journeys, ensuring that their operations not only create value but also contribute positively to the SDGs,» said Vidot.

The Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) premiered its documentary about the first-ever global debt swap recently highlighting its successes to better educate the public and international partners.  The Seychelles Debt-Swap, which was finalised in 2015, began in 2008 when the government, under the leadership of the then President James Michel - who pushed forward the initiative - managed to restructure $21.6 million of its debt to Paris Club on the condition that it commits to protecting 30 percent of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by completing and implementing a Marine Spatial Plan. The debt swap mechanism is an innovative method of debt forgiveness in which a portion of a developing country's foreign debt is forgiven in exchange for a commitment to investments in domestic environmental conservation and sustainability projects. The buyback initiative was successfully concluded in March 2016 thanks to a concessionary loan from a US-based environmental debt swap NGO, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and generous grants from a group of international marine conservation foundations. The key players received a copy of the case study with the CEO of SeyCCAT, Marie-May Jeremie (4th from left) and Minister Joubert (2nd from right). (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY As a result of the debt-swap initiative, SeyCCAT was also established to purchase and restructure the debt the country has accumulated. The non-profit trust fund was set up to oversee and manage this initiative, which ultimately led to investments in ocean stakeholders in Seychelles. Its main objectives encompass education, bold actions, and sustainable blue prosperity. The premiere was held at Eden Bleu Hotel on Friday with representatives from various non-governmental organisations and those involved in conservation in the country. In his address for the occasion, the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Flavien Joubert, said that as Seychelles has been successful in implementing the debt swap, «it has now become a common occurrence for the Seychelles government and SeyCCAT to receive requests from other countries, governments, financial institutions and partners to share the Seychelles' experience, to understand, how they also could embark on such an important journey.» SeyCCAT produced and aired the documentary as it felt it necessary to raise awareness of the lesser-known but revolutionary undertaking achieved under the debt swap. Among those who took part in the documentary due to their involvement in the debt swap initiative were former Seychelles ambassador to the United Nations, Ronny Jumeau, and former ministers Jean-Paul Adam and Didier Dogley. A case study was also released together with the documentary with an in-depth written piece that can help replicate our efforts here in Seychelles and beyond. The documentary will be accessible for public viewing on Friday, July 19, on SeyCCAT's various platforms and will also be aired on the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) television. 

Embattled US President Joe Biden hit the campaign trail Sunday seeking to reassure voters he was up for a grueling reelection fight, even as more top Democrats reportedly joined the chorus urging him to quit the race. The 81-year-old remained defiant as he hop-scotched across Pennsylvania -- first to the relative safe ground of a predominantly Black church and a campaign field office, and then to a rally with union workers. As Biden arrived in the state capital Harrisburg, reporters shouted questions including whether the Democratic Party was behind him, to which the president grinned and loudly responded: «Yes.» But an uprising has swelled among some fellow Democrats, analysts and voters concerned he lacks the mental acuity and physical fitness to serve a second term -- worries brought to the fore by a disastrous debate performance last month against Republican challenger Donald Trump. So far, five Democratic lawmakers have publicly called on Biden to drop out. The drip-drip of dissent increased Sunday as four senior congressmen, including ranking House Judiciary Committee Democrat Jerrold Nadler and ranking Armed Services Committee Democrat Adam Smith, said on a call with senior party lawmakers that it was time for Biden to exit the race, according to The New York Times and Politico, which cited people familiar with the call. The president, however, has unequivocally declared he is fit to serve, saying that he is the only one who can defeat Trump, and that he is staying in the race. Democratic lawmakers will return to Capitol Hill Monday under pressure to either fall in line behind Biden or urge him to step aside. Reported attempts by Senator Mark Warner to assemble his colleagues to address the crisis were called off, US media reported Sunday, with senators expected at their regular caucus meeting on Tuesday instead. As for the president, his next major test will come on Thursday, when he is scheduled to hold a press conference during the NATO leaders' summit in Washington. Two high-profile congressional Democrats on Sunday stopped short of calling for Biden to quit, but warned he still needed to win over worried voters. «There's only one reason» the race between Trump and Biden «is close, and that's the president's age,» Representative Adam Schiff told NBC's «Meet the Press.» Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said «the president needs to do more,» including unscripted events, to reassure voters. «This week is going to be absolutely critical,» Murphy told CNN. Biden himself largely avoided discussing the crisis when he gave a seven-minute address at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ, speaking to a constituency he has embraced throughout his half-century political career. «It's good to be home,» he said to cheers, before joking briefly about his age. «I know I look like I'm only 40 years old but I've been around a little bit,» he said. - Democrats debate - Afterwards he visited a Democratic campaign field office to meet and thank staff. He spoke for a few minutes, without using a teleprompter or notes. Some Democrats remain squarely behind Biden, including Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who accompanied him on the campaign excursion. «There's only one person in this country who has kicked Trump's ass in an election, and that is your president,» Fetterman told the Democratic staffers in Philadelphia, as Biden looked on. With Washington ruminating, First Lady Jill Biden is scheduled to campaign for her husband Monday in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina, while the president preps for the NATO leaders' summit, beginning Tuesday. Here, too, he will find himself having to reassure allies at a time when many European countries fear a Trump victory in November. The 78-year-old Republican has long criticized the defense alliance, voiced admiration for Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, and insisted he could bring about a quick end to the fighting in Ukraine. With election day just four months away, any move to replace Biden as the nominee would need to be made sooner rather than later, and the party will be scrutinized for any signs of more open rebellion. Meanwhile, for Biden and his team, the strategy seems to be to ride it out. The campaign has unveiled an intense battle plan for July, including an avalanche of TV spots and trips to key states. © Agence France-Presse

Israeli protesters marched through Tel Aviv and Jerusalem chanting «we will not give up» on Sunday, the second consecutive day of stepped-up pressure for a deal to free hostages in Gaza. As the war entered into its 10th month, the demonstrators called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a truce and hostage-release deal or step down. The nationwide «disruption day» began at 6:29 am (0329 GMT) to correspond with the start of Hamas's October 7 attack that triggered the war. In Israel's two largest cities, demonstrators blocked roads, with tens of thousands stopping traffic along major intersections and a highway in central Tel Aviv where police used water canon to disperse them. Among the protesters, many of whom are related to the hostages, there was a sense the government had deserted those still held in Gaza by Palestinian militants Hamas. Israel says 116 people remain captive, including 42 the military says are dead. «The government doesn't care what the people think, and they don't do anything to bring back our sisters and brothers from Gaza,» said Orly Nativ, 57, who joined the flag-wielding demonstrators in Tel Aviv. «Enough is enough.» Many accuse Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, of not doing more to secure a truce as a matter of political survival. Two far-right members of his cabinet have threatened to resign if a deal was struck. «He knows if he ends the war, his government will fall,» said Nurit Meiri, 50, a social worker in Jerusalem. She carried an Israeli flag and wore a «bring them home» t-shirt to the raucous march on the prime minister's house in Jerusalem, which was tailed by a group of young religious men shouting «traitor.» Meiri's cousin was murdered on October 7 while visiting family, and her son soon starts his mandatory military service. «For what? A prime minister who will do anything to stay in power?» she asked as protesters behind her chanted «choose life.» - War 'a failure' - Large protests have taken place across Israel's commercial hub every Saturday night for months, but have recently swelled and become more frequent. By 9:00 pm on Saturday, protest organisers estimated around 176,000 people had filled a Tel Aviv intersection they call «Democracy Square». That would make it one of the biggest demonstrations since the war began. Earlier, at a separate rally for the hostages, relatives made emotional appeals for a deal to bring home their missing loved ones. Interspersed between art exhibitions evoking the missing men, women and children and tents selling merchandise to support the families, some in the crowd held up signs saying refusing a deal would be tantamount to death. «Our message to the government is very simple. There is a deal on the table. Take it,» said Yehuda Cohen, father of kidnapped soldier Nimrod Cohen. Others were more morose. «This war is a failure,» said Inbar R., a 27-year-old tech worker who did not want to give her full last name. «The only thing it has done is to make the world hate us.» The protests come as indirect truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas have regained momentum after months of failed diplomacy. Netanyahu has consistently opposed any truce deal that would leave Hamas with the ability to fight or govern. The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. Of the 251 hostages seized by militants on that day, Israeli forces have rescued seven of them alive. Another 105 including 80 Israelis were freed during the war's only truce, which lasted one week in November. In response to the October 7 attack, Israel's military offensive has killed at least 38,153 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. © Agence France-Presse

The military regimes of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso marked their divorce from the rest of West Africa Saturday as they signed a treaty setting up a confederation between them. The first summit of the three countries, who all pulled out of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this year, also saw calls for greater cooperation across a wide range of sectors. «Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS,» Niger's ruling General Abdourahamane Tiani told his fellow Sahel strongmen at the gathering's opening in the Nigerien capital Niamey. The three leaders, who took power through coups in recent years, «decided to take a step further towards greater integration» and «adopted a treaty establishing a confederation», they said in a statement issued at the end of the summit. The «Confederation of Sahel States», which will use the acronym AES and be headed by Mali in its first year, will group some 72 million people. Their ECOWAS exits were fuelled in part by accusations that Paris was manipulating the bloc, and not providing enough support for anti-jihadist efforts. - Shift away from France - «The AES is the only effective sub-regional grouping in the fight against terrorism,» Tiani declared on Saturday, calling ECOWAS «conspicuous by its lack of involvement in this fight». The exit came as the trio shifted away from former colonial ruler France, with Tiani calling for the new bloc to become a «community far removed from the stranglehold of foreign powers». All three have expelled anti-jihadist French troops and turned instead towards what they call their «sincere partners» -- Russia, Turkey and Iran. In early March, the AES announced joint anti-jihadist efforts, though they did not specify details. Insurgents linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have carried out attacks for years in the vast «three borders» region between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, despite the massive deployment of anti-jihadist forces. ECOWAS is due to hold a summit of its heads of state in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Sunday, where the issue of relations with the AES will be on the agenda. Relations between ECOWAS deteriorated following a July 2023 coup that brought Tiani to power, when the bloc imposed sanctions and even threatened to intervene militarily to restore the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum. The sanctions were lifted in February but relations between the two sides remain frosty. After several bilateral meetings, this is the first meeting of all three Sahelian strongmen since coming to power through coups between 2020 and 2023. Niger's Tiani first welcomed his Burkinabe counterpart Ibrahim Traore in the capital on Friday, followed by Malian Colonel Assimi Goita who arrived Saturday. - 'Serious project' - «The aim is to show that this is a serious project with three committed heads of state showing their solidarity,» said Gilles Yabi, founder of the West African think tank Wathi. The trio have made sovereignty a guiding principle of their governance and aim to create a common currency. Sunday's summit comes as several West African presidents have called in recent weeks for a solution to resume dialogue between the two camps. Notably, Senegal's new President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said in late May that reconciliation between ECOWAS and the three Sahel countries was possible. In June, his newly re-elected Mauritanian counterpart, President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, called on West African countries to unite again against the expansion of jihadism. But the successive summits on the same weekend raise fears of a stiffening of positions between the AES and ECOWAS. «I do not see the AES countries seeking to return to ECOWAS. I think it's ECOWAS that will have to tone it down (the situation),» Nigerien lawyer Djibril Abarchi told AFP. Beyond military cooperation, the leaders Saturday also talked about «mutualising» their approach to strategic sectors such as agriculture, water, energy and transport. They also asked that indigenous languages be given greater prominence in local media. The question of creating a common currency to replace the CFA franc was not mentioned in the final communique. © Agence France-Presse  

The President of the Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, has sent a message of congratulations to Sir Keir Starmer on his successful election as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. According to the Foreign Affairs Department, in his message, President Ramkalawan, said, «I wish to extend on behalf of the government and people of Seychelles, as well as on my own behalf, our most sincere congratulations on your recent appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.» Ramkalawan said that the UK and Seychelles «share a longstanding relationship and friendship evident through robust cooperation, which is continuously being strengthened through both bilateral and multilateral efforts in organisations such as the United Nations and the Commonwealth. I am certain that during your tenure, through our joint collaboration in many areas and key issues such as combatting climate change, global and regional security concerns, as well as economic resilience will yield significant benefits for both our nations and the international community.» He concluded by saying «I look forward to working closely with you to build on our shared achievements and explore new avenues for collaboration that will contribute to the prosperity and well-being of our peoples.» Starmer, 61, became the country's 58th prime minister, on Friday, after he led the Labour Party to a landslide victory in the elections on Thursday.  

The wetlands area at Domaine Val de Pres in the eastern Mahe district of Au Cap will be transformed into an educational living laboratory and viewpoint as of April 2025. This will be done by the Seychelles National Heritage Resource Council (SNHRC), which received a $50,000 grant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to continue rehabilitating the wetlands area found on the property. Domaine Val des Pres is one of the three heritage sites managed by the SNHRC and one of the most visited cultural sites. It comprises an authentic traditional Creole homestead, the Pomme Cannelle restaurant, and several kiosks selling arts and crafts. The 12-month-long project was revealed to the local media on Wednesday morning, during a site visit by the project consultant from the UNDP and SNHRC representatives. «We want to rehabilitate the marsh found on the property so that the community and the tourists who visit here can have a space to observe and understand our natural heritage,» said SNHRC's executive director, Benjamine Rose. As part of the rehabilitation, new types of mangroves and fauna that can adapt to the area will be introduced to Domaine Val de Pres. Additionally, visitors will also have the use of a long boardwalk with rails starting inside the Domaine De Val Des Pres area, with a small bridge leading to a small bird-watching viewpoint. There will also be large display boards showing information of all the species found in that area. SNHRC is also including Au Cap Primary School's Environment Club, Tourism Club and Heritage Club members in the project, who will benefit from an exploratory learning experience. The project's consultant, Errol Renaud, revealed that work on the site began two years ago, bringing together the Au Cap community, Maison Marengo restaurant, which is nearby, and SNHRC for an eco-tourism project. To kick start the rehabilitation project, an expert will carry out a  biodiversity assessment to determine the wetland's health, the amount of pollution it has and what species are found there. This will be used to guide the developers on their next step. Renaud explained that all precautions were being taken to ensure «minimal disruption to the ecosystem when building the boardwalk to the biodiversity area which will also double as a bird-watching area.» He said, «We have involved the Department of Environment and that of Planning since the pre-planning phases.» Renaud said they are working with the District's Administration office to find someone to care for the marsh where it starts on the neighbouring housing estate to create a sense of ownership. Meanwhile, UNDP representative, Lindy Bastienne, said the organisation was interested in funding the wetlands renovation as «it helped diversify the types of projects that we fund. Since we had already started some work on the marsh with the community, we welcomed the fact that SNHRC wanted to expand on it.»

Keir Starmer set to work as Britain's new leader Friday, speaking with world leaders and appointing his ministerial team after his Labour party's landslide general election victory ended 14 years of Conservative rule. Starmer named Rachel Reeves the UK's first woman finance minister and appointed David Lammy as foreign secretary following his election win to become centre-left Labour's first prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010. Flag-waving crowds of cheering Labour activists lined Downing Street as Starmer pledged to «rebuild» the UK after head of state King Charles III invited him to form a government during a meeting at Buckingham Palace. «Now, our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and a return of politics to public service,» the 61-year-old said in his first speech as PM. «The work of change begins immediately, but have no doubt, we will rebuild Britain.» Within hours, Starmer held a flurry of phone calls with leaders, including reaffirming London's «unwavering» support for Kyiv's war against invading Russian forces with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden. He also spoke to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the prime ministers of Canada, Italy, Ireland and Poland, alongside the heads of the UK's devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Starmer and von der Leyen «emphasised the importance of the unique relationship between the UK and EU» in addressing shared «challenges», his office said. Meanwhile, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Starmer he would be a «very good, very successful» prime minister in a call. - 'Sorry' - Earlier, a sombre Rishi Sunak conceded defeat during a torrid night for his Conservatives that claimed the scalps of at least 12 of his senior cabinet colleagues -- and his predecessor Liz Truss. Her disastrous 49-day tenure effectively sealed the Tories' fate with the public two years ago, when her unfunded tax cuts spooked markets and crashed the pound. Before leaving Downing Street for the final time as prime minister, Sunak said «sorry» to the public and revealed that he would step down as Tory leader once formal arrangements for a successor are in place. The Tories' worst previous election result was 156 seats in 1906. Former leader William Hague told Times Radio this was «a catastrophic result in historic terms». By late Friday, Labour had won 412 constituencies in the 650-seat House of Commons -- with only one result left to declare -- giving it a majority of 174. The Tories won just 121 -- a record low -- with the right-wing vote apparently split by Nigel Farage's anti-immigration Reform UK party, which picked up five seats. In another boost for the centrists, the smaller opposition Liberal Democrats ousted the Scottish National Party as the third-biggest party. - World reaction - The results bucked a trend among Britain's closest Western allies, with the far-right in France eyeing power and Donald Trump looking set for a return in the United States. Ex-president Trump congratulated his admirer Farage on winning election to the UK parliament at his eighth attempt, but noticeably neglected to mention Starmer. Outside London's busy Waterloo station, 49-year-old engagement officer Ramsey Sargent called it a «momentous election». «It has been very rocky over the last few months and years. I'm really excited to see what happens next,» he told AFP. Tim Bale, politics professor at Queen Mary, University of London, said the Conservatives' drubbing was «not as catastrophic as some were predicting» and that the Tories would now need to decide how best to fight back. Brexit champion Farage has made no secret of his aim to take over the party. «There is a massive gap on the centre-right of British politics and my job is to fill it,» he said after a comfortable win in Clacton, eastern England. Labour's resurgence is a stunning turnaround from five years ago, when hard-left former leader Jeremy Corbyn took the party to its worst defeat since 1935 in an election dominated by Brexit. Starmer took over in early 2020 and set about moving the party back to the centre, purging the infighting and anti-Semitism that cost it support. Opinion polls consistently put Labour 20 points ahead of the Tories since Truss's resignation, giving an air of inevitability about a Labour win -- the first since Tony Blair in 2005. But as the count neared the end, the gap was around 11 percent, with Labour looking set to win fewer votes than it did in 2019, partly reflecting a lower turnout. Starmer faces a daunting in-tray, from anaemic economic growth to overstretched and underfunded public services and households squeezed financially. He has promised a return of political integrity, after a chaotic period of five Tory prime ministers in 14 years, scandal and sleaze. © Agence France-Presse

It has been an exciting few years for women's football in Seychelles with several historic moments taking place including the team making it into the FIFA World Rankings and winning a first international match. The year 2024 saw the women's game in Seychelles take a further step forward, with several women now playing professionally abroad. The youngest and most promising one among them is Reena Esther, who recently signed for Still Aerion in Singapore. The young forward has already begun to take the Singapore Women's Premier League by storm, by scoring three times in her first two matches for the team. Esther, who also plays for the Seychelles women's national team, only joined the side recently and the future looks very bright. SNA caught up with the young player to see how she is settling into her new team.   SNA: How did you feel when you got the call that you had received a contract from the Singaporean team? RE: I remember it was a Wednesday and I was just sitting on my bed when coach Chris called me and asked how I was doing. I said I was doing fine and then she asked if I remember going on trial in Singapore, and told me that I had actually received an offer to play for the team. I was not expecting it and did not even know how to respond. I took some time to reflect, especially since my grandmother, who was my biggest fan, had just passed away, and so I said why not accept the offer and do it for her, since these chances come by just once in a lifetime.   SNA: How different is football in Singapore compared to Seychelles? RE: Well, here (Singapore) they are a lot faster than us, whereas in Seychelles we are more skillful than them and their positioning sometimes is not that good. But, in time I think the coach will fix it and we can improve. Esther recently joined Still Aerion in Singapore. (Reena Esther) Photo License: All Rights Reserved     SNA: You scored in your first match with the team, how did that feel? RE: I was not expecting to start the match. I thought I would come on in the second half, but I took it positively and gave my all and eventually scored and I was even named the player of the match as well. I appreciated it and I am very happy for all the effort I put in to be rewarded.   SNA: What are your plans for the future of your football career? RE: Well, for me it is to play at a higher level and get more experiences like I am getting here. So, I really hope that one day I can get better and play at the level I have always wanted to.   SNA: Have you adapted to your new team and surroundings? RE: I had already met many of the players in the team before and they are mostly the same. Everyone is friendly. It is mainly the time difference that I am struggling with, as the country is four hours ahead of Seychelles and sometimes when it is 11 pm, I struggle to fall asleep, as I have not adapted to it yet. As it is, I am not getting enough rest. Esther also plays for the Seychelles women's national team. (Reena Esther) Photo License: All Rights Reserved    SNA: How is the training? RE: I train three times a day and also do some personal training at the gym. It is just about continuing to keep myself fit and remain positive, especially since I am here on my own.   SNA: Tell us about your journey in football. RE: I started very young and played football with my cousins at home and eventually with the school team and later on with Rovers. I was eventually called up to the national team. I found that it was something that I really liked. I had also been doing judo while playing football, but had to choose between the two and I chose football. I am really happy to have made it this far. I also trained with the LightStars men's side when I was on Praslin. I want to thank Coach Ted and Coach Perry for their support, along with Coach Chris and the Football Federation, for helping me to get here, and I will keep working hard to get better.   SNA: Any advice for the other young girls who want to take football as a career. RE: I would tell them to always stay positive and not let negative thoughts pull you back. Keep working hard, as I know in Seychelles many girls can play football and maybe one day they can also reach the same level. I would love to see other young girls join me here or even in other countries to play football. 

The Chinese Navy hospital ship Peace Ark arrived in Seychelles on Friday and berthed at the IPHS Quay at Ile du Port. The hospital vessel expects to welcome the public on board during the next few days for free consultations and treatments. Peace Ark also came to Seychelles in 2010. The hospital ship's was welcomed upon arrival by the Seychelleus Minister for Health, Peggy Vidot, accompanied by other high level officials as well as the Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles, Lin Nan and members of the Chinese Association of Seychelles. Following the arrival of the ship, Vidot along with her delegation had the opportunity to visit the ship, where the various departments and services were explained in detail. Starting from Saturday, July 6 to July 11, people will be able to register to be treated on board by simply bringing their identification card with them to the ship. With a full-service hospital on board, the ship has many departments that the public will be able to access including such as cardiology, general surgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, dentistry, paediatrics, dermatology and traditional Chinese medicine physical therapy, among others. There is also a special examination room for ultrasound and ECG and an imaging department.   The ship has a full-service hospital on board with many departments. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY   Designed and built in China, the hospital ship Peace Ark is an emergency medical support platform at sea. It primarily assumes tasks such as treating, caring and evacuating casualties at sea during wartime; giving medical treatments to the residents and stationing troops on China's islands and reefs in peacetime. It can also provide international humanitarian medical assistance, and response to major disasters and emergencies, as well as undertake international exchanges and cooperation tasks on military medicine. The vessel has a full load displacement of more than 10,000 tonnes, operating rooms, doctor offices as well as nurse stations and hundreds of beds. It is also equipped with advanced medical facilities, such as CT, DR and colour ultrasound and a rescue helicopter available onboard. The ship set sail from Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, on June 16 as part of Mission Harmony 2024 under the command of Rear Admiral Ying Hongbo and Rear Admiral He Yongming. Through this mission, the vessel plans to visit 13 countries where the visiting medical staff will carry out medical services to promote the concept of a maritime community with a shared future and enhance the development of friendly relations between China and the visited countries.

The European Union and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) have signed an agreement that will see the implementation of the Safe Seas Africa (SSA) programme to enforce maritime security in Africa. The signing ceremony took place in Mauritius on Thursday afternoon and representatives from other IOC countries joined virtually. In Seychelles this was done at the Regional Fusion and Law Enforcement Centre for Safety and Security at Sea (REFLECS 3) at the Ex-Coast Guard base. The agreement was signed by the EU Ambassador to Mauritius and Seychelles, Oskar Benedikt, and the Secretary General of the IOC, Velayoundom Marimoutou. In his statement, Marimoutou said, «The SSA programme offers an opportunity to establish this architecture as the main maritime safety system in the area, while at the same time strengthening national strengthening national capacities, deepening regional coordination and expanding collaboration with other collaboration with other players in this field in Africa and the Indian Ocean.» The Safe Seas Africa programme component implemented by the IOC will help consolidate and amplify the achievements of the Maritime Security (MASE) programme. The programme is financed by the European Union through a regional maritime safety architecture covering the entire western Indian Ocean, which was set up in 2018. The EU Ambassador said, «The European Union plays a crucial role as a partner with the Indian Ocean in strengthening maritime security in this region. Illegal acts on the high seas pose serious threats to development, peace and stability in the region.» «Recent acts of piracy, drug trafficking, overfishing and other illegal acts are the challenges that need to be addressed. It is in this context that the European Union has made a commitment to the IOC to prepare the guidelines for the Safe Seas Africa programme and the actions that will be implemented in the region,» he added. The programme will include joint maritime security efforts across the Gulf of Guinea, the western Indian Ocean, and the western Pacific Ocean, with interconnecting architectures and mechanisms. Two procedures that have led to regional agreements on the exchange of maritime information and the coordination of state action at sea form the foundation of the regional maritime safety architecture. These agreements, signed in 2018 by the five member states of the IOC, as well as Djibouti and Kenya, have led to the creation of the Maritime Information Fusion Centre (MIFRC) based in Madagascar and the Regional Operations Coordination Centre (ROCC) based in the Seychelles. The President of the IOC, Sylvestre Radegonde, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Seychelles, said that the Regional Operational Coordination Centre is a powerful symbol. «The SSA programme will enable us to implement the decisions of the 36th, 37th, and 38th IOC Ministerial Councils, as well as to develop our national strategies and internal mechanisms to achieve the sufficient maritime capacity to carry out actions at sea,» he added. Several members of the international community are collaborating with the maritime security architecture for information exchange and operations at sea.